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*Shell*

LAP-BAND Patients
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Posts posted by *Shell*

  1. Posted

    Shell' date=' I would love to know more about your experience with Dr Adib. Did he pressure younto get the agb? It seems like all the info on his website is geared toward that. What was his pre and post surgery diet like? What kind of pre op labs or evaluations did you need to have? What was the out of pocket cost? What were his specific do's and dont's? Can I ask what your starting and current BMI were? What kind of goal weights does Dr Adib set? Is it a percentage of your total weight, a specific BMI target, or something else? Did you have to have drains or a swallow test? How long were you in hospital? (Sorry for all the questions)

    I think I have figured out how to pay my out of pocket. I have some stock that I can sell. I sold 3000 worth already and have another chunk vesting on the 16th that I can sell. There shouldn't be too much excess above that, I think. That's a nice gift my company gave me![/quote']

    I first met Reza a few years ago when I was initially looking into the band. For personal reasons at the time I did not go ahead and went back to him in May 2012 after hearing about the sleeve. He never attempted to reconsider the band and I think prior to myself I don't think he had done many sleeves as he was predominately the band. As I had my appointments a few years ago with the dietician and physiologist, I was not required to undergo them again which I was really happy about and then in July underwent my surgery at the Wesley Hospital. I always found to be very comfortable with Reza and he is not really the lovey dovey type and I had to ask the questions if I wanted to know something but I would not change anything. My pre op diet was opti for 2 weeks with one meal per day of chicken and veges. Post op was fluids & purée for 2 weeks I think and then soft food for a further 2 weeks.

    I had my op on a Friday and I was discharged on Sunday morning. I did have a swallow test which was the worst part of my whole op. I had no nausea, gas pain, really no complications at all and all went really smoothly. Actually I recall the the nurses saying I had no complications, nausea etc as I had a very good surgeon and anaesthetist. My surgery took about 2.5 hrs. I took 2 weeks off work but was feeling o good that I could have gone back within a few days but instead used the time to go pamper myself and do some shopping etc.

    My out of pocket was the following;

    Surgeon was $4500

    Anaesthetist was $2000. (Got $500 back from Medicare and medibank private)

    Maybe another $500 for swallow test/X-rays and medication ( reflux, panadeine forte which I didn't need either)

    My BMI was 44 and both our goal weight is 80 so am on my way which I m hoping to do by July being my 12 months (57kgs loss).

    He has been extremely happy with my progress and has not pressured me in any way and in fact wants to know everything now and is excited to hear about the journey.

    I would do this op again in a heart beat with Reza as without him I would be stuck in the same rut.

    That's great about your stock you can access for this. Hope I have answered all your questions, he has now done a few sleeves of people I have met and they all are very happy. Let me know of anything else I can help with

    Shelley

    Bec101 reacted to this

  2. Posted

    Are the Brisbane Sleevers ready for a get together again and catch up on how everyone's going??

    I have been exercising 6 times a week and absolutely love my new lifestyle - have gone from 137kg to now 94kgs - only 14 to go YAY... My goal is to do my first ever Bridge to Brisbane run this year and have to keep pinching myself that a year ago I was so totally different and exercise was the last thought after working full time and 4 children, I had every excuse in the world :(

    The sleeve has been my lifesaver and without a doubt would not hesitate to do it again !!!

    *Dean*, Bec101, kelliv and 1 other reacted to this

  3. Posted

    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']

    Dr Adib was my surgeon and absolutely fantastic :)

    Bec101 reacted to this

  4. Posted

    Hi all! I have been reading this thread for days and I am only to January! I feel like you are old friends. It has been a while since I saw a post from Scotty' date=' Mimz, or Cookieeez, and it makes me worry! Lila, I followed your whole adventure and I am so happy you came through, though I find myself hoping that the medical bills are not too crippling.

    I hope I don't sound like a stalker!

