greeneyez

Hi there, I am unbanded still, but I am a nurse. Some people might be able to come off night time CPAP after losing weight. sleep apnea is common in overweight people, so when the weight comes off, it sometimes goes away. CPAP can cause air to fill up the stomach, due to the positive pressure of the air. I commonly see this in ICU and we usually need to decompress the air in the stomach by inserting a gastric tube into the stomach. This happens even in thin people who have breathing problems. I can imagine how uncomfortable it would be in patients with a smaller stomach and hope that you all don't need it once you get closer to goal. I hope to be banded in late Jan/Feb, so wish me luck. Hope this helps, Jen

Good luck Chiquita, will be thinking of you.

Hi Suzanne, I'm glad to hear that you slept last night and so did your hubby! Maybe you can see the specialist and you don't need it anymore courtesy of the lapband. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Sweet dreams!

Hi, I am a nurse who works in intensive care and hopefully will be banded in the new year. It is normal to feel a sore throat for up to a week after surgery, from the breathing tube that was inserted during the anaesthetic. It might feel a little scratchy too.

HI Dreaming, I'm 32 and going to have lap band. I haven't seen my surgeon yet, but health fund said that they would cover it. Yes, I am young, like you, but I have tried WW, gloria flipping marshall, jenny craig, lite n easy (delivered calorie controlled diet), orlistat (Xenical), Optifast, Sure Slim...I"m sure you are no different. My BMI is 41 and I have a bad back and very dodgy ankles. My family has luckily been very supportive, as has my medical practitioner. I just explained to them what it is like to be overweight, what I have tried to keep the weight off and how it will make my life better. I also explained that it isn't an 'easy way out' and that you have to work with your band to make it a success. This forum provides so much support and information (thank you everyone!!). Good luck, we are all here to support you. I have my first appointment on the 1/7/08, so wish me luck! Jen:girl_hug:

It is so nice to hear people who are so happy with the band. I have my first appointment with my surgeon on the 7th Jan and it was so good to hear what you had to say. Thanks!

Sorry you have had to go through this. I would definitely ask for a second opinion from another surgeon. An infectious diseases doctor can't really help with a band issue, but can probably advise on the right antibiotic therapy for pseudomonas.

Hi there, I've not yet been banded, but I am a nurse and use CPAP on patients all the time in ICU. We usually have to put a tube into the stomach to decompress all the air, so what you are saying makes perfect sense. How much weight have you lost? It might be a good idea to see your resp specialist - you never know, you might not need as high support at night now Hope you can sort it out, it must be very uncomfortable. Jen:girl_hug:

Hi Helmss, Not sure what it is like overseas, but it seems pretty easy in Australia. I have also made the decision to get it done - I'm totally out of other options! I just have to see the surgeon and his team of psychologist, nutritionist and anaesthetist in January, then it is just a couple of weeks until the surgery date. I have insurance, so it shouldn't take too long. Good luck with your journey, perhaps we can support each other as we seem to be at the same stage. Jen:clap2:

Hi Jenny, My name is also Jen and I am also in Sydney. I am currently unbanded but have a referral to see Dr Brancatisano. Who is your surgeon and how did it go? Apart from the liquid diet, of course. I'd also try jelly - as a nurse, we give jelly to our liquid diet patients, along with ice-cream, Soup, cordial, juice.... Merry Christmas, can't wait till those boxing day sales - but then again, why bother buying more "fat clothes"? I won't be able to wear them for long!

Hi Nic, Thanks for that. I went to my GP yesterday and got a referral. The GP sounded very happy with Dr B and I've since found out that an old neighbour of mine (she's not old, but I haven't lived there for a while :rose: works for Dr B as a patient Liaison support person. She is really nice, so I'm even more happy I am going. (Her name is Margaret). I can't wait now, I'm so excited and wish I had done it sooner.

Thanks Sades, yes North Shore is a little far - I don't want to be that far away when and if I have a problem!! Merry Christmas, thanks for the support.

HI Nikki, I'm also from Sydney and considering seeing Dr B. How long was it between your first appointment and your DOB? Did you have to be on Optifast for 2 weeks pre-op and what has your post op been like? I'm also looking at Dr Durmush, as he is closer to home than Dr B.

Hi Guy, I'm a nurse and I work in ICU. Most patients with sleep apnoea are put into ICU for closer monitoring than wards. Shoulder tip pain is very common after laparoscopic surgery - surgeons inject carbon dioxide gas into the space where your abdominal organs are so that they can see what they are doing. The shoulder pain is referred pain from the gas. Looking forward to finding my own surgeon and becoming a bandit,too. Hope this helps.

Hi Sades, who did your surgery? I'm currently looking for a surgeon in South West Sydney. Prepared to travel to find my knight in shining armour.

Well, it's a pity Peter Garrett can't dance. Kind of like a frog in a washing machine. I love Beds are Burning, classic aussie guitars. I do recall singing Blue Sky Mine in high school, it was really bad! Check out Ian Moss (he was also in Chisel, but did have a brief solo career).:clap2:

Phew Danna! I can't live without the stuff! Guess I will have to get used to it and live through the caffeine withdrawals! Good luck with trying it again :whoo:

Hi Insubordination, thanks for replying. Everyone has been very welcoming here, like our owned banded community! Yes, Dr B is expensive and I am a pretty busy person - I think I would find it hard to get to all those appointments!

Thanks Feebs, the support from this forum has been excellent! I actually just had a reply from Dr Durmush's surgery, they can see me on the 3rd Jan, which is way before Dr B can see me (Feb). DH is very supportive, I am lucky! I am determined that 2008 is going to be my year - I've been on diets for over half of my 32 years and I've just had enough. Hope it is as easy as everyone says it is - I can't get my head around not drinking diet coke, though!

Hi guys, Thanks for your welcome, it feels great to be accepted! I spoke with my husband this afternoon about having a lap-band. I hadn't mentioned it to him before and assumed he would just laugh at me or tell me just to eat less. I was suprised that he was so supportive of me and even offered to pay for it! I am very lucky, I guess. Anyway, making an appointment to see Circle of Care (Dr Brancatisano), but will also look at the forums to see who others see and get some feedback. Merry Christmas! Jen

Hi all, I'm from South West Sydney and started looking into lap-band. I've tried everything from shakes, pills, Gloria Marshall, SureSlim, Lite n Easy, WW - you name it! I"m looking for a surgeon in Sydney if anyone has one they can recommend....I have private health insurance and just can't wait to be young again.:help: