Goannabanda

From 15 to 17, I worked Saturdays, Sundays, Public and School Holidays at a place called Rainbow Park. It was an indoor kid's amusement park - with rides like dogems, canoes, ferris wheel, jumping castle, chair swing, minigolf etc. It was a pre-cursor to the indoor play centres we have everywhere nowdays. Pay was $25 for 5 hour shift (not bad for those days). The place was staffed by an army of us kids, plus one young manager and occasionally the owner too. You had to be at work at the end of the day to get your name into "the book" before everyone else did, so you could work the next shift, or else you missed out getting any more work... They used to do birthday parties - up to twelve on any day. :happybday:Plus it was open to the public. That's a couple of hundred kids all running around high on junk food:hungry:. At least four or five kids would puke or pee somewhere every shift, which we had to clean up (gross!). Some kid would be sick or pee on the jumping castle nearly every shift. You learned pretty quick not to step onto the castle to clean the sucker... LOL! We all loved going on the rides after hours etc, and lowering our minigolf handicaps in the quiet times. I learnt to drive a dodgem car standing up pretty good too! We also used to get free ride tickets for Moomba (a Melb. festival) and the Royal Melbourne Show, which made us popular with our school friends... I loved working on the canoe ride the best:fish2:, although it did give you a sore back by the end of the day from leaning over and lifting kids in and out of the boats. The Water was full of bloo loo - it stank and left blue grime all over everything. Despite these drawbacks, it was good because it was up in the back corner of the warehouse, and you could do your own thing. It tended to be quieter than the other rides, giving me more time to practice on the mini golf!

I work part-time as an environmental scientist, specialising in contaminated site assessments and audits. (The equivalent of Brownfield / Superfund sites for US readers...). I am currently working as an environmental audit project manger / auditor's representative for Australia's largest specialist consulting group. I have a Bachelor's degree in Earth Science (double Geology major) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Soil Science, as well as various workplace training and professional environmental auditing qualifications. I really like my job - it's satisfying to help people to clean up soil and groundwater contamination, and to have a part in making a contaminated site fit for a new use, whatever that may be! At some stage, our family plan to spend a year or two working overseas - I'd love the chance to try out my skills in another country! Outside of work, I am married to the man of my dreams, and am the mother of one 5yo boy and two cats. I play flute, sing, garden, scrapbook, walk, swim, gym and love to socialise!

A special cute birthday song for you (sorry, can't find any smilies that look like the requried animals...) :) :Banane52: :Banane09: :bananajump: :Banane51: :bananajump: :not_ripe: :Banane07: :Banane17: :Banane06: :Banane04: :Banane03: :Banane01: :Banane22: :Banane21: :Banane32: :Banane42: Hippo, birdie, two ewes, Hippo, birdie, two ewes, Hippo, birdie, two ewes, Hippo, birdie, two ewes!!! HIP-PO!! BIRD-IE!! HIP-PO!! BIRD-IE!! HIP-PO!! BIRD-IE!! :happybday2::happybday::woot:

I'd only just started to get to know Ryan through his posts, and already loved his eloquence and deep insights. I thought when he wrote that last post, wow - that guy really knows where he's been, and why. And I hoped that someday I might come to similar self-realisations about my own struggle with obestity as Ryan obviously had about his. Now as I reread his post, his words ring out: He fought a valiant fight to keep and better his life. God bless Ryan, Patty and his extended family and friends. He now flies with the Lord in Paradise.

I am crushed - the 9th is out for me (**DOH!!), as I'll be in Mt Beauty / Falls Creek for a family weekend of snow play and wineries. Although I'm disappointed, and looking forward to meeting you all, please don't change the date. I'll meet up with some of you at The Valley Private support group (and around LBT of course!), and if this meeting is a success, can we have another in a couple of months??? I am hoping to get my surgery date tomorrow after I have seen the physician. Hoping for mid-Sept. Keep your fingers crossed for me! tarajane - that sounds great about the coffee - phew!

