aussiekye

Wow Kat that's amazing I can't wait. The band life for me was torture for 14 yrs . Can't wait for the start of this new chapter. I fly out today. I will keep you posted.
Let the loss begin!!

Wow Kat that's amazing I can't wait. The band life for me was torture for 14 yrs . Can't wait for the start of this new chapter. I fly out today. I will keep you posted.
Let the loss begin!!

Wow Kat that's amazing I can't wait. The band life for me was torture for 14 yrs . Can't wait for the start of this new chapter. I fly out today. I will keep you posted.
Let the loss begin!!

Don't forget me. I'm Tuesday too! I'm sooooo excited. I'm flying out this morning!

Hi there
I am also on the Gold Coast and had my band in 2008. I was really successful until it stuck to my liver and stared giving me grief about 18 months ago. After a lot of wasted time trying to work out what the problem was (and major weight regain) I had it removed in April. In June I had a sleeve and am now about 5 kgs less than I was when my band was ok I am 65 kgs and my BMI is 22 so go for it!!!
Let me know how you go :-)
Kat

Hi all u Aussies! I'm from the Gold Coast. I have had a band for 14 yrs and am having it revised on Tuesday! Omg I'm do excited! I'm actually going to Mexico! I went to the doctors here and they wanted $25000 to do the revision! I got an early release of my super and I'm getting it done in Mexico for a total of $6000 including flights for me and my partner. I have done extensive research and I'm not worried at all. I suppose because I have had surgery in Bangkok also I sort of know what to expect. I'm glad I found some more Aussies on here!

Glad to hear everyone is doing well. I have my revision surgery on18th. Fly to San Diego on 16th. Just started packing! One more day in Aus then I'm off for my new adventure. Not nervous just excited! Did update my will though just to be prepared! Lol. Can't wait only 2 more sleeps till I'm at the airport! Bring it on!!!

You have stunned them into silence?
I would love to see a before and after of u. I believe that maybe u need to see them again also. A couple of things I have experienced when I was first successful with my band was that everyone who saw me regularly didn't really notice the change and I'd lost 60 kg. but those I hadn't seen for ages didn't recognise me. The other thing is I still always felt big. I had to keep looking in the mirror all the time to remind myself that this was now me.
Ps my band has now failed after 15 yrs and I am getting sleeved in 6 days! Omg I can't wait.

You have stunned them into silence?
I would love to see a before and after of u. I believe that maybe u need to see them again also. A couple of things I have experienced when I was first successful with my band was that everyone who saw me regularly didn't really notice the change and I'd lost 60 kg. but those I hadn't seen for ages didn't recognise me. The other thing is I still always felt big. I had to keep looking in the mirror all the time to remind myself that this was now me.
Ps my band has now failed after 15 yrs and I am getting sleeved in 6 days! Omg I can't wait.

Hi all I have a band revision to a sleeve on feb 18. I'm so excited! Hope all goes well for you all and keep us all posted on ur progress!

OMG gmanbat u both look absolutely fantastic! U look so much happier and younger!! Well done! It must be amazing for you to have done this journey together . Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!

You have stunned them into silence?
I would love to see a before and after of u. I believe that maybe u need to see them again also. A couple of things I have experienced when I was first successful with my band was that everyone who saw me regularly didn't really notice the change and I'd lost 60 kg. but those I hadn't seen for ages didn't recognise me. The other thing is I still always felt big. I had to keep looking in the mirror all the time to remind myself that this was now me.
Ps my band has now failed after 15 yrs and I am getting sleeved in 6 days! Omg I can't wait.

Something is playing on my mind so I thought I'd just 'throw it out there' to the great and good on this site for discussion...
When I was big, I was repeatedly told in response to my insecure mutterings about my size; 'I never see your weight, Revs. You're just Revs. Always have been, always will be.' 'You have a big personality, Revs. That eclipses anything else. People see your character before they notice anything else.'
This has come in many forms and in various machinations. When done with love and delivered gently - its been from friends and family. With moderate, clumsy indifference and accompanied with the obligatory 'you have such a nice/pretty/beautiful/attractive (delete as appropriate) face' and lets not forget the 'You always dress really well and have amazing make-up'... (Subtext - your body is like the back end of a bus), its been from random colleagues and acquaintances.
So, when I was researching weight-loss options (this was over 10 years of dedicated YouTube, surgery website, academic journal perusing), I saw all these a-maz-ing transformations. People who had metamorphosed from looking like Sloth from the Goonies

into Demi Moore (in her heyday) and every shade of beautiful in between.
Consequently, when I had the surgery, I envisioned my kilo-losing metamorphosis. The egg, larva, pupa, to beautiful butterfly...
So here I am, a truck load of weight down and well, I haven't changed into the metaphorical butterfly I was hoping for. Don't get me wrong, this is not a pity-party or anything. I am elated with what I've achieved so far and before anyone bores me to tears with the 'but you've got a healthier you, that should be reward enough', line of tedium.....I wanted to look like Demi Moore GODDAMNNIT! <that's a joke btw and before anyone gets on a tip about 'loving who you are and not aspiring to look like someone else' in a yawn-fest, stating the obvious manner>
Now, I know miracles can't happen. You have what you've been given. I am VERY grateful for what I've been given, don't get me wrong. What I'm actually getting at is that there has not been the 'woooaaaah, you've changed' moment for me, as there have been for others. I go to my bariatric meeting and some people have had the 'Whoaaa' transformation. The Sloth to Demi moment. I, have not.
People of course recognise that I have shifted some weight and rarely acknowledge it - which is socially normal. But its like nothing has changed. Why?!
As the title suggests - should I be disappointed by this, flattered or just indifferent to it? Of course, I wanted a 'transformation' of sorts and have achieved that - of sorts. But were the utterances of others about my personality and face actually true all along and in fact, the only person who appeared to be bothered by my weight, or even noticed it, was, well, just me?!
By virtue of this, does it make the fact that I went through surgery ludicrous? Of course not, because (and I'm appealing to the health-freak tedious here), I have made myself more healthy. But really, all the long-held deep-seated and total misery about my weight - was it really only my problem all along?!
Who knows...
I am Revs. I have a personality. And everything else, despite this surgery, just appears to be, well, irrelevant!
<Omitting, of course, that my backside is considerably smaller and I can now buy the hottest clothes and the highest heels>
Anyone else had something similar? Anyone else after weight loss just been 'You' - but a 'lighter' version. 'You-Light', if you will!
Have your expectations matched reality both in physical, social and psychological terms?
Do, please tell! Looking forward to reading your thoughts... x
N.B I am hoping this will not become a 'before and after' photo opportunity thread, btw...... <The grumpy OP>

I had mine done here in Australia. It was free for me. Well $3,000 upfront but then was totally refunded. I feel blessed.

Thanks ag88 I'll keep u posted