megsy101

Oh God, I didnt tell my surgeon!!!! i knew I was scheduled for a 1.30pm surgery and therefore had 16 hours to digest the food so I took the gamble. I also dranks Heaps!!! of water to help digest it overnight.

WOW Aquasky!! Why did you pay so much?? that is a huge amount of money! My surgeon said they rarely ever do self funded surgeries, that they prefer you to join a health fund and wait the 12 months and they would schedule you the day your waiting period ends. Good luck with the Baby too!! Do you know what your having?

p.s. I went out for a Thai meal the night before my surgery as 'my last chew' and strangely enough, it wasn't as gratifying as I thought it would be.

Hey Shaggs, I do get hungry, but it is a physical hunger. Once I have something to drink (Not Optifast!!!) it goes away. I haven't really been mentally hungry where I am just gagging to ram something in my mouth. I have however sampled things (a grape, piece of ham, hot chip....)without thinking when making the kids brekky/lunch/snacks/dinner - I just grab a drink to make sure it flushes thru. Prob not the best habit to get into but paranoid about things getting stuck. the one thing I am kind of thinking about alot is vegemite toast. Of all the fantasy foods I could be dreaming about, i choose vegemite toast. When I was doing the Optifast before surgery I was STARVING!! I couldn't stick to it. I ate something at every meal but just made really good choices (fruit/yoghurt etc) and still managed to lose a fair bit. There is no way I could do Optifast or similar as a regular diet, it would kill me. On a better note, I did my official 1 week post op weigh in this morning and I have lost 4.4kg. I reckon it would be a bit more if a certain bodily function was working correctly. Hope everyone is well and happy Seizure Megs

Hi All, Hey SHaggs, well done with the first step of the journey. To report in on whats happening with me, well I have hit a bit of a snag over the last couple of days (had to happen didn't it?). It is an issue that no-one had informed me of earlier, but when I have mentioned it to another post-op and the Clinic, it is apparently quite common and all due to the Optifast. Constipation. Constipation soooo bad that even Microlax (enema) couldn't budge it. By yesterday afternoon I was having hot and cold sweats, nausea, headache.... the whole gamut. When I went to the chemist to give the microlax another go, they wanted me to go to the hospital.................no chance!! I opted for another un-recommended dose and came home to 'deliver' (it really was like delivering a 4.5kg baby!!). OMG what an ordeal!!! Still not completely recovered but much better than yesterday - thank Foxtel for that! My advice to pre-ops on the Optifast. When they say keep your Water up - they mean it. This is something that happens accumulatively. Your food intake is so reduced, regardless of the vegies at night, that your digestion slows right down, resulting in an unbudging solid ball at the end. My advice for newly post-ops- start taking softeners and additional fibre NOW!!! After I had the kids they gave me 'fibre-gel' so maybe that is the way to go. The nurse at the clinic told me to get off the Optifast imeadiately. So now I am restricted to water, juice, milk and Soup (BTW the Optifast chicken soup is VILE!!). IT's all good though as hopefully this dilemma will result in a better weight loss for my first week. And once everything that isn't coming out, comes out, that should be an even better loss on the scales. Anyway, apologies for the graffic account of my exploits. I thought it may help someone avoid this issue. Hope everyone is well. catch ya'll later Megs

Hi there, I am reading old posts and saw your message. It sounds like you were having a really hard time. I was just wondering how all of this is going for you. I hope you got it sorted and that you and your baby a doing great. Thanks Megs

Hey Tully, If you ring the Centre for Bariatric Surgery (95209520) they will tell you when their next information night is on. It is usually held on a Tuesday night at the Royce hotel on St Kilda Road. During the night they discuss ALL aspects of the band pre and post Op and you can ask questions. they have success stories come in and speak as well. They also give you a book which has all the information regarding the Lapband and it is a great reference point. I was re-reading mine today. You cannot see a surgeon from centre of bariatric without having attended the info night. you also need a referral from a GP. I suppose that weeds out people who aren't really serious. If it helps to know, I was REALLY stressing about the money. One main income and 2 small kids,mortgage, blah blah blah. But I still went and saw the surgeon for the initial consult ($100) just to start the ball rolling and take the first GIANT step towards what I wanted to do. My surgeon discussed going on the waiting list which I did. His opinion was, that if I was going to have to wait until I had the money to go private, that I may as well go on the list for the off-chance that a spot appeared in the public list in the meantime. What I found after having that first consultation was that I didn't want to wait at all and I researched EVERY possible way to get the money. One of the things you can do is access your Super to have the Op. I think it is a bit of stuffing around, but ultimately worth. The nurse at the CBS told me about it. At the end of the day, if a Doctor/s told you that you needed Heart surgery, you wouldnt think twice about finding the money! It is an investment in your future!! IT is not a vanity/cosmetic procedure - it is for your health. It took me a long time to get my head around it (I researched this for 18 months before I took the first step), but it is honestly the best thing I have done for myself ever. I will now get off my self-elevated Lapband high horse and let you think about it!! Feel free to tell me to jam it if you think i'm a bit too full on. SeeYa Megs

hi, I haven't had any bloating problems at all, but burping isn't as easy as it was. Having said that, my friend did have bloating/gas issues after her op and she took some tablets called 'DeGas' and they fixed it straight away. I'm still a bit swollen on my left side, but i wouldn't call it 'distended' and it is getting less swollen every day. :thumbup: Hope this helps Megs

