owlslovepears

Been so busy of late and a little unorganised, which is not really like me. Just wanted to say I've been keeping up with everything people have on the go and wanted to say hi! I've started losing my hair too and have noticed it's started thinning out a little. I'm not worried though, I'm having bloods taken this Friday when I get reviewed by my surgeon. I work at a hospital and one of the doctors helped me look into it a bit and he suggested it could be iron/zinc deficiency... so I'll see what the bloods say. Have lost my appetite a bit but I'm still doing well with Protein and fruit and veg and I'm certainly not hungry. I'm low carb, low sugar since the op and now nearly 3 months down I've finally settled into the new mindset I needed. Getting ready to do the run Ballarat this coming weekend, I'm in the 6km event and hope to jog for part of the race. Am down 36kgs now and 3.5 dress sizes! It feels awesome but I don't see it as much as others do and the attention and compliments can sometimes be overwhelming. I only had regret for the first two weeks but that was mainly due to the reaction I had to the anaesthetic (was teary and emotional) and back pain didn't help either. Hope you are all well and best of luck with everything, exams are coming here so many many late nights coming now. Night - Cath

@@wcn1970 I've had the same feelings. I've been amazed at how little I can eat compared to previously. It's requiring a big readjustment but getting there. I'm only 3 months out (incl pre-op) and down 28kgs (61lbs) since starting.

@@Bellarose100 dad said it was a long time ago now but at that time Mr Draper charged very close to the scheduled fee.

@@Bellarose100 Does Dr Draper work on mornington peninsula and do lapband as well? If so ... my dad had him as a surgeon and he really liked his manner. dad had a band done, has not had great success though did see some weight loss. If not sorry for random info

Hi guys, sorry I've been AWOL but I've been super busy with uni and working in the evenings that I don't have a chance to sit down and catch up with all the things I want to. Congrats on the job @@nerms and the course progress super happy for you! Also, your haircut looks amazing you did have a heap chopped off! @@steveelea how are you oh 'guru in training'? hows things after your healing? what do you get done? @@Bellarose100 been thinking of you. How are you going this week? How you finding life post op @@Saltydog? still a little easier than expected? How's your world treating you @@chez? Did you start walking like you wanted? So I'm 25kgs down officially in 9 weeks and I'm feeling awesome! When I say outloud that's 'a quarter of what I want to lose' the hairs on the back of my neck prickle! I'm pumped. I've started walking as far as I can whenever I can and Thursdays I walk to uni (5.3km) and maybe tomorrow I'll also walk home. A colleague at work has challenged me to climb the stairs 3 levels instead of using the lift to get to work as well as using the stairs for my whole shift. I did it tonight, there was quite some recover time but everyone was super ace and I liked how it felt actually. I'm getting my hair chopped off this weekend and can't decide on a colour! Will pop a picture up as well as put up a shot of me from the beginning of this year and then one from this weekend when I visit my family. food wise I'm on soft diet now and it's good. I still can't stomach the red meats but I'm in love with chicken and shaved ham as well as haloumi and my yoghurt suckers among other things. I'm having salmon on friday night which will be great (I hope) but if not I have back up plans... probably some dahl and shredded chicken breast. I'm having more fun playing with foods and experimenting with Proteins but I'm still tracking everything in my fitness pal to make sure I'm kind of on track. Did we end up organising that catch up? I can come down to Melbourne most Saturday mornings (closer to lunch as I'm coming from Ballarat) So that's all from me chat soon... Cath

@@steveelea & @@chez I'm in if it's a weekend! xx also... I'm learning that I miss the ability to 'burp it out' lol it's most uncomfortable

@@steveelea I'm going really well. I've started fitting into lower sized clothes and am finally settling into my portions. Protein is good each day and I'm just learning what foods are good or not and it's a bit fun. How are you going?

@@chez & @@steveelea I added Water, I find chicken dissolves better the lamb had too much to swallow. Belle I'm with the others, be kind to yourself xx ☺️ Refried Beans are rad!

Ok so puréed lamb stew is now frozen for soft phase! Too fibrous for now.

Welcome @@Saltydog best of luck for tomorrow!

@@chez I'm going ok. I'm feeling a bit at the moment... Bored with counting cals and Protein and I've been a bit tired, hoping I'm not getting a cold. Making lamb and carrot stew tonight and had roast chook with avocado, ricotta, mayo for lunch today! I think I'm being impatient... this is a process. I'm looking forward to soft phase though lol! So here's to the two month mark! Only 6 weeks to go ☺️

@@steveelea thanks for that! I know it's only for a short while and I'm ok if I can only eat an entre it's just so foreing to me only being able to stomach a few teaspoons and I also worry about my intake being too low! I'm working it out though and am on top of my Vitamin and Protein needs thankfully. Cooked some chook today to puree and have with avo and mayo for lunches. yum

