Yvonne

Hi, I've been on there a couple of times and have been lucky in that some people logged on right after me so was able to chat with them. All the other times there was no mainscreen chat at all. When it works it's great - a real comfort to chat to other lapbanders, hope they get it up and running again soon. Yvonne x

Hi there, I'm just across the Water in Scotland and wish you all the best for your forthcoming op. I'm newly banded Nov 06. It's great that you have friends near you who've gone through it, that'll be a great help. I don't know anyone going through it but this site has been a godsend. Let us know how you get on. Yvonne x

Thanks K@t - that explains it. Yvonne x

Hi Girlin, I have some sedatives that are supposed to help me sleep but just aren't working, my meds changed just before the op - I'm on a new anti-depressant and think it's this that's causing the sleep problems. I'd need to ask my p-doc for ambien or similar here in the UK. Good luck on the pre-op diet - your surgery will be over before you know it and after a week you'll be right as rain. I'm not the best person to ask about life after lap-band at the moment. I'm eating as I did before the op and don't feel banded at all. I haven't been filled and won't be till the end of Feb - long way off - seems to be different time scales here. I'm telling myself I'll get back on track after Christmas. I was told to stay on a liquid 800 cal diet for 3 months till the first fill but I couldn't handle it because I was getting hungrier by the day. I'm not stuffing my face but I'm not losing weight either - stuck in a rut! Please don't take my experience as the norm - you'll get filled much sooner and won't have these probs. Wishing you a peaceful christmas and a happy new year, love, Yvonne x

Hi girlin, How are you? The lactulose is helping - thank god - and it does taste like syrup - usually meds taste horrible - otherwise feeling ok ish - just struggling with my 800 cal diet and feeling tired cos I'm not sleeping well at nights. Take care, Yvonne x

Hi Cherie, I was a nervous wreck a few days before the operation but just remembered how long I waited for it and being so sure all along the way - these are just last minute nerves - everyone gets them and you'd be abnormal not to. I had hardly any gas pains, only when i came round, it stayed for an hour or two then it just dissappeared. Had to sleep upright for the first couple of days. I didn't have a pre-op diet and any depression about not being able to eat your favourite things is blown away when you see the weight coming off, and it'll keep you going with the diet plan. My first day home was the worst as I couldn't stop thinking about food. I went through my kitchen and threw everything out that I couldn't eat. Get loads of your OK foods in before you go to hospital, that way you're up and running when you get home. I was sore for a couple of days but was amazed at getting back to normal so quickly, I hoovered the house on my third day and was most of the way there after a week, and after 10 days I felt great. By that time you'll have your stitches out and they'll be healing nicely too. I didn't have any bruising whatsoever. Try to remember why you wanted this in the first place and I wish you all the best with your op. Take care, Yvonne x

Hi, Good luck with those of you having your first fill, would love to know how you get on and what it's like, how you feel etc? It's great to see everyone's weight loss so far. Angela, I'm a bit like you too, have full days and not hungry but empty days - and where I feel like I need/deserve a decent meal - how are you doing on the liquid/mushie diet and what helps you stay with it? It get's me down some days. I won't get a fill till late Feb/early march (waiting for appt) and it seems a hell of a way away. I have no restriction whatsoever and could eat like I was before the op but I'm doing myself a favour and sticking with the eating plan. Are you all suprised at your weightloss so far? are you pleased or think it's not enough? I just hope the rate keeps up for a while at least. What are you all eating at this stage? I'm having lots of fruit juice (fave is pomegranate), milk, coffee and flavoured water (my dietician said coffee was fine and I love her for it, read on here that coffee is not allowed) plus one protein shake a day (yummy - tastes like ice cream), porridge, soup and milk puddings like semolina, yoghurts and mousses. Tried a soft boiled egg one morning and felt too full for the rest of the day. It's not a hardship it's just that doing it for 3 months seems daunting. Wondering also if anyone had problems with bulemia/anorexia in the past. I did and it was the only period in which I could control/manage my weight. Love reading about everyones experiences on here. Take care, Yvonne x

