Goannabanda

Sorry you had such bad luck Mary, I'm with jenny - you shouldn't have to pay more to fix the doctor's mistake. Sounds like you port may have flipped over, and need restitching. Hope it is sorted soon.

The posts in this thread relate to Australian banding costs. Our health system is very different to the US / Canadian system. You'd be best to check out some of the posts in the LBT Insurance section for locally-relevant advice. Good luck!

Oops! Sorry the Bandworks meeting is on the 31st of October - I have edited above so as not to confuse anyone. Bandworks is a lap band support group held at The Valley Private hospital in Mulgrave. It's on the last Tuesday of each month, from 7pm. Call Simone Van Der Schoot at the hospital on 9790 4293 for details. Looking forward to meeting you there, you should be well recovered by then. Hope that you had fun at the wedding! Only a few days to go for the surgery now, so kick up your heels!!!

Hi Jenny - I'll be going to Bandworks on the 31st, I'll meet you there, as will go straight from work. I could give you a ride home if you need one (PM me). I won't be going to Karingal (SOB!!!), as we will be in Adelaide for a family wedding. A liquid wedding feast for me. LOL!! Mary9 - I think I underestimated the impact that this surgery would have on me. It seemed to me like everyone bounced back really well, so I was a bit shocked at what it's really like. Maybe I was in denial about what it was going to be like, so I went through with it! hehehe. It's all good now though - I have started to lose weight already (YAY!!!), and I am pleased to say that I am much better - the band itself is no longer uncomfortable, and I only have a bit of discomfort around the port site (bending etc). The staples itch like crazy, but they are coming out in two days, which will be great. This time next week, the surgery will be a distant memory (apart from the liquid diet. hehehe!). Okay, now for the really cool news. Three items. ONE: I have the new AP band - don't know if it's the APS (small) or APL (large) band yet. Apparently they are softer and more concentric when filled than the VG bands. They may be less likely to slip. TWO: For the first time in five years, I WEIGH LESS THAN 130KG!!!! I was 128.5 kg this morning, down from surgery weight of 132.5 kg and highest ever of 138 kg. YAY!!! YAY!!! YAY!!! I realise that it might pop back up and over before the post-op diet is done, but I'm taking it as a victory anyway!!! LOL!!! THREE: I had a letter to the editor about my lapbanding decision published in November's NOTEBOOK: magazine!!!!!!!! I wrote (for the first time in my life) in response to the article about Anissa Levy, a bandster, which helped me to decide about lapbanding. A copy of the text is attached below. Just wish they gave me a prize... LOL! ---------------------------------------------- Thank you so much to Anissa Levy (August Notebook: ) for sharing her life changing decision to have adjustable gastric banding (lapband) surgery. I am 34, and since age 16, have dieted my way to being morbidly obese. With each failed attempt, I lost just a little bit more hope, energy or resolve to try again. Lately I had started to feel that I was spent. I have been contemplating weight loss surgery for the past year or more, however didn’t think that it would be a possibility for someone like me who didn’t also have other medical problems such as diabetes. Also, until recently I have not had the necessary acceptance of my condition, nor the energy or resolve to take any further action. I felt too ashamed to talk about my struggles with my husband or family, and barely had the courage to talk (yet again) with my GP about it. He had suggested lapbanding, and given me a referral to a surgeon just the day before I bought my copy of August Notebook:. Anissa’s story hit me like a thunderbolt. In her story, I found many similarities to myself, and was very comforted that other smart, young women like me have had success with this surgery. In the past few weeks, I have finally found relief in finally accepting my condition, and also a new hope, courage and determination to fight for my healthier future. With these revelations, making the decision to go ahead with surgery was easy. Anna C (via email)

I have some Optifast left over, that I want to get rid of. I know that some say to hold onto it, but I am NEVER having that stuff again if I can help it. I have heaps of vanilla and choc shakes, chicken soup, choc mousse desert. More than enough for a pre-op bandster. PM me if you are interested. I'll sell it at cost plus postage (or we could organise a delivery / pick up). ------------EDIT--------------- I have decided to list my Optifast on eBay. My eBay username is spacscrap.

Were you given clexane in hospital? It's a blood thinning agent, administered via injection each day of hosptial stay to avoid deep vein thrombosis / blood clots after surgery. I have large bruises around the injection sites.

Thanks everyone for your love. You guys rock. I am feeling plenty better today (1 week out), still recovering though... Looking forward to seeing Lisa / Jenny soon - and Kellie - I am coming to see you and Sam when I get half way!

