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Australian Bandsters Chat Thread



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Just to answer the question put, yep its a requirement of the Dr I'm seeing. Its partly to see if I will follow rules, but its also to make sure I'm doing the op for the right reasons and not expecting any ridiculous outcomes (like to walk out of op looking like Paris Hilton!) Don't laugh, you'd be amazed at what some people expect.

As far as I'm aware most doctor's require you to see a psychologist or a psyche and dietitian before surgery. The US banders also have to do the 6 month diet thing to qualify for their insurance companies, we don't. But seeing a dietitian is not a bad thing, after all, I need to learn to re-adjust my eating habits after.

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But, *I* look like Paris Hiltion!!

minus 3 feet of height, and adding a few pounds, oh, and I am not blond. Or rich. But I am a nicer person!

Look. It's not unreasonable to expect that you will lose 100% EW, they just want to know if you are going to do silly things to get there.

He is a nice enouh guy, but I doubt in the 30 minutes he sees you for he could give a difinitve Dx.

I have it on fairly good athority that even if you do have some sort of eating disorder, you get passed. That this guy thinks that even people who do badly, still get some benifit from the band.

So it's not the science it appears to be.

And Hey Jude! Sorry things are a bit wobbly right now. Hopefully when you see your doc you can get back on track.

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Thanks - I am feeling a bit better today. Going to see the Doc again next week. It would be great not to feel hungry but I'm starving more often than not just like I used to be. Maybe I need another fill. Will post again next week.

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Hi Everybody,

I just wanted to drop by and say hi. I don't come here often, because the other aspects of my life have taken over, namely the progression of my disability with my Multiple Sclerosis, and life in general.

I continue to do well having been banded, and while I have not lost any weight recently, my weight is pretty stable.

I am not able to exercise at the moment, and am walking with a cane.

There are lots of new people here that I do not know, but I want to wish you all well, as well as the old timers here.

I find this forum kind of confusing and like sensory overload now. There are so many sub forums that your head spins.

Anyway.

The best of health to you all.

Susannah

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Hi Susannah,

why not save your favourite sub groups to bookmarks/favourites, then you won't need to trawl for them.

I agree about life being in the way at times. I'm in the process of finding a new job and I've just developed plantar fasciitis, which is basically heel spurs without the spur. GREAT!!!! Can't do the exercise now for anything. Oh well *sigh* guess I'll just have to drag out the old stationery bike!!

Can't wait for that op.

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Hi Susannah,

why not save your favourite sub groups to bookmarks/favourites, then you won't need to trawl for them.

I agree about life being in the way at times. I'm in the process of finding a new job and I've just developed plantar fasciitis, which is basically heel spurs without the spur. GREAT!!!! Can't do the exercise now for anything. Oh well *sigh* guess I'll just have to drag out the old stationery bike!!

Can't wait for that op.

That is a good idea Sunwyse. I should bookmark the Australian forum.

Good luck in your search for a new job, and I hope the post op recovery will not be too painful for you.

Best wishes to you.

Shoshie

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Hi Susannah,

why not save your favourite sub groups to bookmarks/favourites, then you won't need to trawl for them.

I agree about life being in the way at times. I'm in the process of finding a new job and I've just developed plantar fasciitis, which is basically heel spurs without the spur. GREAT!!!! Can't do the exercise now for anything. Oh well *sigh* guess I'll just have to drag out the old stationery bike!!

Can't wait for that op.

Hi Sunwyse,

Your post made me smile because it was torn plantar fascia ligments that forced my hand into being banded. I had researched for over 2 years and kept thinking I would be OK without a band!

Don't ignore the exercises, find a really good podiatrist who has some sports medicine background because there are many who only look at the large person. I had a great person who recognised that my calf, achilles tendon were so tight hence tight plantar fascia, that finally snapped playing beach cricket on Australia Day, because the amount of walking I did- after 12-14 hour shift as a nurse then a 7 km quick walk almost every day following the long shift on my feet.

Now I have been banded one month, have been out of a walking boot for 2 months and I feel great, finally on the road to some control over weight, eating and my foot now feels normal. I have had a few hiccoughs trying to get my head around not being so strict on my diet at this stage.

