beau

Hi all, I'm not quite two weeks post op and my incisions are coming along nicely. I've noticed that there is a couple small blistery type marks where the tape was that are sort of itchy, could I be sensitive to the tape? I've never had an operation before and don't know?

Phew, why is it the mind always thinks the worst, hmmmmm, flesh eating disease? lol

Hi there, I was banded on the 28th of Sept. Only a couple times when laying down have I felt a bit queezy but pretty much feel fine. I feel my breathing is a bit shallow at times, haven't been eating great quantities of food either and am down 20 lbs. Hope you start feeling better, it must be frustrating, maybe some gravol? Good luck

Hey Lianna, you're a couple weeks ahead of me, so I'll watch what you're up to. Glad all is well and you're feeling optimistic for the future, me too. So all is going with out a hitch!

Hi Everyone: Just wanted to say that I'm feeling so good today, gas pain is gone, stitches aren't pulling anymore, the hernia repair isn't even giving me any trouble. I took a pic yesterday of my tummy, actually peeled off all the old yucky tape and put on some fresh steri strips. I should have taken the pic with the tape off but didn't think of it until I'd doctored myself back up.........anyway, take a look if you dare! lol

Hi everyone. I was banded last Friday, five days ago. Feeling fine and happy to share my pic (hope it works) I remember how important the visual part was in making my decision.

Hi all: Leaving tomorrow on the 10 hour drive to Mississauga to be banded. I'm scheduled for noon on Friday, hope all goes well without any hitches. Everyone keeps asking me if I'm excited or nervous, can't say I'm either, just anxious to get it over with now. The leaves are so pretty right now on Lake Superior, the drive should be very scenic. Unfortunately I don't have any support from my husband, so I'm making the trip alone, hope that goes well too. Anyhoo,.............wish me luck!

Thanks Leslie...........I did call the clinic this morning and all my questions where quickly answered. I received my package back in August, since then there were some changes to the post op diet which Billy e-mailed me on the spot. Thanksgiving is this weekend, at least I'll be able to blend up some of the feast. We have a huge celebration at our cottage, all the cottagers get together for the final close up. I would really like to have a glass of red wine.........we'll see..........I'll probably chicken (turkey) out

I just went through that myself and found that about five fresh strawberries, splenda, ice with the vanilla is a great shake. I also loved pure vanilla extract, splenda, ice, nutmeg with the vanilla, tastes like the best vanilla milkshake ever. Strong coffee instead of water, with splenda, ice, takes like an ice cap. Good luck.........I ended up skipping out on the veggies on the second week

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I'm back and banded, the drive wasn't too overwhelming, just sort of sat back with the cruise on and stopped a few times to walk around. The worst pain I am feeling I believe is from the hernia repair, I haven't talked with Dr. Cobourn (he did call, I missed him) I get a achy pain between my breasts and through to between my shoulder blades when I get the sensation of a burp????? The stiches pull a little when I cough or sit up from lying down but other than that I feel pretty good, no port pain or feeling like there is something foreign inside me. I'm confused as to the hernia stuff? I've never had acid reflux or heartburn, wondering why that would be deemed necessary? Is that included in the band fee's or is that an extra billing to O.H.I.P.? Another thing, I was given a sheet of paper on discharge saying that after 48 hours I can start back on the Optifast, I would not assume that to be clear fluid??? Can I swallow Tylenol now without crushing? That is so gross, its been 72 hours and I think I read you can start back with pills. Anyway, haven't really eaten anything for over three days, going to fix something up now, thanks again!

Hi there, just finished all those details the past month myself. The clinic I use does ECG's on specific days, once you have the order in place, just wait in line like everybody else. I was only a matter of an hour getting the chest x-ray and ECG done the same morning. The blood work is same thing, take a number. All you're paper work should arrive at the weight loss center around three weeks prior to you're surgery. The Optifast came within days of my order, so there's no worry there. Anyway, good luck with you're band, I'm being done this Friday, wish I could have made this decision when I was you're age, I think you're very brave. I've spent my life on the yo-yo, the weight doesn't just bring physical illness, the mental toll is worse. I've been beating myself up for as long as I can remember and although I don't expect to find happiness from losing weight, I know I'll feel better about myself.

Today marks one week of Optifast down the hatch. I was a little concerned after reading some of the comments here about the taste, but really don't find it too bad. I use strong coffee instead of water with the vanilla, some Splenda and it's close enough to an ice-cap for me. I will be banded next Friday, the 28th, hope if any of you reading, in the same boat will respond.

