Attention ! Australian Sleevers

[kelliv 659]

Hi Aussie kellof, welcome to this thread. I am in Brisbane at Morningside for next 2 weeks, then moving to The Gap. Having my sleeve done with Dr Copp in Ipswich on 14 August. Very interested to hear how you are getting on post op. Due to start pre with Optifast next Wednesday. Keep us posted. Would enjoy catching up at some stage,

Cheers KelliV

[sueoco 509]

Hi fellow Sleevers!

I am based in Sydney, Australia and had my surgery on the 18th July 2012. I am into my second week of the liquid diet and must say although it is difficult - I hate Protein shakes - it is not as torturous as the prep diet which I ended up doing for 1 day short of 4 weeks. I am not feeling hunger but do have a craving for the savoury taste of things. I was never a sweet tooth and have never been a big fan of milk shakes so this whole period has been a true test!

I have the most awful bad breath but trying to save my friends and husband by gargling regularly with mouth wash. I realize it is the ketosis but was wondering if any one had some hints on how to treat this other than Listerine every half hour??

I am so looking forward to getting through this recovery phase and progressing to real food. In the meantime I am sticking to the diet - although I can't say I have stuck to drinking the 3 required shakes a day! I just can't fit them in - by the time I finish one it is time for the next one! I am trying to drink as much Water as I can and gentle walking (ok - it is around a shopping centre looking at the clothes I am going to buy!!). Physically I still feel a bit tired but everyday I feel an improvement so am not too worried about it.

Just for your info, the day I walked into the my doctors office and was told that the writting was on the wall as I had fatty liver disease, high colesterol and elevated sugar levels, I weighed 102kgs, today - 10 days post surgery I weigh 87.

Anyway, just thought I would share where I am at with my new life! Roll on the next 3 weeks!

[Lissa_S 787]

Hello everyone,

So happy to find other Australians let alone people from Brisbane. I live on the northside at Bray Park. But I had my surgery last Monday 23rd. From the day I sure my surgeon (dr rob finch) I was booked in and got my earlier super through and paid a day after my op.

I am now 5 days out and am really good, finding it hard to get in my 1500ml of liquid. But from my 2 week pre op shakes to today I have lost 11.5kgs. My dietitian didn't care what shakes I did so I had some celebrity slim and I did those for 2 weeks.

My starting weight was 155kgs, BMI of 48. I have had problems all my life with my weight and I feel scared, relief, stress, happy and every other emotion at this time.

To answer the people that are asking about early release of super. I don't have private health and wasn't going to join and then have to wait 12 months. So I got all my letters from my GP and specialist, plus all my quotes. Then had to send it to DHS for approval, that takes 10 days for the approval letter, then you send that letter to your fund and thru will release what DHS says. They will tell your super fund the net amount needed, but unfortunately they cannot release more that $10000.

My doctor does usually work out of a private hospital but does an immediate service once a month at RBWH. I was lucky to get on that. My price all up was $4500 for doctor, $1370 for anaethetist and hospital was $324 per night plus prothestics for the op. approx all up it cost me $8900.

Hope this helps answer some of your questions. Please ask if you need more info.

Would love to be able to catch up with anyone in Brisbane.

Thanks for letting me know. I will have to find out a little more as unfortunately my surgeon doesn't work out of anywhere but John Flynn private hospital and the medical bills there are $10000 and the surgeon's fees are on top of this again. So all up, it's close to $18000. Anyway I am hoping that I will be able to find out a little more on Monday but it's a bummer that they can't cover the entire amount...I've lost more than $18G since the GFC so I may as well use it to help me then to wait for the next stockmarket crash! Will update here on what Ifind out on Monday

[Lissa_S 787]

Hi fellow Sleevers!

I am based in Sydney, Australia and had my surgery on the 18th July 2012. I am into my second week of the liquid diet and must say although it is difficult - I hate Protein shakes - it is not as torturous as the prep diet which I ended up doing for 1 day short of 4 weeks. I am not feeling hunger but do have a craving for the savoury taste of things. I was never a sweet tooth and have never been a big fan of milk shakes so this whole period has been a true test!

I have the most awful bad breath but trying to save my friends and husband by gargling regularly with mouth wash. I realize it is the ketosis but was wondering if any one had some hints on how to treat this other than Listerine every half hour??

I am so looking forward to getting through this recovery phase and progressing to real food. In the meantime I am sticking to the diet - although I can't say I have stuck to drinking the 3 required shakes a day! I just can't fit them in - by the time I finish one it is time for the next one! I am trying to drink as much Water as I can and gentle walking (ok - it is around a shopping centre looking at the clothes I am going to buy!!). Physically I still feel a bit tired but everyday I feel an improvement so am not too worried about it.

