She Smiles

Walking. Walk as much as you feel able to. I found it was the best thing. I'd just walk around in circles in my lounge room a few times every half hour for the first few days and then gradually built up to being able to being able to go for 15 -20 minute strolls.

Thats such a brilliant idea! I'm going to suggest Chinese each time I have to go out to eat!

Two weeks after surgery I was allowed the softest of mushies and then ate mushies for two weeks progressing to well cooked food of any kind chewed REALLY REALLY well. Every Dr is different though, go with what yours has advised

I take a soluble one every morning without fail. It is the one thing that my Dr says we can't cheat on or avoid. I'm too much of a worry wart to tempt fate, so its part of my daily routine now. Its never too late to start!

Tomorrow morning I am going out for breakfast with 3 girlfriends

Well the pancake eating went fine!!! I ordered one buckwheat pancake (which I only ate 2/3 of) which had a small slice of bacon and a poached egg, and hollandaise sauce on it (evil, I know, but it was a treat!). I ate really slowly and teensy tiny bites, just in case. All my friends ordered the same meal, but with 2 pancakes and 2 eggs and they ate the whole thing. It felt so good not being my usual piggy self (like I was preband) and had food left on my plate and felt FULL :clap2: Then I came home and went for a big bicycle ride a couple of hours after

I think what you are explaining is pretty normal, but if you are concerned, there is no harm in calling your surgeon's office to check. Try to drink as much fluids as you can, even if you don't "feel" like it (I found it really hard to drink the amount my Dr recommended in the first week or so). You need to avoid getting dehydrated. And yes, walk, as much as you feel you can (don't over do it!!). Even if its just a few circles around the house or yard every hour or two. I found my pain dissipated a lot when I made sure I was doing this. Good luck!

Thanks Cam. I hope I have as much sucess with my band as you!

Gayle, thanks also for your advice and concern I assure you I have no intention of eating this kind of food as a regular thing (it would probably make me feel ill!!). This is a one off Christmas celebration, and I tried my darndest to try to get them to go somewhere else with better options for me, with no sucess :cry !! But I figured can't live under a rock forever, I've missed so many social events that have been wholly centred around food (BBQs. Xmas lunches, morning teas etc etc) in the past 2 months, I think I am running out of reasons and excuses about why I can't go lol! I really feel that I am doing all that I can to treat my band with the utmost care, and that is exactly why I thought it might be worth asking if anyone else on this fantastic forum could eat pancakes :huggie: I agree whole heartedly with the no drinking with meals - I have never drank with a meal since my op, my Dr says its a no-no, and thats what goes! However, Australian Dr's seem to have a different attitude to US Dr's as far as carbs go. My Dr actually encourages us to consume a small amount of complex carbs each day, especially if we have gone from doing NO exercise to some (which I have!). But that said, I think I still might ask for the eggs (that come with a pancake, of course lol), I can always take my friend up on her offer to gobble up the left overs! :hungry:

Yep mine said none too. Both Dr and nutritionist said the sooner I stopped drinking soda and caffiene the better, cos I'm not allowed to drink it at all post op

Kathy I am sorry you have had such a rough time this past little while! I had my first fill today, so I'll see how I go with that!

I'm in for the challenge too. I had my first fill today (3ccs in a 10cc band). I haven't even started eating solids yet...I've been having a massive craving for spagetti (my Dr allows it). Come Wednesday, I'm going to give it a try and see how I go. I must go find out how much 64oz is in mils/litres so I can keep up (I'm Australian!)

Happy birthday for yesterday Mark! Thats so fantastic that you are so happy with your band

Having any debt on my credit cards make me feel very uneasy, so I too am some one who pays them off immediately if I have to use them for what ever rare reason. I really think the key to having no financial woes is simply living with in your means. If you earn $50k a year, thats what you have to live off...money to pay off those credit cards doesn't just magically appear (although I wish it did!).

I am 3 weeks out from my surgery. In the first 10 days or so I had big doubts about my decision, but in the last week or so, I have been feeling MUCH better, started seeing results and have been able to eat stuff that mildly resembles food (I'm on mushies). I missed food alot and it was hard watching my fiance sit there and eat lovely big bowls of Pasta etc. I admit the pain really got to me, I was up pacing around my house at 3am crying several nights in a row wondering why I had done this to myself. And I was SO hungry. I'd never felt hunger like it before. But it passed, very quickly, I pretty much just woke up one day and felt a whole lot better. I know its hard when you are feeling like this but try to focus on the future further past the next few weeks and exactly what you wanted to achieve from having the band. It will happen, if you believe in yourself

I'm with Flabuless on this one. Wait and see how it pans out. If it gets serious then thats when I would tell him. You just don't know how he might react. Let him fall for you how you are and THEN tell him how awesome you are because you made such a great decision for your health to have the band done :biggrin1: Good luck with the internet guys ladies! I met my fiance via the internet (and now he has emigrated from the US to Australia to be with me!) and he is a gem. There are good ones out there!

