KristiP

This is kind of a TMI one, but hey, I'm sure we're all in the same boat to some extent! Just wanted to ask - has anyone been experiencing aversions to foods/types of foods you were formally addicted to (for me it was sweets, especially chocolate or ice cream)? I am now constantly jonesing for salty stuff, and things that are crunchy - crispy crunchy not wet crunchy like a carrot! hahaha I can't get enough salt - to the point that I have been so desperate at times that I have shaken a few small chunks of sea salt out of the grinder and sucked on them one at a time. Love the parmesan cheese chips you can make, because they totally satisfy both the salty and crunchy craving, and it only takes 2 or 3 then I've had enough. I'm still experiencing dumping, but not as intensely or as quickly as I had been in the first few months. The first 6 weeks or so, if I had anything too sugary or fatty, it would either send me into an immediate hot flush with extremely smelly and explosive diarhea and I'd be on the toilet for ages, or it would send me into an immediate dead-cold sweat with lightheaded dizziness and I'd have to go lie down (absolutely had to be horizontal) for at least 20 minutes in pitch black (or something over my head to make it so) before I could recover and then I'd have to hit the toilet for a loooooong time. Now, I don't have those episodes so much, but I will feel very yuck, just very very unwell, semi-nauseous, and needing the toilet quite badly. I actually don't mind the dumping because in some ways it's very handy - makes me stop and think before I eat something, consider what the reaction might be and when........because I don't want to be without access to a loo if it's #2, and I don't want to use someones and then stink it all out! Nothing more embarassing than everyone knowing you were the one that made that oh-so-important room repulsive to use. hahaha Also, my hair.....or my lack of hair. Good Lord it started falling out about 3 months ago and it hasn't let up since. At times it seems like the fall out has slowed down, but then I will take a shower or brush my hair and look at that...another toupe in the drain or a tumbleweed in the brush. My ponytail is so thing now that I use toddler size ponytail holders and my fringe is so thin it constantly looks greasy no matter how clean it is. I get plenty of protein and I take my vitamins and supps religiously........I'm thinking it might be the Metformin I still take. It can have hair loss as a side effect. I'm going to see my doc about cutting the dose in half now. Aside from the hair loss I have no complaints, and I don't regret my decision to sleeve for a second, even when I'm pulling a huge glob of hair out of the drain! I figure it will grow back eventually, and if it doesn't, oh well. It's not the end of the world. Makes wearing a wig easier....not as much hair to put under the cap. hahaha

Been ages since i've been on - very busy and life just gets in the way! But I'm a Feb sleever, and have been stuck in the 107's (kgs) for about 2 months now. I have lost a total of 25.1kgs, and I am holding steady. I think considering the number of Feb sleevers who are "stuck" is quite indicative that it's not always calories in/calories out, and that weight isn't in fact always in our control, despite our best efforts. I think the body goes into a shut down/refusal to keep losing at a certain point because it realises that it's lost a good size chunk of itself and it puts on the brakes big time. Because it thinks it's starving or dying. But once it realises it's not starving or dying it relents and the weight loss picks up again, but more slowly. I was discouraged and starting to think I had "failed" again, until I saw these posts. Now I'm thinking I need to change up my routine a bit and see if I can't get the scale moving down again. so I'm thinking an increase in plain pure water (since winter started I've been having more things like decaf black tea, or mint tea - stevia not sugar), and maybe doing the liquid phase a 2-3 days a week. Some of the vloggers on youtube do the liquid phase for a whole week, but I don't know if I can do that - the thought of ingesting one more protein shake actually makes me sick to my stomach. I look at my tin of protein mix and my mouth waters, not in anticipation but like right before you're going to vomit?? Also, I've been lazier since winter came on, so I need to amp up my activity levels. That is probably the largest reason why my losses have stalled. I have been very lazy since end of April/first of May. The good thing is, now that I've lost the 25kgs, I actually do feel heaps better (no more feet, ankle and lower leg swelling.....my knees don't hurt unless I climbs steps or inclines the wrong way......no shortness of breath or issues with stamina although i never did have trouble with that anyway...........) I want to join the local gym near my work, but my role at work has been made redundant, and while I'm still waiting for my end date, I'm not sure if it's the best time to be investing into something I might end up not being able to use (they don't do pay as you go, it's up front for x amount of time and no refunds if you change your mind or whatever). anyway, I'm glad to hear that everyone, 'stuckages' aside, is doing well. My husband is now wondering if he shouldn't get sleeved as well - has been in a battle with his weight his whole life as well. I don't want to push him, he's sometimes slow to come around to things, but I encourage him to seriously consider it. I think he will, but it will take him some time. I think if I can get my weight loss moving again, it will be the thing that gets him off the fence.