    I have struggled with my weight for my whole life, from my parents putting me on a diet as early as 6 or 7. I'm only 159cm and have pretty small bones. I went to uni a bit chunky at about 58 kg, but finished out my first year closer to 70 kg. in uni, I tried watching what I ate, Slim Fast, Atkins, fasting, Herbalife (so many pills). I will admit I didn't have the energy to put enough effort into anything and ended up leaving uni around 100kg in 2000. In 2002 I did Weight Watchers and lost around 35 kg over about 9 months. I looked pretty good for my wedding which happened when I was about 20 kg into that loss. Over the course of a couple years I first stalled, then put all the weight back on. I tried all the usual suspects and always lost something but put it back on and more. In Sep 2011 I started Optifast 800 ( not the drug store shakes) at the Wesley weight management clinic and did the whole 12 month program. It ended in Nov 2012 because some work travel delayed it. I did great at first but in the end only lost around 15 kg to put my lowest weight at around 85 kg. Since November I have gained and am now back up to around 98.

    I used to be really judgmental about weight loss surgery. I have a friend getting sleeved on April 29 in the US and I even tried to talk her out of it at first. Instead I became convinced that the sleeve is for me. Since then I have read 5 different books about it and have read every study and article I could find online. I also found this forum. I am American but living in Australia for the last 4 years, so this thread has been very helpful for me to understand about costs and what is covered by Medicare and PHI.

    I see my GP tomorrow and plan on asking for a referral for the sleeve. My husband is cautious but supportive. He doesn't really understand the struggles that obese people have with weight, as he is probably a BMI of 27 or 28 and his weight never changes.

    Sorry for the novel! Now to read the rest of this thread from February to the present!

    By the way I am in Brisbane, work in the CBD, and would love to be included in the get-togethers![/quote']

    Hi Mistysj

    I work in Brisbane CBD if you ever want to catch up for a coffee :)

    mistysj reacted to this

  5. Posted

    Hi all my Sleevers buddies,

    It has been quite some time since I have been on here with work demands and running a family of 7 so planning on sitting down today and catching up on what's been happening. I see we have quite a few new members which is great...

    I'm still going great, actually better than great - I am in double digits for a while now and life couldn't be better

    Hope everyone is well xx

    Bec101, Lissa_S, *Dean* and 1 other reacted to this

  9. Posted

    It's great to have a few more join our group from Brisbane :)

    Congrats on taking this fantastic opportunity to allow yourself a new beginning.

    I haven't been on for a while as so busy with work but have just caught up on all the pages..

    I am 1 kg until double digits :) can't wait as can not even remember when I was in double digits. Everyone keeps saying that I can't lose anymore as they think I've got nothing left. When I tell them I've got 20 to go, they are all shocked..I am in a really good place and feel fantastic about myself and how I'm looking and feeling. Have upped my exercise to 5-6 days a week and can't believe it but actually run now..who would have thought I would actually enjoy exercise

    Anyway, hope your all well and best of luck to the newly Sleevers and upcoming

  10. Posted

    Cookie, I am having the same with my sister and she is very overweight and just won't acknowledge anything. In the beginning I always talked about it and I found she was becoming distant and would never say anything so now I don't mention anything and I just hope one day the light goes on for her and she wants to talk about it and maybe consider changing her life with the op. it's funny because we used to always talk about our weight together and know it's a no go zone - sad :(

  13. Posted

    Hi SueSue, welcome to the thread and such great news about how great we can feel after achieving something new...I really want to get a bike and drag the family bike riding as well. Glad you enjoyed it and hope not too sore in the next few days. I start my PT sessions again on Tuesday after a month off so not looking forward to the pain :(

    Congrats on your great loss so far

  14. Posted

    Hi Sarah, I have not had this experience, thank goodness!! I did though think I was close the other morning on the bus to work - I had half a small coffee in the morning and my husband used some light cream in it then on the way to work I did not feel so good I tell you...I was starting to clear my handbag of important stuff as I was thinking omg what am I going to do here and just wanted to jump off an express bus on the busway - Anyway I learnt a valuable lesson - to be prepared for this if the situation does arise and that is I now carry a small plastic bag in my handbag :)

    Thought I'd share !!

