527 replies to this topic

[Cleo]

Loo Loo, on 13 December 2011 - 01:39 AM, said:

Hello Cleo,
I have just joined this forum and was so excited to see how many people are on here. Not long now till your big day Yeah! Is Kevin Dolan doing your op? Do you see the dietician at Joondalup or someone else at Glengarry?Loo Loo

Hi Loo Loo,

Great to hear from you. Yeah not long now, (18 days) I'm getting super excitied. How are you getting on? I hope everything is coming together.

Yes, Kevin Dolan is my surgeon. I'm seeing a dietician in Joondalup on Tuesday. I saw the anesthetist, Dr Stewart Allan earlier in the week and he was awesome. I was feeling a little anxious about the whole anesthetic process, but Dr Allan was really lovely so I feel much more relaxed about that. I've just found out that I have very low vitamin D levels and as I suspected I am Insulin Resistant. I'm off for my ultrasound tomorrow, then it's off to buy Optifast and start my Pre Op liquids.

I'm still a little nervous, my partner works FIFO and as luck would have it he is to fly back to work the day of my surgery. So I will be going this alone But I'm sure it will be fine.

Are you connected to the Perth Lapband Chat on Facebook? There are a number of people meeting this Sunday for lunch on the South Perth Foreshore, I'm probably going to head along.

Talk soon

C :-)

[lonelyspiral]

Hi everyone,

Well, it's feeling very official now. I paid the $3000 surgeon fee yesterday and had a feeling that I'd crossed some imaginary line. I think I've been floating for the past few months and none of this has seemed very 'real'. Well, now it definitely is! (And my bank account balance can attest to that!)

Had my pre-op appointment with Dr Nottle after work yesterday. The appt was booked for 3:30pm and at 5:15pm I finally got taken into the room. My exchange with him went like this:

Nottle: So, when are we doing this?
Me: 23rd of Jan
Nottle: You know about Opti?
Me: Yes - but it makes my tongue feel like it has pins and needles. Is that normal?
Nottle: Just do Optislim instead.
Me: Okay. Sounds good.
Nottle: Okay. Have a good Christmas, just not too good.

That was it. After waiting all that time, that was it. I don't know exactly what I'd been expecting, but maybe a little more?? Oh well, I've now got to contact the anaesthetist (sp??) and work out if I need an appointment with him. The girls in the office laughed when I asked if I should have heard from the hospital yet. Apparently no one else is on the same time line that I am??

Anyway, let me know how your pre-op appointments go! Hopefully yours are a little more enlightening

[Cleo]

Opti Slim and Opti Fast are on special this week at Chemist Warehouse. I brought the Opti Slim starter pack for $36. Opti fast is two packs for $55 which is a huge saving.

I had an ultrasound this morning which was awful. The women who proformed the ultrasound was really gruff and I was really uncomfortable with her - she actually hurt me she was pushing so hard on my sternum and under my ribs I thought I was going to faint or vomit. Then she told me off for breathing and getting the jelly on the blanket. I'm tempted to get out my big letter writing pen and write a complaint. Oh well 17 days to go.

[whits75]

Hello everyone

On the countdown now Cleo.....woohoo!

It's funny how everyones surgeon/clinic does everything differently, I have done my bloods, nutritionist, sleep test, exercise physiologist but don't see my surgeon until 3pm the day before surgery and the aneasthetist on the day of surgery. I just keep thinking what if he says no we aren't going to do it!.....messing with my head a little bit.

Cleo: I don't have to have an ultrasound, is that just to check your liver? And you should definitely put pen to paper and put a complaint in, these people are supposed to be in the health industry assisting people not causing distress!

Its a pity your partner has to fly back, will you have someone else to give you a hand if you need it?

My partner also works FIFO, 15 days away and 6 days home , he was due to fly back to work 2 days before I had my OP but has taken another week off, so he will be home for 5 days after my OP to help me with the kids.....after that its gonna be mayhem with 8mth old, 2 year old and 13 year old...aggghhhh.

Rach: My nutritionist has a rather quirky personality but I liked her, she was definitely helpful and gave me a little folder with healthy living guidelines, checklist for healthy goals, and what to eat before and after the op. If you want me to scan and email some off to you let me know.


Well keep us up to date on how you are going with everything Cleo

Tish

[JessBoo]

I'm scheduled for the 24th of Jan

soooo excited!!!!!!! I wanted it earlier and it originally was but the surgeon decided to go on leave! hahahahhaa

[whits75]

Hi JessBoo

Damn that surgeon...lol! I know how you feel, I would have liked mine earlier but tis the season for the surgeons to be on holidays!

[lonelyspiral]

Tish - Yes please!! Any advice you can send my way would be great!!!

And I know how you guys feel - my surgery was moved back 4 days because the surgeon decided he needed a longer break...

[JessBoo]

Hey Whits75

I know I was actually really disappointed.
Postponed 2 weeks but its okay!
I have a new surgeon and all now
Count down is onnnnnn!!

