Danielle Vico's gastric banding diary

With Woman's Day by her side, Danielle recently became one of thousands of Australians who are opting to have gastric banding surgery. Here's Danielle's weekly diary of her lapband journey.

Here is her story ...

WEEK ONE

Today is the day I begin my new life. I had gastric banding surgery very early this morning and here I am in my lovely hospital room at the Sydney Institute For Obesity Surgery (SIOS).

The surgery was good from what I hear. I have pain and discomfort around my upper abdomen but this is normal with keyhole surgery. It's just a little hard to get out of bed or a chair without support from the frame over the bed or the arms on the chair.

I have 5 wounds, the biggest is 4cm long and the rest are around 1-1.5cm long. My belly looks very swollen as a result of the gas used in surgery and swelling of my stomach. I feel happy though and can't wait to start working on losing the weight.

I don't feel hungry at all but I was served some clear beef broth for dinner and was only able to have four spoonfuls before I felt full and nauseous. An hour later I tried some drinking yoghurt but it has taken me a long time to drink.

It was strange this morning not to have my children with me. They would normally be racing into my bedroom demanding "weet-bix with honey". But it was also a beautiful moment last night when my daughter stood at my feet hugging my belly and saying, "I love you Mummy, the doctor will make you less fat in the morning". My children are so full of life and this enthusiasm that I somehow lost while I gained weight.

WEEK TWO

I'm still on a liquid diet and am supposed to drink 1.6 litres of fluids a day but my daily average is just two to three cups of watery soup or yoghurt. I need to drink more water. I've found the vanilla-flavoured drinking yoghurt is best because it doesn’t have lumps in.

I feel so privileged to have had this surgery. I know it is not a cure in itself but I think it will be like a good friend who is always on your shouldeer reminding you that perhaps that extra slice of cheese is not necessary.

I need to commit myself 100% to a lifestyle of reduced meal sizes and reduced fats and sugars. I need to ditch the soda drinks and replace these with healthy foods and a good fitness regime. If I don't stick to these changes then the band won't work.

My aim ultimately is to live a long, healthy life and have my obituary read, "She achieved so much and did so many adventurous things."

WEEK THREE

I went back to SIOS this week for my first appointment with the dietician. I was a little disheartened to see that my scales at home don't measure the same as the ones at SIOS.

At home my scales suggested I was 145kg - a loss of 11kg but at SIOS I was 149kg, a loss of just 7kg. I was heartbroken but the dietician was very encouraging.

I can now begin the puree phase of my eating plan where I blend or mash all food. It can't be too lumpy or chunky because it could get stuck due to my stomach still being swollen.

I should only eat half a cup of food per meal and I can't have fluids 10 minutes before or 20 minutes after I eat as this can push food through and reduce my feeling of satisfaction which, of course, would make me eat more.

On the way home from my appointment I stopped to buy a new outfit for a special family dinner. Most of my wardrobe is either too big or too small now as the sizes are either 20 or 26 and I'm in between.

I bought a gorgeous knit dress. It's a bit clingy which I am not used to but when my husband Milan saw me his eyes lit up and he whistled. He is so supportive and it made me so happy that evening to receive lots of compliments from family and friends.

WEEK FOUR

I had my first appointment today with my surgeon Dr Talbot. He asked me to show him my scars and he was happy with them except the biggest one which is infected so now I am on antibiotics.

I told him that my hunger levels had gone up a fair bit since being on the pureed food so he suggested I try adding more foods to my diet.

I can't wait for my first band adjustment where they insert more fluid into the band which will make me feel fuller and reduce the amount I can eat. I had gained a little bit of weight back but Dr Talbot was reassuring and told me this is a long rollercoaster-type journey.

I’m realising all the things I have missed out on as a result of my weight. These are things so many people take for granted and some are so trivial but I thought I’d note them down. Here they are....

I've missed:
• Riding my bicycle without the tyres bulging under my weight
• Putting an Aeroplane seat belt on without the aid of an extender
• Going to the Easter show and theme parks, and being able to go on the rides
• Being able to drive my husband’s car without having to push the seat back
• Being able to go bushwalking and hiking like I used to when I was a kid
• Being able to ride a horse
• Being able to shop in the "normal" size clothing stores
• Not having to buy men's jumpers and shirts
• Having the energy to be fast and keep motivated
• Being able to wear calf-high boots in winter
• Being light enough that my husband can lift me (I can currently lift him - it's a great party trick)
• Being able to go on the trampoline with the kids
• Being able to walk through my mum's house and not have every piece of furniture or floorboard complain
• Be able to go to the cinema and not have the cupholders dig into my sides
• Be able to sit in the backseat of my car and know that the seatbelt will fit
• Be able to rollerblade again
• Be able to use my treadmill again (it currently only gets pulled out to dust it)

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