hey emma,
i was done at the private, the ward nurses on 4th floor which is surgical which is were you probley will visit over night are very nice. what info has he given you? oh dont forget to ask for pain drugs!!! im a wimp, and had a lot of pain, and dont forget the shoulder tip pain, heat pack panadol or whatever analgesia helps, from all the gas they pump in, it took my stomach about a week for it to go down, it was amusing, cos i had to pull my stomach totally in so i could get out the shower, i had to giggle!!!!

for a month fluids, anything that could go through a straw, such as any fruit juices, V8 original is like cold horrible vegi soup, but the citrus ones are good. in the fridge bit, drinking yoghurts, even nudie, gets some calories and some good stuff, in the cereal isle, up and go, very filling with many flavours,

my suggestion is in the car or in your bag make sure you have a fruit juice or something. you probley wont be hungry, but still make sure you have nurtional drinks like that at least 3-5 times a day, also i found thouse big packet mixes of chicken noodle soup were good, just strain the bits out, or any clear soup that you can drain out vegies, ministrone and stuff from cup of soups, you can have tea/coffee diet cordial and water as often in between,

i afterwards became lactose intolerant, but luckily only to milk, i asked and they said not suprising but nearly 2 months and milk makes me feel sick, and i live for coffee!!!!!

dont jump, cos i did about the 3rd or 4th week, and ate and got shocking pain, the band needs to sit in its little house,

after the month, slowly as in for about 2 weeks, eat like an old ducky, like stew through the blender or barmix, lamb stew is good, mush your vegies, then after about 2 weeks slowly intoduce soft food, like cereal, initially add more milk, then slowly reduce to what you used to have, but so you still feel full. when you start to eat, about a palm or cupful.

it might be helpful to take a multivit, i take centum, it can break in half, so it is easily taken cos you wont be getting all the normal stuff.

also you can lose weight, up to 7-9kg in the 2 months, which im up to 5kg but its not the focus, just learning to relearn to eat that makes you full, comfortable, and if you have a lot of problems with vomiting let your doc know as so as, and dont jump ahead to decrease the chance of the band sliping upwards, you may also find that you cant tolerate the same foods, what else...

so after that major essay, dont eat in the first 4 weeks, your doc might be different, but its the general jist. as per mr wilkinsons yellow booklet

i hope i have helped in some way?
are you looking forward to it?
nervous/scared? i was inly nervous when i was wigging on to the table!

personally i dont regret it, i wish id done it sooner, at least in 10-20kg it should help the pain in my knee!

any other questions or goss you need to know, just shout, always here to help

sus