FattyPatty

Has anyone tried the Opti Slim VLCD protein shake diet at Lloyds Pharmacy? Are they nice? Or has anyone tried Advilite soups and shakes? I have done the Cambridge before and quite liked those but can't be doing with having to go see a councellor every week, but I want to go back on protein shakes after my hols to give my weight loss a real good boost and get my BMI down so that the Doc can refer us back to the fertility specialist for IVF before Crimbo. Any other protein/meal replacement shakes that you guys can recomend would be very helpful. Thanks x

Hi Pasta and rice I can eat no problem when well cooked and with sauce, it's meat that I struggle with and bring up no matter how much I chew. I can do a few mouthfuls no problem then get the funny throat feeling and I know now that it has to come up. I have had 3 fills now, 6ml in total and the last one was end of June as I go abroad soon so didn't want to waste a fill (or money!) in July by having to have a defill this month so that I can fly. Some days it feels so tight I bring everything up as soon as I try and eat, and other days I can eat anything and quite a bit of it, its very odd. Weight loss has slowed but I'm reassured that Kerry/Scooby doo has lost the same as me in the same amont of time, but really hoping it picks up when I have my next fill in Sept. Good luck all x

Congrats wannabe (and everyone else banded this week) and welcome to the club! Your new life starts here, and I'm looking forward to following your progress! You'd become quite an expert on here anyway the last 4 months so I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine adjusting to your new band. Good luck with the next few weeks, and a speedy recovery x

Hi I flew with BA a good size 22 as well as being swollen like a barrell for the flight home! The seat belt fit fine but I did have to get some cushions to put in the small of my back, due to my big arse and much smaller waist and the angle of the chair it was really pulling on my wounds so needed propping up and forward a bit! Also flying back into Heathrow we were at practically the last gate and it was a good half hour slow walk and a lot of stairs and I was nearly crying, didn't realise it was gonna be so far otherwise I would have booked a wheel chair. Good luck for next week x

Hi all Hope everyone is well, and welcome to all the newbies waiting to be banded. I had my 3rd fill on the 24 June and my god has this last week been a learning curve. I have had backing up and sickness even after just one dunked rich tea, mash potato and my trusty crispbakes. I was obviously aware that this could happen but didnt think it would still happen with smooth, mushy foods. I have to say though that bringing it up is better than suffering the awful pain, so I wish I had done this when I had an incident on bournemouth beach a few weeks ago. I was crying it hurt so much and could get my breath, but at least I now know what my band and body is telling me. And I also can't eat in the morning but having read Gary's post now know that this is normal. The scales are changing every other day which is fabulous, although I don't really seem to be noticeably losing inches like I did when I was on the Cambridge diet last year, but I know it will come, so so glad I done this. Have a great weekend everyone, Mr Sun has made a comeback xx :thumbup:

Hi Garry, OMG! That is fabulous news, well done!!! You must be feeling amazing. I am trying to icture what you must now look like. I really hope that our group gets to mee up again one day as it will be great to see the change in everyone. I have a much slower loss than you, but it is coming off slowly but surely. What are you eating now? are you still on protein shakes only? I have just had my 3rd fill on Thursday taking me to 6 mils and I am hoping to hit the 3st mark at the end of this week. I really wanna speed my loss up so that we can get our IVF referral before crimbo so any looking for tips please lovely bandsters! Also I have noticed that I am losing more hair now when I wash/brush it. What vitamins do you guys take? Thanks & Take care Chrissie x

Hi All Had my 2nd fill today with Dr Chris Deprez in London, never met him before but again another lovely bloke. Me and hubby were listening to conversations round the corner in the waiting room with smirks on our face, and have to say I am very reassured to hear that I am not the only one who hasn't lost anything since the 1st fill, have become a chocoholic when I never used to touch the stuff before, and become a wotsit addict! Really hoping to feel a difference this time round and that the weight starts moving. Gonna be real strict now and have no chocolate and start walking/running. Good luck anyone going off to have their op next week and well done to all losers! Chrissie x

Well done Garry! my weight loss has stopped even after first 3 mil fill. Next one on 27/05 can't wait as really wanna see a difference. Need to plan my food a bit better too, and I'm thinking protein shakes might be the way to go again for a while. Keep up the good work xx