<a href="http://www.tickercentral.com"><img border="0" src="http://www.tickercentral.com/view/9z9z/1.png"></a>

Edited by barbC
trying to get ticker working

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Hi everyone

Not sure if i've done this right. I live in Melb,have 3 kids and a DH and have just got a tentative date for lap band surgery. I wanted to find a forum where i can get and give support and i'm hoping this is the right place.Look forward to hearing from likeminded people.

E

:tt2:

:smile2:

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Wanted to check in and say hi and welcome to all the newcomers. I have moved from Perth to Melbourne and am settling into life here, learing my way around and looking for a job...ugh.

I have lost around 19 kg's since Oct last year, very slow but the scale is still moving down so I am not complaining. I see a doctor next week for a fill....Dr Nottle I think it is.

Melanie

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Hi I struggled hard to work out how to create these wonderful looking tickers. Thanks to a Melbourne person Roheryn on another thread I found how to. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f183/how-guide-creating-your-weight-loss-ticker-72359/

It is important that we really Celebrate our achievements. After a life time of hating to stand on scales- I even declined to stand on dietician scales when I went for advice as I did not want to share my slow progress nor experience the put down when your weight would fluctuate so dramatically between visits.

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Hi I struggled hard to work out how to create these wonderful looking tickers. Thanks to a Melbourne person Roheryn on another thread I found how to. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f183/how-guide-creating-your-weight-loss-ticker-72359/

It is important that we really Celebrate our achievements. After a life time of hating to stand on scales- I even declined to stand on dietician scales when I went for advice as I did not want to share my slow progress nor experience the put down when your weight would fluctuate so dramatically between visits.

BarbC

If you were only banded on the 8th Aug,how have you lost so much weight so quickly? You are nearly half way there. Was it because of Optifast? How are you feeling. Feel free to tell me about your Op. Mine is on 12th Nov with Mr Skidmore.

Elaine

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Hi, Yes I had great results from Optifast. I first saw the Team on the 8th July and from that day I started optifast x 2 meals a day plus another low GI meal. Pus the gym 3 times a week and my job was very physical.

I actually found optifast easy, no real thinking and filling. The weight was measured then and the day of the op 7/8 88 kgs was the weight I was weighed in at pre-op on different scales. I have yet to be weighed since but I invisage I remain stable.

Stable because of having to think more about what I can eat and also because I had a nasty wound infection. I was in a poor nutritional state post op because of the lack of Protein I had- lactose intolerant and the Fluid choices given by dieticians were based on dairy products leaving me to vegetables Soups, Water, low cal juices. I am fortunate now I am adding natural soy protein in two textured meals to help my wound healing.

I am now struggling to ensure adequate calories, low GI and protein choices in the right amount. I have yet to be given how many serves a day of grains/cereals, protein, fruit and veges etc I should be having.

My diet for the last 5 years before optifast was very restrictive- near vegetarian and low GI so having this choice is new to me.

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Just to answer the question put, yep its a requirement of the Dr I'm seeing. Its partly to see if I will follow rules, but its also to make sure I'm doing the op for the right reasons and not expecting any ridiculous outcomes (like to walk out of op looking like Paris Hilton!) Don't laugh, you'd be amazed at what some people expect.

As far as I'm aware most doctor's require you to see a psychologist or a psyche and dietitian before surgery. The US banders also have to do the 6 month diet thing to qualify for their insurance companies, we don't. But seeing a dietitian is not a bad thing, after all, I need to learn to re-adjust my eating habits after.

Just to let you know, most American insurance companies will NOT approve the lapband, regardless. Some approve gastric bypass, but not many. Most of us here have to pay cash up front ($18,500) to have the lapband. If you don't have cash up front, they have finance plans. I wish I had done my in Brisbane and saved the $18,500! :lovechoc: Regardless, it was worth every penny.

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Hi just checking in with my Aussie Bandsters. Three days out from Lapband surgery and I am still very sore. Have been on a liquid diet consisting of Soup, apple juice, milk, and Water. Its important to remain hydrated but when your stomach is so swollen its difficult to get too much water in. Have been suffering gas pains and copping it in the left shoulder. Luckily I was already aware that this would be the case or I would have thought I was having a heart attack. Yesterday I walked for about 30 minutes around Salamanca Markets in Hobart. Will try to do more today although I have to go into work and supervise my husband in moving the furniture so that the cleaners can come in and do the floors over the school holidays.

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Hi Bluez,

Try de-gas chewies they help with gas. Congratulations in getting banded. The journey has started. Keep up your Protein intake to help with healing. Barb

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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