Attention ! Australian Sleevers

[sueoco 509]

Fantastic Lily! You must be really happy! Has it sunk in yet that you are no longer a person with a weight problem - it has taken me a while. You will soon be joining me on the 'maintenance' journey which I am coming to terms with!

[kelliv 659]

Yes very quiet. Hope you are enjoying your break Kelli. I haven't been up to much - just trying to get my head around going back to work on the 7 May after over a year off!

I met up some old work colleagues this week that didn't' know anything about my weight loss - you can imagine the shock on their faces when they saw me 40kg lighter! My old boss kept asking if it was really me and looking at me and laughing all through lunch! It was really amusing. They rang me up later that day and they were still in shock!

Hi Sue, that's priceless and their reaction must have thrilled you. I am having a lovely break in Victoria. I could easily live in Kyneton but don't think I could convince my husband to make the move. Maybe when we are older and ready to retire.

[kelliv 659]

Hi all a bit of an update today I hit a loss of 40.1 kilos current weight is 73.8 I am 4.8 kilos away from my surgeons goal and 8.8 away from my goal yay! as always it's great to see everyone's success.

Lilly

Wow Lily that is a great result and how exciting that you are so close to your goals. You must feel and look fantastic.

[one_elle26 118]

Hi everyone,

I haven't popped in for a while and had to catch up on a LOT of posts, so rather than trying to remember so many individual great achievements I want to congratulate each and every one of you on your successes.

You are all such an inspiration as my surgery date is finally getting close , again. LOL, it's only 21 sleeps away. I am having a few 'butterflies' at the moment, but I think once I get to next Monday and have to be 100% diligent about my pre op preparation, it will become 'real'.

For the 'newbies' I had some difficulties with a surgeon who cancelled my 'first' surgery date which should have been 19th March, so I am 'counting down' for a second time. The silver lining to all of this upheaval, is that I don't think I was really ready in March and I am finding with the 'extra' preparation time that I am getting myself into the right frame of mind. And to be honest, going back to my Band Surgeon, even though he can be a bit abrupt at times, has been very reassuring and I have great confidence in his surgical skills.He doesn't have a Dietitian, per se, so I am going to 'wing it' a bit post op, and I may be in here a lot asking for help during that time. From what I have read from all of you wonderful people the post op phase seems a lot like re introducing someone to a normal diet slowly from fluids to solids for some of my former patients, so with patience and perseverance I hope to be one of the 'successes' of this group.

Keep up the good work everyone, and enjoy your success.

Best Wishes

Michele

[mistysj 1,940]

Hi all! I have been reading this thread for days and I am only to January! I feel like you are old friends. It has been a while since I saw a post from Scotty, Mimz, or Cookieeez, and it makes me worry! Lila, I followed your whole adventure and I am so happy you came through, though I find myself hoping that the medical bills are not too crippling.

I hope I don't sound like a stalker!

I have struggled with my weight for my whole life, from my parents putting me on a diet as early as 6 or 7. I'm only 159cm and have pretty small bones. I went to uni a bit chunky at about 58 kg, but finished out my first year closer to 70 kg. in uni, I tried watching what I ate, Slim Fast, Atkins, fasting, Herbalife (so many pills). I will admit I didn't have the energy to put enough effort into anything and ended up leaving uni around 100kg in 2000. In 2002 I did Weight Watchers and lost around 35 kg over about 9 months. I looked pretty good for my wedding which happened when I was about 20 kg into that loss. Over the course of a couple years I first stalled, then put all the weight back on. I tried all the usual suspects and always lost something but put it back on and more. In Sep 2011 I started Optifast 800 ( not the drug store shakes) at the Wesley weight management clinic and did the whole 12 month program. It ended in Nov 2012 because some work travel delayed it. I did great at first but in the end only lost around 15 kg to put my lowest weight at around 85 kg. Since November I have gained and am now back up to around 98.

I used to be really judgmental about weight loss surgery. I have a friend getting sleeved on April 29 in the US and I even tried to talk her out of it at first. Instead I became convinced that the sleeve is for me. Since then I have read 5 different books about it and have read every study and article I could find online. I also found this forum. I am American but living in Australia for the last 4 years, so this thread has been very helpful for me to understand about costs and what is covered by Medicare and PHI.

I see my GP tomorrow and plan on asking for a referral for the sleeve. My husband is cautious but supportive. He doesn't really understand the struggles that obese people have with weight, as he is probably a BMI of 27 or 28 and his weight never changes.

Sorry for the novel! Now to read the rest of this thread from February to the present!

By the way I am in Brisbane, work in the CBD, and would love to be included in the get-togethers!

[sueoco 509]

Great to hear from Michele! Glad to hear you are back on track and sounding so positive. I think I have documentation from my dietician if you want me to scan it and email to you - to be honest, I think this forum is probably just as helpful!

[sueoco 509]

Welcome Misty - I think most of us here can relate really easily to your struggle with your weight - I can't even count the amount of Weightwatchers memberships I have had over the years not to mention Jenny Craig! The only thing that has worked for me has been getting the sleeve as I never did reach goal with any other weightloss program let alone maintain my weightloss! It is a big decision to take the step to have surgery and one that you have to make yourself so you have done the right thing in educating your self so well!

