527 replies to this topic

[Ann69]

Okay everyone, I like the idea of keeping in touch with everyone going through this process at the same time, so I thought I'd kick off the January Bandits.

I'm booked for surgery on 31 January 2011. Please feel free to jump in with your January dates

[lonelyspiral]

Yay! I'm so excited to meet all the other January bandits!

My name is Rach, I'm booked for surgery at Western Private in Melbourne with Dr Nottle on Jan 19th.

This has been a decade in the making, as I was knocked back when I first queried the possibility of getting banded when I was 20 because I was considered too young. My weight has gone up and down over the past 10 years as I was on Xenical for a while, have tried Weight Watchers, Lite & Easy, you name it, I've tried it. Finally, I saw my GP in October as I was having some issues that have been diagnosed as "pre-diabetes" and he suggested that it might be time for banding. I'm excited, nervous and looking forward to getting my life back on track!

Ultimate goals - getting my weight down to 65kg, being fit enough to travel the world with my girlfriend and (absolute ultimate) being healthy enough to get pregnant before I'm 40.

[Cleo]

Hi there,
I think I will be a January bandit also. I have my initial appointment with the surgeon on Tuesday. I hope to get my date for surgery then too.
I've been looking through this forum and watching people's video journeys on Ytube. I'm not too sure about goals etc as yet. I have some reservations about setting weight goals that may be unobtainable. At this stage, I will just focus on the here and now. I have recently joined the gym and I am slowly getting my head around my commitment to exercise. I will be a secret bandit. Hence, I'm really pleased I came across this site as this will be a major part of my support network. Yay for us, for making the big step towards positive change and health. Looking forward to hearing how you both are getting on with your weightloss journey.
C :-)

[Ann69]

Cleo, good luck for Tuesday. I got my date on my first visit to my surgeon, so hopefully you will be a January Bandit. I am also a secret bandit (somewhat). My parents, sisters, husband and a couple of close friends know, but that's it. I have made the decision to only share with people who I know are supportive and won't judge me. I think we have enough to deal with, without having to worry about judgements and negativity from others.

Rach, I see you're being banded a couple of weeks before me, so I'll be watching your progress with great interest.


My surgeon is Dr Tim Wright and I'm having my surgery at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital.

I'm 42 have topped the scales at 130 kg. My only regret is that I didn't pursue banding as an option years ago. I can remember being 35 and about 110kg and saying to my girlfriends that I was going to be "skinny" by the time I turned 40. Well 7 years later and 20 kg heavier, I've decided to finally do something about it. So ladies, I'm now looking to my 45th Birthday, and I know I won't be "skinny", but aiming for a size 14.

[Lucy New in 2012]

Hi all i am also a January bandit. Booked in for 12 Jan. Live in bendigo and seeing surgeon there. As he also operates in Melbourne and in order to get it done before my kids go back to school i am going to Melbourne to get it done earlier. I am so looking forward to it as its taken me two years to make the final decision to book it. At 125kg game age 35 i am so ready. Good luck to all Jan bandits.

[Ann69]

Wonderful news Lucy. So far we've got:


Lucy - 12 January
Rach - 19 January
and me - 31 January


I'll be able to get all my hints off you girls who get banded before me.


Can't wait to see this list grow

[pnj]

Good luck January bandits, I'll await your stories with anticipation I'm only just signed up with the right level of private health insurance so at this stage I'm a year off, so it's great to read and share everyone stories while the time ticks on

[lonelyspiral]

Awesome that there are already three of us! Had a phone call from my surgeon today - he has extended his holidays so my date has been moved to Jan 23... I know it's just a few extra days but I just feel like it's so much further away now...
Hope it all goes smoothly and that I'm all ready for the start of term 1!

[Ann69]

Term 1 starts 1 February 2012 here in NSW - is it the same in Victoria? I only work two days a week and have only taken 1 week of so I have my op on 31 January and am back at work on 9 February and surgeon said this will be fine (just no lifting) so hopefully you'll be fine.



Lucy - 12 January
Rach - 23 January
and me - 31 January

[lonelyspiral]

Ann69, our first day back is Feb 1st as well. My principal has organised to let me move classrooms early so that I'm set up before term starts. Luckily I'm in grade 6 again next year so I can pretty much just walk in and run with it...

[Cleo]

Hello fellow January Bandits,
Well it looks like I'm up first. I saw my surgeon today and I will be banded on the 3rd of January, at Glengarry Hospital, here in Perth. I got my self in quite a tizz over this appointment, I really wasn't too sure about it all. I feel a little more at ease now. My surgeon seems really nice and I felt comfortable with him which is a good thing. I had been feeling really overwhelmed for the last few days. I was worried that the surgeon that would tell me that I wasn't a good candidate for surgery etc. Next step is ultrasound, bloods, and a visit to the dietician. How are you all progressing? Gosh, I'm so pleased I can follow people's progress on here. Such a great support.
Talk soon,
C :-)

[Ann69]

Hi All, Great news Cleo that you've got your date. Will be following your progress with great interest.

