Attention ! Australian Sleevers

[Lilly_ 36]

That is just so good! I can't wait until its me along with you!

I was wondering what is the quickest anyone has gone from the referral to the surgery. Has anyone managed it in less than a month? Now that I've made the decision I'm so ready to get the show n the road. I've been obsessed for three weeks. I know that's not much but it's basically been a full time job! I have been reading everything I could get my hands on!

I had my surgery 2 weeks after the referral

[mistysj 1,940]

I had my surgery 2 weeks after the referral

Wow! That's the quickest I have heard. Did you have enough time to process what was going to happen? I won't be able to do it that fast because it looks like I will be traveling for work for three weeks at the end of April and into May.

[kelliv 659]

Hi Bec! It's nice to see another south side girl. Almost everyone seems to be from the north side!

I just got my referral today! To Dr. Reza Adib who operates at Greenslopes but has rooms at the Wesley. This is perfect for me as I work in the CBD and take public transit. It is hard to get to Greenslopes on public transit! Believe me' date=' I know. I had uterine cancer in 2011 and my specialist gynecologist/oncologist was there. I had to go back for 2 years for 3-month check-ups (I have a clean bill of health!) and every single time, it was a production to get there and then to get to work afterward. But anyway, has anyone heard of Dr. Adib? I see him (is it a man??) next Wednesday morning.

Did anyone here make proactive changes to their life before their surgery, even before they were asked to by their doctor? I have stopped drinking soft drink (my vice was coke zero), cut back from 5-6 cups of coffee a day (black) to only one in the morning, and started drinking a ton of Water. I figure I might as well get in the habit now, and I have lost 2 kg in the past 2 weeks.[/quote']

Hi Misty, I had some general surgery done by this same doctor about a year ago and he was fine. I remember noting at the time tat he was also a weight loss surgeon butit wasn't even in my radar at that time.

[one_elle26 118]

Welcome BeardedBurbler, glad you found this thread, there is HEAPS of great info here!!!!!!!!!

Best Wishes

Michele

[pandashazz 12]

Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd share my story. I am a nurse and I live in Perth WA. I took out private health insurance in January to have the VSG op next year. By Feb I was getting really down about my weight and really didn't want to wait another 12 months. 12 months when you are big and have your mind set on something seems like an eternity. So I looked into getting my super released early. Because I'm a nurse in the public health system we go through a different regulatory body which really makes you jump through hoops and basically was all down to whether I could afford to have the surgery done or not. Well, I could afford to pay for the surgery myself, but didn't want to use all of my savings on that, hence wanting to release the super. However, the downside to releasing the super was the amount of tax they would take too, so the sum I actually would end up paying was HUGE. So I decided to see if there was anything overseas that would be cheaper as there was no way I was going to pay $22,000 for the surgery. Even waiting the 12 months would end up with me probably being a whole lot bigger and still paying a huge gap fee. So I was glued to the internet basically 24/7 for a whole week and found this forum and the Mexico thread. Well, I contacted alighterme.com and got all the info I needed. Very professional and helpful I decided to go to Mexico for the surgery! I had it all booked within a week. I managed to have time to do the 9 days pre-op Optifast diet. I booked a flight through Virgin/Delta into San Diego and got collected from the airport by the company driver and checked into the Marriott hotel for the night. Next day I was picked up from the gorgeous hotel and taken to the hospital. I had bloods done, paid the bill, did the paperwork and was settled into my hospital room. I spoke to the surgeon and the nurse put in my IV access. Then I was taken into the operating room by wheelchair. I hopped up on the table and the anaesthetist did my consent and asked me if I wanted to wake up quickly or slowly, I said slowly. He then asked me about how my flights were over to Mexico and that's all I remeember! I don't remember getting back to my room, just the next morning when the nurses asked me how I was. I was in pain so they came round like clockwork with anti emetics, anti reflux, IV antibiotics and pain relief, on the dot! Everything was so well done, and the universal precautions were better that what I have witnessed in Australian hospitals. Everything was very clean and they do so many very obese patients that I knew I was in safe hands. I was up and walk walk walking around the next day...loads of us doing the IV shuffle! (helps with getting rid of the gas pains) Got to meet some really nice fellow sleevers who I am still keeping in touch with. I had to drink some blue dye that day to check for leaks that would show through my drain. The next day I went down to X-ray to drink the other stuff and check for leaks under X-ray. I didn't find this a problem at all, the drink tasted fine and it was really interesting seeing my new smaller stomach on the x-ray. I left the hospital after 2 nights there back to the Marriott where I stayed for another 5 nights. The bed and pillows were to die for, the best I've EVER slept on! They give you 2 bottles of Water, 3 bowls of chicken broth and 2 popsicles a day. The chicken broth was yum! I was supposed to be on clear fluids for a week post op, but stayed on this until I got home so it was actually 9 days. But this didn't bother me at all as I had no appetitie and still don't. I got taken out by the driver with other sleevers into Tijuana on a shopping trip to the tourist area, looked round some shops, saw the donkeys painted as zebras giving rides?! we drove down the red light district (very entertaining!) and also walked round the corner from the hotel and up to the shopping centre to Walmart and the Swarovski shop (SO cheap) and bought myself a souvenir or two! I drank what the hotel allocated me and also bought Isopure drinks which have 40g of clear Protein in each serve and are very nice, good varied flavours.

