Brissiebabe

Hi everyone, I'm new to this! I have an appointment to get info on 6 April, then am booked for surgery 19 April, I am excited and scared! I have really enjoyed reading up on everything that has been posted, you don't know how much this has helped and how much information it has provided me with, so thanks. Tina

Does anyone know the reason we have told to avoid soda? I haven't experienced any discomfort when i do drink it, aso i was wondering if there was some sort of medical reason the doctors have warned us off it? Please help? Tina

HI, My hiccups are really loud and uncontrollable at times too, it is really embarrassing at work. I am a fleet allocator so I am constantly talking to the truck drivers over a UHF, it's so embarrassing when you're trying to give a job out, but can't stop the hiccups! Tina

I have the vanguard band also and i didn't really feel any restriction until last friday when I went up to 6ml, which is the same as you at present, I still reckon I could go up another half a ml. My surgeon said the majority of his paitents are between 5 & 6.5mls, although he says his highest is sitting on 9ml. Everyone is different. I have had to abandon all bread with this fill as it just causes to much pain, and in the last week I have lost 2.5kg or around 6lbs, it's amazing what one ml of liquid can achieve. I think I will give this fill another few weeks and see how I go, then perhaps request another?? Dunno? All I can say is 25lbs is a lot of weight and the more slowly you lose it, the better it is, allowing your skin and body to adapt. Apparently we should only be aiming at losing 1-2lbs a week maximum. Hang in there buddy, you'll soon get there. Keep smiling. Tina

I am a constant burper too, everyone at work is just used to me now! Tina

Hey, Well my surgeon got me and another paitent confused and told me I had at least 3 hours to wait before surgery. The nurse came in and prepared me and by the time I'd had an antiseptic shower, they were back to get me for surgery, it was less than half an hour since he'd told me this. I was was out for just under an hour, I remember waking up in recovery telling the nurse that Mum was waiting for me and I had to go back to my room. When I got back Mum said all I could say to her was "wanna see my stitches & staples?". I was a bit of a mess, normally my pain threshold is really high but for some reason this minor operation near killed me. I was such a baby, I don't know about pain relief in the states, but all my nurses could give me was panadol, single strength headache tablets, and they didn't seem to help. But I'm finally on the road to being thin, what more could I ask for! Tina

Hey everyone, I was banded April 19th and I am down about 25 lbs or 12 kgs, I have had two fills totally 6mls in my 10ml band, I definately feel more restriction since my fill last friday and have lost 2.5ks in the last week! Good to hear everyone is doing so well. Keep up the great work! Tina

I am about 7 weeks post op and I am eating like I used to, is this normal at this stage? I have not had a fill yet, am down about 10kgs, but starting to resume old habits, please help me, I have been told that at this early stage it is easy to stretch the upper pouch, I am worries I may do this? I have not experienced what you guys call a PB either and it seems I can eat and not feel over full? Am I strange? Thanks Tina

I work in the import/export/shipping/transport industry, I spend my days allocating deliveries and wharf work to our fleet. Very good brain stimulation, trying to run the trucks to their fullest capacity, and best for revenue. Sure keeps me busy!

Hey guys, I'm on the Mcleods diet, it a pre op diet but I am always so hungry, I have been on it 6 days now, but still 8 to go.... HELP, any tips would be much appreciated... Thanks

Oh Man, I am so nervous now, 8 hrs till surgery. Went back quickly looking for threads on pain, if anyone can give me suggestions for managaing pain when I return home, it would be much appreciated, thanks so much!

Kath and Kim as nurses, holy crap, that would be even scarier! Kalgoorlie eh? I have a friend working in the mines there, am tempted to do it myself for 12 mths and earn a small fortune then travel the world... but then I always was a bit of a dreamer! Thanks for the well wishes guys, only 13 hrs to go, so damn nervous! Janeen, it's nice to hear from someone who has been to the same surgeon, at least you're well and you survived it, so he can't be too bad! Well I will try and jump on here again shortly after the op, probably thursday! Keep smiling and don't worry about me I'll be fine! Tina

Hi Jodie It's great to see another aussie in here! So you've been banded nearly a year now, would you say you are happy with the results? I'm being banded tomorrow in Brisbane, keep in touch, I'd love to hear about your experience! Talk soon! Tina;-)

Hey Kris, We can so do this together, I'm on Tuesday aswell, about 12 hrs from now to be exact, even though we're from opposites ends of the earth, I wish you luck, I'm sh*t scared also but this would have to be the most positive thing I have ever done for myself! Keep in touch and let me know how your big day goes. Tina

Only 2 sleeps to go, scary but exciting.... the countdown is on!

