kazza wa

Hi JLaw78

I had my surgery with Jon Armstrong at Hollywood 18 months ago. Everything went well & he was excellent as were the nursing staff.

I have reached my goal weight & must admit I' could probably loose a bit more if I exercised but I just hate it & just never seem to find the time, I do walk a bit as in parking the car a bit further away....

As for food I can eat anything & still have a few treats but if I do it's only a little so it's not a problem.

It's the best thing I just wish I had done it years earlier.

Good luck but you don't need it you will be fine.

Hi would be happy to catch up with others from Perth

Thanks Misty I will check out my blood sugar levels. It could be that as have a few head spins & dizzy feelings when I get up too quickly also.

Thanks Karen

Hi everyone

I am a year out & at my goal weight -might like to loose 3-5 but if not that's ok.

I am wondering if anyone else has has this happen to them too . When I eat mainly my evening me & it's usually only a very small amount a half a entree ,or 1 small chop ect etc. once I have eaten it I instantly feel totally exhausted and, I cant stop big yawns, I can barely keep my eyes open. I feel so tired I just want to lay down. It passes after about 20 to 30 mins.

Thanks Karen

Hi Lose40

I am from Perth post op, has my surgery 13 months ago & have lost 38k I am about 5 k down on the goal my surgeon set for me but wouldn't mind loosing about 5 k more but not too concerned.

Have to say the first couple weeks is the hardest but the rest pretty easy. It's been very interesting.

I dont know of any other Perth people or groups that meet-up, but am happy to meet you if that's what you would like.

You don't need to be worried it is the best thanh I ever did for myself just wished I had done it a few Yeats earlier.

All the best Karen

Hi Voo

I had surgery 5 Feb last year with Dr Armstrong, he is very good so you are in safe hands. The first day was the worst but after that you start to feel better every day.

I have reached the goal weight he set for me but would like to loose about another 4/5 kilos but not too worried about it.i feel fantastic & it was the best thing I could of done for myself.

Hope it al goes well for you.

Karen

Hi

I'm from Perth, had my surgery 11 months ago & have lost 37 am at my goal weight but maybe another 5. I am slack when it comes to exercise but keep busy & always on the go. It's the best thing I have ever done for myself.

Thanks Misty so have you. I wish I could get into the exercise like you but what can I say I just don't like it !!! Try to walk a bit & am always on the go. Forgot to say that I am 175 cm tall so goal is about 75iish so see how I look then.

Karen

Hi everyone

I don't post much as you regulars give such great advice & support to everyone, you are an amazing bunch of people.

You have all done so well, I never thought I would make it but I almost have, started at 113.5 & now 10 months later am 77.6 less that my surgeons goal & only 4 to mine.

It's the best thing I have ever done for my self.

All the very best to everyone.

And Lisa I have to signal you out you look really lovely & I am sure the cute guys will be lining up. You give such warm & sincere advice we all,appreciate it.

All.the best Karen

I am 9 months out &!still have take something every few days or I just never go

It's difficult. I have an almost exact same situation with my friend of 25 years. She has not supported my decision to have weight loss surgery since day one and we never discuss it. It's like a giant elephant in the room. She is still large and struggling with her weight' date=' but she can't be happy with me for my results. We have also been business partners for the past 18 months and are in the process of going our separate ways as our relationship has now completely broken down. I have more confidence and respect for myself now than I used to and I have decided I don't have to put up with her putting me down to make herself feel superior. I have accepted a job on the Gold Coast starting in December and have suggested she buy me out of our company. Our friendship has changed irretrievably and. I am starting to think that even the best friendships may have an expiry date.I hope your friend changes her attitude and if she doesn't then life goes on.[/quote']

Thanks for your advice, I think you are right about the confidence & respect aspect. My "friend" sounds just like yours it's just something that happens it also can happen when a new partner comes on the scene too. Oh we'll I will just see what happens but I just know I feel great & am so happy I had the sleeve. Only have 4 /5 k left to get to my goal weight!!!!

I don't think the word friends should be used in this sweetie lol !!

Was going to say we have been through thick n thin together........ha but but she has been a good friend for over 20 years and been there for me during a family tragedy lots of bad days & good days so I hope it will sort itself out. I just don't mention weight loss food etc.