Way to go A1ikou!!! Congratulations on your NSV's - keep up the good work!

Congratulations tarajane! I'll be going to the next support group at the Valley - so if we haven't met before then, I'll see you there! Jachut - thanks for the venue suggestions, I'm sure Wheeler will make use of them! I've not been to Costellos (it sounds nice), nor eaten at the VGreen for ages (yep - it was shite then too! LOL). Wherever we go, I hope the coffee is good - sounds like I'll be giving it up for a while pre-and post-band... ...so might as well enjoy a quality cuppa while I can!! he he he Cheers!

Oh, yes, we have those little critters here - except thy're called Redback Spiders, and are the stuff of legend. They are immortalised in folk tales and songs (there's a famous song about a Redback under the toilet seat, and some poor old codger getting bitten on his poor old codgers!) Redbacks are actually a close relative of the Black Widow Spiders you have in the US. They are freaky, but there's so many of them in our yard, woodpile and shed, and on occasion in the house (but not much), that you just gotta grit your teeth and stamp the little devils and their egg sacks to death! We don't bother with spray that much - it doesn't seem to do much to kill spiders - we just squash 'em! I got bitten by one on my big toe - the night before we were due to get married! Luckily, the spider didn't get any / much poison into me - I was fine, and the wedding went ahead as planned... ...had hubby-to-be worried though! There are so many spiders in these parts, that we end up living with them - the Orb Weavers are cool - making perfect webs in one night just for them to be melted away in the morning. I've never had one of those guys in the house. We often (in summer) let a Daddy Long Legs or two live in in each room - they hang out mostly in the top corner of the rooms, and eat the mozzies, midges and thrip! Although they are one of the most venomous spiders in the world, thankfully these guys are essentially harmless to humans, as they can't pierce the skin with their bite! I am more freaked out by: Huntsman spiders (they can be HUGE), they don't have webs, and a really FAST. Even though they are essentially harmless, they freak me out because they are so big, black, hairy and FAST!!! :faint: They are timid, and will run away if disturbed, although can bit if provoked. they aren't considered to be highly poisonous. My mum got bitten once, and she was fine, but when my uncle was sick when he got bitten. We see them mostly in the warmer months. White Tail Spiders, which are about 1 inch long, white spots on black spider, long body. They are really fast, ferocious and sneaky. They will attack and bite, and their bites are BAD - causing infection and necrosis due to bacteria they carry in their fangs. They seem to like getting into clothing and bedding. We NEVER leave clothes on the floor, as they seem to like that the best, and we check our bedding daily, and under / around the beds every week. They seem to hang out in pairs too - so even if you manage to catch the first one - you stay freaked out until a few days later when its friend appears...:faint: :faint: :faint: :faint: :faint: and Cockroaches, of course! Thy're not terribly big here, but abundant. When we first moved into this house, I wondered why the previous owners left behind so many half empty cans of surface spray... ...until I went outside one night and saw all the roaches on the back fence - eeeek!:faint: ...oooh, I'm getting the heebie jeebies just typing this...

Liberty, way to go, and happy bandiversarry! But why did you get it done at 11pm???

Good luck Jen, in your recovery from this recurring toxicosis... Sorry for the immediate pain that you are feeling as you make a new path for yourself, but as you know, you will feel better about the situation in the long run, and I am sure that you'll find a new best friend who will be worthy of your love, loyalty, and hand in marriage... ...you've always got your LBT family for support at any stage!

Hi Bignoiz, I am from Melbourne, planning to be banded down here during September or October. Look forward to sharing the journey with you. Congratulations, and good luck!

:help: ...what exactly would be the correct technique for PBing the mailman? Should I try this? :huggie: this?? :Banane34: or even one of these????? :Banane49: :Banane56: :Banane56: :Banane46: ...and just what am I supposed to do with his motorbike???:Banane49: plz hlp i'm disparate.i m 1hr postop an my doc nvr sd nothn aboot pbing no mailman? PS Did I kill it? Gotta beat JustPaul...

