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HI Aus_girl. I can understand your disappointment. However the doc would have had a couple of valid reasons for not wanting to fill you. You are only 5 weeks post op and there's still healing to be done there. Perhaps there's irritation there due to all the vomiting etc? That cannot be good for the healing process. You don't say how much you vomited or had food stuck, but it would ring alarm bells to me. That is definately not normal. It begs the question that perhaps you may not be chewing your food until it almost dissolves in your mouth, it could be that you are eating too quickly or perhaps the wrong things. Have you seen a dietician? The doc is doing the right thing by you, not for him. You are paying him for that privilege and while it is a huge downer, he knows best. I know you understand this although you don't want to hear this right now. I could suggest that you have a few days off the solid food and go back to mushies until the vomiting settles down a bit. I know you are hungry, I know it I have been in bandster hell (and still I sometimes go through it depending on the day!) but you have to stick with the rules to make this work. As a general rule, I don't eat anything until lunch time. I have a cuppacino and a Sanitarium Up-and-Go for Breakfast, I have tuna, avo and mayo for lunch and for dinner some Protein and a salad. This is pretty much every day for me. 8 weeks post op, I have not once PB'd nor has anything stuck. Consider changing what you are eating to give your body something different. Even if it's a Soup or porridge for one of your meals, I am sure if your band is having some difficulties, that it will be relieved to have something slip through it rather than get stuck. I feel for you, but remember this is a slow process. You loss in 5 weeks is staggering, you should be proud of that, and keep building on that success. Things will improve - I am sure. Hugs

Hugs. What an ordeal..one that will test you. I am sending ***good arm vibes*** your way in the hope it will awaken those lazy nerve endings....Stay positive. Your loss is also an inspiration.

2 weeks ago I tried on my denim skirt and my jeans which were both too tight across my bum enought to be uncomfortable. Whilst I didn't lose weight those two weeks, I must have lost bulk as I fitted into both! So that's a NSV for me! But yes, I have lost 13kg (28.6lbs) and some of my old clothes that I still barely get away with definately look better on me now than they used to. In fact they probably look all wrong as they are so big! I have bought a couple of items of clothing, but I have a wardrobe full of clothes that I have kept 'just in case I lost a few kilos' that should now fit. I can't wait to buy new things in a size smaller than I can remember!

I am two weeks past my first fill and there are times when I feel restriction and times when I don't. The lump in my throat appears some mornings and doesn't on others! Fickle..... As I do most of my eating in the afternoon/night I obviously feel it most then, but I do know when I have had enough. I haven't had pain, but what I feel is quite bizarre and kind of hard to explain. I have two weeks until fill #2!

I play netball two nights per week and that's about all the exercise I do. I am way too busy (does that sound like an excuse) to dedicate more time out of my week as I work full time and I have three young kids. Bit hard when I spend all weekend doing usual family stuff. I find that I am coping much better with my fitness around the court. Last night's game was a cracker and although I was pretty puffed, there was no time when I actually 'gave up' and didn't follow the ball. I think my fitness level has improved by at least 50% by losing 13kgs! I wonder how I will go when I have lost all 30kg! I am going to have to change my routine as my body will get used to that type of exercise. I did body combat and body pump classes a few years back and loved it, so I may take that up again if I can manage the time! The exercise has definately helped, even though I was already exercising preband.

Jet. Who are you being banded by at Warringal? Dr Aly? Good luck - stick with it. You will be fine.

Hi all I was taking Supradyn effervecent tablets with Water for a couple of weeks, then becuase they were so bad I stopped taking them. When I went for my first fill last week, I asked for an alternative. The doc recommended Accomin liquid. Accomin Tonic - Whitehall laboratories - Home Pharmacy Australia Accomin Adult Tonic 200ML Product Details - Chemist Australia Online Pharmacy I find it better to take, easy to swallow and a much better taste than the supradyn. Just thought I would let everyone know just in case they wanted an alternative.

Jamie I have just indulged in 3 new bras. I feel like a real woman in them. I stand tall and proud and even though I have lost weight there, they feel bigger! My husband plans on getting me some sexy lingerie when I reach goal, so he has some plans. :biggrin: I thought I would put $50 bucks away each time I lose a couple of kilos (1kg = 2.2lbs). That way I can splurge at the end on whatever I want! When I was on weight watchers a few years back, I lost a total of 18kg and at the end of it my hubby and I got tattoos. I had never wanted a tattoo before until I saw one that I liked. Never considered the pain or the lifetime thing, but it is still a great reminder of what I could achieve. They can be quite addictive, so I might get another one!