I got sleeved on 18 Feb, so 2 weeks out. I feel AWESOME! Started out 131kg/288.2 lbs Surgery day 125.3kg/275.7 lbs 2 weeks out 120.0kg/264.0 lbs So thats a total loss of 11 kgs / 24.2 lbs and a loss of 5.3kgs / 11.7 lbs since surgery. Considering I'm a band to sleeve conversion, with a 31 year history of yo-yo dieting, I'm pretty proud of my achievement so far. And up to now it's been just too easy, but I surmise a lot of it is water weight. I have zero water retention in my feet, ankles and lower calves now. It's been probably 12-18 months since I've been able to see my ankle bones. Now I have to start putting in some hard work. Some things I've started to notice: **I can't drink plain water without getting major heartburn, but putting some diet cordial (similar to Kool Aid for my fellow Americans - I live in Australia now so some lingo is different) **I have zero problem getting in dense proteins in small portions and well chewed (have tried chicken breast, pork roast, hamburger/mince, pork chop, ham so far) but some well cooked veggies like pumpkin and carrots seem to plug up my sleeve and I have to bring it back up similar to when I had the band. I don't want to have anything to drink with it so I think I will have to come back to those foods down the road. Which is fine, since I need protein more than anything right now. **warm or room temperature fluids go down easier than cold ones. With cold ones it's like there's a hitch or a kink it has to get past. **am experiencing some weird sensations that I THINK are kind of like dumping syndrome but not sure. I've had a few sweet things, not huge portions, maybe 1/4 size portions, and I get queasy, my extremities get really cold, but my body is hot, so I shiver and sweat at the same time, I go really pale mostly, but occasionally red faced (didn't realize this, my husband and some friends commented on my pallour during an episode the other night), and I feel I MUST lie down. It usually passes within 10-15 minutes. **sweet things are just too sweet now, and nothing tastes the way it did before I had the sleeve. Also sense of smell is off too. The smell I attributed to the anesthesia until I realized that my taste was off as well. Now that I'm 2 weeks out it's not resolved so I assume it's a (nice) side affect of themsleeve. **the surgery really does not affect your head at all! Lol. This is going to be the hard work I reference above. I still cannot discern true hunger from head hunger, or wanting to stress eat. I find myself looking in the fridge or the pantry quite a lot. Luckily a lot of stuff holds no appeal at all, but I still find myself looking for something. I go back to work next week, so hopefully that will help me resolve this issue. If you're busy - and I know I will be BUSY! - you're not rummaging through cabinets and the fridge looking for "something to do"! Hope everyone is doing well and not having any dramas. Cheers :-D

I did the peanut butter thing to but now I'm sick of that flavour too (never thought I'd say that!). The mint could be interesting but to be honest I'm just over the whole sweet thing in its entirety (would be so nice if this is a permanent thing! hahaha). I'm now pretty much ingesting only savoury/saltier fluids, like chicken noodle soup broth, beef and veg soup broth......I put some small curd cottage cheese through a food mill and thinned it out with some milk and it kind of tasted like a mild feta (weird I know, but when you're desperate to have anything but something sweet and trying to get some protein as well you get creative!). Also enjoying tomato soup and V8 juice in addition to my warm tea and flavoured (diet mix) waters.

Yes only a fellow suffer could possibly understand how bad you can feel after years of use. I've had a cpap machine since 2004, and while it's a painin the ass it does keep me alive and I am grateful to have the tool to use. Like I said, I do hope that I will eventually be able to stop using it, but geez Louise now, I'm healing and recuperating is not the time! The body builds and repairs itself while you sleep, right? So.....how can my body heal and repair what I've had done to it if I cannot sleep?and what about my poor heart and the strain that being unable to breath puts on it. I'm increasing my risk of stroke, heart attack, blood pressure issues, further aggravating my already scrambled endocrine system..........I think, like I said above, that will do a little experiment, see what happens. My guess is nothing to lose and everything to gain. Starting to wonder if my surgeon doesn't just like to terrorize me or something!