As a relative newbie around here, I can definitely see myself in some of these thread-killing guises - ouch! :opps2: The repetitive, inane questions get my goat too - espeically when the answers are probably elsewhere in the forum or their own medical advice. I WISH that these people would use the search function and do some research before posting to the boards, and respect what their doctors tell them about thier own health and surgery!!! It also bothers me when someone misunderstands something as an attack, when really no offence was meant by the writer - and then a war of words and hurt has begun - that makes me really sad, and it's a real thread killer for me. Of course, given that we are all individual, and naturally have different perspectives and levels of literacy / computer skills, it pays for us to all be fairly tolerant and forgiving of little thread-killing indiscretions... ...OMG, I sound like a thread-killing-holier-than-thou-goody-two-shoes!!! LOL!!! ...but I think you get my meaning... By the way... ...what is a PB? ...I always thought it was the initials for Paddington Bear...

Hi girls, Wheeler - I'll PM you some contact details etc. Thanks for helping organise the catch up - it sounds silly, but I'm not sure where to start... At this stage, Sept is looking good for me except for the 9th & 10th. I am hoping to have surgery in the first week of Sept, but??? I'd probably have my 5yo in tow, as hubby plays weekend sport, and grandparents are all interstate at the moment. Therefore, I'd prefer a pub/bistro (with a playroom!) if that's ok. Something like the Village Green or Chelsea Heights hotel??? If a shopping centre is the go, could we choose somewhere with a kid's play area? eg. the Villa&Hut coffee bar, near Myers on Level 3 at Southland (next to the play area) or somewhere similar? Sorry to be a drag. I'm happy to book a table somewhere central - or leave that up to Wheeler - whatever, just let me know what is needed / wanted. If neither of the above are appealing to the group, I'll call in a babysitting favour from a friend or something - whatever happens, count me in!!!

Oh, Wheeler - how awful for you! :Banane27: ...and now to have to wait til 4th Oct for some relief from your pain! I hope that for you - the third one's a charm - and you have no more troubles. Have you spoken to any other surgeons for advice or your revision? I know that Prof O'Brien is the pioneer for obesity and band research in these parts, but in terms of the operation itself, maybe there's better surgeons around... Your experience proves that "the noisy wheel gets the grease" (or whatever that saying is) and is a lesson to all of us to keep complaining (loudly!) if things don't feel right. So sorry for what you are going through. Hope you are able to find relief somehow. A get-together sounds great.:clap2: It might cheer Wheeler up?? I'd love to meet the local bandits (Although I have enjoyed the anonymity of LBT forums, having some face-to-face contact at this stage of my journey would be good too). Happy to travel wherever. Where is everyone? How exactly do we go about organising this (not sure of the LBT etiquette for these things...). By the way, do any of you go to the support group at The Valley Private?? Cheers to all, and special hugs for Wheeler...

Yep - that's me too - my boobs grew on my bum ! LOL!!! :hurt I only JUST manage to hoist enough of me together to barely fill a B cup. What's worse, is that the girls look rather sad and down in the dumps. Going to have them made happy again once I am at goal. LOL!!! I can't wait until the day when I can actually buy a bra in my size. My underwear is so worn out, threadbare and HOLEY, I'm going to walk up to where the boats are moored at the mouth of our local creek, and offer them as fishing nets!

YOU NEED TO GO TO HOSPITAL AND GET CHECKED OUT It could be any number of things (as outlined in the other posts) - it also sounds like diverticulitis of the bowel, or a colonic polyp that may have burst. These are not necessarily serious, however need to be investigated and closely monitored. You may need medication or lifestyle advice to manage any future recurrences of whatever it is that is causing your problem. Good luck. God bless. Don't worry, you will be fine, but PLEASE go to the hospital.

