Anyone from Australia want to come and join!

[Mimz 38]

Well here we go. I'm and from Sydney Australia and I have been told GBP my be my only option because of damage to my oesophagus due to GERD. I'm on Nexium 40mg x2 daily, suffer from idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and am on Diamox, to be honest I went in for a band and then decided on a sleeve, after my surgeon did an exploratory Gastroscopy he found severe inflammation and put me on the Nexium. I am 5'5 (165cm) and weigh 234pds (106.5kg) I have yoyoed with my weight all my life and have been overweight since I was a toddler.

I'm pretty scared, but am running out of options, I am married with two kids 2 and 4, they are my world! I'm hoping I can find support and friendship on this forum so I can share my journey whether it's local or from the US, I know I'm not alone with my story or feelings.

[Mimz 38]

Bumping up..

[skylily 7]

Me me me, I'll join

I'll come back when I have time and fill you in xox

[Mimz 38]

Look forward to hearing from you!!

[skylily 7]

Hi again Mimz.

Are you scheduled for surgery yet?

I've heard that GBP does wonders for GERD. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be finally free of that?!

Losing some weight would be an extra bonus.

Yes it is scary... no matter which way you/we turn it's pretty scary.

Here is my story.

Four years ago I went in for a lap band. My stomach was perforated but they didn't pick it up and I left the hospital in some pain which escalated over a few days to a 'please just kill me' type of agony. I was rushed in for emergency surgery one night and they opened me right up, took out my band, and cleared it up in there. The next three days I was in ICU and nearly died, and then the next seven days I was on the ward. Those seven days were the worst.

I have pretty bad back problems and can't sleep on my back. Because of the abdominal surgery it was impossible to sleep on my side. I was hooked up to all these machines and a catheter and they took my blood every three hours. I didn't sleep for just about all that time I was in hospital. I could only get somewhat comfortable in a recliner chair and the one they scoured the hospital for was small and crappy and they wouldn't allow me to hire a good one in.

It was pure psychological and physical hell.

In the end I signed myself out waiving them of responsibility because I knew I had to get home and get some rest.

I was so sad I went through all that and had nothing to show for it but ugly scars.

I thought there was no way I could ever go back in to hospital.

But, four months later I went back in got a lap band. Why? Because I resented paying out a few thousand dollars, having scars, no lap band... most of all because I was SCARED not to. I needed help.

I have lost and gained thousands of pounds in my life. My heaviest was 165 kilos (363 lbs). I had lost 20 kilos leading up to surgery and so went in at 147 kilos (323 lbs).

Anyway, it was keyhole (THANK GOD) and was a walk in the park after all I had been through.

So now I had my lap band... and guess what... I didn't lose any weight.

Yes I did everything I was supposed to and didn't lose anything.

My body has got to a point of having the worst metabolism ever. It doesn't care when I drop my calories to near to nothing. I might drop a little in the first few days then it STOPS!

I was bereft. Then I thought 'f*%k this'.

So I went on a year long super low carb, going to the gym nearly every day, routine and I did drop another 20ish hard earned kilos. So now I was at 121 and no matter what I did since I cannot get below that figure.

So after some time I put back on 10 kilos and then made myself get back into line and took it off and then hovered around 123 (270)for a couple of years... which in itself was an achievement. The band has NEVER helped me lose wight but I believe it did help me from piling it all back on.

Anyhow, I got it removed three weeks ago because it was more trouble then it was worth. It was a 10 ml band and the most I could ever get into it was 2 ml. I would choke at night and was convinced this was the way I would some day die. From choking on my own Fluid.

I have had GERD for 20 years but when the surgery was done the surgeon tightened up my stomach sphincter and that helped it not be so severe but the band caused its own problems in that regard.

So I still took Nexium every day.

Now, I have no band (which is bloody amazing lol... such a relief) , very little acid reflux, but I am scared to go too long without anything at all.

The surgeon told me there was a lot of scarring around the band and I have to go back and see him in a week. I'm hoping like hell he won't say he won't do it because of too much scarring.

I've read that most USA surgeons wait for several months for scarring to settle down and then do it so hopefully he will say that, but because he is Australian, and we don't do as many GBP ops here, I'm not sure he will.

I CAN'T be left with no options.

There you go, there's my story, sorry it was so long.

I know that there are people who have been through worse things, and I didn't want to sound too dramatic, but I'm just telling you how it was for me.

xox

[Mimz 38]

Silklily what an amazing story. I'm at work so I will definitely be back later with a proper reply!!

[fatnomore2013 2]

Bumping up..

Hi

I an in nz and had GBP 13 days ago. HW 137kg ( I am 170 cm) went on Optifast 2 weeks before op and lost 10 kg! SW 126 kg and current weight 120 kg - weighing in Tuesdays otherwise I get obsessed!!!!

I worried for 5 months beforehand as had cardiac arrest last surgery But had a great surgical team and apart from gas at first am doing fine

Every day gets better and lots of info on here

I also discovered the world according to egg - what a great site !!!

Great decision mimz

[Mimz 38]

Hey fatnomore! Great to see some more replys here!

I've got my appointment this Thursday so will find out the verdict and hopefully get some dates to choose from. I'm aiming for September at the moment, that is the earliest I can book due to work commitments.

You are so brave!

[fatnomore2013 2]

I'm great at losing weight 40 kgs no problem BUT I put it back every time so this will put an end to it.....

You name it - sure slim- WW- Jenny craig - done them all then piled it back on!! From me exploring GBP to having op was 5 months due to hospital investigations etc but allowed me to get my head in the right space - was still frightened to death but the pre-op meds helped

Good luck with the date - best to get done sooner rather than later as never a good time

[Mimz 38]

I'm a veteran of every diet fad as well! Lightest weight has been about 61kg but that was near starvation diet! After getting married and the kids I'm back at square one and a bit more lol!

I need this, I can't keep yoyoing forever its exhausting. ......

How did you feel after surgery? Was the recovery difficult?

[Mimz 38]

Silklily are you still around? Your story really touched me......I hope it all works out for you!

[skylily 7]

Hi Mimz. Thanks. I had the follow up appt yesterday and yes, am going ahead with the bypass. Probably November as I'm too busy with work till then.

[Mimz 38]

We may be GBP buddies lol! My follow up is this Thursday and I can't have surgery until november as well due to work commitments.

[fatnomore2013 2]

I'm a veteran of every diet fad as well! Lightest weight has been about 61kg but that was near starvation diet! After getting married and the kids I'm back at square one and a bit more lol!

I need this' date=' I can't keep yoyoing forever its exhausting. ......

How did you feel after surgery? Was the recovery difficult?[/quote']

Felt great after surgery and on liquid diet. Just moved to purée and struggling but it will get better - it was hard to take fluids to start but after a couple of days all was well. I figure this is a lifelong change and the burning sensation I have in my chest after 2 spoons of food is because I ate it too quick !!!! Slow slow slow is the way to go !

[Mimz 38]

Felt great after surgery and on liquid diet. Just moved to purée and struggling but it will get better - it was hard to take fluids to start but after a couple of days all was well. I figure this is a lifelong change and the burning sensation I have in my chest after 2 spoons of food is because I ate it too quick !!!! Slow slow slow is the way to go !

Thats great. I hope I recover that well, everyone does say it gets better with time, has the surgeon given you a goal?

I have my appointment this Friday so I'm hoping to book at date at least, I've been back and forth since October 2012.