josnjos

Hey all, Well I am 8 weeks post-op and everything is going well with Lola (my band!) lol. No vomiting so far but on Sunday I had raisins get stuck in Lola and she gave me SEVERE pain! It soon passed and now I am feeling great again! I am right into the gym now, going 4 days a week, and aqua aerobics 2 days a week. Just thought I would share my latest progress pic with you all. I am really happy with my progress, but there is still a long way to go! Take care, Josh.

I am from Brisbane too! I am a northsider though! lol I was banded 14th Jan 08 by George Hopkins at Chermside. What is the bandsters lunch? I have never heard of it! Anyone for setting up a support group, or a meeting/lunch of some kind? Josh.

Hi there, I am banded and am definately interested in contributing. There is lots I could say to people about having a lapband! Josh.

Hello to everyone, Hope this finds everyone doing well! Well I am just about to hit the 5 week mark and thought I would update everyone on my progress. It has been a journey, full of ups and downs, and boy it has been more of a roller coaster ride than I would have ever thought it would be. I definately don't want to discourage anybody from having this done, but I want to let people know my journey. Weight-loss wise it has been extremely successful and I am very very happy with the results. The surgery itself went really well, no complications at all. My recovery was a bit harder that I had anticipated but in hindsight it was easy and well worth it. I had quite a bit of gas/wind problems, but it soon stopped. Since surgery I have had 1 fill and have 5ml in Lola (yes I named my band! lol). So far I have lost just under 20kg (or 44lb for my friends in the USA!), and I am feeling lots better. Most of my clothes are falling down and I will soon be replacing most of them! Now to the roller coaster, and I will try to explain it the best I can. I have always been fat, I don't remember any part of my 29 years where I wasn't fat. I have always been a determined and headstrong person and I thought I could do anything. Having said that being big stopped me from physically doing a lot, but I worked through it the best I could. Now that I am losing the weight (I have lost a lot in a short amount of time), and becuase mentally I know that because of the band it won't go back on - I am having a lot of trouble dealing with daily life and tolerating things like I did pre-op. The best way I can think to explain (and I am sure that anyone who is big is going to understand) is that being big I have built up walls, resiliences and/or defences to block out or help deal with certain things. This could be anything from dealing with a cranky customer at work or having a disagreement with your partner. Anyway now I find that subconsciously all these walls and defences are slowly coming down and I don't know how to deal with things anymore. I for some unexplainable reason am not willing to tolerate or settle for things that I did before I had this operation. This to me is so strange, because you would think finally losing weight would be the most wonderful and fantastic thing in your life - but for me it felt like my life was falling apart. Anyway after coming very close to walking out on my job, my wife and my entire life my boss called me and insisted that I seek some professional help, to which I agreed because I could see what I stood to lose. I have done this and had my first session with my psychologist yesterday and I feel so much better already. I now know that I am going to get through this, and I have my wife, my family, my workmates and most importantly my boss to thank for making me see what I was doing. As I said I AM NOT TRYING TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM GETTING THIS DONE. I just wanted to share my story and my feelings in the hope I can stop it happening to others. If I can say one thing, it is see a councellor or a psychologist BEFORE and AFTER your surgery. I wish I had, it would have saved me from risking what I did. Having said this, if you had asked me 3 months ago if I was going to see a councellor or psychologist before or after surgery I would have said "no way I won't need that". I have learnt so much about myself in the last 5 weeks it is mind boggling! I know I am going to be a happy, strong and confident person and to top it all off I am going to be skinny! I also have some people to thank for their love, support and best wishes. First is my wife Tracey whom I love with all my heart - she has been my rock, my focus and she has been and always will be my life. Also right up there is my parents - my dad has had this done aswell with fairly good success - we are now going to support each other to get even better results. Next is my friends both here and on LBT - particularly Alicia - you have been my best friend throughout this. Last but not least my workmates - especially Chris - I have been difficult and hard to deal with lately, but you have never thought less of me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone. Well thank you so much for reading this, I am sorry if I have ranted a bit, but I wanted to get it off my chest. Life's great and I am thoroughly looking forward to enjoying the rest of my life! Take care, Josh.

OMG I am in total shock. I was wondering why she hasn't been line for a while. My thoughts and wishes are with you Jen, hope to see you back here soon. Josh.

Hey Mickers, All went well, it has been a hard week but we are getting there! I have got a separate thread with all the info in it, its called I am banded! Hope to see you there, Josh.

Well as of yesterday I am officially a lapbandit! Got home from hospital this morning and am very sore around my wounds and shoulders and a very sore throat! Also lots of wind pain, that is made feel much better through lots of burping and farting!! Thank you everyone from the bottom of my heart for your kinds words and support. I will keep everyone updated on my progress. So far since 1st January I have now lost 10kg! Take care, Josh.

It's my surgery day tomorrow too! I have been keeping myself busy today and trying not to stress! I am all prepared though! Good luck Jess! Hope all goes well.

