JLB

Definitely flavorings. I used the SF Da Vinci syrups. Khalua in the chocolate Optifast was excellent. Fresh strawberries in the vanilla also worked. As for vegetables. Choose your favorites. I loved asparagus topped with fresh lemon juice. Also, ice berg lettuce cut in big chucks hit the spot. I too ate pickles which seemed to help with cravings. If you make a salad out of fresh greens, balsamic vinegar is a good dressing. I'm so happy for you, you're getting closer! Your banding date will be here before you know it!!

I'm still on full liquids. It hasn't been to bad, I'm quite enjoying it! I usually have a protein drink for breakfast or at least half of one. Then I'll have some soup for lunch. Then maybe some chicken broth with added Unjury protein powder and another half protein smoothie. If I need a snack during the day I usually have abit of V8 juice, jello(with Unjury protein powder added) or a SF popsicle and lots and lots of water.

I hear ya Andrew but believe me just because you read it in the Calgary Herald and just because you were about to be admitted to the clinic does not mean you would have had your lapband surgery anytime soon in AB. You still would have had to have been assessed, go thru the 6 month "diet program" as if... and then you would have been placed on another waitlist for surgery. I wonder who they are going to have do these surgeries since the Health Region has problems with OR time and staff. Anyway... we are the lucky ones! Sure we paid $16K for excellent service (by the way I paid much more than that for my car) and sure, there are people who are having it covered by the gov't but you know what... life's too short to wait - your family and your well-being is much more important! Just a side note... I went with my mother yesterday to see a surgeon about a hip replacement and it was a scary series of errors. The staff are all running around like chickens with their heads cut off, complaining about too much work and not enough time, etc., etc. When the nurse finally came into the room an hour after the doctor had left, it was like starting from scratch, she didn't know which end was up. I finally said to my mother she better make sure she tells the surgeon and OR staff just before the operation which hip it is and that it's only a hip replacement or they might aputate something. Gawd, it was like night and day, between the experience I had and she's having. You could not pay me enough to go thru the regular helath region for surgery. Like I said we are the lucky ones - the fee payers! Just my opinion.

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I'm starting to fill kind of human again - finally! The gas pain is almost gone and the incisions are starting to feel better. I've noticed a weird pain in the throat/chest area especially first thing in the morning. It feels like a suppressed burp. It only lasts a couple of seconds. It's hard to explain but it's just a strange spasm or something. Anybody else felt this? All-in-all I feel pretty good since it's only been 6 days. The liquid diet has been no problem, I'm not really hungry. At first I had to try and recognize a stomach hunger growl over the gas growls because I truly have not been hungry since surgery. Very happy so far!

LeslieLee, yes, I did go by myself. I flew out on Tuesday, had surgery on Wednesday and flew home on Friday. The flight back was pretty good, better than I expected. The shoulder pain made it a bit uncomfortable but definitely manageable. Can'r wait for you to be banded too. It's awesome!

Hi everyone, I'm back! All went well!! Loved Dr. C and the new clinic. What a great bunch of people!!! I stayed at Heritage House and met another woman from Edmonton having Lapband surgery the same day as me. It was great to have someone else to visit with who understood, first hand, all the aches and pains associated with this experience. The pain hasn't been too bad except for my left shoulder which is still killing me. I know it's gas pain so I've been trying to walk it off. Gas-X hasn't helped much so I think I'll try some Gaviscon instead. I'm so happy to be on the other side now and look forward to feeling better soon. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Thank you everyone for your good wishes. I'm feeling pretty good tonight and ready to go. Can't wait to get there and get my band. I'm soooooooooo ready!!!! I'll be off line till next weekend but I'll be sure to check in as soon as I have access to a computer. Talk to you all soon!

My May goals (not unlike Mr. Yoda's except for going a round with the Mrs. and being Master of the universe... hmmm, might have to rethink the last one): 1) Come thru surgery with flying colors 2) Some how gain the strength to get thru the 3 food stages of post-op 3) Learn to work the band and reap the rewards 4) Take time for a holiday this summer Thanks Andrew. Great thread!

I'm not fond of this new setup either. Everything is shifted so far to the right. I noticed in one of the other forums that the posts were all cut off on the right side. It's a pain to have to scroll over to read each line. Can't get at all the icons on the right side either. Am I just right side deficient or what? :faint:

Lila, congrats on your success! Thank you so much for your post. I'm about to be banded next week and I'm having a few small panic attacks. Reading your post really helped me refocus and believe that I am doing the right thing. Doesn't it feel nice to be in the 150s! It's a distant soon to be revisited memory for me!!

Congrats Susan, so glad to hear everything went well. I'll be joining you on the other side very soon!

Hi Kimberley, good for you for finding this website and researching the Lapband system. Sounds like you are just at the beginning of the research so take your time and find out everything you want to know. Once you are well informed you may feel different about approaching your husband to tell him about the exciting information you have found. I'm not married so I didn't have to worry about the finance thing with the significant other but I think once he reads all the information you have found and understands what the Lapband is about he may be more supportive than you think. Good luck on your journey and do lots of sleuthing around this site becasue there's tons of info and great people to answer all your questions.

