Luce587

I refuse to weigh myself right now... our bodies were cut open- we've got some serious swelling going on! Give yourself a break- concentrate on healing well and getting those nourishing fluids in. I had surgery on the 10th- band to sleeve conversion. I've slept lots- we heal when we are sleeping.

I made my own bone broth in my slow cooker. It's very high in Protein and is utterly delicious. I used 6 chicken frames, an onion, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 stick of celery, 1 carrot, 2 bay leaves, a small spoonful of peppercorns, fresh rosemary and thyme and covered it all with filtered Water. Left it on high for 8 hours, cooled it overnight and repeated for 6 hours to reduce and condense those flavours. Got about 900ml of delicious broth. Beef bones make for an even higher protein broth.

Try adding a little cordial to your water- this helped me greatly as it softens it. Use heat pads on your shoulders and back to help with the gas pain and try walking as much as you can. I'm still gurgling a little but have been taking some nice deep breaths which have been helping. It will get better- hang in there.

I'm having at least one pop a day. It's summer here and my home doesn't have aircon. Not only are they refreshing they're hydrating! The hour guideline I think relates to not grazing constantly all day. Eat what you can within that hour before moving on. That's just my interpretation - maybe call your dietician if you're still not sure.

You poor thing... hope you're feeling better now. I experienced the same feeling when sipping water. Strangely any other fluid didn't cause the same discomfort. My surgeon recommended having a little cordial in my water as it softens it. Go figure!

I'm sitting in bed at my home sipping a bottle of Water waiting for my turn in the shower. I'm a mixed bag of emotions- nervous, excited, a little scared... my darling husband (the shower hog) is grumpy today. That's his way of showing me he's nervous. My bag is packed and I'm ready to get this show on the road! I'm second on the list for this afternoon and set for surgery at 3pm. Here's keeping my fingers and toes crossed that my surgeon is able to complete my band to sleeve revision in one operation and that everything runs as smooth as clockwork!

Good luck!

Thanks everyone! Surgery was a little longer than expected due to some scar tissue built up over my band. I came out bandless and sleeved! My pain is manageable and I've been up and showered and had two walks around the ward with my sister. I'm on a self-administered pain pump which is great when I remember to press the button. My Breakfast tray was whisked away when I was in the shower, but a nurse found me a sustagen to sip on. Water has been painful, but adding cordial to it has made it fine.

I'm a week into it and lost 20.5cm total from across my body. I don't own scales (unleashes my OCD), so was thrilled that it was all worth it. I discovered the Opticook website and it has been a life saver!! As you can see I'm obsessed by the Opticook website- ha ha!

Awesome! I totally understand where you are coming from! I can't wait to hear about your journey. Are you having the removal an sleeve in 1 surgery or 2? Banded 03/01/10, unbanded and VSGd 12/29/16 77 lbs down, 90 ish to go! Normal weight range...I'm coming for you!! Heather in Texas Hopefully it'll happen in one surgery, but I've been warned that if it's messy in there with erosion or scar tissue it'll be two surgeries.

Flavourwise, I can't stand the vanilla or chocolate, but love the others. The new Chai one is tasty with 20g of protein. The desserts are good too. I prefer lemon over chocolate, but the lemon one is the least popular.

I'm doing it now for my sleeve conversion on January 10th and have done it in the past for my band. I have a shake for Breakfast (let the Water in your shaker freeze slightly- makes it more like a thick shake), followed by veggies and a shake for lunch and Protein and veggies for dinner. I drink 2 coffees a day, with a splash of milk to cut the bitterness, and as much diet jelly, miso Soup and diet cordial etc I want. I chew a few sticks of sugar-free gum to help with my disgusting ketosis breath. Take a look at the opticook website- this has been a lifesaver for me this time and my hunger isn't too bad at all.

My "last supper" was a baked brie with quince paste and figs, followed by a rib eye steak, cooked rare, with mushroom sauce and a garden salad. Oh, and a few cocktails.

