Goannabanda

One of the final things I need to do pre-op is to give my 5yo a better explanation as to why I am going to go to hospital for an operation next week. He'll also want to know what will happen during the operation and when I come home etc. So far I have told him that "mummy is going to hospital to have a little operation to fix my tummy and that will help me to be healthier so I can run and play more with you". He has taken that in his stride, but I feel that he needs a better explanation closer to "The Day". I want to give him more information, as he is a smart kid and will pick up on little things and worry about me if I don't tell him more, but I don't want to overload him with too much. I am trying to decide how much information he needs to know, and how I can best convey it to him in a manner that he will understand and that will not cause him to worry. I would like to hear from those of you with small kiddies how you have let them know about your lapbanding and/or how you discuss lapbanding with them in your daily life. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

DOH! I got my dates mixed up, thinking the meeting was next week! thanks for making me check my diary - I have my pre-op at the hospital at 8 am, and I would have missed it! I am getting excited about the op!!

Sydney would be a stretch for me - the flights are cheap, but nothing else about going to Sydney is. Albury / Wodonga / Renmark etc would be great. I could drive there easily, and car-pool with local gals to cut the cost. What is the conference in Canberra? When is it? I heard aus_colleen mention it at our Melb lunch, but didn't find out what it was all about...

I too am planing on having more children post-banding. There are many inspiring stories around LBT of band-babies, especially where fertility issues have been overcome with the help of lap-band surgery. My surgeon says to wait at least 3 months after band surgery (for healing), and that once pregnant, that he will work with my ob/gyn to actively manage any nausea to avoid vomiting, and I will have an unfill early on so as not to be losing wieght during pregnancy. He will continue to work actively with my ob/gyn throughout the pregnancy to ensure the best outcome. My surgeon and ob/gyn also said that a body weight loss of just 10% (20 to 30lbs) can send your fertility into overdrive - so look out post-banding or you might find yourself pregnant before you know it! I was MO when I had my son 5 years ago, only about 30 lbs lighter than I am now. I actually lost weight during my pregnancy with him, mostly in the first trimester (30 lbs). I ended up only putting on about 12 lbs by the time I delivered, and walked out of the hospital 12 lbs lighter than when I fell pregnant. Pity I put it all back, with an extra 30 lbs, during the next twelve months nursing, and trying to get hormones back to normal. My ob/gyn isn't worried about pregnancy induced weight loss, providing that overall dietary intake is okay, and says it is normal for large women to lose weight during pregnancy. However, the ob/gyn and lap surgeon have both said that they wouldn't be happy about band-related weight loss, particularly during early pregnancy, as this could be detrimental to the baby. They say there is research that suggests that inadequate dietry intake during the first trimester causes problems for the baby. Hence the early unfill. I hope that my story and information is useful to you, but of course, you should get your own advice from your lap-band surgeon and ob/gyn, as your case will be different to my situation. Good luck!

The risks of complications with this surgery are VERY VERY low. I wouldn't be having this surgery if it were any other way. Plus the lapband surgery has the benefit of being 100% reversible and removable should any complications arise. That's good enough for me. Stomach erosions happens when the band moves into the stomach for one reason or another. It is extrememly rare. Just four out of 299 patients (1.3%) had an erosion. Stomach erosion is surgically repaired, often with band removal. Some lapband patients are found to have gall stones during their pre-op testing or during their banding surgery. Gall bladder removal is often done at the same time as the banding to avoid a separate surgery later. It's not routine or a requirement of lapbanding to have your gall bladder removed. It is only done when medically necessary, same as you can't get banded unless it's medically necessary. The same applies to stomach hernia repairs and other similar sugeries you have no doubt read about on the LBT forum. You must remember that LBT and places like it is where people come for support - usually when they are researching surgery, newly banded, or in times of complications. It's a skewed view of reality - most of the people who are successful and don't have these complications don't need the support - they are out enjoying their new bodies and greatly improved health. It pays to be aware of what can go wrong, but try to keep a realistic view of the rate of complications. Any surgery has risk, but some everday events like crossing the road or driving our cars has a far greater risk than this surgery. For me, the risks of NOT having this surgery and instead heading for a life of obesity-related disease and pain are far greater than the risks of lapband complications. The inamed website has very good information about the risks of lapbanding: http://www.allerganandinamed.com/products/obesity/us/patient/lapband/prodinfo.html http://www.allerganandinamed.com/products/obesity/us/patient/lapband/risk.html Good luck in your research and decision making. You will know in your heart of hearts what is right for you. If lapbanding is not right for you now, then maybe at a later date. Only you can decide.

