No problems, While I was out at dinner last night drinking a nice sauvignon blanc with my prawn and sweet pea risotto, (just to give you an idea of what I eat) I realised I told you in my last reply I was 253kgs at my heaviest, in actual fact I was 153kgs what a typo to add 100kgs to your weight, so I got down to 67kgs and now I bounce between 70 - 72kgs. Anyway now have have cleared that up back to the food. Yesterday, I had 2 slices of toast with butter, vegemite, and avocado for breakfast, mid morning I had a cup of soup (packet). Lunch was egg,carrot,beetroot, mayo sandwich. The sandwich shop where I work does huge sandwiches so I had half at 12 and the other half at about 1. When I got home from work at 5 I had a slice of toast, with cream cheese and a slice of ham. Then had dinner at 7.30 as above there were 8 large prawns in the dish I had 5 gave the other 3 to my husband and I ate about 1/4 of the risotto. I could have eaten more but I was saving a spot for an ice cream to eat on the way home ( there's a Baskin and Robbins next door to the restaurant). I usually always have a tupperware container in my handbag, if the dinner is delicious i take the balance for lunch the next day. A few restaurants will let you have a doggy bag, but I got sick of most of them refusing, especially when I order lamb shanks (my favourite). Straight after surgery follow Professor Woods instructions to the letter, My surgeon Russell Broadbent insisted on a fat free vegitarian diet starting with clear broth, very runny mashed potatos or pumpkin (no butter or milk). He was very strict even before surgery while you went through the counelling etc etc etc you had to maintain a fat free vego diet you weren't allowed to eat anything that walked, swan or flew - no protein unless vegetarian, this is vastly different to the instructions that US Ds'rs get eg scrambed eggs very early even soft fish and ground meats as soon as 3-4 weeks out. So that's why I say follow YOUR surgeon's advice. Of course I had the blockage so I couldn't eat anything, everything just kept coming straight back up even saliva (just like when you get something stuck in the band) Today I had the same for breaky, then I spend the day with my Mum while hubby is at work probably have a cup of tea and bisquits for morning tea (I don't usually keep biccies in the house and she has Tim Tams etc) share a nachos for lunch, dinner not sure yet shepherds pie (I have mince in the freezer) or fish salad and a few chippies. Because of the blockage and not being able to keep anything down I'm not to sure how normal my toilet habits after sugery were I used the toilet within 18 - 24 hrs of surgery for the first few times it was dark red/brown (old blood) I was about 120kgs at the time and I no difficultly getting to the toilet in time, I had a pain pump and drips attached so I had to ring for a nurse to assist me, so make sure you ring in time. Having said this, I had no problem holding on to it. After the second surgery at 2 weeks to fix the blockage, and then the leak I was still able to use the toilet albeit to urinate only, it wasn't until I start to eat after the feeding tube came out at about 8- 9 weeks that I went to the toilet and I suppose if you imagine what you put in you get out. e.g. eat pumpkin soup something the consistancy of pumpkin soup comes out. I went back to work part time with the feeding tube in at about 6-7 weeks. I felt fine surgery wise, but very tired from lack of food I suppose. I never had a problem getting to the toilet in time, I guess it took food about 3 - 4 hours to go through me? As I say, I was different because of my issues. Now I go to the toilet in the morning, and again in the late afternoon, if I have a very high fat dinner I need to go to the toilet at about 2-3 in the morning instead of when I get up. I know I will when I make my choice for dinner, I weigh up how much I want what I'm going to have. Anyway I think that covers it, anymore questions ask away........... Best wishes Lesley

OK....... I had a nightmare time with the surgery. Everything that could go wrong, did. I had a blockage that was caused by problems of the lapband surgery and a perforation due to diverticulitis of the esopheogus so I had to back into surgery 2 weeks later, then I developed a leak. I was in hospital for nearly 5 weeks. I had a feeding tube for approx 8 weeks. Ugly hey........................... However, even though I had 8 - 10 weeks of hell, I don't regret it for an instant. I'd trade that 8 - 10 weeks for the 4 years I had with the band. The frustration of losing 60kgs and then gaining back 30kgs. I NEVER get food stuck now I think I have vomited twice since August 2004. I eat like a normal person just in smaller amounts. There is nothing I can't eat. I lost 86kgs from my highest weight of 253kgs, I have never been happier. This might be TMI but I go to the toilet twice a day, yes it's a bit stinker and so is the wind. I have had one accident and that was at home in bed , about 5 months after sugery, since then I live by the adage "Never trust a fart". If you over indulge in fat your bowel motions are looser, but usually it's the consistancy of toothpaste. In the beginning you can get oily slicks in the loo, but that passes after a while. Who is your surgeon going to be? I spend quite a bit of time on the main DS messageboard of OH, you should visit there. There are lots of people who had revisions from lapband to DS and I am one of the unlucky few that have had problems. Anyway, ask anymore questions you would like to know the answers for. I'll be as honest as I can, by the way before the blockage happened in hospital I was up doing laps of the ward the day after surgery and walking in the park next door to the hospital a day of two later, they give you great drugs for pain, take what they offer. It's so much better if you moving asap. Best Wishes Lesley

Hi Sarah, I was revised lapband to DS in August 04. Ask any questions you want. Lesley

Hi Lisa my name is Sarah i am 25 from Melbourne Australia, i would love to chat. my email is [email protected]. Look foward to hearing from you.

Hi Bree, A lot will depend on your health insurance - I have top (gold) cover with NIB so that takes care of hospital accom, theatre fees etc. I'm scheduled for VSG on Feb 1 and while I left the quote at my folk's place last night, from memory the fee for surgeon (and assistant) is $4,750. From that I think I get about $1,000 back from Medicare/private health insurance combined. The Anaesthetist's general quote was $1,500 - $2000. I spoke to them yesterday and the nurse quoted me $1500 but apparently they're putting the fees up for the new year (figures), so she's going to send out a new quote. The rebate seems to be a lot smaller for this - somewhere around $400, from memory. I worked out with the $400 hospital excess I pay for hospital admittance it'll end up costing about $5,000 - $6,000 (I'm building in a bit of wriggle room). Happy to discuss further once I have the papers back in my hot little hands! cheers T