Hows the Pre Op/ Optifast stage going for you???
I'm a little nervous over it, I'm starting just after New years

Jess

[Loo Loo]

Hey Cleo, I would be happy to come with you if you need help or support on the day! Jess who is doing your surgery? Mine was on Dec 21st then it got moved back to jan 17th with Dr Yong

[Casabella]

Hi all January Bandits,

My name is Casie, I am 30 and am booked in to have my lapband inserted on the 11/1/2012. I am excited and petrified all at once!!!. I am having mine done at Baringa Hospital in Coffs Harbour, NSW. I went to see my surgeon and dietition yesterday so everything is set to go. My surgeon discussed the type of gastric band he will use so it will either be a lapband or a midband.

I am soon to be a theatre nurse and will be assisting in these operations so if nothing else this will give me an idea of what my patients are going through. I start my new job on the 6/2/2012 so I am praying that I have given myself enough time to heal.

My surgeon did a gastroscopy first to look for any hiatal hernias and check for stomach size. I will be having my hiatal area tightened as it is loose and could possibly cause problems with the lapband if not repaired at the same time. I too am a secret lapbander and many of my family & friends also think that I am soley having a hernia repair!!!!. I have much support from my close family and friends and am yet to experience any negative comments (phewww). I am sure they will come in due course!!!.

I am so glad that I have found this site and wish you all the best for your up & coming surgeries. Please let us know how you are all progressing.

Casie xx

[JessBoo]

Hello Casie!
Good Luck with it!

I'm really excited mines the 24th!.I'm doing mine in Sydney through the SIOS clinic in Ashfield, part of the sydney private hospital
I have only told my parents and sibling no one else knows, and this site is really good, you can find positive and negative experiences as
everybody is different of course.


Keep us posted!

[Casabella]

Thanks Jess, its getting close now!!! I think we have picked a good time to be banded. By Christmas next year we should be looking fabulous and as for Christmas and New Years this year, we can have our last hoorah before we start optifast!!!.

Casie

[JessBoo]

Casie,

I know ha, the more i think about the more nervous and excited i get.

So i try not to think about it, but thats IMPOSSIBLE! hehe.

Optifast should be an interesting time!!

HooRay!

[JessBoo]

The January Bandits are as follows:

Cleo - 3 January
Casie - 11 January
Lucy - 12 January
Louise - 17 January
Popsicle - 18 January
Tish - 19 January
Anna - 20 January
Rach - 23 January
JessBoo- 24 January
Ann - 31 January


Thats the list i got so far!!!!

Anyone else feel free to keep adding to the list

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!

[whits75]

No worries Rach I will do that for you in the next couple of days, hoping to get my computer back tomorrow (am using hubby's and its not attached to the scanner). I will send you private message with my email address so you can email me yours.

Jess I haven't started yet, I will start Monday....I had plans to start earlier but have gone from a gym fanatic who was watching what I ate to now eating utter crap, it sucks!! As soon as I found out I could get a lapband I sorta let go of the reins...I gotta get back to my healthy habits, my skin has gone to shite and I feel yucky and bloated so I am actually looking forward it.

Welcome to the group Cassie

I bought the Knife, Fork and Band book which I am finding a good read. I also purchased a lapband diet plate and bowl today from the exercise physiologist.

What are you all going to be using regarding vitamins? I know they recommend Nutrichew but my dietician had run out and wasn't sure when the next batch would be in, she recommened using Berocca. When I watched the '8 Golden Rules of Lapbanding' he said you needed a vitamin containing 'B' and folate....I don't think Berocca has folate.

Chat soon

[JessBoo]

Hello Whits!

I start Opti Just after New years!.
Hopefully it goes well!
I went to see the nutritionist and psychologist today and I have lost weight .
I actually eat very healthy, but I do know how easy it is to fall off the bandwagon!
I'm sure you will get back to it quickly!!

I was advised to have the chew vitamins but they also sold out were I go in sydney, but she said they would def be in before I go into surgery.
Berocca I have lots of that!!.I have issues taking tablets anyways so THANK GOD things come in liquid and chew form .

Count down is on!!

[JessBoo]

Just purchased all my Optifast stuff
My mum hasn't been able to come to any appointments with me so I have been updating her
I think I may be scaring her!!

I want to prepare her for good and bad! but yeah I'm not sure how she will take it even after surgery!!

[whits75]

Good on you Jess! That just gave me the kick start I needed :0).

Hopefully ur mum doesn't stress to much!

Countdown is definetly on.... Woot woot!!!! I am pretty excited!!

[JessBoo]

YAY TISH!

I like motivating people, part of my profession, always helping others not myself lol

Counting down, makes me happy...

[Casabella]

I think I will get the nutrichew as well. My dietician also suggested benefibre for regularity.

For myself I have been preparing for the past year by watching youtube videos. Is anyone currently making videos on youtube or planning to? There are so many Americans, it would be great to have an Aussie contingent!!!. Does anyone have any favourites they would like to share?

Casie