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!

Hey Lisa -great to hear from you.

Sorry your scales haven't moved yet (maybe they're stuck! LOL!), but how are you going with the cm's?? Are they still dropping?

Have you had another 'chat' with your surgeon yet about what's going on? I think you said you were going back to see him this week or next...

Maybe your body's hormones are stil lin PCOS / diet / baby mode?? It can take an awfully long time for hormonal behaviours to change.

PCOS / insulin resistance can make it very difficult for your body to give up weight. Maybe this is contributing - one of my girlfriends had it and battled for over a year to lose 10kgs just so they would let her start hormone therapy (prelim to IVF). They wouldn't let her go onto full IVF until she'd lost another 20kgs, which took equally as long again. However, the more you lose, the better PCOS / insulin resistance gets - so in theory, it should become easier to lose weight once you get started.

You have a young baby / toddler, don't you? Maybe your body is still in baby hormone mode?? In my own case, having a baby mucked my hormones up for over 18 months after stopping feeding - making losing weight during that stage an impossibility. I was on WW for the last nine months of that time and lost no weight. My SIL (who has a baby 1 month older than mine) lost 18kgs+ in the same time. Same diet & exercise habits, but a different hormone behaviour is what we think happened to us.

In regards to diets - if you have a life history of dieting (like most of us) your body may have learned really well to not lose weight - despite the best efforts I know you are making to ensure your diet is full enough not to send your body into starvation mode. Maybe it's just learned better than most to hang onto weight.

Don't be discouraged. Have faith that your body WILL sort itself out eventually - it might take time though. There are many slow banded losers around, and with my history, I wouldn't be surprised if I end up as one too.

Don't give up on your band, talk again with your surgeon, get your hormones, thyroid, liver function etc fully reviewed (again?), and lean on us for support while you wait for your body to catch up and get with the program too.

Hugs to you.:welldoneclap:

HIYA JESS missed reading your posts sorry to hear your going through a rough patch shame you can't meet up with us it seems so long ago since w'town but maybe we can make it a regular meet up as there is always going to be someone who can't make it one time they can catch up next time

Hi Sam/Anna,

The 1st questions - yeah I have discussed this with my surgeon, and had a small :angry ‘heated’ chat with him too. In short I was told to start skipping meals which I am not going to do. (He was in a mood that day). At the last appt he was trying to find positives and said ‘well its great you haven’t put on any weight’. I just thought “yeah great – I could do that pre-band”. He said he has some women it has taken over a year to loss weight and just hang in there.

I have an 11mls band. I have either 5.75mls or 7.75mls in. Surgeon wasn’t sure if 2mls went in so he had another go, it will be checked at a later appt. I started to exercise after the band doing 10kms a day. Went away a few weeks ago, was walking 15000 steps per day and swimming for 1-2hrs (I like to swim) No weight loss then either. Just over a week ago I stopped exercise due to baby and toddler sleep issues and I am sooo tired with 1-2hrs sleep tops per night. (Mmmm 12:30am and I am writing here…sad puppy). Food, most days are Special K breaky, salada for lunch, cereal bowl size of something for tea or lean q. I love water, only drink water, but since being banded I find that when I want to drink is meal time, then I forget. I am definitely not drinking as much water now. Before anyone ask, no I don't have coffee/tea either.

Anna I replaced my scales – lol, it wasn’t that. DAMN. I’ve had the same ones for 15+yrs or so, thought it was time. The new ones are more accurate and seem to match the Dr office – the old ones were consistent but about -6kgs out. I don't know if the cms are dropping, I leave that to the nurse to measure to ensure it’s the same. My next appt is the end of Sept. I think its before the next support group.

The insulin resistance was a real killer in trying to conceive, taking 12yrs to have both kids. My diabetic level is normally 4.1, its checked all the time due to my weight and varies ops this year. Even so, it was a diabetic drug that helped me to conceive where fertility drugs failed. Amazing what some research can do.

I saw a dietician for over a year, and she gave up. In 12mths the weight didn't move 1kg. She was amazed. Had to keep a food journal which I was honest with, if I ate a donut I told her, no sense in cheating it. Didn't matter if I was good or bad it stayed the same. After 12mths she said for whatever reason some ppl with pcos have a saturation point and once they reach it they just cant move from it. She said we could keep trying but she wouldn’t recommend it.

