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I went to my GP and said I wanted to be referred for a lapband and he refused! Said I wasn't big enough and that the risks outweighed the benefits. Then in the next breath he told me I needed to lose weight, bring my cholesterol down etc. What the @ does he think I have been trying to do all my life? Admittedly he's a new Dr as I moved last year but that is beside the point. So I made the appointment to see a surgeon myself.

Sorry to hear that things are so tough for you at the moment. What I find with life is that bad things happen in a run and then things get better. e.g a number of years ago I became a single Mum , moved into a new home with my daughter, got broken into with lot's of irreplaceable stuff stolen, had all the washing stolen of my line and had a brick thrown through my car window whilst I was in it and my bag stolen all within the space of a month! When its happening to you it feels as though your luck is never going to change but it does. When things are so bad it can only get better. I am sure being banded is hard (I'm not there yet) but its done and the money can't be unspent. I am sure you know that deep down it was the right thing for you to do as no-one goes into it without lots of thought.Remember that eating doesn't make you feel better for long - the satisfaction is fleeting and then you feel bad for having eaten so much! As to the financial problems they are hard. Is there something you could do like a skills swap. e.g maybe you could do someones ironing(or whatever you are good at and enjoy) in exchange for them doing your yard.Or maybe you could get your kids to help. I don't know how old they are but a task is always easier when shared plus you could make a bit of a game of it and you'll be spending time together. Hope things start getting better soon.

A meat pie is pastry with a meat filling - no sweet stuff. Typically the meat is braised(don't know if that is the correct American term) in gravy . Common varieties include beef, beef and muhroom, chicken and mushroom etc. They are a national institution in Australia but were invented originally in Europe(UK I think) in the middle ages. Can't believe that you don't have pies over there, they are divine.And of course not very good for you because they are loaded with fat!

I have a BMI of 32 and my GP refused to refer me to a surgeon so I just went to see one anyway.

I am just about to run out of the door and go to work so don't have a lot of time to respond. Thankyou for confirming that as I was beginning to wonder.......... Wasa I never pointed the finger at you personally.I did and still do believe that there is a lot of band bashing on the boards. As a non expert how was I supposed to know that the other persons information was incorrect and out dated. I was just happy to see a different side because as I said previously I like balance. Everything has a good and a bad side.When someone comes onto a board like this how do they know what is correct and what isn't.By the same token how do we know that your stats are correct? I'm not implying that they aren't just how do we know? What I think would be a good idea would be if someone with a lot of experience (possibly yourself) posted a sticky somewhere with all the accurate facts about sleeves. Both the good and the bad including possible side effects etc. People who are then undecided about which WLS to go for could be pointed to this. I also think that when people use stats or info gained from other sources that the source should be quoted.This then gives people the opportunity to check the info out for themselves. Have to go. Hopefully this has come across in the way it is intended and that no-one is going to get upset!

I actually appreciate your response. Just not sure how to move it or if I need to post it again. That could be a problem as I could annoy people if I duplicate it. BTW I really enjoy reading your posts. You seem to give good , well thought out advice.

Sorry , still new and not very good at working out the best place to put things!

I have been reading lots on this forum in prep for my op and am seriously starting to wonder: - Are sleeves the answer to easy, problem free weight loss? From what I have been reading there are soo many problems with the band and so many people that are unhappy with it, whearas so far I have only read good things about the sleeve. It seems that there are very few side effects with the sleeve except for initially. All the posters on here that have the sleeve seem to be exceptionally happy, problem free and wish they had done it in the beginning. I'm especially interested in people that have had the sleeve for a while and what their experience has been. Would love to hear the positives and the negatives(if there are any).

I was referring to the boards in general!!! So far the only fighting,bickering etc that I can see on this particular thread are the ones directed at me for daring to have an opinion that differs from the opinion of "other" people. Maybe I misinterpreted the tone of certain posts. If so then that is my mistake.

If your doctor says you have to wait, ask him why because neither I nor my Dr. have any idea why you can't drink before a meal. I've been wondering this as well. I understand the not with or after bit but why not before? Does anyone know

Amazing how quickly a difference of opinion can deteriorate. In my opinion there appears to be a lot of band bashing. However that is my opinion and it is quite possible that other people can read the same posts and interpret them differently. I have no problem with stats however all stats should be read with caution particularly when the source of the information is not known. It is also well known that stats can be made to suit the purpose. Ask any marketing expert or politician. I am sure that people are and should be allowed to post the negatives of the band. Ditto the sleeve. I am glad that you can see both sides, that is wonderful.It is something I try to do myself as far as possible which is why I like balance.If you don't think there is a balance that needs to be restored that is fine. I am entitled to my own opinion .:thumbup:

Wow Indshark your wife must be awful. Hope my DH doesn't tell people he would pick a colonoscopy over me!

