Chickie

See, I think that Super Morbidly Obese people would feel this MORE than someone who is Morbidly Obese. They (we) are generally the biggest people in the room. Did you ever break a chair when you sat on it? Did you ever rip an item of clothing putting it on or taking it off? Did you ever feel dirty and smelly because of the sweat between your pubic are and your pannus? (this is despite showering several times a day) I don't think any of these things are exclusive to either the SMO or MO groups, but why would it be any less humiliating for someone who is heavier? Do they have less pride because they are SMO? Do they just accept the belittling stares and comments because it's their due for being fat? I started out at 297 lbs, 5"4, BMI of 50.9 (according to the OH BMI calculator) Super Morbidly Obese. I will never forget the stares, snide comments. On the topic of low BMI bandsters? My DH has a BMI of 30. If it goes up to 35 again (he has just lost some weight) He says he will be banded. I will support him 110%. I know how hard he struggles to keep his weight down. I would never look down on someone who was / is a low BMI bandster. A struggle with weight is a struggle with weight. Be it 50lbs or 250lbs.

The thought of having my band removed after I got to goal never occurred to me. If I *lost* my band, I would be re banded (if that was a choice, otherwise, I would look hard at the VSG)

Anywhere up to a 1 cup is acceptable. I am a big believer in what you eat being more important that how much you eat. Maybe you do need a fill. But first, I would look at what I am eating, if I am eating garbage, start to make better choices, then, if I am still not losing weight, even though I am eating a small meal (veggies, Protein, and carbs) and staying full for at least a couple of hours, I would get a fill. The key is to be honest with yourself. If you know you have been making less than fantastic choices, fix that first, then examine if you need the fill. If I were in your situation (being able to eat crunchy, able to go down easy type stuff, but struggle with solid food) I would not have a fill. And If I had put on weight, I would be looking hard at what I am eating.

I get plenty of "I didn't realise it was YOU" type comments, simply because I have lost 2 thirds of my body weight. For the most part, people tend to be very complementary. It gets to the point where I get embarrassed.

Yay Fluer! Congrats!! You look great! My tummy tuck (with private health and Medicare rebates) cost about $1800. I had my tuck at The Wesley, and had a very skilled reconstructive surgeon.

I am thrilled to bits with my band. I have lost about 110% of my excess weight, and feel fantastic (I don't look bad either! lol) So thrilled may be an understatement. What have I done that worked for *me*? Well, for a start, I started eating low GI (The Glycemic Index ) . After trying all the low fat, low carb, low everything diets that are supposed to help with PCOS symptom management, Low GI worked really well for me. I think the reason it was eaiser to stick with was because I wasn't cutting out *all* carbs. I was just replacing them with better options. It kept my blood sugars and insulin lower that with just medication alone. Insulin Resistance, or Type 2 Diabetes is usually the reason for an Rx, but not always. Some Endocrinologist's like to prescribe Metformin to ladies with PCOS to help them lose weight even if their sugars and insulin are normal. There is even going to be a study done here in Oz to see the effect of Metformin on moderately overweight women as a diet drug. I, like you, worried that PCOS would hinder my weight loss. But after banding, I realised just how much I was eating (when I compared it to how little I was eating post op). And I also realised, while my diet was OK while I was trying to lose weight (otherwise I did eat garbage) Even OK wasn't good enough. I had to do better if I wanted the weight to come off. I overhauled my daily diet (the word "diet" in my mind now refers to how I eat. Not a period of time where I try to lose weight, then go back to my "normal" eating) Started exercising (just walking at first, later running and heavy weights) and I saw pretty immediate results. And the better I ate, and the more I exercised, the better I felt. But basicly, these days my PCOS is managed with Low GI eating, and plenty of exercise. I went off my Metformin at about 6 months post op (maybe before that I can't remember) and I have had a perfect 28 day cycle since then. My acne has cleared up, no new hair has started growing, and my blood sugar and insulin are normal. What more could I ask for?

Brisbane, Australia.

It is hard to part with cash. But once I started losing, and felt the benefit of losing in terms of my health, I never gave the money a second thought.