For 15yrs I have remained exactly the same weight except for pg. You’ll probably want to hit me but having kids was great for my weight. I lost 20kgs with each, the only time I have lost weight in 15yrs. After my 1st I put the weight back on to my saturation point within 6mths. It was weird, once I reach that weight not changing my diet I stopped putting on weight. After my 2nd I haven’t regain the weight – woohoo. I am lighter than when I got married 13yrs ago. So, if I am stuck I might just have to have another bub. Oddly enough my hormones are great when pg. (I am so opposite the norm). Carpal Tunnel disappeared with pg too. Lol. Blood pressure is normal but it drops for pg 2. See – I am weird. :omg:

As far as history goes, I haven’t really done the roller coaster diet thing. In the 80s lost a few stone with herbal life and modifast (now Optifast). In the early 90’s I managed to lose 60kgs only to have it come back quickly when I stopped. I think from there I learned to stop that roller coaster and just maintained which worked.

It’s hard not to be discouraged but this isn’t a quick fix, it will take time. I figure I have to beautiful kids when I was told I wouldn’t have any so this is just something else I will have to conquer. I’ll just have my pitfalls along the way. I acknowledge I am still very new at this. Looking forward to seeing a 5kg drop one day. I am thinking about doing lite’n’easy or something like that to ensure I am eating the right food groups once I go back to work from mat leave. Also, I am going to ask for an x-ray to check the band is ok just to be sure.

Despite the weight [and a bad trot since having the bub this year], all other tests have come back very normal. (that’s why the dr’s wouldn’t approve that other medicare form) I just need to kick myself in the butt a bit, get back to exercise and sleep!!!! Oh sleep, how I miss that. Tipping enough dribble from me and off to bed whilst its quiet.

Havent decided if I am coming on the 16th. With the lack of sleep thing the house is getting a little testy. Not sure going out on the weekend atm is a great move. I’ll see how we go.

Thanks for the thoughts & supportive comments. Like everything ‘this too will pass’

Night all

Sleep well lol

Hey Lisa,

Good to hear all is investigated - I wasn't sure from our brief chat the other day how far along the road you were. Maybe you've built up muscle from your exercise - you were really hitting it. I don't know what you looked like pre-band, but you look like a person who has lost weight. Are youre clothes fitting any differently?

Hugs to you - we'll be you're cheer squad. Just keep up with all you're doing, and wait for your bod to get with the program.

Hope to see you on the 16th, but see how you go. Bring the kids, I'm clucky, and would love to play with the little one - my 5yo will sort out the other two! LOL!

Sleep tight (when the kid lets ya!)!

Anna.

Jo here from Sydney/Gold Coast

I was banded 17th July and have lost 10 kilos.

I had my first adjustment/fill yesterday and am on liquids/mushies for another 24hrs. I can't wait to start solid food to see if I have any restriction.

tolmc.....I can totally sympathise with you I also have pcos (what a bloody nightmare) and was told this would make weightloss much slower and more difficult.

What does your surgeon say about your lack of weighloss?

Have you been to your Gynecologist since being banded?

I started metformin a couple of months ago (not for diabetes but for my pcos) and it is meant to help regulate your insulin...therefore helping with weightloss.... are you on metformin?

HI Anna,

Clothes are fitting differently and I am getting into clothes that I couldnt fit into before. (Most still with tags on - lol) One thing I have noticed this week Fluid in my lower legs are like the pg fluid. I can cross my angles and have massive dints in my legs. Ohhhh, I got 5hrs sleep last night - woohoo, even went shopping etc today. AMAZING what sleep does.

Hi Jo,

Hadnt thought about seeing my gyno, how can he help? I spoke to my surgeon during our heated appt and said I wanted to try metformin, he said he couldnt give it to me & to go to my GP. GPs say that arent the surgeon so they cant. Catch 22. I was trying to be good and get a script but with all this mucking around I gave up and started taking it a few weeks ago. (Still had some from ttc, and its not like I havent been on it before for non diabetic reasons) No changes. (except hormonal hairs came back).

Surgeon doesnt really say much. I am so glad I lost cms, I feel like its proof that I am doing the right thing when scales dont support it. Have you found the met helped? I thought if it hadnt helped by now it probably wont.

(Mmm whats wrong with this picture..daddy zzzzing on the floor, my 2yro telling me shhhh daddy sleeping anytime I speak with her...trying to get out of going to bed..)

Thanks

tolmc...I haven't noticed any changes from metformin yet (it's only been 2 months).

