nat36

My Mum is considering having a lap band but she has had extensive abdominal surgery including kidney removal and a large tumour removed in her side. She is wondering if this would prevent her from having the surgery. Has anyone had extensive surgery and then a lapband we would like to hear. By the way I have been doing really well have reached my goal now need all the wobbly bits chopped off LOL

Thanks Paul, I feel very lucky because in the past I was one of the people that nothing ever worked for so I was very apprehensive that I would fail with the band also. I can only describe it as a switch being flicked the day I had the band and suddenly my life wasnt all about food but living and having fun and the weight just fell off with no real diet or special food. I hate hate hate all the fast food that I used to crave, its weird but Im not complaining. I do have a mild addiction to cheetos I could eat them happily forever LOL

I was banded on March 19 '08 by Dr Watson. I have been thrilled to find the weight just fell off and I have pretty much hit my goal already. Its the best decision I have ever made.

Hi Em, I was not given any time limit but drove after about a week when I felt up to it. Listen to your body and do it when you feel you can handle it, I think

Thanks Emma I am pretty impressed with myself, although I have eaten way more over the xmas break than I care to admit. You have done very well too considering your little adventure in the middle. I hope you get sorted with the restriction stuff thats no fun, I had a .5 out about 2 months ago and havnt looked back since. Oh yeah, love the ring I had a little sticky on your blog, congrats.

I have never been so cold as this year. I never felt the cold before but now I actually took jumpers to work for the first time ever. Its just one small thing that I can deal with cos the pay off is so worth it.

Just remember as I found out the hard way, that as you lose weight your tolerance to alcohol reduces, had a very messy night after not much to eat all day and a few glasses of wine. There was no problem, but I couldnt believe what a cheap drunk I was LOL

Any aussies ever want to chat at night? I have had a look a few times and it always seems to be americans. Its pretty quiet at night I think they are just getting up or going to work. Love to have a chat

before surgery About 3 months in. Today

So I take metamucil every day and thought it was all good until about 4 days ago I woke up feeling full and had a nagging stomach ache. I had not been able to eat anything or I would slime like a slobbery dog for hours, finally last night I had enough and I dont know what I was trying to achieve but I took a big drink of water and stuck my fingers down my throat and up came these long swollen sausage shaped worms WHAT THE @#$% is that? I was thinking until it dawned on me it was the metamucil tablets. I felt instantly better. So be careful about how you take your fibre, god knows how Im going to get it now cos I cant keep the fibre drink down either.

Nobody told me that but I will try. I love your quote I just got back from melbourne where we went to see Wicked and it was brilliant I loved every second of it I would love to see it again

Im fine with PM too. I see Dr Watson and was banded in March. If you want to talk im here

Apart from the problem at night I think I am at the perfect restriction. I asked Dr Watson what is my goal weight and he said I have already passed his goal because I have lost more than 60% of my excess weight so now I need to find out what I should be for my height and try and figure out how far I have to go and how I am going to keep it that way. I was so worried about making the band work and it did, now all I think about is can I sustain it forever. The mind of a reformed fatty never rests!!:thumbup::ohmy:

Ok My melbourne friends my husband and I are coming to Melbourne in October to see "Wicked" and while Im there I intend to shop til I drop. I need some inside information on the best places to go and get the bargains. Im talking clothes, bags shoes everything I can lay my hands on. I heard there is a street or something does anyone know what Im talking about?

Made an appointment for the 8th October. We are flying to Melbourne that night so the small unfill might be a good idea for lots of reasons

I spoke with Dr Watson today and to my suprise he wasnt overly concerned but did say to get a small unfill if I wasnt happy. I have decided to make an appointment for the holidays and get a little out as apart from the choking I am almost to a normal weight range so I dont want to lose too much more and my husband doesnt want me to lose any.

Emailed Dr Watson today to ask him what to do. I have been holding off because I had the same problem for a couple of weeks on another fill but it settled and all was fine and also I have to drive to Perth to see him. I am hoping to get an appointment over the school holidays if I need one.

Something else I am having difficulty with is drinking after eating, even when i wait an hour or more quite often I still start sliming if i drink and that sometimes sets off the whole PB'ing thing or sometimes its just slime and water for a while then finally I can drink. I seem to make a huge amount of saliva at any time of the day and sometimes wake up choking at night.

Christmas and Friday night. Im happy with the difference.

I still have times when I realize a second after swallowing that I am going to regret that mouthful. I also have found that my band just completely rejects some food no matter how well I chew. My stomach just feels irritated until I throw the whole lot up. Last night I made my son some potato gems and had a few and I felt horrible until I got them out. Its a learning curve every day but I wouldnt swap it for the world.

perthchick somewhere on this site there is a reply from me that is almost word for word what you have just written. I know exactly how you feel about all of those issues and I now also know that coming out the other side and feeling good about myself is so awesome. I walk tall next to my husband and dont hide in the next aisle if we meet someone at the shop he knows. You have a lot to look forward to. The grass is definitely greener on the other side.:lol:

Hi Lellow, 19th march was my banding date. Cherry blue when I seen my Dr I asked him about not eating in the morning and he said I should only eat when I am hungry. This is what I do now and it works for me, sometimes I have lunch some days I dont feel like it so I dont. People worry about it more than I do as they still have the idea that you must eat 3 good meals a day. I am far from starving and I have loads of energy, I dont think i would have that if I was not eating enough.

Perthchick, I dont know if I am the norm but I have found it very easy. It was like along with the band a switch was flicked in my brain and suddenly I became sane and rational about food instead of wanting to eat bucket loads. I have taken up exercise and the weight has just fallen off, I never in my wildest imagination thought I would have come this far so soon but I am very happy. I still have moments when I eat too fast and it comes back up but they are becoming fewer and further and I dont even bother to try and eat before about 12.40 each day, I am learning what works and its all good. I dont need another fill until next year now so thats great. I hope everything goes well for you and you have success too, we all deserve it.

wha a great comment to hear. i am starting to get people saying "oh you shouldnt lose any mre weight or you will look sick" well actually I am still overweight I have about 10kg to go to be in the healthy weight range.

Hi perthchick I was banded by Dr Watson in March and paid $1800 to him and $700 to the anaesthetist. I have private cover with Medibank private. Good luck, like others have said Watson is a fantastic Dr very easy to get on with and talk to.