Hi Mark, CONGRATULATIONS!!! LET THE COUNT DOWN BEGIN!!! How are you going after a week of Optifast? It was pretty ordinary, but I felt in pretty good health going into surgery because of it. I was banded last Thursday at The Valley by Mr Chris Hensman. Mr Richard Gilhome assisted. Dr John Zubevich was the anaethetist. It was a bit rough to start with, but now at a week out, and I am feeling much better. You will do fine - the hospital and everyone involved were terrific! Just a hint - I was very nauseous post op - I found out after I got home and reread the dietician notes that ice can upset your tummy - I had been chomping down the ice chips like a demon! After the first day post-op I recommend that you stick with the room-temp Water jug instead. Keep sipping as often as you can to keep you fluids up, as dehydration also makes you nauseous. Hope to meet you at Bandworks on the 31st at Mulgrave. All the best, check in and let us know how you are going. Cheers, Anna.

Hi Susannah, I was banded last week at Mulgrave. My out of pocket costs were more like $3,750, including Optifast, Vitamins etc. We paid for it out of our home loan equity, and will pay it back over the next few months. We hated taking the money out of our loan, but it was either do that or wait another 6 to 12 months to save up. We didn't want to wait to save, because we want to complete our family before our 5 1/2 yr old starts university! LOL! We believe that this is an investment in our family's future health, not just mine, as it we believe that there will be many flow-on effects to benefit the health of our entire family. We are thankful that the cost was within an affordable range for us (just) to allow us to make the decsion to go ahead on health grounds, not financial grounds; and to be able to go ahead without having to wait at the mercy of the public health system. Hehehe! I am going to go back to work on Monday to the questions of "did you enjoy your leave?". My answer will be a firm "YES!!!", because I am feeling so great that I did this for myself and my family. The pain is temporary and doesn't matter in the long run. Good luck with your pre-op - keep us updated as to your progress. Anna.

Hi scrappinghannah and Curley, I was banded last week in Mulgrave by Mr Chris Hensman, and have the new AP band too. I don't know much about it yet, other than it's softer and more concentric. He said that it's a production change as the Vanguard stock runs out. He gave me one already because I asked about it. I live in Aspendale, and would love to chat more with you both. Cheers, Anna.

Lapband surgery itself is safer than many other types of surgeries. The risk of the anaesthetic, inherent to all surgeries, is a greater risk, especially if the patient is in a high risk goup, such as obese patients, those with a heart problem etc. The are things that anyone can do prior to surgery to reduce these general risks. For example, having a thorough pre-op testing program, being as open and honest about your health as you can with your surgeon / physician (i.e. mention anything about your health, even if not asked, let the medics test / decide whether or not it is important), and improve your general health in the weeks prior to surgery (e.g. improve diet / nutrician, take a daily walk / exercise, go to bed early etc).

I am looking forward to wearing : my wedding dress (16-18) for our 10th anniversary in March skirts, especially straight cut skirts matching, girlie underwear tankini / bikini clothes that don't match with anyone elses (there's always someone else in the same plus sized outfit - I hate that) normal sized pantyhose and stockings all of the fasionable things I can't buy or wear now

Hi all, Just a quick note (it hurts to sit at the desk! LOL!) to let you know that I'm home. Thanks for your messages and good wishes - especially tarajane (Judy) for you call last night in the hospital. It cheered me up heaps. I just got home from hospital. I ended up staying two nights - I had low blood pressure and pain issues, and Mr Hensman is such a sweetie he let me stay the extra night. My surgery all went well, although my recovery is taking a little longer than I thought it would. For now, I am just happy it's over, and that I'm now "in the band"!!! I am also grateful to have you all here at LBT / IRL to talk with about it. It's nice to know that you're not the only one walking along this road. I met up with Rose and Chris who were banded on the same day by Mrs Gilholme / Hensman. I was first, then Chris, then Rose. Chris went home after one night, as he was feeling great. Rose and I both came home today. They'll both come to the next bandsters, and Rose is going to join us at LBT. I think there may have another person banded on Thursday, but I'm not sure. Anyway, that's it for today, I'll catch up with you all again over the next few days when I'm feeling better. Thanks again for your good wishes and prayers. Anna.

Yep, my time is finally here folks! No more "auditions" (aka pre-ops) or "rehearsals" (aka Optifast). This. Is. It.:faint: In just over 8 hours I'll be at the hospital queing up for my surgery. YAY!!:clap2: In around 12 hours time, I'll be a brand new bandbaby. YAY!! YAY!!:clap2: :clap2: I might have to change my screen name to Gotannabanded! hehehe!! JK!!:grouphug: Time to pack my bags, take some photos and try and get some sleep.:grouphug: It's too late to back out now - I already paid the surgeon's bill!:faint: I'll post pics once I've joined the band. Thanks for all your friendship and support in the lead up. I'm looking forward to chatting with you all in a couple of days!