Everyone at the hotel and the company I went with treated you like a rockstar, and there were plenty of other sleevers there to talk to if you wanted to. The Dr visited me 3 times in my room to check on me. I took my laptop so I skyped my hubby every day - yes, I went alone and loved it!

I had a lovely relaxing time, doing my walk walk walking myself to fitness doing laps around my hotel floor and then in the gym on the treadmill. I knew all the maids by the time I left, and I knew every piece of artwork on that hotel floor!

The journey home was fine, good to be back in Australia and my own surroundings. Have progressed to mushies and am loving it. Have blitzed my usual chilli I make and it is amazing.I serve it with a little mushed up avocado and sour cream YUMM! Have also got some recipes from the blog the world according to eggface, and they are great also (the crock post roast beef with chicken Soup is amazing). I have also made corned beef hash and that is also a winner. I did have the up and go energize when I first got home but found the texture a bit ickky and I also drank one too fast.....you know the feeling you get when you don't know if you need to be sick or use the toilet? Well that's what it was like. I'd read about this, so knew exactly what it was. I took myself to the loo, but all was fine there, so I just had to lay down half upright on the sofa with my head back, heart pounding, sweat all over me, groaning, not moving a muscle, waiting for this drink to eventually make it's way down!! I haven't bought any more! I still have an optifast shake a day, for fluids and for the protein. I add a bit of cinnamon and take it warm/hot, rather nice...plus I fill my shaker with water so it's not as thick. I am walking every day for about 30 mins and intend to start light weights on my arms soon so as to avoid the dreaded bingo/bat wings. I was sleeved on 20th March, it cost me $1600 in flights and $4650 for the op and $150 for the extra nights I had at the Marriott ( I spent some money on gifts when out shopping too).

I totally enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend it. I should have stayed in San Diego after too as I would have loved to have gone to the zoo to see the pandas! But I did go shopping there to H & M and got some nice things that were so cheap compared to Oz.

I go back to work tomorrow and have not told anyone about what I have done. The good thing is that I checked with my private health fund (Bupa) before I left as to what would happen if I had any problems when I got back to Oz and they said that because there is nothing left inside me, like there would be with the crapband..opps, sorry lapband! they said it would be classed as a new condition and I would be covered under my fund! So I got that double checked and got the reference number for the conversation! If I had had the band put in and had problems after I wouldn't be covered as the band was there for a pre-existing condition.

I also asked the Dr's that I work with what would happen if I turned up in ED with a problem? They said they have to treat you the same as anyone else, it's their duty of care, they can't legally turn you away, they have to treat you, so double win! My incisions are healing nicely, they stitch and glue them, my drain site is healing slowly, but that's to be expected. The surgeon used a 32 bougie and sutured as well as stapled. My only regret and I say this is the only regret I have is that I wasn't informed that there was a 'spider' sleeve gastrectomy available where they only have one incision just by your belly button, as I would definately have paid the $1,000 more to have only one incision. Actually, there is one other regret.....i wish I had done this years ago! I was on the smaller side with a BMI of 34. There were other ladies there with a lower BMI too,( I probably wouldn't even qualify for surgery in Oz) but they do the lower and the very high over there.

