Melbournian sleevers are letting the page down!

[QueenBeeBee 94]

Hi guys!!!! I finally found you!!! I have been looking for Aussies everywhere!!!!

My name is Bee I live in Melbourne Im 31 years old and being sleeved by Chris Hensman by lap surgery Australia at the valley private in mulgrave anyone been there?

Surgery date is 1st May and I'm packing bricks and hangry!!!!!

preopp is a bitch lollll

Started preopp on Wednesday and am down 6kg

Hw 136kg

Cw 130kg

9 days to go can we all please keep this thread alive lol

[Chez 91]

Hi Bee! I'm Chez, 33 from Melbourne and I'm getting sleeved June 2. Good luck for your surgery!! Not long to go for you now. How are you feeling? I'm up and down with 6 weeks to go.

I'm bring sleeved by Mr Simon Banting at St Vincent's private in the city. I'm over 150 kgs which is my highest weight ever. I hope to be under that by surgery.

[QueenBeeBee 94]

Hi Bee! I'm Chez, 33 from Melbourne and I'm getting sleeved June 2. Good luck for your surgery!! Not long to go for you now. How are you feeling? I'm up and down with 6 weeks to go. I'm bring sleeved by Mr Simon Banting at St Vincent's private in the city. I'm over 150 kgs which is my highest weight ever. I hope to be under that by surgery.

Hi Chez! Lovely to meet you! Thank u I'm going to need all the luck I can get! I'm really scared and nervous and excited I keep flicking through it all lol I'm a hot mess hahahha the pre opp diet is aweful cause I'm hungry all the time!!!! Like STARVING but 6 kg gone in under a week I guess I can't complain!

I've been reasonably good only had one bite of hubby's toast but it smelt so good and it was the most amazing thing I have tasted I miss bread and carbs and chocolate and popcorn but u know I enjoyed them all upto this point

Just can't wait to stop feeling hungry all the time lol

Sorry I talk too much hahah

I wanted to say in really excited to meet you and I'm looking forward to your updates

Do u have a preopp diet u need? What are you scared of most?

And congratulations on making such a huge decision u should b proud of urself

[Chez 91]

Great to meet you too Bee.

I keep going over everything. One moment I'm fine, the next I'm freaked out!

Good work on the 6kg pre op. How long is your pre op diet for? I'm on Optifast for 2 weeks. 4 weeks until I start all that.

Big congrats to you on making your decision. It's a massive choice to make.

I'm most scared about the operation itself. I've never been in hospital so I'm nervous about it. I'm also scared about not being fat as I've been fat for so long I don't know any other reality. In saying that, I'm most excited about being healthy and happy and comfortable. Also being able to buy clothes I want to buy rather then buying clothes just because they fit me. How about you? What are you scared or excited about?

[QueenBeeBee 94]

Hey Chez,

I have my pre surgery consult tomorrow how excited but i had a thousand questions to ask and now im blank lol. The preopp is a bitch i hate it lolllllllllll I started on Wednesday and I have to do it until the 1st some days are better than others.

Im the same im so scared for the surgery! I'm scared im going to wake up and theres going to be a breathing tube down my throat and im going to choke on it. Im scared of my liver being too heavy and him not operating. Im scared of not waking up...Im scared of a lot of things lol

But i am excited about being healthty. Im excited about not being hungry all the time. And im most excited about being healthy enough to have a healthy pregnancy

The pre opp diet is not my friend im tired ALL the time have no energy and STARVING and i just want to eat! But the weight i lost was from my food funerals ive been having hahah i put on heaps of weight after my choice i ATE EVERYTHING! now im paying the price lolllll

I weened myself onto it. at the start of the month i just replaced breaky with a shake for two weeks just to see how i go and wednesday 3 meals replaced but i can have some veggies and lean meat which has been a blessing hahaha

[steveelea 61]

Hey QueenBeeBee and Chez.....so glad someone started posting again I had no luck here just before I went for my sleeve and was freiking out big time so I feel your fear.....

Let me give you a bit of info and I will try to keep it short for you

Lapbanded November 09 by Ray McHenry Lap Surgery Australia Starting weight was 150kg

Port replaced 3 further times...