My family is complaining that I am like a reformed smoker as I can't believe how much everyone eats and they are not big people. I have to stop commenting as I know I used to do what they still do. Anyone else experience this and any tips on best way to handle?

I know what you mean. I have just returned from 4 weeks in the UK & Italy traveling with 3 friends & I can't believe what they ate (geez I am such a cow as before my sleeve I was the same) one of them is slim another a little overweight but the other one is obese, she kept encouraging me to have desert, chocolates etc....but funniest thing was the photos .

as I am a fir bit taller that her, she always got me to stand down a couple of steps in front of her then she semi hid behind me, hence the result was that i looked bigger than her even though I'm at least 35k lighter &12/14m taller, I didn't say anything just laughed. I I looked slim in any of them she quickly deleted those but had the cheek to post me looking fat on her face book page !!!! I also ha d big birthday while we away & my present was a album of our previous trips with me looking huge, it was all,a big sad really as this is one of my long time friends that told me I was lazy & that I took the easy way out.

The best part was I did have yummy pastries, deserts & lots of Belgium chocolate & came home 2k lighter !!!!!!! Yay.

I hope if any of you lovely people get to Perth we can have a meet, maybe we should plan a national meet some time.

Dr Armstrong did mine at Hollywood too.

As for the clothes I have ha 3 big chuck outs buts its so nice to shop in he normal sections now

Hi Aussie Ali

I m from WA had my sleeve 6 months ago at Hollywood. Started at 113 now down to 83, I am tall so only have 3 to get to my target weight was hoping to make it by 2 Sept when I have my 6 month check but am losing only slowly now so won't make it. Great news is that just got into a size 12. Pair of jeans, have to admit they are the brand N Y D J & they say you can go down a size as they are so comfy & flattering, I love them. Am off on a big trip in 2 weeks so will wear them to death ! Gotta get my money's worth.

This is such a great site even though I don't post much I follow the post which is a great support with helpful advice. I can relate to so many people so thanks to all of you very much. I am so happy I have my sleeve !!!!

Karen

Thanks Sue, Kelli & Misty for the advice & support, blood tests came back all good so dr thinks its some type of allergy & may be nuts didn't have this before surgery but its the only change I have made in the last month - trying to eat a few nuts to snack on so will,give them a miss & see if it gets better.

Haven't seen my dietician for a few weeks have an appoint in early sept.

Hi everyone

I am 5 months out today & things have slowed down been the same weight 87.5 for the last month so I am hoping this isn't it as I have 7 to get to my surgeons goal & 10 to get to mine. My eating is pretty good but still have trouble getting all the Protein & Water in but love eating milk arrow root biscuits they seem to settle my tummy when I feel a bit. Nauseous or hungry.

My measurements haven't. Changed fro a month either......so it all a bit of a worry.

Over the last few weeks I have developed a skin rash around my midriff, back, neck & arms . Have tried everything & nothing has worked. Dr thinks it may be internal & waiting on blood & culture results. I was thinking maybe as I haven't been eating much it may be a lack of something. Has anyone else heard of such a thing ?

Have to fly perth to melb sat so that will be fun trying to sit still!!!!

Keep up the great advice & positive s.tories you are all such a help? Thank you

Thanks Sue & Kelli for the advice on my Hair loss. I am a 50+ plus & have also continued to dye my hair too but I will get som Sillica & hope that helps.

Hi everyone

I have been busy catching up on all the posts for the last couple of months. Thank you to everyone in particular all the regulars, you have all been amazing & the advice very helpful.

I am 4 1/2 months out (4/2) my starting weight was 113 (didn't do the pre op stage) & now 87 so have lost 26'. I am loosing very slowly now & some days it can vary a bit. I am 175cm tall so surgeons goal is 80 mine is 75 so time will tell.

Still have problems with Protein & Water some days. The first 3months were hard but feel great now thanks to my elevit Vitamins.

My biggest concern is my hair it started falling out within the first couple of weeks & I am still loosing it, can anyone tell me how long this will go on for !!!!! & does it eve,r get beck to pre op condition.

Thanks Karen

I'm 10 weeks post op & like the posts above have vomited a few times mainly trying new foods, eating too fast of drinking whilst eating. Sometimes it's just slime other times more.

