Hi All, I wanted to start a new chat thread for bandsters all over Australia. Firstly the Melbourne chat thread now has so many replies that we are getting a lot of horrible spam, and secondly we want bandsters from all over the country to feel they can join in and chat on this thread.

Could we post on this new thread now?

Susannah

So onto other things, how are you feeling tonight Bronnie? Is your pain still there? Are you going to call your Doc tomorrow?

Hi all

I'm new to this site an a new banster. I went into surgery on Friday. Unfortunately when the surgeon went in he discovered I had a giant Hiatus (probably spelt incorrectly) hernea and I now also have about an 8 inch scar running horizontally across the top of my stomach. Has this happened to anyone else. I'm feeling really poorly and I don't know if it is just that I am a wimp or what :cry

Welcome - you are definately not a wimp you are only 3 days post op with a massive incision. just take it easy, be kind to youself and you will be feeling a little better each day hopefully.

Yea, I agree. It takes a lot of mental preparation before and after just for the band, and you've gotten something else big to mentally process too as well. And you wouldn't have mentally prepared yourself for that extra amount of pain or post-op change. So you're not a wimp!

Hello Everyone, I joined this forum yesterday. I live in a country town on the north coast of New South Wales. I am currently weighing 127kilos, have just been diagnosed Diabetic and put on medication. I am 50 years [young] and my GP has suggested I have a lapband op. I can have the surgery on the 17th of October if I can find an extra 6-$10,000.00 to have the surgery done at 'Toronto' a private hospital near Newcastle. There are no surgeons here in my country town that do Lap Band Surgery. I have top health care cover but feel this is a lot of extra money to pay. I am also afraid of having the op as I am not as young as many of the members I have read posts from. May I ask if there are any NSW members on this forum that live in the Newcastle Area please? If so, is this amount that I am being asked to pay too much, seeing I also have private health insurance?

I went into 'chat' this morning but it was not an aussie chat room...is there one for Australia also?

Thank you for reading my post.

Hi there from New South Wales.

I think you are very brave...I am yet to be banded and am quite scared. Congratulations on having the surgery done. I wish only the best for you.

Yes, that's far too much. You should be paying $3000-6000 max if you have private health cover. Are you sure somebody hasn't made a mistake with your quote? There is a yahoo Australia group called 'Central Coast Bandsters', they should be able to help with your enquiry and it's not far from Newcastle. Some of them are probably even from Newcastle.

centralcoastbandsters : Central Coast Bandsters

ps Your age isn't a problem.

Thank you for your help. I will make enquiries tomorrow...I was asked... why not 'mortgage my home' by the secretary...I guess many people do, but I would prefer not to. Once again thanks for the information, I appreciate it.

Hi... I went through my private health insurance and ended up about $3700 out of pocket.

Goodluck with your journey.

Also 50yrs young.... i know quite a few people who have been banded at that age and older.

Nice to meet you 'Sonata' I looked up the list of Lapband Surgeons near the country town where I live and the closest is 'Coffs Harbour' The problem is the list says there is not a surgeon there yet. I have added you to my 'windows messenger' but as yet we have not been online at the same time. I am 62 and very nervous.

Hugs, Beth

Hi There,

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am now in Qld, living with my daughter. So many problems back in NSW with my partner, re- having lapband surgery done. I think he is really scared because I am 50 years old and 127kilos. I know he loves me the way I am, and often tells me 'it is the person inside that counts' but I dislike myself so much. To get around with swollen ankles and sore knees is no fun. Perhaps also he is scared that all our meals will change as well as my personality.

I have much more of a choice up here, and made some enquiries today about lapband surgeons, and am pleased to say I now have an appointment to see a surgeon. Not sure if my partner will read this entry, so will keep the details a secret untill after I am banded.

I just pray this surgery will not break our relationship up, as I love my partner dearly.

Please wish me luck. Am I being selfish putting myself first? as I now feel guilty.

Love, Amanda :think

Hi Amanda,

Heck no, wanting to be healthy is not a bad thing. You have to live in your body with that excess weight & pain, not him. I wish he wouldn't see it as such a big deal because it's truly not that bad. You can still go out to lunch and eat normal food etc. Hopefully, he'll come 'round.

Congrats on getting the date. Follow through with it.

BTW, I love your user ID.

Congrats on getting a date. If it's really what you want, then you have to follow through with it.

__________________

Hi All, Welcome to all the new girls too.I am feeling really happy about my weight loss but seriously depressed about the loose skin and my body being wrecked by all this. Will plastic surgery fix this this where I can finally feel good about myself? Is it affordable? Did anybody else have this problem? I want to feel completely good about myself. Is there hope?

Chickie?

Susannah

Hi All, Welcome to all the new girls too.I am feeling really happy about my weight loss but seriously depressed about the loose skin and my body being wrecked by all this. Will plastic surgery fix this this where I can finally feel good about myself? Is it affordable? Did anybody else have this problem? I want to feel completely good about myself. Is there hope?

Chickie?

Susannah

It's not fair is it? Either we stay large, and face all the health and mobility issues that go along with that, or we lose the weight, and face all of the skin and body image issues that go along with *that*.

It really is a no win situation.

Short answer is no. No amount of plastic surgery will make you feel "perfect". The best we as human women can hope for is some sort of acceptance of our bodies. Even women who have been skinny all their lives have body issues.

Is reconstructive surgery affordable? Well, what I had done was. After Medicare and private health refunds, I think I was out of pocket about $1800 for my tummy tuck. I opted not to have my breasts done, or my arms or thighs, because while they do bother me, and I could have had them covered by private health and Medicare for the same reasons as my TT, I am not about being perfect, or even almost perfect. I am human, I have flaws, as does everyone.

Sorry. I am not much help am I? I have had a shit day, and am no real ray of sunshine at the moment.

Thanks Sam so much for that. Perfect advice I reckon. I am going to have a consult soon.I hope a man can love me even with my body flaws.

I hope tomorrow is a better day for you Sam. Susannah