Sunwyse

You don't get unfilled. You will need to go back once every 6 months or so for a minute top up, as some of it can leak out over time and if you don't get those top ups, you can end up with less restriction and put weight back on. Once you reach goal, you do something super special to Celebrate and then get on with living the life you always told yourself you would when you lost all the weight. Some people even give consideration to cosmetic surgery.

Congratulations! This is wonderful news. Hope you fully recover soon. Don't forget to let us know how things go as you go along.

In some really hot countries, where Water to drink is an issue, the body learns to excrete urine through the skin. Could be something like this is going on? I had my gallbladder removed several years ago and I discovered I sweat a sticky, sweet smell (can't explain it better). I've sort of figured out its the bile that my gallbladder would have collected at one stage. Its fine as long as I wash at least once every day. Maybe something similar?

I don't think its just depression that you are battling or needing to work through. It sounds like a life time of a certain way of thinking about yourself and probably stems from your childhood. Have you seen a counsellor for your own personal issues, not just the clinical/medical side of depression, but for your emotional well-being? I don't have children, but I've had a life time of thinking I'm basically worthless and fighting depression, since I was 13 (now 41). I've been suicidal too many times to count and attempted a few. I was terrified of living, almost had a death wish, yet was even more terrified of dying. I'm waiting to see a psyche to see if I'm bipolar or what the hell I am and to do something about it. I'm also thinking of going to another counsellor to finally deal with my personal issues. When I was a child I was abused by my mother's second husband. It affected me all my life, to the point it now interferes in my sex life with my partner. I know its had something to do with my weight issue, besides the PCOS and my bad choices in relationships. Its also why I've found it so hard to trust anyone or connect to anyone. I think it all had a lot to do with the depression on and off over the years, but not all of it, sort of a contributing factor really. I'm just telling you this, because I think there might be something else behind the depression and if you could see someone to speak with, you might be able to find out what it is and heal.

bbanded, I'm interested in the changes after banding you talk about. I'm getting done in October and I've noticed recently that I'm going through some psychological changes, as if my mind as well as my body is gearing up for a major change. Did you have counselling help through this change or did you just crash through it on your own? I'm considering lining up a counsellor for myself to go through it with me.

I don't really class myself as anything. I'm eclectic when it comes to spirituality. I mix paganism with eastern influences and some new age. Just wondering if there was anyone else who didn't fit the traditional religious mold out there?

Hi Nikko, you may have some infection going on, or you simply may have some weakened muscles around the bladder or the bladder itself. Don't be embarrassed or ashamed, just go to your doctor and explain. I'm sure there's an explanation for it. If it is weakened muscles, then there are exercises you can do to strengthen that region, but go to your doctor :thumbup:

Due to intermittent vagnismus I can't use tampons, so I'm a surfboard girl all the way. I find at my heavier times I have to use two, end to end with a little over lap. I can leak in any direction lol, so I've found this works for me.

I'm not in Melbourne, but originally a Melby girl! Anyway, just butting in to say, if you can't make a get together, then why not just arrange one for when you can? Simply put up a time, day, place and everyone can turn up. Michelle

There's a yahoo group called ozband. They have members from all over Aus and someone in that will be able to help I think.

Hi Tessj, welcome to the forum. I haven't started the pre-op diet yet, but I have been on Meal Replacement diets before, including Optifast for 5 weeks. What you are going through is perfectly normal. Your system is basically cleaning itself out from all the stuff left from how you used to eat. They are all symptoms of detox. It takes about 3 days so you should start feeling better any day now. Stick with it, it will be worth it very soon. Good luck with the op.

I haven't had surgery yet, but what I'm becoming more and more aware of is the amount of life change I'm going to have to do. Not just what I eat and drink and if I exercise or not, but my mental attitude, my thinking processes, how I cope with stress, etc. Getting the band and losing the weight is just the physical side of things, how you cope with things that come up in life is the emotional/psychological. No band can fix that. That's the hard work we have to do that most people don't think about. I have yet to talk to the psychologist pre-surgery, but this is definitely something I will be raising.

