She Smiles

Unfortunately I'm not in Melbourne so I can't meet up with you, but is it anything you'd be willing to discuss on this forum? There are some very experienced and generous Aussie bandsters on this site who I suspect might be able to give you some advice online.

Beena, thats exactly what I meant - they didn't research and speak with post op patients to provide the information that people go to the seminars to hear about. I know at my pre op seminar, they had the surgeon who told us about the medical side of things and then his consultant there, who is a bandster, who told us about her personal experience and the experience of several other patients. Both the good and the bad. It was a really comprehensive presentation and they sent us off with a pile of pamphlets and print outs too. This website, and specifically the Aussie people on this thread are a fantastic support and a wonderful bunch of people. No question is too silly - cos trust me we've all asked them at some time or another! Working towards it in 2008 is a great goal to have! I wish you the very best of luck!

Jacqui you look great!!!! I agree, you don't look 40 AT ALL!!!

Sounds like the seminar wasn't well researched! And good on you for realising that you aren't ready. I went to my GP the other day for a check up and was talking to him about my band (he's the one who gave me the referral and I had to convince him it was for me before he would do it). I told him that I would recommend banding to anyone who had researched it and as you said "done some soul searching" and was prepared for ALL the changes it would mean in their life. Its not a magic fix. Its a big, life long change. My Dad has a band and he said to me when I was doing my research "Remember this is a life long thing, you have to live with this every day for the rest of your life". I was 26 at that time. Just over a year later I had my band done. I don't know that I would have been ready to do this 3, 4 or 5 years ago, but I was ready mentally and emotionally when I did do it. You will know when and if its the right time for you too. I think its shows a lot of strength of character to not just rush into it. We're all here to talk to if you need to ask any questions.

I include two classes a week in my workout schedule and have done for a couple of months now. I love love love it. I've found my fitness has increased SO quickly and it has helped break my 3 month weight loss plateau. I highly recommend it to anyone - its a self regulated class, you can go as hard or as easy as you like. I always come out pouring with sweat!

You're on Jacqui! Although you're a good 6 inches taller than me so you are going to be teeny tiny at 70kgs!! Ideally I want to get down to 65 but I know thats going to get harder to lose weight as I get to the pointy end.

Hi all, just thought I'd check in Hope you're all doing well and feeling fantastic! Susannah you are looking fabulous, you look so confident and hot in those photos! You must be fighting the men off with a stick! Chickie, don't worry about the errors in the magazine - you did a good thing putting your success story out there, hopefully it inspires some people to follow your lead. You've done so well. As for me, I FINALLY broke my plateu of 80kgs and am now down to 77 - woo! I'm doing boot camp twice a week and RPM classes twice a week and running 5 kms on another day. I had to get my butt back into exercise gear to shift the weight again - but at last its going (slowly!)! I want to be down to 70 by Xmas....thats the plan!

I think they look GREAT arms down. Arms up, not so much, but really do you walk around naked with your arms in the air often? I would LOVE a pair that look like the second picture - don't mess with them, because other than the nipple being slightly off (which is a naturally occuring thing!) its really not worth it!! They're a keeper I say! Do you mind me asking what size they are now? Boy I wish mine looked like that.

Uggh! the edit on this forum needs fixing. Mark, I mean in my post above that my FILL surgeon is no expert. He's just a GP whos been brought on board, but by no means is an expert. My babd surgeon on the other hand IS - he is regularly at conferences and training courses internaliotnally to increase his knowledge and awarenes of the band procedures and advances. He's fantastic. But my fill Dr, not so great.....he's just going thru the motions.

Me too! Gosh they have no idea!

Hi Mark, I asked him and he said that he didn't know why it happens exactly (great answer!). He said that sometimes the Dr can miss the port - this might have been the case, because I've had 6 fills now - and after the 4th one of them which was supposed to be 1ml (and possibly the 3rd which was supposed to be 1.5mls), I felt NO change at all. Or he said that the liquid can evaporate, or settle in the band and tubing. But I don't see how it could evaporate that quickly. So who knows!?! I might ask my band Surgeon next time I see him, I'm not sure when that will be though - my fill Dr is a GP who locums for my band Dr every second Wednesday to look after the fills for his patients - so the band Dr's not really an expert. Or maybe one of you guys can ask your actual surgeon when you see them next - they're the guys in the know! I'd be interested in hearing the theory behind it.

So I went to see my fill Dr today. He pulled out all that was in my band and there was 7mls. There was "supposed" to be 8.5 (thats how much he had put in over the months). No wonder i haven't lost a thing for 2 months. So he put the 7 back in with another 0.5 and said to come back in a month if I'm still not losing. So we'll see.

Hmm I think my biggest NSV lately has been that I can walk into a lot the trendier shops and buy a 14 or 16 (even a 12 once!) and they fit, properly. That feels great - to be able to dress like a 28 year old and not a 50 year old (did anyone else find that - that they don't make fashionable clothes for bigger gals?). I think another one was when I went for my last wedding dress fitting and they had to take it in 4 1/2 inches. I bought it in January and it was too small then, so that felt great!

Heres the link to the ATO website and the calculator you use to figure out your rebate from medical expenses. 20% is what you can get back - which isn't much, but its better than nothing!! Tax Tools

So onto other things, how are you feeling tonight Bronnie? Is your pain still there? Are you going to call your Doc tomorrow?

Hmmm me too. Knowing people like that, they will re-register with a new name and try it again - we should be on the look out, methinks!

Better the money in our pocket than the tax mans I say!

If you spend more than $1500 in a tax year out of pocket for health related things (apparently even over the counter medications from the chemist - I've kept every receipt!) you can claim it back on your tax. My Dad did it last year with his because thats when he got his band. I have to ask him how to go about it, but he did get a percentage back, I am sure of that! I've always done my own tax, but I'm thinking I might go see a professional this year to make the most of this.

Oh gosh, it is tax time isn't it! I haven't received my group certificate yet - guess thats what you get working for the government lol. Hope I get some money back this year because of the out of pocket expenses I paid my band surgeon (my insurance only covered my hospital expenses). Fingers crossed! Enjoy your walk Susannah, I'm still crook with the flu, so I'm just rugged up at home trying to get well again!

Hey Mark, good idea! How is everything going with you??

Geez, let it go! Holy crap. I'm going over to the new thread Mark has started. Please don't bring this crap over there if you chose to join us. Your holier than thou attitude is NOT welcome on the Aussie threads Blah Blah. Lecturing everyone at every turn is not support.

Awww you sure know how to make a girl feel good Hugs to you Susie - you're not too bad yourself you know!! :eyebrows: You're hardly an old bag!!

Nah not kidding at all Jacqui - you guys rock and always have been and remain my inspiration!!!

Oh I miss that feeling Susannah. Hoping my fill next Wednesday fixes that. I've been so hungry lately.....

I agree with Susannah. *Most* of us come here for support and a giggle every now and then, not to read rants and raves. There is a specific section for that on this board, you will find plenty to add to there if you have a look and thats what you are after. I for one value the advice and experience imparted from the more experienced Australian bandsters like Chickie and Jacqui. I'd hate to think they might think "screw it" about posting here because of crap like this. Lets just get back to what this thread was started for, please?