My surgery centre (3 surgeons) have all their patients do a two week OptiFast diet (shakes, soups, protein bars), to shrink the liver, making access to the top of the stomach easier. I belive it also reduces the risk of the liver being accidentally damaged or cut during the surgery. Remember it's a keyhole surgery, so retracting large organs out of the way of the "work zone" would have to be tricky!!! I am told that there is a list of allowed vegetables, and limited fruit while doing the fasting. Also they've said that there's no caffeine or sodas for the 2 weeks pre-op (and some time post-op too???), as this helps the liver, stomach too - so I'm cutting back now rather than go cold turkey in a few weeks time when I start the pre-op program. I'm not looking forward to the pre-op stage, but figure I'll make it through the 2 weeks because of the new life once I'm in the band! Heck - I've done worse diets in my life!!!

...the variations even locally and within the one clinic, and your opinions of their benefits (or lack of) are interesting.... I wouldn't have thought to question the recommended consultations. However, given that your various clinics don't requrie as many visits, and I am paying myself, I may now not go ahead with more than the psych and dietician pre-op, and maybe a dietician visit post-op if I feel that I need it. At least I have a package bonus with our Medibank Private membership, which can be used to pay for these services.:clap2: I'm not convinced that the psych or dietician will help me much - I've spent a lifetime analysing my responses to life (and food) - just like any other obese person has. I think I've got a pretty fair idea by now as to what, why and when of my eating, and also how to plan and prepare a healthy family diet.:hungry: I suppose that the doctors have clauses in their professional indemnity insurance to cover by making their patients do at least the pre-op consultations. I had my echo for the heart murmur yesterday - I'll go back to the physician on Friday for the report. I've since found out that my nan and a cousin also have murmurs, and Dad has an irregularly missing heartbeat - so there is history there. They did't find my nan's until she was 90! Guess it's nothing than just a murmur, but the way I've been feeling lately has me just a little worried (I was born worried... ha ha ha).:phanvan I can't believe I've had several anaesthetics and a baby, yet no body ever picked it up before. Maybe a doctor / nurse might have said about it at some stage, but I don't remember... My ICU nurse friend says not to worry - if it was anything more that just a murmur, they'd have followed up about it immediately. I am definitely going to sound out the other GPs at our clinic as to who is the most LapBand friendly - and if none of them are, then I'll go somewhere else. I used to see a great GP, but stopped going to him when he stopped bulk billing - maybe it's time that I got over my "thing" about only going to a bulk billing GP, and went back to him, at least for my own care. The family can still go the bulk billing clinic - as I have been very happy with them for the "everyday" kind of colds, flus etc:sick - I just wonder in those clinics if you get the attention you need for the more important things.... Jenny - sorry my email option wasn't set up. If you resend your email, I should recieve it now. Or try sending me a PM - I'll look out for your message. Given we live so close, I'd love to catch up with you.:scared:

