Fanny Adams

I think you'll find the reports of 15lb lost are after at least 2 weeks of the pre-op diet and the 20lb reports are probably after 3 weeks. 7lb in 5 days is an awesome loss and sounds like you are on track to make 15lb in 14 days! I lost 10lb in 10 days and was absolutely stoked with that. It's now day 2 after the op for me and I'm still on track at 12 days and 12lb... Wouldn't it be great if this rate kept up forever? Not going to happen, I know, but I'm going to enjoy it while it does.

Have you ever "pinched a nerve" in your shoulder? Does it feel like that? It is possible that you have been sleeping in a different position because of the operation and have done something like this to make your shoulder sore. I know that I get mild arthritis in my neck, which can result in pinched nerves. Generally, they feel like someone has threaded fishing line through my body from neck to shoulder and any movement "twangs" the line causing intense sharp pain. If I sit still, the pain fades to a dull ache. Eventually, something eases up and the tension on the "fishing line" just disappears, usually instantly. If what you are feeling sounds anything like this, you might want to look into changing the position you are sleeping in or getting your neck checked out for arthritis. Something like Voltaren cream (prescription only in Aus, not sure about the US) is very helpful.

I just got home from the hospital. I was the first one on the theatre list this morning (Monday 10th), went under the knife just after 8am and was in recovery by 9:30-10am. Spent the day in the ward with a drip giving fluids and drugs (nothing fun though ) and got out at 8:30pm. Feeling quite well, considering... stomach muscles are a little sore around the incisions (6 different incisions!) and a little bit of gas pain from when they inflate your abdmonen, but otherwise feeling fine! Whoohoo... I made it to Bandland!

So what do you experienced Bandsters recommend for munching on when watching drama unfold, now that popcorn is off the list? I so want to post a "munches popcorn" icon

Being in Australia, I spend a lot of time in various pools and I love the floating boob effect! Someone should invent a bra that does that! The one drawback is when you are doing aqua aerobics in chest deep water and, no matter how much your body jumps up and down, your boobs stay at the same level floating on the surface. NOT a pretty sight!

A couple of suggestions: * Put a cotton blanket down on the floor and change him there * Get him to climb in and out of the car seat on his own - he's 2 & half! My granddaughter (also 2 & half) has conniptions if I try to lift her in or out of the car seat "I do it!! I do it!!" * Have lots of cuddles on the couch, rather than picking him up

Good luck to you, Michelle! I'm going in tomorrow (Monday) too. I too gained a few pounds between making the decision and going on the pre-op diet. I think that is pretty standard, as most of us do the "goodbye to favourites" thing. I've been on a pre-op for 9 days and so far have lost 9lb! Whoohoo!

Here are my before pics - they were taken a few months ago but not much changed between then and the start of my pre-op 8 days ago.

This is me in June, at 2-3lb lighter than my starting weight, 8 days ago, of 275lb (125kg).

My surgeon rang me at work this morning because there'd been a cancellation at the hospital on Monday, and he offered me the earlier surgery date. I told him about what I'd been eating/drinking for the past week and asked him about the liquid vs solids issue. He was very happy with what I have done and said that the main reason doctors recommend the liquid diet is because it is far more accurate than when choosing solids. With solids, it is easy to underestimate quantities and go over-budget on calories, etc, but essentially if the numbers were the same, there was no great advantage to liquids. Soo... SURGERY IS ON MONDAY NOW!! (And I'm doing the strict liquids for the weekend, just to push it as hard as I can).

USA chatita - Houston, Texas christasha - Chula Vista, California DonHoll1 - Indiana egorsgirl1 - suburb of Dallas,Texas Ellisa - Ohio freebird - Cheyenne, Wyoming grannyk - Missouri Jazzywoman - Ohio jomama36 - Sterling Heights, Michigan jwright - Michigan motocrossgirly - Liburn, Georgia sfeiner - Baraboo Wi sghatl - Georgia thundandlight - Massachusetts tomecia25 - Dallas, Texas Twilight - Montana CANADA Meghan1983 - Hamilton, Ontario AUSTRALIA Sewenup1 - Sydney Fanny Adams - Perth

I was doing just fine with the date being on Wednesday 12th but it just got moved to Monday 10th and now I'm REALLY NERVOUS!! LOL!! I'm never going to get organised in time!