Thanks Airkuhl that was really interseting. I am getting banded on 2 June and have noticed that there appears to be a lot of band bashing on the boards. I have also read lots of messages saying how wonderful and safe the sleeve is and how few side effects there are. We all know that there are risks to every surgery, some because of the procedure, some because of the surgeon and some may be because of the patient (e.g Auto immune disorders can cause problems). What your post does is help to restore some balance. It will be interesting to see more data on the long term effects/risks of the sleeve further down the line when it becomes available.

"Just Pray" @*!!!! Would they say the same if you had cancer or heart disease etc. I'm not religious but isn't there a saying that " God helps those who helps themselves"? This just reconfirms for me that it is not a good idea to tell everyone. Its your body, your health and your business.

Just wondering why she doesn't think you should get it done. Is it because she really thinks that you wouldn't be able to handle the lifestyle change or is it maybe a bit of jealousy? That she is happy with what she has done but maybe she doesn't want you to feel better and look good too.I think that although we may not admit it a lot of us do feel that way sometimes. So check why she is advising against it and then do your own research. Visit your doc/ surgeon etc and make an informed decision based on their advice.

I'm using a combination of Celebrity Slim and Tony Fergusson. The shakes taste quite good but they don't really fill you up. Had a bar for lunch as I needed something to chew. Have also bought Soups as I don't want only sweet stuff. Problem is they have a weird taste,can't quite explain it, maybe chalky . Don't know why they can't make them so they taste like normal Soup. Good luck with the op. i am 2 June in Melbourne.

I don't like any of these names. I do remember someone came up with a really nice name - she had put some effort into googling all sorts of combinations but LOL I can't remember what it was and don't want to go over every post to find it. In the big scheme of things its just a name - so whatever everyone else decides I am sure will be fine.

What happened to some of the other names that people suggested? There were a couple of others that were quite good yet they don't appear to be on this list.

I am wondering if you were able to drive after the op or if you were advised to stop for a while? I have spoken to a couple of people that have told me they couldn't drive for a couple of weeks after the op and this concerns me. No I'm not expecting to jump in the car the day after surgery and do a cross country trip but I do need to be able to drive to the school busstop etc. I see my doc for my final preop appointment next week and I shall talk to him about it then but in the meantime I am wondering what other people have done. I have had 2 Caesareans and started driving after those as soon as I was given the all clear which I think was about 2 weeks afterwards.I would have thought that with the lapband I should be able to drive again quicker than that?

I have only told my husband, I haven't even told my children. DD 20 away at uni would probably try to put me off and tell me I just need to exercise more, DS 14 not very good at keeping secrets so it would slip out when I didn't want it to. Apart from that only the people in the support groups I have joined know. At some stage in the future I may tell more people but I don't see why I need to tell everyone. I am a fairly private person and feel that my medical problems are exactly that MINE!

At least you'll have someone else to share the experience with.

No - too many bits! plus "maybe" alcohol is not a good substitute for food! It would be nice though wouldn't it.

Its a 2 week preop diet. Op is on 2nd June.

I can see both sides of this. I think when reading a message it is important to be able to understand the spirit in which that message is intended and the problem with electronic communication is that you can't. That's why there are so many problems with emails etc. I understand perfectly what 2fly is trying to say. That its all a matter of perspective.To date as far as I am aware there is no perfect, easy, foolproof method of losing weight.(correct me if I'm wrong). Everything in life has a certain payoff.Whilst we would prefer to have no issues at all that surely something that is annoying but non life threatening is better than something that is life threatening. But as I said I can see both sides. If you are the person that is having the problems then they are real and shouldn't be taken lightly. I think the whole band thing is a big learning curve and I'm not talking from experience here as I am only being banded on 2 June.All os us going through this have to learn how to eat again. Learning and forming new habits is not something that happens overnight. It is a process that can be long and difficult. From what I have read on the boards getting it right can be difficult. That is why this website is such a valuable tool. You have the support and knowledge of people that have already experienced what you are experiencing. Whether your problem is something "minor" or major someone else will have already been through it and remember a problem shared is a problem halved. I certainly know a lot more about what to expect than I would have done without this site.

Well not long now. I have to start the preop diet on Monday so have to try not to eat everything in sight this weekend. LOL - last meal syndrome! I am going out to dinner tonight for steak or ribs as I figure it will be quite a while until I can eat them again! Still nervous and still excited. I think my main worry is going under cos there is always that fear that you're not going to wake up again. It's really stupid as I've been under a number of times previously with no problems.Maybe I'm worrying more because this time its "elective surgery".