mss

I've had a PE following other surgery so my surgeon asked my haematologist for guidelines pre and post surgery and I was fine. I was on blood thinning injections (clexane) for about two weeks post surgery - these are injections I give myself and I also give them when flying so they are no biggie

Sorry Nat I didn't see this question earlier. I have had a lot of abdominal surgery as well and the surgeon told me at the time that if when he operated he found that he wouldn't be able to put the band in laparascopically that he wouldn't go through with the surgery. Thankfully he was able to do it though he did say that all of the scar tissue I had made it quite complex. I was terrified that I would wake up and find they hadn't been able to do the surgery.

Just make sure you call the centre for Bariatric surgery first and explain you are already banded. I was ringing around about 5 months ago when I moved here from perth and I know they told me I would have to pay some sort of joining/admin fee of a few hundred dollars because I was already banded. I couldn't afford to pay that which is a pity as they were the surgeons my doctor in Perth had suggested I go to.

I tend to pretty much assume when going to a friends for dinner that I will only be eating a little bit .... I have always been a slow eater to factor in the band and I take forever to eat a few mouthfuls compared with my friends.

ha ha I do the gurgling too!!

For me when I was too tight it hurt to have more than a mouthful of food at a meal so I was having Protein Shakes and yoghurt to avoid the pain. Even though I was eating only a tiny bit of food I didn't lose any weight probably because my body was trying to hang on to any nutrition it could get.

I then had a slight unfill and now I can eat very very slowly (I went out for Breakfast with workmates and only got half way through my Cereal before we had to leave). I am definitely tighter up until lunchtime and generally have a shake for Breakfast, yoghurt and fruit for lunch and something substantial for dinner.

Being at what for me seems to be my sweet spot has meant that I don't get the hunger in between meals but I still am able to eat when out with friends, just very slowly.

The clinics I have been to for fills have said the band can be a bit tighter during our periods and to avoid coming for a fill at that time where possible ...it may be easier to overfill you or something I think? I know I definitely feel the difference in my band at that time.

You have lost thirty kilos and kept it off...that is a fantastic achievement. If I spend too much time on the message board here I get frustrated with myself as my own loss in over a year of being banded seems minuscule however I just need to look in the mirror or feel the looseness of a size 14 skirt (I was wearing up to a size 22 before) and I remember just how great my own achievement is.

If you have pain are you possibly too tight? You are on the right track if you are starting to go and get some extra support....I look forward to reading about how things go for you back on your lapband journey.

I was a diet coke addict and always had a bottle by my bed, on my desk, in my car and in my bag! I then decided to alternate diet coke and bottles of Water prior to having surgery as I wanted to see if I would have the willpower to make these changes and now Water is the main thing I drink. I have bottles of water everywhere.

Since being banded I have had a few drinks of diet coke etc however for the most part I struggle to get through one glass and need to take very tiny sips.

Is there a psychologist nearby that you would be able to see for some help with the feelings of worry you are experiencing? If you remember to follow the bandster rules eg. eat slowly, chew chew chew, don't drink with your meal and listen to your body and stop eating before you fill over-full you are less likely to experience the type of vomiting that we do however there is always a risk of it happening. If it does happen you will be ok.

I wish you all the best. :thumbup:

I was banded just over a year ago and while not yet at goal (but it finally is in sight) I have kept off everything that I have lost. Even when I was having problems with my fill levels which went on for almost two months I still didn't regain any weight. for me this has always been the biggest battle in the past.... I would lose weight and then it would start creeping back on one kilo at a time.

Hello..

im from Perth, Western Australia. i was banded 5 days ago.

hoping its ok i can post here to.

how is everyone doing?

Bubz

Hi Bubz

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on getting banded.

Mel (ex Perth now living in Melbourne)

I have also had the lovely (not) experience of having to take warfarin tablets for 6 months and still need to give myself needles before and after flying to reduce the possibility of a clot. I had a PE a day after leaving hospital after a month long stay and was put back in for a few days.

My biggest fear was that I wouldn't be able to get banded due to the previous PE but thankfully that all was done without a problem.

I hope everything goes well for you babycat.

