Lissa_S

Had another setback today I am afraid. Ct showed more pooling in my abdomen so they are trying non surgical options with the drains but if it doesn't work they will have to reoperate. The upside is though that they found it earlier than last time so hopefully it won't be back to icu they are the sorts of silver linings right now

I am completely overwhelmed by your generosity to me - a person you don't really know. I am speachless at your kindness. Though I can not accept any cash from you ( I have very generously been given as much time as needed by John Flynn to pay when I am back to work) I would love to arrange to meet with you before I go home and then perhaps again at the 6 th and 12 month mark? Truly, I feel as though I have friends in you all through what has been an especially tough period. God bless you all!

Lol I'd take it at the moment its been nice not being hungry...hope it comes back. Think it's the dreaded head hunger everyone talks about

Sorry have to share my current food obsession. I really want a toasted spaghetti jaffle. Anyone remember how good they were as kids? Totally woke up dreaming of eating it...quite vivid. First day I've felt hungry post- sleeve. Taking it as a good sign...

Hi all guys another update... To answer a few questions, there is sometimes no good reason for a leak. This is the first one my surgeon has ever had. She has helped others recover though. I needed to stress that there is no fault here...the averages were against me on the day. My surgeo.n is amazing and I truly credit her and the whole team for saving my life. Part of the problem with this leak is that there are no definites- I come up against the old how long is a piece of string adage a lot. On average it's about four weeks nil by mouth before you can start at the liquis stage. For me, my surgeon was discussing operating to put in a stent next week but today she said she felt that maybe they would just see how I go with a nasal feeding tube. The started me on TPN tonight which is providing me with nutrients. It's a bit scary as I hadn't had any nutrients in 9 days I am at high risk for refeeding syndrome which is your body going into shock from having nutrients after being deprived so long. I was transferred to Tweed Hospital today and they are amazing! So caring and lovely! The biggest difference is the noise- there are some very rude and loud old men here who keep calling out all night. Hence the checking of this forum at this time. Otherwise it's been positive. Have got some new pretty severe pain on my left hand side that they are talking about doing a ct scan for tomorrow. Hoping it's just muscular pain but will let you know. Worried as its close to my drains. Anyhow will know more later today now... I just want to thank each and everyone of you fr your support! I am not up to visitors just yet though as soon as I am able would appreciate meeting you in person. I feel so privileged to be part of this group! Night, Lila

Hi all and thanks for your lovely posts. To anyone who has been freaked out by my experience know I am the anomaly not the majority. There was no reason or way to tell this could have happened beforehand and my surgeon has gone over the video with other surgeons who all agreed it should have been fine. The moal of the story for me is that they got onto my condition quickly enough and I am still here. There have been times through this that I thought I was going to die but at no point have I really thought I shouldn't have done it. The other options for my obesity were so bleak what else could I have done? Sitting here tonight I feel like nah I would rather be at home feeling ok than benign right here but if that was the case I would also be so desperately hopeless about any future change. It was also funnty to see my new sleeve in the leak test as it was like , yep they really did it. It's not a joke! Sadly the test showed a leak st the top of the sleeve which means I have at least three more weeks in hospital coming up and a move to the public system. Sad to leave this great hospital but it would leave me with a bill of over $60000 to stay. It also means I will have to have nil by mouth for at least another three weeks a d have a feeds g tube. This will give me nutrition as I am staying alive n I've fluids at the moment. I am hoping I will get a little more energy too. Ironically this keeps my weight ina holding pattern so on e this is all over and I am leak free I will start losing weight but nothing fr the next month...weird huh. Go a month without food and still not lose weight....only I could do that. I am not hungry at all but would KILL for a fanta ( which I hated before it is odd what you want in times like this) or ice cold apple juice. The mouth dryness is the absolute worst and what I am least looking forward to. Thanks again t everyone. I am hoping to be up for visitors in the next few weeks and would love to arrange for visits. At the moment I am falling asleep so quickly it isn't worth the effort as poor Juiie can attest to! Thanks again andI will try to keep in touch! Cheers Lila

