cakes8

Hi, I have just been reading about your experience. I just want to share with you that I have had my band for 3 months and have had three fills. I experience the stuck feeling, pressure feeling nearly everyday. I put this down to still teaching myself to eat slowly and chew properly, some foods like bread still are an issue even though I pulverise it too death. How I get rid of the feeling is by skulling Water, yes it is a bit painful however I get it through. I just can't handle waiting for it too pass that is more painful than drinking water. I tried the carbonated drink and that made it worse cause of the gas, so water is the key for me. My band is still fine and will be unless I vomit. It is when you vomit on a regular basis that your band can slip and cause damage or not work. When you stated that it came up without vomiting that is ok because your stomach is not convulsing, the convulsing part is damaging to the band. I also lubricate my food with stock and lite sauces mainly with fish & meats to help it go down. I hope you feel ok now and my experience has helped. Take care Cakes

Hi Jon, Congratulations on making the decision to have the band done. I had my band surgery on 01.10.2008. It was scary, exciting and overwhelming. But now I can confidently say it was the best decision I have ever made. If you have any questions or you would like to chat let me know and we can chat via MSN my email cakes8@live.com.au. Chat to you soon cakes

Hi, I'm from Sydney Australia and I chose this forum because it looked to be the best. I am 33yrs old and I weigh 100kg, my BMI 38. I've decided to change my life and have Lap Band Surgery. Some support me and some don't. My best friend said to me that this is a drastic decision. I think getting to 40yrs old and weighing in at 120kg with more aches and pains than I have now is drastic. There a few things I know about myself and some really difficult truths. I'm lazy and do not like exercise, I love my food and don't need to be hungry to eat, usually at the end of a meal I'm thinking of the next. Love Mc Donalds and there is alot that I won't do, my weight does holds me back. My little girl likes the beach, not a chance! Last summer my other half took her and I stayed at home. Sex life? not much of one due to not being comfortable in my own skin. Really the list goes on. A woman that I know had it done twelve months ago and has dropped 32kg now in a size 10, had a tummy tuck and let me tell you she is looking hot! I spent alot of time on forums reading and rang a few clinics in Sydney that do the procedure. I am booked in for my operation on the 1st of October. At the moment I am doing Optifast and have dropped a little in a few days. It's funny when you make such a decision to change your life that you are in a different head space almost instantly. What I won't to achieve from this decision is change in eating habits, change in the way I view food this means no more calorie counting and yo yo dieting. Oh and I want a new wardrobe!!! I wont to be sexy, feel sexy and successful. It's a shame that one of my closest friends can not see this, this is the friend I mentioned earlier. She rang me last night after having dinner with a friend who had lap band done 8yrs ago. Apparently this woman is constantly throwing up, her teeth have gone rotten and she can not eat anything except for bags of chips and lemonade. This woman states that she has not learned anything about eating habits. Has anyone heard of such a horror story? Wow I've said alot, Just needed to get it out and talk to those who can relate. Thanks for reading and I hope to be as successful on this journey as some of you. Cakes

Hi Ladies, Sorry I have not responded I have had some issues with my internet, it was disconnected by the telstra man who came to connect my business fax line, stuffed it all up to say the least.:smile: Bindi thank you for your post my operation, congratualtions on your 11kg loss that is great, close by we should catch up for coffee one day. My operation is tomorrow at Baulkham Hills Private I am going through the Circle of Care. I woke this morning thinking I don't wanna do this I am scared and feel sick. I knew jumping on here would make me calm down a bit. Today I am doing the Picoprep, mmm nice :cool2: Your right about the relating it to preganancy, very similar feelings. I will try to stay positive and calm. Well wish me luck ladies and I will probably be posting an update very soon. Regards Diane

AHHH yes. Very confusing and sounds frustrating. In Australia if you do not have private health insurance it will cost you $15K with private health $6,500. Then you make your claims from the private health and from Medicare so I will be out of pocket $4,000 or there abouts. Because you have to wait nearly 6 months and fit into a criteria, does that mean your insurance companies foot the whole bill? What is the price in the US? Regards Cakes

I think it is your story and your journey, it is not the place of your husband or sisters to tell people. This is a huge and very personal decision. Be proud of your decision and I'm sure that those around you will be proud of you and supportive. I created a thread yesterday "I've made a decision to change my life" in the introductions section there I talked about other peoples issues and my own issue feeling embarassed that I did not have the discipline and drive to do this on my own. A woman there used an anaology of a pace maker, please check it out and read some of the advise others have given me, it really has changed my views on some of things I was worried about. Regards Cakes

I'm curious in the process you have to go through. In Australia we make the decision and see the surgeon and then your surgery is booked within a fortnight. 6months is a long time, why is that?

Hi there, I'm listening, my surgery is on the 01.10.2008 and I'm doing Optifast at the moment, need to lose 5kg before op. I have opinionated people around me too, my closest friend is anti lap band and has tried to talk me out of it based on one horror story. Ive lost 3.5kg in the first week and I'm feeling good. Empty but good. I think what you are doing is really good cause you are physically and menatlly preparing yourself for the tough weeks ahead. Good on you, please let me know how you go:thumbup: Regards Cakes

Thanks for the tip, I've never looked at it that way. It's so good to be on here and have such great support and tips from those who have gone through with lap band. I am new to forums and it is pretty addictive.

Hi all, Thank you for your responses it sure does make me feel better. This morning I was on lapband.com and I was reading the testimonials and risks involved. It did scare me a bit and found myself questioing the surgery. I would just die if something really serious went wrong. kayleighsmommy, you made me laugh. Its funny how food is such a huge part of my life, everything revolves around it even trying to go to sleep we are thinking about food. Why can't it be our next excercise session that we are thinking about.:thumbup: I weighed myself this morning and I have lost 3.5kg. The Dr wants me to lose 5kg before the surgery (01.10.2008) to reduce my liver. I feel good and I was thinking to myself why can't I just continue on like this and get to my goal weight without the band. But deep down I know that is wishful thinking and I would just regain in time. Has anyone else been in two minds even though they made the decision to have the band? Have you gone backwards and forwards? The only thing, I am disapointed in myself and feel a little ashamed is that I have not got the discipline and strength to do this on my own. Have you ever felt this way and how did you over come it? Regards Diane

IRISH!!!!! That is excellent, I had to jump on google and convert the pounds to kilos to understand the weight loss You must be so excited, I'm excited for you. Now that's the stuff that motivates me. Good on you and I'm glad you still got your pearly whites. You say chew your food, alot of people say this, I am trying to train myself now, I am also an eater and drinker when I found out I could not do both at the same time I freaked a little. But I will make sure I follow everything to a tea and I am grateful for the 12 months program because I know that will give me th support I need. So happy for you I think your weight loss is smashing news :thumbup: Regards cakes