Skinny2Be

Hi All, I'm a pom, with a band that's done me the world of good. However, I'm about to move to Australia. I'll need health insurance - do any of you guys know a good insurer that will cover fills or possible future operations that the band may need? I'm worried that as it's both elective surgery and a pre-existing condition I might not be able to get insurance for band-related issues. Any thoughts? Cheers for your help :smile:

Hi All, Something that's been bothering me for a while... I knowall about the joys of PBing. It's something I can deal with. However, I do have a worry about "traditional" being sick. I do a lot of travel. It's inevitable that sooner or later I'll eat something that gives me food poisoning. So, what happens when food has passed through the pouch, is sitting in the normal stomach area and then suddenly needs to come back up again? Does it come up ok or is it a time of terrible risk for a bandster? If so, any ideas on how to make the process as easy as possible? If, say, kneeling down is better than standing up then I'd love to know. Cheers Rich

Hello, I've not posted anything in a while, but it's all going really well - 20kg lost since April 23. Just another 3kg until I hit my first target, to be under 100kg. Anyway, I live and had my operation in Malaysia, but in December my wife and I are moving to Australia. So I have a question for Australian bandsters... Can any of you advise me about which Australian medical insurers will take me on and still cover any fills or future operations that my lapband may require? After all, it was elective surgery and when I arrive in Australia it'll be a pre-existing condition. All thoughts very much welcomed. Cheers, Rich

Hi Guys, I'm a 23rd-er too! I've started exercising already, a few days ago. Frankly I felt healthy enough to start quite a while earlier but, honestly, I loathe exercising so I kept 'discovering' excuses. Anyway, now my wife and I try and take a 40 minute uphill stroll a couple of times a week. But I actually prefer the gym, so that's my next port of call. Pain-wise all went well for me. I turned down the pain meds at the hospital because nothing was too sore. That's not really changed, but my port (I'm assuming that's what the larger slice next to my belly button is) is still pretty tender - rubbing against clothes and stuff can irritate it. My first fill is on June 6. At the moment I have no restriction, in as much as I can eat just as much as before, however I have to eat it way more slowly and I do feel full after. It's just like being a normal person! But, for now, I don't want normality. I'm looking forward to getting my fill so I can start really working off the weight. So far I've been pretty conscious of what I'm eating and - aside from a couple of slip ups - my conscious is clean. When I went in I for the op I was 123kg (271lbs) now I'm at 112kg (247lbs) so the weight certainly going in the right direction. Anyway, I'm glad we're all in it together. Good luck!

My posts are full of typos, so this is in no way a dig... I just wanted to say how much I loved your spelling of candidate. I said it out loud and I could hear your accent! I'm English, so the difference brightened my day. Anyway, back to the important stuff, great news about your approval mate. i hope all the rest goes just as swimmingly!

It's a bit of a side issue this, but I found myself wondering today 'If I no longer drink beer... what do I drink?' Obviously I know that there are a range of non-carbonated alcoholic beverages available, but I have to find the one that fits right as a manly beer replacement. For example, we all have afternoons where we meet the guys in a packed bar to watch an important sports game. That's really not the time to be asking for a look at the wine list. The hardcore manly drinks - say scotch - are probably a bit much mid-afternoon. But chuck a mixer in with a spirit and it immediately becomes a little camp: JD and Coke, Gin and Tonic, Vodka and Orange. Guiness is pretty flat, so that's my best solution so far... but it's bloody disgusting. So I'm on the lookout for sipping drinks that a guy can drink with pride. Any ideas?

Hello! I joined our merry band (if you'll excuse the pun) last Friday - April 25. The operation was performed here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where I'm working at the moment and I'm really happy with the progress so far. My weight when I went in was 123.5kg (275.5lbs) and I'm now at 119kg (262lbs) but most of that is due to going without fluids and food for a few days I should imagine. Anyway, thought I'd join up to share my progress and draw on your advice as the months pass by. It's nice to meet you all! :biggrin2:

Same thing happened to me, and lordy - did it ever whiff! It was definitely due to not drinking enough Water and everything got back to normal once I was back to my normal couple of bottles a day.

Hi - I had my surgery a week after you so we're pretty much in sync. I've also lost about the same as you - maybe 2lbs more (but I'm a guy so I naturally burn more calories in a day) so I think you're doing really well! It's also worth remembering that it's impossible to lose 10lbs of fat in a week or two. The weight is mostly just Water coming off in the early stages. So it could be that you don't have so much water to shed and the weight you're losing is all fat! As long as the weight is coming off at a pound or two every week then all will be fine. Keep it up! It's a long road not a five minute fix, so we'll all get there in the end!

