Shamrockgirl60

Wow that is great I would be thrilled at 6 lbs. a week on any diet. You will most probably lose anther few pounds this week. Good luck on your surgery and don't fret, it will be fine.

Congratulations on your getting banded. As you are in the UK does the countries health insurance pay or it or is it self-pay over there. Here in the states some insurance pays some don't. Luckily mind did. What are your food restrictions, I wonder if they have the same programs with multiple visits for physicals and shrink appointments, and group meetings? I took me from my initial phone all in Early Feb. to now to get this done, a few minor delays which maybe added a month or two. But all in all it gave me time to think this through a lot and decide it's the best thing. Hope you continue to lose and feel good. Have a good gas relief product on hand I hear you will need. it. Again best of luck Pati

One word might help LOL well more than one LOL GAS X STRIPS THEY MELT IN YOUR MOUTH!!!! HOPE THAT HELPS. TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK

My surgery is this Thursday the 7th, did some shopping and picked up two boxes of Gas X strips (they melt on your tongue. My nurse practitioner recommened it. A lot of people use it for the gas. My diet is very very restrictive, clear liquids for almost two weeks then other liquids and then mushy food. I won't have any "solid food" for 5-6 weeks. This was highly stressed to me so that the band can heal and not slip. I will stick with it for sure.

Good to know this stuff, I keep reading my paperwork, it's almost as big as a book by now about when and how to eat. For soft foods, cottage cheese, yogurt, scrambled eggs or eggbeaters, cream of wheat, white tuna, blended with some low fat low cal mayo and some onion and celery powder. Make it nice and mushy and take small bites. Can do the same with chicken. I love humus and a little of that would be nice. When yo can eat more you can have small amounts of pita bread they say you can tolerate that more than regular bread, not as likely to swell up. pureed fruit is good too with no sugar or syrup, use Spenda to make it sweeter and a little Water. Also puree Soups to a soft mush. Just a few ideas hope it helps

Hey doing my own pre-op cleansing and liver shrinking diet LOL. But well I may make some whole wheat pasta and put some diced tomatoes on it and spices and have it with my salad. 4 and a half days till my surgery I am so excited. Can't wait for it. Getting a tad nervous also but will be ok for sure. Good luck to eveyron Pati

PDXBanster Hi, wow your gonna love Ireland, I went a year ago the First of September for 14 days with one of my best friends it was our second trip to Ireland we went back in 2000 also. Ten to 15 days are the best amount of time to see everything, best time to go for the weather and less crowds is late August or early Sept. March can be cold and rainy. I took 500 photos and made a 45 page scrapbook. I have it at Scrapbook.com website My name there is PatiB if you care to go see it. I want to go back again with hubby this time. Maybe in a few years. And If I ever ever won any big money LOL I would be over their in a heartbeat, buying a vacation home in Kinsale, Ireland. It's so magical and lovely and the people are great. Most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.

Might be time for another thyroid test. My husband was diagnosed with it in January. He never thought he had it till he gained weight over the holidays and couldn't get it off. He then found out his aortic valve needed replacement, something we knew would happen at some point but not now when he's only 62. He just have the replacement surgery and is doing great, home 3 weeks and so much better and now he's losing weight a few lbs. a week.

pj_taxlady, Welcome, we are close to the same age, I am 60 live in Massachusetts, I am getting banded next week on the 7th. Do you have a date yet. I have friends in Richardson Texas. I am married for 33 years to a lovely guy and I have one daughter 31 and one brand new granddaughter 12 weeks old now. She's such a little joy, I want to be there when she grows up and gets married. I also want to take her places that now I would feel uncomfortable doing. We have a small pool in the back yard, I do have a bathing "dress" LOL that's what they call them. So I am in the pool a lot in the summer. I want to wear a normal bathing suit next year. Teach GD to swim and go to amusement parks when she's older. I want to ride on all the fun rides too. I can't wait for the next 4 and a half days to go by and get my banding...best of luck Pati

Congratulations, I am so happy it went well. I have a dear friend who just started the pre-op program at what I believe is the same hospital in Portsmouth NH. She hopes to be banded in a few months. It will only get better I'm sure. Hey what do you think of the Manny trade? This kid Jason Bay is a better outfielder and cute too. Maybe it was time for Manny to go. He hasn't really been happy in New England has he.

