*Shell*

Hi guys Well returned back to work today 17 days post op. felt great and got through the day fine just getting used to the comments all day about how great I look already. Shepherds pie sounds delish. I think that will be dinner tomorrow night. Count down Kelliv - glad you are getting through the pre op diet. I agree that is the most difficult time of the whole experience. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi Lila I got a shock with my anaesthetist bill which I received 3 days prior to op for $2000. I was really annoyed as also thought for some reason it was included. Anyway cut a long story short, paid the account but got back $400 from Medicare and $150 from medibank private. Good luck with your super Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi guys, Well just a bit of an update 14 days post op. Started on soft/mushy food today and hubby took me for lunch as I start back at work on Monday. Lunch I had half a small salmon which I ate over about an hour. So nice as was just over the Fluid stage. Went to surgeon for post op check up and he's very happy with my progress. He did say that it could take up too a month before any weight loss due to the shock to your body. When I showed him the 7kgs I have lost since surgery he was really happy. I am going to try and weight self fort***htly, I am so tempted to get on it all the time so am going to get my husband to hide them and bring them out. I am feeling really good, struggling to get through all my Water though as only getting down about 1litre. I have to work on this. I drink Musashi P30 each day and really like this and it gives me 30gms of Protein. All my incisions are healing and just itchy but otherwise am really happy with my decision, I have not once experienced buyers remorse nor any complications, pain etc. just really excited for this next stage of my life. My family are travelling to my husbands home in Samoa at Xmas so today planned everything and my husband is really excited to take me home and us explore, swim and just have a great time which I would never have had before doing this op. I was the one always hiding from the camera and making excuses to not join in the activities and covered up in jeans in soaring humidity. I hope i am down by 20kgs by xmas which will be fantastic and allow me to at least wear shorts, sarongs etc. Anyway Aussie Sleevers, hope you are all good and have a great weekend;) Shelley Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi Michelle I had my op on 20/7 and have lost only 7kgs. There was a few days of nothing but my surgeon said it could take up to a month before I lose anything as your body is in shock so im not too concerned. I am just happy that the scale is slowly going down Shelley Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi Kelli I take liquid multi Vitamins as I was worried about taking tablets even though I take thyroxine each day. I am also on Nexium daily and have no problems taking my meds. Have my first post op appt with my surgeon tomorrow so can't wait to see him to see when I can get started on the soft food as 11 days out now. Went and had a makeover today that has been long overdue and brought some runners and training clothes as keen to kick this to next level, so life's great. Great to hear from you all - we are on a great site and looking forward to staying in touch throughout our journeys. In regards to eating out, wouldn't it be great to have something to show the restaurants that we can only eat a very small amount and would love to pay kids prices. Haha - my family every week go to Sunday lunch at a local hotel with a buffet and adults is $25. I don't know how to ask that I will only need a 1/4 cup so can I get a discount.

I went for lunch at coffee Club with hubby today and ordered a pumpkin Soup and small Cappuccino. Anyway 2 sips of my coffee and about 4 tablespoons of my soup was all i could do that come out in this huge bowl. After the waitress asked if I didn't like the soup or coffee, I requested the soup in a takeaway container as that's dinner for my next week or so!! Michelle- am also thinking about scrambled eggs and cottage cheese so hopefully next week I can start. and pureed veg and some meat. YUM Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi guys, sorry been quiet for a while as family just arrived back from overseas so spare time has been limited. Kelliv - best of luck for pre op diet. I too had to do for 2 weeks to shrink my liver but i cheated for a couple of days in the first week. Got through 2nd week without no problems. Well I am 11 days out and feel great. Looking forward to getting off the fluids though as family has had BbQs over the last couple of days and found the smell a little tough. Best of luck everyone Sent from my iPhone using VST

MichelleDes - congrats on you day, well today. I wish you nothing but a positive and trouble free surgery. Our thoughts are with you and looking forward to the progress reports. Kelliv - that's great you found out your prices and sleep doctor is a price I would have been really happy with but oh we'll I'm not complaining. Glad you are getting all prepared, the countdown is on

Hi Kelliv I was scheduled to get the band a few years ago with my same surgeon but last minute cancelled for a family emergency. Anyway last year I started researching again and came across the sleeve and knew immediately this was right for me. I did not flinch that this was permanent, I wanted a permanent solution and it just made sense. I am glad with my decision especially when you hear that many get debanded and go for the sleeve. I went straight back to my surgeon and said this is what I wanted and he said a great choice.

It is to check if there is a leak in your sleeve. I had to drink a whole cup (in mouthfuls, then swallow) this terrible licorice thick syrup taste and then a type of X-ray is taken. Took about 30 minutes and thought I was going to pass out after standing and doing the X-rays then had to lie down with a stomach full of this liquid, I struggled to keep it down. I literally felt sick for a few hours after.

I was at the Wesley from Friday morning - wheeled into theatre at 2.30pm and awoke in recovery about 5pm. The next day Saturday did my swallow test which was horrific and my worst experience of the whole op. anyway all was good and allowed home Sunday morning. Have had a very positive experience.

Hi Kelliv I did not expect the $2000 for my sleep doctor and only accounted for my gap fee of $4500 to my surgeon as for some reason thought the rest was covered by Medibank Private. Then I read that they were anywhere between $500 - $1000 so I was really annoyed but 3 days out could not do much and it had to be paid before op last Friday so oh we'll just hope I get something back from Medicare. Do you work in the city? Ipswich is a far distance for you but hey it will be worth it, I just can't wait to start living life.

I would start building yourself up with optifast if you have an opportunity. I had to start 2 weeks prior and for about 4 days I had a constant headache and really bad tast in my mouth. After this time, I got through it no worries and actually enjoyed my shakes. I didn't have to blend or add anything else, just shook my strawberry and banana shakes. Good luck with it

Hi Kelliv I am in Forest Lake but work in the CBD. Would be great to get a group to catch up and see how everyone is going. I am really happy and so far it has been no problems, except my larger incision is sore so making difficult to sleep. I actually had no worries with Optifast but disliked the chocolate and coffee ones. I am thinking I may have one each day. Where are you having your op. I got scared/nervous a couple of days before and I think I was trying to find a reason to postpone, like just received anaetheastist account 3 days out for $2000 which I was not happy with but after trying to think positively again, I just paid the bill as I thought I have been waiting forever for this. Day of op I was really calm and just couldn't wait. I did expect a lot more pain, nausea etc which I had none so really happy with that. Actually nurses said I was doing really well for major surgery and they said that's cause I had a really good surgeon and anaetheastist so guess his $2000 to put me too sleep paid off. Haha. Anyway looking forward to hearing about your journey

Hi Aussiegirl, I love your post. Wow you have done amazing and look fabulous. What an exciting time ahead for you to Celebrate your 12 months, that is awesome. Best of luck

Hi there Aussie Sleevers, I am from Brisbane QLD and had my op on 20/7/12. I have been home for a day now and doing great. My surgeon was Dr Reza Adib and was done at the Wesley Hospital. I had no problems at all and the worst experience of the whole surgery was undertaking the leak test as it was absolutely disgusting. I know this is the best decision I have made and can't wait for my new healthy and active lifestyle ahead of me. I also go to the Australian gastric sleeve support site but also find it hard to navigate around and find this site is so user friendly especially on my mobile. Would love to hear from more Aussies on this site and share our experiences.