Welcome to all new members!! I've had lap surgery before to remove my gallbladder. Its no different to any other surgery - you get knocked out and when you come round, you have pain, the difference is its a lot safer than opening you right up. One word of warning though. I had a drainage tube inserted and when it came time to remove it, the stupid nurse tried pulling it out without opening the suction valve. Its like she was trying to suck my insides out through a straw!! MAKE SURE THEY OPEN THE VALVE!! My partner is really supportive, but against the idea of surgery to start with. He couldn't understand why I couldn't just diet and exercise to lose the weight. He did some research and came back with some not so great statistics. But he came with me to my first surgeon's appointment and when he realised they thought I would be a candidate he started to change his mind. His main worry was something might happen while I'm under and he'd lose me. He has since come around and now fully supports me 100% but it took a bit of work and a lot of determination on my part to assure him I'm planning a long and happy life! If your husband at first isn't so enthralled, don't take it personally. They often just see the extreme of needing surgery rather than focusing on the benefits. Give him time and he'll come round. Michelle

Nickers, when you start the job, speak to your new boss and inform them you will be needing time off for surgery, that you were not expecting to be given a date for at least a year, but you have suddenly been given one for X date and will need to take YYY much time off. They do not need to know what its for, but if you say its non-life threatening surgery they have to give you that time. As for telling people. Yep, I tell anyone who will listen. First of all its a person's right to tell or not. I choose to tell. For me personally, I believe in educating people about issues, such as weight and options out there. I've had nothing but support from family, friends, work mates and even the parents of the children I work with (I'm a child care worker). Nothing anybody says could change my mind anyway. It is right for me to tell people, that's who I am. I'm pretty open and honest about everything in my life. For someone who is more private, then it wouldn't be right to talk to people, so I'd say not too. How many people go around telling others they've had their hemoirrhoids removed? Not many, but its a great bloody relief, I can tell you! lol I know lots of people are going to ask me how I'm going and if I've lost any weight yet. But I don't see that as pressure, I see that as them taking a genuine interest in me and how I'm doing. As for people asking "Should you be eating that?" Well, all I can say is this is a learning curve for most people. Its amazing how many people don't know this exists. Unless its part of their life, they don't really know, so I'm going to get the traditional dieting questions. I'm just ready with the information I need to be passing on. As I said, I like to educate people. For anyone who would see it as pressure or stress, then I'd say don't tell.

To paraphrase: All it takes for evil to continue is for good people to do (or say) nothing. Do you believe everything happens for a reason? If you do, then you might wonder why all of a sudden so many people are coming to you with the same thing. Could it be that the universe or god is trying to tell you something? Do you think maybe its time you did speak up and let people know you won't be a party to what they are saying? Everyone has a right to their opinion, what about you? Don't you have an equal right to your own? The next time someone comes out with one of these comments, you can let them know you don't agree with them. Doesn't have to be rude, just to the point. When the Nazis came for the communists,[/url] I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I wasn't a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.

What on earth makes the OP think everyone here lives in some little town in the US?? I'm from Australia. Thank goodness we have a much more open and accepting attitude to differences in people than that! Oh and I'm bi, I'm an athiest and I'm left wing. No idea what liberal means in your part of town, but in Australia its the most conservative party going!

The other question is, if something can be done early to stop a person getting to the point of needing this operation almost as a life and death matter, should it be done? If a step can be taken that will prevent all the associated health risks developing and making having the band op so much more risky should that step be taken? Or do we say, no they can't take preventative health measures. Because I put on all this weight and suffered with short breath, heart palpitations, low self-esteem, cruel behaviour, the onset of diabetes (and whatever else you wish to add) - then everyone must have to reach this point too before they can do something about it. Is this really a case of "its not fair"? At the end of the day, lap band surgery is SURGERY. It has its risks. Its not a walk in the park for anyone, true its less risky for those who are smaller. This really is a matter for the individual and their surgeon to decide. Besides, I thought most Americans had to do the 6 month diet thing first? If they are doing that and the weight isn't getting down to a "normal" range in that time, then maybe they need the op as much as I do? Who am I to judge another until I've walked in THEIR shoes?

