I have a date!

[Nellythere 9]

Hello to anyone who may be considering or have just had roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery. I see there is not a lot of activity going on in our local forum. I am 43 years old and mother of two wonderful children (24 & 7) I live on the north side of Brisbane and work full time. I have been overweight most of my life. I have dieted plenty and always put more back on. It's time to change and take control. I have been sitting back for nearly 2 years just reading the incredibly informative posts on this site (not to mention pouring over the success pics like crazy) and after waiting a year for my private health fund to mature I finally have a date. I am having RNYGB surgery on 10 November 2015. I am currently on the Optifast diet. Day 3 today and just focusing on one day at a time. I would like to lose around 60kgs overall. The last 8 weeks I have changed my eating habits (focusing on whole foods) and started moving more and I am about 10kgs down. The only exercise I do is a daily walk and I go up and down the stairs at work a couple of times a day. It would be great to link up with anyone who may be sitting back thinking there is not much activity on here so I won't post. I would love a buddy, mentor or friend to share our journeys together. I believe the more support you have the more successful you will be. Below are my stats if you are interested. Look forward to finding some mates who are familiar with kilos not pounds. ...although i must admit 100 pounds lost sounds better than the equivalent in kilos :p

So I am pretty excited for the new me and would love to hear your stories. These are my stats:

HW 133.5kg

CW 124kg

GW 73kg

Height 177cm

Age 43

[ElizabethA 5]

Hi,

I am really happy for you that you have made this decision. I had the surgery in August 2014 and it has changed my life! My HW was 178kg, and I am now 90kg. I am at a point now where i am starting to consider plastic surgery to remove the excess skin. Although i still have a few kilos to lose the doctors all agree it is mostly skin now so I am thrilled!

Happy to answer any questions you might have from my experience or provide support.

The journey had been challenging but is definitely worth it!

Best of luck!

[Nellythere 9]

Wow Elizabeth you have lost as much as you weigh! That is so great. I will certainly have questions post op I am sure. I feel ready physically and have read a lot over the last 2 years before making my decision. I appreciate your support and will keep in touch. Good luck with your decisions on skin surgery.

[ElizabethA 5]

Hi Nellythere.,

Just wanted to check in and see how your surgery went and how you are feeling a few months down the track?

Elizabeth

[Nellythere 9]

Hello Elizabeth☺ i am doing great now thanks. I had an ok surgery i suppose. Had to have a transfusion but recovered quick from that. Overall from my highest weight i have lost 40kg and would still like to lose another 20 to 25. I am 3 months out now and food has not been a problem. Sometimes i think i can eat too much. I have just started the couch to 5k app and up until now i have been walking. How are you going? Any news on skin surgery? Have you any Vitamin deficiencies? This surgery had been a blessing. I hope in future i have changed my eating habits sufficiently so i can sustain the weight loss.

Edited February 8, 2016 by Nellythere

[ElizabethA 5]

Hi Nellythere,

I am glad to hear you are doing well. I have the surgery scheduled for 29/03 to remove the excess skin in the abdomen - there are another two stages if I end up doing everything to remove the excess skin in the upper body and thighs. I will definitely need the arms done but I will see how I go with the abdomen first :-).

I haven't had any Vitamin deficiencies, but I take Multivitamin and Calcium supplements twice a day as well as Vitamin B12 injections and a prescription Vitamin D supplement. I have regular blood tests and so far so good on the nutrition front.

Walking is great exercise, I have found that I enjoy it much more in groups (particularly when I can take my dog along) so have downloaded the Meetup app, you can find many different groups on there - walking groups, hikes etc if you are interested in that sort of thing.

Best of luck

Elizabeth

[Nellythere 9]

I will look into that meetup app thx. I hope you don't mind but i was wondering about skin surgery. I don't know anyone who has gone through this and do not have a clue about what may be potentially covered with medicare and what i will have to pay for myself. Private health does not cover what they term cosmetic procedures. I know i will need some surgeries as my skin is already starting to sag and loosen. I know it can be expensive as well and i will have to save to get it done. Can you give me any ideas on what you faced in the decision making process. I know it will be a couple of years away for me but i need to save.