All the best for your journey that is just beginning! This is a great thread with a great bunch of people - as I have said before, plenty of shoulders to cry on and plenty of people to give you a pat on the back! Keep us up to date! I am only just realising that now I have reached goal the journey still continues and is for life - hey but what a great life!!

[one_elle26 118]

Welcome mistysj, this is a great group and I'm sure you'll get lots of great advice here.

Thanks Sue for your comments, I have learnt so much from the forums and also from being an ex bandit as well as having cared for patients who had experienced Acute brain injury, that I think my 'dietary knowledge' base is pretty strong, it's going to be a case of 'try it and see' I think. The WLS Dietitians I have seen haven't really had much idea of the reality of these surgeries, in my humble opinion, and I don't think I will learn much more from any of them at this stage.

I know if I get stuck there are awesome people here who will be able to help and support.

Many thanks

Michele

[Lissa_S 787]

Hi all

I have been "off the air" as I've moved and started the new job. It's all going really well (*furiouslytouchingallwoodenobjectsinreach* lol) - work is chaos and that is great although the struggle has been to eat appropriately throughout the day. It's all a learning curve.

I have NO IDEA what I weigh at the moment - I don't own scales and now I've moved and have a new job, I can't weigh myself at work anymore lol. I am going to have to give in and buy some scales soon as I am sure I've continued to lose weight but as most of us would know, I've convinced myself of that in the past and have been terribly wrong I think for my own peice of mind I had better get some scales!!

I know that I am very close to the 70kg mark (was 69kg down about three weeks ago). I am also (last time I weighed) only 5 kg away from breaking the 100kg mark so that is exciting!

Welcome to Misty to our little group It's good to have you here!

Congratulations to all on your ongoing successes! Looking forward to my next milestones though!!

Cheers, Liss

[jessinoz4 15]

Are there any Australian Sleevers out there, Would Love to hear from you.

I'm not Australian, but I'm living in Adelaide and am set to be sleeved on April 22nd!

[mistysj 1,940]

Wow I finished the thread! Thanks for the welcomes.

[kelliv 659]

Hi all

I have been "off the air" as I've moved and started the new job. It's all going really well (*furiouslytouchingallwoodenobjectsinreach* lol) - work is chaos and that is great although the struggle has been to eat appropriately throughout the day. It's all a learning curve.

I have NO IDEA what I weigh at the moment - I don't own scales and now I've moved and have a new job' date=' I can't weigh myself at work anymore lol. I am going to have to give in and buy some scales soon as I am sure I've continued to lose weight but as most of us would know, I've convinced myself of that in the past and have been terribly wrong I think for my own peice of mind I had better get some scales!!

I know that I am very close to the 70kg mark (was 69kg down about three weeks ago). I am also (last time I weighed) only 5 kg away from breaking the 100kg mark so that is exciting!

Welcome to Misty to our little group It's good to have you here!

Congratulations to all on your ongoing successes! Looking forward to my next milestones though!!

Cheers, Liss[/quote']

Hi Liss, great to hear you are settling in well in your new home and job. They say a change can be as a good as a holiday! I am sure you will get i to a good eating routine soon and your weight will continue to drop off steadily.

[kelliv 659]

I'm not Australian' date=' but I'm living in Adelaide and am set to be sleeved on April 22nd! [/quote']

Hi Jess, nice to hear from you and welcome to this thread. Good luck for your upcoming surgery and we are hear to support you along the way.

[kelliv 659]

Wow I finished the thread! Thanks for the welcomes.

Welcome Misty. I am also in Brisbane and would love to meet up with you in the near future. Shelley, Dean and I have met in the city for lunch, so will try and organise another get together shortly and hopefully you will be able to join us. Which surgeon are you going through and t what hospital? You did well to read this whole thread! It is massive these days, but full of useful tips and tricks.

[mistysj 1,940]

Welcome Misty. I am also in Brisbane and would love to meet up with you in the near future. Shelley' date=' Dean and I have met in the city for lunch, so will try and organise another get together shortly and hopefully you will be able to join us. Which surgeon are you going through and t what hospital? You did well to read this whole thread! It is massive these days, but full of useful tips and tricks.[/quote']

Hi Kelly! I am not sure what surgeon. I live on the south side but Greenslopes is annoying to get to for check ups etc so I would prefer someone with rooms at Wickham Terrace or the Mater. But it seems everyone uses Greenslopes. I would also be happy to use a public hospital to save money but if it is means-tested I'm sure I won't be eligible. It seems like the private doctors charge wildly varying prices and I have checked with my PHI and they are less than generous with how much they cover for the sleeve. I think I will see who my GP recommends and go from there. It seems like I may be more than 6k out of pocket. I get jealous hearing that some of you paid less than 3k!

I have also struggled with binge eating over the years. Some objective bingeing but mostly subjective. Objective means that others would call it a binge and subjective means it feels like a binge to me. I hope I don't get disqualified. My therapist thinks the surgery might not be the best idea but she is a bit airy fairy and keeps asking how I can honor my stomach, since it has done nothing wrong. I asked her how I could honor my poor pancreas (diabetes), heart, and my absent uterus (uterine cancer in 2011 at age 32).