All the ladies I met said that we knew this was the way foward, no more yo-yo dieting, gradually gaining more and more and existing rather than living our lives. I turn 40 in September and can truthfully say I can't bloody wait....LIFE WILL DEFINATELY BEGIN FOR ME AT 40!! I have been fat ALL my life, my mother put me on weight watchers when I was 10. Diet after diet after diet, I can now say goodbye to all that. I am really enjoying my journey and can't wait to finally wear something that isn't an XXL or elasticated.

Sorry this has been so long, hope it helps someone. bye, Sharon

[sueoco 509]

Wow Sharon - what an amazing account of your experience - makes me want to get it done again in Mexico!! I was always a bit apprehensive about what they now call 'surgery tourism ' but I can say that I have only read good reports on this forum about Mexico for the sleeve. As you are a nurse yourself, you would be able to have a direct comparison of the standard of care.

I don't think many Australians would have considered Mexico as an option but I can understand it would be an option if you didn't have private health cover or didn't want to draw back on your super and pay the tax.

Anyway, well done - I still think you were very brave going all that way and doing it on your own!

[kelliv 659]

Hi Sharon, thanks for sharing your interesting story and congratulations on your successful surgery and progress to date. We look forward to hearing more from you in future.

[Dons2.0 39]

Hi All,

Just wanted to say a quick hello to my fellow Aussies and others interested in this thread!

I'm Donna, 29 from the Gold Coast. I have been considering the sleeve for nearly a year now and finally have all my ducks in a row and a surgery date in Sept! I had some super released early for this operation but only had enough to go into a public hospital as a private patient. My surgeon is Dr Justin Greenslade and he works out of Greenslopes and also the QE2 for patients like me. I have the lengthy wait because he only has certain days available through QE2 I believe, but with about 5 months to wait and saving me thousands (and I mean about $10000!) I can't complain and I've heard wonderful things about him and his work!

I am currently around 140kg and 174 cm (so I have always been lucky with height) this is the heaviest I have been and have struggled with my weight since about year 8. My goal weight would be about 75-80kg for my height. Would love to hear from anyone with stats similar to mine that have already been sleeved, what is your goal etc and how is the journey going so far??

I am mainly doing this as I have PCOS and a lot of the side effects that having this brings - infertility mainly. I want to be healthy when my husband and I start a family and for people to know I'm actually pregnant! Not just overweight! I want children so badly and am also embarrassed to see an infertility specialist at my current weight. They are likely to tell me my weight is an issue ( I know this already) and I would be in a high risk category if I was to get pregnant now. All my closest friends are having or just had babies and I'm green with envy! I know I still have to wait after the op and I'm making the best decision for me and hopefully healthy babies in the future!

I'm hoping to lose maybe 10-15kg before surgery by cutting out things I know aren't good for me and trying different Protein recipes and shakes so I'm in the know when the time comes maybe even throw some dreaded exercise in there to get me started lol

Anyway enough about me! Would love to make some friends on here to share the journey.

Hugs,

Donna

[kazza wa 28]

Hi everyone' date='