Pink, consider yourself one of the luckier ones.... My surgeon requires me to be on that liquid diet for 4 WEEKS! Then mushies for another 2 weeks! I'm on the pre op diet presently and it's killing me, just vegies, egg and shakes, that's it. My surgery is in 2 days, so give me a couple of days to recover and I'll be back for all this wonderful support, liquids suck! And hopefully some more wonderful ideas about coping without solids! Thanks guys!

Australia can be a bit backwards in the matter sometimes... I was talking to a lady on the sunshine coast who was banded in Jan, although she was 95kg and a BMI of 33 which is not severely overweight, the doctor nearly sent her away and told her to come back once she had gained 10-15kgs, until she requested a pinch test and was 44% bodyfat. Just goes to show.... Am loving all this slang Dee, you are as Ocker as I feel, it's great to hear there's more out there just like me. My cousin has been living in Sydney and last weekend she had a go at me for pretty much not giving a hoot about what I wear, how I talk, etc. Says she can't stand the life in QLD it's way too laid back for her and just how I like it!! Bet you're a big fan of Kath & Kim, like me, if you're not, man you'd love it! Well on'y about 30hrs and 2 more sleeps till I go under the knife, scary.....

Thanks guys for all your support, only 4 days to go now.... not too bad, then liquids for 4 weeks!

Good luck matey... I can't help as I am to be banded the same day as yourself... If you have a pretty high pain threshold normally, you'd probably be ok pain wise, but I'd check with your surgeon, I dare say he might tell you to get a sub. Good luck any way, especially with the surgery.

Thanks Cammy for all the information, I haven't really had the opportunity to ask the questions about the cost of replacement/complications, nor about the cost of fills, but i'm sure the cost would be well worth it! It's great to meet other Aussies who have been banded or that are going through what I am going through, in fact one of my Mum's clients today gave my mum the number of her sister in law who was also banded in January, so I will call her tomorrow and have a chat with her, she only lives on the sunshine coast too. Congrats with the loss too, bet you feel so much better for it? I am into my second week of pre op diet, i'm a vegetarian too so it much it that much harder, am so damn hungry! Deyanne, i think America wouldn't know what hit them if we rocked up eh? I've got enough personality for about 3 people. Although Zoe, that Bandsters exchange sounds wicked.... Vinesqueen, keep in touch when you come over to OZ, which city will you go to?

Hey Rachel, I'm having my surgery at Sunnybank Private Hospital, with Dr. Nicholson, quite scared actually, although he hasn't encountered any problems previously, so let's hope I'm not the first... When were you banded? What were the procedures with regards to eating, did you have to stay on full liquids for 4 weeks? I am assuming the fills are a part of the cost outlayed, if not my surgeon bulk bills so Medicare should pick up the tab?? I think positivity is the key....

I think that's a fab idea, you have no idea how much I'd love to visit the states, although perhaps when I'm thinner, and can wear a bikini... hehehe!

I am also not coping with this small mouthfuls, 20-30 chews... Suppose if I don't learn now, it will be the hard way.....

Hi Dee, I have done heaps of research, but infact I only just had my initial appointment on Wednesday just gone and already I am booked for surgery Tuesday 19 April. The surgeon couldn't really tell me anything I didn't know from doing my research, although it was nice to be able to ask him how many complications he had encountered with lap band surgery in his career, and I was pleased to find out, none. He has not encountered erosion either with any of his patients and he has done over 1000/2000 bands. He has only had one person that had to be opened up fully during surgery, I think that person may have cheated during the pre op diet though... I decided I didn't want to wait for the operation, so I didn't even try to get it through Medicare, I am with NIB and for the operation at $13,500, I only have to pay $4000, Medicare and NIB fix up the rest. That includes 4 dietician appts and monthly check ups forever as long as I need them. Check with Rachel, I think she has planned to go through Medicare she will know exactly what is involved, but I think you're up for at least 12-24mths wait, and you may have to meet more pre-requisites. I went to the hospital yesterday for a pre surgery clinic, my god I was so excited, and now I am quite scared, never been to hospital before...... Good luck with your research, I hope I have helped! Tina

Hey there, Does anyone know anything about the effect of antibiotics 2 weeks pre op? I have had the last week off work sick with the flu and the doctor put me on a course of anitbiotics, however I am due to go into surgery in 2 weeks tomorrow, will they still operate? Or could it be too dangerous? I would appreciate any feedback on this, cause you guys are the experts! Thanks