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Josh, If you are allowed diet soft drinks while you are on Optiyuck, try mixing vanilla Opti with 200ml of your favourite - just like drinking a spider - I actually didn't mind drinking it this way. Danna

Hi Meghan, I was told that you should be eating between 1/2 -1 cup of mushies per meal. When this no longer stops you from feeling hungry to make it a bit thicker (less fluid). Perhaps you have it with too much liquid and so it is just going through the stoma faster. Try making it with a little less Fluid and see if that helps, otherwise ring your Dr or dietician. Danna

thought it might be a good idea to have a thread where we can post our losses - hope this is ok. DOB Dec 3 2007 Weight Nov 1 2007 165kg (363.7 pounds) Weight Dec 12 153.2kg (337.7 pounds) Total Loss 11.8 kg (26 pounds) Danna:clap2::whoo::clap2::whoo::clap2::whoo:

Remember that there is not a lot going into your system to be able to come out! Try some pear, apple or prune juice. Danna

I wish i could say that I was one of the really good people who never cheated on the pre-op diet. the truth is I did fall off the wagon a couple of times - the thought that i would never have a certain food again sent me into panic mode. Since then I have met a couple of bandits who have reached their ideal weight, one lady has only ever had one fill and except for white bread can eat anything. So my panic was for nothing!!! You just do the best you can pre-op, unfortunately none of us are perfect, but like with every diet - just keep trying. Good luck, it really is worth it. Danna:bounce:

Welcome Meg and Brandie, I was banded on Monday last week and even though I am not yet onto 'normal' food, only mushies, this is the best thing I have ever done for myself. Who you tell is up to you, I have been very fortunate in that everyone that I have told has been very supportive. My team at work all know and a couple of close friends and they kept me motivated during the pre-op diet. It is really hard sticking to that pre-op diet. As long as your Dr hasn't told you to lose a certain amount of weight before surgery, the main purpose will be to shrink your liver to make the op easier. Good luck to you both and make sure you keep in touch once you are on the other side. Danna:bounce:

Hey TMG, I'm just a week ahead of you. Had my post-op appt yesterday and have been allowed to start mushies - so much better than fluids. Good luck on Tuesday. Welcome Josh, plenty of people here if you have questions. Danna

Well done and isn't it great to know that it isn't going to come back!!! Danna

Steph, You probably haven't done any harm, but I would ring and speak to your Dr just to be sure - at least that way he will be able to reassure you if nothing else. Danna

I agree with bandster. When I first got home from hospital, all I really wanted was Water and sleep. My DH got some BBQ chicken and I just slept through that and he was sitting next to me eating it. If he did that today I would bite his arm off with the chicken!!:heh: Danna

I had my post-op appointment yesterday and have lost 11kg (about 25 lbs) since starting the pre-op diet in November.:whoo: I am allowed to start on mushies and was told that on Christmas day I can have real food -not mush - provided it is cut up into small pieces - this will make life so much easier at the in-laws. My next appointment is January 9 and they will see if I need to have a fill. My Dr won't give a fill unless you are starting to feel hungry on what you are allowed to eat. I met a lady on Tuesday night who has now reached her goal weight and is maintaining it after12 months. In the 2 years that she has been banded she has only had 1 fill and the only thing she can't eat is white bread - I so hope that is me!!!! Good luck all Danna

Hi, I went to my local support group on Tuesday night and there were some new people there investigating the band and they asked a similar question. The reply they were given was: when you go on the VLCD the first thing that happens is that your body calls on the fat cells in the liver and this reduces it's size, then the weight loss kicks in. Even though you have not lost a lot of weight your liver may have reduced in size. Before you change your diet you should call your Dr and discuss to make sure that it is ok. Good luck Danna

Every Dr seems to have different ideas - would really be nice if they could all agree for a change:D The purpose of the liquid is not to lose weight but to give time for your stomach to heal after the op and so that you don't stretch your new little pouch. If you start eating too soon your stomach won't heal as quickly and this could possibly lead to complications later. So best follow whatever your Dr says. Mine said 2 weeks liquid, 2 weeks mushies, but I went for my post-op check up yesterday and the swelling and incisions were healing so well that I was told I could start with sloppy mushies.:hungry: Danna