Just thought I'd share my story. I am a nurse and I live in Perth WA. I took out private health insurance in January to have the VSG op next year. By Feb I was getting really down about my weight and really didn't want to wait another 12 months. 12 months when you are big and have your mind set on something seems like an eternity. So I looked into getting my super released early. Because I'm a nurse in the public health system we go through a different regulatory body which really makes you jump through hoops and basically was all down to whether I could afford to have the surgery done or not. Well, I could afford to pay for the surgery myself, but didn't want to use all of my savings on that, hence wanting to release the super. However, the downside to releasing the super was the amount of tax they would take too, so the sum I actually would end up paying was HUGE. So I decided to see if there was anything overseas that would be cheaper as there was no way I was going to pay 22,000 for the surgery. Even waiting the 12 months would end up with me probably being a whole lot bigger and still paying a huge gap fee. So I was glued to the internet basically 24/7 for a whole week and found this forum and the Mexico thread. Well, I contacted alighterme.com and got all the info I needed. Very professional and helpful I decided to go to Mexico for the surgery! I had it all booked within a week. I managed to have time to do the 9 days pre-op Optifast diet. I booked a flight through Virgin/Delta into San Diego and got collected from the airport by the company driver and checked into the Marriott hotel for the night. Next day I was picked up from the gorgeous hotel and taken to the hospital. I had bloods done, paid the bill, did the paperwork and was settled into my hospital room. I spoke to the surgeon and the nurse put in my IV access. Then I was taken into the operating room by wheelchair. I hopped up on the table and the anaesthetist did my consent and asked me if I wanted to wake up quickly or slowly, I said slowly. He then asked me about how my flights were over to Mexico and that's all I remeember! I don't remember getting back to my room, just the next morning when the nurses asked me how I was. I was in pain so they came round like clockwork with anti emetics, anti reflux, IV antibiotics and pain relief, on the dot! Everything was so well done, and the universal precautions were better that what I have witnessed in Australian hospitals. Everything was very clean and they do so many very obese patients that I knew I was in safe hands. I was up and walk walk walking around the next day...loads of us doing the IV shuffle! (helps with getting rid of the gas pains) Got to meet some really nice fellow sleevers who I am still keeping in touch with. I had to drink some blue dye that day to check for leaks that would show through my drain. The next day I went down to X-ray to drink the other stuff and check for leaks under X-ray. I didn't find this a problem at all, the drink tasted fine and it was really interesting seeing my new smaller stomach on the x-ray. I left the hospital after 2 nights there back to the Marriott where I stayed for another 5 nights. The bed and pillows were to die for, the best I've EVER slept on! They give you 2 bottles of Water, 3 bowls of chicken broth and 2 popsicles a day. The chicken broth was yum! I was supposed to be on clear fluids for a week post op, but stayed on this until I got home so it was actually 9 days. But this didn't bother me at all as I had no appetitie and still don't. I got taken out by the driver with other sleevers into Tijuana on a shopping trip to the tourist area, looked round some shops, saw the donkeys painted as zebras giving rides?! we drove down the red light district (very entertaining!) and also walked round the corner from the hotel and up to the shopping centre to Walmart and the Swarovski shop (SO cheap) and bought myself a souvenir or two! I drank what the hotel allocated me and also bought Isopure drinks which have 40g of clear Protein in each serve and are very nice, good varied flavours.

Everyone at the hotel and the company I went with treated you like a rockstar, and there were plenty of other sleevers there to talk to if you wanted to. The Dr visited me 3 times in my room to check on me. I took my laptop so I skyped my hubby every day - yes, I went alone and loved it!

I had a lovely relaxing time, doing my walk walk walking myself to fitness doing laps around my hotel floor and then in the gym on the treadmill. I knew all the maids by the time I left, and I knew every piece of artwork on that hotel floor!

The journey home was fine, good to be back in Australia and my own surroundings. Have progressed to mushies and am loving it. Have blitzed my usual chilli I make and it is amazing.I serve it with a little mushed up avocado and sour cream YUMM! Have also got some recipes from the blog the world according to eggface, and they are great also (the crock post roast beef with chicken Soup is amazing). I have also made corned beef hash and that is also a winner. I did have the up and go energize when I first got home but found the texture a bit ickky and I also drank one too fast.....you know the feeling you get when you don't know if you need to be sick or use the toilet? Well that's what it was like. I'd read about this, so knew exactly what it was. I took myself to the loo, but all was fine there, so I just had to lay down half upright on the sofa with my head back, heart pounding, sweat all over me, groaning, not moving a muscle, waiting for this drink to eventually make it's way down!! I haven't bought any more! I still have an Optifast shake a day, for fluids and for the Protein. I add a bit of cinnamon and take it warm/hot, rather nice...plus I fill my shaker with Water so it's not as thick. I am walking every day for about 30 mins and intend to start light weights on my arms soon so as to avoid the dreaded bingo/bat wings. I was sleeved on 20th March, it cost me 1600 in flights and 4650 for the op and 150 for the extra nights I had at the Marriott ( I spent some money on gifts when out shopping too).

