Kiwigirl

No resolutions but realistic goals this year. One of them being a five kilometre walk for breast cancer in the summer. I am just so excited about the things I can do now and am looking forward to my future. Happy New Year everyone.

A bit sad for me, I rang everyone at home in New Zealand to wish them A happy New Year. They were well partyiing. So quiet where I am.

Hello Joolz, nice to see you here. Hope they don't see us as an invassion. We're a friendly force, honest guys.

Congratulations Sassaay on getting your insurance funding. It won't be long before you are on the "loosing" side.

It is so difficult isn't it. Now that I am on the "other" side so to speak, I feel a bit like a reformed smoker. I have to stop myself wanting to tell all that this treatment is out there. But on the other hand, if some had said anything to me before I had even thought of surgery, even if they were friends, I would have been devastaed. I would be inclined to just keep being living proof of your success. When she is ready she has you to talk about it.

Sultana, I spent the week before my op having last meals. I think I ate every one of my favourite foods. Like you I thought I was saying goodbye to them. Now three months post op there is very little I can't eat. White bread is a no no and lettuce. I have no idea why, they just give me a big pain. It is everything in moderation. When dieting (I hate that word) in the past I would deprive myself of everything that made life worth living. Now with my little friend I can indulge occasionally but only in small amounts.

Leannie, I was just like you. Had no fears, just knew it was the right thing to do. Three months out and I can't even imagine life without my band. It has become my new best friend.

Mary Beth, you say you have ONLY lost 25 pounds. That is a terrific loss. Just think where you would be without your band post Christmas. Keep up the good work.

Sue, you would be a great companion for a holiday. What a risk taker. There is no knowing where we would end up. lol

In 1994 I had double mastectomies. My surgeon actually used the scar areas when fitting my band so I would have minimal new scar areas. There was never any question that other surgeries might be a problem.

Have you ever been given a satisfactory answer of where some of the fill goes. I have found that sometimes the restriction lessens. I would have thought that if there was a leak all of it would disappear. But it is only a small amount and that as we know can mean alot as far as what we can eat.

HI there ihvbzs, when I went for my last fill I took along a pot of yoghurt. After the fill I found I could only manage to eat half of it. The restriction lifed abit during the day and now I can manage about a cup and a half of food. I learnt the hard way what being full felt like. That night I had three fork fulls of beef with gravy, looked at the mashed potato and had a forkful of that. Bad idea, instant pain and yes the potato came back. I have worked it out that if I think to myself, can I manage another spoonful, I can't. It is a feeling that there is just not any space left. Another sign for me is getting hic cups.It is difficult to explain, you just have to really listen to what your body is telling you. Believe me, if you go the one mouthful to far it can be a pain quite literally.

Oh Mimi, where do these guys get to be so judgemental. They must have very sad lives. I always think to myself when I come across these twerps, "thank goodness I am going home with myself and you get to go home with yourself". Put this silly man behind you. He is only one on the planet, there are another six billion at the last count.

No problems but I did have a tough time until I had the right restriction. It can take a few fills to get there. Best of luck.

Well done on your weight loss Kelly. I am so close to you as far as surgery date and weight loss we could almost be wls sisters.lol. You seem to have a caring and wise doctor.

Don't dispair Megan. I had the Swedish Band fitted on Aug 29th and have just got the perfect restriction after 5 fills. I now have 8 mls in my band. So don't give up or dispair. It is a tough time for us banders until we reach that "sweet" spot and your fills are just as important as your op. When are you due to have another fill? I can understand that it is different in the States than it is in Britian. I had my op on our National Health Service, so fills and aftercare don't carry any cost. Do let us know how you are getting on. You don't have to struggle alone.

Glad to see you here Fi. I wondered where you were hiding. Hope you are feeling better but get to the doc in the morning.

I have the Swedish Lapband, fitted on August 29th this year. I have had five fills and now have 8 mls ( the band hold 11 mls). I have a good restriction, can eat about a cup od food at a sitting, slightly more it is soup. My understanding here in Britian is that what band is chosen is usually the surgeon's preference. Mine told me that the surgeon he trained under used the Swedish so that is why he uses it.

Marcia, although I am not in your position I can well understand the position you are in. One first step I think would be to show hubby the post you have written here. Have you really told him how soul destroying the situation is? I also, don't think he should "come clean" with the family if he has difficulty in doing this, but if he fully understood how you are feeling he would be standing in your corner when the subject comes up again. Sometimes I think that we think those dearest to us know what we are feeling, but it doesn't work that way. Communication is the key. Best of luck.

Trouble is Sue when I start converting from one to another I make mistakes and think I have lost loads or not enough. I like the pounds because when I go to the supermarket I make a little mountain of the amount I have lost in butter. It ruins their displays but I'm having fun.

Hi there Claire, Margaret here. Small world isn't it.

Hi there everyone, I'm Margaret and I am presently living in Nottingham, England, the home of Robin Hood but I am a Kiwi from the North Island of New Zealand. I was banded on August 29th this year by Mr Beckingham with the Swedish lapband. I have had five fills and have 8nls in my band. I was 275 pounds on surgery day and now am 233 pounds. Not as fast as some but I am happy with my progress. Since my last fill two weeks ago I feel well restricted eating about a cupful of food before I have to stop. I love my band and it has given me a new lease of life. I am 55 with a few health problems and honestly didn't think I would make it to sixty. But These days I feel like I will live forever. I wake up in the mornings and start the day smiling and grab the day with all my might. I don't really know what else to say to you all except that it is great to be part of this world wide community. Oh yes, I should warn you that I am a writer by trade and my posts can be very long so if I start rambling don't hesitate to let me know. lol Margaret ps: for those who don't know, Middle Earth is where the Hobbits live and they made The Lord of the Rings in New Zealand.

I was told by my surgeon that for every bmi number I came down was another year of life. I started at 49 and am now 41 so by my reckoning my age should be 47. lol . I don't know about anyone else but I'll take a cut in my age anyway it comes.

Hi Sue, glad to see some old friends here but looking forward to making some new ones. I too have spent many years looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. Glad we both found the torch.