Leah28

Hello all, just checking in.

Weight loss has slowed despite slogging my guts out with the personal trainer, but thats to be expected. Especially because I can eat pretty normally now. I even had a whopper junior burger the other day :laugh: How naughty but delicious!

Looking forward to getting a fill, though still two weeks away... I definitely can't eat as much as before the op, but definintely need a fill! So paranoid about stretching my stomach, but it takes more each meal to be satisfied!

Hi All,

I was banded in Adelaide 4 weeks ago today.

I had my initial appointment on the 21st of September last year with the bariatric GP that works for my surgeon. I then had appointments with an exercise physiologist, psychologist and dietician before finally seeing the surgeon.

When I saw the surgeon, he asked me to keep a food and exercise diary for four weeks to prove I was ready to go ahead with the lapband.

Once I got my surgery date, I started on Optifast for two hellish weeks prior to surgery. I think the Opti is definitely the hardest part.

I had my surgery on the 4th of Feb. Recovery was slow and pretty painful. I was off work for nearly 2 weeks, and I still have intermittent shoulder pain.

The liquid diet wasn't easy either - I never want to eat Soup again. The thought still makes me queasy! The mushy stage was a bit easier but I am so glad to be on soft foods.

In relation to costs, I have full private health. My intial appointments cost me around $450 all up, and blood tests were $175 out of pocket. My surgeon's fees was $1904 out of pocket, plus $400 excess on my health insurance. Anaethesitist wa $367 OoP. All up my out of pocket expenses were just over $3.2k.

You are so right, lellow, about the changed tastes. My favourite food before the op was spag bol but now the thought of it makes me feel a little queasy!

And as for alcohol, I really don't feel like it often at all.

I agree with stevegoad. I don't regret getting it done, but there are some things I don't like... The tummy rumblings, the gas, uncontrollable burping (embarrassing!), not being able to eat more of a meal I am really enjoying...

But although there are some down points, I definitely put up with it because it is working for me.

I had incredibly bad shoulder pain constantly after my op. I went to my local massage therapist and she suggested Bowen Therapy. I thought it was a bunch of hippy cr*p, but I was desperate and gave it a go.

It worked wonders! The only time I get it now is when I eat too much.

Maybe find a Bowen Therapist and give it a go - nothing to lose except hopefully your pain!

Shaggs, perhaps you could tell them you had abdominal laparoscopy for a different reason. Perhaps just an investigatory one - my sister had an investigatory one for abdominal pain (turned out to be her appendix). That way you don't have to tell them about the band?

I can't roll over on to my stomach yet, I sort of have to lift myself up and manuovere myself so I am comfy. It probably looks really ridiculous to myboyfriend lol

Ditto with the changed tastes... I hated white wine before the op, but now thats all I am been drinking - mainly cos I can't have bubbles and its too hot for red, but I am actually enjoying it. Weird!

Wow, I got no fill on surgery day. I don't get any till the 19th of March, and my restriction is wearing off... I apparently have the smallest band there is though. Dunno if that makes a difference.

Oh Shaggs, don't feel guilty about 2 small glasses. I had 5 big glasses the other night (one of my best mates was leaving town) - I tell you what, its true what they say about the alcohol going straight to your head! I also had the worst hangover I have had in a loooong time.

I'm not feeling guilty because before I would have downed a bottle of scotch in a session and god knows how much coke. But now when I socialise I am drinking low-alcohol white wine so I still feel social, but without all those empty calories before. And it hasn't hurt my weightloss, I lost 1.3kgs this week!

One other thing I wanted to post here - I had the worst, most terrible shoulder tip pain for 2 weeks after the op. The only thing that would help would be panadiene forte but I wanted to get off pain killers after 2 weeks on them! I went to my local massage therapist and she did some bowen therapy on me. The pain was instantly gone and hasn't been back so if anyone is having trouble with shoulder pain, find your nearest bowen therapist!

Bowen therapy also helps with detoxing the body, which is good during weight loss.

That's great you have a surgery date to look forward to, Tomjerry.

I wonder why your surgeon was hesitant at first?! Surely they'd want to help as many people as they could??

I am two weeks out now and I still have really bad shoulder pain. Its horrible!

As for diet, I started on mushies a few days early. My dietician said I could start a few days early if I was getting hungry on liquids and it was just in time, because I was so sick of Soup and sweet drinks!

I had spag bol last night, chopped up the spaghetti really small, and vitamised the sauce and it was heaven! I have also been using the slow cooker a lot to make meat really tender.

I am down 12.5kg (27.5 pounds) though have stalled for the last 5 days and its really annoying me!

To everyone who is feeling guilty about eating little bits, or having too much liquids - don't! You are having so few calories as it is. I have even had a couple of glasses of red wine a couple of times and it was just what I needed.

I am still getting a bit hungry on mushies, usually between Breakfast and lunch so I think I need a more substantial Breakfast. Going to give scrambled eggs a go tomorrow.

