Sarah.R

I think optifast is more associated in australia. If I had to choose I wouldnt go on it because there nasty and I make myself drink mine in under 15 seconds cuz I can't stand the taste lol, as for others I've heard Mcleods is good as well

Wow I'd look like a midget next to you, I'm only 5'4 - No offense to midgets

have you had trouble breathing at all? or notice that when you wake up you feel like you haven't taken a deep breath all night? I agree with the first 2, call your doctor, if he does nothing go straight to the emergency room, I have a history of lung problems and when my nail beds are pale or blue tinged or my lips are then I know I need to go to the e.r. It more than likely isn't because of your band per se but it could be because of surgery.

Honestly, when I went for mine they actually covered all my questions before I asked them and more. Random little things like I probably won't be able to eat apple skin afterwards. As for questions you can ask maybe whether they use stiches, glue or staples to close you up? I never asked mine that because it didn't occur to me and now I'm paranoid I'm going to get staples lol. Sorry I couldn't help more.

At least it was on your own terms, my surgery was postponed twice, first time because cancer patients required surgery which is fair enough but second time I wasn't actually on any surgery list at all. Thankfully mine has been rescheduled for the 12th this month. Hope yours goes well =)

Don't feel bad at all, I'm 21 as well and I have a higher bmi, I think mines 47. Don't get discouraged, just use the time waiting for the seminars to read up more on the actual procedure and possibly buy stuff that you'll need for after. I was screwed around for over a year before I found out anything difinitive but I'm also going with the public system here in australia so it takes twice as long lol. Anyway good luck, everyone on here is pretty supportive as well so that's definitely helpful =)

I have to do apreop, alot don't it just depends on your doctor. If you are worried you could always try doing 2 shakes a day and then having something light for a meal. I know that the diet is to shrink the liver so if I wasn't asked to do a preop either I'd be worried, maybe try ringing and asking your surgeon or his nurse again and if they still say you don't have to do it then don't worry about it - You're lucky if you don't have to do it. Good luck with your surgery - mines on the 12th =)

Another thing to add is drinking custard/yoghurt - or thinned custard, I was told that by my nurse but I only like the normal custard so I'm not gonna do it at all lol

The only thing I've really tried to do is chewing heaps, it's kinda gross when you mush the food thru and have to chew it like a million times but I just think that I don't want to get something stuck or end up pb'ing so I have to get used to chewing heaps, I've trialed drinking 15-30 minutes before eating which I can do as I just drink before that time and then wait but I find waiting 30 minutes after eating is really hard. I think I might have to stick something on the fridge for after I'm banded saying "Don't forget - Don't drink until 30 minutes after" otherwise I'm going to be in pain lol.

I cheated but then my surgery was cancelled anyway as there were cancer patients that required surgery - I was a backup and if they didnt have beds I would have got surgery and when they took me in to get changed and stuff I almost crapped myself because I had cheated - Thankfully they didn't do the surgery but it was then rescheduled for another 2 weeks after which meant I had to stay on the preop - which I didn't I ate as soon as I left the hospital and then the next day but went straight back on the shakes. Didn't cheat at all and then I rang the hospital to see what time I needed to be there the next time and I wasn't even on the list - So I ate dinner that night which I think I had every right to lol. Now my surgery is scheduled for the 12th (next tuesday) and they rang me on the 1st so I didn't start the diet until the 3rd, I've definitely cheated, I had a piece of bread with ham and cheese and then a cracker with vegemite and cheese and also an egg, I don't feel guilty at all because doctors are to blame for the cancellations and my weight gain and they've even admitted that. My surgeon's nurse also rang and basically I'll be having surgery on the 12th no matter what (thank god.) I know it's hard for people to keep on track but I don't see how doctors can expect you to be perfect when the shakes/preop diet they assign you is dishgusting, I've heard of a woman whose preop she could have fish and salad with dressing - I'm not allowed that but if I was it would have been way easier to stay on track

Okay I should of been clearer with what I said lol, I've only ever made my self throw up twice, once I was throwing up anyway because I had a reaction to a medication and I ate something and it felt horrible in my stomach and it would have come back up anyway, second time was on sunday night, I just started the preop diet again and I had a fever, I took aspirin and I could just feel it floating in my stomach and I knew I needed to throw up to feel better. Those are the only 2 times I've made myself throw up, as for after I'm banded obviously I won't do that unless I'm extremely sick, anyone with a right mind would know you don't do that. Also it's exactly what JillRenee said, sometimes your stomach churns and you NEED to get it out. Makes you feel way better.

Yeah I know the feeling, but then you tend to overeat and you think "oh my god, now I know why I have to do this" As for the optifast stage it depends on what flavour you get, I bought a box of vanilla and made one up, took a sip and gagged so I threw the rest away, that was after being on the chocolate for over 2 weeks. The chocolate is bearable but overall I would say the strawberry is way better - My doctor sent me some samples of all the optifast range and I usually hate strawberry drinks but it was sweet and the only one I didn't have to plug my nose to drink. So maybe try those - Also the bars aren't that great, I took a nibble out of the chocolate one and the berry crunch one and there both gross but it's personal preference.

I'm not sure about stomach surgery but after I had a lung biopsy I was lying on my side about a week after, maybe leave it a week or 2 just to be sure, your stomach actually needs 6 weeks to recover from any surgery so it would be best to wait that amount of time.

Yes it can, which is going to be a problem for me, I'm starting my preop diet again and had a reaction to something (dunno whether I was near someone that was sick or because I'm not eating anything) but I had to make myself vomit - Worries me what I'm going to do when I'm banded and have to make myself throw up.

Hey sunshine if you really feel like toast try multi grain, it's way better - or so I've heard lol

Hey Mis, mine will eventually be done as outpatient as well but it still requires an over night stay, they should of kept you in there especially as you vomitted, I was told you have to tell the nurses if your going to be sick as because it's just been put in it can't rub so they need to give you anti nausea medication. As for drinking too much, try drinking from a shot glass (but not doing shots lol) around the half way mark is the best and have that every 20-30 minutes. Good luck.

Congrats on your pregnancy, I love food as well but it's something I know I have to give up, I'm only 21 and have more health problems than my grandparents (which is saying something) If I don't loose the weight more stuff is just going to happen and it's going to be horrible for me in the long run. Maybe you could consider talking to a physciatrist (sp?) it would definitely help in your situation, I know alot of people that get banded aren't ready to give up certain things but it's either give those up or suffer through a life that is plagued with medical conditions or just overall unhappiness. (p.s - I love ravioli but I don't know if I'd ever blend it lol)