Hi Susannah, Great to hear your first consult went well. you'll be cleared by the neuro before you know it. If your MS is stable and you are doing well, they shouldn't have any reason to stop you going ahead. They must be able to manage anaesthetics for people with MS, so I imagine that wouldn't necessarily be a huge issue for you. Who is your surgeon? I am being banded tomorrow (yikes!) by Mr Chris Hensman at The Valley Private, Mulgrave. About the diet: The Optifast is okay, you get used to it. I liked the bars and choc shakes the best. I had plenty of vegies to help fill me up - especially mushrooms and mung Beans (I sprouted them in a jar). A salad for lunch with a touch of no oil dressing. A stir fry for dinner, either in the wok with soy sauce, chilli, garlic and ginger; or done on the BBQ with Tuscan Seasoning (Master Foods) and a little olive oil. They helped fill me up. But now I'd be happy if I never eat a freaking mung bean again! LOL! Have a look at the Aussies section of LBT - in recent threads there is info about buying Optifast cheap - on eBay, from Chemist Warehouse, or from the direct outlet. look forward to chatting with you (and meetin IRL??) soon. Cheers! Anna.

Hi Becka, Sounds like you've got a case of last minute jitters. I am feeling a bit the same, but just keep remembering why I wanted this band in the first place - I wasn't able to lose on my own, I've not had success with weight loss in the 18 years I've been trying, so it's time now for me to do this. The food changes and eating habits will be challenging for all of us, but there are plenty of inspirational stories and information on LBT from people who have gone before and succeeded. Seek them out, and use them for motivation. You will manage, and life will be better. Join in our October surgery thread, I have added your date to our list already: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=23737 Cheers!

I wish I had known about the outlet. Please post the info Cam, it will be a great resource for other bandsters.

Sounds like this duck's gonna fly!

Oh guys! You make me cry! A whole thread in my honour! shucks! ...and all those good thoughts and wishes just for me???!!?? Thanks heaps. I'd hug you all and cry all over you if I could! I am really excited about Thursday, although the butterflies have arrived already. I need to keep them in formation until surgery day, as I have a mountain of work to finish before I "go under". That's why I haven't been around much - damn day job gets in the way of social life! LOL! Thanks again for your good wishes, I'll let you all know how I am going when I'm on the "other side".

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Losing just 10% of your body weight normalises your hormones, and for many seems to send your fertility into overdrive. Hence you "fell" so quickly. Please make sure that your surgeon ob/gyn actively manage any nausea throughout your pregnancy and delivery, especially over the next few months while your band is healing and your morning sickness is peaking. My surgeon said just three months post band is enough for surgery healing, so you are nearly there already. Enjoy this very special time!

Colleen, I put a notice on band2gether.net for you. Have a great lunch. Anna.

Bandsters Rearely Eat Animal Droppings TGHNP

Thanks gang, Thanks for the reassurance. I like your ideas and ways of dealing with this. I would never lie to my kids, but sometimes it's hard to guage how much information they need. So far so good. Last night I told him that I'll have a present for him in my hospital bag, as a reward for going to sleep in his own bed at night. He likes to go off to sleep in our bed at night. Carrying 40 lb sleeping boy back from our bed to his every night is killing my back, and hubby has a bad shoulder so can't do it either. It's been an issue we've wanted to deal with for a while, this is a good chance. So I said to him I wouldn't be allowed to carry him anymore for a while after my operation, we need to do this together. Now he says "mummy I really can't wait until thursday for my present, can I open it now please?" Little devil! All is good for surgery next Thursday - I'm happy, and it appears the family is too!

You need to tell the truth, if you don't and get found out later, your employer would never trust you again and you would could lose your job. I wouldn't personally make up any other types of surgery in case you had to go back at some point in future and really have it done, and besides, it's also a lie that if found out, would lead to trust issues with your employer. As an in-house nanny, you need to be super-honest and trustowrthy - these people trust you with their kids and their house, and I imagine that therefore they would be super-sensitive to any unethical or dihonest behaviour from their staff. You have genuine need for time off so you can deal with a health issue. Your employer should be reasonable enough to accept that and manage to provide you leave in advance. Your employer needs to know if you can't do any lifting etc for a while afterwards. However, telling the truth doesn't mean you have to tell them all of the details. Here's what I did, it worked a treat: Just say that "I need time off for a minor surgery, it's nothing major really, but will put me out of action for a few days afterwards". Just leave it at that, the rest is none of their business. Being female, people assume it's "women's surgery", and don't ask any questions. Even if they did ask questions, just say "It's very personal, I'd really rather not talk about it". And leave it at that. Repeat yourself as many times as necessary. But stay calm about it. Your employer is not entitled to an explanation about your personal life or health issues. Good luck!

I'd love to come, but will be in Adelaide for a cousin's wedding. A liquid wedding feast for me. LOL!! I'll have to meet Jacqui and Mary some other time. Have a great time!