So far, as part of my pre-op preparation I have: 21/7/06 Met with the GP (Dr Richards) for initial referral to surgeon; was weighed at 132kg. He said to eat less and move more - and that I'm depressed - well der fred! Of course I'm depressed - without hope of losing weight until I heard about LapBanding. I need a new GP. 28/7/06 Met with surgeon (Mr Chris Hensman, EndoSurgery Victoria)for initial consultation; was weighed at 134.3kg Had chest x-ray at The Valley Private Hospital 5/8/06 Had blood, urine, ECG tests at Melbourne Pathology, Edithvale 5/8/06 Met with GP to discuss Enhanced Primary Care Plan (referrals for dietician and psychologist) recommended by the surgeon. 8/8/06 Met with physician (Dr Lim); was weighed at 132kg. Told I have a heart murmur. I'm to have an cardiac ultrasound (echo) on 10/8/06. Mum tells me that Nana Vi had one (which wasn't picked up until she was over 90!), as does Carla (cousin). Dad has a "missing heartbeat". 8/8/06 Dropped paperwork for EPCP to GP's office. He had secretary call in the evening to say he wouldn't do it / doesn't think it's necessary. This means I'll have to pay for these visits via health insurance, resulting in a much bigger out-of-pocket cost to me. Now I KNOW I need a new GP - one who is band-friendly and more supportive. I'll ask ESV for information, or go and talk to Dr Dillon. (TERESITA - THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENT!!) 18/8/06 Second visit to Dr Lim. Heart murmur due to turbulent blood flow. Blood tests all normal, including triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose. I am good to go. Booked surgery date with ESV for Oct 5th. Roller coaster of emotion today, as dad also announced his retirement - but am elated! 24/8/06 Met jenny from LBT for a coffee - very nice lady, and very reassuring. 26/8/06 Had psychological evaluation with weight loss counsellor. Going in, I was very sceptical, and feeling defensive, however I was determined to be open and get as much out of the experience as possible. She says my emotional cues for eating are likley to be anxiety / wellbeing imbalance related. So I need to take more time to sit in the sun and do more things for myself that promote my wellbeing. oooh goody - a prescription for massage! LOL! A life-changing and very positive experience. 29/8/06 Went to fist Bandworks meeting at TVP - wow so many people! I haven't really clicked into this group yet, however met some really nice people, including tolmc (Vicky)and tarajane (Lisa) from LBT. 31/8/06 Dietician group session #1. Went through pre-op diet and post-op liquid stage. tolmc (Vicky) was there also - she's being banded in a couple of weeks.

For those of us in metric countries who don't speak inches and pounds fluently, how about tickers that show both metric and imperial measurements (at the same time!!!). Loving the existing LBT and the other suggestions...

So far, as part of my pre-op preparation I have: 21/7/06 Met with the GP (Dr Richards) for initial referral to surgeon; was weighed at 132kg. He said to eat less and move more - and that I'm depressed - well der fred! Of course I'm depressed - without hope of losing weight until I heard about LapBanding. I need a new GP. 28/7/06 Met with surgeon (Mr Chris Hensman, EndoSurgery Victoria)for initial consultation; was weighed at 134.3kg Had chest x-ray at The Valley Private Hospital 5/8/06 Had blood, urine, ECG tests at Melbourne Pathology, Edithvale 5/8/06 Met with GP to discuss Enhanced Primary Care Plan (referrals for dietician and psychologist) recommended by the surgeon. 8/8/06 Met with physician (Dr Lim); was weighed at 132kg. Told I have a heart murmur. I'm to have an cardiac ultrasound (echo) on 10/8/06. Mum tells me that Nana Vi had one (which wasn't picked up until she was over 90!), as does Carla (cousin). Dad has a "missing heartbeat". 8/8/06 Dropped paperwork for EPCP to GP's office. He had secretary call in the evening to say he wouldn't do it / doesn't think it's necessary. This means I'll have to pay for these visits via health insurance, resulting in a much bigger out-of-pocket cost to me. Now I KNOW I need a new GP - one who is band-friendly and more supportive. I'll ask ESV for information, or go and talk to Dr Dillon. (TERESITA - THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENT!!) 18/8/06 Second visit to Dr Lim. Heart murmur due to turbulent blood flow. Blood tests all normal, including triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose. I am good to go. Booked surgery date with ESV for Oct 5th. Roller coaster of emotion today, as dad also announced his retirement - but am elated! 24/8/06 Met jenny from LBT for a coffee - very nice lady, and very reassuring. 26/8/06 Had psychological evaluation with weight loss counsellor. Going in, I was very sceptical, and feeling defensive, however I was determined to be open and get as much out of the experience as possible. She says my emotional cues for eating are likley to be anxiety / wellbeing imbalance related. So I need to take more time to sit in the sun and do more things for myself that promote my wellbeing. oooh goody - a prescription for massage! LOL! A life-changing and very positive experience. 29/8/06 Went to fist Bandworks meeting at TVP - wow so many people! I haven't really clicked into this group yet, however met some really nice people, including tolmc (Vicky)and tarajane (Lisa) from LBT. 31/8/06 Dietician group session #1. Went through pre-op diet and post-op liquid stage. tolmc (Vicky) was there also - she's being banded in a couple of weeks.

