Yvonne

Hi, I am at that horrible stage where the weightloss stalls or I even gain a pound or three. I get really disheartened and feel like giving up the diet - no matter what I try I gain then I have to starve myself before the weight comes off again. Sometimes going on the atkins starts the weightloss again. How do you cope when this happens? What do you do to stop yourself from going on a bender and eating everything in sight? I'm not filled yet but does this still happen after fills? Looking forward to reading about your experiences. Take care, Yvonne x

I think that is my problem - I'm not eating enough just now. I'm scared of eating and gaining the weight I've lost. I'm gonna have some chinese tonight and start the atkins again tomorrow. At least with that I eat more. Yvonne x

Hi, I had my operation in Glasgow on the NHS. Only downside is that I have to wait till 26 Apr for my first fill - just phoned to see if there are any sooner but no luck - I'm gonna end up pulling my hair out :phanvan Anyone else on the NHS? Yvonne x

Hi, I've got PCOS too - was hoping it would get better with the weightloss :phanvan mmm - I think I'll invest in a laser hair removal machine - found one that scans the area and can remove about 20 at a time - better than farting about and trying to zap them one by one! Do any of you ladies also have really greasy skin and acne? I've been prescribed antibiotics and the acne has all but gone but my skin is greasy still - I get shiny only an hour after washing/cleansing! Take care, Yvonne x

Hi Laura, Nice to meet you. I live in Glasgow and have just subscribed to WLSInfo - is that the one you use too? When did you have your op? and how are you getting on with it. Yvonne x

Hi, I got my band on the NHS in Glasgow. I waited just over year for it. You have to start by going to see your GP and having them refer you to a surgeon. Then when you see the surgeon they'll let you know how long the waiting list is. I think you need to have had some complications from the weight gain too, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. I haven't seen your other thread so just ask and I'll help if I can. Take care, Yvonne x

Hi, You have to get a referral from your GP to start the ball rolling, then you'll get to meet the surgeon and be told exactly how long you'll expect to wait. I waited just over a year for my op. I've heard waiting lists can take 18 months or more, and some are being closed. Hope this helps, Yvonne x

Hi Yvonne, Good luck with your lap band choice. Everyone worries just before the time comes - it's natural. I was really taken aback by the recovery time - was fine 2 days later - just bending hurt a little - a week later I was right as rain. Let us know how you get on. Take care, Yvonne x

Hi, I'm due for my first fill at the end of April - so that's 5 months from the op. I got my op on the NHS in Scotland so I have to take whatever appointments are given to me. It seems a hell of a long time to wait though. I have no restriction and it's sheer willpower that's stopping me from eating like I was before the band, but I do fall off the wagon here and there. Yvonne x

Hi Audrey, What a brilliant weightloss - you must be a shadow of your former self. I don't know if you remember me, I contacted you months ago before I was banded. Do you still have meetings in Gartnavel? Would love to know where and when please? I'd love to meet others going through this - my doc hardly told me anything and all I know I've found on here. I won't have my first till end April - 5 months post op - were you the same? Well done on the weightloss - I can only hope to be as successfull as you've been. Yvonne x

Hi, I was diagnosed with Bipolar in my early twenties - I'm 39 now so I've managed to survive it for quite a while - I never thought I'd reach 30! I was a rapid cycler - up n down every 2 weeks. I'm on Lamictal so I don't get the highs anymore and the big lows are a thing of the past - but they do go hand in hand - anyhoo - I'm left somewhere in no mans land - stable but not quite returned to normal mood. I miss the highs but being a mum comes first. It would be selfish and dangerous to stop the meds but I've thought about it, being constantly down isn't much fun. I think the best thing is trying to accept it - accept that it won't just go away and to just try and cope with it day to day and a laugh a day keeps the nuthouse at bay. I'd love to meet fellow nutters and have a chinwag. Love, Yvonne x

Hi all, I just wanted to ask you all how you get on with the lapband/diet when you're feeling low. I manage ok untill the low kicks in then it's either junk food time or not eating enough. I lose all hope and by the time it's over I've usually gained a few pounds then it's back on the diet and start all over again. Like two steps forward and one step back. I'm waiting for a fill - too bloody long - not till end APRIL (this alone makes me feel low) and untill then any weight lost is through sheer willpower alone, I don't want to fail with this - all my family know and it's added pressure cos they're prob wondering - when will we start to see her losing weight. When you're big it takes a big weight loss before it's even noticeable! Would love to know how you all cope during your highs n lows. Take care, Yvonne x