I chose not to tell most peope in my life. Just one friend, my mom and my sister - that's it! I agree with others in saying that this is a personal matter and I also feel that telling more people would make me feel like I was under a microscope. In the last month or so, when I've had lunch or coffee with friends, I've mentioned to them that I am changing my lifestyle and want to be healthier. I have gained all my weight back since I started Low carbing 6 years ago (yes, it slowly crept back again, plus more) and with the health risks that run in my family, I really need to make changes to be healthier. I didn't alaborate about what the changes were just omited some facts. Anyway, as my friends see changes I'm sure they will be happy for me and not so totally hung up on how the changes have happened. At least that's what I hope.

Congrats Amber! The time will fly by. I'm going to Dr. Cobourn on May 9 for my surgery. I'm staying at Heritage House because I'm going alone. I know there are others on this site who have stayed at the Novotel and the Holiday Inn. These two hotels plus the Waterside on the ones recommended by the clinic. Hopefully some others will drop by and give you their opinion on the hotels but I've never seen anything negative said about them. The Waterside looks very nice and I think it is the most expensive of the three. Maybe you can get a good package deal by booking ahead online. Good luck!

Congrats Donna! Sounds like everything went well. Get lots of rest. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

I'm am on my 4th day of Optifast. It's going pretty good. Had a bad headache to start out with that seems to be subsiding now. I'm getting very excited about the surgery, just want to get it done so I can get on with it. I have read so much about banding that I really, really, really want to live it. I'm sooooooo ready! I've noticed in the last couple of days that I feel released by food. I feel like it no longer has me in it's control. Great feeling!!

Leslie Lee - I have neck problems and have had migranes for years. Just an unfortunate coincidence I guess. Also, I usually take Motrin which takes the edge off but the clinic told me I can't take blood thinners two weeks pre-op so I took a Tylenol 3 instead, didn't do much. Oh well, hopefully it will exit soon. Thanks for your concern. Not sure what you mean by which Optifast. I have chocolate and vanilla flavored optifast.

Donna D my thoughts are with you. I know you will be very successful! Leslie Lee - Yes, I'm doing Optifast. I don't mind the taste but the killer headache is really getting to me.

Donna, I know it's scary but just try and look at the big picture. More energy, healthier living, shopping for clothes in regular stores, buying off the rack and soooooooo much more. I'm new at this too. I start my pre-op tomorrow. What I've read over the months is lots of success stories and many, many people saying they are really not deprived, they can still eat their favorite foods only now they control food - food doesn't control them. I know you will do very well because you believe this is what is right for you. Keep smilin'

Hi Cream, I live in Calgary and started the process through my doctor in January to be referred to both the Calgary Health Region and the Capital Health Region. I'm a student so I can appreciate your point about the financial issue. As far as I know the doctors get funding to do so many surgeries per year. You are right in saying... there are many people waiting. As I understand it, and don't quote me, the wait could be anywhere from 3-5 years. I, personally, was not willing to wait that long so I have arranged to go out of province. Hopefully something will change soon in our healthcare system so that Lapband surgery becomes a priority treatment for obesity in this province. I wish you the best in your journey! :clap2:

This was a great thread! Really enjoyed reading everyone's wants. I could relate to soooooooo may of them. Can't wait for them to come true for me too!!

That's great! What are you doing?

Fauxnaif, I'm sorry that you are experiencing problems, hopefully it can be corrected and you can continue on your journey of weight loss. Thank you for posting this. I'm new to this and won't be banded until May 9. I continue to learn new things everyday. I must say that this dialation thing scars me. If you don't mind could you pls elaborate abit on your story. For instance, did you measure all your food each time you ate right after you got banded and then stopped doing that? I understand that a person should really not eat more than 1/2c to 3/4c of food at one sitting but honestly I didn't realize it was that crucial to be so exact all the time. Hope it all gets better for you soon.

Hence the reason I haven't told anyone yet. I think, for the most part, people are trying to be helpful. This friend obviously cares very much for you and wants/feels like she needs to do everything to help you and make sure you are fully informed. However, I agree with you, it's very frustrating. If people would only do a bit of reseacrh themselves first, then weigh all the information and have a reasonable conversation about pros and cons, it would be helpful. I've read so many posts on this board about people being approached, attacked, insulted, and belittled by friends and family regarding their decision to have lapband surgery. I've also read many posts about people being supported by their loved ones. For me, if someone isn't being malicous (sp?) or hurtful in their intentions, I think I will take the opportunity to inform them. Like I said, I haven't told anyone yet but I will have to within the next two weeks. Thanks for this post, it reminded me to prepare for ignorance.

:whoo: :cheer2: :confused: Congrats! You're doing fabulous!! You are such an inspiration!!!