Rubenesque

You know I have yet to meet anyone who actually likes this stuff. Makes you wonder why they can't improve the taste. My tip, if you like coffee, add some decaf and it tastes heaps better. And I agree it definitely is better really cold.

I saw my doctor today and was allowed to start mushies (day 17). I was told to have six half cup size meals and snacks a day, so I'm eating every 3 hours or so. This is meant to stabilise my blood sugar. They also gave me a diet plan with recommendations of what to eat. Did your doctor give you a plan like that? I think you need to eat every couple of hours but just the half cup serves. Don't let yourself get starving hungry. Its not forever so try and stick with it. Good luck.

Woo Hoooooooooooooo! Thats great news Congratulations!

I suppose I should have posted in the general intro section but I particularly wanted to say hi to my fellow Aussies. I was banded at the Gold Coast 2 weeks ago. The first week was hideous as I was over filled to start with and got dehydrated and had to go back and have some Fluid out and get rehydrated. I also had the blues pretty bad and spent the first week crying for no apparant reason and questioning my sanity at having this operation. My poor husband didn't know what to do with me. But today I'm back at work and feel good except for a little fatigue. I am a lower BMI bandster (35) having started with a weight of 90kg. Good news is I have lost 6kg already! I'm happy with that. I'll do a ticker when I can bribe my teenager to show me how:smile: Keri

Hi Mrs M, I didn't know it either! All the visits to the doctors, the nurse, dietitian etc and no one told me that my surgeon likes to prime the band when he puts it in. I was told to drink 50ml every half hour when I got home and to increase that after a few days. I just couldn't do it. I struggled to get 50ml in an hour. When i went back to the doctor and he took out 4ml it was such a relief to be able to drink! I have a swedish band (J&J) BTW. Now I don't know how much fluid in the band I'll be able to take if I couldn't handle the initial 6ml. But then again I would have had swelling as well... oh well I guess it will all work itself out.

Thats great Jacqui, sort of brings new meaning to the term 'wedding bands' doesn't it, lol. I bet he'll do well with you to help, make sure you tell him to shut his gob and move his ass! BTW my husband just has to give up beer to lose the pounds, it just falls off him. If I ever divorce him, this will be the reason why!

Nothing wrong with being short, just means we're more 'down to earth'...literally lol

Hey shorty My 2 cents worth, you have lost, what about 40lbs? Man, I hope I can be that much of a failure! You are doing great and I guess it we all have our ups and downs, the secret is to bounce back and stay positive. Good luck with the job and if it doesn't work out try somewhere else. Find somewhere that deserves YOU!

Yep, I agree with the others, sounds like an allergy. You can develop allergies at any age even to food you have eaten for years. I ate kiwi fruit for 32 years then had an allergic reaction to it that landed me in hospital. You should see your doctor about getting some allergy tests so you know what it is, because if the next reaction may be worse. At least if you what it is you can avoid it.

Good luck Kylie for the 22nd. I was glad I didn't have to do the preop optifast, but I've been on it the last 2 weeks and I'm getting a bit over it. I'm not ravenously hungry, just sick of having the same thing. I can't start mushies till I see the doctor on Thursday. Oh hurry up Thursday!

Dogluvr, I am a nurse and I was worried that by having surgery I would be setting myself up for a heap of other problems. That, and the fact I was sure I was going to get every potential complication known to man! I just kept reminding myself that statistically the laparascopic placement of a gastric band is a very safe procedure. Remind yourself of why you want to have this done, you are young and can have many years of good health ahead. Being younger you have less risk of postop complications as well. My preop procedure was much as others have described, I also was put in compression stockings to help prevent blood clots and paper undies (they are very sexy-not!) Be prepared to answer the same questions many times (I was actually reassured by this). If you feel you will be excessively anxious discuss this with your doctor because they can sometimes give a mild premed to calm your nerves. During the actual operation you will be very carefully monitored by the anaethetist and nurses to ensure your good health. The time from when you go to sleep and wake up feels like a second. You will wake up with the IV in and you may have an oxygen mask on. The nurses will take your BP etc often in the immediate postop period. Some people go to ICU overnight, depends on your doctor and your comorbidities. After that its just rest, pain relief and adjusting to your new life. Good luck to you, I'm sure you'll be fine. Keri

Haha your husband is a classic! We have a Do Not Call register now in Australia and it is a wonderful thing, I don't get half the calls I used to get. We still get charities calling and I always feel bad saying no to them, but geez where do you draw the line? If I gave money to every charity that rang me I would be in need of a charity myself! Keri

I'm only 2 weeks out but have only told my hubby and kids (15,20,24). It has been a bit difficult, especially with my mother but I knew she would worry a lot. I may decide to tell friends later, I'm not sure yet. The whole lapbanders are cheats thing has always got my goat, even before I looked into it for myself. Society should applaude people who want to improve their health and become LESS of a burden on the health system!!

Hi jacqui, as a lurker I've read a few of your posts and I hope I can have results as great as yours. I have had gynae and gall bladder surgery without too many problems. Maybe this time I was 'discombooberated' because I had postop dehydration, I had 6ml 'primer' in the band but had to have 4 taken out because i could barely drink. The crying thing was a bit of a shock. In the manual I got off the surgeon it says 'the first month of banding is very exciting'. Well my hubby read that to me as I sobbed on his shoulder one day (after coming home from hospital the 2nd time) and he says 'Gee love I don't think we can take too much more excitiment do you?' He's relieved thats all stopped! Hello Janice, I had some adhesions too. You are doing great if you are walking 6 days post op! I have been a wus and only today went for a bit of a stroll....to get a pedicure actually

Hello. I was banded 2 weeks ago so I'm new too. I went through all sorts of mental backflips over having this operation and I think you'll find most people do. I also spent the first week feeling pretty sick and crying most of the time. I gather this is pretty common too. 2 weeks out though I feel pretty good and I've lost some weight so I'm happy. Whenever I had doubts about the band I would think of my mum- 80 years old, but no quality of life. She is about 150kgs, no mobility, metabolic syndrome, excruciating pain all the time and probably needing a nursing home soon. I have no doubts when I look at my dear Mum.

Thanks for the welcome. Kylie I am a little vertically challenged, just scrape 5"3 if I stretch. I was lucky and didn't have to do the preop diet so I've only been on opti for 2 weeks. I haven't been particularly hungry but I did dream the other night i was eating a huge burger with the works. My husband reckons he woke up and I was chewing on his elbow. Of course he was joking. Er, I hope he was joking!

Yes! I was a 2 strong cups in the morning then another 2 or 3 during the day person. Now, since being banded on Feb 4, I can't stand the taste and it does seem bitter. I used to drink tea also and it doesn't taste the same either. I had really bad headaches the first week too.