Iwannabethin!

Oooh hello Perth people [emoji4]. I haven't had surgery yet but am also from Perth. I have a referral to see Dr Chris Couch in Waikiki and will be seeing him for an initial consult soon.

Hi Melissa Rose, I can't encourage you about the surgery as I've only just decided this pathway, but part of me getting ready for it is getting as much information as I can, the good and the bad. So, I've talked to my GP, have an upcoming appointment to see a bariatric surgeon to discuss options/ask questions, have joined forums such as this etc. I've also been on Instagram and followed heaps of people and seen the changes they have made. Another thing I did, and now I can't remember where I read this, was buy a book through amazon.com - it's called "The emotional first aid kit" by Cynthia Alexander - I found that book to be really helpful explaining everything and an easy read too. I'm sure there are plenty of other books just as good, but this one was great. I'm also doing a bit more research and have found an upcoming seminar being run by nutritionists about weight and emotional eating, nothing to do with bariatric surgery, but I'm going to prepare myself for the future. I'm also considering going to see a counsellor and/or psychologist - mostly because I know a lot of my overeating stems from pain in my past and now it is an ingrained habit and I want to get over it so that if I do proceed with the sleeve surgery it's not a waste of time or I start another type of addiction to cope with "life" (I used to smoke too and managed to give that up only to take up food - sigh...). From what I have heard, it is normal to feel very nervous - I mean, this is a huge step and a huge financial outlay too (well, it is in Australia anyway) and the best thing, I think, is to get as much info as you can. You could always put off your op for a while if you need to. Good luck - hope all goes well for you xxx

Good luck Derek! Keep us posted

Hi all - I was a skinny kid, teen and that continued right through my 20s. After I had bubs at 32, I put on a bit of weight and also stopped moving as much and ate more.... When my marriage broke down, I ate and ate and ate my way to double my weight - did that in about 4 years. I've been very obese now for about 11 years. I, too, have very bad depression. I had it when I was a teen - had it when skinny and when fat. It's gotten worse and worse though and that's because of the fatness. I believe It's what I'm putting in my mouth that made me fat and the fact that it hurts so much to move doesn't help either, so I'm very sedentary. However, I also noticed my weight creep on more after starting anti-depressants. I became more tired (and slept more whereas before I was more anxious and jittery) and as time has gone on, I'm so, so, so weary. Everyone is different and lots of people have conditions where they eat very little and the weight balloons and vice versa. It truly sucks doesn't it?

I just joined up here today. I have LOTS of weight to lose - always feel surprised when I see this huge woman in a reflection staring back at me. Avoid looking in mirrors whenever possible and have generally stuck my head in the sand. Use working fulltime, being a single parent and feeling stressed about everything as my excuse. Sick and tired of being sick and tired so have been thinking of the sleeve now for about 3-4 months. Finally talked to my GP and got a referral to Chris Couch. Anyone used him before? He's in Waikiki. Haven't made appt yet but will soon. Main problem is how the heck I'm going to pay for it. No health insurance, so would love someone to tell me who they are with and what package they used. I'm too scared to ring up and ask in case they blacklist me when they realise I will be using for bariatric surgery and removal of wisdom teeth, lol. I also need glasses. Man, I'm falling apart. Have also gotten onto public wait list but I understand it's about a 2 year wait and I just don't want to wait that long. Would love peoples' stories on how they are going today after surgery, how the heck you stop stuffing your face at night-time when you are on the Optifast phase and you can't sleep because you are so hungry and is it really as great as everyone seems to say?