I agree, I'm only using my Dr's scales as my show about 2kg (4.5 lbs) less than his, so yesterday was my post op check-up and my appt to decide if I need a fill is Jan 9 - so will get weighed again then. Like you, so long as it is moving in the right direction is all that matters. Danna

I couldn't stomach the soup, but I was told that if you add your daily allowance of vege and a bit of soy sauce it tastes much better. I ended up making my own soup with a bit of stock, curry and vege - then I was able to have a shake as well for dessert. Danna

Don't worry too much about the weight loss yet - that's not the purpose of the pre-op diet. The main purpose is to shrink the liver to make surgery easier and recovery quicker. the pre-op diet is like any other diet, some will lose faster than others due to their metabolisim. check with your Dr or dietician, most are allowed to have some low carb veges as well as the liquid and diet Jello - these help fill you up. You are doing great - keep up the good work - it will be worth it in the end. Danna:biggrin1:

You are all going to do great - you will all do the best you can and your reward at the end will be knowing that the weight you lose now will be gone for ever thanks to your new little buddy (band). I was s**t scared before my op, so you are not alone in that feeling. Good luck to you all. Danna:whoo::clap2:

did someone say Chicken wings....with chilli sauce, or maybe BBQ sauce...who needs sauce. Where can I get some chicken wings...would they go in the blender and turn into liquid do you think??:hungry: Danna

Ok, I am on day 7 post banding, I still have a bit of gas but at least my body doesn't growl anymore (lol). I haven't needed the pain meds since last Wednesday, but I still feel really tired - that could be due to a liquid diet. I am soooo looking forward to next week when I start on mushy foods.:hungry: I am still really nervous about the choice I have made as it is going to be a whole new lifestyle for me. I am off to see the nurse practitioner at my surgeons office on Wednesday and will get them to weigh me on their scales but my bathroom scales are saying that I have lost about 15kg (33lbs) since 1 November :whoo:but I'm not going to jump for joy just yet. Danna:bounce:

Ok, I'm no expert, but I was on the pre-op diet of Optifast 3 times per day for 4 weeks - YES 4 weeks. It is not an easy diet to follow and no matter how much you want this op it is hard not to fall of the wagon ocassionally - after all if I didn't have an eating problem I wouldn't need the surgery!!. I fell off the diet a couple of times and on the day before surgery I ate 'real food'. I followed the hospital instructions not to eat or drink anything from midnight. I had a BMI of 61 when I started this journey. I had a standard op - no drama's etc. To those who are on the pre-op diet, all I can say is hang in there - but if you slip up one day, pick yourself up and tighten your belts and start again. Life is not perfect, and we can't all be perfect, no matter how we try. If you have been able to stick to your diet without any slip ups then well done, if like me, it all became too much just remember a new day means a new start and you now know that you need to find some way to cope with the head hunger. Good luck everyone. Danna

Good luck to all the Merry Losers being banded this week. Look forward to seeing you on the losers bench:whoo: Danna

Boy are you normal!!!!! I went through all these right up to the time they took me into surgery. This is a major life decision but you have reached the decision that this is what you need. Just remember why you made that decision. It certainly isn't selfish. Yo-yo dieting is very bad for the heart and you have more chance of dying from a heart attack than from this surgery. I started with a BMI of 61 and can't weigh myself on my bathroom scales as they do not go that high!! If you weren't scared or having second thoughts at this stage I would worry about you!! If it is any help my blog address is below - go there and you will see that I have been through the same feelings and that you are not alone. If you continue to feel scared, please send me a message and we can have a 'chat' off the BB. Danna:bounce:

Tomeica, Also try peppermint tea for the gas pain - helps to relieve it. Danna

Dandydeb, Make sure you have plenty of soups, protein drinks etc for when you get home - you will not feel like preparing anything after the surgery. Have a liquid vitamin available - you need to be taking these daily to help your recovery. Make sure you have really comfortable clothes to come home in - fashion comes second to comfort on this occasion - if you can get away with out a bra do so or take a really comfortable one with you as many of the incision will be along the band line. Take a book or something with you in case you have a long wait. Can't think of anything else right now. Danna

Lindy, If you or your husband have Superannuation you may be able to get the money through them. If this is something you want to look at, let me know and I can tell you how to go about it as I am getting the money to cover the o/standing surgeon fees that way. Danna