Sunwyse

Yep, I can absolutely see it!! I was told years ago that when we lose weight we lose it evenly, as in 1% of everything, so the shape shrinks but its still the same shape, if you get what I mean. That's why often, we can't see our own weight loss when others can. Time to get some new clothes. Get your hair done, some make up and go out! Then all those people will notice you've lost weight. Love your TARDIS btw.

Don't stress about it. You are paying for the bread, its up to you what you do with it. Either just leave it or throw it at him. Actually, I'd make a point of going back there, ordering the meal and eating the inside, then throwing the bread at him and saying 'Now, that's disgusting'. Then walking out. But I guess that would be childish.

Greeneyez, you can get as close to that person as you want. Determination plays a major part in recovery. Seek out stories of other people who have made amazing comebacks after serious accidents or strokes. Think about joining a support network in your area. I'm sure they are out there. Fill your day and your mind with potential. I'd also recommend a very gentle yoga. You simply go at your own pace, do whatever you feel comfortable with. There's no one to compete with or against. I 110% believe you can do whatever you set your mind to!!

Hi Deborah Brown, that's 27/8 to us! I was an emotional eater for years. I'm not really now, though I will occasionally overeat simply from boredom. I'm looking forward to having the band physically stop me from this. I've done a lot of work on myself over the years to learn to recognise my emotions. I think for most emotional eaters, we tend to shove food down to shove the emotion down because we don't feel we 'should' feel that way or have a right to feel that way. For me that feeling was anger mostly. The whole nice girls don't get angry malarki. Its taken me a long time to stand up for myself and let people know when something isn't on. Its because of this that I almost never emotionally eat anymore. Its going to be hard, but if you can get to the root cause of the eating, it will be life changing. Not just eating when you're sad/angry/upset, etc. But what thinking is going on when you are feeling that way? The unconscious thinking is the key.

Seeing a dietitian is a good step. Let the band settle down for a bit, then think about possibly getting a .1 or .2 fill and see what that does. It maybe that .2 is Ok but much more is too much. It really is trial and error.

Thank you both. I've been feeling super excited by it all, but now its getting closer I'm starting to pull back on that a bit. Yes its exciting and yes, I want to do it, but its still surgery and still needs to be taken seriously. Looking forward to being on the other side.

What do you like to do? There's a large gay community where you are, so there's bound to be lots of other women who are interested in the same things. There's book reading groups, hiking groups, bike riding groups, just going-for-a-walk groups. Why not think about starting up a coffee shop chat group?

I just make it as part of the October group. Was supposed to be a week earlier, but the surgeon will be way up north that week, so 29th it is. I'm so looking forward to it and I'm even starting the optifast diet a few days early to ease myself into it.

I have told everyone. I started a new job 2 weeks ago and at the interview I explained I needed to have 2 weeks off and why. I work in child care and I am NOT going to run around after kids all day while on a liquid-only diet. It was fine. Everyone at work knows and they have all been supportive. Everyone at my last job was as well. My family all know and support me. My partner knows and supports me. Not one person has said anything negative to me at all.

Why does the smashing pumpkin flag look like a US flag? Not everyone is from the US.

I'm in Brisbane and will be having surgery in Brisbane, Australia. Bimbabe, can I ask you what 'the ATL' is?

Its a syndrome meaning a group of signs/symptoms. You don't have to have all to qualify, but usually there's a certain number of them you have to have in order to be diagnosed. I've had doctors ask me if I'm sure I have PCOS because I don't have cysts on my ovaries - never had!! You can be thin with it and I've even been told you can have no symptoms at all and still have it.

um, if people want a copy of the pumpkin pic, why not just right click and save target or save pic and then save it to their own computer??

I only just found this thread. Congrats on getting their decision overturned. Seems crazy to me that they would deny you. Simple economics shows its cheaper for them in the long run to give you the op now. In Australia, you can be approved as low BMI as 35 if you have a comorbidity. Diabetes is one of them. So glad you will be able to go ahead and glad this post is here so others can see it, if they are having the same issue.

