BernieDoc

Hi everyone. (51 male). Had my band fitted on Saturday at Spire in Norwich. Everyone was absolutely great. If I had to have one small gripe it is that no-one seemed to know what, if anything, I could eat the following morning, so I ended up with nothing until after I got home yesterday afternoon, when I tried a little tomato Soup. Anyway, had a fantastic nurse on overnight Saturday, who had been banded herself, so was a font of knowledge. Pity she wasn't on at breakfast! Finding it difficult to eat today, though. Not because I'm having problems getting anything down, but because I just don't feel hungry enough to even bother trying. I suppose this is normal in the first couple of days due to the swelling? I had a small drink of orange and the yogurt part of a Muller fruit corner for Breakfast. Nothing for lunch and I've just had a small pro-biotic yogurt drink (recomended by the nurse on Saturday, as the way she gets crushed tablets down). Should be having a soup, but really can't face it. Looking forward to the discomfort disapearing, although I have to say that I have not had a great deal of pain. A little of the trapped wind type pain on Saturday night, but other than that I've been lucky so far. Well, now that I've joined the ranks of the bandsters, I suppose I'll be around a bit more often.

It amazes me how different surgeons have different specifications for the liver shrinking pre-op diet. My diet consisted of: Breakfast: Orange Juice Lunch: Slimfast Drink Dinner: Weight Watchers Soup, followed by Weight Watchers less than 3% fat, dinner. As much Tea/Coffee/Water/Juice, etc as I wanted in between. That's in the UK, I'm surprised at the need to exclude all non-liquid food some surgeons insist upon. After my operation the surgeon said that my liver was excellent; so it must work. I have to be honest and say that I wasn't hungry whilst on the pre-op diet; although I was bored! Ultimately, though, you just have to remember the reason you're on it and work through it. Remember, we've al been there, so you can do it.

I have only drank decaf tea and coffee for several years now. On the odd occasion that I drink normal coffee (in meetings), I can certainly feel its effects, so have no doubts about these. If the issue is the caffeine, why not just try decaf coffee?

Excellent; and you've every right to be excited. The pain? You've probably just strained something. With my weight, I always strain something in one of my feet a couple of times a year and it makes walking almost impossible for a week, or so. In my case, it feels like I've broken something on the top of my foot, as opposed to my heel. Just rest up until it heals (no pun!) with lots of anti-inflamatory painkillers, IBUPROFIN, or something similar.

Coffee is one of those drinks which my surgeon has on the list of 'drink all you want'. I wonder why different surgeons have different rules?

Well done Steve! An inspiration to the rest of us just starting out on the same journey.

Thanks everyone for the responses and support. I'm now exactly one week post op. Including my two week pre-op diet, I've now lost 15KG (33lb). Having a yogurt for breakfast, slimfast drink for lunch and a tin of soup for evening meal. I actually like the weight watchers soups, but am having heinz because I think I need the calories! I must be living on about 600 calories a day at the moment. I am, though, getting pretty constant discomfort in my left shoulder, sometimes, but not often, accompanied by indigestion type pain in the stomach. I suppose, though, it's a small price to pay for the weight loss.

Many thanks for the good wishes. I'm now banded and, to be honest, think I might be one of the lucky ones as I have not suffered a lot of pain. A little discomfort, which is now almost completely gone, and only four days post-op. I can't believe it's only been about six weeks since I first decided that banding was for me, to get to this point.

Thanks for the response, Sadie. Feeling a little easier today, although didn't sleep to well. As I say, just looking forward to the swelling and discomfort going.

Hi everyone, I've been looking for a forum like this for quite a while. I live in the UK and have been considering the Lap Band for a few months now. Cost was a factor, so I've been considering whether to have it done in the UK, or overseas at half the price. In the end, the aftercare was important, so I opted for surgery in the UK. I saw my surgeon a few days ago and he was happy to progress to surgery next week. However, a bit selfish I know, but I have one last blowout planned for next week, so postponed. I am now due to have the band fitted on Saturday, 30th August. I don't know whether I'm excited, or apprehensive; what I do know is that I'm ready to completely change my lifestyle. What is it they say? Today is the first day of the rest of your life? Well, Saturday, 30th August, is the first day of mine! Looking forward to spending some time browsing the forum then I think I will have a lot of questions. From what I have read so far, though, this seems like a great place for support. Thanks for reading. Bernie