Olivereindeer

I am now and ex bandit after 11 years of complications and terrible nutrition. I was only considering the sleeve but am not heading towards the bypass. I think I need more than just the restriction especially long term. I have really no idea what my eating habits are - i have been dieting then banded for the past 30 years. Rani

Interested to hear how we would all describe our personality and how your weight has affected it before of after (or both) during surgery??

There is a MAJOR difference between being selfush and taking care of yourself. You have invested time and money in the sleeve and it is worth doing whatever u need to be a fit healthy Mom. Mom guilt us a terrible thing!! It's only short term sacrifice for them but long term gain for a happy healthy mum

I am an RN- smoking significant impacts on healing - not just a little but ALOT. It may also contribute to developing a clot. The two scariest things about having this surgery. Seriously - I wouldn't risk it. Get some patches and just get yourself to at least 6 weeks out then decide. Good luck to you - smoking is a b***h to kick!

My nut advised to trick your body do it doesn't famine so eat 600 one day then 1100 the next.

It has been the best thing I've done for myself abd I'm only POD12. I too was scared of the surgery but it was WAY easier than I thought. I've already lost 15lb and just the action of putting on a piece of clothing that will do up easily has totally changed my confidence. Before I felt there was no point exercising it dieting - with this tool I know I can go it!!

Yep, me too!! Hit the wall today after a fantastic first day. Prob did too much yesterday - lots walking - showering self. Today - lightheaded, bone tired. Good to warn other people!!

Hi !! I'm April 23 too but in Australia. Also band to sleeve!!

Nikki, I chose both Michael Talbot and Craig Taylor. I ended up sending Dr Kuzinkovas (Dr Talbots partner at www.uppergisurgery.com.au) an email and he was excellent in answering my questions over email immediately. I changed my apt with Dr Talbot and went to Dr Kuzinkovas (in the same office anyhow) and am now booked with Kuzinkovas on April 23rd At St George Private Hospital at Kogarah. The reason why I chose their practice instead of the O CLinic is that they are the only practice and hospital in Australia endorsed with the Bariatric Centre of Excellence (you can check this out on their website) which means that they follow world wide best practice guidelines...this means they have to use the best quality drugs, equipment etc etc. The nurses and hospital also has to conform to standards of excellence which includes trained bariatric nurses etc. They will perform the surgery with best practices eg. not only staple the stomach but also oversew it with sutures which is researched to result in less leaks. Dr Talbot was one of the first surgeons who commenced sleeves in Aus and he then trained Dr Kuzinkovas. They also perform major upper GI surgery including major cancers etc so they are highly experienced which complications. I was informed that they perform 700 sleeves per year in their centre and Dr Kuzinkovas has not a leak as yet however he was quick to point out that there is still a possibility for everyone. He was also highly realistic...dod not sugar coat anything and informed me that he was the surgeon but not a miracle worker so if I continue to put chocolate down my throat then it wouldn't work. He allowed me a huge amount of time to ask all the questions I can think of - silly and otherwise. His office staff were also lovely. He explained everything thoroughly and with videos and models. As with the O Clinic and some others the whole package is included, dieticians, psychology and easy access via email to the surgeons. The hospital (probably like any other private one) is rather plush. Apparently there are a few nurses who work in the 'sleeve ward' who had had the sleeve too and happily talk to the patients about it. Being an RN I am extremely choosey and careful about who will do what to my body. I am more than satisfied that this practice (either Kuzinkovas or Talbot) provide excellent care and have enough experience and skill. The surgeon told me that the sleeve is now a reasonably simple operation that is easy to perform and doesn't take too long. I kept asking him about it being a bug surgery and he answer something to the extend of 'no, this is simple compared to the other types of surgery we do'. He rang me the other day just to check and see how i was going preparing for the surgery and getting my head around it. He wanted to check in and make sure I was happy with the information he gave. I initially wanted a bypass but he has since informed me that he will not do this as I live out of NSW and he is not prepare to compromise the aftercare should I end up with longer term complications when he would not be around to care for me. This indicates decent professional practise to me. Its important to remember that in surgery the surgeon might do the surgery however it is the anaesthetist that keeps you alive and controls your pain afterwards. Ask who your surgeon will be and how much Bariatric Experience he has. I would also ask what kind of pain control you can have after. I would only have this surgery when I would have a PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) available post op - this was paramount for me and something I made sure of in my initial surgeon apt. Having said all this - after seeing Dr Kuzinkovas I cancelled my apt with the O Clinic as I did not feel I needed to have another opinion as I was so pleased. All in all...take a huge list of questions in with you. Get a general feeling of the practice and surgeon, how available they are to you now as this could indicate post op availability. My last comment relates to surgeons that are 'cute' or do they whole 'leave it to me and don't you worry' type....I have worked with surgeons like this. Just because they are cute, funny, personable, have a flashy website doesn't mean they are a good clinician or offer a good service. Really check them out before making any decisions. Goodluck.... Rani

Hi Shyne, I am Aussie and I use gastricsleevesupport.com which is an Aussie site. I think I saw your name on there. I am April 23rd at St Georges Private in Sydney. Scared and excited too!

