Sarah.R

Personally I don't, I was reading a magazine the other day and there was a thing about a woman how she'd struggled all her life with her weight and she was shopping one day when the woman next to her asked what the diet bar she had in her hand tasted like and also went on to say " I havent been able to eat anything like that since my weight loss surgery" Needless to say this woman looked it up and quoted from her own words "was booked into surgery a month later" I absolutely hate these stories, I don't think that any one no matter what should gain money from there weight loss surgery in the form of a story like that it just makes it come across as if the surgery was something she decided to do because she couldnt of been bothered to get off her bum. I know I sound pretty rude about this and everything but this story really annoyed the crap out of me and then they post it in this magazine and the chick gets $500 just for her story. I don't think it's fair at all. Also one more thing that annoys me if the fact at all that there are ads for weight loss surgery if anyone knows what I mean. I saw an ad for weightlosssurgery.com.au and its just wrong how they advertise it, they way they do it's like there advertising a new food that any one and everyone can get. So what are your views on this? Do you think its wrong that people are benefitting money from this? On the other hand if people are informing others to actually help them in a decision such as weight loss surgery I dont think that its AS bad, I think that if they aren't benefiting from the story and have no alterior motive other than helping those that are in serious medical distress then it isnt as bad. Another thing I couldnt find the exact article but on the website where it says attend an information seminar the woman in the black guess shirt is the one that benfitted from the story http://www.weightlosssurgery.com.au/

Have you been walking alot? I haven't had surgery yet but I've many accounts from people and they all suggest walking around more

I was just wondering what everyones pain tolerance is and how they felt afterwards? Was it only minor pain for you personally or was it that bad you had to have morphine? I've heard alot of different experiences, some had really bad pain at the shoulder tip from the gas but others only had to take panadol. Personally I don't think it will be painful in the least for me, I mean yes at the surgery scars it will definetly be uncomfortable but I've also had 2 lung biopsies which are excruciating and have had 2 chest tubes put in while awake (although I did have local to numb the pain and a little bit of morphine) and that was the worst pain I've ever experienced in my life. So just wanted to know everyones opinion! Thanks

All of those sound great but I dont think I could ever eat something out of a can, I mean maybe in america its nicer there but chicken in a can? Gross I'd rather have the fresh real stuff that was alive a week ago lol, it's also pretty hard for me with other stuff, I can't stomach tuna, salmon, sardines but fish like cod and sweet lip I can, and I dont even know what the heck hommus is, I never eat cream cheese and no matter what meat should NEVER be put in a blender, if I want to have a meat sludgie one day sure but I doubt I'll ever eat/drink that lol

I was just wondering about the kinds of mushie food that people eat when there at that stage. I was thinking about stuff like possibly mashed pumpkin, potato, sweet potato, possibly with some gravy but there the only things I can think of, I don't particularly like the idea of blending any meat and making it mushy so does anyone have any ideas or tips that they used and were easy to digest? Thanks

That's pretty good that the weight limit is 150kgs, a friend of mine got it and she's pretty big, was worried she was going to break it lol =(

Isn't that just were they put the sticky plugs on your body (mainly around your heart and chest) and check your heart waves, pretty sure it is as I've had about 5 of them done. It's probably just to make sure your heart is up for the operation and that it's working as it should

I would change doctors, I have never ever heard that, I mean yes people do gain weight back - if there pregnant, but that's the only reason. Ive heard more about people that have the gastric bypass gaining it back than with the band. It sounds like she is trying to discourage you but that's just my opinion, maybe you should talk about it with another doctor and get another opinion on it.

Well how much did you get put in? I've been told they only put 1cc in so if they did that you shouldnt have that much resticition already, also have you been on the liquids for 2 days afterwards? I've heard multiple accounts about people being on liquids for the first couple of days afterwards. Also it may just be you getting used to the band, leave it for about a week and if you still feel the same then I would definetly suggest going back and getting an unfill, at the moment they probably won't do anything as you've only recently had it and they will most likely tell you to just come back in a week. Hope I helped

I know the feeling Ellen, I was told last year (at the time I was 19) that I need to do something about my weight, I've always known I'm big but when a doctor personally says that kind of thing to you, you do take it as a bit of a blow but it just means that they are looking out for you and want the best for you health wise (kind of like there acting like your parents lol). If you need to talk feel free to message me, I havent been banded yet but I would like to think I know a fair bit about it

Everyone has different views but it's yours that is the most important, I never would have wanted the gastric bypass mainly for the fact that it is open surgery and more riskier, I'm only 20 so I want to fit in a bikini one day (or at least know that I can) and I dont want to have a huge scar on my stomach (even though I have similar sized scars on my side) Also just because you need to loose 140 pounds doesn't mean you can't with the band, it depends overall on how much of that weight is excess weight. It's also helpful to look up the pros and cons of each procedure, I've heard many unpleasant things about the gastric bypass like a higher mortality rate and complication rate compaired to the lap band also one of the bigger things for me about the gastric bypass that turned me off was the increased risk of osteoporosis and the fact that because you can't get enough Calcium in, it can lead to tooth decay and I personally would like to keep all my teeth - If that all made sense =)

Eh I hope I dont have to get up that early lol I was told to pack just a over night bag with the essentials, medication you might take, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair brush etc and clothes that are easy to put on like just singlets you can slip over and pants that dont need to be zipped up or anything.

