Hi

I'm 5 days into the VLCD Optifast stage and undergoing surgery on 16th Jan. I am 47 and have been overweight almost my entire life. I live in Australia but cant find any active forums down here for support, so wondered if i could join you guys?

I am struggling a bit with hunger pangs at the moment. Might look around and see if there are any tips.

Thistledo

Hi, Im also in oz in melbourne i had banding done on 8th October and i have lost nearly 20kgs dooing ok, same as you have been overweight all my life im 37 years old who is doing your surgery? where?

cheryl

hi chezz

nice to meet another aussie here. i'm in canberra. my surgery is on 16th jan with dr mosse. he seems really good and i have a friend whose daughter had it done with him 2 years ago and it's all good.

20 kg is great. how has it been? my hardest thing at the moment on optifast is i'm really really hungry at night... so hungry i'm having trouble getting to sleep

thought i might ring the dietician on wed and see if she has any suggestions.

t

Hi Again,

The past 3 months have been great but ive also had some really tough days, havent eaten bread or red meat since surgery (but thats ok) and have had a few chucking episodes, i have had 3 fills i have 5.5ml in a 9ml band....that bit doesnt make sense to me. some days are really easy others i dont eat at all. I never had to go on optifast my surgeon was Paul O'Brien at The Avenue in windsor and he said i was ok pre op i didnt have to do anything.

One thing i do find is these support groups there is a great one on yahoo but i find people dont message back and i would really love to speak to others about what they are experiencing but i suppose i will get used to it.

cheryl

Thanks Cheez

It's good to hear what others have been through. It sounds like you're doing well, and i guess ? some days are going to be harder than others...

i'm terrified of the vomiting thing. but right now my goal is to survive the optifast stage. the whole thing is confronting, but i'm sure it's the right thing todo.

i'm happy to email if you want to PM me, but given I havent gone through it yet you might be looking for others who have already done the process.

i tried the oz one too and found it quite dead.. not much happening. this forum has a lot of info on it in contrast.

t

ps forgot to mention i'm 47yo female... just didnt want to disclose my identity on a public forum:eek:

thats fine im happy to email it wont be long until your in my shoes lol....the first time i vomitted i panicked but i know now whats ok and whats not. Also im 37 female married with 3 children . how do i give you my email address without all the world seeing?

Hi Thistledo & Chez, I'm on the Gold Coast Qld and am being banded on the 16th January too. I am lucky that my surgeon doesn't do the optifast thing for every one before surgery. I do have to use it after wards though. I tried the coffee flavour this morning in the blender with ice and it was good. Just like iced coffee.

I haven't told any one about my surgery other than hubby as I don't want to go through all the "how much weight have you lost"questions that you always get if some one thinks you are on a diet. I'm having a "hernia". Hope to keep in touch with some other Aussies. Good luck to you both.

Saleel22

Hi there salel22 i have only told my family and best friend as i did not want to be seen as a cheat if that makes sense some people say" she couldnt loose weight without surgery" so i have told noone else but its good when you receive compliments.

Its great to be able to chat to another aussie as i have found some of the forums really hard to meet others good luck with your surgery not long now hey?

cheryl

This is another forum that you might be able to get some info. from.

.net

Saleel22

hi salel22. this is great. some people to talk to!

i have only told some very close, trustworthy friends as i dont want to do the "how much have you lost" and "you shouldnt be eating that" stuff too. my friends have been really supportive, but it's nice to chat to others in a similar boat!

and we're both having surgery on the 16th!

as for optifast, i've only done 5 days and i've only done chocolate. the shakes are bearable, but the chocolate bars are awful! i'm glad i've only got one left. intend to try berry next time.

they are a bit like eating space food bars if you are old enough to remember those! i keep telling myself.. it's a space food bar!

will try pm-ing you with my email address.

t

Lap Band Surgery - Health Message Boards

Is another good forum I was banded on 28th November and found them to be a great support

Deb

Hi Chezz, I kept this little story that I saw on another forum as I thought it was a very good explanation of the lap band.

This was apparently from a surgeon to a patient.

Well sure, the lapband tool is designed to make losing weight easier for people

but isn't that the same with any 'tool' ???? Why should anyone judge us for

that? So would someone say to a carpenter that using a nail gun is the easy way

out when they should use a hammer? Would someone say to a baker that using a

mixing machine is the easy way out when they should mix by hand?

If a tool such as the lapband is available to us and makes losing weight easier

(not saying EASY, but EASIER) than other methods and therefore saves our lives

then whose business is it anyway? Probably the same judgemental people who make

mothers feel guilt if they need pain relief in labour (as that's taking the easy

way out rather than suffering!) geeez, some people should just find something

more constructive to say.

If we weren't

supposed to use tools that make life easier for us then we'd all still be living

in caves eating raw meat without cutlery!

When eventually people find out about my op. this will be my answer if they have any thing negative to say.

Saleel22

Thanks for that i'll check it out . Where are you from in oz?

The good ol Gold Coast.

Saleel22

Hi Thistledo,

I am from Sydney and have my first appointment with my Surgeon's team next Monday. I am also afraid of vomiting!

You are right, the oz site is fairly quiet, this forum is heaps better. You could try the Australian bandsters thread to find other Aussies.

Good luck with your surgery. Try adding a teaspoon of coffee to your chocolate Optifast (last time I tried to lose weight,that's what I did with it!). It makes it bearable.

Keep in touch, it will be nice to have another aussie going through the same thing.

Jen

Hi Thistledo & others, I'm from Sydney and was banded on 1 Nov and have lost 13 kilos. I am going through bandsters hell because I can eat anything I want at the moment... not good. I have been going for long walks to make up for it. I'm so glad I did this and I know things will be better when I go for another fill in Jan. Welcome and enjoy.