...for the benefit of any journal visitors! (edited and updated form introductions thread) I am SOOOO glad I found this forum - reading posts over the past few weeks, and viewing all those inspirational before / after shots has helped me in my decisions and plans immensely. God Bless all LBTers for sharing and caring so much:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: - I hope that I may contribute to the forum as well as the benefits I'm already enjoying. I'm 34, a mother of one boy (who's 5), married to a WONDERFUL man (he always cheers me on, and thinks I'm sexy however I look! Bless him!). I work part-time as a consulting environmental scientist. I have been thinking of getting banded for over a year - but only just started to discuss it with my hubby in July. I got a referral from my GP this week, and first met with surgeon in early August (with Mr Chris Hensman at EndoSurgery Victoria, Mulgrave).:nervous I have fought the battle of the bulge since I was 16 - when my mum joined me at WW - since then I've been the classic yo-yo ride of WL support systems, diets and pills. Depression and control issues with food haven't helped either :mad: (Man! How do I relate to some of the stories posted to the forum!) I want to GET OFF THE ROLLER COASTER - NOWWWW!!!! My weight has hovered around 135kg since just after my son was born. My hubby was made redundant from his job at the same time, so my emotions and eating were all over the place for a LONG time. I maxed out at 138 - 140kg during last year.:omg: I'm currently around 132kg. (I'm so ashamed...) The thing is, until recently, I've never felt big or heavy. Because I'm a pear-shape, and therefore most my fat is on my legs / hips / rear end, it's kind of "out of sight, out of mind". Only this year have I felt too big / fat / tired / slovenly / unfit / "insert any other of your favourite self-depretiating terms here" (they'd apply here) to get off my but and do things - even things I love to do like play with son (who can run like the wind) or gardening. Cleaning the house even feels like too much effort... I feel like that a lot of the emotional baggage I've been carrying around has been put down over the past year, and is now GONE FOR GOOD. :clap2: Hubby and I have a stable, Christian marriage, we have a loving home life and good jobs and career prospects. It was a long struggle. I also feel like I'm able to finally put down the bags I've carried siince school days, feelings of insecurity and inadequacy (God knows why I have them in the first place, but the mind is a beast...). I honestly feel that if I can make a break in the weight gain-loss cycle, and lose the excess weight once and for all, that I'd have a great chance that the fat would also be GONE FOR GOOD. I guess none of this is new to many / most of you in LapBandTalk land. Anyway, it's these new feelings about myself that have shocked me into doing something more to lose the kilos- enter the LAPBAND - dadadadaaaaaa!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: My hubby & I REALLY want more babies - but right now I'm too scared of complications / dying to contemplate getting pregnant yet. I can't seem to lose the 15kgs and 5 years of age I put on since I had my son... The desire to make some new people for our family to love is also contributing influence to my decisions right now, but not the main motivation. Initially, I'd like to get down under 100kg before trying for another baby, and then after that continue on towards an ultimate goal of 60kg - 70kg (would be nice on a 5ft 4inch girl...). I think I was about 15 when I last saw my weight defined by a number lower than 70kg.:cry :faint: :help: I'd like to hear from anyone who has conceived / had a baby after LapBanding. My GP suggested we had a baby (or two) first, and then the LapBand - the way I feel right now, I don't think that would be sensible - I can almost feel diabetes or a heart attack at the thought of it!:sick The surgeon said at least three months, although the longer we wait after the banding, obviously, the better th weight loss would have been. Also, I am really nervous about how I will adjust to the Bandster's lifestyle given how much and how often I eat. Feelings of hunger / fullness / satiety etc are almost meaningless to me right now. I'm looking forward to changing this, but for now, the thought of restricting food volume and types fires up those old feelings of rebellion!:hungry: :angry Definitely need counselling, support and reflection in this area.:nervous Anyway - enough introductions - let's make music!!!