Maybe I should have been a little more specific, I have no costs involved except to see the nurse, I do not have to pay for the surgery at all as my hospital is paying for it as I'm a "special case" and no I havent been to a seminar yet because why bother going when they will most likely tell me stuff I already know? =( But thanks about the food stuff and the nutritional one, I already kjnow about iron deficencies/b12 etc but I'll definetly have to aks that.

So I went to see the surgeon last month and havent been able to ask this as I've been sick and spent most of the past 2 weeks in bed so basically my question is what kind of questions should I ask the nurse? After I went to see the surgeon he just said flat out within 5 minutes of sitting down "Yes we will be doing this surgery but you have to see my nurse first" So I thought sure ok I can handle that, the only thing I'll have to pay for this entire thing is the $100 to see her but I don't know what to ask her I mean I kind of know all the necessary stuff like what are the pros and what are the cons, and I'd just like to know a little bit more for when I do go see her. So does anyone have any questions I can ask her that you think will help me and/or what it is that you asked your nurse/dietician/surgeon that reassured you about this surgery? Thanks

I agree with Steph, I've heard around 100 is the norm but as I have no choice on my surgeon personally and I can't exactly change him at will if I heard he's done at least 250 I would be happy, I've also heard that you can ask to talk to success stories from your doctor, if they deny well then theres something to worry about.

If your worried about how they will heal you can always get some creams to help them be less noticeable, I don't know where you are but here in Australia we have Bio Oil and it's definetly helped me with other scars from lung biopsies but if you don't have that where you are you can always try Vitamin E cream or anything with vitamin E cream, also coco butter helps as well

Hey! I havent heard of either of those doctors but the one I might possibly be getting banded by is at the Wesley, his name is Dr. Martin, I've only heard of a couple of people that have had him as there surgeon, only one on here and my gp's fiance actually had him for a surgery (not related to the lap band) and congrats on your weightloss

Actually I couldnt think of anything to say so I just stuck that at the end, yes no one replied but I didnt get all pissy and stuff like that lol - just verifying

Im sorry I didnt mean for that kinda thing to happen I just think that's horrible that some people have to resort to it, it would be so much easier if fast foods were never invented you know? And although I know alot of people under 16 need it, it should never have come to this if you know what I mean? I see a woman when I go shopping with her 2 children she looks about 250kgs - so about 500 lbs and her daughters are slowly catching up to her, it's just ridiculous that people aren't willing to accept this kind of thing I mean if some chick wanted to get bigger boobs there would be no criticism about that now would there?

Ok so usually stuff in the paper doesnt annoy me but I woke up this morning and my mum was like read the front of the Courier Mail (paper in aus) so I did and I saw this article that kind of pissed me off. It's about teenagers turning to weightloss, I have absolutely nothing wrong with the fact that teenagers want it except for one little thing, I definetly don't think anyone under the age of 16 should get it. I was told numerous times while I was in hospital (been in on and off since I was 10 - nothing to do with my weight) and doctors told me that they can't do certain operations because my body was still growing which I completely understood you know so I thought well if I can't get it then I'll wait until I'm at least 18 which I think many people should do, I mean who cares if people think of you as "the fat person" YOU will know that's not true. Anyway I thought I would attach the article to see what you all thought. Another thing that annoyed me is the comments that some people left blasting bigger people, sure we do tend to have more problems than others but it's like they didn't even want to give bigger people a chance just saying "Your fat it's your fault, go to the gym and work your a** off to get it off instead of paying $15,000 to get out of it the easy way" This is the article Teenagers turn to weight-loss operations | The Courier-Mail

I havent been banded yet but I was previously on prednisolone for my lungs which are screwed, i read that it depends on your surgeon and what exactly you have, as its to do with my lungs i will probably go on antibiotics before hand, it also depends on your dosage, the prednisolone tablets are small which is good as they will be easier to take, just make sure you ask your surgeon and/or gp (general practicioner)

I've never used them but I'm also 20 and have had the luck of my mother doing it until I was 18, I don't have a job at the moment so I do the cooking but you could always go to your supermarket and look in the frozen aile, they usually have weight watchers meals, lean cuisines etc frozen that are also nutritious, take little time to heat and are small and adequate for someone that has a band, if you don't eat it all you can always put it in the fridge and have some veggies with it the next day for lunch, also they tend to have alot of different recipes that are also really nice

I didn't know you could get chewable ones, that may just be in america but next time I go to the pharmacy I'll definetly be asking if they have chewable calcium, Vitamin d and b1 lol

Actually I don't like it at all, before I could scroll down the bottom right click a persons name who was in the chat or whatever and see who they were now I have to save a persons member profile on my favourites and go manually and put there name in and click enter, only because when I click someones name in the chat and click profile it never comes up. Talk about frustrating, only reason I do it is because I like knowing who I'm talking to, before it took a minute or two now it's about 5 grrrr

So I'm sure millions of people have already asked this but I thought I'd ask anyway. I take 13 tablets a day. The biggest pill of which is a calcium tablet about the same size as a water bottle lid. If your nil by mouth before surgery how are you supposed to take these? The only ones I'm actually worried about not taking are the ones that I am supposed to be on for 5 years, they're tablets that prevent scarring on my lungs and also try to reverse it, I have to take 4 of them twice a day and it also says on the packet that if the powder comes into contact with any skin that you should wash that particular part immediately with soap and do it again a couple of times. So apart from those other questions another one is, I saw that some people say that the Dr's tell them to break the tablet/capsule or spill the powder out or whatever but how would I be able to do that if I have to go through all that if I get it on my skin? I have to be on these tablets, it's either these or steroids so can anyone help me out? Thanks in advance.