GC53

I was going to have the Easyband. The doctor has a card rather like a credit card which is kept at the hospital. When you go for an adustment [obvioulsy there is no fill/unfil as there is no saline - it is electronically opened and closed] he places the card into the machine [rather like the machine at the store when you pay by credit card] It has all of your details on it and he can then remotely open/close the band. I was all set to have this band on 11th March but during the op two of the surgeons decided that it was too large a band for my stomach and that it wouldn't give enough restriction. Hope this answers some of your questions.

I was on the pre-op diet for 10 days prior to surgery. Yes it is to shrink your liver. The major thing is to cut fats. I had protien shakes and soups [provided in the cost] and I could add 5 portions of fruit or vegetables each day.

Yes I was going to have it done but when it came to the op two of the surgeons decided that it was too big for my stomach. Apparently it is a fairly large band and they said that they thought there would not be enough restriction - which would have meant it was a total waste of money. So they put the Inamed Lapband instead. Was a little disappointed as I really fancied not having the port - but on the bright side I got a refund of £1000 as the Lapband is cheaper than the Easyband. I am now really pleased that the doc didn't just stick the Easyband in anyway [after all I had already paid for it] just shows how honest he is

I was thinking exactly the same thing as you. I was banded 11th and am still on liquids but I see others are eating all sorts of different foods. I was amazed that someone banded only on the 15th I think it was had been eating ice cream and nuts! I was told to seive everything.

Think the description 'head hunger' is just perfect for what I am feeling. And yes I think you are correct when you say that it is the swallowing of the food and not particularly the chewing. I am thinking though that it must feel a bit strange the first time you eat something which hasn't been mushed or blended. There will be this thing in your head telling you that it might get stuck - that must make it really difficult to swallow. I went out last night and bought some lovely homemade soups from my local supermarket - they were so thick I had to add some water and put through the blender but the taste was sublime. Also bought some Actimel in some nice flavours, coconut, blueberry. And some drinking yoghurt in strawberry and raspberry so have some different flavours to keep me going. Chewing Gum I thought about this but my doc says it's a no-no because it causes you to swallow air - therefore more gas and believe me I have enough gas. I having been sleeping so well not waking during the night at all until last night. Went to bed with a really bad shoulder pain - took pain killers but woke during the night in agony. Reading my notes from the doc it seems as though these are skeletal pains - quite normal after this type of surgery. Seem to be OK today though.

I thought that it might be quite gross do that - think that's what stopped me but I thought it might just satisfy the urge to chew. My doc told me not to chew gum as it makes you swallow air and I'm suffering with enough wind as it is. :embarassed: I, like you, find myself sloshing the liquids around my mouth before swallowing. I have to clean my teeth umpteen times a day too as I keep getting a furry feeling on them and a furry tongue. Just been shopping and bought a few things, Liquid yoghurts, actimel and some fab soups - just had brocolli and cheddar - although had to add some water and put it through the blender - it was delicious. We will get there.

Hi Babylovestoys You sound like my twin - where are you based? I too have to stay on the liquid diet and I have lost 10 pounds. I am now feeling like I want to eat something - not hungry at all - but just the actual act of chewing something would be nice. I am still suffering with the pains from the gas and also trapped wind is really getting me down. Last night I even contemplated chewing a sandwich but spitting it out and not swallowing it - just to feel food in my mouth and to go through the act of physically biting into something and chewing it. Do smokers go through this do you think when they give up - don't want to smoke the cigarette but they want to hold it in their fingers, light it, suck on it. My hubby had a bagel today and the smell of it toasting was just unbelievable. He is trying so hard not to eat to keep me company. I just daren't eat anything that is more solid than a runny shake as I was told that even the shakes could be too thick at this stage. Any ideas anyone. I'm sure it's just 'cold turkey' but 17 days on liquids is becoming a bit of a bore

Hiya Anon Yes I felt like that too. It is very lonely down there in UK bandland. I was banded 11th March. I also found that Anne Diamonds site www.fathappens.com there is a whole topic on there for UK bandsters

I am amazed, aftert reading lots of posts on here, on the different ways we are told to east pre and post op. I was on soups/shakes provided by the Healthier Weight Centre [uK] and could also have five portions of fruit or vegetables every day for 10 days up to surgery. I had the band fitted last Sunday 11th March and was given water and/or orange juice to drink immediately after I woke up along with liquid painkillers. I also had a morphine drip but didn't have to use it once as I was not in any pain. Monday I was allowed tea/coffee, water, juice and consomme [which was really tasty] and was allowed home. No xrays or barium and was allowed to go home after the doc had checked me over. I had waterproof dressings which can be removed after 10 days. I was very very swollen [looked about 8 months pregnant] and absolutely black and blue. I was told to only have drinks and to even water down yoghurt or milk shakes. I can't believe some of you can eat a little. This is for 3 weeks then I can move to the mushie stage. I am now to day 6 - feeling much better and the swelling is starting to subside and the bruises are now going yellow so I'm definitely on the mend. I have slept like a brick every night so no problems there. My only problem is trapped wind and the pain in my shoulder. It does help if I move around but am resting as much as possible. Thinking of going to the store to buy some of those YOP drinking yoghurts/Actimel drinks.