@@chez I'm doing great. Have moved to sleeping on my side and feel wonderful now. Phyiso helped with my back and it shouldn't be too long and I'll be able to start swimming and doing light workouts. Had my dressings changed by my GP today and she said they were healing nicely. I'm shocked at how full I'm getting on so little... but I know this is normal it's just amazing to me given my history. Had my Egg Mash for lunch today and I'm in love with it. It fills me quick though. I've had to keep having a musashi shake throughout the day to boost my Protein up as I just physically can't handle the volume of food so that adds the 30g protein I may miss otherwise. Hey Chez... what are you eating at the moment? you're 2 weeks ahead of me aren't you? @@nerms the plication sounds great. I'm almost jealous as I've had a bit of regret seeping in (but being quickly dismissed by a positive attitude and knowledge that this is already an awesome thing) How are you feeling this week? does your diet have to be similar to mine? @@steveelea I hope your back feels better soon. I hate backs being out it stops you from doing so much! Anyway... I had snow here today so I've been out taking loads of photos and I'm hoping for more tonight! (hope the picture works... it was blizzardy)

OMG @@nerms best Breakfast ever. I've got hiccups from afternoon tea so I'm resting. What's a plication?

@@nerms wow you're lucky... I got 6 but I think that's cos they took out my gallbladder too! Hope you're feeling well! I'm 13 days post op and have had my appointment with my dietician and am now on pureed food whoohoo! Menu today includes: pureed baked Beans, egg mash (1 egg, 1tsp low fat mayo, 2 tsp ricotta and some Water to loosen), tuna mash (can of tuna, 2 sm slices beetroot, 1 tsp low fat mayo and some beetroot juice to loosen), and pureed chicken for dinner with Protein shake in between meals to sip. It's only about 1/2 cup each and I'm not sure I'll eat them all but it's so good! last night I had 1/2 cup cottage cheese with some chutney for flavour. Surgeon wrote script for nexium for me as I've had quite hot heartburn over the past few days but I'll be fine. The only thing I'm going to have difficulty fitting in is my water as I'm not allowed to drink 1/2 hour before or after meals and getting into a routine will be key! I'm going to need to be up early to start the day off right! Anyway, that's my lil update! hope all are well! Cheers Cath

Thanks love, I'm feeling much better and grounded now I've spent done time with my family! I'm keen to start puréed foods now but I'm following the plan. I'm seeing the dietician tomorrow... Fingers crossed! I'm down 20kgs since early June and I think I can see it in my neck! Hope all are well ☺️ Cath

that's excellent! Yay for no hernia. Glad it's done for you now

Thanks @@chez & @@steveelea I'm feeling better today. Hanging with my family in Melbourne. Getting into a good routine with my fluids and very much looking forward to moving to solids even if it is puréed. I'm feeling much more positive and am getting my confidence back. I've just read through the posts, seeing comments about drain tubes, I didn't have one so am feeling lucky. Also had no swallow test. I'm noticing I'm hyper aware of what goes on in my body now which is kind of nice. I actually slept last night, my lower back is still sore but not as bad today as last few days. Going to start walking half hour a day as of Monday. Thanks again for your support. Hope you're all well. Cath

@steevelea congrats that's really great! I'm ok... Been a bit down yesterday but have been told that's to be expected! I'm waiting at physio office to get my back looked at. Getting into a routine starts now! Hope all are well! Cath

Congrats on your loss @@Chez that's excellent! I'm feeling quite sick tonight my nurse gave me a Celebrex tab and I've just learned it should be done with food. Tummy v sore and I'm nervous but suppose if anything is going to happen it's better to happen in hospital than home! Hoping for home tomorrow but more hoping this discomfort goes away! I'm keen to start the next steps and am getting a good idea now how challenging the next few weeks will be! I'll do it though, I can!

I'm sure you'll do ok! It seems difficult but if you can be positive and set up a routine it really helps, best of luck! 3 days post op and I'm still a bit sore and having trouble with drinking the fluids, I still have a bit of gas and have not moved bowels yet which I think is causing the problem! Hope to go home today but looks like tomorrow might be the day! Just got to up this Fluid intake wish me luck! Cheers, Cath

6 days to go! OMG 6 days I'm pretty excited I'm down 14 and feel fab! Bag is packed, plans are made, mum is coming down to stay and I have menu planned as well as everything I need for the few weeks after surgery! Hope all are well and having a great weekend I'm buzzing lol Cath

@@Chez Only have 11 days to go now! excited and getting everything organised and ready for when my family come to visit after the op. eek Also am down 10kgs since starting optifast

@@steveelea Oh yeah I have gallstones and I get gallstone attacks when a stone gets stuck which cause excruciating pain in my abdomen and back so we're doing both at once. It's good, saves me another op later to remove the gallbladder

Sorry @@steveelea that was me in work mode... it's a laparascopic cholecystectomy and it is the removal of the gallbladder that is done when someone has gallstones or rather, cholecystitis. He is doing it because he wants to remove the possibility of confusion over where pain comes from after the surgery. If I get pain after my op I'll know it's my stomach and not question the gallbladder. @@chez never feel silly... you can never be too careful