I felt the same as you for a couple of days before I saw my surgeon - got really worked up and anxious about it all. Once I met with him I felt much better. I've had my blood test and found out I was vitamin D deficient, so currently taking 5 times the daily recommended dose (under doctors orders) for the next month and will be tested again to check the levels are back at an acceptable level. Have also seen the dietician (who is wonderful). She gave me a folder full of instructions from Optifast phase right throught till 6 weeks post op (this was really reasuring (having this folder to refer back to whenever I have any queries) - also gave me her mobile number so I can ring her with any questions any time.



Cleo - 3 January
Lucy - 12 January
Rach - 23 January
Ann - 31 January

[lonelyspiral]

Ann, that's fantastic! My dietician was also very helpful but definitely not THAT helpful! Are there any tips you think would be helpful for us?

[Cleo]

Wow, I hope mine dietician will be that helpful. I don't see one until the 20th of Dec.

Thanks Ann, I'm quite relieved to hear you also felt a little anxious leading up to seeing the surgeon. Well the ball is rolling now, I'm just waiting for my super invasive employers to grant my leave. Eekk!! As I've mentioned before, I will be a secret bander. My Line Manager gave me the 3rd degree today about why I needed time off so soon after the Xmas break. I was backed into a corner and let slip I was having surgery - big mistake! After a further grilling as to what I was having done and why, I caved and said I was having a hernia corrected. I feel terrible for being dishonest, but mostly I feel really invaded having had to disclose and justify to her why I needed the time off. Darn nosey people!! And, now I have a fictious hernia to contend with... Hopefully this will be my only bump in the road leadin up to surgery.

How are you ladies coming along?

Ann69, on 16 November 2011 - 05:28 PM, said:

Hi All, Great news Cleo that you've got your date. Will be following your progress with great interest.

I felt the same as you for a couple of days before I saw my surgeon - got really worked up and anxious about it all. Once I met with him I felt much better. I've had my blood test and found out I was vitamin D deficient, so currently taking 5 times the daily recommended dose (under doctors orders) for the next month and will be tested again to check the levels are back at an acceptable level. Have also seen the dietician (who is wonderful). She gave me a folder full of instructions from Optifast phase right throught till 6 weeks post op (this was really reasuring (having this folder to refer back to whenever I have any queries) - also gave me her mobile number so I can ring her with any questions any time.



Cleo - 3 January
Lucy - 12 January
Rach - 23 January
Ann - 31 January

[Ann69]

That's really funny Cleo, I'd already decided to tell my employers that I had a hernia op if they ask any questions after my surgery (because I'm back at work 9 days post op) and I work in a bank and need to make sure I don't lift anything - you wouldn't believe the weight in those large bags of coin. Although I'm very lucky as I work with my best friend and she's clued in so already warned her I'll be calling on her for any lifting. Also, I have two children aged 17 and 9 and the nine year old is not known for keeping things quite, and I'd no doubt be the topic at school "news", so had decided that the "hernia" fib was going to be used on my 9 year old as well. Feel slightly guilty about lying to her but at the end of the day, there is no way I'm having her announce it to everyone at school and everyone shop assistant in town!

Rach, I'll have a look through the folder and see if there's any hints in there that might be useful and let you girls know

[Lucy New in 2012]

Cleo,

Tell them its womens problems. That always stops them asking questions.

[Lucy New in 2012]

Ann,


Send any diet hints my way too please!

I am seeing the dietician early December and the phsycologist (There appointment will be interesting). Why do we need to see a phsycologist to tell us what we already know about not been happy this FAT!! what a waste of money I think.

[lonelyspiral]

lucy2011, on 18 November 2011 - 08:02 PM, said:

Ann,


Send any diet hints my way too please!

I am seeing the dietician early December and the phsycologist (There appointment will be interesting). Why do we need to see a phsycologist to tell us what we already know about not been happy this FAT!! what a waste of money I think.

I thought the same thing - why go talk to someone who is just going to tell me what I already know??? BUT I had a fantastic session with the psych. She asked me to describe the procedure and a whole heap of questions about lap bands and how it will change my life. We kind of glossed over why I'm obese. The whole session was more about working out if I'm emotionally and mentally prepared for such a huge change to my life. Hope your session is like that - it was so easy!

[popsicle :)]

Hello everyone!
Can I come play with you all in the January Bandits room???

I'm being made a bandit on 18 January and I can't wait!!!

I finally made the decision to undergo lapband surgery a couple of months ago and although I am a bit scared I am so excited to be starting a new life as well.

I have always been overweight and 3 years ago I developed a brain condition call Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension and had a stent placed in my main blood vessel of my brain. I was told to lose weight. I did loose some weight, but 3 years down the track and a 10 month old baby my weight has crept back on.

I decided that I NEEDED to do this for not only me but my family.

So here I am...

[lonelyspiral]

Welcome, popsicle! Of course you can join us!

I'm feeling a bit scared too - I think because we have so much time to wait it's sitting in the back of my mind constantly... But congrats on deciding to go ahead with the surgery! Looking forward to hearing about how you go with it all...