Hop_Scotch

I get contact dermatis from the adhesive of bandaids/plasters and the like. It usually appears after a couple of days. After a particularly bad bout I used an OTT steroid cream, some people need oral cortisosteroids for severe cases

Report the nurse to the hospital. Be clear and succinct in your feedback as well what you would like to occur...eg cultural sensivity and/or patient-customer service training for the nurse etc.

Hope it all goes well for you. Some questions to ask should they not already be on your list of questions: how ESG has the doctor done? Success rate? Failure rate? What caused the failure? Anyone experience complications and what were they? Average excess weight loss of their ESG patients? Post op support program - is there one and what does it entail? What post-op medication is prescribed to help deal with initial pain?

Good price, but how does it taste? Smell of vitamin b makes me want to throw up.

In Australia (self pay too) it may be different than where you are but, 1. Standard blood tests to establish base points and any comorbities (not that I probably needed comorbities my weight was high enough), also need a test for H-pylori (negative for me), if positive would have needed a course of antibiotics. 2. General anesthesia 3. Yes, but this really depends on the doctor. Some doctors do it to ensure a pattern of compliance, if someone can't do two weeks pre -op liquid/shake diet how will someone be able to manage the post-op liquid diet?? 4. None for me. Some people for various reasons have lost restriction. Tests have revealed that the sutures have become lose or undone. Reason may include non-compliance with post op guidelines, doctor inexperienced with ESG and suture placement, some people who have had a gastric balloon prior to ESG have a higher failure rate, some people with severe vomiting (due to other illnesses) which has caused sutures to loosen...and then there are the people for some inexplicable reasons the ESG has failed even though they have followed all the insructions and they have experienced doctors etc. Some points to bear in mind for ESG: weight loss will likely be slower and lower than the surgical options (average weight loss is 20% of excess weight, some people have lost a lot more, some people have lost less), adherance to post op guidelines is vital - it will help the suture anchor points heal which will help the restriction hold tight. Like the surgical options there is a weight loss sweet spot, for the ESG it is probably the first six months to 12 months. It's tool, we need to make it work to ensure the best weight loss, this means a compliance with post op guidelines for diet and exercise, will need to change all those not so healthy eating habits particularly emotional eating. Generally the ESG is not reversible, and it has been said that for those who choose to have a revision (where the ESG has failed) that a VSG is not a safe option (though I have seen research where such revision has been successful) - i think it may be a chase of the suture anchor points may get in the way of a VSG. Bypass seems to be the surgeons' choice for ESG revision to surgical option. Another ESG is also a viable revision.

What a great result and you are looking wonderfully fabulous. Your health would have improved so much too. Well done!

Great idea for pre-op but post-op won't be able to enter, there is a specific rule that those who have undertaken WLS cannot enter dietbet games, if they do and are caught out they will be disqualified.

Sounds fine to me...did your doctor give you a set amount to lose? If not, you should be okay.

Of my immediate family I am the only one who has been consistently overweight for sustained periods of time, occasionally my mother and sisters have put on weight, they seem to lose well and keep the weight off for long periods. None of the males in my family have been overweight. Only one ex long term boyfriend/partner has been overweight, the other two ex long term partners were slim/average.

How disappointing for you, and you must be feeling some anger too. Hopefully there is a resolution for you soon. Sorry I don't have an opinion or anything as I am not experienced in lapband, but hopefully somebody here may be of assistance to you.

This was on a blackboard at the gym the other day, I laughed but it is true: You won't get the arse you want by sitting on it.

I used a blender...I also used half skim milk and half water plus some yoghurt nd always added some frozen blueberries. I also found that they tasted better if they were finished quickly. Have you trialled any other brands (that are comparable in calorie/protein/carb content) from outside the clinic and know that you can stomach them? If so, explain to the clinic the difficulty you are having the brand, that you don't want to waste your money by buying from them and not using the shakes. Is it much more expensive to buy from them? Is it just a money make scheme or is it a case of careful selection because the brand contains vitamins and minerals? My doctor may have specified/recommended a brand but there wasn't any requirement to buy from them.

What is it specifically you don't like about them? Are you buying the already made up drinks or using powder?

If you search this site..you will find some swear by patches and their blood tests are good. Others won't use patches for various reasons.

It's very variable depending on individual doctor/clinic/hospital. Mine was at least a week and progress to soft food if all was okay with puree.