  16. Posted

    Ok great' date=' where do you suggest? What about either Mediterranean at Cafe Mondial in Albert St OR perhaps somewhere that serves yum cha or sushi? You choose...[/quote']

    Kelli, what about Jackpot Noodles at 96 Albert Street - great tasty and quick meals and for about $10. I go there quite often and I actually get 3 meals out of the one :) everyone I know enjoys the meals so let me know if this sounds ok with you and what time suits you best. I'm free anytime after 12..hope a few more Brisbane Sleevers can join us :)

  20. Posted

    Hi Guys - great feeling being able to buy from normal shops. My mum have me a $200 gift voucher for City Chic but she said she heard me say earlier in the week "no more city chic or autograph as I can buy anywhere now - haha so she was worried with her Xmas gift to me :). I headed to the shops yesterday and dying to spend my city chic gift card as desperate need of clothes and was great asking the last from the dressing room for smaller sizes like size s and xs - great feeling !!

    On another note - I have been a bit of a piggy over the last few days with Xmas lunch, desert and now the left overs!! Definitely did not feel good with what I was eating, regardless of being small amounts it was not good choices and have been dreading the weekly weigh-in. Braved it this morning and very pleased to see I had actually dropped 1kg over the last week, this blew me away I must say so am happy again now and ready to start again for this fabulous year ahead of us :)

    Hope you all had a great break and I wish you and your families a very safe and prosperous 2013

    Aussiegirl, *Dean* and Lissa_S reacted to this

  23. Posted

    Novo, yes one from surgeon and one from either your specialist which I think would be better than a GP so best of luck.

    I also aimed to have mine on my 39th birthday (9 July 2012) but the closest I could get was 20 July so close enough...I wanted to give myself a year to get to my goal so my 40th in 2013 will be so different to the last 15 yrs and going to Celebrate on a cruise so can't wait:)

    I am down 30 kgs, 30 to go so couldn't be happier. I have been battling with thyroid issues for a few years and 2 years ago had my thyroid removed but have struggled getting my levels under control so didn't know how this surgery would go with and was told I could have moments where it slows down so that's why I mess things up a little with a stint on optifast...

    kelliv reacted to this

  24. Posted

    Kelli - that is awesome news about the sleep machine - bet that news alone makes it all worth it. I still remember when you first made contact with us on here and look now where your at :)

    Guys - your kicking butt with the loss each week. I actually started a jump start with a week of Opti. I thought perfect time just before Xmas but wanted to go back to basics for a week as been a little slow over the last 2 weeks and want to drop a little more before Xmas... and funnily enough I actually enjoy Optifast now so do 2 a day and just had some salmon for dinner:)

    Anyway will chat soon, hope you all had a great week!

  25. Posted

    Hi Novo

    Glad you have joined us on this site. For me, my experience has been so worth it. My only regret is that I didn't do this earlier.

    You will need to see your surgeon or find a surgeon you feel comfortable with. Mine I knew straight away I was going to go with him, even though he was not the cheapest and he didn't give out too much info, I found I liked him immediately and i would do it all again with him and he is sooo happy with my progress. Your surgeon will have to do a letter, along with your GP that covers exactly what is required by legislation to release super. It is to be word for word and meet the elements such as;

    Either life threatening or acute pain (back pain, etc) and not readily available in the public health system.. When you have the two letters to include in your application, you then submit to human services which will take 10 days to get a response then a further 7 days or so to get funds.

    Your surgeon may get you to see a dietician and physiologist first then will usually set a date if happy with results, however in saying this all surgeons are different in what is required....

    If you need anything else whilst you are considering this surgery, please do not hesitate to ask as this is such a great group.

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