I totally enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend it. I should have stayed in San Diego after too as I would have loved to have gone to the zoo to see the pandas! But I did go shopping there to H & M and got some nice things that were so cheap compared to Oz.

I go back to work tomorrow and have not told anyone about what I have done. The good thing is that I checked with my private health fund (Bupa) before I left as to what would happen if I had any problems when I got back to Oz and they said that because there is nothing left inside me, like there would be with the crapband..opps, sorry lapband! they said it would be classed as a new condition and I would be covered under my fund! So I got that double checked and got the reference number for the conversation! If I had had the band put in and had problems after I wouldn't be covered as the band was there for a pre-existing condition.

I also asked the Dr's that I work with what would happen if I turned up in ED with a problem? They said they have to treat you the same as anyone else, it's their duty of care, they can't legally turn you away, they have to treat you, so double win! My incisions are healing nicely, they stitch and glue them, my drain site is healing slowly, but that's to be expected. The surgeon used a 32 bougie and sutured as well as stapled. My only regret and I say this is the only regret I have is that I wasn't informed that there was a 'spider' sleeve gastrectomy available where they only have one incision just by your belly button, as I would definately have paid the 1,000 more to have only one incision. Actually, there is one other regret.....i wish I had done this years ago! I was on the smaller side with a BMI of 34. There were other ladies there with a lower BMI too,( I probably wouldn't even qualify for surgery in Oz) but they do the lower and the very high over there.

All the ladies I met said that we knew this was the way foward, no more yo-yo dieting, gradually gaining more and more and existing rather than living our lives. I turn 40 in September and can truthfully say I can't bloody wait....LIFE WILL DEFINATELY BEGIN FOR ME AT 40!! I have been fat ALL my life, my mother put me on weight watchers when I was 10. Diet after diet after diet, I can now say goodbye to all that. I am really enjoying my journey and can't wait to finally wear something that isn't an XXL or elasticated.

Sorry this has been so long, hope it helps someone. bye, Sharon[/quote']

[mistysj 1,940]

That's an amazing story, Sharon! You will have the weight off in no time.

[mistysj 1,940]

Hi All' date='

Just wanted to say a quick hello to my fellow Aussies and others interested in this thread!

I'm Donna, 29 from the Gold Coast. I have been considering the sleeve for nearly a year now and finally have all my ducks in a row and a surgery date in Sept! I had some super released early for this operation but only had enough to go into a public hospital as a private patient. My surgeon is Dr Justin Greenslade and he works out of Greenslopes and also the QE2 for patients like me. I have the lengthy wait because he only has certain days available through QE2 I believe, but with about 5 months to wait and saving me thousands (and I mean about 10000!) I can't complain and I've heard wonderful things about him and his work!

I am currently around 140kg and 174 cm (so I have always been lucky with height) this is the heaviest I have been and have struggled with my weight since about year 8. My goal weight would be about 75-80kg for my height. Would love to hear from anyone with stats similar to mine that have already been sleeved, what is your goal etc and how is the journey going so far??

I am mainly doing this as I have PCOS and a lot of the side effects that having this brings - infertility mainly. I want to be healthy when my husband and I start a family and for people to know I'm actually pregnant! Not just overweight! I want children so badly and am also embarrassed to see an infertility specialist at my current weight. They are likely to tell me my weight is an issue ( I know this already) and I would be in a high risk category if I was to get pregnant now. All my closest friends are having or just had babies and I'm green with envy! I know I still have to wait after the op and I'm making the best decision for me and hopefully healthy babies in the future!

I'm hoping to lose maybe 10-15kg before surgery by cutting out things I know aren't good for me and trying different Protein recipes and shakes so I'm in the know when the time comes maybe even throw some dreaded exercise in there to get me started lol

Anyway enough about me! Would love to make some friends on here to share the journey.

Hugs,

Donna[/quote']

Welcome, Donna! I have PCOS too so I feel your pain. I wish I had done this surgery years ago before my hysterectomy. Oh well, can't change the past. Congratulations on having a surgery date! I'm still waiting for my initial consultation.