[ElizabethA 5]

I don't mind - it is very difficult to find information, particularly for Australia. I have gotten to a point where I am going to lose very little more weight via diet and exercise, my GP and Personal Trainer are in agreement that I don't have a lot of fat left, it is mainly skin and muscle. However, if you look at me it still looks like I am carrying a fair bit of excess weight, particularly around my middle. I have been left with what they refer to as an "apron" at around my stomach. I can't fit into smaller clothes because of the folds. The decision to have surgery is hard, it is very expensive, very painful (from what i have read) and most people see it as being purely cosmetic - but it is also about comfort as well, as exercising is more difficult with all the excess skin.

As far as the decision, I did a lot of research and I would recommend you read the below article in the Good Weekend if you can still access it as it gives a good perspective from a variety of people who have had the surgery. I was also really lucky as my Personal Trainer had been through it and was able to talk to me about what to expect from the surgery.

The main thing to understand is, particularly if you have a lot of weight to lose, it is unlikely to just be one procedure. For me the doctor is talking about 3 separate surgeries - First what they call a Circumferential abdominoplasty, where they remove all the skin from the stomach, right around the back. If you have had children they will also likely tighten your stomach muscles incoporating the traditional "tummy tuck". The second surgery is then the upper body and arms, this will remove the loose skin around your breast area and upper back and the "tuckshop lady" arms. The third stage is then the upper thighs.

Don't find this too intimidating though - it is purely up to you what area's you want to focus on. For me stomach and arms are the main things. I may not end up having the third surgery as I am not too worried if my thighs are a little saggy :-)

As far as cost - although it is "cosmetic" you still need to ensure you have the top private hospital cover because, although the surgeon fee's won't be covered you will definitely need the hospital to be covered. So for the first surgery the cost to me is 26k, I will get about 3k back from medicare - but that is just the doctors costs (and anaesthetist), the in hospital costs for the theatre, room costs etc are fully covered by my insurance. The hospital stay for the first surgery is 5 days, so you definitely don't want to be paying the hospital costs as well.

I haven't been given the prices for the next two stages of surgery but I have been told that the second surgery takes about the same amount of time as the first (8-10 hours) and the third is about 4 hrs. So based on that I have estimated that the second will be about the same cost as the first, and the third should be a little cheaper.

At the moment I am just planning on getting through the first and then will consider the rest. The surgeon has said that you will need about 6-12 months between surgeries which is just as well since I will need to save up for the next one!

http://m.smh.com.au/good-weekend/under-their-skin-the-agony-and-ecstasy-of-body-contouring-20151109-gkuwmz.html

Let me know if you have any other questions!

[Nellythere 9]

Elizabth

Thanks for such a thorough reply. I appreciate all the information and have read the stories. I want to wish you the best for your surgery. It is a huge step and i hope it brings a measure of satisfaction with the changes that will come. It is a long and stressful journey. Like a rebirth. I hope your recovery goes well. You are a champion with great strength and courage. I only hope when my time comes i have the strength to continue and the ability to help others on their journey. Thank you. ☺

Edited February 11, 2016 by Nellythere

[Nellythere 9]

Hi Elizabeth. Did you have your surgery end of march as planned? Are you recovering well and taking it easy?

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[ElizabethA 5]

Hi Nellythere,

Yes - surgery went forth on 29/03, have been recovering at home for the last couple of weeks and am feeling pretty good now. It will take a few months before I am fully recovered - still have some swelling, but fortunately I didn't need any muscles tightened so the pain has been quite minimal.

Very happy with the outcome so far, fingers crossed!

How are you going?

Elizabeth

[Nellythere 9]

That's great news. I hope once the healing and swelling resolve your results are fantastic. You know i will ask for a pic one day but i will certainly give you time before that happens. Haha ???? i am doing really well thanks. 5 months out and around 15kg to goal. Have lost 50kg. So am happier and far healthier. Still not satisfied with my body but it's a work in progress and i am taking it as it comes.

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[adelaide2016 8]

Good to hear you're both going well

I'm having surgery in Adelaide on 17th May, so I go as well as you have

[Nellythere 9]

Hi Adelaide 2016. I want to wish you well for your surgery on the 17th. Hope all goes well for you. It's a great journey to be on. If you have any questions or need support don't hesitate to ask. I am close to 6 months out and all is going great. ☺ let us know how you get on. Janell. Xo

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[sarbear1_2000 10]

Hi

I have had 3 stages of Excess skin removal

I had arms, breasts and bra line back lift (stage one)

Hip to hip tummy, vertical chest wall(stage 2)

Tummy revised to Fleur de Lis and full medial thigh lift

I had an awesome surgeon in Sydney named Dr Kevin Ho

Happy to share pics if your interested

Sarah