josnjos

In 2009 the Brisbane Bandsters team completed the Bridge to Brisbane! Not only was it a great personal achievement for us all, but we had a lot of fun! In 2010 we hope the team will be bigger, and we also invite friends, family and supporters of Bandsters to come along aswell! TO JOIN: Go to Bridge to Brisbane 2010 Click ENTER NOW JOIN NOW, or enter your details from last year Make sure you click to join the Brisbane Bandsters team, the team number is 1303 Then complete your registration as normal. Invite as many people as you want to, the more the merrier!!

Hey there! I am not from the Sunshine Coast, but not far, I am from the northern suburbs of Brisbane. At the Sunshine Coast a lot visiting family. I have had my band since January and have lost around 50kg!

I also know about these really well, have had three since being banded, and have had to call paramedics and go to hospital each time. Definately far more pain than a blockage, it actually feels like I am going to die!

Hi LBT Friends, Since I was banded in January 2008 I have suffered two of these "Esophageal Spasms". The second was much worse than the first, and I concerned they will keep happening. It is a sharp stabbing pain in the chest, that radiates through to my back between my shoulder blades and across underneath my ribs. It starts as just a small pain (similar to wind pain) and just builds to this pain that is so unbearable I thought I was dying. The first one I was able to drive myself to hospital and had an overnight stay. The second one last week was much more severe, I was rocking back and forth and just screaming in agony. It got to the point where I could not breathe and was hyperventilating, and I am sure I was just about to lose conciousness. Luckily the paramedics arrived just in time and administered oxygen. The only thing that takes this pain away to the point that I am comfortable is morphine. I had dosages at home from the paramedics, in the ambulance on the way to hospital and then again twice in hospital. After 12 hours the pain just goes away and other than being tired I am back to normal. I really don't want to scare people, I am interested in hearing from bandsters that have had this happen to them in a hope of having a better understanding of it all! Thanks for taking the time to read my thread. Joshie-Boo.

I was banded by George Hopkins at Holy Spirit Chermside. He is a fantastic person and a brilliant surgeon, I thoroughly recommend him. I believe he is hard to get into, and may have a bit of a waiting list, but for me it was worth the weight (pardon the pun lol). I have lost 44kg in just over 5 months, it has been really successful! Wishing you all the best, Josh.

Hello Lapband friends, Time for latest progress pics! I have had my band for 5 months today, and it is all going really well. I have lost 40.9kg (90.1lb), and am feeling fantastic! I was finally able to go to a "normal" clothes shop last week and buy clothes size 2XL!!! You could not wipe the smile from my face! I have attached pics of my progress side-on, as well as in my new clothes compared to my old clothes. It hurts me to say this but I hate the "old" me, and I am totally disgusted that I allowed myself to ever look like I did. But no time for feeling sorry anymore, time to move on with the new me! Take care all, Joshie :smile:.

Hello peoples, Jen has put her latest progress pics on the LBT progress pics thread, but she wouldn't put them here aswell! So here is the link! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/before-after-lap-band-surgery-pix-only-4642/index102.html#post856826 Have a look - she has done REALLY WELL! I am proud of you Jen! Joshie-Boo.

Jen, You are a totally amazing person. You have proved to all of us that you can beat anything! You are a total inspiration. Please keep your chin up and take every challenge with a fresh breath of life and think "I CAN DO THIS"! You rock! Joshie-Boo.

Hey all my buddies in LapBand world! I know I am always posting pictures of myself on this site lol but I am just so excited about the new me! Today I have taken my latest progress shots, and I have attached them both side and front-on. I have still got a way to go, but I am extremely happy with my progress so far. I have attached another pic - this one is me in a work shirt that I have NEVER been able to wear. I have always had to have special sizes ordered just for me. This one is a 2XL - AND IT FITS!!! You can't wipe the smile from my face! Take care, until next time, Joshie.

Hello all my lapband friends, Well this weekend just gone I did the first thing that I have always wanted to do but have never been able to because of my weight! We went to the Gold Coast for the weekend and myself, my mum and brother hired scooters (or mopeds)! I had an absolute blast and it is the first of totally 'fun' things that I will be able to do. Thanks Lola!! (my lapband)! lol. Down to 128.2kg now, lost 32.8kg or 20.37% of my total body weight... go the Biggest Loser! lol Take care, Joshie-Boo.

Hey there all my lapband buddies, Just put together a little collage of old and new pics for everyone to see. I have lost 31.5kg now and 29.5kg left to go! All has been going well except for a few minor hickups! Hope everyone is well, Take care, Josh.

Hi Jen, So glad to see you are back home and sounding in high spirits! I am away on business this week, but next week when I am home we will catch up on MSN. Take care and stay well, Josh.

Hey Andy, Welcome to the world of being banded! I am really pleased to hear that the op went well. Also welcome to the world of excess flatulence! My wife has now sort of become used to it! I have just hit the 3 month mark and have also just hit the 30kg lost mark! Well done again and I will chat to you soon, Josh.

Hi again all, Well I thought I would post up my latest progress pics, and I am very happy with them! I am now 100 grams from losing 30kg! (For my USA friends that is .22lbs from losing 66lb). All has been going well except I ended up being rushed to hospital last week while we were on holidays with severe chest pain and I couldn't breathe. Still not sure what it was, however stroke, heart attack and clots were ruled out thankfully. My guess is that it was a gall bladder attack, my GP thinks it may have been a severe reflux attack. I am having more tests this week and hopefully we will get to the bottom of it. For now though its business as usual! Take care, Joshie :biggrin:

lol I emailed the pics to my mum and she said exactly the same thing! I had the fitting a few weeks ago and thats what I was in then! lol It is great that I need a smaller one, but it was a cheapy and I will only be wearing it for one day! lol Thanks heaps for your message, Josh.

Hey y'all I now have a recent pic (taken tonight) of me looking decent enough for a photo since my op! I am best man at my friends wedding next weekend and I got a quick snap taken of my trying on my suit! I think I look hot!! (not really LMAO). Take care, Joshie-Boo.

Of course you can post your pics, the more the merrier! Thank you so much to everyone for all your positive comments. They are a real inspiration to me. Keep an eye out I will be posting some more in the coming weeks! Josh.

The discomfort definately does get better. I didn't start to feel normal until about a week post-op. Don't worry - it will get better! We all go through a short time where we think 'what have I done?' But this will soon pass and you will feel great about being banded. I didn't have any hunger for the first week post-op, I was forcing myself to drink liquids to keep my hydration levels up. I don't remember hearing too many stomach sounds though. Let me know if you need any more help!

Hi batkitty, The bloating is perfectly normal unfortunately! I found it very uncomfortable, but it will pass after a few days. I took some pills called De-Gas and they helped get it through! Congrats on getting a band, and I hope it all goes well for you! Josh.

Hey there, I had the same problem with APRA, but I faxed them the letter they requested and I was approved a couple of days later. At the end of the day I am sure you will be approved, but there is a process they need to follow. It did take from memory around 4-5 weeks to get the whole thing approved. My other drama was that we had more than enough money in the bank to pay cash for the op, but those funds were from the sale of our house and we need it to buy our new house, but I sent proof of this and I was approved no problems. I know its frustrating I have been there, but 8 weeks post-op it was well and truly worth the weight (pardon the pun!!) I have lost 24kg and am feeling great! Keep your chin up, Josh.