Lissa_S

No worries Dean I wasn't offended at all. I don't know many people but some of the people I work with know me from before surgery. They haven't seen me though since that time so they might get a bit of a surprise lol. It's funny actually - the panel that interviewed me for the job have known me for five years but hadn't seen me since I had the surgery so it was the first thing they asked me about in the interview. Didn't cause any problems obviously but it's funny how it does seem to impact on every aspect of my life

Moree is only two hours away from Gunnedah which isn't too bad - it's far enough though!!! The thought of packing up my house is so daunting lol Am off to get boxes tomorrow to at leasat get a start on it!

I hope you didn't think I was being dishonest with the whole name thing Dean Lila is a nickname that my nephew uses and as this is the first forum I'd ever joined (besides facebook) was a bit nervous adding my real name (given my job - you'd know that is like!!). Anyway - exciting news on the job front. I have a start date for my promotion - April 2 - and drove to Moree today and found a lovely new home to rent for the next two years. Loving the sense of secuity!! It's close to work, friends and there is a good pub in walking distance. I'm a happy camper lol Cheers, Liss

I am sorry Michele that you have to go through this but it's so important to be comfortable with and trust your surgeon. Particularly if it all goes to hell and you end up needing them for months and months. I couldn't have done what I have without my surgeon and my absolute faith in her I think your frustration is totally undertstandable but keep the faith! Keep pluggin away at it and don't give up! Cheers, Liss

Okay so about the name change When I first joined up, I used my nephew's nickname for me (has called me Lila since he was little cause he couldn't say Lissa). But I keep forgetting to use Lila in my sign off's so it can be a bit weird lol. So I decided to change my name to my actual one ;p Sorry for any confusion!!

Thanks Puppyphat I admit that there are good and bad days. I was flat out at work today and all i have had is a few grapes and half a toasted sandwich. I am still working on that Pasta dish but tonight I am full after 3 pieces. So I think you're right, I just need to keep an eye on it but take a chill pill Hey Aussiegirl - I am relieved to know that it's normal about this time. And that there's probably another one coming up towards the end of the year. Awesome ;p Fingers crossed I will have a better weight loss outcome next week! Cheers, Liss

For those 6 months or more out, did you get to a stage where you can eat a little more and it freaked you out? I am at that stage at the moment. I can now eat a whole piece of toast (mostly) or tonight, I had some spinach and ricotta agnotti (sorry can't spell) with a tomato sauce and ate (over about an hour admittedly) 8 of them. I guess it's silly but for the first time since I've been eating, I am actually concerned about the calories I am consuming. I log everything (and have done so for a few months) and although my calorie count is still low (averaging 500 cal per week) it's certainly increased (from about 300). I do feel better and mostly have more energy which is great. I guess given that I still have 17kg to the surgeon's goal and 33 until mine, I am worried that I won't lose the last of the weight. It's made worse by the fact that I only lost 0.8kg this week. This is the first time I haven't lost at least a kilo. I know it's silly and I am probably just being self-indulgent in worrying about this, but it's playing on my mind at the moment. I know that I have to really start doing more exercise - I started the couch to 5k app but have stopped it under medical advice. I will try to commit to walking three times a week as of NOW. So I need to walk three times between now and Sunday which I can do *sigh* Sorry I think this turned into a journal lol. Hope you're all well Cheers, Lila

Oh Angie I remember those days And it is awesome. I find that even now, because i can't have a lot of anything I tend to really enjoy that first mouthful very much

Thanks Dana - I can't believe it myself most of the time

Thanks I am pretty tall which helps and I get that quite often which is nice!!

