melaniematters

thanks for starting this thread - I love reading people's stories and progress on their blogs. My blog is at: www.melaniematters.blogspot.com and I know of some other terrific lap band blogs that I follow - these are linked from my blog. Those linked blogs also have links to others but it would be great to have a "master list" on this site. Cheers, Melanie (Day 4 post surgery and feeling ok!) :biggrin:

Is this a world first? The NSW state Australian government has announced that it will pay for people with BMIs greater than 30 to have lapband surgery! Damn, I had my band put in last Thursday!! (only kidding, at least I will have beaten the rush) Read more in the newspaper here Health - Life & Style Home - smh.com.au

You're doing great and it's good to hear you're feeling better. Melanie

Hi, there is a great blog written by a young Aussie woman at Skinny Biddy- Banding Blog She has some excellent links too which might be helpful to you. All the best from an older Aussie bandster. Melanie

Shonda, Thanks I'm relieved to be on the other side. I love having all you people to learn from and chat to, thanks.

Hi all, glad to see all the last week of July bandsters are coming through with flying colours. I've put my story up on my blog www.melaniematters.blogspot.com if anyone's interested. Orea, the nausea - I've had it too but today has been better as I've cut down on the pain medication. I too find the broth better than the sweet liquids. I agree that weight loss is very secondary to healing right now - we're on our way. Hooray. Take care everyone, :thumbup:and a special shout out to my fellow July 31st bandsters!! Melanie

Well everyone I was banded on Thursdsay and I'm home and being cared for by my family. It hurt afterwards and still hurts a bit but it's all bearable. I'm glad I'm on this next post-band bit of the journey. Thanks everyone for sharing their stories - it helps so much. Melanie:thumbup:

This link is to the latest study results in the Journal of the Amercian Medical Association - JAMA -- Adjustable Gastric Banding and Conventional Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial, January 23, 2008, Dixon et al. 299 (3): 316 it's suggesting early lapband surgery in newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetics could be the way to go.

I've got less that 18 hours before I set off on the journey to hospital and about 30 hours until surgery time. I'm jittery - a combination of nerves and excitement. I find I'm getting fixated on stupid things like what nightdress to take to hospital. I've finally started to get things in order for when I return home - clean sheets on the bed, stock of favourite DVDs - Sex and the City Series 1 thru 6 here I come!!! Best wishes to all being banded this week - finally!!!!!:eek:

I work as a university lecturer and have a health care background. I saw major complications of gastric bypass surgery in the late 1970s when this surgery was still quite experimental. So I was very particular in researching the lapband procedure. I very carefully checked out the research and surgery results that have been published in reputable medical journals before I signed up for surgery. The results are overwhelmingly positive. It's hard to get hold of these reports if you're not subscribed to a academic library but some of them are available on the web. EG This is very recently published about how effective the band is in treating Type 2 Diabetes JAMA -- Adjustable Gastric Banding and Conventional Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial, January 23, 2008, Dixon et al. 299 (3): 316 This article is another example of a study you can read online http://www.core.monash.org/assets/documents/lapband-results-700-patients.pdf The results of the medical research in this area are overwhelmingly positive and are supported by the patient experiences reported on this discussion board everyday. Only two days to go for me - can't wait to start on the journey to a new and improved me! Melanie

Hey, thanks to everyone on this board for all the info you're sharing. I've been avidly reading this site since early July and I can't believe I'm being done this Thursday, finally. I'm on SanDeigo Sue's list as "Banditmel" but I changed my user name to better reflect my reasons for doing this. I've lost about 9 lb (4kg for us Aussies) since Optifast started 11 days ago - it's been a hard road but the goal is in sight - surgery. Mackie, I also will send forward healing energies to you and your husband. All the best everyone for this week.

I'm interested in what you're saying about saliva - I'm having surgery this Thursday. I understanding about the PB (productive burp_ but I've also read about people "sliming" - it sounds disgusting. Does anyone know what this is about? thanks - good luck to all this week's butterflies.