HonkeyTonks, have you considered Dr William Cockburn? He is in the Wesley, and does fantastic work. I waited about 2 weeks to see him, then had my abdominoplasty less than 6 weeks later (it could have been sooner, but my husband had to get time off work, and that was the soonest he could get it)

No, it can be a really positive experience. It has been for me, and many others. And we do things a little differently in Oz. Perhaps due to the length of time we have been banding (the US surgeon have about 6 years under their belt, we have been banding since the 90's) And I often wonder if that makes a difference in the results of the Aussies Vs the Americans. Anyway, surgeons are banding people at lower BMI's to prevent super morbid obesity. I know at least 1 of the Aussies here was banded at a BMI of about 37. My GP asked me to go to a few information nights (I know they have them at the Wesley every now and then) and try a few other methods to lose the weight before we finally agreed that banding was a good option. She wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing for me. And that I was really ready to lose weight and be compliant with everything that went along with banding. Best of luck! Sam

I didn't have an unfill before my surgery, and took pills that had been cut in half (I usually broke them in half with my teeth) I took only panadol after coming home, and after a quick chew, they went down just fine.

I do have a little bit of excess skin on my arms, and thighs. I carried most of my weight in my midsection, so that area was just a train wreck. I had a tummy tuck in August 2006. I am well under my goal weight.

My story is pretty straight forward. I was banded 29 months ago, and with the band, and a total lifestyle change, I lost over 110% of my excess weight. I think it is very normal to be scared, or worried. But in honesty, being banded was one of the best things I have ever done for myself. Sam.

Really. This woman has the money to pay people to feed and train her. And I honestly think that is what she did. And like Mandy said, she has always be very open about her surgeries, so why not the band? My guess? Because she doesn't have one.

Why don't I think she was banded? 1. The tabloids and media lie to sell newspapers and magazines on a daily basis. 2. It takes years for scars to get to the point where you really have to look to find them, even if you have fantastic skin, and a great diet (not drugs and alcohol) 3. Her weight has been up and down over the years. 4. Not everyone who loses weight has a band.

Your FIL sounds less than classy, as does your step MIL. As to your question, I would feel like crap. I am sorry you are feeling so badly.

It sound to me like you are doing just fine. I think some bandsters become too obsessed with how much they are eating, how long it takes to eat and they forget one huge factor. WHAT they are eating. Sometimes I see people sacrificing healthy foods to super restriction (example; only being able to eat a couple of mouthfuls of food! Or living on Protein shakes) I say, if you are eating a small meal of protein, veggies and carbs, and staying full for at least a couple of hours after, you are doing well.

I think if I gave the % a lot of thought, I would have never had been banded. I knew I could do this, and not losing what *I* wanted to lose never crossed my mind. I ended up losing over 110% of my excess weight.

If this bandster is only 5 weeks post op, and has just had their first fill, I would say this is pretty normal. You would be hard pressed to find a surgeon who will give anyone who was only banded 5 weeks ago a huge (or even slightly larger) fill. The idea of slow, small fills is to allow you to get used to the fill amount, and to lean to eat comfortably with that amount of restriction before moving onward and upward.

Nope, I still don't think she was banded.

There are 4 types of band in regular use; 1; 9.75 cm - 4cc 2; 10cm - 4cc 3; The VG band 4; The AP band

I guess the band ruined my life if you think that running 6km a day, eating healthier than 95% of the population, living my life to the fullest, regaining my health, and looking as good as I feel is ruining my life. Then yeah. Totally ruined.

I live in Australia, so it is a little different, but I had to get a referal from my GP to the reconstructive surgeon. It really wasn't a huge deal, because I did need the surgery. I hope all goes well for you.

It works like this. When you are "banded" you have the band around the upper part of your stomach. When you have a fill, your band will tighten, and when you eat, the food takes longer to get through the band. It keeps the food in the upper part of the stomach, keeping you full for longer, on a much smaller portion. I don't feel the uncontrollable hunger that I once did, but I do get hungry. But it is a totally different sensation now.

I eat salad daily. Maybe even a couple of times a day. I love it. But I can't remember the last time I had lettuce in a salad... LOL!