Chickie

Maybe not. A girlfriend of mine was on Xenical at the same time as me, and we would go out to lunch together, order the same food, and she would have all sorts of problems. Where as I would have none. I guess everyone is different.

I was on it for some months in 98, then again in 01. I did lose weight, but I regained after I went off it. I doubt I would regain this time because of the band. I guess I was lucky. I never had any real problems with it (the oil and mess), it was just the regain after I went off. Thanks.

I am a SHAM to my 8 year old son at the moment, but before I quit work, I was a photographer with a well known photographic company in Australia.

I take a good quality multi every day.

I exercise daily. I walk my son to school (a 4km round trip, with one hellva hill on the way back) and I usually walk to pick him up. 3 days a week I jog (I used the couch to 5k program to get started, it is fantastic) And I have just started back at the gym, doing 30 minutes on the treadmill, 15 on the xtrainer, and 15 on the exercise bike. On the days I dont run I weight train. I am buying myself some time with a personal trainer for my birthday, so I can have my butt kicked

Wait a full hour before drinking after food.

That is fantasic - Congratulations!!

A big part of why many surgeons require a liquid diet is because overweight people often have fatty livers, and fatty livers when moved or upset in any way bleed.

Have you had a fill lately? How is your restriction? Are you eating lean protien first? Are you getting 8 glasses of Water a day? I have found that junk goes down like water, I feel no restriction when I eat chocolate, potato chips, and any sort of junk and I never feel full at all. When I eat solid protien first, I am full on a standard bandster portion (1/2 cup) I have also found that water loading 10-15 minutes before a meal helps me to cut down what I eat (I dont know how that works, but it does) If you feel like you need to talk to someone, you should.

Seeing the other tax thread reminded me. We Aussies also get a refund (20 cents in the dollar for every dollar you pay in medical expenses over $1500) on our bands. So dont forget to add it when you prepare your return!!

I *do* know what it costs to be banded in Brisbane, because I live here, and was banded here too. I dont know about the rest of the country, but by the time you add airfare, and a hotel stay, it really works out to be quite expensive (without private cover and a medicare rebate) And that hotel stay could be up to a month, because I dont know of one surgeon in Brisbane who will do consults via email, or the phone. So you go in for first consult, then by the time you see all of the team, it *could* be a minimum of a couple of weeks. And even at $75 per night that is still AUD$1050.00 for 14 days. I am not trying to be negitive here, but it really isnt that much cheaper when you look at it, and account for everything, including the Aussie dollar being at about 75 cents to the US dollar. I will say this though, we have some of the best banding surgeons in the world, and to my mind it would be worth the extra it would cost to come to Austraila to be banded. So a quick run down of costs; (on your numbers, Annette, and at the conversion rate at 75 Aussie cents to the US dollar) AUD$14,000 USD$10,500 Banding AUD$ 1,400 USD$ 1,050 Hotel for 14 days (that would be the min) AUD$ 2,000 USD$ 1,500 Airfare (a rough guess) AUD$ 1,000 USD$ 750 Surgeons "team" and pre op testing (Again a minimum depending on the hospital) TOTAL AUD$18,400 or USD$13,800 On top of all of that you would have to add the hospital room, and operating theater costs (they get covered by private cover most of the time for Aussies, so that would make $14,000 about right for just the banding) And that is forgetting transport costs (bus, cabs, hire car or train) food and any shopping. Like I said before, some of our best surgeons operate in the US anyway.

Thank you for sharing - they are some kick ass pics! I wish I had pics of MY band. I must ask my surgeon.... **Makes note to ask Dr at next visit** And your run down of the first few days of banding were spot on (and funny to boot!)

Well, no wonder people go straight to RNY if they are the numbers given to them! I would think that the % lost after 3 years would have to be higher than that, wouldnt it?

When they say their fills "kick in" after a few weeks. I had my last fill 4 weeks ago (I am filled to 3.4ml after 4 fills) and it kicked in over the last few days. I havent had this happen with the other fills, so I was really surprised when I started feeling more restriction. I am so happy!

What does it cost to be banded in Mexico? I know that uninsured bands in Brisbane can be up to AUD$22,000 (about USD$15,800) So if you add airfares, hotel stay I am not sure it *would* be much cheaper. And most surgeons here need to see you at least once before surgery, and see their team, so the process could take up to a month. And I am pretty sure that a few of our surgeons operate in the US anyway (Prof O'Brien and Dr Feilding being two that spring to mind)

Umm. I have to say, that back in the days before my band, I loved McDonalds fries, with their mustard sauce and choc sundays. I would dip the fries into the mustard, then into the choc sunday. My husband would almost puke when I ate my Choc mustard fries!!

I couldnt burp for about a month after I got my band. I had to have my DH or DS "burp" me by patting me on the back as I lent forward. As for the BM, well. You are taking in less food, so there is not as much waste. I hope that helped a little.

Totally normal. Totally. It may take a few fills before you do feel some restriction too, do dont be disapointed if you dont have it straight away. You are doing so well! :Bunny

I am a member of a large board, and it has a diet and exercise section. In said section, it has a weight loss surgery thread. In this thread there are always women asking about WLS options. The RNYers give their point of view on the band, as well as their surgery. One went as far as to say that it didnt work, and not to bother (not in so may words, but you get the idea) A few ladies have asked about the band lately, and the RNYers, are giving just plain wrong information on the band, that I have to set straight. How do you deal with this? It is really frustrating me.

I am down 70.5 pounds in 4 months. You are doing really well, dont beat yourself up about it. 50 pounds is awesome!! Be proud.

Thanks everyone. I am glad I am not the only one who has experienced this sort of negitive attitude towards the band, although I wish I was the only one, and people could be more accepting. I have linked to LapBank Talk more than once. I hope they found their way here. Thanks again.

I am 25 and was banded in feb this year.

I never suffered from stomach aches before I had the band installed, but tonight after I had an iced doughnut (yes, I know - it was a bad choice, but to my credit, it was my first since my surgery) I have had an awful stomach ache, and have felt a bit queesy. I had no problems getting it down, that was a bit of a shock, I thought that it would get stuck like bread, but it didnt. Is this normal after eating a higher fat, suger loaded food item?

I was a coke head (diet coke, that is) and could drink anywhere up to 2ltrs a day. I gave up 4 weeks before my surgeryon the 22 of Feb, and have never looked back. I dont crave it like I did at all.

I had a skirt in my wardrobe that I brought, and was sizes too small for me. Well. I tried said skirt on (size 18 regular! woohoo) and it FITS. Not just that, it is a little on the loose side! I am thrilled. I have gone from a size 26 to an 18 in under 4 months!