See, I think the same way! I've thought about it and thought about it and I just cant wrap my head around his logic. I fail to see how my wearing my cpap now is going to be that much different than a few weeks from now - realizing of course that there is swelling and major healing over taking place, but c'mon, nobody seemed at all concerned that I might vomit during the contrast swallow. I was already nauseas thinking about it, and I expressed concern that vomiting would create a real hazard in a newly sleeved patient. They just brushed that aside. I'd think that the stomach contracting and dry wrenching would be more hazardous to a sleeve than a fractional amount of air inflating it. I think I'm going to trial it for a few hours tonight. When I can't tolerate sitting up any more I'll put on my mask and see how I go, report back. I do not expect to report anything exciting or unusual.

Sounds like all us Fab Feb Sleevers are doing fairly well, small (expected?) issues aside. I'm Type 2 diabetic but wasn't on insulin only met or in, which was actually prescribed for my PCOS. The diabetes was diet and lifestyle controlled, so only changes in that! I just had a question for any sleevers with obstructive sleep apnea: did your surgeon not allow you to use your cpap machine for a period of time AFTER you'd been sleeved? I was told by the hospital pre-admissions to be sure to bring my machine because they'd put me in it before taking me back to my room after surgery. But they didn't. And then my surgeon said he didn't want me using it because it would "blow up" my sleeve creating a lot of pressure in a small space. Ok, fair enough, but........my OSA is CHRONIC, like really really bad, and I got zero sleep in hospital. And the nursing staff - I'm sorry but I can not be the first patient you've ever had with OSA. How can you not understand that sticking nasal canulas or a full o2 mask on me is of no help at all if I can't actually get the o2 IN? I can't breath through my nose at the best of times (structural issue, needs correcting) and with the OSA, well, that just goes without saying. So there I am possibly having drifted into a semi-state of consciousness, and the nurse would come in the middle of the night to check vitals. She sees my pulse ox count is way low, and would shake me awake and ask me to take a lot of deep breathes, while she organized the oxygen. I'd let them stick it on me, they'd come back later, repeat the whole process and ask if I'd been taking it off......because pulse ox was still as low as before! Well DUH!!! I'd try to explain why the oxygen wasn't helping but nobody would have a bar of it. They would turn up the u2 pressure or say 'well it can't hurt'c. No, but it's not much help either. For someone with OSA it's like holding us under water but expecting us to be able to breath because youre pushing air bubbles through the water. I can't fault the nursing staff on anything, they were as attentive as I could have asked for, but I don't get that none of them seemed to know anything about sleep apnea. Anyway, on discharge my surgeon said "no cpap until you see me on Monday, and then we'll talk about when you can start using it again." Because apparently my ability to breath while sleeping is an option! I've had probably a cumulative total of 10 hours of actual sleep since being admitted to hospital on 18th. I'm EXHAUSTED. And irritated. And punchy. Near to tears with fatigue, and my patience has snapped more than not. I have a headache I can't seem to knock, despite regular Panadol and being DEFINITELY hydrated. My brain function is poor, and........I note that my heartbeat is having a lot of irregular beats......eerily like those I had for years before getting my cpap machine. Anybody else encountered this kind of directive? How did you cope without your machine? At this stage I'm "sleeping" by propping up almost vertically against the headboard. This is fine for a while, but eventually my bum and back start to hurt. I can only hope that my surgeon realizes that I NEED that machine. Hopefully, I will not need it in the future (would happily give it up, if I could) but it's a necessity right now. Aside from this I'm having no adverse problems with my sleeve and do not have any regrets.

