cakegirl

How exciting. And yes, things have a way of working out sometimes, don't they. And like jen120 said, thanks for being a donor

728newlife, that's pretty much what my ob/gyn and my lapband surgeon said - that getting the lapband and losing the weight would preserve my fertility that the PCOS was threatening to take away.

Well, I had my "last hurrah" this weekend... Played cards with some friends last night and drank a lot of wine and ate a lot of junk food... Today, there has been toast, pasta, and a huge Thai meal complete with friend ice cream LOL... See ya, food! I start my optifast diet tomorrow morning, and surgery is the following Monday! EEK!!! :blink::D

I'm not sure, but fruit bars sound like something that goes on a shelf? And popsicles are things that get frozen? You can make your own sugar-free popsicles by getting sugar-free cordial and freezing it into ice cubes, or if you have the popsicle moulds with the plastic handles, you can do that. That's what I'll be doing. Thanks to those who've been banded for getting back to me. I'm getting banded on a Monday, I will stay overnight in the hospital, and then come home on the Tuesday sometime... My daughter has music lessons on Wednesday morning, and I didn't know if I should tell the music teacher that we wouldn't be there, or if I'd be able to drive there. It sounds like I might be able to, so I guess I'll tell her that we will "probably" be there.

It must be a great feeling!

I had 4 doctors (2 GPs, one ob/gyn and my lapband surgeon) all specifically say that I should get the lapband BECAUSE I have PCOS. Bizarre!

My mum, dad and husband have been very supportive. I've had a couple of friends be not so supportive, but I've cut them short with something pretty direct like "Look, I'd rather not have to spend all my time justifying my decision. Can we just agree that I've done the research and made my decision, and leave it at that?" I haven't had a single negative comment from anyone after I've said that to them.

Different surgeons will have different recommendations and preferences, and it will also vary on the patient. I have seen a few people who have just had to have liquid the day before the surgery. Others have to do Atkins for a few weeks, etc. It just depends on the surgeon, and as long as you follow your surgeon's advice, you'll be fine.

I've told some of my friends but not others. I won't keep it secret, but I'm hoping to keep the "pressure" off me for a while. For example, if everyone at my mother's group knew, I could imagine every meetup would become a "Let's ask Rebecca about her weight loss" session... I'd rather just wait until the weight loss is obvious and someone asks me what I did, and then I'll tell them. I've told my family - DH, mum and dad. My daughter (3yo) knows I'm going to hospital but doesn't know the details. I will tell my in-laws after the operation.

I get banded on the 15th too! I have 40kg to lose, which is 88 pounds. I'm partially self-pay and partially insurance. It works differently in Australia Good luck with what's left of your liquid diet. I have to do a VLCD Optifast diet for 7 days only. I'm happy with that - I can eat veggies which are my favourite foods anyway!

I think I have everything ready for my pre-op diet and surgery. Apart from 2 assignments I have left to do for university, and cleaning the house so I don't have to worry about doing it after! For those that are banded already, how long until you were up and about? I know my doctor recommends me getting up and walking as early as possible, but how long till I can drive a car, or until I'll feel like doing grocery shopping or something?

I'm getting banded on the 15th of August, and I've already had this comment from a lot of people - that I don't "need" the band to lose weight. Well, I've been trying to lose it for years. I've lost and regained the same 5kg over and over again, and in the meantime my general health is getting worse and worse. I like the comment about not getting the band to lose weight, but to keep it off. I think I'll use that one.

Oh wow, what a surprise! Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

My surgeon considered PCOS a comorbidity, but there was no insurer that had to be "convinced", so I don't know that it matters.

This is good to hear. I'm getting my band in a week and a half, and I'm worried about being a slow loser too... Hopefully not!

I have had it for years, but was only diagnosed this year. My symptoms are: infertility or inability to get pregnant because of not ovulating increased growth of hair on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes acne, oily skin, or dandruff weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist type 2 diabetes (I don't quite have it, but am borderline, with pre-diabetes) skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area sleep apnea―excessive snoring and breathing stops at times while asleep

I use the Obagi system for acne on my face (it has a wash, toner, skin colour evener, glycolic acid, retin-A and sunscreen), and I've had two salycilic acid peels. I'll have another peel a couple of weeks after I get my band. I'm starting laser hair removal for the chin/neck hair on Saturday. I also have some hair on my belly, but that doesn't bother me as much - because I'm overweight I don't really wear anything that reveals my belly anyway. Maybe as the band helps me to lose weight I'll also get laser on my belly.

I'm so glad for all you guys getting your insurance approvals, and I'm sending my positive thoughts in the way of the people who are still waiting. It's a strange concept for me - in Australia, if you have private health insurance, there is no wondering - you are either covered for the surgery or you're not. If you are, you will probably have to pay a "gap" fee to your surgeon - it's the difference between what the government medicare will pay plus what the insurance will pay when compared with the total cost that the surgeon charges.

Isn't it interesting how everyone's pre-op regimen is different. Some are on liquid diets, some on Atkins, some on low-cal. Some for a week, some for two, some have no pre-op diet at all! I find it very interesting. My pre-op diet starts on Monday. It's 7 days of optifast low-cal with veggies added. I think I am having my operation in the afternoon, so I'll probably be able to have an early light breakfast and then fast for the rest of the day. I'll get confirmation about that Friday next week. I'm just trying to get myself all organised. I'm at university, so I'm trying to get all my work for this Study Period done before I go in for surgery. That will give me two weeks of "vacation" time before I have to go back to my study, which will be nice. I work to, but I work from home and can set my own availability, so I've given myself the week of the banding as a vacation. I'm having a good time looking in my wardrobe at what I will throw out first! :lol:

I intend to get most of my transitional clothes from op shops/thrift stores (not undies or bras!), and only splurge out on the good stuff once I'm at my goal weight

Yay, it's August! Good luck to all you A11ers getting banded this week! This time in 2 weeks, I'll be waking up in recovery! I'm excited and terrified and happy and anxious all at once!

Hi everyone, I'm Rebecca... I'm also getting banded on August 15 at 2:00pm. Sydney Australia time though - not sure what time zone you are on. I only met my surgeon today, and he slotted me in for the 15th! I have to do 7 days on optifast prior to the surgery. How excitingscary!

I thought it was about time for me to introduce myself... I'm Rebecca, and I joined this forum back in February I think, when I was considering lapband and went for an initial consultation at a clinic... Since then, DH was VERY against it and I tried a couple of other weight loss options, with no luck... Then I found out out have PCOS so have started on metformin and the pill... And then I found a clinic in my local area that can do the surgery for much cheaper... Anyway, I'm 34yo, a married mum of one, from Australia. And surgery is booked for 15 August! Hi everyone!

I was just thinking about diving, and I was wondering if it's safe for people with the lapband to do scuba? Does the increase in pressure under the Water do anything weird to the band? Ta, Rebecca