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Hi Fanny Adams, I agree with that it is better getting quality rather than bulk. I like you have also noticed my taste in foods are changing. Sam

Hi Sunwyse, I did not have to take them and I got banded by Dr Copps the same as you. Not that I wanted to get them either poor you. Sam

Hi Sunwyse, I have just noticed that you have only 3 days to go, I bet you are getting excited. Just in case I am not on during the week good luck with it all. Sending good vibes that you end up the same as me no pain from op at all and feeling great. Sam

Well done. I chose to go swimming Mon-Fri with my hubby, he keeps me motivated. We go first thing in the morning at the pool for 5:30am he wakes me up with a cup of tea to make sure that I get up lol... Sam

Good luck Wade Sam

Hi Erin, My husband John had the same problem as you, he found that degas was very helpful. You can purchase this at any shop: Coles etc. I have not found that a problem yet although I was prepared just in case and went out and bought a couple of packs. Sam

Hi Cherry_Blue, It is a good idea to see the dietician. I have been twice now since getting banded and I am always learning something new each time for instance the dietician told me the reason why I should be eating protien and that it has to be half the size of my plate and the other vegetables reason you need to eat the protein to ensure that the body burns up stored fat rather than muscle. I find my trips to the dietician very useful whereas, John my hubby thought it was a waste of time when he went (he saw a different one from me) so it may depend on the person you see. I know that you went back and got some taken out have you tried getting 1/2ml instead of 1ml? You might only need that half a fill to find the sweet point. Sam

Hi thinner or bust, You need to go back and get some off your fill removed as it is just to tight for you. My hubby had trouble with one off his fills and all he did was get a little bit removed then it was no problem. You should not be PBing so much as that is not good for you. Sam

Hi gmp72, The reason that people are charged different prices has to do with the surgeons fees, nurse fees, anaesthetists fees, physc, and dietitician fees only part of there fees are covered private health do not cover all the fees they only pay part of it, for instance my surgeon charged me $5000 for him to do the surgery and medibank private and medicare only paid a total of $930. The anaesthetist charged $1200 and all I got back was $800 no one pays for the nurse (except you of course). The dietitician first visit $98 out of pocket $60 2nd visit $40 out of pocket. Whereas my husband was charged $4500 surgeon that is what his out of pocket expense was with him no rebate from health fund or medicare (as that is what he charged over and above). Everything else was the same as mine except that when I go to see the surgeon again I don't have to pay for my fills whereas, John has to pay $70 as his surgeon does not bulk bill and a extra $10 for the disposal of the needle, he also has the choice of seeing the other doc who does bulkbill and pay nothing for her to do the fill but she still charges him $10 each time for the disposal of the needle. So always find out what the extra hidden costs are surgeons fee above the normal refund etc. Hope this explains it all Sam

Hi Mary, Just click on the link below and that will take you to the ticker place. Sam Graphical Tickers and Trackers: Weight Loss, Trying To Conceive, Pregnancy...

Hi pigglet, That is great news about your band not leaking. As for your clothes getting looser but, not showing the weight coming off on the scales this may happen within the next few weeks having a big drop. I know that my weight goes up and down each day, but hey as long as the inches/ cms are coming off that is what counts. I always remember watching this t.v. program in the U.K( why weight) when I stayed there and a girl hardly lost weight but hey the inches came off and the host of the show said at the end of the day you do not go out and buy a 60kg dress for instance you go out and buy as size 8,10,12 etc. That has always stuck with me and I always think off that when I think that I am not losing on the scales. Keep up the good work Sam

Hi all, I went to the dietician today and was told to move on to the mushie stage yippee!! After two weeks of the liquid stage Soup and more soup I am now going to get to eat real food. Tonight I am going to have some bolognese I am so looking forward to that. I must admit she wants me to have 80% Protein for both lunch and dinner that one is going to be hard as I really don't like a lot off meat. Sam

Hi Big Damo, I will keep my fingers crossed for you too. Good choice I got banded by Dr. Copp's on the 4th September and was also at Greenslopes Hospital you will be looked after. My husband John was banded by Dr. Blair Bowden at the Wesley. Dr. Blair Bowden was lovely but the Wesley was not as nice as Greenslopes according to John I was spoiled. Sam

Hi Wade, I agree with Katydid, focus on the good not the bad and as far as eating and drinking go everyone is different. My hubby John got banded on the 17th March and has lost over 40kgs eats most things that he did before the only thing that he can not tolerate is bread he can have a little bit toasted but can not just have a slice of bread and butter. He can still drink beer but, can't take pepsi as he had the frothing at the mouth stage, although he can drink lemon lime bitters (not as fizzy). He can still have pizza now goes for the thin and crispy base and he has not tried to eat a bit of steak . Apart from that the only difference with other things that he eats is his portion size instead of eating two pizza's to himself he can only now manage two slices and he is full. I was just banded on the 4th September and am at the mushie stage progressing onto solids and so far have not found anything that has disagreed with me yet but, have not tried the soft drink etc maybe a couple of months down the line I might try that but I honestly don't miss it the main thing is to eat slowly as I have always done so, I have not had any problems so far. Unlike John who forgets and shovels the food down with tasting and that is when he pays for it. I make him eat either yogurt or something light when he comes in from work just to take the edge of his appetite until dinner is ready and that has helped him slow down on his eating as he is not starving then. Sam

