Sarah.R

Lol I know what you mean at the moment I'm on Vitamin d and caltrate because I'm on steroids and then I take vitamin B1 because mosquitos bite me constantly and then theres these other ones for "stuff" lol. All up I take 15 a day that works out to 105 a week 420 a month and 5040 a year lol and that doesnt include if I get sick and need to take antibiotics or I have a headache and need aspirin - I'm actually suprised I dont jingle at the end of the day Edit * Also that reminds me I haven't even taken my tablets tonight so thanks for reminding me - I would of been screwed if I hadn't lol

I can't believe how some of you bruised, it looks so painful, and some of the surgery points look incredibly painful as well but then again some don't. It's funny because about a week ago I started thinking about how the surgeon would close the surgery point eg glue, staples, stitches and that night I had a dream that I had the band and it was a big 2 inch cut and it was still open and being held together by only one stitch - needless to say I woke up with a fright and now I'm paranoid and hoping that the surgeon uses glue lol but I'll definetly be posting pics once I have surgery =) Also for people whose scars are still red and bruised try bio oil http://www.bio-oil.info/en/global_availability/index its available in america and I got it when I had a lung biopsy last june, put it on every day after a shower and before I go to bed - I'm usually the worlds worst healer but it's definetly helped and also it's good for stretch marks - so another bonus!

What do you mean when you say scrambled hamburger? It was like mixed well with egg? Sorry I dont exactly get that, maybe you didnt chew well enough? Or maybe you ate too quickly? If it's still happening in a couple of hours maybe try an antacid for your stomach

It may have just been food poisoning, that sounds like the symptoms of it, if it lasts more than 3 days I personally would go to your gp just to make sure everything is ok, if they think that it's just a stomach bug then at least you can get over that but if it's something related to your band it's best to at least have a checkup with your surgeon/nurse just to make sure everythings ok

Im pretty sure there is, just browse down the left side of the home page until you come across it, if not you can always start up your own little website and link it by your profile so that people can read your progress/story

Its pretty stupid that they do say so long to wait I mean swimming is the least strenuous excercise, it's actually helping you and if its in a salt water pool its definetly good for you. Oh well - docs they think they know everything right?

Id assume as soon as your scars have closed and are on there way to healing, although if you in salt water it would definetly help as salt water helps with healing and everything but if it were a chlorinated pool I would say longer as the chemicals would affect your surgery points and possibly irritate them a bit

So I was in the chat the other day and told some people that I had this recipe that they could possibly try later on after the band if they wanted to try steak. It's a pretty good recipe if you leave it marinating overnight as the muscle or whatever really breaks down and makes it softer and easier to eat. Also this is in the australian form so it will have to be converted. 1 Teaspoon Soy Sauce 1 Teaspoon Curry powder 1 Teaspoon Ginger (usually we leave it out cuz I couldnt be bothered cutting it up) 1 Teaspoon Bicarb Soda 1 Teaspoon Brown Sugar 1 Teaspoon Dry Sherry 1 Teaspoon Oil 1 Clove Garlic Salt & Pepper Usually the mixture is double just to make more marinade Mix well in a large bowl. Place meat in marinade making sure it is covered. Leave covered in fridge for at least 2 hours or for best results leave overnight. Then cook accordingly to how you like your steak - Also if you want to keep it soft while cooking at the mixture as well when your cooking so it kinda stews in it or whatever.

I guess it depends on if you have health problems before, I would have thought that I would have more evaluations but I don't which is kinda strange, I mean yeah I have to have the blood work done as well but everyone has that done before surgery just to see stuff

I was just wondering because I only have to have 3 little things for my pre evaluation and Im already getting surgery so really its just a precaution, I only had to have an ekg, see the endocrine part at my hospital and do a excercise test (which I have to do every 4 months anyway because I have a lung condition.) I know others have to go through heaps of other stuff and I was wondering what those were? And if you really thought that some of them were necessary?

See that seems a bit fishy, I don't know about anyone else but I have NEVER heard of anyone with the lap band loosing that much - gastric bypass yes but not the lap band and if that is true are you even really eating?