I'm leaving on Thursday, making the drive to Toronto is about 10 hours for me, two days left. Guess I'll have to wait and see if I meet any of you down there. I must be weird cause I'm in Optifast heaven, last night,.... I added a little pure vanilla extract, Splenda, ice and nutmeg to the vanilla Optifast, OH.......MY.....GOD. I kinda wish I could just stay on this longer! lol

Well, just wanted to announce that I'm booked for Sept 28th, still have a bit of a wait but am going to enjoy the remainder of the summer, before the Optifast. Sort of feel like an inmate choosing their last meal, lol. I'll probably visit every one of my favourite restaurants just to get it out of my system. Anyway, hope to see lots of encouraging info here to keep me calm and focused waiting for the next 6 weeks.

Good for you, congrats on you're success. I am a bit nervous about how my life will change, not about the weight loss issues, I've lost over 50 pounds three times in my life, the typical yo-yo syndrome. Mostly concerned about learning to chew my food properly, not gulp, restrain on the social drinking. My family seems to have a "love" with food, as I'm sure most here do. I have a sister in law that's one of my best friends, she eats like a champion, but metabolizes well. Who knows, maybe my new habits will rub off on her........lol......doubt it! My nerves were a bit shot this summer and took up smoking, really dumb, so today is my quit day, have a patch on my bat wing that's itchy, chewed one of those gross gum this morning, and feel like I have a horn growing out of my forehead............ahhhh withdrawals. At least I have a couple weeks to have this under control before the glorious Optifast stint. Blood work tomorrow morning, then withdraw $16,000. from my bank account for the surgery......boy I'm thinking.......what the hell am I doing? Just hope its all worth it and look back at this whole experience as the best decision I ever made.

Hi Patricia: I'm still waiting for surgery, won't be until Sept 28th. Hope everything is going well for you and you're happy with you're decision.

Thanks everyone for you're encouragement, I'm calming down some since the initial "big decision" Seems like so far away, I haven't gotten my package in the mail but knew I'd need a ECG and chest x-ray which I've gotten out of the way. Just waiting to find out what exactly the clinic needs as far as blood work, I'm sure that can be done quickly. I'm working on a couple nurses up here to see if I can spark some interest in learning the fill procedures, we'll see. Anyway, thanks again.

Oh, forgot to mention, talked with Dr. C. last night, my date is set for Sept. 28...........wish me luck!

Lol, I'm laughing cause everyone is assuming I'm a regular at the beer store. Actually I drink red wine, favourite is Masi Valpolicella (Italian), that said, I think I'll do just fine.

Hi Brookelaney: thanks for the info and invite. Four hour drive for a coffee is a bit much, maybe a beer! lol Anyway, hope to keep in touch, I booked my op for Sept 28th, so its a done deal. I'll be looking at travel probably around the beginning of Nov., who knows, maybe we can co-ordinate something.

Hello, read you're posting this a.m. and contacted the O.H.I.P office a couple minutes ago. They are unaware of anything that is in the decision stages and don't know until approx. one month before the changes are made. Doesn't mean its not happening, just that they cannot confirm this info. I have also thought.......what will the criteria be? How long will the wait be for surgery, apparently bi-pass covered through O.H.I.P is up to five years. Another question I asked was, if the surgery is done prior to coverage, could receipts be submitted for re-imbursment? The answer was.........no. I wish I could report that things are progressing in regards to coverage, but I can't.

brookelaney.........do you have a fill doctor in Sudbury or do you travel to T.O.? I probably won't have my band done till the fall, which means I'll be travelling back and forth then. Who knows, maybe we can share the ride some time. Anyway, nice to hear someone closer than Siberia has done this, lol.

Thanks everyone for you're response. I am in the research stages of all this and was really beginning to think that my lifestyle would change so dramatically that it wasn't the thing for me. I don't consider myself to have a problem or anything, but coming from a place who's biggest "cultural attraction" is the Bushplane Museum, we do tend to party here. Just want to know the water before I dive in.

I too live on a border town, Sault Ste. Marie. The centre I was considering is in Traverse City, about 3 hour drive. Only problem, they require a BMI of at least 40 without other health issues, I suppose I'm fortunate not to have these but without 12 months of supervised medical attempts at weight loss, my doc can't write anything that could be helpful to me. She is suggesting that I try Meridia, I'm sure it would work but I know I'd just creep back up again eventually. Third time in my life I've needed to lose over 50lbs, and getting tired of trying. I don't mind the odd road trip, think I'll just head to Mississauga, great excuse to get away! lol

Hello, just read you're posting. I'm in Sault Ste. Marie, about 4 hours drive to North Bay from here. I'm still in the beginning stages of all this but am already thinking about the post-op travel to T.O. It would be nice to have someone to share the drive, I'm sure that fill schedules could be co-ordinated for something like that.