Hey guys, I was banded on the 4th of Feb too, in Adelaide Australia.

I started on mushy's on the 15th, and it was the BEST. I was so sick of Soup. I am getting over vitamised food though.

My biggest problem though is shoulder tip pain that just won't go away! I am about to go and get a massage to loosen up my shoulder.

I have lost 12.5kgs so far (27.5 pounds), but have stalled for the last 5 days. Hoping the weight loss starts again soon!

grb679,

My out of pocket costs were as follows:

Surgeon's fee - $1904

Anaethestist - $361

Private health excess - $400

Pre-surgery appts (with surgeon, psychologist, dietician, exercise physiologist) - $350

Hope that helps!

I am 9 days out and still not 100%. I still have bad shoulder tip pain, but it is getting better every day.

By about day 6 I was much better. Being able to burp properly without it hurting was the best thing ever :biggrin:

Hi all. I was banded on the 4th of February in Adelaide, Australia.

Going well so far - so sick of Soup though! 5 more days till mushies and cannot wait!

I am still experiencing quite a bit of shoulder tip pain. I can't wait for it to go away and I can start doing some exercise! The pain is most prevelant when I am walking, so at the moment I am being rather sedentry.

I've lost 4kg (10 pounds) since the operation, and almost 12kgs (26 pounds) all up so far.

Jachut, how scary that must have been for you.

I used to live in Berwick before I moved to SA. One of my highschool friend's brothers lives in the street where the houses were lost in Narre. His car was burnt out and his house was damaged, though he was very lucky as his next door neighbour and 5 other houses in the street burnt down. His house will be able to be repaired.

The whole thing is very devestating.

Yep, I was banded by Dr Bessell. I am not feeling too bad today - I still have shoulder tip pain, but only when sitting in certain positions - usually when sitting straight, so my posture is copping a beating!

I do still have some uncomfortableness - its not so much pain - in my stomach area. I can tell where my port is as that is a little more tender than else where.

Good idea with the iced tea - I love peach iced tea. I'll get some of that today!

I am on the liquid phase, day 3. Today I had:

100ml Up n Go

1/2 cup of chicken noodle Soup (blended thoroughly!)

1/3 of a small Wendy's banana smoothy (took me the whole of the "Australia" movie to get through that much!)

3/4 cup of laksa broth

500ml of apple juice

500ml of "Smart Water" (juice and smart Water sipped over the day/night)

It looks like that was a lot compare to what some people above are having :S I really need to switch over from juice and expensive cordial to water!

I was banded on Wednesday and today I am still very bloated and gassy, and my stomach is distended. I look bigger then before the surgery! It went down a little between yesterday and today, but not much. My skin doesn't feel like my own.

I have tried degas and it worked a little bit, but I am still very bloated and uncomfortable.

But don't let me turn you negative! Everyone seems to have different side effects.

You'll be fine Shaggs. I didn't get nervous till I was being wheeled up to theatre. I thought for a minute I might not get my operation because the power went out in the hospital!

I am still in quite a bit of pain, but getting there - much better than yesterday! Slowly sipping on Water to get my fluids back up. Its hard to know when to stop because my whole abdomen is uncomfortable and can't tell if it is my belly, so going very slowly.

Oh Shaggs, don't tell me you will continue with Optifast afterr the surgery?!

My surgeon has told me I am not allowed to use any Meal Replacements after the liquid phase - he doesn't want me "dieting" ever again.

Today is my LAST DAY on Optifast, and thank christ for that! It is one of the most difficult things I have had to do. Thankfully it should be smooth sailing from here on in. Operation tomorrow!

Oh, good tip mljalways. Though I'm stuck for that! I didn't bring a button down shirt from home (I had to travel 6 hours to Adelaide for my op).

I might have to make do with a singlet I can step in to.

Operation day tomorrow! :tongue:

Try living where I do! I am in the middle of the desert in outback SA. We had a few days over 50 this week. Though I shouldn't complain because I choose to live here lol Thank god for air con.

Good luck Tas and Sunshine. I'm sure it will all go well. You have both done really well pre-op!

I'm being done next week - can't wait!

Let us all know how you go...

Wow, Shaggs. How exciting! I'm so happy for you, and glad you didn't have to wait long.

Joy, you are lucky! I am having surgery the day after you, but I am STARVING on this pre-op diet! The first couple of days were fine, but now I am ravenous. Just gotta keep thinking about the end result though!

Hi Guys,

I start my full Optifast tomorrow. I can feel I am going to struggle... I am sick of the bars already after a week of 2 opti and one meal and I regurgitated the dessert I made for Breakfast this morning!

Cottees light topping is my saviour at the moment. It makes the chocolate shakes bearable. I am about to go raid Woolies for other stuff to make them taste better!!! What has worked for you??

On the plus side, I have lost 3.2kgs in this past week - surgeon wanted me to lose around 5kgs before surgery, so well on my way...!!