Little black dress with CFMB's! I haven't owned a dress since I was about 14 and would love to get into a size 14 without "wide load" being displayed on my bum! CFMB's here in oz and probably other areas are Come F*** Me Boots..not that I need that as I a married woman with three kids!! :biggrin: As we are heading into winter here, I might just be able to slide into some this year. I am 40 in 10 weeks time, and I would just love to be able to wear both.

That's a fantastic weight loss. You look so great. My 8 week bandiversary is coming up soon too. I doubt I will have lost that much though! Keep up the good work.

My all time favourite is Boston Legal. Very cleverly written and so darned whitty. Next would be Survivor. Love the mind games. We have survivor nights with our friends. Next would be Top Gear (the UK version). I am in love with Richard Hammond.....no more to be said there. Anything medical. Anything with operations, bringing people back from the brink of death, anything with blood and guts in it. Can't get enough of operations etc. My day job is obviously not exciting enough. We don't have pay tv at home, so we are restricted to 4 free to air channels here in Victoria (Australia!).

We have heaps her in Oz. But the one that bothers me the most is "pacific" for specific. That is where people can't get their tongue around the "sp". My coworker used to say the word 'edumacate' (educate) just so to make it sound more childlike. I hated it, but it caught on and now I say it to the kids.... Can't win.

Yeah, count me in too. I am a lurker from Oz. Always reading this Feb 08 thread but never quite know what to say! I was banded late in the month so you had all excellent advice for me when I went in!

Hi Slimmy I am a little taller thank you by a couple of inches! What size did you start at if you don't mind me asking? Actually no i haven't reached size 10/12 but I do want to report that I am now a size 14 on the top! I don't have big boobs, but I have big arms and I used to be large across the back also. I am wearing a very slimming size 14 black work shirt, which fits fabulously. Now on the bottom is a different story. I think I am still 16/18 as I have huge thights and calves. I have a lot do do in that area and it will probably be very slow going, but clothes I haven't been in for years are starting to fit now. My waist is actually a 14, so whatever I buy, I have to have it altered. Darn this pear shape I have. People are starting to notice the weight loss now which is nice.

Hi all I am a little disappointed, but not at all suprised. After my fill last week, I can still eat the same amount I had in the past. I was very careful over the weekend not to eat too much, but I didn't feel any restriction. I didn't want to get to the point where I would PB so I took it slowly. But I never felt full. I now just have to wait a month until my next fill and be careful about what I eat. Mornings are still like most, with indigestion type feeling, so I leave eating anything until about 11am. I survive on Up and Go liquid Breakfast with a cuppachino. Hope all are well.

Hi E-glide I realised the other day I will never be able to sit down and eat a few full plates at a all-you-can-eat Chinese anymore. That will be what I miss the most - tucking into all that good stuff and having buckets of rice too! Anyway, my doc described it to me as, at the top of your stomach near the esophogus you have two receptors which food trigger the brain to feel full only when the food reaches that level. Now unbanded, this can be difficult as our stomaches are rather big and would need a lot of food to feel full. Once the band is in place, the upper part of the stomach (stoma) can only hold 1/2-1 cup so that you feel full much earlier than normal as the food triggers the 'full receptors' without much effort. This was the deciding factor for me! When I get a fill (2 days woo hoo) I hope to have restriction and feel full for the first time in my life!

Niki you crack me up! I have never been one for tuna but since being banded, I have eaten tuna almost daily. Whilst reading this thread I am eating my lunch and have become very congisant of the fact I am still eating like a pig and taking way too much in at one time. So what do I do? Take smaller bites and chew like crazy. Except now I can taste every morsel going into my mouth (rather than inhaling it) and it is making me feel like yakking it up! :purplebananna: Oh how I love that term... Now I remember why I never really liked tuna. :cool:

Hi Joanne Good luck with your op next week. I know what you are going through (we all go through the yips!) but believe me you will be so thankful for having the surgery, all that Optiyuk will be worth it in the end. There are all sorts of ways you can make the shakes more palatable (powdered jelly mix, flavourings etc) so explore this site and have a look at a few suggetions. It certainly helped me get through the two weeks priot to surgery. You will be fine, you are going through the normal emotional process right now and in a few days time, you will feel more rational than you thought you would. Hugs

