kelliv

My friend's surgery went well although she reacted badly to the drugs. She has the leak test today and will go home tomorrow. She already feels a lot better. Asked me to visit her today to play canasta for a while so she must be getting back to normal.

I am taking Ferro-Grad C which is iron & Vitamin C combined. One per day with food. It takes at least three months for this TP potentially have any effect.

Great that you have a diagnosis. I also have iron deficiency anaemia and have just started back on iron tablets, but it's not related to my diet or sleeve. Our health issues will definitely be less as we lose the weight which is a real benefit.

Where does he operate? I haven't heard of him personally.

Where in Qld? Maybe we could meet while you are here recovering?

I am waiting at Holy Spirit Hospital Chermside for my friend who has gone into surgery to have a sleeve done. I hope all goes smoothly as I feel a bit responsible for inspiring her to make this decision. I can't wait to see her changing. She started at about 130kg and lost 5kg during opti pre op phase.

Wow what a knock out! Love your outfit too!!

Welcome and congrats on confirming your surgery date. Please feel free to ask any questions here and if we can share from our first hand experience hopefully it will help you along the way. There are a mixture of newbies and veterans on this thread so a wide range of experience. We are mainly Australian and some of us have also had the opportunity to meet in person which has been great. You will make new friends on here even if you never actually meet. Good luck!

Yes Marina Mirage is on the spit at Southport next to Palazzo Versace Hotel and there is lots of free parking. I will check out a venue next time I am there and let you know, unless there is someone from the Gold Coast who can do it?

Parking and roadworks are a bit of a nightmare in Surfers Paradise so I suggest we make it closer to Main Beach? Maybe one of the cafes in Tedder Avenue or at Marina Mirage?

Let's make it brunch as some of us will be driving from Brisbane.

I will be there with bells on!

Lissa, you are so inspiring to all of us and I am always showing friends and family your progress shots. After a rocky start, you have been the poster girl of how to do it right. So glad you enjoying your new life and the exciting opportunities along the way. Looking forward to seeing you again when you visit the Gold Coast next month. Please give everyone plenty of notice and we will organise a get together. If others from outside of south east Qld would like to join us too that would be fantastic and I know we are all spread out across the country. It would be like a reunion of friends, even though most of us have not yet met one another.

I agree a combination of professional advice and first hand experience from this forum is ideal. I have stalled regularly since the third week, but it always breaks, especially recording what I eat and being being mindful of each thing. My dietician has me in 800 calories, with two days per week on 500, as I am getting close to reaching goal, but your advice may be different as you are at a different stage. Good luck.

It sounds like you are doing all the right things, although I would suggest a few more calories such as 800 - 900 per day so you don't feel so weak, BUT I am not dietician and that's who should advise you on this important issue.