G'day fellow Aussies!

Our section of LBT has been a little quiet lately - there seems to be a few regular Aussie LBT posters, but I am sure that there's many more of us lurking around...

...so, it's now time to show yourselves.

How about a quick post onto this thread to let us know who you are, where in Australia you're from, your progress so far etc.

You are welcome to include any questions / issues / information you have for discussion, or any support that you may be needing right now too - after all, we're all here to help each other!

Okay - I'll start:

I'm Anna from Aspendale. I hang out here at LBT most weeknights, and sometimes over the weekend too if I can get time. I particularly enjoy reading the Aussie posts on LBT - the Aussie perspectives are highly relatable, common sense, and refreshing to read. I'd like to see more Aussie involvement around LBT, and in our own little corner of the forum (one of the reasons why I started this thread).

I am counting the days until my pre-op fast begins (16) and operation (30). I'm currently enjoying the last days of not concentrating on chewing every bite, but also wanting the banding to begin! Worried / working on strategies to deal with head hunger issues post-banding - this is one of my biggest concerns right now.

Looking forward to hearing from all the other Aussies around LBT. So it's cheers from me, and good-onya mates!

Hi I'm Lisa from QLD. I was banded on the 21st March 2007. I started this exciting journey at a bootalicious (giggle) 136.2KG. I'm ten days post op and sitting on a minutely smaller 126.1KG. I will be having my first fill at the end of April. I am married (17yrs) and have 3 children, Jessica(20), Mitchell(11) and Lachlan(4). I am also the loving and sooooo proud nanny to Sophie(18months). I'm so lucky as my darling husband loves me just the way I am, trouble is I don't. But more importantly, I know the way I was going I wouldn't be around for him OR my children and family to love for as long as I should. I researched lapbanding till I was dreaming about it lol and decided it was the less invassive and something I could work with. I have PSOS and this will assist in the lessening of those symptoms I've been told. So far I've had an absolute dream run of things. I hardly had any pain after the op and apart from some continuing shoulder pain on occassions, I'm doing great. Scars healed, no vomiting and down 10KGS...I mean does life get any better? LOL I so look forward to meeting more on here and continuing to be inspired by you all. Take care Lisa

Welcome Lisa, great to have you join us. I know what you mean about being such a prouuuuuddddddddd nanny, I also am one of those to Mia who has just turned 2. Mia is the reason for my banding, I realised that I wanted to be around to see her grow up and have a family of her own, and also be able to chase after her at this young precious age. My daughter lives at frenchville, so you never know I might get to meet you one of these days. In the meantime post away and enjoy this new life.

Nice to meet you Lisa - glad to hear a positive story and outcome!

Thank you both very much. Lisa

Hello Everyone and welcome Mickey!,

:hungry: I was banded on March 23rd and will be having a fill on April 30, I am jusy wondering how long it takes to get over the head hunger bit that seems to control my life? I haven't been feeling hungry at all post-band, and I have lost weight even without a fill yet, but my brain keeps on saying to me " go on eat something, eat anything" -and I find myself off to the fridge having a yoghurt or a piece of chocolate - because I still can.

:think Why do I have this endless battle with my inner self - I know that the band is working even while empty but does the head stuff stop when the band fill restrictions prevent you from having more than a tiny quantity? I seem to be able to drink as much as I want at present, and only had some pain a few nights ago when I was at my Uni course and totally forgot that I have a band and chewed and swallowed a snake that was offered to me- then thought I would have a slippage and drank lots of near boiling water to try to melt the snake in my tummy! I am terribly worried about slippage as I think that I have been too physical - lifting hay bales (carefully) and shopping bags, vacuuming, making beds.

:omg: Tonight I had a half cup of pureed roast chicken and tinned asparagus with no problems, then had a Yoplait yoghurt a few hours later - is that OK or am I overeating??

While I am on the question bit, is there such a thing as post-band depression? I am feeling quite glum and a bit of a failure as I think I should be sticking better to my eating list and losing more weight! My clothes are a little looser, but I don't feel much slimmer and I can't get motivated to get on my cross trainer! :help:

Cheers

Cleo

Hi all , my name is Paul i am 53 and was banded on friday 30th march 07. I live in Perth WA , this was my second go at getting banded as they had to abort the surgery due to an enlarged liver a year or so ago .I managed to drop from 140 kgs to 133 kgs and that was enough to shrink my liver , the band went in no probs . In my second week now and doing ok , have dropped to 127 kgs since surgery. regards ....paul

Hi Paul

Welcome to bandster land , you have made a decision that will completely change your life - well it has mine so far! I am travelling quite well today, did my 30 mins of exercise on the cross-trainer and will be buying a stationary bike as well - living on a farm there isn't anywhere to walk in the evenings that isn't pitch dark - so indoors is the best option for me. I was quite sore for at least a week, felt as though I had been punched by a boxer - but now I just have soreness where the fill button is and can still feel it when I bend over or stretch. I am glad that I have had three weeks leave, I go back to work in a week and think by then I will be travelling pretty well!

All the best.

Cleo

Hey Paul, welcome from me too! Most of us Aussies hang out on the Melbourne Chat Thread if you'd like to come over there and meet the gang! You'll find they are a friendly bunch and are full of lots of helpful information and support. We all love our bands!!

Meredith

Hello Everyone and welcome Mickey!,

:hungry: I was banded on March 23rd and will be having a fill on April 30, I am jusy wondering how long it takes to get over the head hunger bit that seems to control my life? I haven't been feeling hungry at all post-band, and I have lost weight even without a fill yet, but my brain keeps on saying to me " go on eat something, eat anything" -and I find myself off to the fridge having a yoghurt or a piece of chocolate - because I still can.