Hi Melbourne girls, I was over at The Glen today, and 1626 have an outlet / sale stall out there, with clothes from just $5!!! They had heaps of end-of-season pants, coats, tops etc in all sizes from 16 to 26. The sale items are located on a stall which is located in the walkway leading to Villa&Hut. The girl working there said the stall was for other 1626 stores to send their end-of-season clothes, and that it would be set up there until Christmas. I don't work there, or have any affiliation with 1626, but I do know how hard it is to get great looking plus-sized clothes, so enjoy! Cheers!

***singing*** "...and the kneecap's connected to the thighbone..." Congratulations on a terrific NSV Sharyn. That's great work!

Hi bandsister! Welcome to LBT!!! Here we go to bandland on Oct 5th!! Anna.

Oh! Kellie! I am so sorry that things didn't work out as planned for you, espeically after the mental and physical preparation that you have done! Obviously everone wants all to be well for tha man who had the emergency, but it is frustrating for you. Ask to be first of the day next time, to minimise any chance that the surgical team will be delayed or called away for emergency again. I hope that you get a new date quickly - if it's 5th October we can be band sisters! Keep us posted with how you are going.

aaaaaawwwwwwwwwww!!!! What a cutie pie! (And hubby and the baby are not bad either... hehehe!) Congratulations!!! Hope it's me reporting in with baby news next year...

The worst part for me was going to the General Practitioner to discuss my weight - again! It's so humiliating!! The general docs I've had just don't understand or have the time to make much difference to your life when you are morbidly obese or worse. Meeting the surgeon and his team, attending the seminar, the support groups etc have been anything BUT humiliating. It's almost unbelieveable the relief I felt once I got through the GP stage and met with the surgeon etc. They are so understanding, not at all condescending or humiliating of you. After listending to my story, the surgeon changed my life with four little words - "it's not your fault". That was the first release moment when I've felt my life take a turn for the better. There have been many since, and I'm not banded yet (2 weeks to go!). The surgeons and their teams have the understanding, experience, research, knowledge, time and skills to really be able to put you at your ease and help you. Relax and enjoy the process - having someone make a fuss of you - it's all about you and making your life healthier and more enjoyable. Good luck!

Great to hear you now have another date - third time's a charm! Kiss goodbye to that pitunia!! Hugs and love I'm sending to you...

surgery day - clear liquids from 2 hours post-op 3 weeks full liquids 3 weeks mushies then soft to solid foods gradually.

oooooh! I'm am IN!!! What a great idea!! Sadly our finances are a little stretched until the end of this year - but I'll cross that bridge when we come to it! Might be time to flog some more stuff on eBay... hehehe

Hi everyone! I started the Optifast diet today for the next two weeks until band day.:hungry: I had a few trials before of the chocolate and vanilla shakes. Today I had vanilla shake blended with a couple of strawberries, also the chicken Soup and chocolate mousse. The choc bars are okay, but the rest all tastes the same! :hititbanana: Tomorrow I'll try the berry crunch bars. Yep - I got the lot - I never do anything by halves!!! LOL!!! Great to hear from you here as well Kelli - still waiting for the pics!!:xena_banana: tolmc - hope your surgeon visit is a more productive for you than the last one!!! :bananajump: Let us know how you get on. Nice to meet Nic2Boys - I am in Aspendale, not far from jenny. Maybe we should have a get together for the bayside bandits? I am surpirsed at how many of us there are around the place.:clap2: ollies mum :purplebananna:- so sorry to hear you are struggling with your band. Sounds like you need some face to face support around you. I hope that you can find a support group near to you - where do you live? I go to the same group as jenny, tolmc and tarajane (and others from LBT too) at Mulgrave. I have found that the online support is great too, so hang out here with us at LBT and we'll help you wherever we can. Maybe there are a few simple things you could change in your daily life that would help - maybe not placing yourself under pressure to keep it a secret, get your fill adjusted (sounds like you are too tight), review how and what you are eating, talk to your surgeon about getting linked up with a good weight loss cousellor and support group.:bananapartyhat: If your surgeon is no help, come back and ask us here - the Melb bandster crew have a great network of experience and support - and no doubt we can help you find the medical and face to face support you need. Hang in there. We'll cheer you on:cheer2:, whatever you decide to do. We are here. See you later for now everybody - I'll be at Bandworks on Tuesday night for those of you who go there - I'll be the one eying off the cheese and diet cokes!!! :hungry: LOL!!! So much for chowing down on ginormous steaks! Those days are OVER!!! LOL!!! Chat then!

