Rastis100

This will be the best decision you guys have ever made! It's certainly the best thing I have ever done. I feel like I have the old me back - no longer worried about going out in public thinking that everyone is staring at the "fat chick". I no longer need to shop in the "big girl" section - it's the best feeling ever - good luck on your journey - it's well worth it!! Cheers Rastis x

Hey Chris, I was banded in WA October last year and it's been the best thing I've ever done. Definately check out the thread that Fanny told you about, you'd be surprised how many of us Aussie's have had it done. Cheers Rastis

Hey Cherie - the amount of food I can eat depends on what time of the month it is for me. I never dish up my meals on anything bigger than a bread and butter plate, and I probably eat somewhere in between the 1/2 cup and entree size. Generally when I have my period I can't eat much at all, my band seems to be so much tighter - and food that I generally don't have problems with I find very difficult to eat - does anyone else experience the same thing? But at other times, I probably eat like my 3 year old daughter and I feel very satisfied. I hope this helps and YAY for the 22/10 - Rastis x

MrsWal - For me the time it took between actually saying "okay I am going to get this done" and the operation was two weeks. The shorter time frame between the two the better. It gives you less time to think about it, and less time to freak out and think holy mackeral am I doing the right thing. It's the best thing I've ever done, and people are really starting to notice the difference, and alot of people are commenting now - it's so good for the self esteem. I never imagined that I could look in the mirror and like what I see, but I really do now, and I still have 12 kg's to go. Geepers my hubby won't beable to keep me away from mirrors soon - I'm starting to love myself like mad - which in actual fact is probably not a bad thing, cause I don't think I've felt like that for a very very long time. All the best with your journey - Rastis x PS - Goodluck today lellow!!!

Fanny - you're weight loss is awesome, you must be stoked!!!!!!! Rastis x

Lellow, I know what you mean about possibly being the ONLY one to fail loosing weight even with the band - believe me I felt exactly the same. But once you get the band on and get the correct fill, things just seem to happen as expected (well that was the case for me anyway). I joined Fernwood Fitness back in October and I try to go 5 times a week, but sometimes that's impossible (I have 3 children under 9). I generally go first thing in the morning (by 6am), so I can get it over and done with and then I don't have to worry about it anymore. But with your schedule it sounds like fitting in exercise may be a little difficult. I think the best thing you can do is to fit in whatever type of exercise you can whenever you can. Even little things like, taking the stairs instead of the lift, parking your car further away from work and walking that little bit extra, every little bit helps and it doesn't have to happen in big chucks as long as you are doing a little extra than what you are doing now - every LITTLE bit helps. I hope this helps!! Did you get a better date for your op? Rastis x

Hey Lellow, your little blurb at the beginning spun me out. I am also 37, was 97 kgs and had a BMI of about 36. But after having surgery with Dr Watson back in Oct, I am now 78kgs and have a BMI of about 29 - YAY. It's been the best decision I have ever made, and I have no doubt that it will be the best thing you have ever done. Dr Watson is awesome, I had some minor complications, and he was brilliant, even seeing me on a Saturday morning to try and sought things out, he's great! His reception staff are also great, understanding all our concerns and fears, as they have had the surgery too. It's great to know that you have an understanding person on the other end of the phone. Hope all goes well and you get the date you want for your op. Keep us posted! Rastis x

Hey Linda, I know exactly how you feel about not even getting through the day without cheating - in the morning you are so fired up about doing it properly and then come the afternoon things just go blahhh. Well, I was exactly the same, and I had surgery 9 months ago and I have lost 19kgs (41 pds), and I feel great. It's the best decision I have ever made. Goodluck with your journey - Rastis x

Hey Fanny - yes it's been quite a while since I've posted anything!! I'm still having a couple of problems, but hopefully they can be soughted out. It seems everytime I have a fill, it sends my oesophagus into spasm, and the pain that I am experiencing is similar to that of a heart attack according to the doctors. It did settle for a while, but it's now back with a vengence and occuring every night, usually anywhere between midnight and 4am. I am taking pariet (the reflux med) twice a day to reduce any reflux that may be occuring, and during the night when I get the pain I have a spray of Nitrolingual under my tongue and that generally stops the pain within a couple of minutes (it's the same med they give for angina). The only down side to the spray though is it gives me awful headaches. But in all honesty I'd prefer the headache than the pain in my chest - it's shocking!!! But I am hoping that it will all settle down again and I can go off the medication. Apart from that everything is great and the weight is slowly but surely coming off. You have gone great guns with your weight loss, WELL DONE!!!!! Cheers Rastis x

Apparently what you are feeling in your shoulder is referred pain from wind. When they do the op, the Dr's generally pump your abdomin full of air, it makes it easier for them to access the stomach. The wind gets trapped and needs to get out. The best advice I was given was to walk, walk and then walk some more, and this generally gets the wind moving in the right direction. I also drank peppermint tea for the wind pain and that seemed to help. I hope this info helps. Rastis x