I was supposed to do 2 weeks liquids and 2 weeks of mushies/puree (progressing the consistency to more solid over those 4 weeks). but I ran into my surgeon at the hospital when I was there the other day (taking my Dad in [who also has a band] for non band related issues) and he told me that I could have some solid foods (like chicken - I told him I was craving it) if I chewed it REALLY well. So I am going to start eating solids on Wednesday (thats 3 weeks) for 1 meal a day and see how I go. My Dr also said (I think some one else wrote this about their Dr too) that his time frames are a guide and each patient (with his guidance) should go through them at their own pace. Some will need more time some less. I'm glad he's flexible cos I sure was getting sick of eating baby food type food!

They definitely sound yummy! You want to know something strange though (at least my American fiance and I find it strange)? Here in Australia, a marinara sauce is a tomato based sauce with seafood in it (calamari, prawns ( you call them shrimp), oysters etc). Its usually served over Pasta or as a risotto. And we strangely enough, don't have grape jelly - much to my fiances' disappointment (we call it jam too).

I had to be on Optifast for 2 weeks prior to my surgery on 22 Nov 06. I admit it was tough for the first few days and I really struggled, but I just kept telling myself it was all for a reason. My surgeon wouldn't have operated on me if I hadn't of done optifast (and would have been pissed if he had of cut me open and I still had a ginormous liver). As for exercise, just try to do some gentle exercise, walking especially (it helps with the gas too) after your surgery as you feel ready too. The sooner you get into the routine, the better. But don't rush yourself, you need to make sure you are healing, that is your priority in the first month or so. As for food, just follow what your Dr says and you can't go wrong. if you slip up along the way, don't beat your self up about it. This is a bit change you are making to you life and your relationship with food. We all have to rework our habits and how we relate to food. Thats part of the journey. Oh and drink as much Water as you can tolerate between meals (my Dr says wait an hour after meals to drink), keep yourself hydrated, thats uber important. But just be proud, most of all, that you are making a decision for you, and for your future and your health. Although it hasn't even been a month since my surgery, and I have had some rough days, the progress I can see already, makes me certain that I made a great decision. Best of luck!

I'm a week out from surgery. Stupid question, but should I be able to feel my port? Where abouts is it? I've felt around a little bit but I don't want to go poking and prodding my tummy too much trying to find it. :phanvan I have 5 incisions one between my breasts, two on my left side, one on my right and a longer one on the left side of my belly button. Can any one point me in the right direction?? Thanks! Meredith

I just wanted to have a bit of a sook, I've had a particularly rough couple of days. One of the major reasons (after weight loss and my health) I had the lap band surgery was an attempt to no longer feel the debilitating back pain that I experience every day when I wake up. Usually it hits around 4am and then I spent the next few hours trying to get comfortable before I have to get up and go to work. Nothing can releive the pain, I sleep with 5 pillows, practically sitting up. I'd love to fall asleep in my fiance's arms, but its just not an option. The past 2 days when I have woken up the pain has been WORSE than ever. I have woken up in tears. And even now, sitting here 1 1/2 hours after waking up, it is STILL hurting. Its incredibly painful. Sigh. I can't even imagine what it would be like to sleep through a whole night and not be in pain when I wake up. I have lost 10 kilos (22 pounds) from when I started this journey and its made no difference Has anyone had this kind of pain and had it go away with a certain amount of loss? I can't even fathom the fact that I might be stuck with this even when I am slimmer :phanvan

I just called my Dr to organise my first fill/check up after my op on the 22nd of November. They gave me an appointment for the 18th December, which by my calculations makes it 2 days short of 4 weeks. Isn't that too soon for a fill? Surely it is?? I mean I WANT to start losing more weight ASAP, so if its ok, then I will go for it (I'd hate to put weight back on cos I am gorging myself cos I have no restriction). But I just wanted to check if any one else has had their first fill this soon after?? Thanks in advance Meredith

Jack, I truly appreciate your respect (every one at this forum rocks!). To be honest though, I am happy to discuss possible reasons in the open forum. I've got nothing to hide Heck maybe some one else might get some help from these posts about my dodgy back problems too. What might I be able to tell you that might help?

Thanks Jo Ann!

I was banded on 22 Nov. When I have a craving like that (and its SO hard with my partner eating "normal" food every day in front of me) I just think about how much money I have spent on this and how much effort I have made already. I picture myself at 70 kilos. I picture myself slim and happy on my wedding day next July. I tell myself I don't want to slip my band or jeopardise my healing process. Thats enough for my mind to say "Meredith, you really DON'T want that, do you?". Its an ongoing battle in my head, I think its just a battle of wills. But I agree, being on liquids has been TOUGH as heck, what I wouldn't do for a slice of pizza right now.