Band worked just OK for about a year and then not so well

Got down to 103kg with loads of hard work and feeling hungry all the time so once I stopped strictly dieting I put most of my weight back on

Band Removed by Ray on 27th November 2013

Sleeved 27th Feb 2014 by My McHenry again and Chris Hensman was assisting starting weight was 140kg (just before I started pre op diet from HELL!!!!!!)

It has been almost 8 weeks and I am down to 122kg so have lost 18kg so far.

Info on the operation itself:

Was done at Knox Hospital (my preference as I have had great experiences there)

Was done late arvo Thursday and got my stomach tube out on the Sunday and home Sunday as well.

Pain compared to band....so much easier but not gonna lie it was still a big op, but one that I felt like I was coping with the pain etc and I am a sooky lala when it comes to pain...believe me!!!!

I have 3 Children and I was so scared that I was going to die......Ray put everything into perspective for me.

He said he would be more concerned if I didnt get the operation than the risk of getting it.

Yes its a major operation but they do them all the time....its what they specialise in.

It is just like going in for any other surgery....yes there are risks BUT.....you are with surgeons that are skilled at what they do and do it well....have a wonderful success rate and look after every patient extremely well and have great back up.

Just ask Chris and tell him you are scared.

My mum came with me to my pre op appt as hubby was working and Ray held her hand and said....dont worry we will look after her and she will be fine!!!!

I felt so good after chatting with him about my concerns and the fact that he understood but assured me was what I needed.

I am loving having the sleeve although sometimes I just wish I could dive into a big fat burger or souvlaki haha

But hey thats what got me into this problem in the first place

If you guys have ANY questions please just ask....I know how it feels to have no one to ask and talk to about it.

Im here for you and you guys will blitz this!!

Leanne xox

[Chez 91]

Hey Bee and Leanne.

Bee how did your appointment go today?? Hope all went well. OMG I felt like I was reading my own thoughts. I've been worried about the same things as you re: surgery and not waking up etc. glad I'm not the only one! I've been having heaps of food funerals. Today was maccas. I'm relieved about that. While I was eating it I was taking my time and realised it taste crappy too...making it easier to give up. Good suggestion about easing into pre op with the shakes. I'm going to start that as if next week.

Leanne, great to meet you! Thanks heaps for sharing your story. It's always good to hear From someone who has been there done that. Thanks for your support. I have a question, how long did it take til you could drive??

[QueenBeeBee 94]

Hey QueenBeeBee and Chez.....so glad someone started posting again I had no luck here just before I went for my sleeve and was freiking out big time so I feel your fear..... Let me give you a bit of info and I will try to keep it short for you Lapbanded November 09 by Ray McHenry Lap Surgery Australia Starting weight was 150kg Port replaced 3 further times... Band worked just OK for about a year and then not so well Got down to 103kg with loads of hard work and feeling hungry all the time so once I stopped strictly dieting I put most of my weight back on Band Removed by Ray on 27th November 2013 Sleeved 27th Feb 2014 by My McHenry again and Chris Hensman was assisting starting weight was 140kg (just before I started pre op diet from HELL!!!!!!) It has been almost 8 weeks and I am down to 122kg so have lost 18kg so far. Info on the operation itself: Was done at Knox Hospital (my preference as I have had great experiences there) Was done late arvo Thursday and got my stomach tube out on the Sunday and home Sunday as well. Pain compared to band....so much easier but not gonna lie it was still a big op, but one that I felt like I was coping with the pain etc and I am a sooky lala when it comes to pain...believe me!!!! I have 3 Children and I was so scared that I was going to die......Ray put everything into perspective for me. He said he would be more concerned if I didnt get the operation than the risk of getting it. Yes its a major operation but they do them all the time....its what they specialise in. It is just like going in for any other surgery....yes there are risks BUT.....you are with surgeons that are skilled at what they do and do it well....have a wonderful success rate and look after every patient extremely well and have great back up. Just ask Chris and tell him you are scared. My mum came with me to my pre op appt as hubby was working and Ray held her hand and said....dont worry we will look after her and she will be fine!!!! I felt so good after chatting with him about my concerns and the fact that he understood but assured me was what I needed. I am loving having the sleeve although sometimes I just wish I could dive into a big fat burger or souvlaki haha But hey thats what got me into this problem in the first place If you guys have ANY questions please just ask....I know how it feels to have no one to ask and talk to about it. Im here for you and you guys will blitz this!! Leanne xox

Hi Leanne!

