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 all!

I am new to the forum. I am being banded next Wednesday (22nd November) by Dr Mosse in Canberra. I'm currently on the Optifast, and have lost 2.5 kilos already! :clap2:

My start weight before the optifast was 115 kilos. I'd like to be down to about 90 for my wedding next July. Hopefully thats not too unrealistic??

Nice to meet you all :biggrin1:

Mez

Welcome Mez - this will be the beginning of a whole new life for you.

Hi Fee,

Its wonderful seeing how well everyone is doing on here and welldone Fee.. thats a great effort. I hope i can post the same sort of things when i get banded

good luck to all of you..u r an inspiration

Loretta

hey,

I'm Amanda from cranbourne, i was just banded almost 2weeks ago (10/11)

i did the optifast 3weeks before my op, and i lost 6kgs at the moment all i seem 2 be haveing is a milk drink during the day and a can of soup for dinner and im full from it, im guessing i have lost around 10kgs in 2weeks.

I cant wait till i get my first fill altho im a little scared!

Hi Amanda,

I,m also in Cranbourne , I hope your feeling well. Atotal of 16 kg is fantastic.

I was Banded on Oct 18 and my first fill is next Wed 29th.

My eating is now out of control. I cant wait.

Mark

G'day to all new Aussies who have checked in here, and welcome to our little family.

And a hi to those who have been around the traps already for a while.

Not much news from me, other than I had my first fill last Friday - 4ml into my 14ml AP band. I can feel it! I can feel it! Hooray!!!

Hope all is going well for all. Cheers.

Hi Anna ,

I trust you are well, can you please try to descibe what the difference of the fill feels like.

I cant wait i have my fill on the 29th.

Mark.

Hi Mark,

The fill itself was without incident. Just lie flat on the table, raise your legs straight up in the air on cue (to tighten the muscles under the port), and then a little sting from the needle. It took about 2 seconds flat. I felt a little swollen and nauseous for a couple of days afterwards while I got used to it.

Before the fill I was eating about 70% - 80% of pre-surgery meal, and just a bit smaller bites, and a bit slower than pre-surgery. With the fill I am eating much less (about 50% - 60% of pre-surgery meal), and have to slow down much more, and eat much smaller bites at a time. I feel that I have a reasonable amount of restriction, but that the band could still go a bit tighter - but we'll wait and see how it pans out by my next fill in mid-January.

So far, I have eaten everything I've tried, including bread, but got stuck a couple of times in the first couple of days on different things when I swallowed to much at once, or didn't chew well enough. (I am an idiot, slow learner, or both. LOL!!). Hopefully I have worked out the level of restirction now, and learned my lesson, but I haven't tried steak yet. LOL!

Between the surgery and the first fill I was feeling full for a long time after a meal, but this now lasts right through to at least to the next mealtime, if not longer.

Hope that this helps. Good luck for the 29th! Let us know how you get on.

Cheers,

Anna.

Hi my name is Kathy and I was banded in April 2006 in Sydney by Dr Talbot(very good)

I wanted to mentain that you should have Water with you at your fill and have a sip to make sure your band is not too tight

Help to do this in the surgery not when you get home.

Good Luck to all

Hi , Ido have a brain of a 12 month old.

My fill is on Thursday the 30th not the 29th.

Such a big deal and i cant even get the date right.

I,ll tell you about it tomorrow.

Mark.

Hi Kathy, nice to meet you. Thanks for the Water tip - the surgery centre that Oldspark & I go to gives you a cup of water and makes sure that you can drink it before they let you leave.

How are you going with your band? There are a few Sydney bandsters around here, so you should feel right at home.

Howdy - I am being banded on 12th December by Mr Nottle - I can't wait. I was originally going to Ballarat, but couldn't give me a surgery date before the end of Feb next year - it would have been nearly five month wait (I am self-funded). I am resigned to never eating a steak again and champagne, but apart from that, I can't wait for my new life to being. :Banane17:

Howdy - I am being banded on 12th December by Mr Nottle - I can't wait. I was originally going to Ballarat, but couldn't give me a surgery date before the end of Feb next year - it would have been nearly five month wait (I am self-funded). I am resigned to never eating a steak again and champagne, but apart from that, I can't wait for my new life to being. :Banane17:

Why no steak or champagne? I had rib eye fillet steak & yellow glen "pink" last night without any problems. My teeth are in pretty good condition though.

Get a dentist to check your teeth before you get banded and find out an honest opinion on their condition, your ability to chew effectively to turn solid protiens into mush & if there is anything you can get done to improve their condition. If you have good teeth your food options are virtually limitless, poor condition teeth (which more than 50% of people seem to have hence so many people not being able to eat chicken and other meats - bread is a different story not related to teeth) mean more limited food choices as you can't chew as well no matter how hard you try.

People tend to be very sensitive/easily offended about the condition of their teeth so this topic isn't mentioned very often at all but is something to be considered before banding.

My teeth are in pretty good condition :biggrin1: (see). I guess I am assuming based on what I have been reading over the past few months. Most people say they have trouble with bread & red meat (not mince), and that they can't drink carbonated drinks. Of course flat champers is white wine :confused: . More than happy if I can still have these things.

Hey Cam how long did it take you to lose your weight?

Howdy - I am being banded on 12th December by Mr Nottle - I can't wait.

Hey there

Where abouts are u getting banded at? Peter Nottle is great, you will really like him. I got banded by him over a yr ago now, and have not run into any problems:). Goodluck!!!!!