My surgeon just phoned and moved my date from the 12th up to the 10th!! OMG!! *PANICS!* Dec 3 - CarolK1 parrot0927 antsmith101 Christasha Danna(sewenup1) Heavy Heartland Dec 4 - TXbandit kris102003 Sandy63 candy8360 inthecitygirl Rosie15 Dec 5 - mejr62 Chienne and her dad Brooke (medic26541) Babyblues425 Munchkin392 Dec 6 – Sghatl newlife JEN_RN Lost in LS Twilight AudricIan gg88 NewMeFrisco Dec 7 - Newblew jen hollers Meghan1983 jennypoo tomecia25 Dec 8 Dec 9 Dec 10 - HeatherA (tentative) Michelle28 Fanny Adams <<< NEW DATE!! EEK! Dec 11 - ::Tracy:: LinzerPA vanessa Tia Maria Gus123 krisa Dec 12 - Caramel Vicki J chatita Dec 13 - jmschnapf Anyalee Mommathang Motogrossgirly MissyDFE Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 - 100lbsforsale MissSac gingimop Tishbite2 grannyk girlygirlz collet Dec 18 - Mendypoo Livingthe Dream JET's MOM HHWALJ Kelly Mcgee AlysonRR Reillye missmonaaz HeatherA Just A Girl Dec 19 - Cerrin Dandydeb Artsy Dec 20 - Jonesy mrsjiggles (tentative) nhlapband Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 DEC 24 Dec 25 - MERRY CHRISTMAS Dec 26 - Miss Polly jenncore lachica39 Palarin Tcuts gayle21 Dec 27 - jasmona1214 glitzigirl thundandlight Jazzywoman Dec 28 - The Fox imsamiam J.Discoun Cleo Mellis

Thanks everyone for their advice. I fly home this afternoon and I guess I'll have to look around for another Meal Replacement drink, as I don't see how I can get under 60 carbs a day using the Optifast. This doesn't quite make sense to me, because why would it be the recommended one on the list if it isn't low enough in carbs? However, I really want this to work and to give myself the best possible chance, so I'll see what I can do to find a better substitute. MrsJiggles: Thanks for you comments re solids/liquids. That was what I really wanted to know and what you say does make sense. I guess I was just wondering if I wouldn't be better off just doing the steamed veges on their own and skipping the liquid meals altogether, as this would give a lower carb count, but I suppose there's more to it than that.

Yes, my doctor did explain about the advantages of reducing the liver, and I am keen to do that. However, I don't know if the "liquid" part is necessary for that, or if it is just the calorie restriction and weight loss that is necessary. Any ideas?

I'm in Australia and will be fully self-paid (my insurance doesn't kick in for another 12 months and I can't wait). I was told "between $11 and 12,000" but I get some (not very much!!) back on Medicare for the anaesthetist and surgeon. I will also get most back on the doctor's visits for the initial consults and fills, etc. If it all works as planned, it will be worth every penny.

Hi Green - re the "gunpowder" check, that is standard in almost all airports nowadays. They do it in our airports (Australia) on interstate flights, and I'm pretty certain our security systems aren't as tight as yours, so it was nothing personal. I know my local airport staff have a quota of 1 person per minute coming through, so they pick out quite a large percentage. I fly every week to and from work and I get the explosives check wanding at least 1 flight in 3.

All the advice says cut your food into tiny pieces and chew 15-20 times. So how tiny is "tiny"? I am on the pre-op diet (Optifast and steamed veges) and have been trying to practice cutting my food small, chewing thoroughly and waiting between bites, as advised but how small is small? Say for example, a slice of carrot approx 1" diameter x 1/8" thick - cut it in half? Quarters? Eighths? More??? Should I aim for 1/2" square pieces? 1/4? I know I don't need to do this until after the op, but I want to get in practice because I really don't want to have problems "getting stuck" later on...

Welcome and good luck to you! I am going under on 12th December, so I'll think of you on the night before (it will be night for me when you go in - I'm in Aus.)

Jachut, do you know what size the Berlei sports bras go up to? I've never been able to find a sports bra that will fit my girls I'm currently a 22F/G, although hopefully that will drop soon! Mind you, once I lose the belly holding them up at the moment, they'll probably head even further south! [eek]

Wow Dorr - I was just thinking the second one was your complete After pic and you looked fabulous! It must be different in person if you want to lose another 100lb but judging from the pic alone, you look perfect already!

Man, I'm really going to have to practice this! Although after the op, I guess it will only take one or two mistakes to learn my lesson. I'm hoping to avoid that though, with the practice. Also, I'm finding it really makes a difference already to how hungry I feel on the Optifast/veges, so it's worth it just for that.

Good luck Danna!! I'll be thinking of you today - hope it all goes well.

It's not the thought of the surgery that has me quaking in my boots - I've had quite a few operations in my life and some of them extremely painful. I know I can face that. What has me quivering like a jelly is the thought of "giving up eating" forever! I know that once I get through the liquids/mushies stage, we are supposed to be able to eat most things, just in much smaller quantities, but I'm scared to let go of the "big pigout". I'm especially scared about the reactions that some people have to certain foods, and not being able to eat them ever without having problems. What if I can never have lasagne again?? What if it turns out that my favourite savoury sausage casserole is one of those things that I just can't eat? One of the things I liked about this procedure was my original perception that, once healed, I could eat all types of food but just couldn't gorge myself on them. Now that I've read and learned more, I'm worried about those things - or is it just last minute nerves and I'm being silly?

LOL! Pencil erasers come in all sizes!! Or do you mean the little ones at the end of a pencil? That small? Like less than 1/4" small?? Wow! I was going for under 1/2" pieces last night and it took me over 45 mins to eat dinner! And it was cold by half way through