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Ron, We are all here to gain strength from one another. I'm sure that your posts will inspire others who are new to the site and thinking of being banded. Make sure you keep us up to date with your progress. Danna

Hey UG, How are you going, your question seems to have got lost in the discussion. How are you coping? Are you still hungry or have you found a solution? We are all different and what works for one person doesn't always work for another. Let us know how you are doing. Danna

Experiment - I did. I had a slice of meatloaf pureed up with some mushroom Soup when I first went onto mushies - after nothing but fluids it was wonderful. Pasta with a tomato sauce is also nice pureed up - looks awful but tastes delicious. The advice given to me by my Dr (which may differ, so please check with your Dr first) was that when the mushies I was eating stopped making me feel full, rather than increase the amount I was eating I was to make them thicker - that is less Fluid and not so finely pureed (spelling?) the idea here was that they took longer to move into the lower part of your stomach so you felt fuller for longer. I am now on full foods and just waiting for my first fill in January. Danna

Hey Blocka, None of us are here because we are underweight - we have been/are where you are now. I was banded on 3 December and have lost over ll kg already - no restriction yet so hate to see what I will be like after the holidays. I'd love a home gym but I don't think i would be motivated to use it - will just have to go with the local gym which I intend to join in the new year. Danna

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and good luck to those soon to be banded. Danna

Well, it is Christmas Eve morning here in Australia, so I would just like to wish all the Merry Losers a Merry Christmas and a bright and prosperous New Year - may we all be happy losers in 2008. To those yet to be banded, what a great Christmas present you are getting. You may not appreciate it this year, but next Christmas you will be able to Celebrate in style. Merry Christmas to you all and to your families. Danna:D

So that you don't gulp your drink down too fast and take air into your stomach. You will have enough gas after the op without taking in more when you drink. It is also getting you prepared for when you have restriction. When i went onto mushies I was told to eat slowly and chew well - it's hard to chew food the consistency of baby food - but it is to get you into the habits. Danna

Are you on full liquids? If so try some drinking yoghurt or tomato Soup made on milk - should help you feel fuller and also increase your protein intake. Danna

Don't panic too much - it took me about 1 1/2 weeks before I started to feel anywhere near normal - each day will get better. Are you on full fluids yet? If you are try drinking yoghurt or something with a bit more substance than broth - I was told I could drink anything as long as it went up a Macdonalds straw - so was able to have fruit smoothies, egg flips etc - more substantial types of fluids. Also are you drinking the full amount, the more you drink (I'm talking water and low cal drinks here) the better as it will help stop the hunger. As you move onto mushies the hunger will stop but you will probably find that the hunger feelings will come back as your body gets better and prepares to move onto the next stage. My Dr was great when I saw him post op - told me that as my hunger grew to thicken what i was drinking/eating and I am now onto soft, non-mushie foods. When you have your post op appt discuss what you can eat with your Dr. Also remember that when you get a fill you will feel less hungry. You're doing great - hang in there. Danna

Greeneyez, Not all Dr's stop you drinking diet coke although you won't be able to drink them for a few weeks after the surgery because of the gas from the op. I'm drinking local cordial at the moment, but I am looking forward to the end of January when I can try diet coke again. Danna

Congratulations and welcome to the other side. Try adding some diet flavouring to your Water - much nicer that way. Danna

Are you on full fluids or only clear fluids. If you are on full fluids and having problems with the protein drinks you could try having some drinking yoghurt (if you like yoghurt) or egg flip (again if you like milk and are allowed it). These will both lift your protein intake and I found them to be much easier to drink than Optifast. Danna

Hey, Great to hear you have come through ok and welcome to the other side. Take it easy for the next few days but you'll soon start to feel better. Danna

TXBandit, I was banded 12/3 and like you I am still tired. The Dr told me this would be due to a combination of the anaesthetic and the fact that I have been taking in so many less calories than I am used to and that the body is still recovering from surgery. He said that it could be as much as 2 months before I feel 'normal' but that I should keep moving even if it was only a 5 minute walk. Danna:notagree

Hi Sades, I'm doing well, I'm allowed to start soft foods after the weekend so looking forward to having something to chew again. I have to go see Sarah again on 9/01 to discuss if I need a fill - haven't really been feeling hungry until yesterday which is why Sarah has said I can move onto soft foods. You seem to be doing well in the weight loss area too. Hope you and your family have a great Christmas. Merry to Christmas to all the bandsters and soon-to be bandsters as well Danna