**waves to mary9, jojo41, simmah_oz and jane73** Hi there gang! Nice to meet you! Hi aus_colleen, It was nice to meet you on Saturday, and I'd love to meet up with you for a proper chat again before you go overseas. Your photos are amazing, but you look thinner in real life that the "after" shot. You must feel fantastic to have broken the 100kg barrier now. Let us know when the Karingal gathering is on - it's not too far away from me. What is the banding convention? I had no idea this thing was so big it had it's own conferences... Cheers!

We had a great function - with six bandits there - me, shakey, tarajane, tolmc, aus_colleen and another lady (friend of tarajane & tolmc's) - plus various family / friends making about 12 pple all up. What a hoot we had, laughing and chatting about banded life, and beyond. Thanks to all who came along, and we hope to see you all, and more, at another Melbourne bandit's lunch, to be organised before Christmas! With the weather getting warmer, maybe a get-together in a park somewhere (Jells, Wattle, Braeside, Westerfolds...) would be the way to go for a pre-Christmas all-of-Melb / Vic bandits' bash! Until then, here's to more online chatting and meetings in our vairous "real life" support groups. Cheers! Anna. PS Hope your Sunday gathering was terrific too - count me in for that next time.

I think ya finally killed it mate. Don't bring that stink in here.

We shred plenty of stuff, but not usually junk mail outs. however, we keep these to a minimum by registering on "Do Not Mail" and "Do Not Call" registers that are held by the Gov't and Australian Direct Marketing Association. After about 6 weeks, the amount of junk mail and calls drops dramatically. I also gnerally never enter any competitions , and NEVER if they don't have an opt-out box for mail outs & calls. I always check the box if they do (after reading carefully to make sure if it is an opt-out or an opt-in clause - they trick you sometimes!). And I get great satisfaction from hanging up the phone in the face of overseas telemarketers, espcially when they haven't said more than one or two words. It's a dead give away when the caller can't pronounce your surname. hee hee hee. But I've nearly hung up on family a few times... doh!

Good one Lisa, didn't realise you were already on the Support site. Do you have the same username over there? See you there!

Hi Lisa, Thanks for taking up with the booking. I haven't been to LBT for a couple of days. I am still coming along, with hubby and 5yo son. Jenny was planning on coming too - but I haven't heard from her for awhile. I'll send her an email right after this message. Pavarthi (Jess) was hoping to come along too, maybe with her daughter (age 7??). I have also invited Andy (spaldo2) and his Melb Marathon team - but I don't think they can make it. Wheeler - sorry you're not well - I don't think fee meant any insult - from her other posts she seems quite gentle.... I know you've been under the weather lately. Are you still booked for your band revision / replacement on 4th Oct?? Hope it goes well, and that you're on top of it soon. My surgery is the day after yours - so I'll be thinking about you. Wish we were going together :biggrin1: Don't feel bad about missing the lunch, we understand. We'll miss you on Sat, but you'd be more than welcome to drop in if you feel up to it. Looking forward to Saturday - remember, I'll be the one chowing down on the ginormous steak :hungry: - I've still got 7 sleeps to go before the pre-op diet has to start! hee hee hee. :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: (but seriously, I'm joking - I'm really planning to have grilled fish and vegetables...:biggrin1: )

The child within me loves a good fart joke!!! Fatastic, first time I've laughed all day! Thanks!

I found this place via a Google search, and will be forever grateful. However, it would have been more useful to find a home page first, with summary info and links to the forum itself. A couple of my posts show up if I google my screen name - that doesn't worry me too much, but I would prefer to only have the forum indexed if possible. As a way around the indexing issue, maybe we could have an indexed home page set up that is separate to the LBT forum, which includes summary information and a link for new subscribers / guests to the main forum pages, which could then be unindexed. Would this work?

umm, these petitions are hoax emails and should be deleted. Same as those emails that have jokes, powerpoint presentations, appeals for money, virus warning messages etc. You can google them to find out more - there's plenty of websites about hoax emails and virus warnings around - e.g. hoaxbusters, urbanlegends, hoax-slayer etc.

Gosh vinesqueen, what a week you've had. Hope that the Dex keeps working, and that you are getting all the treatment you need. Still sending happy thoughts your way...