I thought it could be a good idea to visit your gyno because your testosterone levels could be sky high (from the pcos) and this would cause you to gain extra muscle and also prevent you from losing more weight......I had my testosterone levels done recently and they were extra high so I have also started taking the contraceptive pill to help with the testosterone.

Good Luck

Jo

Hi everyone..

My name is Sarah and I'm from Perth, WA. Ive been banded since July 11th 06 and have lost approximately 5kgs. I have had 2 fills so far and don't feel much restriction at all. Getting quiet impatient having to wait inbetween fills (4 weeks) because I really want to be slimmmer this summer and feel time is running out before the hot weather starts. I am definately eating too much and making a few bad choices along the way..I just have to keep positive and keep reminding myself why I am here in the first place.

Can anyone tell me how long they had to wait inbetween fills? I really want to ring Dr and make an appointment earlier as the 26th Sept is too long away.

hi there how are you all?

I am in Tasmania, Australia!!!

Always up for a chat!

Good luck to my fellow aussie banders and to those all around the world.

Cheers.

Sim.

Banded on the 13th of October 2005.

Wieght b4 surgery: 155 kilos.

Wieght TODAY: 92 kilos.

Dress Size B4: 24 - 26

Dress Size now: 16

I have had 2 fills and the restriction was way to tight.

So now I AM OFFICIALLY...UNFILLED, its still tight but its only been 2 weeks.

Hi Sara.....I have only had the one fill (6 days ago) and have just started to feel some restriction...not alot but at least I can finally feel some. My doctor will do fills 2 weeks apart but many people on this site have said it can take 1-2 weeks to feel the restriciton properly so I am going to wait 4 weeks and if my restriction hasn't increased I will get another one.

From what I can gather It seems part of having the band is being patient...it's not a quick fix (unfortunately).

Good Luck

Jo

Hi Sarah,

I was banded in April, had have 5 adjustments and still feel the way you do now. I spoke to my surgeon about it and he said we have to wait 4wks inbetween each fill. Due to the way I was feeling he was inserting larger than normal amounts, but I found I had too much in my band too quickly, starting coughing at night,couldnt eat veggies, reflux, etc and had to have some out. I am almost up to that amount in my band again (.25mls away) and still feel very hungry and I am starting to make poor choices through frustration as I've not lost any weight yet.

Just bare in mind if you jump too quickly you might have to have some out, so slowly does it. Sorry it is an art to get the right amount. At least for most people only take a few fills.

take care

Regards

Lisa

Thanks tolmc and jojo41 for your replies. Your both right. Slow and steady wins the race. Just getting a little impatient...I will wait until end of September to get another fill. Yesterday I pigged out and today I feel I have good restriction or maybe my tummy is still full from last night's raid in the biscuit tin lol!!! It's so up and down at the beginning, it's hard to know where you are sometimes...

Thanks again

Sarah

Sarah....you are so right. One day I feel great restriction the next....nothing!

It's hard to stay away from the "goodies" when you are starving!

Jo

Hi my name is mary and I'm 29 years from Melbourne Australia..

Last week 09/09/06 I have my lapband done.

I still feel abit sore and I have the gas pains. I'm just thinking it will all be worth it in the end.

I still can't sit at the computer for long periods..

I'm so happy I found this forum..Looking forward to sharing in everyones stories.

hugs

mary

hi ya all,

Well some of you I know like Lisa I met yesterday and Kelly I met last year at the banding convention in ACT.

I am Colleen 26 from Melbourne (Boronia) but not for too much longer as I think everything is going in storage and I am taking my new body on a big adventure.

I have lost 40kg in a year and 5 months, I have not lost much since April (even after going to a fat farm in Thialand a few months ago) but my body shape has changed HEAPS!!!!! I have just over 21kg to go till I am "normal weight" infact only a few kgs to go till i am only overweight, how funny is it that I crave to be overweight, but it beats morbidly obease as I was on banding day at 141.5.

At the moment I work in the disability industry while saving for this big adventure and when i do finally get overseas I am happy to work anywhere even at work at Macdonalds.

I am sure there will be more meets in Melbourne before I go ( i know for a fact there will be one at the Hub in Karingal in a month or so) I will make sure I post the details here cause I just love meets it is like making friends for nothing. You are all atomaticly friends cause you have this little "secret".

Anyways I better head off and catch up on what I missed out on with this site, I hope you see you all soon