Congratulations, I don't know if you have GasX strips down under. I picked up two packages at Wal-Mart. From what I have heard gas is pretty normal after surgery. The Gas X was recommended because you don't swallow it, it goes on your tongue and melts. I hope that helps. I have 5 days to go till my banding date. I am getting very excited.

Before surgery did you doctor do blood tests for your Thyroid? I have an underactive one and have to take daily medication the rest of my life. One reason I got heavy fast. I wasn't diagnosed for over a year and gained 50 lbs.

Check the post op nutrition threads. I stocked up on unjury Protein powder in 4 flavors. You can find the link here for their website. It shipped very fast in less than 5 days, tastes great and not too expensive. I had heard lots of people here say it's the best shake out there. Crystal Light (or store brand) your favorite flavors, I also got orange flavor to mix with the Vanilla Protein Powder to make a yummy Dreamcicle shake. Low salt beef, chicken and veggie broth sugar free Jello cups (in refrigerated section of the market) Sugar free chocolate and vanilla pudding 1% milk - two gallons Small cans of tuna (3 oz. each) white packed in water) No fat low calorie mayonnaise Canned low salt green Beans Frozen squash - can cook it and then puree in my blender Soup to Go - tomato, and cream of chicken Other soup - put in blender and puree before drinking I also got Gas X strips that melt in your mouth Chewable Vitamins Cherwable Calcium (have to wait a month or so to take that) A pill crusher hot Water bottle or heating pad Extra strengh Tynelol Later you will want CottageCheese (low fat) eggs or eggbeaters and whatever you like that is on the list. that you can make mushy in the blender. Your Doctor and hospital will give you a list also of what to buy, what to eat and when to eat it. I hope this helps I also am buying a new nightgown and robe and slippers for the hospital, All Lap Band patients stay overnight. I figure that will make me cheerful, I suggest washing them before wearing them. Use a little extra fabric softening. I try to buy mostly all cotton stuff for summer. Good luck Pati

Thanks I will avoid the beef and rice and Pasta. I am on my own pre-op. Surgery is next Thursday the 7th. I don't weigh my self at all. I decided not to. I lost 8 lbs. by the end of June, then in early July I had gained 3 of those lbs. back ( I had to lose 12 for the surgery) then went back on July 28th to meet my surgeon and I had lost 13.2 lbs. I felt great. I am still on my pre-op diet, the doctor said it's great to lose even more before surgery so my liver is shrunk. So other than a few tiny splurges, I am on a strict liquid with one very small meal at dinner diet. My only snack is a 60 calories fruit yogurt in the evening. So I won't weigh myself till Thursday when I go in for surgery Day before I will do a strict liquid diet. I usually had no problem dropping 5-10 lbs a month when I dieted but then gained them back and more when I stopped. So I hope this works. So far I am feeling pretty happy about my decision to do this. I am not missing the junk food either which is strange.

I think I'll go have a facial and make up and hair done. New color and cut. Then go shopping with the money I hav put aside. I figure I'll save at least $10 to $20 a week not buying junk food. I'll slip it in an envelope and then into my sock drawer and when I reach my goal go shopping up in the outlets in Maine for new clothes. I figure that's a great reward.

I am being banded August 7th at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA by Doctor Brahm, Plastic surgery was mentioned in a number of our one on one meetings and our group meetings just a bit. I was told that if I developed any skin problems like severe rashes and skin breakdown, which sometimes happens with large amounts of excess skin, that insurance may pay for them since it's considered a medical problem. Is that any chance that at some point PS for excess skin will be fully covered as part of the whole weight loss programs. I hope that someday happens. I fully expect to need a tummy tuck and boob lift by the end of my weight loss. Maybe should start a little stash for it in my sock drawer LOL.