Hey there, I'm also a 31 July bandster - can't wait. I also have the knee issue - can no longer carry the washing up and down the stairs due to pain and feel like my knees will collapse when I walk downhill etc. Orthopedic specialist said to get 30 kg off asap, the doctor told me I was prediabetic and to get 40kg off and my cardiologist agreed! I'm being banded in Sydney Australia although I live about 2 hours from there, so I'll be done a bit before you as world turns! All the best. I'll watch your posts with interest. Melanie

Hi, can I join in this lament - dropped 2.5 kg/5.5lb in the first four days and have gained 1.5lb since then! I'm am being ultrastrict on Optifast - hope it's fluid shift and not my body getting used to 700 cals a day so quickly! ONly six days to B-Day - soldier on - what else is there to do?

I think your doctor would be happy with 10 pounds. Yes we should all exercise but I wouldn't go overboard at this stage. I've dropped about 6 lb in 6 days so I hope it's all coming from my liver! All we can do is our best. I find the shakes hard to take so i've been living mianly off the coffee, berry and chocolate flavoured Optifast bars - the choc one reminds me of Space Food Sticks which was a favourite when I was at school - kinda fudgy. All the best.

Hi there, I'm on two weeks of Optifast (doctors orders) and have been logging my progress on my blog www.melaniematters.blogspot.com instead of complaining to my husband and kids. I'm averaging about 800 cals a day. Some days are better than others and there's only 7 days left! I've been waking up at 1am every night in bed with a growly stomach - a new sensation - that makes it hard to get back to sleep - I craved toasted cheese sandwiches, juicy steak and a glass of vino.... just gotta keep focused on the wider pic. Good luck all.

Just thought I'd add this snippet - when I was researching whether to have lap band surgery I was checking the research papers written by medical specialists and came across this one - you can read it in full - it dates back to 2001. It supports having a moderate amount of alcohol post lapband. http://www.core.monash.org/assets/documents/research-papers/2001-08.pdf. I live in Australia's Hunter Valley so there's no way I'm giving up our wonderful Semillon - maybe just moderating my intake!

All the best for tomorrow, I'm not on for nine days but I'm doing the pre-op Optifast. I can't wait for the surgery - your so right - it's a chance to start really living. Bring it On!!!

I'm sending you lots of positive energy and vibes, sending you healing energy - imagine in a week you'll be telling us all how fabulously you are going! Take care, Melanie

Hi there, I had the same worry (long term migraine sufferer) and discussed it with my doctor last week. He said throwing up shouldn't be a real issue as there won't be much in the stomach to throw up at any time and anything below the band is fine enough to pass back up through it if need be. I believe violent throwing up for long periods can cause swelling and at worst, band slip, but he said this was unusual. Hopefully this helps a little, Cheers, melanie

Apple juice is basically liquid sugar - get some lo-cal apple cordial (concentrate) and add Water if you want the juice taste. Juice is a real cause of childhood obesity as parents think if its 100% natural juice it's okay. Hope that helps, all the best, Melanie

I was sooooo irritable last night, especially around dinner time. I had a bowl of green salad with lemon juice and an Optifast shake while my family ate lamb casserole. I really miss meat and cheese. I tried going caffeine free but by the end of Day Two I capitulated and decided that I would have one skim milk cappicino in the morning and then be super strict the rest of the time - it's working so far. I'm following Optifast intensive phase - replacing all meals with either the soup, shake or bar plus the 2 cups fo free vegetables (they've never tasted so good). I woke up at 1am this morning with stomach growls - I reassured myself that this was only temporary and that some people in the world went to bed hungry every night. Still I feel dreadful this morning, hungover withouth having had any fun!! Still, countdown is on, 10 days until surgery on July 31. Stay strong everyone! Cheers (an alcohol free one), Melanie:confused_smile:

Whoa, I really miss food. The weekend was hard to get through on Optifast but I made some soups out of the free veges I can have. Can't stomach the soup, bars are okay and the shakes... well I can tolerate them. Only 10 days to go until surgery day on July 31. Anyone else got the Optifast blues???:thumbup: Still, this is the first stage of the big journey so I'm trying to stay positive. Cheers, Mel

Congratulations. I was really encouraged by your post. I'm being done on the 31st and hope my experience is as positive as yours. Melanie

Hi Minou I'm just wondering how it's going now for you? Melanie (ex banditmel!)