I have been advised by my dietitian to avoid protein drinks per see (like the body builders ones) and use any meal replacement ones. I do not like Optifast but really all the Tony Ferguson Range. The adult goal for protein for women is 40g per day and one shake is around 20mg. She stated this is important in the liquid stage so that we are still getting a balanced diet which is important to prevent muscle wastage and hair loss.

Oh gosh, my date us April 23 and I wish it was tomorrow. The more I try to prepare by eating well and exercising the more my eating us out of control. I can't stop thinking about my surgery and food. Apart from eating terribly the feeling of having no control and gorging myself is so demeaning. I feel rather hopeless and stupid. I'm gaining weight rapidly. I will get to a psychologist this week but in so scared that I will sabotage myself even after the surgery. I know my anxiety levels are high at the moment but the negative thoughts are horrendous and my self esteem is very low. Rani

You know, people cant help they way they feel. They can help how they act but not how they feel. As sad and seemingly prejudice as it appears I too have issues with dating certain people due to a particular trait that I find off putting. I don't have problems with someone's weight but certainly I do with other traits. It's not that I'm not able to handle the shut that goes along with it - it's just that the attractiveness of a person does not always outweigh the part I find off putting. Don't make assumptions about him 'not bring able to handle it' - maybe he adores you but your weight us something he finds off putting and that might be something he can't help but feel. I'm not making excuses for prejudice but I think we need to make allowances for he fact hat our feelngs are influenced by society's distaste for being overweight.

A c section is now typically done horizontally along the bikini line or just above. The open rny is a vert cal cut from bottom Of sternum bone down to belly button and also May extend down to Bikini line.

I'm April 23! Just need a phone chat with both docs a nut next week (I live out of state). Have already ordered some samples from Bariatric Pantryalthough my nut says to always go for a meal replacement shake rather than just protein. States average female needs 40g protein daily. I've also been told olive needing 3 monthly B12 injections and will only need one multivitamin daily if I am eating properly. Everyone seems to get different advice! I will be stocking up on some gel baby food, shakes and broths. I'm scared but wish my date was tomorrow. I dreamed last night. I was in he hospital and was worried cos no one wore gloves, he male nurse couldn't get my catheter in and I had to get it in myself. Then another nurse was trying to get an arterial line in while I was at a restaurant. Im an RN! Obviously it is all playing on my mind.

I'm April 23! Two weeks of 3 shakes per day and I cup limited range veges and water. Nothing else!! ( not sure how I will do it!

Midwife and NICU nurse (previous neonatal retrieval RN)!! Nurses Rock

Bipolar - well controlled now. Surgery 23 April.

I don't think it makes any difference to me. I have friends who are overweight and skinny and in between in the lesbian community. I think on the whole as I live in a small town, the gay community can be quite narrow minded and judgemental. I think women are more judgemental than men in general regardless of sexual Orientation. My girlfriend is athletic and slim, I am bigger and love my sofa! I couldn't care less what my lesbian community thinks of me any more than the hetero community before or after my surgery. I am me ..

I used to be a Wound Consultant. Moist wound Healinh generally refers to secondary healing eg. When a wound is open and needs to granulate and heal from the base up. Primary wound closure is when something us drawn back together and held there with stitches , staples or steri strips. If you skin is joined and there us no raw flesh open then u do not need to worry. Neoaporin won't help and prolonged used can lead to bugs getting resistance. Covering a stores me with something like hospital paper tape eg. Micropore has been shown to reduce tension on the suture line resulting in less scat tissue being laid down. Hope this helps. Band aids are nasty!!!

My date is April 23 and I want to make life As easy as possible post op. any tips? I've already started upping my protein, taking iron, walking daily. What should I stock up On food wise? I'm Vegetarian but egg fish.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I suppose I am scared that it seems like HUGE surgery, the possibility of further surgeries in the future, I am fish eating vegetarian... but at the same time I am sure i have scar tissue from two bands. Im just scared I think.

Hi everyone I'm an Aussie girl trying to decide whether to go with a sleeve or bypass after 12 years of two bands with continual problems and finally saying no more in jan 13. Since band has come out I've gained 20lb!!!!! Arrhgggggh. I've got an amazing partner who is very athletic and whippet slim but very supportive SPF whatever decision I feel is best for me. First surgeon apt next week! Scared but excited! Rani

The awesome stick on heat pads that warm up when you put them on and last 12 hours. You can buy them from chemists or sometimes physiotherapists stock them. Warm fuzzy socks. LIttle pillow to hold on the tummy when you need to cough. Lip Balm definitely.

You are already super cute looking and wait until you have your surgery and you start to feel absolutely wonderful about yourself..... rock star!!!