Jude and MSS, good on us!!!! Don't they always say the slower the better for weight loss. Although at times I do wish it was a little quicker. I have really good restriction at the moment, and don't think I will get any more fluid put in for a while. The scales are moving in the right direction, and the restriction still allows me to be social without anyone asking any questions. (I haven't told many people that I've had it done). People have started to noticed that I have lost weight, and I am finding that really good for the self esteem, and it keeps me motivated as well. Goodluck to all of us on our weight loss journey. Rastis x

OMG Lita - 25kgs lost, that is an awesome effort. I was banded in Oct '07 and I've only lost 15kgs, although I have had a couple of minor complications. But I am stoked with the 15kgs, although I must admit it is ALOT slower going than I thought it would be. Take care - Rastis

Hi - I just noticed on your profile that you had a slight slip at the beginning of May. Will it fix itself? Are you feeling more comfortable now? Cheers - Rastis

Oh my gosh, that's terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was stapled back together. Who was your doctor??? I'd be in contact with them tomorrow, I hope everything heals up nicely for you now - goodluck!! Rastis

Goodluck Mudwash, what date are you booked for? Dr Watson is a great surgeon, I've been really impressed with him. Rastis

Hey TeganRheana, I had my appointment with Dr Watson (SJOG - Murdoch) in August of last year and was banded in October. A friend of mine was banded on the same day as me and it only took two weeks from her initial appointment to her operation. I was a private patient and it only cost me $1750, but my girlfriend who was also banded by Dr Watson did not have private health care and it cost her $12,000. Dr Watson is awesome, his after care for me has been brilliant. Goodluck on your journey!!!! Rastis

Yep I was the same as Cherry, couldn't sleep on my front for the first few weeks, but now I have no problem whatsoever. Also weetbix wasn't a problem for me either, but I couldn't manage very much, as I found it very filling. I wasn't on liquids for as long as you have been advised to go on for. My dietician basically said progress very slowly with the different stages of food, and if I tried something that was a little more substancial than I had previously had and it felt uncomfortable, then my stomach wasn't ready for me to progress and to try again in a couple of days. Goodluck with you journey into lapland!!

Thanks MSS - I to am a strong believer in positive affirmation! Things are starting to settle down and I am feeling a lot more positive that my body will accept the band. In the beginning I was thinking "this is just my luck", but I am now thinking that this band IS going to work for me, and I can continue my journey to a healthier life!!!!

Well, I am not sure if you could say my appt went well or not. He did put 1 ml in which I am realy happy about, BUT he said he was at a bit of a loss with what to do next with me. Dr Watson thinks that my body doesn't like having the band in and is going into spasm because of the "foreign object" around my stomach. He said it's like kind of trying to reject it. He said we really only have two options left, the first is to keep giving me fills in small doses and hope that the stomach/oesphogus get used to having the band in or the second option is to remove the band all together - AAARRRGGGHHH. He said that after all I've been through he didn't think that I'd want the band removed (that's an understatement), so he said to push on and see what happens. Here's hoping that everything settles down!!!

Fanny - Yep I'm a SoR girl, hence the reason I had the surgery done at Murdoch. I haven't actually been to this site for a few days. I've been flat out with kids birthdays/parties, back to school and back to work, so haven't been on line for a while. I see Dr Watson on Friday and I am hoping like crazy that he will put fluid in. I still only have 1ml in at the moment, and I am a bit scared that he won't put a bit more fluid in. The pain that I was no longer having in my sternam area (due to reflux oesophogitis), is now back again and I don't think he will give me a fill while I am still having the pain. My GP is treating it with Pariet (the reflux meds we had in hospital), but he is saying it might still be another month before the pain fully subsides. If it doesn't subside within the next month, he is going to put me on some anti spasm tablets to try and stop my oesophogus spasming. Man-o-man I am feeling so damn frustrated - it's driving me nuts. Fingers crossed Dr Watson give me a fill anyway.. Cheers - Rastis

I am still able to eat sushi, but only about a 1/4 of what I used to eat. I don't have any problem with it, but I have heard that the seawood paper can cause problems as it does not break right down when chewed.

Yep - you can get optifast from the chemist. Shop around though for prices because it can vary. I know that the chemist on the corner of Risley St and Canning Hwy (Applecross) have it and it's reasonably priced. I thought the chocolate was the nicest, but a friend of mine also said the vanilla one is nice with a bit of coffee in it. Also just be aware when you are on it for the three meals a day, you can get bad breath due to the amount of fat your body is loosing, so having sugar free chewing gum close at hand is a real help.

Caterpillar - Goodluck for tomorrow, looking forward to hearing your progress - Rastis

I must be really lucky, Dr Watson told me I didn't have to do optifast before surgery - thank goodness cause the stuff is disgusting.