...for the benefit of any journal visitors! (edited and updated form introductions thread) I am SOOOO glad I found this forum - reading posts over the past few weeks, and viewing all those inspirational before / after shots has helped me in my decisions and plans immensely. God Bless all LBTers for sharing and caring so much:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: - I hope that I may contribute to the forum as well as the benefits I'm already enjoying. I'm 34, a mother of one boy (who's 5), married to a WONDERFUL man (he always cheers me on, and thinks I'm sexy however I look! Bless him!). I work part-time as a consulting environmental scientist. I have been thinking of getting banded for over a year - but only just started to discuss it with my hubby in July. I got a referral from my GP this week, and first met with surgeon in early August (with Mr Chris Hensman at EndoSurgery Victoria, Mulgrave).:nervous I have fought the battle of the bulge since I was 16 - when my mum joined me at WW - since then I've been the classic yo-yo ride of WL support systems, diets and pills. Depression and control issues with food haven't helped either :Banane10: (Man! How do I relate to some of the stories posted to the forum!) I want to GET OFF THE ROLLER COASTER - NOWWWW!!!! My weight has hovered around 135kg since just after my son was born. My hubby was made redundant from his job at the same time, so my emotions and eating were all over the place for a LONG time. I maxed out at 138 - 140kg during last year.:omg: I'm currently around 132kg. (I'm so ashamed...) The thing is, until recently, I've never felt big or heavy. Because I'm a pear-shape, and therefore most my fat is on my legs / hips / rear end, it's kind of "out of sight, out of mind". Only this year have I felt too big / fat / tired / slovenly / unfit / "insert any other of your favourite self-depretiating terms here" (they'd apply here) to get off my but and do things - even things I love to do like play with son (who can run like the wind) or gardening. Cleaning the house even feels like too much effort... I feel like that a lot of the emotional baggage I've been carrying around has been put down over the past year, and is now GONE FOR GOOD. :clap2: Hubby and I have a stable, Christian marriage, we have a loving home life and good jobs and career prospects. It was a long struggle. I also feel like I'm able to finally put down the bags I've carried siince school days, feelings of insecurity and inadequacy (God knows why I have them in the first place, but the mind is a beast...). I honestly feel that if I can make a break in the weight gain-loss cycle, and lose the excess weight once and for all, that I'd have a great chance that the fat would also be GONE FOR GOOD. I guess none of this is new to many / most of you in LapBandTalk land. Anyway, it's these new feelings about myself that have shocked me into doing something more to lose the kilos- enter the LAPBAND - dadadadaaaaaa!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: My hubby & I REALLY want more babies - but right now I'm too scared of complications / dying to contemplate getting pregnant yet. I can't seem to lose the 15kgs and 5 years of age I put on since I had my son... The desire to make some new people for our family to love is also contributing influence to my decisions right now, but not the main motivation. Initially, I'd like to get down under 100kg before trying for another baby, and then after that continue on towards an ultimate goal of 60kg - 70kg (would be nice on a 5ft 4inch girl...). I think I was about 15 when I last saw my weight defined by a number lower than 70kg.:cry :faint: :help: I'd like to hear from anyone who has conceived / had a baby after LapBanding. My GP suggested we had a baby (or two) first, and then the LapBand - the way I feel right now, I don't think that would be sensible - I can almost feel diabetes or a heart attack at the thought of it!:sick The surgeon said at least three months, although the longer we wait after the banding, obviously, the better th weight loss would have been. Also, I am really nervous about how I will adjust to the Bandster's lifestyle given how much and how often I eat. Feelings of hunger / fullness / satiety etc are almost meaningless to me right now. I'm looking forward to changing this, but for now, the thought of restricting food volume and types fires up those old feelings of rebellion!:hungry: :angry :Banane20: Definitely need counselling, support and reflection in this area.:nervous Anyway - enough introductions - let's make music!!!

138 kg - early 2006 maximum weight 134 kg - 1st surgeon visit, 28 July 2006 132 kg - physician visit, 8 August 2006