Well, I was pretty gusty for the first couple of days after the op, but all's well now. Thanks for asking! (Joshing aside, as you were nice enough to enquire, we were totally cyclone free over here. Just another sunny, humid day...)

Hi All, I had my op 5 days ago. The pain has all but gone which is nice and, basically, everything seems normal. Actually, I feel exactly the same as pre-band, but I'm eating much smaller meals and do feel full after. I did a liquid diet for about three days, but the doc said that if I was having no issues I could try mushy food. Day 4 I had a low-fat yoghurt for breakfast, soup and a banana for lunch and scrambled eggs on bread for dinner. Today I went for a healthy cereal with a drop of skimmed milk for breakfast, bread and a low-fat spread for lunch and enjoyed salmon with broccoli for dinner. None of this is causing me any problems at all. However, looking over the other posts, everyone else seems to be on a liquid diet at this stage. Do you think I should self-medicate a liquid diet to myself for a few weeks? Or if I'm feeling no pain is it ok to carry on as I am? I don't want to cause myself medical problems by moving the band or whatever.

Just another quick update... I went to see the doc on Saturday for a check up and gave him the food diary I've been keeping. Basically, it was seven variations this theme: 2 Weetabix for Breakfast, yoghurt and banana for lunch, fish and soft veg for dinner. He didn't have any issue with it at all. In fact, he said how well I'd done. The operation he gave me was exemplary, I didn't even need pain meds after, so I trust him completely. I think different doctors just have different ideas on post-op care. That said, like the poster above, I'm a naturally cautious person so I'm sticking to soft stuff as much as possible!

Some great ideas there, thanks chaps. Bourbon and soda was a good suggestion... it's a got the right ring to it. Seems like just the kind of thing a guy can order with his mates without enduring mocking glances. Not that I care too much what other guys think, but nobody wants to order a 'girl's' drink when out with the boys!

Actually, I'm working in Malaysia at the moment, and will be for the foreseeable future, so I had it done here in Kuala Lumpur.

I think Jet's right - I believe it's to reduce the fat around your liver. My doctor asked me to lose as much as I could in the run up to the op for that reason. I have to admit that post-op I'm being as good as gold, but I failed miserably at the pre-op diet. Essentially, in the fortnight before the big day I went on a 'goodbye food' tour of my favourite treats, which was a lot of fun at the time but the upshot was that I put on weight. That made the operation far more difficult for the doctor than it needed to be. He very sternly told me afterwards that because of my eating the two hour op took four hours. That's two extra hours I was anesthetised, which is an extra two hours of risk. So, if I were you I'd listen to the doc and try the diet. Every little helps!

I'm a week in and I'd certainly agree with the post that says lifting the kids will be the real challenge. From day one I was able to look after myself in terms of going to the toilet, washing, walking about etc. On day three, when I was released from the hospital, I felt fine - able to cook and live as I usually do. The only thing I wouldn't want to do right now is loads of bending over and lifting. I'd be worried about popping my stitches!

Hi Again, I just wanted to say thank you for all your answers. Hearing that other people were following a similar route to me was a big relief. As it goes, since my first post I haven't had another stab at anything solid like fish or veggies. Instead, I've stuck to porridge for breakfast, yogurt for lunch and soup for dinner - with some mashed up mango if I feel peckish in between. Within myself I know that I could eat anything as I feel completely fine. But I've spent so much money I've decided to be far more cautious than my doc suggests. I'll probably carry as I am until after the weekend and then add mashed potatoes, soft chicken and the like into the mix. Anyway, just a quick update at the end of my first week: So far I've had no pain and I've lost 16lbs. Wish I'd done the op years ago...

Everything I've eaten so far has been in line with the examples he gave me. He said: "if all's going well with the soups and bananas you can try a piece of bread or some salmon with broccoli - just make sure you chew it into a mush" So - as everyone kindly (and rightly) - suggests, I'm doing just what he said. I just find myself wondering if he's wrong! It does seem a long way away from everything else that I've read. Mind you, I really do feel great. So maybe all is well. I'm seeing him again on Saturday so I'll take my food diary and discuss it with him. Thanks for all your thoughts and comments.

Just to answer your question... I had a hiatus hernia corrected along with my band op last week. I haven't suffered any pains like the ones you described. But it's really nice to have got rid of the never-ending reflux I've been putting up with for the last couple of years!