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

I don't know if Ipswich is any cheaper. All I know is that my health fund paid for 100% of the hospital stay. I don't know how that changes the fees (I was banded almost 3.5 years ago, Dr Copps fees and such have gone up since then I am sure)

Well I contated his office and it will cost me $5,000 out of pocket after health insurance so I think that wouldn't really matter which one I go to. I'm calling tomorrow to make my appointment for September. I figure making the first appointment for one month before I can have it done is the minimum amount of time I will need. And doing it now means I also get in the door. Or maybe I should make it for this July so I can get a surgery date as soon as possible? Its all so exciting, but so confusing! lol :thumbs_up:

I did and I got done in 8 weeks that includes the 2 weeks i had to wait for Specialists appointment. I was told 18 monthe waiting list when i rang but as i say it took 1 total of 8 weeks. I also had to have it removed after 7 months but got mt new one in one week after the 3 months healing period.It is good business practice for private insurance companies to guild the lilly with waiting times on the public list,while in my opinion they milk their customers dry and pic up huge government subsidies so are they really private as they would collapse without MINE and YOUR taxpayer dollar so in a way you get wacked twice. Sorry I get a little more info than most as my wife is in the private hospital industry.I shall put my soapbox away LOL:blushing:

Well I contated his office and it will cost me $5,000 out of pocket after health insurance so I think that wouldn't really matter which one I go to. I'm calling tomorrow to make my appointment for September. I figure making the first appointment for one month before I can have it done is the minimum amount of time I will need. And doing it now means I also get in the door. Or maybe I should make it for this July so I can get a surgery date as soon as possible? Its all so exciting, but so confusing! lol

Yep that's how much it cost me $5000 out of pocket all up or perhaps a little more because I didn't count the anaesthesist which you have to pay about $400 out of pocket for.

I did and I got done in 8 weeks that includes the 2 weeks i had to wait for Specialists appointment. I was told 18 monthe waiting list when i rang but as i say it took 1 total of 8 weeks. I also had to have it removed after 7 months but got mt new one in one week after the 3 months healing period.It is good business practice for private insurance companies to guild the lilly with waiting times on the public list,while in my opinion they milk their customers dry and pic up huge government subsidies so are they really private as they would collapse without MINE and YOUR taxpayer dollar so in a way you get wacked twice. Sorry I get a little more info than most as my wife is in the private hospital industry.I shall put my soapbox away LOL:blushing:

The wait time depends on where you live. In Queensland it can be years (I heard somewhere it was like 2 or 3 years?)

So in some states, private is the way to go.

The wait time depends on where you live. In Queensland it can be years (I heard somewhere it was like 2 or 3 years?)

So in some states, private is the way to go.

*sigh* yes how sad is that, the waiting list for the royal brisbane hospital last I heard was about 4 years and that was in may this year so it could be up to 5years by now. Thankfully I'm actually being pushed through all the barriers and everything I guess, I'm being banded between now and november (who knows exactly when) and I'm on the public system

Hi! Tasmanian here about to be banded on 4th September. Have about 50kg to lose so looking forward to getting slimmer and fitter. Hopefully I will be posting more as time goes on. I guess I will be needing some advice and moral support as time goes by.

Hello everyone I'm another newbie. I'm a Victorian and I have just started the process, had my consult with the surgeon and the tests...all things should hopefully be ok just waiting on results! I just want it DONE!! Although I occasionally have a bit of worry and apprehension, I think that it will be TOTALLY worth it! I can't imagine being 40ish kilos lighter..I think the last time I would have been at my optimal weight....would have been maybe when I was 13..... Hopefully once full approval is given it won't be too long a wait for a surgery time. *fingers crossed*

Edited July 20, 200818 yr by Roheryn

Hello Bluezbandit and Roheryn,

welcome to the board. Any questions, ask away. There are so many friendly and knowledgeable people here.

Roheryn, the last time I was the proper weight for my age/height was when I was 12. Puberty kicked in and so did my hormonal imbalance. I'm currently about 53 kilos overweight, with is just over 100% overweight. I'm amazed at how my body carries it all around sometimes!

Welcome to you both.

Hello Aussies!:smile2:

I'm Nicole and new to this site.

I am new to banding and I am at the early 'finding out more' stage. I need to loose around 40kgs to be at my ideal weight. Like everyone here I have tried every diet under the sun without much success.

Anyway, I am 32 from Melbourne, have 3 greats kids and a very supportive DH (although I haven't spoken to him about this yet), I wanted to find out all the info first. But I think he will be fine. His main concern will be the money. We have health insurance with MBF (anyone have them?), so I am expecting about $5k to be out of pocket. We could always get a credit card for this I would assume.

Enough about me, hope all is well

Nic

ETA- I forgot to put a K on the end of my 5

Edited July 25, 200818 yr by Nickers

Well folks I thought I would quickly post following my banding yesterday and say how great I feel. I'm probably not typical from what the nurses were saying, but I had my surgery early afternoon yesterday and was out this morning from hospital. Everything was really smooth. The worst for me was a little discomfort following the surgery. Feeling like I needed to burp but couldn't. Even my incision marks looks smaller thank I expected.

Am really feeling great. I only had to fast from the night before the surgery, so Im not feeling like Im hungry or craving anything at all.

I'm on track (so far) to head back to work on Monday.

Thanks to many people for their support on here. It's been great to have somewhere like this to come and ask questions etc..

Welcome to Nicole also.. I'm sure you'll get lots of really useful information from this forum. I did.

Welcome all new bandsters.... hope all goes well for the yet to be banded as I am sure it will. I was banded 3 months and so far so good. Hope to hear from you soon. Any questions??? I am happy to answer if I can. I was $5000 out of pocket with AMH private health. Visit my blog for detailed info regarding what to expect. talk soon...

Oh great news...I hope I am as good as you...I have had a few surgeries and usually come out of anaesthetics ok but haven't had laproscopic surgery before!

Hello Aussies!

I'm Nicole and new to this site.

I am new to banding and I am at the early 'finding out more' stage. I need to loose around 40kgs to be at my ideal weight. Like everyone here I have tried every diet under the sun without much success.

Anyway, I am 32 from Melbourne, have 3 greats kids and a very supportive DH (although I haven't spoken to him about this yet), I wanted to find out all the info first. But I think he will be fine. His main concern will be the money. We have health insurance with MBF (anyone have them?), so I am expecting about $5 to be out of pocket. We could always get a credit card for this I would assume.

Enough about me, hope all is well

Nic

I am about to be banded in Sept and don't know how much out of pocket I will be, But please remember if you keep all your receipts and statement from Health care provider, chemist, dental, optical etc etc you will be able to claim anything over $1500 on your tax. Getting lapband on credit card would be a killer on interest.... unless you have a low interest card.

I'm Nicole and new to this site

Hi Nicole,

I dont' want to disillusion you too badly, but we were fully insured and were were about $1300 out of pocket.

If this will be an issue for you, perhaps you can start a special account so it can build up slowly whilst you learn about the banding.