Before my surgery if I ever got sick it was once a year if I fought a bug or something & that was terrible full on sick cramps heaving & dry wrenching always thought I'm gonna die but post sleeve is nothing . You feel it in your throat & chest & can make it to the loo in time, then just bend & up it comes & then you feel so much better..

As you get more used to the sleeve these episodes get less. Or so I'm told !!

Hi everyone' date='

Just thought I'd share my story. I am a nurse and I live in Perth WA. I took out private health insurance in January to have the VSG op next year. By Feb I was getting really down about my weight and really didn't want to wait another 12 months. 12 months when you are big and have your mind set on something seems like an eternity. So I looked into getting my super released early. Because I'm a nurse in the public health system we go through a different regulatory body which really makes you jump through hoops and basically was all down to whether I could afford to have the surgery done or not. Well, I could afford to pay for the surgery myself, but didn't want to use all of my savings on that, hence wanting to release the super. However, the downside to releasing the super was the amount of tax they would take too, so the sum I actually would end up paying was HUGE. So I decided to see if there was anything overseas that would be cheaper as there was no way I was going to pay 22,000 for the surgery. Even waiting the 12 months would end up with me probably being a whole lot bigger and still paying a huge gap fee. So I was glued to the internet basically 24/7 for a whole week and found this forum and the Mexico thread. Well, I contacted alighterme.com and got all the info I needed. Very professional and helpful I decided to go to Mexico for the surgery! I had it all booked within a week. I managed to have time to do the 9 days pre-op Optifast diet. I booked a flight through Virgin/Delta into San Diego and got collected from the airport by the company driver and checked into the Marriott hotel for the night. Next day I was picked up from the gorgeous hotel and taken to the hospital. I had bloods done, paid the bill, did the paperwork and was settled into my hospital room. I spoke to the surgeon and the nurse put in my IV access. Then I was taken into the operating room by wheelchair. I hopped up on the table and the anaesthetist did my consent and asked me if I wanted to wake up quickly or slowly, I said slowly. He then asked me about how my flights were over to Mexico and that's all I remeember! I don't remember getting back to my room, just the next morning when the nurses asked me how I was. I was in pain so they came round like clockwork with anti emetics, anti reflux, IV antibiotics and pain relief, on the dot! Everything was so well done, and the universal precautions were better that what I have witnessed in Australian hospitals. Everything was very clean and they do so many very obese patients that I knew I was in safe hands. I was up and walk walk walking around the next day...loads of us doing the IV shuffle! (helps with getting rid of the gas pains) Got to meet some really nice fellow sleevers who I am still keeping in touch with. I had to drink some blue dye that day to check for leaks that would show through my drain. The next day I went down to X-ray to drink the other stuff and check for leaks under X-ray. I didn't find this a problem at all, the drink tasted fine and it was really interesting seeing my new smaller stomach on the x-ray. I left the hospital after 2 nights there back to the Marriott where I stayed for another 5 nights. The bed and pillows were to die for, the best I've EVER slept on! They give you 2 bottles of Water, 3 bowls of chicken broth and 2 popsicles a day. The chicken broth was yum! I was supposed to be on clear fluids for a week post op, but stayed on this until I got home so it was actually 9 days. But this didn't bother me at all as I had no appetitie and still don't. I got taken out by the driver with other sleevers into Tijuana on a shopping trip to the tourist area, looked round some shops, saw the donkeys painted as zebras giving rides?! we drove down the red light district (very entertaining!) and also walked round the corner from the hotel and up to the shopping centre to Walmart and the Swarovski shop (SO cheap) and bought myself a souvenir or two! I drank what the hotel allocated me and also bought Isopure drinks which have 40g of clear Protein in each serve and are very nice, good varied flavours.

Everyone at the hotel and the company I went with treated you like a rockstar, and there were plenty of other sleevers there to talk to if you wanted to. The Dr visited me 3 times in my room to check on me. I took my laptop so I skyped my hubby every day - yes, I went alone and loved it!

I had a lovely relaxing time, doing my walk walk walking myself to fitness doing laps around my hotel floor and then in the gym on the treadmill. I knew all the maids by the time I left, and I knew every piece of artwork on that hotel floor!