Hi all and welcome newbies, Well I am 6 weeks post op today and feeling fine, except for being starving and stuck on the 2 stone mark. I haven't shifted a bean this last week, and I am finding that I can eat bigger meals as I am not getting that full feeling. I had been having little baby bowl sized evening meals, and yogs, soup or crisp breads in the day, but can now eat a normal sized portion, waiting to get 'that' feeling in my chest that fullness is about to happen, but nope, it don't. Really suprised that the effects of the first fill on 22/04 didn't last long at all, and I'm really looking forward to the next one on 27/05 already. Is this normal or should the restriction have lasted longer? Worried now that I have a leak and there's nothing in there which would be a nightmare. Hope you can advise please. Thanks and good luck everyone starting out on this journey. C x

Well I'm still a bit tender port side so it was a little uncomfortable when he was feeling for the port, but the actual fill just felt like an injection so absolutley nothing to worry about. Admittedly I was v nervous but I think that I must have toughened up a bit since Belgium, blimey compared to the number of times I was jabbed with needles then when they couldn't get blood out of me, the fill was a breeze. I've had coffee and soup this afternoon but still have raging hunger pangs, not sure if these are real? Looking forward to the scales going down again that's for sure! Good luck for Wednesday. Chrissie x

Hi Garry, just back from seeing Fredrick in London at lunchtime for my 1st fill and was thinking of you as he said he'd had to cancel his clinic in Edinburgh today. Gutted for you mate. Hope you can get in with WLS soon. Matt and I saw Wendy & Lou there, Lou has got a leak so has got to back to Belgium at some point. Wendy is doing ok, we compared scars, and both said we can't believe its our 4 week bandiversary tomorrow already! Hope you are doing ok aside from the hunger, its been driving me made too for the last 2 weeks! Take care C x

Hi July Sorry to hear your Hubby isn't supporting your decision to have this done, such a shame. Hopefully he will come round and do some research himself to understand it and the benefits it will have for you. If not hopefully a friend will be happy to accompany you, I do think you need someone to go there with you, but saying that we met a lovely bunch of pre bandsters and their partners when we went out there and all sat drinking together the night before, and were pretty much together for the rest of the weekend. Good luck with Hubby and hope you get your date confirmed soon x

Evening all, Was my first day back at work today and my boss took me off for a chat as soon as I got in, (he knows what I have had done), and he say's "ooh you've lost weight on your shoulders"! Of all the places to notice, but yes in a way I have got a weight off my shoulders in that I am well on my way to changing my life forever, as I'll be losing a lot of weight which will hopefully improve the fertility situation and result in me becoming a mummy. I haven't felt this positive about that prospect for years, and I haven't cried or been depressed about it since my op date was confirmed, and I pretty much had been daily for the last 3 months. Even Hubby has commented on the change in me despite all the pain of last week. I sooooooooooooo made the right decision to have this band and can't wait for the months ahead :thumbdown: x

You are defo making the right decision, hundreds on here can vouch for that! I had major wobbles but I am so glad I found this forum literally 3 weeks before I booked my op as I don't think I would have coped half as well or been half as prepared as I was thanks to reading all the info and hints & tips everyone had posted, it has been a godsend! Also the fact that I have not told that many people that I have had this done means that I can come on here and ask any question or share how I am feeling and know that I will get guidance and reassurance is quite a comfort. Best of luck to you and anyone else about to be banded x

Hi Kerry, your reply did make me laugh, unfortunately with my tummy as it is, its not safe for me to pass wind, as I found out much to hubbies dismay on Saturday morning when I had to turf him out of bed to strip the sheets! flippin annoying tho as can't stray too far in case I get the urge to go. Also still belching like a good un, non stop. Thought that might have passed by now and will be interesting when I'm back in work tomorrow. Got to lie and make out I have a bad back as still not standing fully straight, moving too quick or able to bend down! I have my first fill on the 22nd too, in London, and I too am intrigued to see the difference it makes as I am pretty sure I have hunger pangs alot and not just gas pains. I'm sure that your weight loss will pick up soon hun. Chrissie x