Hi all, I was sleeved on Monday 18th Feb, and despite my extreme terror that I'd leave the hospital with nothing more than a single hole in my gut with a steri strip over it (my surgeon was seriously doing my head in big time), the surgery went off without a hitch and I'm now back home and doing relatively well. No trouble getting my fluids in, but getting down the protein drinks and soup broth is proving to be only slightly more difficult - I simply do NOT want it. It does't help that I'm so sick of sweet stuff I could barf - and naturally the protein drinks are all sweet. i have noticed that warm liquids go down 'better' than cold ones; i don't notice that split second ache that I get when i swallow cold stuff. It's not really pain per se, it's just a slight ache, and it only lasts long enough to notice and then its gone. I have a follow up with my surgeon this Monday coming. I weighed this morning and am actually showing a 3kg gain, but I know it's all the fluids they pumped into me in hospital. I'm not going to worry about it at this stage. no pain, but I am making sure I maintain my desolvable pandaol doses (how awful is that stuff, anyway?? blegh). still, i was expecting much more discomfort. my incissions are only a little tender, the worst being the one my drain tube was in. since it was pulled until yesterday arvo, it's the least healed of them, so that makes sense to me.

Hi kalimomof3, Sorry, i forget that not everyone knows what a vlogger is! It's from YouTube, one of the video bloggers (vlogger) that I follow regularly. She posted a video about how to make this, step by step. Keep in mind that she's in the US so her oven temp is in Farenheit, you'll need to convert the temps (I think it's about 232C). I am experimenting with the recipe today to see if I can use it for more than just pizza or breadsticks. Will post any positive results. Cheers!

Hi mini mee, I am pretty particular to the label stats. I don't see the point of not being, considering the circumstances I will be very soon! It will be nice to shift somemofmthe focus on getting enough rather than just focusing on not having too much. I'd previously been using Optifast but it's got quite a high number of carbs and not all that much Protein. Doesn't taste bad but the consistency is a little weird; unless you put it in a blender it doesn't incorporate very well and you get these little slimy lumps. And hate the way it LOOKS out of the packet...........don't ask me why but it reminds me of what I empty out of the Dyson canister after I vacuum the beds (yes, I vacuum the beds....even though I use mattress protectors!). lol Anyway, I still have quite a lot of define left (bought 1kg tub of the stuff) so will want to get close to finishing that before I buy something else. Even on sale it wasn't cheap (sorry but i think considering the whole "obesity epidemic" diet products should be cheaper, not more expensive, than tasty junk/fast food. No wonder there's an epidemic! They hook us and gets addicted to taste, texture, and cost, then heap on the weight shame so we'll buy products that taste fairly gross in comparison, then we give up when we don't get the promised results, go back to the junk, go back on a diet, repeat ad nauseum. It's a vicious cycle. Sorry......I get on my soap box sometimes. Anyway, I'm sure these places will run specials again, and I don't want to go out and buy another product I like better and let this one sit there and go to waste. Because it would. Once I find something I like better I never go back to the other product, so I've learned not to kid myself with the whole "it will be my back up". Hahaha Thanks for the tip off though - I will have to start watching for the adverts and catalogues for specials.

Thanks for the words of encouragement! Kelliv, I am not so worried about it on a personal level - I just don't want to see my surgeon on Wed and have to deal with his apparent annoyance that I'm his patient, and also what imfeel are somewhat unreasonable expectations. That I'm trying will have no impact on him if I don't produce the results he feels I should reproducing. Still, as long as his scale doesnt show a gain, that's all I ask (because his scale and my scale vary a bit, and not in my favor!). Dean, this stuff is AMAZING and it's really easy to make, just takes a little bit of prep and some time, but not that much if you make sure you have everything you need within arms reach. I cut up my toppings while the crust/base was cooking. I will have to sit down and work out what the stats of this recipe are. Swift Kate, glad to hear things have started to sort themselves out. I can't wait to get to post op. It will be such a relief to just finally have it done so I can move on to actually working the sleeve, instead of just talking and reading about it. Lol