Hey another Sox fan, what do you think of the Manny trade? All for the best, I think he has serious mental problems. Like maybe being bi-polar. He's one reason the team hasn't been as good as usual this year. I had crispy orange beef and veggies with white rice two nights ago from our local Chinese place. It was delish. I was very good and didn't order any high fat fried appetizers. Back on my unjury shakes and one small meal yesterday and from now till surgery. I may have lobster this weekend and forgo the butter. Lobster is an approved Protein on my hospital diet list. LOL Good luck with your surgery tomorrow. Where are you having it. I have a friend who is going through the program in Portsmouth NH hospital. I am at Lahey Clinic...they are great.:biggrin2:

I am so excited, 6 days till my surgery. August 7th. A new month and a new life. I got the 12 lbs. off and more right now 13.3. No real pre-op diet but I am doing my own and the doctor approved it. Saying the more off now the better for the surgery. I sent for the unjury shakes and they are very good. Not expensive really considering how much some are. I got the chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, and "chicken" LOL I have two shakes and a small meal and snack. I hope to lose at least another 2 lbs. by next Thrusday. Hope all you August 1st. (today) people are doing well with their surgery. Now one of my dearest friends is going to have it too. She just started the preliminary stages with her hospital She said I am her "role model" so hey guess I have to succeed LOL . We have known each other since being roommates 38 years ago. At that time I was skinny 110 lbs. and could eat anything, sigh those were the days LOL.

Your throat is sore because of the breathing tube they put in while you were under anesthesia. I should go away in a day or so. I have never heard that question asked. It's a good one. I think that maybe it is best to not use a lozenge since it might be accidentally swallowed and that could cause a problem with the band. I would ask the doctor, maybe a spray for the throat is much better like a Cloraceptic spray that will make your throat a bit numb and ease the pain. Hope everything went well with your surgery, congratulations.

Great to hear that, my husband just had open heart surgery at Lahey and there were wonderful to him, it saved his life. I have only heard wonderful things about the whole Weight Loss Center there. And it's wonderful you have lost 30 lbs. already, congratulations.

Hey I thought a "Bullet" was that funny blender they sell on TV. I think this might be good for the just after pre-op. But only one and maybe a half of one of these a day. My doctors want 60 grams of Protein a day.

Oh I am so sorry that happened. I had a PCP a few years ago I absolutely loathed. She was a skinny (of course LOL) little thing that would say things like "We must lose weight" "We must stop smoking" she drove me crazy. One day I said...OK it's me who must do this not you. She got all pi##y on me so I changed doctors. I quite smoking 2 and a half years ago, and now going to change my whole life with this operation. She is no longer at the clinic/hospital I go too. My PCP now is the same guy as hubby he's terrific, he suggested the lap band after I brought it up, he is so very very supportive, he's a doll. My surgeon I met Monday, for the first time, Dr. Bramhs at Lahey Clinic was so very upbeat about this surgery, he said I was an "ideal" candidate for it. He made me feel so good about myself I literally floated out of his office. Then I get a call from his nurse yesterday, asking if they can film my surgery with my permission and take photos. They won't show my face, just my tummy LOL. I said sure if it helps people. All in all my experience with the whole team at Lahey has been wonderful. Not one person was negative. So I am going into this with my dignity and high hopes. The pre- op care is wonderful and they have numerous support groups after surgery. I say don't go back to that doctor. Did he do your surgery? If he did I would write a letter to the patient advocate at the hospital and tell them what happened and how you feel, this guy needs a wake up call and some sensitivity training and shouldn't be doing any weight loss surgery until he gets a "brain". take care and things will get better. Heck I'd use his negative energy to make me so mad that I will not fail you can do it to.

New England Clam Chowder, yes it is awesome...my Mom made the best clam chowder, it wasn't thick with flour, just the clams, onions, potatoes and cream with a bit of salt pork rendered to cook the potatos and onions in. Some salt, pepper, a dash of tobasco, and and a pat of butter, and it was so yummy. Lobster,is on my hospital list of approved Protein LOL. Just not the butter I love to dip it in. With a tad of low cal, low fat mayo cold it makes a lovely lobster salad.

Hey 8 days and counting. I usually hit 98 and then am out like a light LOL. I so love the surgery stories they make me feel so much better about doing this. The next week I hope will fly by. Glad everyone is doing so well. Gives me so much hope for this to work.