Wow your story is amazing! I'm sorry u had to go through so much I had my pre surgery consult today and Im now so scared! Hensman said something about something in my stomach he was a bit vague what's this tube they are talking about? Does it hurt? Omg I have like a zero pain tolerance......I'm going in on Thursday 1st May I'm pretty scared. I asked roughly what time he thought he would get around to me and his response was well I don't look at the time I just do what I do and I'll get to when I can ???? what time did u go in? Did they put these socks on u? Did u have a pain management thing?

How are you coping with it all now? Have u started exercising? An 18kg drop is amazing!!!!!!!! Are u loving the sleeve?

Sorry too many questions.... It's lovely to hear your experience

[QueenBeeBee 94]

Hey Bee and Leanne. Bee how did your appointment go today?? Hope all went well. OMG I felt like I was reading my own thoughts. I've been worried about the same things as you re: surgery and not waking up etc. glad I'm not the only one! I've been having heaps of food funerals. Today was maccas. I'm relieved about that. While I was eating it I was taking my time and realised it taste crappy too...making it easier to give up. Good suggestion about easing into pre op with the shakes. I'm going to start that as if next week. Leanne, great to meet you! Thanks heaps for sharing your story. It's always good to hear From someone who has been there done that. Thanks for your support. I have a question, how long did it take til you could drive??

Hey Chez! Sorry for my late reply! The appointment was very quick he just outline what would happen on the day and reassured hubby he would take care of me. I asked what time he thought he'd get around to me an he was like well I don't know cause I don't look at the time bla bla bla! Then I had the call from the nurse from the nurse who also told me what would happen also I have to wash myself with chlorhexidine 4% the night before and the morning of not long to go now! Yesterday was a real test of will power I had to make baklava and borek and all this other food for a dinner 2mrw night a dinner I don't get to have but every bit of food was carefully prepared with love so I'll have my shake and some Soup and serve everyone

Confession time went to costco to buy the cake and hubby bought 2 slices of pizza and I had a bite out of each!!!! Urgh I suck at this pre opp!!!!!!

Anyways...how's ur weekend Chez?

[Chez 91]

Hey Chez! Sorry for my late reply! The appointment was very quick he just outline what would happen on the day and reassured hubby he would take care of me. I asked what time he thought he'd get around to me an he was like well I don't know cause I don't look at the time bla bla bla! Then I had the call from the nurse from the nurse who also told me what would happen also I have to wash myself with chlorhexidine 4% the night before and the morning of not long to go now! Yesterday was a real test of will power I had to make baklava and borek and all this other food for a dinner 2mrw night a dinner I don't get to have but every bit of food was carefully prepared with love so I'll have my shake and some Soup and serve everyone Confession time went to costco to buy the cake and hubby bought 2 slices of pizza and I had a bite out of each!!!! Urgh I suck at this pre opp!!!!!! Anyways...how's ur weekend Chez?

No worries Hun all good. Nice work on the cooking and not eating, so hard to do!! I'm not looking forward to pre op. Are you doing Optifast? Argh...

So not long for you, exciting. I'm nervous 5 weeks out have no idea how I'll be a couple of days out. I'll be thinking of you this week.

My weekend was good thanks, enjoying my last few weeks of so called 'freedom'. But also feeling relieved that this part of my life is coming to a close.

How did your weekend go? How are you doing??

[steveelea 61]

Sorry for the late reply guys I have been away over the long Easter break

Hey Chez.....I drove after about 3 weeks I think maybe even 4 but I could do it fairly easily at that stage.

I have a 17 year old daughter on her L's so she drove me to my appointments but of course I felt fine to drive I was just taking it easy whilst I had help.

I would say 2 weeks to make sure but your surgeon will tell you for sure.

I have to say now still if I am driving for long periods I get a pain in my tummy up the right side. I think that its the breaking etc in traffic as you are using the right leg to drive and it just pulls a bit.