Beautiful temp in southeastern Vic too! Didn't start drizzling until the evening - but we welcomed that. Dean, we'd have gladly taken some of the pi$$ing down off you, for sure! We need the rain soooooo badly, if not to dampen down fire prone areas, then at least to top up our Water tanks. That's all were on were on on the farm. Anyway, I didn't get a chance to post last weekend, and due to my living arrangements during the week didn't have access to a scale until yesterday. Today is weigh in day. So today starts week 3 of my self imposed pre-pre-op diet. I've been trying to have a couple of Protein shakes and a small meal consisting of a lean dense protein and a non-starchy veg (or 2) daily. It's been very hard this last week, and I have not made the best choices, hence I'm only down .2 kg from last weigh in, which bring me down a total of 1.7kgs since starting this 13 Jan(I think that's when I started). My surgeon is not going to be happy with me, but i am trying my best. Its hard - im hungry ALL THE TIME. And when not truly hungry, then i just want to bloody EAT. My own personal devil, Head Hunger. I see him on 30th. VSG still on for 18 Feb (had a bit of a win with personal finances....it had been looking like I might have to reschedule again, but not now. phew!). Official 2 week pre-op liquid diet will start 5 Feb. I wish I had that 2 weeks off from work as well, because I do better at home, in my controlled environment. Work stresses me out too much and I become preoccupied with food, eating, and it's just a danger zone for me. Away from work, I am FINE. But, I have to work, so am going to have to learn to manage this. There is no other way, and only I can do it. I have to change my response patterns, because work will not change. We had a late night last night and so my evening meal is uh, still "with me" (i usually weigh after doing all my business in the morning, if you know what i mean! Sorry....TMI!). I did really bad with my water intake this past week, some days only just got it all in, others lucky to get in half. Been working longer hours each day (10-12, as opposed to 8), 45 minute commute each way, and by the time I get home the last thing I want to do is exercise. Probably the exercise has been the worst - I did NONE this past week outside of body movement that takes place due to life and living! No intentional exercise,8 should say. I am still retaining some Fluid in my feet, ankles and lower calves but it is a lot better. So I will do my morning chores, see if things get moving. Things are a little slow in that department so I may have some.....build up to get rid of (again with the TMI!!) If they do get moving, re-weigh and see if it makes any difference. I'm sure it won't be much if at all, but hey. Product Reviews I've found a Protein shake that is fantastic on the calories to grams of protein ratio (a lot of WLS vloggers on YouTube say they look for things that are 1 gram of protein for every 10 calories, and less grams of carbs than protein). It's by Vitalstrength Nutriceuticals and it's called Define. Mine is the women's high protein mix; the label is black & pink with white text. I think there is a guys blend with a blue label. Anyway, I got it from Chemist Warehouse, it was on special $40 for 1kg tub. chocolate flavor, but they also have vanilla. It has 388kj/93 calories, 18.7 gr protein, 1.9 gr carbs, and 1.0 gr fibre (which makes the net carbs .9, I think?). I think that is a great ratio - more protein than kj/cal and low low carbs. It says to mix with low fat or soy milk but I do it with water. Its not the greatest taste in the world - doesn't really have much taste at all. So I added a little Stevia which helped but it just made it sweet. The texture still too watery (of course....I didn't use milk!). So I started looking for a way to improve the taste and texture, make it stay in my poor giant stretched out stomach a bit longer, which leads me to my next product...... Chobani Greek Yogurt. 2 version available: 2% fat and fat free. I went with fat free. Having had Greek yogurt in the past I'm used to it being very sour if taken plain, but this is brand is very mild (I think - I can actually eat it by itself, and I can't do that with other brands). It's slightly more expensive than other brands, BUT this has great label stats! Per 100 grams it's 241kj/58cal, 9.2 gr protein, 4.5 carbs (3.1 of which are sugars but I've read that these are not the same as say sugars found in fruit or cane sugar, something about the fermentation process changing them to not affect blood sugar the same? Will have to refresh my mind on that), and 108mg Calcium, which is so important and hard to get if you're minimizing dairy intake because of the carbs (I am). Anyway, it's got a really smooth creamy texture, reminds me of Paul's Chocolate Custard in the tub. So I mix about 1/2 cup of this yogurt into my morning and afternoon shake, and it REALLY helps. Much more satisfying because it stays with me a bit longer, and it sort of helps to bring out the choc flavor. Ok I have a food review that should suit sleevers who have been on solids for a little while - virtually sin free pizza. Its so good....even my husband, a pizza fiend thought it was awesome, and that is saying A LOT! He's usually a purist on things like pizza as in he likes a traditional base and nothing else will do. I got the recipe and instructions from one of the vloggers I watch regularly. Vsgtanya2011, post from 22 Jan 2013, titled Cheesy Garlic Cauliflower Pizza Crust. (sorry can't seem to post links from my iPad anymore...I think something's wrong with it!). You guys, this stuff is so good, the base is good enough to eat all by itself. And we did just that on the first one (made a double batch and then quartered it to make 4 different kinds of pizza (about the size of personal pan pizzas from Pizza Hut). We only made 3 because the first one we ate as it was! Probably the only downside is the salt/sodium, because you use low fat mozzarella and Parmesan (both high-ish in sodium) and then it calls for garlic salt too. The first pizza I made up, I put a single layer of shaved hot Hungarian salami from the deli on it (that was 12 grams). Some sliced mushrooms, red and green capsicum, onion, a couple of sliced green olives (small ones) and some low fat mozzarella cheese, about 20gr of the shredded stuff. OMG, absolutely BRILLIANT. And you know what? I didn't realize until we were eating it that I forgot to put on the pizza sauce! And it tasted awesome! So score! No sugar from the sauce. The next one I did the same but added the sauce (brush it on with a pastry brush to minimize the sugar) and I think I actually prefer it without the sauce. The third on ei made BBQ chicken for my hubby. It was pretty good too. I had to adjust the cooking time of both the base and the pizza by about 3 minutes longer (difference in altitude I think) but I left the temp alone (she is American, as am I, but has an Aussie husband though - so uses Farenheit, so the conversion to Celsius is about 232 degrees). I found that the olive oil on the parchment didn't do anything but keep the base a little more moist, so wasn't a thin and crispy (my fav) except around the edges, but even so, it was still Devine. Honestly, I could quite easily never have a traditional based pizza ever again. Even my husband said he'd be happy to have this any time we had pizza at home. You guys do not know how big of a statement that is!!! I almost fell off the bar stool! Lol Also, I don't have a ricer, so after I cooked my cauliflower, I put it into a wire strainer and pressed the water out using a Cereal bowl that is slightly smaller than the strainer rim and then dumped it onto a stack of paper towels (I get rolls of the stuff from work for free, so have no qualms in "wasting it" (lol) so for those of you who don't use that stuff, a couple of old tea towels or even several layers of news print would work.....if you don't mind news ink! Lol) The cauliflower doesn't really stick to it and you just fold it over press out more water and then dump it into the mixing bowl. I think that's the most important part, get out as much excess water as possible. And this stuff is versatile, if you back off the cooking time you could avoid the crispy edges and use the stuff as a wrap, or cut it into squares for sandwich "bread", if you like savory stuff. I may do some experimenting with this see what other sort of flavors I can come up with that would suitable for less savory toppings/fillings. Ok, as usual I have ran off the end of the earth with a single post so hope everyone is doing great and having an awesome long weekend. Let's go out and make it happen!