Oh I badly need a fill. I bought a roasted vegetable roll for lunch and because it was so big, when I looked at it and it nearly made me sick to the stomach. But I ate the whole darned thing! It was so yummy. I have my first fill on Thurs 10 April and can't wait. I have no restriction (my doc doesn't put any in during the op) so I can still eat anything I want. I find rice and Pasta the worst though - they cause horrible indigestion. My weight is fluctuating also. I am still losing steadily (and very happy with my loss so far) even eating more than I should on occasions. I just can't wait to feel some restriction and limit the amount I am eating. I need to chew and eat slowly though. This is my biggest fear right now, that I haven't got that down pat yet. Cheers all.

Having the band has made me experiment with many foods that I would not normally eat: Breakfast: Up-and-Go liquid breakfast Snack: 2tbs cottage cheese and some mango Lunch: cubed chicken, taste of mustard and ff mayo, boiled egg and dip (rocket, fetta and bell pepper). All mixed in together, YUM! Snack: Cuppachino Dinner: Pumpkin soup (after netball).

Hi Batkitty I live in Eltham, a little way away from you but work in the Docklands. Don't hesitate to post your worries here. There are many here that can help you. Pain from the op is normal. Just keep up with the meds. Remember everyone is different, the pain is temporary only and within days you will be back to normal. Hang in there Kylie

Sori, congrats on the band - finally! The most satisfying drink I had during those Fluid days was the Up-and-Go liquid Breakfast yoghurt. I even still have them for breakfast right now as I feel refluxy until about 10am in the morning. So I think I am going to be one of these bandsters that can't eat breakfast...and I used to love a big breaky. I never did Water down a meal to liquid consistency in those first weeks, I always stuck to soups and tried many varieties until I stuck with a homemade chicken and sweetcorn soup I found in the refrigerated area of Coles. I got addicted to it! It saw me through to the third week! I go for my first fill in 13 days and counting and look forward to feeling some restriction as my hunger pangs have returned. Good luck and enjoy!

I had a Homer Simpson moment! 'Doh'! It was when I had winged and moaned at my local GP for the second time about my weight rising yet again despite eating properly and excercising 3 times a week (netball over three nights). I wanted to try Xenical but he thought that was a bad idea given his patients experiences with it and my background of 'trying every diet possible'. I ignored his suggestion of LBS the first time as my Sister in law had it done and was not successful. I didn't know much about it by the second time he suggested it. That was my 'doh!' moment! My AH-HA moment was when I found this site and started reading about it. That was in the morning and I was due to have lunch with my husband that afternoon. I suggested we both get it done (he's overweight too and has drastic cholesterol problems - his specialist referred him to gastric banding which he doesn't want!). He wanted to explore the LBS further so I pointed him to this site. That morning I had made up my mind and once I make up my mind I am not going to change it! I was banded 55 days after deciding I was going to have it. I am so thankful I found this site and the pictures. That was the selling point for me. The support here is wonderful and while my journey might not be easy, I am confident I will be putting before and after photos up and show off my new sexy-momma body! Thanks everyone!

Emma, this 'not hungry' stage will pass. It took me about three weeks to feel even slightly hungry again and about 4 until I had the urge to have a chocolate (my favourite food!). I found that the two weeks after surgery were the hardest, I didn't drink the amounts I should have, not even water! Don't worry too much. You will survive. Now 5 weeks post band and I am famished. It has caught up on me but I would rather not feeling hungry as everything (even tomatoes which I don't eat) look apetising. I have 2 weeks until my fill and I can't wait. I hope you recovery goes well.

Cherry_blue, I feel for you and can totally relate to how you are feeling. I am nearly 5 weeks past banding and feeling pretty hungry too. I am trying to keep the amount I put in my mouth down and restrict it to the right foods too. Why am I craving white bread right now - even when I don't eat it much! I do seem to scoff down my food as I seem to be so hungry..and that's not good as I am supposed to be chewing it slowly! I do feel some slight indigestion too after I eat now. This is surely a sign that I am eating too fast... I think whilst my weight is fluctuating a little, I am losing the inches. I tried on a couple of clothes a couple of weeks ago and again last night and can tell the difference in my size. This is a good thing! My first fill is 10th April and I am really looking forward to it.