I have posted this somewhere before, but I will put it here for you. You will need to substitute the fluids you are allowed as I was allowed full fluids after 3 days, but this might give you an idea on how to get all your fluids (sorry its in metric but I am an Aussie). Danna On Waking Sip 100-120mls Supradyn mixture over about 10-15 mins Breakfast 240 mls Sustagen made on Water. Sip 120 mils over 10-15 mins, wait half an hour and the sip the second 120 mls over 10-15 mins. Morning Tea 120 mls juice over 10-15 mins 120 mls cup of tea or coffee using at least 60mls low fat milk lunch 120 mls runny Soup made with half milk/half water eg tomato 120mls Sustagen sipped over 10-15 mins Afternoon Tea SAME AS MORNING TEA dinner 120 mls runny soup eg pumpkin or chicken 120 mls runny custard over 1/2 hour (Pauls trim custard) Supper Drink the rest of the sustagen about 240 mls in the same manner as breakfast NOTE You may still have a little low fat milk left to drink and you have at least 2 more hours of drinking. 240 mls each hour to reach your level of 2 litres of Fluid daily. Remember to use the free fluids like water, tea/coffee and low joule cordials to make up total volume. Daily Intake 1500-2000 Mills daily 600 mls sustagen - Calories 120 mls liquid Vitamins - no calories (Supradyn) 240 mls fruit juice - pear, apple prune, Orange ,pineapple - Calories 360 mls reduced fat milk - drink plain or make runny custards or add to soup - Calories If desired 60 mls drinking yoghurt - some calorie value sip as desired - vegetable juice - V8 or tomato sip as desired - vegemite broth - add 1 teaspoon to mug hot water Constipation add 50 mls prune, apple or pear juice daily

Hi Greeneyez and welcome, I'm not sure about surgeons from your area, but I'm sure someone will come on line later today that will be able to help you. I'm from the Manly area and I was banded at North Shore Pvt on 3/12/07 so am a fairly new bandit myself. Danna

I want to go to dinner at Tony Roma's (here in Sydney), I want some ribs NOW!!!! Danna

Peppermint tea!!!!! I had a really bad attack from the gas yesterday - had to get hubby to come in and pick me up from work. Only thing that really worked for me was peppermint tea and a lay down. Pain started at 10 in the morning and by 1 that afternoon I was in tears. By about 7 last night I was fine and able to eat something. Danna

If you are at all worried, contact your Dr - after all that is what you are paying them for. Danna

Jais, Contact your surgeon, I was banded on the 3rd and when I saw my Dr post op last week, I was told that I could start on mushies - lots of sauce with them and pureed up but that I could have between 1/2 - 1 cup per meal. As this stopped making me feel full I was to make them less mushie until I can eat soft normal food. You may need to start mushies, but as I said check with your Dr first. Danna

Do you have Supradyn or Berocca in the US. these are both disolvable and have an orange flavour - they also add to your Fluid intake. Danna

Sheila, this is what was recommended to me (sorry it's in metric - i'm from Australia) hints on Fluid Stage On Waking Sip 100-120mls Supradyn (multi vitamin) mixture over about 10-15 mins Breakfast 240 mls Sustagen (Optifast etc) made on Water. Sip 120 mils over 10-15 mins, wait half an hour and the sip the second 120 mls over 10-15 mins. Morning Tea 120 mls juice over 10-15 mins 120 mls cup of tea or coffee using at least 60mls low fat milk lunch 120 mls runny Soup made with half milk/half water eg tomato 120mls Sustagen sipped over 10-15 mins Afternoon Tea SAME AS MORNING TEA dinner 120 mls runny soup eg pumpkin or chicken 120 mls runny custard over 1/2 hour (Pauls trim custard) Supper Drink the rest of the sustagen about 240 mls in the same manner as breakfast NOTE You may still have a little low fat milk left to drink and you have at least 2 more hours of drinking. 240 mls each hour to reach your level of 2 litres of fluid daily. Remember to use the free fluids like water, tea/coffee and low joule cordials to make up total volume. Daily Intake 1500-2000 Mills daily 600 mls sustagen - Calories 120 mls liquid Vitamins - no calories (Supradyn) 240 mls fruit juice - pear, apple prune, Orange ,pineapple - Calories 360 mls reduced fat milk - drink plain or make runny custards or add to soup - Calories If desired 60 mls drinking yoghurt - some calorie value sip as desired - vegetable juice - V8 or tomato sip as desired - vegemite broth - add 1 teaspoon to mug hot water Constipation add 50 mls prune, apple or pear juice daily Hope this helps

<p><p> Yes, but you need to drink at least 2 litres of liquid a day. I was told by my Dr that as long as you sip it slowly and don't gulp it down it won't do any harm as it passes straight through the stoma into the lower part of your stomach, this is why they have you on a liquid diet to start with as it won't stretch your new pouch. If the only thing you can handle is popsicles, just make sure you are getting plenty of them otherwise you will dehydrate. You do need to get plenty of Protein though, so drinking yoghurt, Soup etc is necessary. Try spacing the liquids out over the day, sip 1/2 cup of liquid over 1/2 hour then wait 1/2 -1 hour and have another . If you only drink 1/2 cup at a time you won't cause any problems. Danna