I should takemthis post into my surgeon and say "look! You CAN do it mall in one go, you big fat, i mean, little skinny liar!" lol However, I already know he would adjust his glasses and say "STAY. OFF. THE. INTERNET!" **eye roll**

Hi Kelliv, Yes, it's interesting how conflicting treatment is between doctors for the same issue. I have learned not to bother mentioning that you'd read about other treatment protocols because 9 times out of 10 they don't like well informed patients. They naturally think you're an idiot and take everything you read as the word of God and will tell you to STAY OFF THE INTERNET; LISTEN TO ME, AND ONLY ME. I think it makes them feel, in a way, threatened. Anyway, that's what he wants me to do, so thats what I will do. Reading other posts about sleep apnea, I am a mouth breather with chronic OSA so have to use a full face mask cpap machine. The ENT I saw told me that losing weight would help but considering other factors (like my very narrow throat, "floppy" soft pallet and uvula, and ginormous tongue - yes, he actually used the word ginormous....I left with the visual of Shamu "smiling" for the camera at Sea World - that even if I lost ALL my excess weight that I'd probably still have OSA to some degree. I would like to prove him wrong and get rid of this damn thing. Look, it keeps me alive and God knows I can't sleep without it blowing air into me, but it's a pain in the arse, because you always have to make sure that wherever you go you have access t power. camping with a generator to run your bloody cpap machine is just annoying! It's one more thing to lug around and it's NOISY! I have a love/hate relationship with it. I know I require it, but I don't WANT to require it.