That is such a good idea (clothing swap). Obviously when you are losing weight so consistently you dont want to have to replace your wardrobe all the time and I have often wondered what to do with my clothes as well. I'll be happy to go to this kind of group in the South Eastern Suburbs or similar. I live in Bayside and there aren't too many size 22's mincing around my suburb I can tell you that much. If only Prada did plus size clothing...........lol

Hi Dimpleshay, Day 4 and all good! Worked this morning, ran around with the kids and went for a walk after dinner. My incisions are getting itchy so that must mean they are getting better. I can't believe how little impact this has had on me.....it's great!! I've already got clothes that I'm not going to be able to wear for much longer. you will find you feel better and better each day. I suppose part of it is not focusing on the discomfort and to just keep going. Think positive. It will all be good. We've started the ball rolling, so get comfy and enjoy the ride!! Catch ya Megs

I was banded on Wednesday lunchtime and was driving on Friday morning. I was only told not to drive for 24 after the op.

Hi All. tully I answered this in another thread but will go again. I went thru the Centre for Bariatric Surgery and was operated on at The Avenue Hospital. My surgeon was Paul Burton and he was great. My friend had hers done there as well by Stuart Skinner. I can drink anything that goes up a straw, but I have been sticking to the Optifast over the last couple of days as It is nutritionally balanced. Having said that I making a chicken and vege Soup tomorrow and I will blend the crap out of it!!! The shakes are ok for Brekky and lunch but by the time it comes to dinner I dont want another sweet drink and the Optifast soup is CRAP!!! Drinking yoghurt is a good option to have as well. I have NO pain! i can feel some pressure when I bend over etc, but nothing major. It's all good people. Catch ya Megs :cool:

Hey Tully, I went to The Avenue and they were great. I have only been out of hospital for 2 days. My Surgeon was Paul Burton from the Centre for Bariatric Surgery and he was fantastic as well. I have private health and my Out of Pocket Expenses were $3440 for the Procedure and $50 excess for the hopital stay. I know $3440 sounds like a huge amount of money - I ummed and aaahhed for MONTHS!! But you do have to take into account that all your follow up appointments are bulk billed for LIFE!! I am so glad that I have done this now. We didnt have the money lying around - we skipped a house payment and extended our credit a bit to pay for it and it was all worth it. Choose Life!!! DO IT!! Megan

Good luck for tomorrow!! I got home today and am feeling fine. Let us know how you go

I am all done!! Got home this morning and so far, I am feeling ok. A bit uncomfortable, but that is to be expected. Doctor said it went really well and I have been drinking fluids today without any problems - although I have to say I am sick of drinking water already!!!

how do I update the ticker thing? :thumbup:

Hi Mary, Yep.....all done now!! Got home today and am feeling good, just a bit uncomfortable which is to be expected. Going to take baby steps over the next couple of days. Hope everyone is well!! Megs :thumbup:

Thanks for the advice Emmsie! Will probably take my Ipod with me to hospital to alleviate any boredom that might set in. I have my Water soluble Vitamins and water soluble panadol, so I am ready to go!!! My friend is having a HUGE 40th party in early April - I wonder how much weight I would have dropped by then? I hope shopping for something to wear is a better experience than it is now. Anyway, I think I'm jumping the gun a bit.........lets just get through Wednesday. Will let you know how it all pans out............. Ciao Megs

Hi. I live in Beauaris and a being banded in 3 sleeps (not excited at all!). Am happy to make contact once I am sorted. Thanks Megan

Hi, I have only just joined the site and this thread seemed relevant... so bare with me! I am being banded on the 7th Jan (3 sleeps!!) in Melbourne. My out of pocket expenses will be $3490 and I wont have to pay for any other appointments EVER (unless Medicare is scrapped,but I wont go there!). The only other cost I've had to pay was $100 for my initial consultation with the surgeon and I received about $40 back from Medicare. I started the Optifast program on Boxing day and I have lost about 4kg. I havent been 100% on track with it as I feel sick if I dont have anything other than the shakes. I generally have a peice of toast in the morning and the shake an hour later, a shake for lunch and then some fruit or yoghurt an hour later. dinner I have the vegies and then the shake. Having said all that, I was naughty on New Years Eve having a couple of drinks and nibbles - such a bad time of year to be fasting!!! I've tuned into a social hermit to avoid the temptations. Three sleeps to go and I'm not so much nervous as pre-occupied the thought of the surgery. What to take to the hospital etc. Would love to hear from anyone with any pre/post op advice.