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.

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