Hi all, Just read your responses and I am sorry I have not been able to reply sooner. Am still really medicated so I hope it all makes sense. So massive complications. First off in the beginning they were trying to put me under but the cannula came out and went into the tissues. That did this three times during the op. post op I was in terrible pain for the next two days. Things were getting worse. My heart rate became tachycardic and my other cannula fell out tissuing the arm making it impossible ( after over 20 tries). Then on Wednesday it all got very bad. The pain was huge, my heart rate Raised to over 180 beats, my kidneys and liver were shutting down, I couldn't breathe. Was taken to ICU and went under the most awful procedures. They could use the anaesthetic so had to do it without. The icu dr put 2 central lines in my neck and I heard them talking about me not making it. Thought I had screwed the pooch at that point lol. Refused to allow my poor family in to see me at that stage- didnt want them to see me dying. Had a 6 hour surgery that night and came out on a respirator, two drains, a nasal feeding tube but with my life. I have now been fasting for 7 days and it's awful...very shakey and weak but considering where I was I am a lot better. The surgery care here has been amazing. I feel valued and cared for. So lucky to be here and alive. Where to now? Tomorrow I have the leak test and if it's now corrected . If so I will be in for about another week. If not corrected they aren't sure exactly but it will several more weeks in hospital with more procedures likely including more drains. Word of warning to self funders... The icu nights were $3500 a night, the added surgery about $8000 and every day I am here is at least $1000. Plus if I am dischaeged ina week they want to stay on the gold coast so that is all in addition to loss of wages etc that I will have to absorb. I am unlikely to return to work for 2 months. ,y health fund won't cover any of. The hospital have been amazing and will give me a payment plan to pay it off. My parents are talking shot selling their investment property to take the pressure off me a bit which is incredible So feeling lucky. Hard to stay positive and scared of going backwards and what the outcome of the test will be tomorrow. Will try to let you all know as soon as I hear. All the best, Lila.

Leaving for the Gold Coast...only half an hour later than planned lol Glad I have something to do the day before surgery to take my mind off everything!! Can't turn back now (not that I'd want to) but had a little anxiety last night (late last night of course) about things that can go wrong....no point in thinking like that though! Whatever happens, happens. Me stressing about it beforehand won't make a scrap of difference. So I choose not to get super anxious Instead I will focus on the wonderful benefits like shopping for my cousins wedding in April when I will be able to look for clothes in "normal" stores (I hope)! And being able to move better and faster...all good things! Next chat will be on the GC Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....

Thank you so much Can't wait - so close now...

So today is Friday, finally. Just the weekend to go before my surgery and I can't wait. I've made no attempt to hide how hard the pre-op diet was for me but like most people reported (though when I was at the worst of it, I thought everyone lied to me lol), it did get better. Today isn't such a good day but it's not really the diet. It's me not doing the diet properly and being faced with a LOT of temptation. The story is that my wisdom tooth decided it was a really good time (one week before the op) to come up. My mouth is so sore at the moment I can't really chew anything even on the other side as I can't clench my teeth together as the gum is swollen. Now on the upside, I know it's going down. And I anticipate it will be a lot better by Monday morning. But right now, today, it sucks So I am drinking a LOT of iced water but can't eat the protein. Since it's my son's birthday today, I had to make and decorate 24 cupcakes to take to the school for his birthday celebration. That wasn't good temptation because kids, icing doesn't need to be chewed. It dissolves on your tongue so very nicely...I managed to resist but barely I am planning on having a little skim milk smoothie soon with LOTS of ice in it - hoping it will reduce the swelling and improve my recovery. Stupid tooth First time the damn thing's come up in such a painful way. Looks like after the sleeve, I am going to have to consider getting the damn things out... On the upside...holy fat-pants batman, I've lost a heap of weight. I can really tell just by looking at my stomach. According to the scales at work I've lost 7 kilos and I still have two-ish days before surgery. I am waiting on my "official" weigh in on Monday but my goal was to be under 160 kg before surgery which I think I will do!! I even ordered a cute shirt (from an awesome show Firefly that was retired before it's time) in a women's extra large. Now there is no chance I will fit into this any time soon, but it's a cute shirt I would never have been able to even think about getting before. It was such a nice feeling when I ordered it thinking...in time, I will be able to wear that! It hasn't arrived so I don't know how big an XL is from this store but usually they are a small make. It will be such an exciting milestone to be able to wear it with a pair of cute shorts (which I will now also be able to wear because I've lost weight - not now but you know what I mean lol)... Generally folks, things are good. My time is growing nearer and I look forward to the changes to come. Hope things are going well for you out there I will no doubt have something more to add before surgery! Cheers, Lila