:think Why do I have this endless battle with my inner self - I know that the band is working even while empty but does the head stuff stop when the band fill restrictions prevent you from having more than a tiny quantity? I seem to be able to drink as much as I want at present, and only had some pain a few nights ago when I was at my Uni course and totally forgot that I have a band and chewed and swallowed a snake that was offered to me- then thought I would have a slippage and drank lots of near boiling water to try to melt the snake in my tummy! I am terribly worried about slippage as I think that I have been too physical - lifting hay bales (carefully) and shopping bags, vacuuming, making beds.

:omg: Tonight I had a half cup of pureed roast chicken and tinned asparagus with no problems, then had a Yoplait yoghurt a few hours later - is that OK or am I overeating??

While I am on the question bit, is there such a thing as post-band depression? I am feeling quite glum and a bit of a failure as I think I should be sticking better to my eating list and losing more weight! My clothes are a little looser, but I don't feel much slimmer and I can't get motivated to get on my cross trainer! :help:

Cheers

Cleo

Hey Cleo, first of all you are doing GREAT! This is a life time of habits you are trying to break here, so you have to give yourself a break. You're only weeks out from surgery - you will get there. I find if I start to get the "go get some food" thoughts I jump online here, or do some house work or call my mum or dad. Anything to distract me from that. I think for me, the head hunger battle is going to be a long one. I admit openly that I don't eat great food ALL the time - if I could do that and "diet" forever, I wouldn't have needed a band, right? But I eat good maybe 90% of the time and for me, that is an incredible improvement on what I was eating before. I'm not going to not go out for a friends birthday or not go to a farewell for some one at work because I have a band - I'm just going to try to make the best food choices I can while I am there. Wel all have our days. And I figure one bad day a week every now and then I can deal with, as long as I get back with the program straight away. Its all about keeping as focused as possible.

As for slippage, I think you need to do something a little more serious than eat a lolly snake to cause a slippage. I mean I'm not a Dr, but I think if you do a search for slippages on this forum, there will have been a history of band food choices, PBing, sliming, reflux etc for a while before the band in diagnosed as slipped. If you are really scared about it, talk to your surgeon again and go over the "rules" that he gave you when you got your band. Follow them and you should be fine.

All of that aside, you are stil very newly banded - you have lost over 7 kilos, and that is AWESOME!!:clap2: If something is wrong with your band, or you eat something that doesn't agree with it, you will know, your body will tell you - trust me on that!

Your food intake sounds about right for where you are at. I was snacking between meals up until my last fill (and I've had 6!) and I've still lost weight.

You should head on over the Melbourne Chat thread too, I'm sure the others will have other thoughtful ideas to help with the lack of motivation levels!! See you there!

Meredith

Hi everyone

i was lapbanded last week on 11/04 in bundaberg queensland. Also had my gall bladder out at same time.

My starting weight pre surgery was 118.1kg , I am currently 111kg 1 week post surgery following optifast diet and liquid stage.

I am 4o years old. I currently get a regular tight unconfortable sensation in chest, Is this the band?

:yo:

Hi everyone

Was great to stumble across this forum and find out that Aussies visit too!

I was banded on the 3rd of April (so 13 days today) at Bethesta Hospital (by Mr Kierath) in Perth. Im 6.5kg's down as I type, but have started to notice that my weight is starting to fluctuate (Im a scale junkie unfortunately!) and the last few days have seen me go from 99.9kg - 98.5kg then right back up again. Is this normal whilst you are still on liquids?

I have my first appt with my surgeon since the "borg" was put in on the 24th of April - and boy I am filled with questions!

My port is definitely noticable (which Im not happy about) and even my DH can see it sticking up through my tummy, just under my ribs. I am having nightmares that it has flipped or turned on an angle, and can see myself having some type of revision surgery.

Has anybody had their port turn/flip - and if so whats the general action taken? Revision surgery?

Sometimes I feel as though mine is floating around - or maybe Im just freaking myself out here!

Lucylee - I had that tightness in the chest area that you talked about, and ended up ringing the hospital (because I was concerned) and they told me it was all perfectly normal. They reminded me that even though I had keyhole surgery, (and yes, it is less invasive) its still major surgery and that my internal organs were basically not settled and that the discomfort was caused by swelling of the organs and the gas that they use to pump you up to see what they are doing. Mine has only recently let up the last few days, so give yourself a good couple of weeks to let everything settle.

However, if it doesnt feel right to you, the best advice I can give would be to ring your surgeon!

Anyhow, enough of my blather..

I appreciate finding Aussies on the board, and look forward in getting to know you all better

Hi, I'm Sara. I've been trying to get banded since I was around 16-17, I was around 125kgs then, and I was told that I was on the waiting list. But when I was twenty, I found out I wasn't on the waiting list and I'd been waiting all that time for nothing! The process only really got started last year after my doctors got me to see a surgen. So I'm now on the waiting list, I weighed 163kgs yesterday so I'm assuming I'm still that, and I got told yesterday that my surgery was downgraded to catagery 3 but the surgern has pushed surgeries to twice a fortnight and that I might have mine done before the end of the year.

So yes! I didn't bother joining a community before because I was told five to six YEARS. If I was lucky! But if they're right, it might be a good idea to get prepared early. :nervous

Rava, maybe you should draw a circle around the port and see if it moves from that circle. Just my idea!

Hi Ses, welcome, what a disappointment that you thought you were on the waiting list and discovered that you werent. hopefully things will start moving now, where are you? how long do you expect to wait for the surgery?

They said as early as August but I'm not holding my breath on that one, public waiting list and all... but hopefully no longer than a year.