Carmel

Congrats Dazey! Remember to take it easy for a bit. I wish the best for you!

You're welcome, dazey! Teeny, it is fairly normal - each surgeon asks different things, though. I did 8 weeks of Optifast pre-surgery but I was part of a study group

I just heard that Optifast powder now comes in strawberry and coffee. I'd seen the cappucino bars before but those powders are new. Oh and I heard there's a vegetable soup too.

Hi Kim, I'm still on fluids - will be until August 15. Things have been going fairly well in terms of recovery but I've hit a couple of snags. My blood pressure and blood sugar have gone really low and I've been passing out/getting light headed. I have to talk to the dietician tomorrow about increasing the amount of fluids if I can tolerate it coz the GP said that's the only way to get the blood pressure up. Other than that, things are good Glad to hear you're doing well!!

Hi all, I'm fairly new here. I was banded on July 17 and am just entering week 3 of the liquids stage. I see the surgeon and dietitican on August 15 at which point they'll start me on mushies if all is ok. I've had a search of the Aussie forum and can't quite find what I'm looking for. I was wondering if some of you wouldn't mind posting what your daily menu looks like on solids? There are threads in general but they tend to be US brands and servings. It would be a big help just to give me some ideas and to let me start planning ahead. Thank you, Carmel

Two days before I was banded, a friend of mine brought around a Detox recipe book and asked me to try that before I had the surgery. I said 'thank you. That has some good recipes for post-surgery'. She was so worried something was going to go wrong. But she doesn't understand the position I'm in. She's a stick - has never had a weight problem and doesn't fully grasp that I've tried everything and this is a last resort. But I know it was out of love - and it is a cool book :eek: Chim, you've been banded now - so congrats! Hope you're recovering well!

Hi rxangel, I was banded on the 17th and I've been experiencing the shoulder pain too - horrible, isn't it? I had my barium swallow the other day and the x-ray tech showed me the bubble of trapped gas. Nothing I took really helped it but the doctor said to stay on the pain killers for it and it would sort itself out. It seems better today - thank goodness! I found that heat did help and I did try some antacids too. Apparently it will just dissipate whenever it feels like it but the exercise will help. Feel better! Carmel

Oh by the way - I'm new. I'm 29 (nearly 30), live in Adelaide and was banded on July 17. Chickie, you're an inspiration I'm really appreciating everyone's stories and the support you offer each other - thank you! My biggest challenge so far is the left shoulder pain from the gas. I did a barium swallow today and the doctor showed me the big bubble of trapped gas that's causing the pain. It's horrible. But otherwise, I'm doing pretty well. Only stayed in overnight and did Optifast for 8 weeks before surgery. In the first 4 weeks, I lost 9 kg but only lost another kilo in the second month because I was having trouble sticking to it and suddenly got a rush of social invitations. But I was pleased to have 10kg off before surgery

Hi there tarajane, I used to work in travel insurance. No company (that I know of) will cover you on a standard policy for surgery within the past 12 months. You might want to enquire with QBE or another company about having a medical assessment done. You would then have to pay extra to have the "condition" covered. However, this is often an exorbitant amount and the medical assessor can still suggest that the "condition" be excluded. I wish I had better news for you - but I hear ya, I'm headed to the USA in December and I'm going to have to factor in the extra to get the band covered or travel knowing that particular "condition" won't be covered and hope for no issues. Good luck Carmel

Thanks for this thread - I have PCOS too. I'm very hopeful this will help break the vicious circle of the stored male hormone in the fat and help kickstart me on to a new lifestyle. I want to have kids.

Thanks Scarlet. The wheat bag has been helping and I tried some Mylanta a little while ago. I've got some nurofen so I might take that before bed so I can get comfy sleep

My left shoulder is driving me nuts. I had surgery on the 17th and it has been so sore. I did a barium swallow today and the doctor said he could see a big gas bubble. Oh yay. I haven't taken anything for it coz I'm not sure what is ok that we can get here in Australia.

Southern South Australia

I was banded on July 17. I'm on full fluids for 4 weeks, then vitamised food for 2 weeks and then solids. I have to see the surgeon and dietician on August 15 and they'll decide then if I can go on to the 'mushies'. To this point, I have only felt hungry twice and both times the 100mL of Fluid has filled me up. I'm meant to have 1.5L of fluid each day in 100mL lots around 45 minutes to an hour apart. I haven't reached that yet, I'm still working on it. My left shoulder is still extremely sore and the wind is still really bad - I'm thinking once they settle down, I may feel like 'eating' a little more often. I've been having low fat milk, yoghurt and custard, tomato Soup, iced tea, Water and juice. I've started on Centrum Vitamins as they are tablet (no cellulose covering to worry about) and can be broken in half. After reading about hair loss, I'm also on the look out to get some Biotin.

I was just banded on Tuesday and I have to admit that the hair loss thing has me a little freaked out. My hair is really, really fine and very thin already. I did lose some hair last year after gall bladder surgery but it stopped after about 2 months. I'm using Nioxin shampoo. The polycystic ovaries is a factor too. So Biotin and Protein are key? I'll look into that and chat with the dietician when I see her in August.

Oh. I did Optifast for 8 weeks before the surgery. In the first month, I stuck to it pretty well and lost 9kg. The second half was harder with all kinds of social stuff (and lack of willpower) so I ended up losing about 11 kilos all up. So, the free fluids are still kind of a treat right now!

Hi. I'm a newbie from South Australia. I had my band done on Tuesday. I am having chronic left shoulder pain and some pain in my lower right hand side. The wound sites are fine. I'm not hungry very often and I'm just having liquids in 100mL lots. Not as much as I should yet - the aim is 1.5L a day. The wind is pretty bad, but otherwise, I'm doing well.