Thanks Kelli I will! I can't wait - I am so excited now! I am not even worried about the surgery oddly (bet that changes by tomorrow night lol) except that having a little wobble at this late stage would blow the surgery (liver too big)...on the upside, I saw my family last night (they hadn't seen me since I started the pre-op diet) and I got so many compliments on how much weight I had lost It was a good feeling!!!

So with two days out I stuffed up last night...I had Ethan's birthday dinner and had about a quarter of a piece of white bread and two spoons of icecream cake. Now in the old days that would have been a win. But with just two days until surgery, I am worried I have stuffed it. for any post-sleevers, did you have any slips before surgery you can share? And do you think I've blown it??? I am sure I would still be low calorie wise as due to my stupid wisdom tooth (lol) I have hardly eaten all day or the day before that either... I am just worried about the carbs and sugar in those two things...

I am so sorry that you're not well and it might push your date back I hope you're feeling better soon!!

I have surgery in 3 days and I am in the same boat - I can't even imagine what I'll look like thin Looking forward to finding out though!!!!

Thanks Cookeez And grats on making hard changes! If it's any use, if you increase your Protein intake...if nothing else, it will help when you have to go off carbs for your pre-op diet !! That's what I wish that I had done lol. If I had I might not have had as bad a time of it early on in my diet!!! It's so close now!!! Today is my son's actual birthday (last weekend was just his party with his mates) so I have 36 patty cakes to ice and decorate. So today should go really fast. Tomorrow is packing and getting ready to go and Sunday I am travelling to the Gold Coast. So before I know it, I will be in the hospital waiting to have my op. I have to go to admissions at 7 am and they think I'll be operated on around 9am. Fingers crossed I will be back in my room by lunch time

I am doing two weeks pre-op with no weight loss goal stated but I know that i have lost about 4 or 5 kilos since I've been on it. I'm not doing shakes, just food so that might be why I didn't lose as much. I weighed myself on Tuesday so it could be a little more now but since I wasn't sure of my starting weight I've had to guess. Its noticable in my clothing (to family and close friends anyway) that I've lose weight...3 days to go Just sayin'

LOL it must be a timing thing...I have booked a hair cut and colour with the hairdresser four weeks after surgery It will be nice to notice the changes in the mirror rather than trying to ignore how incredibly unflattering the full length mirror at my salon is

Everyone pretty much knows about my surgery. I live in a really small town (to which I am related to about half the population lol) and I work at the hospital. My mates are the GP's that referred me and will see to my follow up care. I work closely with the nursing staff so my three weeks off directly affects them, so I told them too. We have a few of the judgemental people at work - super sporty, thin etc so I considered not saying anything but decided (in my case) what's the point? So many people already knew...so I went to the "worst" of the judgemental people and told her. She wasn't too bad - cautions, warnings were given...lol. But in the end, they've all been really supportive I almost passed out chasing a kid around the hospital campus (low blood sugar) and they were all so sweet and helpful. I've been really lucky. My whole family is supportive (?too supportive) - my mum and aunt are even doing the pre-op diet with me "in sympathy" I know they haven't been able to stick to it and it makes me feel good that I have (sans the bite of bread last night lol). In terms of my support, it can't be better. It's just my work - I am a workaholic. I work about 65-80 hours a week on average (yep, it's ridiculous) as I am the only specialist in my field in the area. I am on call pretty much all of the time. It's not conducive to healthy living. So a part of my plan is to reduce that to even a 50 hour week would be workable This will give me the time to make the changes I need to and to have time (and energy) to exercise post-op. We'll see how good I am at doing that lol. Congrats to Shell, Puppyphat and Aussie Kellof on your recent losses! That's an amazing achievement in such a short amount of time!

Thanks guy's. Had a few second thoughts over the last few days but I think that it's more nerves - the better the devil you know syndrome. But it's exciting and I am looking forward to being on the losers bench!!

Four days to go Woot!!