Just for your info, the day I walked into the my doctors office and was told that the writting was on the wall as I had fatty liver disease, high colesterol and elevated sugar levels, I weighed 102kgs, today - 10 days post surgery I weigh 87.

Anyway, just thought I would share where I am at with my new life! Roll on the next 3 weeks!

Wow this is amazing and congratulations! It must be an awesome feeling! I wish you all the very best!

[aussie kelloff 79]

Hello kelliv,

Well post op not too bad, was in hospital for 3 nights, on pain meds only for 24 hrs then have had nothing. The weirdest thing I found was the sensation of liquid hitting the new pocket, that hurt for a few days but now it doesn't unless I take a too big gulp of liquid.

I am finding the eating part hard, I am not on Protein shakes, I just have custard, yogurt, up and go's, Soup, Water, juice. My dietitian said nothing about Protein Shakes after. I do have another appt withe her next Tuesday, so she can check me and I can get questions answered. I know I should be eating more but I find it really hard too.

I have been trying to walk but do get out of breath, plus my wounds do still hurt if I walk too far. Am hoping to start an exercise regime next week.

I must admit I am really looking forward to puréed food, I am already over liquids. It's only been 5 days.

[kelliv 659]

Hi lilas, congratulations on your weight loss so far, that's amazing. 4 weeks was a long prep period. I am glad I only have to do 2 weeks. Reading stories like yours helps me so much as it gives me some understanding of what to expect post op. thanks, kelliv

[kelliv 659]

Hi aussie kellof, are you allowed to have custard and yoghurt at liquid stage? Does it have to be really runny? I have just received instructions for post op from dietician and surgeon and both same any liquid will have to be runny enough to go up a straw. It it couldn't it's not allowed.

[aussie kelloff 79]

Hi aussie kellof' date=' are you allowed to have custard and yoghurt at liquid stage? Does it have to be really runny? I have just received instructions for post op from dietician and surgeon and both same any liquid will have to be runny enough to go up a straw. It it couldn't it's not allowed.[/quote']

Yeah my dietitian said that too, there is runny custard and also runny yogurt you can buy that you could eat with a straw. It just gives me some different selections.

[kelliv 659]

Hi Aussie kellof, that's god to know for variety during liquid stage. How long do we need to be on Clear Liquids do you know?

[unknown54678997 50]

Hi Aussie kellof' date=' that's god to know for variety during liquid stage. How long do we need to be on clear liquids do you know?[/quote']

My doctors directions are that Clear liquids is only for duration of hospital stay. Upon discharge you then start full fluids (ie Water, vitamised Soup, up n go, Protein drinks etc). The dietician gave some Fluid recipes that contain yoghurt but yoghurt must be pureed with milk to a thin Fluid consistency.In saying that, you can literally fit nothing in. I sip 30ml of fluid every 15minutes. I'm 4 days post op and my main focus is avoiding dehydration. Easier said than done. My two main fluids at the moment are Powerade and up n go Viva.

[kelliv 659]

Thanks Michelle, that really helps as I was a bit confused about that. Your explanation makes sense. I am sure I will find getting enough fluids in quite a challenge. Do you also take Benefibre at this time, or is it not necessary? Thanks

[unknown54678997 50]

Thanks Michelle' date=' that really helps as I was a bit confused about that. Your explanation makes sense. I am sure I will find getting enough fluids in quite a challenge. Do you also take Benefibre at this time, or is it not necessary? Thanks[/quote']

I haven't had a bowel movement as yet and I'm 4 days post op. Last night I took 2 Coloxyl / senna tablets. So far, they have not worked, so I will take another 2 tonight .... or buy some prune juice

[aussie kelloff 79]

I was only on clear fluids for 24 hrs then have been on free fluids since Tuesday. Yeah the Powerade zero is great to keep up your electrolytes.

I had no bowel movements until day 4 either, didn't end up taking anything but unfortunately every bowel movement since has been liquid (sorry). I have been told that is normal, also I have no gall bladder so that also has some thing to do with it.

Had my first coffee today. So yummy, took me 2 hours to drink and had to reheat it once. Made it with my coffee machine on skim milk which I was told is also ok.

My incisions are a little more itchy than they have been. But they are closed up and steri strips are only on one of them now. Still feeling tired but can definately feel getting better everyday.

My weigh in day will be Mondays so I will be able fill everyone in on my first week weight loss post op.

[kelliv 659]

Thanks Aussie, now I know what to expect. It sounds like the best strategy is to take one day at a time, little baby steps, whilst following instructions exactly. Cheers kelli

[kelliv 659]

Did any of you ave a nasty xray while you were in hospital to check fr leaks? I was reading about this the other day and just wondered how common it is?