Afternoon all I am now 11 days post op and the weight is flying off! I am delighted but getting on the scales everyday which I know I need to stop, and I know the loss will slow down, but it feels great and makes all the pain and discomfort worth it. My wounds are healing nicely, still tender but I can now sleep on my side again which is great. Not yet tried driving as left hand side (port) is still quite painful and makes me feel queasy if knocked or touched. Having the blue stitch removed on Thursday by nurse but can't get in to see my doc and tell her I have had this done & give her the letter from Dr. Chris till next Thursday. The weight loss should be excellent by then so hopefully that will please her! Doing quite well just with the liquids but have tried pureed beans and sausage this morning which were yum, although because of the liquid diet I just wondered, and I hope people don't mind discussing, I have had the runs pretty much non stop since I was at the hospital. The first few days after I got home I thought it was still the affect of the barium xray and all the drugs and aneasthetic etc, but I'm now going all the time. Is this normal? Hubby got me a bottle of cod liver oil with multi vitamins and orange syrup which I thought may be the cause, but I have left this out the last 2 days and still suffered. Ideally I would like to stay on liquids and purees for the rest of the month to really help the weight loss but if it is all going straight through I'm worried I might not be getting enough nutrition? Thanks C x (Also my hands and feet are freezing cold all the time, again since the op, maybe because I am losing my padding!)

Hello Jackie, Glad you doing ok. We got home safe too although was completely done in from all the walking at both airports, and was very sore last night, also had a little cry, but I think its just the realisation that I have actually gone and done it. Not much sleep either been up since 3am. Was great meeting everyone and being able to share the experience, can't wait to see how we all do, I've already lost 5lbs, which is great but still realing suffering the after effects of the barium, the liquid diet is going straight through, literally! so think that is alot to do with it. Keep us updated on your progress, love to Mike and Evie xx

Congratuations, that is good news and gives me hope as a PCOS sufferer as I am really hoping that the band will help me get pregnant too. C x

Afternoon All, I am a Bandster! Met Garry, (Gazmic) and his wife and a bunch of lovely people who I have told to come on here and join the chats and pick up tips! Everything went smoothly and we have all had a few laughs together. I hve you lot to thanks for all the info and tips gathered from the 500 odd pages! I cannot praise Dr. Chris, Frederick and all the nurses enough. The care I received was fantastic and the hospital is absolutley spotless. Our room was cleaned 4 times yesterday, the day of surgery, alone. Amazing. I am sore and can't stand up straight but it is bearable. The worst bit was having the drain removed this morning, oh my god! Oh and getting caught out by the barium when me and hubby went outside to get some fresh air and sun, woopsie! They have really struggled to get blood out of me so arm and hand is like a pin cushion, and I have 2 lines of about 5 inches of blisters where they took the large dressing off so all sudocremed up now, apart from that I am doing ok fully dosed up on pain killers. Still can't beleive it's done, I have suprised myself with how I have coped with all the needles and procedures, and even Hubby said he was so suprised to to see me getting up and about etc yesterday and no tears apart from when I saw him when I was wheeled back from recovery. Most of us have all sat having a lovely cappuccino in the hotel since we have been back, lasted a good 1.5 hours though!!! Just gonna have a little snooze before Frederik comes to visit. Good luck to anyone travelling this week. Will report in once I am back home, with some questions no doubt! Best Wishes Chrissie x

Hello from the Campanile! Got here safe and sound, pick up from airport was great and taxi driver was very chatty! Called my name out waving as soon as me and hubby turned the corner, obviously used to spotting the fatties! Been out exploring in town and had a late lunch, got back to the hotel just before a huge downpour thankfully. A lovely lady from Dublin just came up to me in reception to ask if I was being banded by Dr Chris tomorrow, and then said she was seeing him too, well the look on my face must have said "blimey, you don't need one" but she said she had hers done 2 years back, lost 6 stone (and looks great) and is now back having a neck lift done. Her Niece had it done too she said and went from 27st to 12st and only needs a tummy tuck! Good to hear. Very excited now. C x

OMG the day has finally arrived and I'm heading to the airport in a couple of hours. Good luck to Gaz and anyone else heading out today. Will try and post update but have had enough trouble trying to get on her this morning on my blackberry! Gotta try and have no tears today. Was awful yesterday. Having my last fat photos taken in a bit, nice! Chrissie x

OMG the day has finally

Morning all How much did everyone lose on the pre op diet? Ive only managed 4lbs which is probably not good enough. Thanks C x:sad:

Hi Gaz Yes indeedy on Friday I will be a fully qualified bandster! Feeling excited today, but was quite nervous and emotional yesterday, but I am told this is normal! :confused: Is there anyone else out there being banded on Friday? Good luck to anyone else being done this week. C x

Cheers Kerry, hoping I will be like you afterwards. Roll on Thursday. Chrissie x