I'm a member of a yahoo group for aussies and one person who posted there is in the same cover as you and she got hers paid out, so no worries, you'll be fine. I just went with hba because the surgeon I saw at the time said they'd never had any problems with them paying up at all.

I don't have to start optifast for another 14 days, but I'm actually going to start it in 11 days and do a modified version for a few days, so I can ease myself into it. I've done the crash start before and its not fun. For me, the headaches were the worst part. This time I'm preparing myself psychologically for it. Hopefully, the way I'm planning on doing it will cut down on the detox once I start 3 shakes a day.

Not really sure. Just know they ended up paying that much. I'm assuming its after everything else is said and done.

OK, another option for those with insurance, but can't afford the thousands of the gap. Dr Greenslades works out of the QE2. One person was given a quote of $1825.20. I believe he also works out of Greenslopes, but don't quote me on that. Best to call QE2 to find out more. The catch (there's always one), operating rooms are being renovated right now, so there is a wait, possibly a year.

Hi there, if they say they will cover it then they pretty much will. Welcome to the forum. Just wondering if you knew that typing in all caps is considered shouting at people?

Hi all, I was diagnosed with PCOS 19 years ago. I had excess weight, excessive hair growth on face,arms and legs (hairier than most men!) and a really irregular cycle. Since then my weight has ballooned and I have developed IR and IBS (not related, but doesn't help). I've had an ultrasound done twice and no cysts. Never had them, which is lucky. The really strange thing with me is my hormone levels are always fine, they are always in the top % of what they should be for a women, they just don't make it down below! lol. I will be banded in October and can hardly wait. I'm hoping we can reverse a lot of this damage and maybe even I'll get pregnant next year. Cutting it fine as I'm 41 already, but plenty of women have their first child later these days, so I'm not too worried.

I was diagnosed 19 years ago with PCOS. I don't remember having a blood test, but I do remember having to take a diabetes test (the drink was disgusting!). I was told then, there are 3 main things a doctor will look at, excess body hair, especially face; excess weight; missed or stopped periods. I had all 3 (still do). I was also told by the doctor that a woman with PCOS doesn't have to have ANY of the symptoms and she can still have it. The jury is still out on the cause of PCOS. The link between PCOS and weight is well known. Have one, you have the other. Change one and you change the other. They still aren't certain which causes which though. And once you lose the weight, the PCOS goes into remission. Essentially, its like not having it, but its still there. Put that weight back on and bang! Up it comes again. So, flirtylass, I won't say you don't have it because you don't have all the symptoms. You can have an hormonal imbalance without having PCOS, so that could be the answer. Best to wait til the results come back.

Glad to hear the changes are happening so fast!! This is good news for me as I sit and wait the last few weeks til I can get mine. Just wondering, for anyone who has excessive body hair, does that start to lessen? I'm thinking it will and hoping so too.

Has anyone read "Eat right for your blood type"? He points out that blood types developed as people spread over the earth. One reason he says that Asians can eat a lot of rice is because they have primarily and 'A' blood type, which does well on carbs and vegetarian based meals. Type 'O' (which is the main one) does much better on a low carb-high Protein diet. I'm not a stickler for either of the low g.i. verses the low carb arguments. I don't necessarily buy into the blood type diet, but I think over all, each has a lot of truth to it and somewhere in the middle is possibly the key.

No, no scale but my partner owns one! lol. Every once in a while he does the weight loss thing and uses the scale, but that's pretty much it.

We are talking a Queensland hospital, right? The state that employed Patel?? From what I can tell, each doctor who specialises in lapband surgery, in Brisbane at least, is very good. I've not heard one complaint, except one doctor seemed a bit rushed at the consultation - that is the extent of the problems I've heard. Australia is leading the world in lapbanding. Our surgeons are some of the best and from what I can tell, there hasn't been a death in Australia in about 5 years or more. The best thing I'd suggest is to call his clinic and ask the receptionist if he still does work at the PA, then look at an appointment with him to discuss it further.