I know the feeling at the time I decided I wanted this only my mum knew and the doctors and everything and then we were at my cousins birthday and my mum told my aunt which is fine with me but then she came up to me and whispered in my ear "your beautiful now but your going to be even more beautiful" needless to say I ended up bursting out in tears and luckily passed it off as aheadache but I understood why my mum told my aunt, she needed someone to talk to because she was worried about me, so I think its fair you know? And then I was put in hospital about 2 weeks ago and had to tell my dad before the doctor mentioned it and my dad would have been like "uhhh wtf?" So there the only people in my family that know, I was planning on doing this whole dinner thing when I found out my date you know like before I was about to go on the shakes Id go out for dinner that night and tell my dad and 2 sisters, don't have to tell my dad now just my sisters and they will be the only people that know. I'll definetly be telling them I don't want other people to know mainly for the fact that people are judgemental and even though I'm close with friends and family I dont want them to know, especially a family that we know - the daughter is the same age as me and basically around the same size and I know if she found out she'd just be a total bitch to me just because "she can't have the surgery" lol but I definetly know what you mean when you say you only want certain people to know

I would have thought it would be easier when your out with family and friends I mean you can take a bite and then talk you know? I find when I'm out I eat soooooo slow and I'm not even banded yet and I notice I get dirty looks from people because they must think I've ordered something huge and I just keep eating it you know? Like recently I went out with my sister to a pasta place and we both got entree size pasta's as there pretty big and I just eat slow for some reason, always have and there were people behind us just looking really rude and kept staring, needless to say I didn't finish my entire meal because I was p*ssed off that some people can be that rude - usually it doesnt affect me but this time it did anyway back to the eating lol, maybe just talk while your around family, like about your week or something, it will take the focus off food and give you time to eat without looking like you haven't if you know what I mean?

Yeah it is just mac and cheese but because I dont have the band yet it doesnt bother me at the moment if you know what I mean? And it was the only thing I had for lunch so I figure it's all good lol.

So I'm not banded at the moment but I read about things like people have to eat the protein first, that's fine I mean I know some protein foods but I was wondering what a good like overall gram of protein would be good? I recently had a chocolate breaka (choc milk) and yes I know your not supposed to drink calories or whatever but I was reading the side of it and it said it was 8g of protein so I thought ok I wonder if that's a good amount? Then yesterday I had an Easy Mac for lunch (best thing ever lol) and it also said it was 9g of protein. So just wondering what would be the best percentage? Anything over 6g per item? Or what? Thanks

I havent been scheduled a surgery date yet but my surgeon has told me that I'm currently category 2 which basically means surgery within 3-6 months which I'm absolutely fine with. The thing that has me worried and thinking alot about it the things after surgery, they sound kind of petty and stupid to me when I think about them but I'm so used to these things I wonder how I'll be once I've lost the weight and from there on. So I thought I would make a list of things that I'm going to miss or find annoying. My boobs - Lol I know this sounds sooooo strange but it's true, I am so used to having big boobs that I don't want to loose them, I hear alot of accounts of people saying personally for them that's the first place it goes and hopefully I won't be like that. Wrinkles - I'm only 20 but I've noticed that bigger people don't have as many wrinkles on there face, I'm not really looking forward to the fact that my skin isn't smoothed out and eventually it will get wrinkles. Pasta, Bread, Rice - I think as stupid as this is to say, this will be the major thing, I'm italian and I have pasta almost every single week, I've grown up on it and yes I know some people still have it maybe once a month but it will definetly be really hard. I have bread almost every day. Rice & Pasta almost once a week, whether it be fried rice for dinner or a fresh bread roll for lunch with ham,cheese and tomatoe. So that's kind of my rant about the things I won't be able to eat and if I do only once every 2 months or with the case of bread - only toasted. So what are the things you miss and wish you could just have them once every 6 months without some consequence?

So I'm sorry if I did offend when I used the word disghusting, I know that alot of people have problems but when there only 16-17-18 and they get to a size that wasnt even mentioned 20 years ago at that age you can kind of understand why some people feel the way that they/I do if that makes sense? Also good luck on your surgery Ryan

I definetly agree with you on that part I mean if you are a self pay and your doctor has asked for you to talk to others considering the surgery I think that's an absolutely great way to gain something back.

