FalloutGirl

So I'm not sure if I can still post here, but I thought I'd share my experience to why I came to this decision. I had an appointment to see the Lapband surgeon on the 7th of November. So I went along all nervous as I still had not made up my mind that this was something I was going to do. I sit down and tell him this and he seemed a little bit annoyed with me because I wasn't saying "I want the lapband". We went through the whole thing, he asked me the following questions: Do you have high cholestrol? I said no, he asked if I was sure I said yes Do you have diabetes? I said no, he asked if I was sure I said yes (I started getting a little mad) Do you have high blood pressure? I said no, he said are you sure, I said do you want to get the machine and test it?? I understand he has to ask these questions, but these are all things through one blood test you can find out if I was lying, why would I lie??? pffft Anyway, he explains the surgery to me and says that the band on it's own, I will loose around 30kgs (that's about 60 pounds) THEN I can start exercising. I looked at him and said that I'm exercising now. He looked a little shocked... so I left and rang my best mate and told him about all this and I broke down crying thinking I looked like someone who couldn't walk So I thought "screw him" I'll show him I can do it. So now 6 weeks have passed (not since seeing him but since I started exercising) and I've lost 8kgs (16pounds). I've been walking every night, I go and do personal training 3 days a week and I've joined Weight Watchers to get my eating portions right etc. I'm one of those ppl if you upset me and tell me I can't do something, I'm will go out of my way to prove you wrong... which I guess was a good thing to happen, but I just couldn't believe his attitude. So I do wish you all luck in your commitment with the band but I've decided it's not the right thing for me. I'm very lucky I have a HUGE support group who have just simply been fantastic and I couldn't ask for more. It's a little frustrating cause a lot of them live far away from me, but that's ok, I know how happy they are I've made this decision. They supported the lapband but they're also happy I'm giving this a go first.

thanks so much! I"ve got the link so if you want to delete it, then that is cool... I apologise if we broke rules here too! BTW looks like you've done extremely well with your journey, congrats! You give me a lot of belief that I can do it too.

Well I have the super, so that isn't a problem. Thanks so much, you've calmed me down heaps! You don't happen to have the link for the yahoo site?? Again thanks so much, I really appreciate it

lol no partner for me :biggrin: but I do have super and now I'm thinking that might be my option, cause I don't have the money and I really don't wanna get a loan to do it. I'll have to find out how I can get my super to pay, as I think it's my only option. I'm turning 30 next year and really wanted to be different by then, at the moment I just feel shit and wish I had of thought about this ages ago... and if I do use my super I might just loose my health insurance! I don't wanna use my Super but really it ain't gonna be any good to me if I'm dead!! Yes that is being a little dramatic but hey, I'm feeling a little dramatic at the moment! Thanks for your advice etc! I've just gotta work out how to get get my super now

HCF and I'm just about to boot them if they can't give me the right info. They told me that if Medicare put money towards it then they do. I also need to determine if it's a "pre-existing" condition, which I'm guessing it is, I've asked them regardless to send me out the paperwork. Part of me is just about to give up and give it one more shot the good old fashioned way, even though it's failed me, but I can't see this happening anytime soon for me :biggrin: I'm just so frustrated.

Ok, well just spoke to my health insurance AND Medicare and I need the numbers and Medicare will tell me if they will pay and if Medicare pay then my health insurance will pay... so guessing I just have to wait till my consult now...

hmmm interesting, I'm going to call my health fund and just plainly ask them!! If not, looks like I'll be finding a way around it Leeanne I'm assuming it was much cheaper with the Health Insurance... I mean obviously it was cheaper but much?

Hmmmm guess I will find out. Maybe I'm not asking the right questions to the health fund... I don't know, it's all confusing to me.

Well when speaking with my health insurance ppl, as long as it's "medical" and medicare agree then yes they tell me it's covered? How did you manage to get your super to pay for it??

I've only just joined a health insurance and they've told me as long as the doctor says it's medical then they will cover it etc? I'm hoping mine will be fine

Hey, I was just wondering how long you had to wait between the Consult with the Doctor to actually getting surgery?