Hi Suzanna, Yes I did have to go on the opti diet as that helps the liver get rid of the fat there and they have to go behind the liver to get the band on (hence why we have to go on the opti). No one told me that I could not take coffee, so I drank it right up to the day before the op and as you have to fast for the surgery I could not take any on the day of the op, or right after the op as they just give you apple juice or black tea. As I drink heaps of coffee I know it is bad for me but hey I have got to have one bad habit lol.... I ended up with a sore head from lack of caffine. I go to see my doc on the 16th Oct to get my first fill would have been the week earlier but I wanted a late apointment. I am now on the mushie stage which is porridge in the morning mince, Beans etc for lunch or dinner to get my stomach ready for the fill. As we need to get the muscles tightened at the top of stomach so whe will recognise when we are full according to the dietician. What hospital are you going into? The reason I ask is John my darling hubby went into the Wesley and he only got broth well as he described it Water with some vegetable dipped into it to try and give it a flavour whereas, I was spoiled with apple juice and tea. Sam Hi Sunwyse, Thank you and not long now until you are done

Hi pigglet, Have you had them check to see if your band is holding all Fluid to cause restriction? I remember the doc telling me that sometimes they leak and how they check is they put in the amount and then take it out again to check that it is all there . I agree with Cherry Blue 12kg is great achievement some people are just naturally slow losers I know I am one of them as all I lost on the Optifast diet was 2kg whereas my husband John lost over 10kg on the optifast. Sam

Hi Suzanna, Welcome and you have made a good choice with Dr Copps. I got banded by him on the 4th September and felt fantastic after the op. I only suffered from a sore head and I put that down to not having coffee that day and the next lol.... Sam

Hi Sunwyse, Good luck in your new job. I hope you are feeling better. Sorry to hear that you have to wait another week for your op but, trust me he is worth the wait and hopefully it will go quickly. Your new job will make time pass quickly and before you know it you will be at the hospital getting your op. take care get better Sam

Hi nat36, I think you may have to go back to your doctor and get some taken out as that is what happened to John (D.H) he was waking up at night choking so he went back got some of the fill taken out and no more to much saliva or waking in the night choking. Doc says that happens sometimes and everyone is different for how much of a fill that they can take. Sam

Hi batkitty, My husband John had the same problem, his first fill he got to much and that really restricted him he had to go back and get some taken out. The second fill was much better although like you a few things got stuck and that was due to him eaten to quickly. I know when you are hungry you just want to shovel the food down what he does now is just take a small glass of yogurt to take the edge of his appetite, then he can eat his main mail slower. This also stops the wind build up as I also think that is part of the problem. Hope this helps Sam

Hi all, I got my band on the 4th September and am feeling suprisingly fantastic. John my husband is laughing at me as I have the waddle. Most of you will know what I mean the one were you are scared to move suddenly. The only pain that I had was a very painful headache, I am putting that down to lack of caffine no coffee for the last couple of days. I have had my first cup of tea yummy!! Dr. John Copps was wonderful he and his wonderful manageress popped in to see me last night to see how I was going. The staff and the accomodation at the Greenslopes Hospital were superb. Would recomend both to anyone who is thinking of getting banded. I have had lots of cat naps I keep thinking I will watch this program and ended up waking up with something else on. Well going to go now and have another nap. Speak soon Sam

Hi Sunwyse, I agree tell them to go and get stuffed you have given them plenty of notice so there is nothing that they can do and at the end of the day your health is more important than a job, that is what I think anyways.

Hi, You will be covered with medicare as they have an agreement with the UK to cover ppl from the Uk and vice versa. So when you get here just go to the medicare office and with your documents and they will supply you with a medicare number etc. Sam

way to go sunwyse, I agree there is nothing to hide as I said before I never really told anyone at first and that was just because they never asked at first. When they did ask I had no problem with telling them so now everyone knows. Like you John my husband tells everyone that he meets and even shows them his scars to prove it for instance we were at the market and I bumped into a couple of my friends from work, John started telling them about his op and the next thing was his top was up in the air and he was showing of his scars from the op. Sam

Hi mumof2, Yes you would be full of gas I hope you have went out and bought degas. John my husband was so full of gas it was unbelieveable and he was in such a lot of pain from it, so I went out and purchased degas and that cured him. I have a supply for myself for when I go in taking no chances. Sam