Hi Mary

I am in Melbourne just East of the city and was also banded in October 07. I'd be happy to meet up for a coffee at some stage with you. :biggrin:

Melanie

ha ha maybe I shouldn't have read this the night before I see a new surgeon for a fill! I moved interstate and my fills with my original surgeon were quick and easy and painless.

Wanted to check in and say hi and welcome to all the newcomers. I have moved from Perth to Melbourne and am settling into life here, learing my way around and looking for a job...ugh.

I have lost around 19 kg's since Oct last year, very slow but the scale is still moving down so I am not complaining. I see a doctor next week for a fill....Dr Nottle I think it is.

Melanie

Well done on continuing to lose weight.

I can very easily slip into old patterns and habits, my banding was just less than a year ago so I still need to be vigilant. I do find it easier and easier though to say no thanks when asked if I want a drink when out at a restaurant and to toy with my food and make it look like I am eating it all!!! ha ha

I saw a plastic surgeon in Perth in July 08 ...reposting what I found out after that visit....

I saw a plastic and reconstructive surgeon today and this is the quote he gave for an abdominoplasty

total fee $4500

est. rebate $890.20

out of pocket $3609.80

medicare no 30177

I am with HBF (top cover) and the rebate is both medicare and HBF included.

I was reading the HBF website yesterday and they don't cover hospital fees for elective cosmetic surgery I don't think. I need to see if I (hopefully) misread this.

The above costs are only for the surgeon, not for the anaesthetist or the hospital stay - he said that for me it would be a week in hospital.

I will add a question as well Dr Schulman

I have had one consult with a re constructive surgeon and he suggested an abdominoplasty. I have a huge scar from a left hepact..... (whatever the word is for removal of the left lobe of my liver) due to an adenoma. I had a PE following surgery - 2 years ago. This surgeon is concerned about my past PE however he said he could still do the surgery on me however it would be a very conservative procedure due to my significant scarring and the PE. He hasn't operated on a person who has had a PE before so I am wondering if I should see someone who has had more experience in operating on people who have had clots? I assume all surgeons have to start somewhere though.

Dr Allbrook... tell me what he is like when you see him please. also, if you get a referral from a specialist it only lasts 3 months for some reason but a GP referral lasts 12 months. When my surgeons suggest I see someone I generally get my gp to write the referral so I am not needing a new one so quickly.

When I get to Perth I'll need to get public transport to get to my appointment from Mandurah, is it easy to get to?

Cherie

I am not sure how long the train takes from Mandurah. The Murdoch train station/bus port is less than a ten minute walk to SJOG hospital but there are some hills if I remember correctly.

mss .. what does PB mean? I think, from what I've read, that I would prefer mine a bit looser, there's no need to make it any harder than it is, right?

Where in Melbourne will you be living? I'm an expat Victorian from Warrnambool.

Have a great day.

Cherie

a PB is a productive burp .... I am trying to think of a nice way of describing it! Basically the food you chewed comes back out again but it isn't quite the same sensation as vomiting. Sometimes you don't get too much warning that it is going to happen. I have only had it happen once or twice I think...when eating too fast and too much.

I am going to be living about 15 minutes from the CBD by tram which is exciting.... except that I have so much still to do before I move next week and lots of last minute moving hassles.

mss,

which PS did Dr Watson send you to? I'm wondering if it's the same one he recommended to me?

I haven't talked with Dr Watson yet about this. My other surgeon referred me to a Dr Vijayasekaran at the plastic surgery centre at SJOG - subi.

Who did you see? I want to get a couple of opinions before I make any decisions and I can see it taking a year to save up the money.

Awesome weightloss Shell!!

I am moving to Melbourne from Perth in a little over a week's time and think I will be going to The Avenues for fills as my surgeon recommended them.

Thanks for that Sunny. I will start researching.

Hiya lellow.

He also told me that if I need to have a Tummy Tuck down the track, my health insurance will cover it because its sort of a result of this procedure, so that's really good to know.

Congratulations on seeing the surgeon and getting your banding date. I will have to ask my health insurance if they will cover the abdominoplasty as I was told they wouldn't (apart from a few hundred dollars).