Hi people, Everyone's nuts - who's 100% sane? and the biggest nutters are those who won't accept it! My dad is a nutter and thinks he's the sanest person for miles.........never thought he had a problem and never sought help........ parents eh? Anyhoo - well said terrilen, this season is hard for people with depression and I wish you all peace of mind at this time of year. I try to remember that spring will be with us before we know it and with it comes some relief. Hi to wootsie, lap dancer, julie and kwhenry - nice to meet you all. I'm sitting here trying to keep a level head this morning - it's hailstones outside and I've been up since 05.30 - eek - woke up after having some terrible nightmares, can't shake them off - worst for a while - the risperdal has helped but not completely. It's nice to meet fellow bipolars, I don't know anyone in person with it - all my bipolar friends are online and American - proof in itself that America has more nutters than anywhere else - lol (don't take me seriously) and it's good to talk with someone going through the same as you. Take care all, Yvonne xxx

Hi Ang and fitz, I'm so bloody relieved not to be the only one to have a wee cheat. Thanks for posting you girlies you've put my mind to rest. I didn't even enjoy the meal - but couldn't stop eating it at the time, then as soon as I was finished I hated myself and all the next day. That was yesterday and I was really good all day and lost that pound I gained - thank god. I was just panicking thinking well I haven't been filled and can eat normally(first time I'd tried since being banded) so what's to stop me eating what I fancy all the time - like before the band. But now I realise it was just a wee slip and I was over reacting as usual - I'm a bit of a worrier! I'm jealous of all the people out there who have been and are getting filled - I just don't understand why I have to wait so long for mine, feeling sorry for myself - slap me! I suppose I'll have other bad days - but getting back on the diet is more important than the odd slip. Thanks for reading and posting. take care, Yvonne xxx

OH! Just remembered - I also put on a pound so it's like every old diet all over again - lose some then put it all back on and then some more. Yvonne x

Hi, I fell off the wagon last night and had a chinese chow mein. Now that I know I can eat without any problems it's going to be much harder to stick to a liquid/mushies diet for the next 3 months till my first fill. :help: Anyone else having problems? I'm trying to be good today, last night wasn't about hunger - more just wanting. I'm fed up at having to wait all this time for a fill, seems like torture when I'm reading on here that you guys are being filled much sooner. What do you all think? Yvonne x

Hi, My doctor has precribed lactulose - I hope it works - no-one told me that after the op it would be scary trying to do a poo! :help: Yvonne x

Hi mamamanikay, A stone is 14 lbs Yvonne x

Hi Marni, I've lost 10 lbs since leaving hospital last Thur and can't believe how fast it's coming off but I know it'll start to taper off soon. I'd be more than happy at losing a stone a month but this might be asking a lot too so as long as the scales keep moving in the right direction I'll be happy. I think I'd get disheartened with losing 1-2lbs a week as I'm only on 800 cals/day though but seeing the scales moving is an incentive to keep being good. Take care, Yvonne x

yes - same here too My stomach isn't even growling - if I'm a little hungry a coffee sorts me out - don't feel like eating much at all. It's been a week since my surgery and I feel able to eat anything cos I've not had a fill but to be honest I just don't want it. Here's hoping it lasts! Yvonne x

