Sherylnkent

There is a small group of us who get together on a regular basis if anyone is interested in catching up.
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Sheryl Hawkins

My surgeon said many doctors do band removal and sleeve in same procedure but she will not. She likes to wait 6-8 weeks after band removal. Band was removed on 11/26 and sleeve is scheduled for 1/15. She did say the band and port took longer than expected to remove. I am so glad it is gone and looking forward to the next chapter - relieved not to have constant pressure in my chest and vomiting often. Good luck!

It is true that certain prescription medications can cause decrease in sensation as well as libido. Maybe a discussion w/ your PCP is necessary. Good luck!

OMG!! I'm now in the double digits!!! This is the first time since at least 1997 when I was grade 12! Sorry I just had to share with people who would understand why I'm so happy

Hi Sheryl , I moved to to Gold Coast recently. Sleeved in August 2012 and 38kgs down. I would be happy to meet you for a coffee and chat. Personal message me and I will send you my mobile. Cheers Kelli

I haven't had my surgery yet but I'm so proud of my current weight loss and all I see and feel is all the things I couldn't do before now looking very possible...
I can stand with my feet together(touching)..always a challenge with huge thighs
I crossed my legs half way...looking forward to the full cross
I ran for a bus...like took off and left my husband standing in amazement!!
I ran as a workout instead of my normal brisk walk
I can pick my 16 year old up off the floor, she weighs 115
I want to be able to beat my husband in a foot race
I want to be a pro at Yoga, daughter got me started on intermediate level
I want to wear an all white form fitted dress
I want to sit on the bus and not take up so much of the seat that no one else wants to squeeze in
continue to add to the list...let me see what I haven't thought about....Thanks

Hi, I'm on the Gold Coast looking to at band to sleeve revision. Tired of this weight going up and down, the vomiting and holding nothing down one day to being able to eat the horse and jockey too the next with a band.
I have an appointment with Dr Jordaan on the 17/01/14, excited and nervous and am in NEED of support

Hi there lilyrose. I am at Ormeau and was sleeved last Saturday after having my band removed in April. My original date was 9th July but I just couldn't handle the wait and weight xo asked to have it bought forward. My surgery was in Sunnybank Hospital - so not a coast Doctor but I am really happy with my choice of surgeon too. I had a bit of a rough first 2 days as my stomach was extremely sensitive which can happen particularly to is ex-bandsters. I am starting to feel much better now thankfully. Would be happy to kep in touch if you like seeing we are pretty close in dates :-)

Hi there,
I am Australian as well. Live in QLD.
Due on 15th in almanda private hospital in Gold Coast with dr Nolan. Tough time to go through preparing for surgery. I am going for sleeve, that was my choice. I didn't want to go for a band. Hope every thing is going fine with everybody. Great decision to take to change our life and gain ourselves back again. I know it will not be an easy trip, but Iam sure it worth it.
Good luck for everybody. And hope we can keep n touch

Negatives:
1. I wish I had known that two Fiber chews a day would have stopped all my pain earlier! I'm good to go now. Take fiber!!
2. I wish I had known how tired I would be the first three weeks. Once past that all gets better.
3. I wish I had known that I really needed to work on my mental thoughts about food too. I focused on portions. Now 7 months out I have major head hunger. Not really hungry EVER but my mind thinks I should snack all day. Constant challenge
4. Wish I had known about this surgery sooner. People need to talk more!!
5. I wish I had known how challenging it really is to wait 30 mins before and after eating
Pros
1. I feel amazing
2. I feel sexy
3. Happily married but guys consistently gives me looks and it's awesome! Lol
4. Sex = Amazing TMI sorry, don't want people to miss out on the truth!
5. Buying clothes is so rewarding
6. I've saved three friends by speaking up about the surgery and helping through the process - for the surgery because I told them about my experience
7. My dad is alive and had the surgery after me - he was anti surgery until he saw my success
8. I enjoy healthy foods that I would have never eaten before
9. No more blood pressure issues
10. No more sleep apnea
11. Size 20 to 6
I could literally go on and on!

I wish I would have known how good I would feel six weeks out. I would have done it long ago. All the trauma of the first few weeks is all worthwhile.

I wish I had done it sooner.
I wish I had known that the bad taste would soon go away
I wish I had known about Primier Protein sooner
I wish I had known it would be easier than I thought it would be! So happy I did this for myself!!!

I find the sleeve so much better than the band, no more throwing up, and can tolerate any food, just in a small quantity. I do think my starving sensation was due to the stomach acid mimicking hunger, will see if I continue to lose weight and i'll update the post in a few weeks.

Hi all.
OK had my surgery to have sleeve late December 2012, was 102Kg when band was removed, in 2 months ballooned to 113Kg, 2-3 weeks after the sleeve I dropped to 99kg.....
Had reflux for about 3-4 months and weight increased to 103Kg, saw the doctor in November 2013 because I was not losing weight and was constantly feeling hungry? Forums seemed too indicate hunger due to reflux... Doc put me on 40Mg Nexium for reflux, has been 1 week lost 1kg and not feeling anywhere as hungry as before, Nexium site says effects take 2-3 weeks maximum to fix reflux issues, so I am hoping I am now back on track. For anyone starving after having band removed and sleeve installed, consult your doctor, and maybe try Nexium or something to stop the acid which seems to make you feel hungry constantly and hr or two after a meal.

You sound like me!! I swear!! I have prayed to not just be hungry. I am hoping that this surgery will help me be on my way. Good luck to you.

The lap band will not help with stress eating. It does not control the amount and quality of food you chose to eat. It's only job is to make you go three to four hours and not be hungry on a smaller amount of food. It is up to you to control your emotional eating. You have to make the choice to either give up on eating for stress and try to get help with that or no surgery is going to get rid of that part of your brain.

Hi Kat, welcome -- and your entry reads like the inside of my brain at times. I can be so diligent and I am an expert dieter but at this point my weight is not going to come off. I have tried everything. Very excited to be having a band placed three weeks from now.
Hddn, I'm going to get that book! My son cannot have dairy and husband is gluten-free (celiac) -- I am so much better when not having either of those. And sugar of course. I do have some trouble with the elimination of entire categories of foods -- I can be a bit too restrictive with myself in that way and there has always been a bounce-back. What I'm hoping for from the band is not to be thinking about food all the time, to listen to my body and eat what I need to be healthy but no more than that.

HI!
Are you looking at having weight loss surgery?
I can relate to what you're saying. I still find my first response when stressed is to reach for comfort food.
And it's the first thing I think of when I want to celebrate!
I have found that if I am eating food I like all the time, I don't binge. My surgeon has suggested recipes from a cook book called, Primal Cravings. I bought the book and love it! I don't feel like Im dieting at all. On their website there are lots and lots of free recipes, too. http://www.health-bent.com/blog/primalcravings
I wonder if you would still binge if you were always eating food you really like---and not feel like you are on a "diet".
I had the Lap Band implanted 3 years ago and soon afterward developed an intolerance to dairy. Two years later I decided to go gluten free -- and wow, did I feel better!!! Then I elimenated sugar and felt even better than that!
A month ago I had the Lap Band removed. I am feeling really good. Still gluten free, but now tolerate some dairy...and unfortunately sugar, too.
But I learned so much being banded and am continuing to lose weight. Still have at least 40 pounds to go.
Thank you for posting!
~hiddn