Hi kittyboozie, I don't think being bipolar will affect your chances of surgery - as long as your stable - ish. My pdoc backed me all the way and I didn't even have a psych exam. Lots of people on here are bipolar and have had the op with no problems - I think the procedure is slightly different in the UK so maybe someone from your country can help you out with more info. As for the meds you can take them in liquid form after the op, I had some of mine changed cos they weren't available in liquid, small pills may not be a problem though. Hope this helps. Let us know how you get on. Take care, Yvonne x

Hi, I had my meds prescribed in liquid or dispersible form for after my op. There were some that didn't come in this form and had to be changed or stopped. Hope this helps, Yvonne x

Hi, I've had a c section and it's much worse than getting a lapband. I was ok after a couple of days with the band and feeling fine after a week. I only had pain when bending or taking really deep breaths. I couldn't sleep flat for a couple of days but honest - nowhere near the pain of a c section. Take care, Yvonne x

Hi, I smoked before surgery although not on the actual day - there were no complications during or after surgery - the anaesthetist will ask you if you smoke, be honest with them and there's no problem. I didn't smoke for a few days after the op but started again - doh! Hope this helps, Yvonne x

HI, I'M YVONNE AND I'M BEING BANDED ON TUE 28TH NOV 06, IN GLASGOW. I'VE BEEN WAITING A YEAR FOR THIS ON THE NHS. LOOKING FORWARD TO CHATTING WITH YOU AND SHARING EXPERIENCES AND LAUGHS ALONG THE WAY. LOVE, YVONNE X:hippie:

Hi, I got my band through the NHS so have to get my fills there too, I couldn't afford them privately. I'll need to contact the surgeons secretary and find out if this is normal waiting time with him. I was told 3 months at the start and that was bad enough. Jeez I'm pissed off too. Yvonne x

Hi, Just found out that I have to wait till the end of APRIL for my first fill - 5 months - my god - I'm feeling really confused - when i read on here that you have fills within weeks it makes me wonder what is going on - anyone else have this long a wait? Yvonne x

Hi, I see my pdoc on 19th Jan, I'm gonna ask for a med change cos my anti depressants aren't working and I'm having a hard time of late, just like you I'm hangin in there. Take care all, Yvonne x

Hi, Lamictal 500mg Risperdal 3mg The best med for me has been lamictal, it's been a lifesaver. I'm on 500mg per day and it's stopped the highs (I still miss them) but most importantly the dangerous lows have gone. My mood still fluctuates but nothing like before the lamictal. I'm still looking for an anti-depressant that will work for me - I get all the horrible side-effects with most of them and others just don't work at all. I wanted to try Wellbutrin but it's not used here for depression - only smoking cessation! I can't get many of the meds I'd like cos I'm in the UK and we have to put up with the old cheap stuff on the NHS - I was lucky to get lamictal - I had to beg my pdoc for over a year and got it when it was in it's trial stages here. I suffer from anxiety and am looking for something to help that too - Buspar made me worse and I am now on Risperdal 3mg per day which helps a little, it's an antipsychotic and helps me with the strange thoughts and nightmares. I've had to use the old self help techniques such as the breathing exercises and going to my happy place to calm down, it helps but I think I need a med but my doc is against me starting on any of the addictive stuff and ones that make you feel doped up. It's hit and miss trying to find the right combination of meds but hopefully we'll all get there. Yvonne x

Hi, You're not alone, I have no restriction either - I was told to eat Soups etc till my first fill! but found no restriction after three weeks then I could eat the same as before the op, the hunger increased at this time too. I was told to wait 3 months post op for a fill but I got my appointment in today and it's not till the end APR :cry don't know how I'm gonna cope but for now I'm trying the atkins diet - it's helping with the hunger and it's finally got the scales moving again. Good luck with your first fill - I'm jealous Yvonne x

Hi Kaboom, Pleased to meet you. How did you get on with your surgery? Yvonne x

Hi and happy new year to everyone. Does anyone have problems with the chatroom, when I've been in lately there have been upwards of 30 users yet no-one speaks mainscreen, my partner joked that it was like a chatroom for trappist monks :party: I've only once managed to chat to people who logged in just after me and it was really nice to have a real chat with other lapbanders and people yet to be banded. Can anyone shed any light on this one please? Hoping this year is better for everyone here, Take care, Yvonne x

Hi Jim, I thought the same thing myself , that they just didn't fancy talking to me - paranoid android chatroom syndrome hehe. Take care, Yvonne x