Well it's Monday afternoon and I am home, band fitted. They unfortunately couldn't fit the telemetric band which I wanted as they said my stomach was too small. Aparently the telemetric band is a large band and they wouldn't have been able to close it enough to give me any restriction so the surgeon thought it would be better to fit the normal lapband and the bonus was I get £1000 refund!!! I'm very swolen and bruised but not in any pain and am amazed at how much I have drunk since the op. Seemed to drink glass after glass of Water and orange juice, cups of tea [the coffee in the hospital was far too strong] and had consomme for lunch today. Back on the coffee now I am home. I was given my 'menu' for the next 3 weeks. I can drink any liquids I want plus Protein shakes as long as I make them really thin with either milk or water, clear Soups or even yoghurt if it is blended with milk to make it thin. Tea, coffee, unsweetened juices and water. So glad it is done.

I am suffering so much with trapped wind pains. I am black and blue with bruising and I am so swollen I look about 8 months pregnant!!! Sleeping Ok but very tired. Trying to get the soups, protien shakes and liquids down but hard with having the wind and being so swollen. Am amazed that some people on here are talking about eating tiny amounts of food only a couple of days after surgery. I was told to only have liquids - even water down yoghurts. What does anyone take for the trapped wind

I am suffering soooooo much with the gas pains. Hazlebunny - surprised that you are allowed jello only two days after surgery. I have been told I can only have soups [as long as there are no 'bits' in them], protein shakes as long as they are really thin, water, tea coffee or zero cal fruit juice [again as long as there are no bits in it] or yoghurt as long as it is thinned with milk or water. I am absolultely black and blue with bruising but not painful but really, really suffering with gas pain.

I'm not on the list - I was banded Sunday 11th March

I was banded 11th March - I am like magnolia and don't know which incision is the port. I overstretched a little last night in bed reaching for a bottle of water and the pain just below and between my breasts was unbearable. No more overstretching for me. I am suffering badly with trapped wind also but moving around does help it. Not at all hungry - and also trying to get the liquid protein, broth, water, soluble pain killers down. Also very tired but sleeping all night with no pain at all.

Feeling much better this morning although had to sleep almost sitting up - only way to get comfy but great to be back in my own bed. Seem to have a lot of trapped wind this morning and very swollen and very sore but managing to drink everything I'm supposed to without any problems. Looking forward to a summer of wearing shorts!!!!!!!!

No they meant the zero calorie unsweetened juices. Although I don't drink much juice as a rule - prefer flavoured zero cal Water.

Yes I have a low BMI and only about 37lbs to lose - I have managed to keep off some of the weight I lost when I had the gastric balloon. However I have high blood pressure and terrible knee and hip joint pain. So the surgeon still thinks I will benefit from losing the weight. I am in the UK and had it done in Manchester. Mr Ashton was the surgeon - he is fabulous.

Well all done. Unfortunately they couldn't fit the telemetric but the upside to that is I get a one thousand pound refund!! Very swolen and bruised but not in any pain. Back home and feeling quite fit really. Amazed at how much I have drunk since the op but very thirsty.

Well all done. Unfortunately they couldn't fit the telemetric but the upside to that is I get a one thousand pound refund!! Very swolen and bruised but not in any pain. Back home and feeling quite fit really. Amazed at how much I have drunk since the op but very thirsty.

My BMI is only 32.9 but my doc still wanted me to do the pre-op with shakes and soups as he said it helps enormously during the op if the liver has shrunk and he said it also helps aid recovery. From a personal point of view I have now got used to the liquid diet so my thinking is that I won't find it so hard after tomorrow to only be able to have liquids.

Well band is fitted tomorrow. So nervous today. Don't even want to eat - even if I could. Can't wait for it all to be over now and to be back home Monday.

Well band is fitted tomorrow. So nervous today. Don't even want to eat - even if I could. Can't wait for it all to be over now and to be back home Monday.

I have been on the pre-op diet for 10 days - op is this coming Sunday. The shakes and soups were provided by the healthier weight centre and are called Weight to Go. I was told to have four shakes and two soups per day along with five portions of fruit or vegetables. I put frozen bananas or rasps, strawbs or blueberries in the shakes [they are made with water] and it really thickens them. Ice cubes thicken shakes too by the way

Can't believe how I can stick to this soup and shake diet but I can't stick to a diet when there is plenty to eat. Cheat all the time. Guess it's because I know there is surgery at the end of it. Have all my work finished now so have nearly two weeks to myself to totally relax and recover from the banding. Less than 48 hours now - really excited, and scared at the same time.

Can't believe how I can stick to this soup and shake diet but I can't stick to a diet when there is plenty to eat. Cheat all the time. Guess it's because I know there is surgery at the end of it. Have all my work finished now so have nearly two weeks to myself to totally relax and recover from the banding. Less than 48 hours now - really excited, and scared at the same time.