8 weeks down and I feel like I can do most things but I wanted to start at the gym and they said no just wait as it has been major surgery and not to rush things.

Queen BeeBee never too many questions!! I was just the same )

OK the tube out of the stomach looks gross but its not painfull at all.

They leave a drainage tube in for 3 to 4 days to keep an eye on the output of the discharge (blood and fluids)

You just have to carry it with you like a little handbag haha

I was sweating bricks about it coming out but hey.....that was easy.

It did feel weird as you could feel it coming out but it wasn't painfull just a funny feeling.....mind you I said I wanted pain relief and they gave me 2 endones about 1/2 an hour before they took it out and that would have helped so make sure you ask for them before they take it out and if they say no you dont need them, you need to insist and ask them to come back in half an hour after you have taken them.

The pre admission nurse told me to do that and the nurses were fine with it.

I have zero pain tolerance and I was fine so you will be fine too!!

I was soooo scared before I went in and I told the anithasist that I was really scared and he gave me a pre med.....wow it was bloody fantastic and I remember nothing after that haha!!! Hope I didn't embarress myself self LOL as the last thing I remember was the nurses asking me if I thought it was working and just being all warm and fuzzy and saying that it was great and then nothing after that! So tell them talk to them and ask them as they are there to help and believe me those anithasists are usually great!

What time r u going in??

Where are u on his list?? You can ask the hospital or you can ring lap surgery and ask them and they will tell you.

I went in at 11am and knew that there was a couple of big cases that were complicated before me (they do bowl surgery and everything so I am assuming it was something big like that) and I was taken off about 3 to 4pm so that was what I had expected as I was 3rd on the list.

Yes I had the sox and these great fantastic massage wraps around my legs (had them each surgery and hubby is always jelly and wants them for himself for home ) they are like air being pumped around your legs and so relaxing.

I think I left my stockings on for about 3 to 4 weeks and they say till your back to being active again and not sitting for long periods. They never bother me and especially when the weather is cooler.

I am loving my sleeve yes......still trying to get used to the small amounts I am able to eat.......its the head hunger thing thats the hardest as I still want to keep eating but I cant!! Pathetic I know right??

Oh and pain managment was great......endone etc they work well and I asked for my panadol through my drip as its more effective and easier to take that way as tablets are suddenly massive when you have a tiny stomach.

If they wont do it through the drip or when they stop the drip I asked them to crush my tablets and just mixed them with Water to take as I found it easier.

Have I forgotten anything??

Just ask

[steveelea 61]

Oh and when you are recovering its important to keep your fluids up. Just remember to take tiny sips often

[QueenBeeBee 94]

No worries Hun all good. Nice work on the cooking and not eating, so hard to do!! I'm not looking forward to pre op. Are you doing Optifast? Argh... So not long for you, exciting. I'm nervous 5 weeks out have no idea how I'll be a couple of days out. I'll be thinking of you this week. My weekend was good thanks, enjoying my last few weeks of so called 'freedom'. But also feeling relieved that this part of my life is coming to a close. How did your weekend go? How are you doing??

Hey Chez! Ithe preopp is a bitch I hate it so much! Lol I'm a big sook but! Some people do amazing on it and are like it's ok I'm not one of them hahahha so on preopp lost weight in the first week really quickly like 6 kg I was like madddd then for the last few days no drop apparently my stupid body is trying to catch up oh and post opp I've noticed a three weekish stall good to know so we can b prepared

Lol yup when I knew I was getting surgery I ate everything didn't care I ate it all and enjoyed it and didn't feel guilty at all! Enjoy it babe u'll have plenty of time in preopp to lose the excess an cleanse the system

Weekend was good Hun worked both days then it was family dinner and while everyone ate all the yummy food I are a small piece of grilled chicken and some salad And kept giving everyone else more food cause I was still hungry lol then I serves baklava and cheesecake which smelt so good and I ate some fruit and yoghurt then everyone wanted that so I served them that tooo lol I'm proud I stayed strong

I'm really scared now as the time draws closer I have these moments of serenity and then I Freak the F*** Out lolllll urgh!

When do u start ur pre opp again?