I was incorrectly diagnosed with MS 5 years ago. I was still under the care of a neurologist so asked him for his opinion on getting a band. He said he thought it was a good idea, and saw no issues with it and the MS as a lower weight is going to be best for my overall health and especially mobility. I'm now having my troublesome band replaced with a sleeve. I'd recommend you check in with your own specialist and have them answer your questions directly. Best of luck for your journey.

I'm in for 2 nights (January 10th!). I've packed an oversized jersey nightgown, panties x3, slippers, a cardigan, my book, my phone charger, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush and hair ties, facewash, hand cream, lipbalm, small shampoo & Conditioner (i cannot stand greasy hair so this is a must for me, but optional for everyone else). The hospital recommended bringing some cash or a credit card, too. It's summer here so I'll wear a loose dress and flip flops which I'll wear home. For post-op fluids, I'm on clear in hospital and nourishing when I get home. I've got icypoles in the freezer, limes to jazz up my Water, Protein shakes in a few flavours, thin custard, yoghurt that will be thinned with milk, cream of chicken Soup, cream of tomato soup, Miso soup and homemade chicken broth and beef broth. Hope that helps!

I've done neck, bicep, bust, waist, hips, thigh and calf.

I'm being revised band to sleeve on Tuesday 10th! One week to go! ????

Such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your journey. I'm banded being revised on the 10th January after a nightmare journey with my band.

I'm on clear fluids for 2 days post-op, whilst still in hospital. When I go home I start on smooth nourishing fluids, so soups, jello, custards, protein shakes etc. The rule is if it is thin enough to go through a straw, it's ok. That said, I'm not allowed to use a straw as it introduces air to the stomach.

I'm on pre-op too, revision from band to sleeve booked for the 10th January. Yesterday I made an asian-inspired omelette- loads of shredded cabbage, carrots, onion, garlic, brocolli and my allotted 2 eggs. Seasoned with chilli, fresh ginger and soy sauce. It was heaven! Today we're having a party at our house so I'm having my main meal at lunch and will have a shake for dinner. I'm serving lots of salads, sausages (which i will avoid) & bbq chicken. As long as I don't have bread, carbs etc I'm ok. I will really miss my social wine or two, but I know its only short term pain for a long term gain! I'm also planning on cooking a shak shakur one night to poach my allotted eggs in... the good thing is you can pack the sauce full of veg and it is very flavoursome! Finally I'll be cooking a burrito-free Mexican style dish of strips of steak, onions, mushrooms and lots of Mexican spices to be served with a big salad. My husband can have the burrito wraps.

I've found mixing it with a little water before adding it to warm things makes it not clump so terribly... so I make my morning coffee, in a separate mug I add the protein powder to the milk and then add the coffee to that. No problems with clumping!

I found some that are flavourless, odourless and don't change the consistency of my drinks... Bodiez is an Australian company (which is good for me as i live down under!). I bought a neutral tasting (that's what the can says!) one to add to creamy soups, custards, yoghurts etc post op. I've trialled it in my morning coffee and it was palatable. It did change the taste ever so slightly, but it wasn't off putting. If you Google for flavourless protein you should come up with some options.

I told my manager I was having a hernia repair when I was banded in 2012. No one asked too much and I was back after a week to a sitting job. Now I'm revising my band to a sleeve and I work for myself, so no explanation required. My friends who know about the band think I'm having a hernia repair and fixing my flipped port. Those who don't know either don't know at all about a surgery (my husband's family and lots of friends) or think I'm in for a hernia repair. I've said a few times that 2017 is going to be my year- I'm seeing a dietician and an exercise physiologist. Both true! ????

January 10th!! Going to the shops today to kit myself out for pre and post op needs- broths, jelly, etc. I'm getting quite nervous now... especially as my sleeve isn't guaranteed as I'm being revised from a band.

4 weeks out you're more than likely fine. If there's no pain, no bleeding and no bruising, you're ok.