Basically, its harassment. Doesn't matter what feelings are involved. Keep a list of everything he's sent you and then if you really want to be rid of him for good, tell him to his face you will be making a formal complaint of harassment if he doesn't stop. Its up to you if you actually do or not.

I used to be a cleaner in an office block and I gotta say, I've found women who work in office jobs tend to be the most disgusting little creatures. The worst thing I found in the mens was someone would do no. 2 and not flush - big deal. In the womens, there was hair, make up, snotty tissues left ALL OVER the sinks and benches. Used sanitary items left out and unwrapped after use! I once worked in a remote area and had to clean a motel room after a female dentist had stayed in there one night. OMG!!!! When it came time to clean the bathroom, I think she'd had diarrhoea and missed the toilet completely. Lovely splatter pattern up the walls though.

Thank you everyone. Its 2 days later and I'm still buzzing! lol

Thank you Hopelives124, its nice to hear about women who have been there done that. I'm very much looking forward to having a child at some point next year.

Put an elastic band around your wrist that sits snuggly against you. Not much happens. Now pinch a bit and start to twist. You will feel a small restriction to the wrist. Now, twist some more and the restriction gets tighter. It starts to hurt a bit and impedes blood flow. That's basically how the band works. It doesn't really do much on its own. It sits snuggly against the top of the tum and that's about it. The fills are the equivalent of twisting the elastic band. They are the secret, each making the passageway for food just that little bit smaller until you hit that magic place.

srsmith, I know exactly what you are going through. I was 22 when I was diagnosed with PCOS and told my chance of every having a child was slim. I'm 41 and still have no child. I've tried every diet, even made up a few. I'd lose some then hit a wall and it'd all come back and bring a few friends! It wears you down because you do everything the books say you should and you don't get the results. On top of that is attitudes of people in the street who think you are stupid cause you can't lose the weight! And that doesn't include family and friends who haven't got the slightest idea. So, why is this time different? Well, there's a couple of reasons, I don't think they really know all the reasons yet, but basically I know of 2. 1. The stomach doesn't really have any nerve endings, most of them are around the top part of the stomach where the band sits. They let the brain know when to signal you are full. The current theory is food moves too fast past these in some people and they don't get enough stimulation to trigger the brain, so we may eat more than we need or we get hungry again really quickly. The band puts a constant pressure on these nerves so they are constantly stimulated and tell the brain we have enough in our tummy. 2. It actually constricts the size of the opening the food can go through. If you eat solid foods after the first month, they are too bulky to just slip through so the band causes a sort of blockage or dam wall to hold it all there. While its there you feel full. Slowly it will slip through - like a couple of hours later - and the sensation of needing something in your tummy will disappear. 3. So many women with PCOS have been through this and it has worked in every case where the person has done their part of the programme. Its not a case of get it and forget it. You still have to do the hard work, you still have to watch what you eat and exercise, the difference this time is you have a buddy, a partner to help, who will do its share of the work if you do yours and together you WILL SUCCEED. I've been through the dispair of trying all sorts of things and seeing them fail time and time again. I've been where you are. I was actually where you are when I first heard about this, why would it work for me. Nothing else has, but I turned that around. What is so special about me that it wouldn't work for me where it has for thousands of other women in my exact same position? See, I've seen the evidence in others. I know it works and I know my body is just a body. Its not defective in some special way that nobody else has. It has an hormonal imbalance sure, but so do many of these other people and its worked for them. So, logic tells me it will work for me. I've decided to accept it is a fait accompli this time. As long as I play my part, I will lose the weight - and I will definitely play my part. So, I've gone to ebay and bought myself some very nice clothes in a size 12 (about a US size 10). I would never have dared to do this before, but I am so convinced this time it will work that I've done this as my further incentive. I was exactly like you this time last year, "that'll never work for me" and now I am 180 degrees opposite. I KNOW it will work. I've decided to accept the evidence of countless people in many countries who have had success. I simply will not accept anything less than reaching my goal weight within 18 months and also getting pregnant along the way! And you know what? I KNOW it will work for you too.

If they won't cover it, look around at other insurers. They have to accept any waiting time done with other insurers.

Congrats. This is excellent news, works out all round really.