Hi all, I live a few hours out of Melbourne but I'm visiting for 2 weeks from the 27th of October and have my consult on the 7th November. I'm wondering if there is anyone that wouldn't mind catching up for coffee/lunch/dinner or whatever to chat about it all. I'm pretty easy going and can meet you where ever as I'm actually on holidays and can do whatever I want whenever I want :wink2: Lucky me lol But I would love to just meet at least one person who's had it done and talk to them before I go to my consult. I'm pretty normal (well as normal as you get lol). Anyway if anyone is interested and has the time in that 2 week period I would be really grateful for it. Cheers Kel

Thanks for the welcome Georgia Girl. I'm looking really forward to starting this which in itself is scary as I've never really looked forward to exercise, but I guess it's the new mind set :wink2:

Hmmm I'm with HCF I'm praying they cover most of it, I mean I knew I'd be out of pocket a little, but if it's $4k that might change my mind on getting it done So hope that isn't the case

Hi Annie, I actually live a few hours out of Melb, but definitely we go and join the Australian Support Group here. I think this is going to be a decision I will say yes too, I've got a consult on the 7th of November, I'm nervous but I think I just need to talk to the doctor and that will help me make my decision Cheers Kel

On my walk last night with my best friend, I was telling him about this and this seems like a great idea and he's keen to give it a go. I'm about to go on holidays but once I get back we are going to start this challenge together. I anticipate he will do better than me as he is already in pretty good shape, but he's the most supportive person in my life so it will be good fun

Hmmmm I reckon it's The Avenue, that rings a bell, but by a surgeon called Peter Nottle?? Does that ring any bells to you?

Is Curves the place where you do this 30 minute circuit? If so, I've not joined on myself, but we have one across the road from where I work and I don't know how successful it is, because I've not noticed a change in any of the women who have been going since it opened 9 or so months ago.... I think a normal gym and getting a PT would be much more beneficial maybe?

Hey Jachut, you look fabulous now. Where abouts in Australia did you get your surgery done? I'm in the middle of looking into it all and have an appointment early November to talk to the doctors about it. I have a little more than you had to lose, but I hope to hit the same results as you. I plan to as things get "easy" so to speak up the exercise etc.

Yeah, that is what I thought about walking too... if I over did it, then I would stop... it's good to be realistic about it all. Hip Hop Classes sound like fun, we don't have anything like that here. I think getting out doors and doing different things that doing stuff at home is more motivational.

I've been reading soo much of this forum trying to decide if this is the right thing for me (as some of you might know). Exercise and good eating seems to be the key, but I read that ppl cheat, you know drink with meals or eat the wrong things or don't really exercise... WHY?? You've gone through all the pain and tears for year and now the surgery, gosh if I end up getting this done, this is drastic for me and ain't nothing gonna stop me from committing to it. I've already started my exercise, I know, only this week, but for this week, I go walking once a night for 30mins (at the moment physically I feel like that is all I can handle, although truthfully I think I could do more) but as of next week I up it up and go for an hour and each day try and beat my last time etc. I think finally after about 10 years of being overweight I've realised this is not for me and I've never really felt that way before ever. So I was wondering for those who are banded and are doing well, how often do you exercise and what do you do?

That makes me feel a little bit better! I think yesterday I was just going through about a 1000 emotions :biggrin: I'm much calmer now, and spent a lot of time talking to my best friend, he's really great and helpful. We've decided my weightloss journey started Monday when we both got off our rear ends and started walking. He doesn't really need too, he's not fat, but I think he's doing it for me, which is great. I'm keeping a diary of everything I eat and drink and the exercise I do each day. I think finally I've gotten my head around everything and this site has been amazing for that too. Everyone here is really great and supportive.

Congrats and good luck

thanks everyone, I've now calmed down and gotten my head around it all, it's all good, it's only a consultation, they will tell me all I need to know and between us I'll make the right decision :thumbup: I'm sure I'll go insane again during the next few weeks, but I'm calm at the moment :biggrin:

Thanks, I think just because I've made the decision, booked the appointment I'm now thinking too much. I wanna know as much as possible. I've decided as of tomorrow to keep a food diary of everything I eat so I can really see it. I'm also walking 5 nights at week for 30mins at the moment so I'll just keep to that and see what happens. I do think it's good I'm questioning it all, cause as you all say it is my body and I've gotta be certain. I know I'm certain of one thing and that is I will not be overweight for my 30th next year! I do need to ignore the negative posts and read the positive posts.