Well I got some fantastic news from my dietician yesterday. I called her just to discuss how I was going on Optifast and I told her I was struggling a bit. She asked how much weight I had lost, I told her and she was blown away! She said I have done very well and I have lost enough weight for surgery and to shrink the old liver! So as from last night she is letting me cut back to 2 shakes a day and having a 200g serve of Protein with my evening meal. Well that may not seem like much but it was music to my ears lol. Last night I enjoying a lean piece of steak (chewed it very well in practice!!) with mushroom garlic and onion sauce. It was heaven! lol. My dietician said I don't necessarily need to lose any more weight before surgery but I need to maintain my current weight and not fat up my liver lol. Today is Thursday and surgery is on Monday so it will be easy. Just remember fellow optifasters - there is light at the end of the tunnel. If you have lost weight and are struggling then talk to your dietician!

My dad had health insurance through Blair and it still cost him about $6k I think. My surgeon is costing me about $9k after rebates which isn't too bad. My only drawback is I have been waiting since September for the surgery date - I am having it done as a private patient in a public hospital. The APRA process is fairly easy, I got approved no problem. Just make sure you follow their guidlelines very strictly and also make sure your super company actually allows early withdrawl with APRA approval.

Don't worry too much I actually did the same thing on Sunday night. I won't do it again though it was enough carbs to take me out of ketosis and make me feel like crap and have headaches for 24 hours. Lesson learnt for me lol. Although if I had known I had lost 8.9kg I don't think I would have done it! Feeling a lot better now though.

Well everone as hard as Optifast is and as much as I have complained about it - I just weighed myself at the doctors office and I have lost 8.9kg from being on optifast for 6 days. I am so excited you can't wipe the smile from my face! Its very very hard but totally worth it!

My Dad was banded by Blair Bowden, and he was very very happy with how everything went. I am going through George Hopkins, only because I don't have private health insurance and couldn't afford Blair!

Of course kids will be welcome, it will be fun event for the whole family. If you can let me know what area you are in it will help find a suitable location central to everyone. Josh.

Yes it is perfectly normal to lose that amount of weight in 4 days. I am hoping to lose up to 10kg in the two weeks that I am on Optifast pre-op. Josh.

Hi all, I have seen some interest in the forums about a possible support group for those of us bandsters in Brisbane (or even regional QLD). I am about to be banded on 14th January, and although the support and information from the website has been fantastic there is nothing like a group of people all in the same boat meeting up for a social gathering. What I wanted to do was get some sort of gauge on the level of interest in a local support group, and what area people are in for a possible meeting location. If you are interested and have any ideas as to what we can do send me an email brisbanebandsters@hotmail.com Take care, Josh (josntra)

Hi there thinner-or-bust, I too am on Optifast, I am on day 3. It has been very hard and I have felt like giving up, but luckily I haven't! I found today that if you mix the shake powder with Water and 3 or 4 ice cubes and crush it all with a stick mixer it turns it into a thickshake - quite yummy. Also if you have vanilla optifast shakes you can add chocolate, strawberry or caramel DIET topping, making it even yummier lol. I too am being banded on 14th January, only 10 days to go. Keep in touch about how you are going. Josh.

Hey y'all, I am from Brisbane too (outer northern suburbs), and being banded on 14th Jan. Is there are sort of support group or meetings set up for those of us in Brisbane?

Definately well done Nigel. I only hope I have the same success that you have had. I will keep in contact to let you know my progress and incase I have any questions! Josh.

Hey all, My surgery is costing just over $9000 out of pocket. I have no private health insurance and I am having it done in a public hospital as a private patient. I know its a lot of money but I think its a small price to pay. I withdrew the money from my super to pay for it. I can thoroughly recommend this - there's a bit of a hassle involved, but it means you can get it done even if you don't have the cash laying around! Josh.

Hi all, Thanks again for all your words of support. I have been there and done Tony Ferguson, and never want to taste another TF shake again! I am going to give Optifast a try, despite everyone's dislike of it! lol. I figure that its the means to an end and I will just persevere. Its only 2 weeks! Will keep you all posted on my progess after 1st Jan!! Take care, Josh.

Thank you so much for your kinds words and encouragement, it really means a lot. I was having a bit of a downer last night! I am starting Optifast on 1st Jan, which just happens to be new years day so I thought I would make it a new year challenge. Firstly to stick to optifast, and then to get to my goal weight of 100kg. You have both had your bands in very recently and it gives me great encouragement that you have lost so much weight in the short time since, that is so fantastic. I will definately be around here chatting with you, and will more than likely sending a PM when I am having a hard time! Thanks again, Josh.

Hey all, My name is Josh and I am from Brisbane. I am 29 and weigh 160kg. I have always been big and am just about at wits end. I am finally having my lap band op on 14th January and I can't wait! I am hoping to have some support either online or a support group around Brisbane. I am a litte nervous but very excited about how it is going to change my life. I can't wait to go out in public without people staring at me, to buy clothes in a 'normal' shop, to be able to go to Dreamworld and actually go on the rides! It might seem like I am whinging but its excites me that I will be able to do all these things and more! Hoping to chat to you soon, Josh.