[Bec101 227]

Hi All' date='

Just wanted to say a quick hello to my fellow Aussies and others interested in this thread!

I'm Donna, 29 from the Gold Coast. I have been considering the sleeve for nearly a year now and finally have all my ducks in a row and a surgery date in Sept! I had some super released early for this operation but only had enough to go into a public hospital as a private patient. My surgeon is Dr Justin Greenslade and he works out of Greenslopes and also the QE2 for patients like me. I have the lengthy wait because he only has certain days available through QE2 I believe, but with about 5 months to wait and saving me thousands (and I mean about 10000!) I can't complain and I've heard wonderful things about him and his work!

I am currently around 140kg and 174 cm (so I have always been lucky with height) this is the heaviest I have been and have struggled with my weight since about year 8. My goal weight would be about 75-80kg for my height. Would love to hear from anyone with stats similar to mine that have already been sleeved, what is your goal etc and how is the journey going so far??

I am mainly doing this as I have PCOS and a lot of the side effects that having this brings - infertility mainly. I want to be healthy when my husband and I start a family and for people to know I'm actually pregnant! Not just overweight! I want children so badly and am also embarrassed to see an infertility specialist at my current weight. They are likely to tell me my weight is an issue ( I know this already) and I would be in a high risk category if I was to get pregnant now. All my closest friends are having or just had babies and I'm green with envy! I know I still have to wait after the op and I'm making the best decision for me and hopefully healthy babies in the future!

I'm hoping to lose maybe 10-15kg before surgery by cutting out things I know aren't good for me and trying different Protein recipes and shakes so I'm in the know when the time comes maybe even throw some dreaded exercise in there to get me started lol

Anyway enough about me! Would love to make some friends on here to share the journey.

Hugs,

Donna[/quote']

Hi Donna,

Welcome. I too have PCOS and have been trying to have a baby for the last 3 years. Well I'm about 140kg (my heaviest) and 164cm. I went to Monash IVF at Sunnybank and was told u have to have a BMI of 40 or under before they can do anything. So I have to loose 30kgs before they will help So I have been recommened the sleeve and after so much googling etc I'm asking for my referral next week. I'm glad to hear someone else who is in the same boat as me

Bec

[Dons2.0 39]

Hi Donna' date='

Welcome. I too have PCOS and have been trying to have a baby for the last 3 years. Well I'm about 140kg (my heaviest) and 164cm. I went to Monash IVF at Sunnybank and was told u have to have a BMI of 40 or under before they can do anything. So I have to loose 30kgs before they will help <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> So I have been recommened the sleeve and after so much googling etc I'm asking for my referral next week. I'm glad to hear someone else who is in the same boat as me

Bec[/quote']

Hey Bec,

Nice to meet you! We sound like we are in the exact same place right now. I just calculated my BMI and I'm 46 - my husband and I tried for a couple of years but I knew it was very unlikely we would fall without fertility treatment.

I have read and researched for months and months and can't wait to be sleeved and have a second chance!

Love to stay in touch share the journey!

Donna

[Dons2.0 39]

Welcome' date=' Donna! I have PCOS too so I feel your pain. I wish I had done this surgery years ago before my hysterectomy. Oh well, can't change the past. Congratulations on having a surgery date! I'm still waiting for my initial consultation.[/quote']

Hi Mistysj,

Thanks for the welcome! Yes PCOS isn't fun at all. Good luck at your consultation!

Donna

[Lissa_S 787]

Hi Donna,

I am a similar height to you, at 176cm tall and my top weight was higher at 173kg. I was sleeved in September last year. If you managed to wade through all the pages you would know that I had a leak. I had an extra two months in hospital, almost died several times and had to have the sleeve re-done so my pouch is very small.

Since surgery 7 months ago, I have lost about 70kg (haven't weighed recently so not sure of the exact number). Despite what I went through with the leak this is still the best thing I have ever done for my health.

Good luck with preparing for your surgery and keep on the forums - the people here are awesome and will be invaluable on your journey.

Cheers, Liss