Hi one_Elle, My surgery isn't until 18 Feb, so I'm not quite on Optifast yet. I won't have to start that until 4 Feb. So right now, I'm on a self imposed low cal/low carb diet (sort of like Atkins but not as much fat). I probably wouldn't be doing this if Stephen hadn't been so disgusted by my 10kg gain between having the band out on 20 Sept and seeing him again 21 Dec. He reminded me of the 2 week pre-op OptiFast ONLY diet (I did clarify with him that meant strictly OptiFast and nothing else but Water during this time) and told me that under no uncertain terms would the surgery proceed if he got in there and found my liver still all fatty. He said he'd sew me back up, and that would be it for me. Yikes. So I thought I'd get a jump start on the pre-op liver shrinking/weight loss. I already know that OptiFast only will be very hard for me for 2 weeks, so I thought if I started reigning myself in, it would lessen the OptiAgony! Lol But.......I also wanted to go into the OR weighing what I did when I got my band unfilled in (April? May? I forget). I was 116-118kgs (depending on which scale I stood on). I'm trying to put it all into perspective. So I've chosen to focus not on the number that was smaller than what I hoped for, but my ankles and feet which are smaller than they've been since November. I've been having to wear my husbands Crocs around the house (11's) since then, but this morning I tried mine on (8's...maybe 9's...I forget and the bottoms are total race slicks now! Haha) and was able to slide my feet in like they used to. It was nice to see that happen. So.....still in the saddle, and now hoping to see a big drop NEXT Sunday - although I will happily accept any number that comes up as longer as it's LOWER. Hope everyone is doing well and going out there and making it happen! Cheers

Well, first pre-pre-op weigh in today. I'm a little disappointed in the result - was hoping for a bigger loss considering my efforts this past week. A measly 1.6kgs down. And, I managed to shift some ofmthe Fluid retention in my ankles and feet, so I haven to assumemthat I actually lost nothing butnwater weight. I guess at least my feet and ankles are almost back to normal though. There's a plus.

Would like to further state that my comments in my above post make my surgeon out to be a real jerk - and he's not. He's very professional and I know without a doubt I'm in very good hands. I just that he was schooled in the old ways where certain specialties of the medical professional were taught that they are a god and above reproach. And probably schooled in (professionally and socially) in the idea that shaming, belittling or negative feedback is the best method of motivation when it comes to getting fat people to lose weight. Trouble is, I think for most of us with a weight problem (in particular those of us who have battled weight our whole lives) it's NOT AT ALL motivating. I'd go as far to say that we use it to further reinforce how we already feel about ourselves, and use that experience to continue to abuse ourselves. Well, that has been my experience and what I've read and heard in others. I think it's probably applicable to many here. But Ive gotten off topic. AGAIN. I just want to say that anyone who is here looking at posts while searching for a surgeon, please don't discount Dr Blamey because he IS a very excellent surgeon. Just don't expect a warm fuzzy, cuddly working relationship. You won't get that. You'll get facts, which are usually cold and hard, from a well meaning surgeon who doesn't have a sugar coating! Lol In other news....... Hanging out to get on the scale tomorrow. I think I might have drooped a couple of kgs, which if I have is AWESOME! And makes me very relieved and very happy and feel like my hard work this last 2 weeks hasnt been for nothing. And it has been HARD at times. I know y'all know exactly where I'm coming from! Got my last pre-op with Blamey on 30th Jan, so hoping to have lost most of what I put on after band removal, and then more still in 2 week pre-op Optifast stage. Right wrapping this up now. Hope everyone is having a super week. Go out, and make it happen. I will! (stole that from my fav VSG vlogger )

Clearly he's a good surgeon, and I feel completely at ease with him......in the surgical ward. Across the desk is a whole other story. I literally have to take a Valium before going to see him (left over from a stint with seized back muscles). Then, I get annoyed after every appointment, because I think 'dang, you come to him for help and he passes as much judgement on you as any random person in the street!'. He isn't caustic or hateful.......just....abrupt...... tries to put words in your mouth and implies that he's a better witness to your experiences than you are. It's annoying because if I were actually able to get my weight under control on my own, I'd surely have achieved it by now, and I wouldn't even be there. For Gods sake, I've spent 3/4 of my life (literally!) trying to lose weight. One gets the feeling that he expects you to apologize profusely for taking up his time, despite the fact that you're paying him a pretty handsome sum per visit AND 9 times out of 10 he keeps you waiting an hour or more.......So.......it would be nice if he could exude some semblance of bedside manner. Doubt it will ever happen, as much as I doubt any of us will earn a "well done!" and a pat on the back. But like Lila said, it's not what others think of us...it's what WE think of ourselves. We just have to remember it!