The journey home was fine, good to be back in Australia and my own surroundings. Have progressed to mushies and am loving it. Have blitzed my usual chilli I make and it is amazing.I serve it with a little mushed up avocado and sour cream YUMM! Have also got some recipes from the blog the world according to eggface, and they are great also (the crock post roast beef with chicken Soup is amazing). I have also made corned beef hash and that is also a winner. I did have the up and go energize when I first got home but found the texture a bit ickky and I also drank one too fast.....you know the feeling you get when you don't know if you need to be sick or use the toilet? Well that's what it was like. I'd read about this, so knew exactly what it was. I took myself to the loo, but all was fine there, so I just had to lay down half upright on the sofa with my head back, heart pounding, sweat all over me, groaning, not moving a muscle, waiting for this drink to eventually make it's way down!! I haven't bought any more! I still have an Optifast shake a day, for fluids and for the Protein. I add a bit of cinnamon and take it warm/hot, rather nice...plus I fill my shaker with Water so it's not as thick. I am walking every day for about 30 mins and intend to start light weights on my arms soon so as to avoid the dreaded bingo/bat wings. I was sleeved on 20th March, it cost me 1600 in flights and 4650 for the op and 150 for the extra nights I had at the Marriott ( I spent some money on gifts when out shopping too).

I totally enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend it. I should have stayed in San Diego after too as I would have loved to have gone to the zoo to see the pandas! But I did go shopping there to H & M and got some nice things that were so cheap compared to Oz.

I go back to work tomorrow and have not told anyone about what I have done. The good thing is that I checked with my private health fund (Bupa) before I left as to what would happen if I had any problems when I got back to Oz and they said that because there is nothing left inside me, like there would be with the crapband..opps, sorry lapband! they said it would be classed as a new condition and I would be covered under my fund! So I got that double checked and got the reference number for the conversation! If I had had the band put in and had problems after I wouldn't be covered as the band was there for a pre-existing condition.

I also asked the Dr's that I work with what would happen if I turned up in ED with a problem? They said they have to treat you the same as anyone else, it's their duty of care, they can't legally turn you away, they have to treat you, so double win! My incisions are healing nicely, they stitch and glue them, my drain site is healing slowly, but that's to be expected. The surgeon used a 32 bougie and sutured as well as stapled. My only regret and I say this is the only regret I have is that I wasn't informed that there was a 'spider' sleeve gastrectomy available where they only have one incision just by your belly button, as I would definately have paid the 1,000 more to have only one incision. Actually, there is one other regret.....i wish I had done this years ago! I was on the smaller side with a BMI of 34. There were other ladies there with a lower BMI too,( I probably wouldn't even qualify for surgery in Oz) but they do the lower and the very high over there.

All the ladies I met said that we knew this was the way foward, no more yo-yo dieting, gradually gaining more and more and existing rather than living our lives. I turn 40 in September and can truthfully say I can't bloody wait....LIFE WILL DEFINATELY BEGIN FOR ME AT 40!! I have been fat ALL my life, my mother put me on weight watchers when I was 10. Diet after diet after diet, I can now say goodbye to all that. I am really enjoying my journey and can't wait to finally wear something that isn't an XXL or elasticated.

Sorry this has been so long, hope it helps someone. bye, Sharon[/quote']

I took I pad & a book buy didn't open either till my last day. The one thing I wish I had of taken was my own pillow those hospital pillows are awful & when you not feeling too well your own pillow is a godsend.

Hi Angiep, we are about the same I am 101.5 & have lost 9 k have about 24 to go want to get to 77 but my surgeon will be happy with 80. Like you I have my scales in the bathroom it's just too tempting not to jump own them but I have noticed my weight can vary during the day, think I better put them away & just weigh once a week.

Hi Angiep, if its any consolation I have put on 500 gr today too have not lost anything for a few days. As for eggs I sometimes add one to a smoothie as I am worried about my protien but can't eat a scrambled egg, saw recipe for a soft billed egg with cottage cheese & mayo so might try that.

BizzyLizzy hope all will be ok fingers crossed for you.

Hi Angiep I am almost 3 weeks post op ( 5Feb) & have lost 9 kilos but I didn't have to do the pre op diet. Can drink smoothies juices etc but when it comes to eating Mushie foods I can only eat a couple of spons & feel sick & full. How are you going?