Olivereindeer

Hi, I'm an RN and used to work in anaesthetics. It us always wise to have a patient as stable as possible prior to surgery - it is frustrating for you but most sensible to get your BP under control first otherwise your surgery and recovery will be compromised. Thus just may mean repeated your BP for a while to see if it was just a 'one off ' event or maybe modifying your meds. It won't mean u can't have surgery and in fact just reinforces your reasons to have WLS. Alternatively if they use a cuff that us too small it will give a high reading. With a reading that high we always have the patient rest and repeat it in 20 mins and again at 40 mins.

Hey Aussie, I'm in Tassie and heading to Sydney next week for my first apt. Are you on the Facebook Aussie sleeve group? PM me ...

Im exactly the same..! I think we have been driven to expect failure due to our attempts over and over. Remember, just because you think it doesn't mean its a fact!

Ive never heard of Metformin being used as a weight loss device, Im an RN. It is typically used to reduce blood sugar in diabetics. I would consider it to be somewhat risky in causing low blood sugar. However I could be wrong. I too was put on glucophage which is designed to be used in PreDiabetic patients and when I researched it there was NO evidence whatsoever to suggest it assisted with weight loss so I stopped taking it. I had little faith in my surgeon (who has incidentally only this week been found guilty of negligence in causing the death of a lap band patient 9 days post op for not only failing to review her when she was sick, but then failing to treat her properly). Be interesting to see how it works for you!

Hi everyone I'm an Aussie girl trying to decide whether to go with a sleeve or bypass after 12 years of two bands with continual problems and finally saying no more in jan 13. Since band has come out I've gained 20lb!!!!! Arrhgggggh. I've got an amazing partner who is very athletic and whippet slim but very supportive SPF whatever decision I feel is best for me. First surgeon apt next week! Scared but excited! Rani

I'm a long long way from everyone! I'm from Tasmania - the little Island off the bottom east coast if Australia! It's where Taz Devil lives!

I don't drink alcohol regularly but might have half glass champagne once every few months. Is it possible ? If not - is it due to the fizz or the alcohol or both? It won't bother me if I never drink again! Funny how I can be do obsessed with food items but not alcohol!

It see s there are many people who have Bariatric surgery in Mexico with a US trained surgeon in a US endorsed hospital. I think his name us Dr R Kelly. It is significantly cheaper. Might be worth a try if no other options

I am a RN and just want to add that dumping is entirely possible without WLS. I had a patient with poorly controlled diabetes who had severe dumping.

Gall bladder??

I am a little confused - I read a post that suggested after 18 months that the malabsorption stops as your body will adapt itself. Is this true? Is there any of this component that remains? Is it an individual thing?

Glad to hear you are on the other side of surgery and hoping all is going well? How is that dip? What stage of the food plan are you in?

I am now and ex bandit after 11 years of complications and terrible nutrition. I was only considering the sleeve but am not heading towards the bypass. I think I need more than just the restriction especially long term. I have really no idea what my eating habits are - i have been dieting then banded for the past 30 years. Rani

Hi all...I too am looking at band to bypass and seeing two surgeons next week. I have been banded twice and had my gallbladder out in Jan this year. It is a funny thing - my first band was incredibly painful, the second not too bad and my gallbladder was a breeze. there is no denying it did hurt and I was sore but nothing terrible. I am also an RN and midwife and have to say that everyone is SO different. Some mothers get up within 2 hours of a c-section and shower themselves and live on only panadol or NSAIDS - other women need help getting out of bed after 3 days. It is really an individual thing. There is no point stressing about it too much -(easy to say huh)- nurses will take good care of you, talk to your anaesthetist prior and ask what he has planned for your analgesia. As someone else said the main goal is for you to get up and moving ASAP post surgery and for that you need good pain control. GOodluck...

Did you sign a consent form which stated you had been informed of the benefits, risks, complications and/or outcomes of a sleeve? If you did not it is considered ASSAULT. I would definitely discuss your lack of informed consent with your doctor, perhaps demand that there us no out of pocket for you and that he pays for counselling to come to terms with what has happened. Unless it is life threatening your husband cannot give consent for your surgeon to perform anything. I would also demand he absorbs the costs of follow up care eg. Dietitian etc as he has forced you into a situation you have has no control over. Whether u wanted a sleeve or not is besides the point - someone performed surgery on you without your input regardless if his intentions your surgeon would WELL know this is not ok. I am an RN and this is not OK. Be kind to you now, work out what u need and want to come to terms with this and use it to the best you can. X

I am also really pleased to hear this. I am 102kg and 168cm and was initially told by his surgery I was ineligible (my BMI was 33 then) - I have an apt with Dr Taylor in March (and have 11 years of two failed lap bands) and if he agrees I will choose him as my surgeon. I have heard nice stuff about the Mater too! Why try a Sleeve when the stats show it has a poor rate of success..??

I have a BMI of 36 and am waiting for my first surgeon apt. I too have struggled with weight all my life. Yes, I can diet and probably lose some weight but history has shown me I will never keep it off and I will end up putting on more. My BMI of 36 puts me at high risk for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and many other issues. You can certainly try and lose and maintain your weight but what do you realistically think your chances are of maintaining a healthy weight for the rest of your life?

Interested to hear how we would all describe our personality and how your weight has affected it before of after (or both) during surgery??

PE teacher! Oh wow - that must be hard. Even though I want thus to be for my health there is a part of me that just wants to feel Normal and look normal. I don't want to be a big fat girl anymore - I look forward to being slim and feeling nice - that's what makes me feel selfish. Wow - surgery in the morning??? Where are you and who your surgeon? Feeling nervous and excited?

I am not even sure if I will be eligible fir a sleeve as my BMI is 36. I have a history of failed lap bands x2 for 12 years. I am waiting for my first doc apt and subsequently am not worrying about what I eat so much. My partner is slim and exercises cos she loves to. Tonight she stated she felt angry with me for not trying - she totally understands my 35 yr history of dieting up and down - but still says I shouldn't risk major surgery as she us scared I might die. Am I being unreasonable wanting a sleeve? I have NEVER been able to maintain my weight in a healthy range and I just don't have it in me to diet again Feeling sad and selfish and scared

Stone Mountain! Now - go to sleep!

Ha, I used to live in Atlanta! Imagine how hard it was to work out all the money, inches etc let alone weights!

It's just so sad that America has been left behind in the olden days!! Poor old soul - here's a tip - 100lb is 45kg - thus is what I need to lose to have a BMI of 20! Do you count sheep in Roman numerals too in the US? Night night.... Zzzzzz

Thanks AussieLady, I'm finding it hard as I am an RN in my state and know who is good and who is not surgeon wise .... But I have no idea about other states. Thanks for the advice.

I have my first apt with both Craig Taylor and Michael Talbot in early March and I can't get there fast enough. I also have an apt in Melbourne with another surgeon. Craig Taylor was recommended as the best in NSW by my existing surgeon (who does not perform VSG). He also informed me that Dr George Hopkins in Chermside is probably the most experienced surgeon in band to sleeve revisions in Australia. I am trying 3 surgeons as my BMI is 'only' 36-37 (12 year history of failed x2 band) and expect that I may be refused. The 'weigh' I am going I think I will increase this BMI before March as I have NO control. My fingers are absolutely crossed for Craig Taylor - please keep fingers crossed for me too. I feel really desperate!