No specification of what type of exercise? Regardless, 10 days would rule water based activities, I assume your incisions haven't healed yet? Also you wouldn't want to extend/stretch out your torso with wounds as well as stomach still healing. I would keep it simple for a few weeks. Walking...with perhaps some exercise bike if you have one. You aren't getting much nutrition just yet go gentle/easy until you are consuming more. I would save the gym/weights training for about five to six weeks out.

How did your surgery go?

Bump in case anyone can help

No doubt there are some people for whom the procedure has failed for unknown reasons, however, I do wonder how many failures are related to lack of skill and knowledge by the doctor and/or the person not following the post op guidelines. On a FB group I belong to one of the members there, lost her restriction after a bout of illness that had caused vomiting for a period of time. Presumably the heaving/vomiting caused the suture sites to loosen or come undone. Some people are quick to claim no or little restriction while still on liquids, puree or solids and possibly give up too soon, before they know it they have fulfilled there prediction. However, if they they are following post up guidelines they will likely not feel much restriction until on solids and on the one cup volume per meal. For those with a ESG only, they need to realise that restriction is not as great as with the other procedures plus there is more of the stomach left to work than with a VSG for instance. Therefore weight loss is typically lower and slower than the surgical options. My doctor prefers no fluids on the day of procedure and the day following (IV fluids instead) so as to help the suture sites heal, then its three days of clear fluids and three weeks of full liquids, then a week of puree and then a week of soft with limited volumes of foods. He won't perform an ESG on someone who has had a balloon due to the high post op failure rate (sutures not holding). Will your procedure reduce the opening to the stomach as well as reduce further reduce the stomach?

I first read about ESG late last year and was immediately interested in it as I liked the non-surgery/minimally invasiveness of the procedure. I have private health insurance but in Australia ESG isn't covered by medicare therefore private health insurance doesn't give a rebate for the procedure. I am about 5ft1 and weigh 95kgs. I have been overweight a long time and like many have tried many different things. I did lose weight about 10 years ago, and got down to 65kgs, while that wasn't in the healthy weight range for my height...I did like how it looked on me. That lasted about two years or so, and I put the weight back on along with another 12kgs and it is still slowly rising. I have been being doing my research and have finally decided it's time to take action. I have had a number of blood tests and will be talking to my preferred surgeon 9th May to find out if I am a good candidate for the ESG. While I am eager to talk to the surgeon and set a date, it is likely that I won't be having the procedure until Sept/Oct. If I am not a good candidate for ESG I don't know what I will do...my insurance and medicare would cover a band or the standard sleeve and bypass, but I looked into the band some time ago and determined it wasn't for me. Not sure if I up to the surgical options even if covered by insurance and medicare. I have started some light exercise (mostly walking and weights) and have just commenced planning my meals and working on portion control. This photo was taken the other night, I am the overweight one! The other three standing are my younger sisters and that's my mother sitting...and to think I thought that top fitted me quite well when I looked in the mirror lol, certainly looks different in a photo. I will take some more before photos in the next day or so, I realised I have very few photos as I typical hide from the camera. I've enjoyed reading a lot of posts on Bariatric Pal in general and realised its about time I put me out there! I particularly like reading posts from ESGers please keep the updates coming.

Another month down. Restriction is going well. Not so long ago, I was out with friends and wasn't paying attention to what and how I was eating. I ate too much steak, too quickly. I was full before I realised pain and then much discomfort lasted for about 12 hours. I slept very little that night. Lesson learned, and even at home I am being more mindful as to how much in each biteful, types of foods and how quickly I am eating. Struggling with the sweet tooth but have done pretty well lately. I have bought my reward all ready, I will have to work hard at making sure I deserve it. I have VIP tickets for the Hugh Jackson world tour show in Melbourne in August. It is a long wait but I am very excited.

Well done on the weight loss. That's a good long term plan.

Hi there, are you having a overstitch revision for your RNY? I imagine there is possibly not too many people who have had that type of revision.

How long have you been overweight? Have you attempted weight loss many times before and failed? If you haven't been overweight for long and haven't really attempted weight loss I would say yes impulsive. Nothing wrong with making up your mind quickly as to want you want, but do make sure your research and then research some more. Make sure you know exactly what you are up against, the risks, the complications, the failure rates, the pain, the stalls, possibly a life time of vitamin supplementation, what options you have for a revision if needed, what WLS is best for you and importantly, the benefits too.

Ooops that was meant to be sore! But I am guessing 'sore and sorry' both fit. Head up, won't be long before you are feeling yourself again, hopefully you have some support and someone to spoil you a little through this time