Hi all, I put pen to paper to see what happened and came up with this. Hope to see lots more on here but for now I'll start you all off. JUST GOT MY DATE AND I CAN'T WAIT IT'S BEEN A YEAR BUT NOW IT'S NEAR GETTING NERVOUS JUST DAYS TO GO WILL I GET THERE OR BE A NO SHOW THE DAY BEFORE AND ALL IS GOOD HAVING MY LAST MEAL OF CHINESE food NOW MY FAVOURITE FOODS I CANNOT HAVE HOW WILL I COPE, WILL I GO MAD? THE DAY HAS COME WILL MY HEART POP I WISH IT WAS OVER AND DONE WITH SO THE BUTTERFLIES WILL STOP THE PRE-MEDS ARE IN THIS IS FUN NOT LONG NOW THEN I'LL BE DONE THEY'VE COME TO GET ME OH MY GOT IT'S HERE WILL I STAY CALM OR PANIC WITH FEAR DEEP BREATHS, DEEP BREATHS COUNT TO TEN IT'LL SOON BE OVER AND THEN.......... WAKE UP ON THE WARD FEELING NUMB MY DAUGHTERS HERE TO SEE HER MUM AND THEN I REMEMBER WHAT I'VE DONE I WENT UNDER THE KNIFE TO START A NEW LIFE FOR MY LITTLE GIRL AND OF COURSE FOR ME TO WATCH HER GROW UP IS WHAT I LONG TO SEE UH OH, NOW THIS IS PAIN I NEED SOME HELP, OR I'LL GO INSANE THE NURSES ARE ANGELS THEY BRING THE MORPHINE AND IN IT GOES, AH THAT'S BETTER I'LL NEED TO SEND A THANK YOU CARD OR A THANK YOU LETTER I CAN SIT BY MY BED WOO HOO - NOT BAD STILL A BIT OF PAIN THERE BIT I'M NOT SAD I'M TAKING FLUIDS BIT IT'S GOOD COS I'M NOT HUNGRY DON'T THINK ABOUT FOOD TWO DAYS HAVE PASSED AND I GO HOME NOW THE CRAVINGS START WHEREVER I ROAM I GO INTO THE KITCHEN THIS FOOD IS NO GOOD SO OUT IT GOES AND IN THE BIN NOW THAT FEELS GOOD AND HELPS MY MOOD AND NOW THE BATTLE HAS BEGUN HOW CAN I MAKE THESE MUSHIES FUN? LITTLE TASTES OF SOMETHING YUMMY HELPS THE CRAVINGS AND SOOTHES MY TUMMY THE scales ARE MOVING IT'S GREAT TO SEE JUST STICK WITH IT AND GOOD FOR ME! SO TO ALL THE BANDSTERS ON THIS SITE WE'LL HELP EACH OTHER, WE'LL DO THIS - RIGHT! SO MANY STORIES, SO MUCH INSPIRATION TO HELP US ALL WITH OUR MOTIVATION

Hi, I'm a November bandster too - pleased to meet you all. I was banded on the 28th Nov in Scotland. My first fill is in 3 months :help: and i'm on mushies till then. I'm finding it hard but I haven't been hungry since the op so I mustn't grumble. I'm excited about the coming year as I can see the scales moving in the right direction - it's not been much - but every little helps. I just hope I don't get disheartened when the scales stop moving even though I'm eating 800 cals per day! Looking forward to my first fill and eating real food again. Also looking forward to chatting with you all. Each day is one day closer to a new you. Take care all, Love Yvonne x

The Black Crowes, The Pixies, The Doors, The Cult, Talking Heads And Wings? Love This Thread Yvonne X

Wishing You Well Wp84 You're Right - I Don't Know What To Do Now That I Can't Eat Whatever I Like - I Was Banded 28th Nov - It's Tough But You'll Get There. Just Now I'm Trying To Concentrate On Foods I Can Eat - Mushies - And What Kinda Thing Would Be Nice For A Wee Change. You're Doing The Right Thing Getting On The Anti-d's - They'll Help And Talking Is Always Good. Try Not To Be Too Hard On Yourself - Treat Yourself - Non food Treats - Lovely Long Candlelit Baths, Listen To Some Of Your Favourite Music - Just A Couple Of Things That Help Calm Me Down And Lift My Mood. Take Care, Yvonne X

Robert Plant

Cypress Hill, U2 And Eminem - My Boyfriend Again!

The Cowboy Junkies - Compliments Of My Other Half

Blur, Talking Heads & Whitesnake

Cornershop, The Police & Red Hot Chilli Peppers

White Stripes