[QueenBeeBee 94]

Sorry for the late reply guys I have been away over the long Easter break Hey Chez.....I drove after about 3 weeks I think maybe even 4 but I could do it fairly easily at that stage. I have a 17 year old daughter on her L's so she drove me to my appointments but of course I felt fine to drive I was just taking it easy whilst I had help. I would say 2 weeks to make sure but your surgeon will tell you for sure. I have to say now still if I am driving for long periods I get a pain in my tummy up the right side. I think that its the breaking etc in traffic as you are using the right leg to drive and it just pulls a bit. 8 weeks down and I feel like I can do most things but I wanted to start at the gym and they said no just wait as it has been major surgery and not to rush things. Queen BeeBee never too many questions!! I was just the same ) OK the tube out of the stomach looks gross but its not painfull at all. They leave a drainage tube in for 3 to 4 days to keep an eye on the output of the discharge (blood and fluids) You just have to carry it with you like a little handbag haha I was sweating bricks about it coming out but hey.....that was easy. It did feel weird as you could feel it coming out but it wasn't painfull just a funny feeling.....mind you I said I wanted pain relief and they gave me 2 endones about 1/2 an hour before they took it out and that would have helped so make sure you ask for them before they take it out and if they say no you dont need them, you need to insist and ask them to come back in half an hour after you have taken them. The pre admission nurse told me to do that and the nurses were fine with it. I have zero pain tolerance and I was fine so you will be fine too!! I was soooo scared before I went in and I told the anithasist that I was really scared and he gave me a pre med.....wow it was bloody fantastic and I remember nothing after that haha!!! Hope I didn't embarress myself self LOL as the last thing I remember was the nurses asking me if I thought it was working and just being all warm and fuzzy and saying that it was great and then nothing after that! So tell them talk to them and ask them as they are there to help and believe me those anithasists are usually great! What time r u going in?? Where are u on his list?? You can ask the hospital or you can ring lap surgery and ask them and they will tell you. I went in at 11am and knew that there was a couple of big cases that were complicated before me (they do bowl surgery and everything so I am assuming it was something big like that) and I was taken off about 3 to 4pm so that was what I had expected as I was 3rd on the list. Yes I had the sox and these great fantastic massage wraps around my legs (had them each surgery and hubby is always jelly and wants them for himself for home ) they are like air being pumped around your legs and so relaxing. I think I left my stockings on for about 3 to 4 weeks and they say till your back to being active again and not sitting for long periods. They never bother me and especially when the weather is cooler. I am loving my sleeve yes......still trying to get used to the small amounts I am able to eat.......its the head hunger thing thats the hardest as I still want to keep eating but I cant!! Pathetic I know right?? Oh and pain managment was great......endone etc they work well and I asked for my panadol through my drip as its more effective and easier to take that way as tablets are suddenly massive when you have a tiny stomach. If they wont do it through the drip or when they stop the drip I asked them to crush my tablets and just mixed them with Water to take as I found it easier. Have I forgotten anything?? Just ask

Hey Leanne! Great to hear from u hope u had a nice Easter!thank u sooo much for answering all my stupid questions! It's great to know these are the things people don't tell u lol or we forget to ask lol omg the pre Med sounds amazing i want that so bad!!!! I'm sooo scared and I'll be so scared I know I'm in good hands and all but the idea of loosing control of my body scares me quite a bit....

What was the thing that u needed most for the hospital? I have my robe my comfy pjs and nighties and toiletries iPhone/iPad/ds and a book but can't think of anything else?

What was the hardest part for u?

[steveelea 61]

Hey Queen BeeBee....I just took in loose fitting things which I needed.

You don't want anything tight around your stomach thats for sure and a loose top is great for when you are trying to move around with the tube still in.

I also took a tight fitting tank top/singlet thingy caus I couldnt wear a bra and I hate that so I wore that under my top to give me some sort of support and it helped with the tube too to sort of support it if that makes sense....

I took my iphone too needed that for sure haha

The hardest part for me was pre op for sure.....the fear of the operation and the diet etc

Afterwards I was lucky I had hubby home for 2 weeks and I didn't have to do anything which was great!!

Have you got your fluids prepaired for after surgery?? Like the Protein drinks etc??