HeatherDee

Hey Bel, how are you, and how is everything with your Mum? Its been about three and a half months for me now - I have lost 12.4kg averaging about 500g a week. Have had three fills and everything is going along fine. Best decision i ever made. If it takes two years then so be it but my weights not increasing and that's the main thing. I am not finding it hard and I don't feel like my throat has been cut. I now don't eat red meat much but have taken a liking to fish which I never did before. Funnily enough leaving chips on my plate is so easy now and yet they were one of my favourite foods. I still sneak in the naughty things from time to time, but hey I'm human and don't we all. Even my doctor said that!!! In all I am happy and looking forward to continuing this journey. Even the clothes have started to loosen up. Cheers for now

Hey Bel, Hope your mum is doing well. It's now been a week since my first fill and I am a little concerned that its not tight enough - I don't get that feeling of feeling full unless I have eaten quite a bit and I feel as though I eat at the same pace as everyone around me. I thought it was supposed to take me twice as long as anyone else. The doctor did say It could take three or four fills to get it right - would I be able to tell after just one week do you think. He did say I can go back earlier if I think I need more fill - I am just not sure.

Absolutely Stacey, what you are feeling is very much a part of the decision process. I put the op off twice because I had reservations about it. Thoughts about not being able to ever enjoy my food again, not being able to enjoy a steak etc have all been dispelled since having it done. I have not had my first fill, but I can't wait because I know it will continue to help me to achieve my goal. I have lost 8.5kg and I don't want to see that go back on again, without that fill I am sure it would. At this stage I would say it has been the best decision I have ever made. I have not had any problems to date and in fact I felt so good after only a couple of days, I could easily have gone back to work. All of the what if's that I encountered by putting the operation off twice were in my opinion really saying, do I want to lose weight or don't I. The beaut thing about it was the Doctor gave me the out if I wasn't sure. In the end I decided to "just do it" because I have really bad knees and I knew just getting that weight off would take some strain off them. I also knew what the probability of me getting diabetes etc was and someone said to me, how will you feel when you have grandchildren and you can't do anything with them. I also had real reservations about just going through the op, because I had never had an op in my life, but as I am pretty healthy I am sure that helped me. Don't feel what you are thinking is out of the norm because it is not, it is very normal.

Hi Bel, going great thanks but looking forward to my first fill next week as I know I am eating too much now - its only been 3 1/2 weeks since my surgery, I am supposed to be on vitamised and not going on to soft until next week, but finding I can tolerate soft foods, good in some ways but not good in others, the weight loss has been good 8.5kg but I know over the last week it has crept up 1/2 kg, so looking forward to Tuesday. How is everything in your life going?

I did say "some" protein, but realise I am only in my first week of banding

Actually I have a friend who had banding 3 years ago, she told me she survived the first four months by chewing say a piece of steak in her mouth, getting the flavour out and then spitting it out. It's a great way to get some protein without actually swallowing. I know that sounds gross, but when my husband had steak the other night he cooked a small piece for me and I tried it. It was really nice and satisfied my need. I am not doing it all the time but it just gets you past the "I would love to have some of that" problem. I guess its not such a good idea if its a really high calorie food.

I was told metamucil is out because it swells up in your stomach and could dislodge the band - the benefibre doesn't.

Well, I am now banded for 6 days and feeling absolutely fantastic. I feel I could easily have gone back to work yesterday but I organised for a week off just in case so I am enjoying relaxing and not doing a lot. Afer going onto the Optifast before surgery I experienced constipation for the first time in many many years and tackled that with Metamucil. Since having the band I have experienced some further constipation as I am still taking the optifast once or twice a day (it has all the nutrition in it, so its a good option) before and I am now taking benefibre as metamucil cannot be taken with the band. Once that cuts in my bowel will be happy haha. I have been coping with the liquid diet really well. I notice when I eat I feel a heavy feeling when I am full - usually I wait about 20 minutes to half an hour and I belch - its like there is a build up of gas in the stomach - once it is released I feel very comfortable. I will continue to stay positive and hopefully have no problems. I have not experienced any nausea or eaten to the point of throwing up. Yesterday I went to the Specialist about my knees, something I have been putting off for about two years and he told me I have only one option and that is to have knee replacements. Of course he wants me to get the weight off first which is one of the primary reasons I had the banding in the first place. What was frightening was the fact that he said weight is what has caused the problem and if I had surgery now my chances of dying on the operating table are 1 in 10. If I get down to my goal weight of 80kg (set by the lap band surgeon) my chances will change to 1 in 1000. So there you have it - anyone out there who has bad knees - its a bit of a shock to the system when you get told that. I do not regret making this decision for a minute.

Its ok just don't know how to use this site - have received your e-mail address and will be in touch. Let me know if I can help you with your mum have been through cancer twice, once with my mum and again with my sister. Happy to be there for support.

Hi Bel, I am 52 years old, just had my band done on Thursday this week - very inspired by your story, you sound like a wonderful positive person. I will see how I go but would love to have you there if I feel the need. I am feeling very good after just two days, but I am sure theups and downs are to come.

oh and how much exercise do you do? I have a crook knee (which needs a replacement and one of the reasons I need to get some weight off - along with the many others) My knee limits me on what I can do.

Thanks for the re-assurance Dave. I will continue to read. I am really pleased I found this site, mind you only yesterday on New Years Day - a good start to 2008 I think.

Thanks Kellie, would you agree that banding was the best thing you have ever done? You are doing well by the way.

Thanks Dave o1 - you are doing well, congratulations. Would you say it was the best decision you made and did you have any reservations before having it.