Gashman

I was thinking along the same lines Susan. I got a band on the 29th Sept and went for my first fill a week ago. As I had lost 40lbs since starting the pre op diet, the surgein suggested a fill was not needed so I didn't argue the toss. I am back in 4 weeks time to reveiw this but like you the whole thing, touch wood, has been a breeze so far.

Hi Everyone, This site has been really useful to me but I would really like to communicate with any men out there, who, like myself are getting ready for a band this month. I live in Scotland and I start my pre op diet this Wednesday 15th with my op set for the 29th. I am both looking forward to it but not maybe the diet I need to follow for the next 2 weeks. I can see a few bad moods coming on!

well, well, well........It is a good day indeed! Just realised using the chart I have moved from being morbidly obese to simply obese. Not sure I should be especially proud to be obese but feel like I am quite proud to no longer be considered morbidly obese, which is a horrible expression.......must have been a thin 'fattist' that came up with that one!

I got my band on 29th Sept and got the staples, which were holding me together! out today. I'm definately feeling better every day and the lack of staples is a bonus, they were quite irritating. My wounds seem fine but still tender, especially the larger one hiding the port. I am starting to graduate from liquids to solids gradually now and have been told to be on solids by day 14. I think the unusual thing for me is not drinking while eating. For lunch today I prepared 2 crispbreads with sliced chicken and a little sweet chilli sauce. First of all, it tasted magical after eating soup non stop for a while but I didn't manage to eat even one of them. Although I don't have a fill yet I could feel it all getting a little stuck, not as in really stuck where the band is, just difficult getting something which is so dry, down. I had to give up and felt fine a few minutes later so not a stuck episode just a dry, need to drink episode so I'll need to adjust the dryness of what I'm eating most probably. I still find sitting upright quite uncomfortable and as I write this, I can feel the dull pain in my left side but other than that, I'm feeling great and looking forward to finding out what the world of eating is like for a bandaleer! Hope everyone is doing great!

Hi Rosy, I have been amazed at the variety of instructions given by surgeons and dieticians, you would think there was best practice in there somewhere, an agreed 'this is what to do'. Yours does sound extreme. I was banded a week ago and I am on a Soup (with bits, just not big bits), porridge, yogurt, fruit juice etc and I'm on that for 2 weeks and then transition straight to textured foods, no mushies at all. I would really struggle with your regime but best of luck with it!

I had surgery last Thursday and certainly didn't have any testicular pain but I can identify with the odd flow of urine. For 48 hours I had a very slow, stop/start flow but it fixed itself after the initial 48 hours. Like the others I would definately seek advice if the pain continues. Cheers man.

Well done! I was also banded on the 29th but don't go back to work until tomorrow (Wednesday). Today was the first time I have felt hungry between meals (if you can call them meals!). Like you I'm so looking forward to a new life not tied to food 24/7. Good luck!

You are right, I have more gas pain today, I can hear gurgling from every part of my tummy. With all the various pains and strange feelings I can't decipher hunger, I honestly don't know if if I need to eat or not.

Well, I have now joined the banded band! I went into hospital on Thursday at 11.30am and was operated on at 1.30pm. It can't have gone any better I have to say. I woke up sore around the midriff but that has improved a lot over the 24 hours since I was operated on. It feels like I have done a thousand sit ups! but strangely I have no gas pains at all and I was all ready with my GasX, maybe the gas pains have still to arrive? hope not! Deep breaths are sore but the meds have it sorted for now. Got home today at 12.30pm and had some soup. I think overall while I would want to go through the process again, it was not as traumatic as I was expecting nor as painful after the fact. One step at a time I guess and a few days to let everything settle before going back to work. Hope everyone is doing well and keep in touch. Gary

Well, I have now joined the banded band! I went into hospital on Thursday at 11.30am and was operated on at 1.30pm. It can't have gone any better I have to say. I woke up sore around the midriff but that has improved a lot over the 24 hours since I was operated on. It feels like I have done a thousand sit ups! but strangely I have no gas pains at all and I was all ready with my GasX, maybe the gas pains have still to arrive? hope not! Deep breaths are sore but the meds have it sorted for now. Got home today at 12.30pm and had some soup. I think overall while I would want to go through the process again, it was not as traumatic as I was expecting nor as painful after the fact. One step at a time I guess and a few days to let everything settle before going back to work. Hope everyone is doing well and keep in touch. Gary

Well, glad you are safe and sound, that's the main thing. The spitting up blood scenario does not sound pleasant and neither does the gas in chest cavity. Thanks for letting me know that 36 hours before I go into battle! Let us know how things progress and I'll let you know how I get on with surgery (assuming I make it through surgery :-)

Hi folks, I'm Gary and I have just found the site. This could be really useful as I don't know anyone personally who has had a band. My first visit to the surgeon was mid July and he suggested 2 appointments with the dietician and a final appointment with him (Mr. Robert Stuart, Ross Hall Hospital, Scotland), which was yesterday (27th Aug). Decision made and I'm going to do it and now have a banding date (29th Sept). Need to go see the dietician again to get the lowdown on the pre op diet but looking forward to just getting on with it now. No idea how easy or hard this is going to be but determined to get fit as soon as possible. Been unfit for too long! Source: September Bandsters

Had my pre op checks this morning. Day 11 of the liquid diet and 21lbs down already so really pleased with that start although I'm getting pretty fed up with the same things day after day but the big countdown is on with surgery at 1.30pm on Thursday. Hope you guys who were banded this week are doing well. Gary

So glad it all went well Eric. Let us know how things progess and lessons learned........a week to go for me, excited!

Hope your procedure goes well today. Let us know how you get on. A week from today for me! Gary

Best of luck on wednesday Eric..... good times ahead!

Hi Jon, Yes, I live in Glasgow and I have Ross Hall (BMI) hospital literally right round the corner so its convenient and I have been there a number of times for bits of me that have gone wrong. They have been great I have to say.

Dave, you are a star, that is exactly what I am going to do! Thanks a lot. Gary

There is such a variety of pre op diets. I was quite pleased with mine, porridge, Soups, jelly (or Jello for my US buddies), custard, yoghurt etc. Pretty tasty stuff and not a Protein shake in sight thankfully. I am on that for 2 weeks before and the exact same diet for 2 weeks after. It would be nice to eat something that requires to be chewed but hey, it's temporary! You going from the UK to Belgium? Gary

The old liquid diet certainly gets the diet off to a great start, 14lbs down already. Hope your surgery goes perfectly well and let us know once you get your typing fingers back in action.

Hi Peg, I am on day 5 of the diet and looking forward to surgery also on the 29th! big day for us! Good luck

Welcome Jim, good to hear from you. This is day 5 of my pre op diet today so I'm getting ready for surgery on the 29th Sept. Looking forward to it mainly but the prospect is slighly scary also. Not finding the pre op diet easy but I'm sticking to it rigidly! Keep in touch. Gary

Hope you're feeling better my friend. Good info re the gas situation, I can warn the wife to expect much farting! Gary

Hi Eric, I'm just at the end of day one on the liquid diet and realised I wasn't supposed to start it until tomorrow! I'm hoping the first few days are the worst as I have been pretty hungry today. You'll get your band in a week before me so if you are feeling well enough, let us know how it goes. All the very best! Gary