rachel

Wow, that was especially interesting for me because I had a huge wound (severely infected c-section) which was healed from the inside out. I couldn't bring myself to look at it at the time, neither could anyone else. My husband caught a brief glimpse and still hasn't been able to put it in words. Now I see why. The good news is that the scar could be a lot worse - not that you can see it at the moment. Thanks for sharing.

i didn't have much restriction after my first fill. I had my second 10 days ago and feel a definite difference but my Dr. said I'll probably need one more - which i agree with. I'm just having faith that the right restriction will come.

I own a body piercing studio,and work in it 2 days a week. My husband works in a womens hospital as an orderly three nights a week ,so one of us is always with our 2 and a half yr old. It's a great arrangement.

I'm having my second fill at the end of the month and can't feel my port. When I had my first fill I could feel it, and it was still a fairly unpleasant experience with a couple of goes and some digging around. If I can't feel it, can the doctor? I'm interested to know how many people can feel theirs. Thanks, Rachel.

Hi Everyone, I'm off to Bali in July and I am absolutely dreading the flight to and fro. It's only about 5 hours but it is so uncomfortable. I was hoping to have lost more weight before I went, but my first fill hasn't had much effect, and I don't have another until the end of May. I have an aisle seat, so that helps a bit, but the tray won't go down and the belt won't fit. I hate the idea of asking for more seatbelt. oh,cringe cringe. I'm 320 pds. Anyone have any tips? Thanks, Rachel.

Hi Everybody, DeniseG mentioned that bands could be affected by pollens eg get tighter. As an asthmatic I'm interested if other people with hayfever, asthma, sinus problems have experienced any related problems. Take care all, Rachel.

Very interesting folks. Thanks for the great response to my question.

This is very interesting Denise. As an asthmatic, and have hayfever, this is good to know. I might start a thread on the subject. Take care, Rachel

Here,here. That which does not kill us..........etc. Thankfully we have each other because nobody else tells you all this stuff. Take care, Rachel.

Hi VQ ( I'm not sure how one addresses the Queen of Vines), I guess the theme of Outback restaurants is Aussie. What's the food like? I never think of us as having really developed our own style of food - but that's just ignorance. We have alot of Asian influences in our food. YUM. Take care, Rachel.

Hi Jack, Are you speaking English?

Hi Isa, I had my surgery on Feb 11th, and did exactly what you are doing. I thought that because I could tolerate and digest the food, then it must be alright. What I didn't realise , and my Dr. didn't tell me, is that the band is stitched in place. This is one of the reasons you eat soft food, to not irritate the stitches. I don't think I did any damage, but my first fill hasn't had a huge effect. Take it easy, Rachel.

How much is the surgery, specialist appts, fill etc in US ,Zoe?( How's your crazy doggy?) Not sure what you mean,Bobby. The outback is remote Australia - desert etc

The appts are about every 2 mths, Dee. I wasn't asked to do any dieting - only fast from 10pm the night before. I find the whole dieting to prove you can lose weight thing a bit strange. If we could lose weight unassisted we wouldn't be sitting in that bloody chair!!! My GP recommended the surgery for me, after that I dealt with all the same people at SCGH. I think the 18 mth wait is a good thing. It gives you a chance to try to get your head around it, and also it's some effort for the reward. The fact that we get it all free is amazing (I was 157 kg, now 145 - I don't know if that has anything to do with it) - anyone who complains about paying taxes obviously hasn't been to hospital recently. I've been twice in the last couple of years, and my husband once, and the level of care is exceptional. I know 2 people who have had this op privately, and the public patients get much better follow-up service, fills for free etc. Take care, Rachel.

Hi Dee, I've just read all the posts from you - sorry I haven't got back but I didn't realise they were there. Ask me anything you want to know. Take care, Rachel.

Hi Dee, For some reason I didn't get this message - I've just come across it. So,you've had your appt - how'd it go? I had surgery on 11th Feb on Medicare with no catch. It took about 18 mths all up. Surgeons, dieticians, psychs, endocronology(diabetes etc), fills EVERYTHING is free. Let me know how it went. Take care, Rachel.

I'm so glad this thread was started. I've had one fill and don't have much restriction - I was starting to think that I'd stuffed it up somehow. I have another fill in about 4 weeks. Take care, Rachel.

I was banded on the 11th February and have been very happy with how the surgery went and my healing. I had the op done on public health care so my surgeon is extrewemely busy, but the best in town. I don't feel that I was given enough info on the actual procedure eg I didn't know the band was stitched in place. Most of the info I have is from this site. There are things I wished I known , but ultimately I think it was my resposibility to do more research . Not that I regret it in any way. I'm just hanging for my second fill because I don't have much restriction. Take care, Rachel.

Tina,I didn't know that it was available on Medicare either - until my Dr. suggested it. I am, actually I mean I was,156kgs - I'm now 148. I was surprised how quickly the surgery came around because it's filled in with multiple meetings and appointments. Where are you having the surgery? I have had absolutely no problems with it. Apart from obvious things related to the nature of the band eg: discomfort with some food and chucking it up - which is quick and easy. As long as you are positive about it you'll love it. I had the first fill last week and it obviously needs to be tighter - I go back in two months. Do you get the follow-up fills included or is that a separate thing? Best wishes, Rachel.

I think most of us are addicts or we wouldn't be where we are. Saying that we should just stop doing the compulsive behaviour we've been doing for so long ,and do something else,is unrealistic. It's like telling a junkie to just stop using. It's going to be a long road with set backs and testing times, but if we've gone as far as having surgery then we've got the balls to make it work. Trish,I've got the fear as well. I had my surgery on 11th Feb and my eating habits haven't been great. I've had my first fill, which isn't restrictive enough, so that's not helping. I'm a pot smoker and am wary of not indulging more than usual, to compensate for feeling that I'm somehow missing out. I have a whole load of habits that need to be worked on and I'm confident that that is happening slowly. I've started walking at the pool, and spend more time on the computer at night - which is my worst time for stuffing my face. I've also gotten involved in my daughters play-group committee which can be as time consuming as I like. My advice would be to start planning things to do at your worst eating times. Take care, Rachel.

Hi Tina, I'm in Perth and had my surgery on 11th Feb - so far so good. Did you say you're getting info on the 9th and surgery on 19th? I suppose it doesn't matter if you've done your research. You must be doing it privately. I did it on Medicare so I had about 18 mths to get my head around it. You must be getting excited. Take care, Rachel.

Hi Everyone, I know this question is really going to give some people the shits, because I'm sure it's been asked 1,000,000 times, but I've done my best and can't work it out - I can't even find any threads about it - I'm a complete computer moron. Anyway, I need to know how you get the scale and info at the bottom of the message happening. Thanks to anyone with the patience, and knowledge, to answer.l Take care, Rachel.

Thanks for the info Shaz - I appreciate you taking the time. As soon as I have a moment I'm going to work it out. Thanks again. Take care, Rachel.

Still having no luck - Kelly, are you speaking English? Unfortunately I don't have a computer savvy teen in the house but I've got a friend who might be able to help out. Thanks for the info. Take care, Rachel.

Thanks Kathy, I appreciate the info - and I'm off to give it a go. Hopefully, next time you here from me I'll have all my info at the bottom. Best wishes, Rachel.