I havent got my band yet but I got a pre op diet and I think it just depends on if you eat those things already to how you'll go on the diet, mine says I can have a cup of vegetables I think once every 3 days which is great for me, just ring your dietician and ask if you can have some vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, squash etc. If you can't really tolerate the shakes they'll definetly help, also maybe add a little soy sauce if your allowed, but remember to ring your dietician first, they'll probably say it's ok but just in case they don't at least you'll know

Bel Iwasnt trying in the least to be offensive to anyone about it but those are my views, I even said that I didnt mean it to offend anyone, yes I know everyone goes through different things reguarding there weight and I totally understand that and as for the whole risk thing try this - I was on chemotherapy at 10 years old, I know more than most about this entire thing, at 15 I had a lung biopsy and I've always been overweight, last year my doctor told me that I need a lung transplant, I think I say for myself overall my story is far worse than most and yet if I was told that last year and I was 16 I still wouldnt want the band, yes I know I"ll get criticism for saying this stuff but that's how I feel, why should you judge how I think when you have your own opinion on this subject? I'm 20 at the moment, I'm looking at a bilateral lung transplant in the next 5-10 years so I think people that are looking at transplant and are under 18 and are looking at that transplant before there 20 should definetly have it done but other than that no I don't see a reason for people under 18 to have it, and yes it is our/their fault for the way they are (yes I sound like a bitch but oh well) I knew what I was eating at 13 and yet I continued to eat those things, now I'm 20, 115kg and can't even consider a lung transplant because of my size and they won't even put me on the list so yes I am narrow minded about this entire lap band surgery for people under 18, but I think I have every right to, and if you talked to any qualified/reliable/ trusted doctor you would see he/she would most likely feel the same way. I'm not trying to be a total cow by saying my feelings, it's a free country and I have every right to, I honestly didn't mean to offend people with my views and I am sorry that I did to you but it's my opinion and it's what I stick with, I understand you don't feel the same way as I do and I definetly praise you for that.

I've heard numerous good accounts of a Dr Ortiz in mexico? If you look all over this board you'll find very good things about him, he's the only one I've heard anyone talk about in mexico though

I think its just basically when you get to a size under size 10 - meaning only one number - one der land - size 8-6-4 etc

Of course your skinny friends won't get it, none of the people you know would understand unless there family and they see what you go through, this is your choice and they should be happy in the fact that you've chosen to change your life for the better

So let me get this straight you went on holiday and just decided to do it because "hey your young and your skin won't be as flabby and its cheaper while your on holiday"? It doesnt sound great to me the way you explained it but im sure there are other reasons for you wanting to do this? I'm 20 and I was told last year that I may need a transplant in about 5-10 years - that overall is my motiviation for this, everyones is different, I would have thought reading what you wrote that your motivation is to prevent diabetes overall not the other way you describe it, for me the transplant is a huge motivation, I won't be paying for anything which makes my life easier in the way of choosing the surgery but overall your decision is based entirely on that - you and what you want in your life - I'm only 20 and at the moment I feel like I have no future, this is basically the only option for me if I want to live past 30, have a future and have an actual life. Just think about the things you want overall before you base your decision on the vanity things in life, if you know what I mean

I know everyone has an opinion and you asked for everyones so heres mine, I understand that its horrible being the way you are with certain aspects of your life, I was the biggest person in my last year at high school and ended having to wear jeans to school because my skirt didnt fit me anymore, I know that there are people that are bigger than I am at 16 which is (sorry to be so blunt) utterly disghusting. I dont mean any of this in disrepsect so try not to take it that way but I honestly do not think that anyone under 18 should have this surgery done. It's a life altering decision and at 15/16/17 your body hasnt even matured yet. People say that there is no other option for them and they have to do it and they won't survive within a year but how many reports do you hear about teenagers under the age of 18 that have died from morbid obesity? Truthfully none right? Anyway thats just my opinion again I wasnt trying to offend you or make you change your mind or anything.