Lila, you probably have one of the most impressive stories, considering what you went through. That you're still positive minded and glad you did it proves what an awesome tool it is. Look forward to reading your continuing progress. I don't post much (right now) but I read every post that comes through my subscriptions.

Hi Dean, Yeah I feel like I'm in a pretty good head space. Like I said, I let myself have a sook and a pout and then just got back on the horse. I've been doing very well - aside from not getting in enough Water yesterday. Trying to make up for it today though. I have access to all kinds of nice things here in the office (choc bikkies, lollies, left over Favourites from Christmas....) so me not getting into them is my determination showing. Each day gets easier to abstain though. anyhoo, can't wait to be on the losers bench with everyone! Cheers!

Hi sarahjp, My surgeon is Stephen Blamey. He took my band out (it was put in by Tny Kiereth in Perth though). I'll be at Cabrini Malvern. Which Cabrini were you at? Lila certainly has come a long way, from a very touch n go long hospital stint to now being one of the most inspirational posters on here. Of course, everyone is inspirational, as everyone is on tier own journey. I too value each piece of info shared. swift Kate, I did beat myself up for a bit....but it didn't last that long. I actually got a bit pissed off at Dr Blamey over it because I begged for the band to be taken out and me get sleeved at the same time (had no issues with the band ther than I just couldn't work it to my benefit) but nothing doing; I just HAD to wait many many weeks in between. And of course after the band was out, I had no complications from that, I had no restriction, and my stomach was no longer folded over and secure to the band so it was bigger. After the initial 10 day period where I wanted nothing to do with food (as is usually the case when someone has had surgery on their guts) my hunger came back with a vengeance and I was hungry ALL THE TIME, and I had this craving, this desperate craving for things I hadn't been able to ingest for over 4 years: chicken breast....steak....pork.....salad with chunky cut veggies instead of everything slivered.........milk.......cheese...... Am I the only one who notices a theme here (that most of these are dense proteins)? While I have had some sweet treats since being dis-banded (LOL) I have to say they are not my weakness. My weakness is all the things I was deprived of for a substantial amount of time. That craving? I think was my bodies way of saying, hey we haven't had this good stuff for a long time - better stock up! But I can't blame Dr Blamey (eh, irony much? Hahaha) for the frequency or quantity I partook of these things. I am mostly sure that his making me wait between surgeries was out of medical concern......but a part of me wonders if he didn't look at the situation as a cash cow - I mean after all he told me point blank that the combination band removal/VSG was never done and that EVERYone had to wait. Which I know from here, blogs, ObesityHelp, YouTube and other sources is not exactly the truth. Perhaps he didn't mean to blanket the VSG world wide with an everyone does this comment, maybe he only meant HIS patients. Regardless my fears of weight gain, that I expressed plainly and without pause fell on deaf ears, and while I hold myself fully accountable for my 10kg gain, having a gigantic stretched out stomach and an appetite that just would not be appeased for very long certainly didn't help. End rant, moving on and moving forward. I hope the scale reflects my efforts this past 2 weeks. I still haven't shifted the Water retention from my feet and ankles, but I notice that I don't seem to have that ungodly soreness in the heels, and I'm not as stiff upon waking or after sitting for so long. Also I don't feel QUITE as bloated in the face. I am taking this a sign that something's are changing in the positive. Sorry for my long winded posts everyone. I don't post often but when I do I go for gold! Sorry x 2! - does anyone on here do vlogs on YouTube? I love watching them,8 find them so inspiring and motivational, not to mention educational. And it's good to see and hear someone talk about their experiences. Feels more connected. I am going to look into doing them as well. I need the "face to face" accountability! Hahaha Ok everyone have a great week. Go out and make it happen!

Hi sarahjp, My surgeon is Stephen Blamey. He took my band out (it was put in by Tny Kiereth in Perth though). I'll be at Cabrini Malvern. Which Cabrini were you at?

Hi Swift Kate, you will be about a month ahead of me - was supposed to be getting sleeved today :-( but had to reschedule due to personal issues.. Where are you getting sleeved? We could nearly be "buddies"! :-D