Hello fellow sleevers, Well tomorrow will be six months since my surgery. Wow, what a ride. For those that haven't read my other blogs, in summary, I had my surgery on 03.09.2012 and my start weight was 173kg (382 pounds). Two days after the surgery, I had emergency surgery due to sepsis from a leak. I was in ICU on a ventillator and later transferred to the surgical ward where I remained (bumping back and forwards from short stays in the ICU) for the next two months. I came home in November 2012 and have been home ever since. I haven't had to go back to hospital but have to admit that it's only now that I no longer freak out completely (there is still a little freaking out) when I get a twinge in my tummy. I am back at full time work. I recently applied for and was awarded a pretty significant promotion at work. I am far more active socially now then I was previously and certainly have more energy. So how have things changed? Well, I now care about how I look. I don't just look in the mirror and keep going. I stop, have a proper look lol. I have more confidence - I would never have considered applying for this promotion previously. I also feel much more confident when I go out. Not dating (yet lol) but it's at least an option now where as before I totally would have rejected as even a possibility. I move quicker and more easily now - I work with kids and I can run, chase and play on the floor. With my own little fellow, I can do things with him. Go swimming. We're actually going on a holiday to the Gold Coast soon and I bought swimmers to wear whilst I am away! I hate saying this because before surgery I would have totally denied that I was unhappy, but I AM happier now than I was before. How can I not be? It is easier to move, it doesn't hurt to do things. I can easily get in the bath tub and enjoy myself without being squished in and worry I won't be able to haul my butt outta there. My start with the sleeve sucked and I caution anyone who is thinking about this surgery to really understand what will happen if things go wrong. Take precautions. Make sure that you have things sorted out financially if you can't work for several months. I'll get off my soap box now and share some before and after picks. So to recap, my start weight was 173kg (382 pounds) and my current weight is 110kg (242 pounds). I still have a lot of weight left to lose (another 38 pounds or 17kg to get to my surgeon's goal and 35 kilos or 76 pounds) to get to my goal. Hope you're all going well! Cheers, Lila

That's good. I am just trying to find out about accessing my super to pay for the emergency stuff Fingers crossed it'll get sorted out!

Just be aware that I self-funded my op too and when I got a leak, I also got a bill for another $15000. I don't want to put you off cause honestly, even with the leak, the sleeve is the best thing ever but just know that going it on your own is fraught with risks. and if you can, have a little stashed for contingencies... Cheers, Liss

scales near the fridge? OMG if I did that I'd never eat anything It's obviously working for you though Puppyphat - you look amazing. Speaking of scales, I weighed in today and am down to 110.5kg. Lost 1.5kg this week - looks like the weight loss might be slowing down a bit. Not unhappy although it would have been awesome to get under that 110 next week!

With regards to the weighing thing - I actually made a decision to not have scales in the house; I know I would be constantly checking otherwise and it would be demoralising when I didn't lose or had a gain. So I weigh myself once a week at work. I usually weigh in today but am having an RDO so will do it tomorrow instead. As I work in a hosptial, I trust their scales to be relatively accurate but I am also checking my measurements too. I've not had a stall yet but I am almost at the six month mark so expect to get one soon. it's going to be tough, I know so I am trying to prepare myself as I've gotten quite used to consistent losses Good luck! Don't let the scales rule you though!

I still can't eat eggs and I used to love them before the surgery!

I am starting this week

Welcome Aussie and RocktheKazbar!!! Glad you found us!

Congrats Sue This is fantastic! I get what you are talking about with changing your thinking at the maintenance stage. I was just talking about this to my friend yesterday (not that I am there yet), but was thinking I have been so focused for so long on loosing weight, once I get down to where I want to be I will have to change my strategy Good luck and let us know how you go! I am keen to hear about the challenges of maintenance!!

Thanks Kelli - I know it's concern and I appreciate it. I should qualify that I try to do my best but some days are better than others Today, not so good and as a result, I almost passed out. Well done me. I am now at home, with a washer on my head and some juice. So silly!! *sigh* Odd thing is that despite the weak/ dizzy thing, I feel the best I have in YEARS. I don't think I realised how unwell I was before!!!

Oh and I should say too that stress is an appetite killer these days. I have a crazy and stressful job and it seems to shrivel my stomach capacity. There are days when eating a cracker feels like I've eaten a brick. I am going to try to have soups on those days to see if I can get a little more in

Yeah my NUT wanted me to be on 1200 cal per day. She knows where I am at and believe it or not, I've actually increased it to 500 cal. My surgeon was apologetic because she feels this was due to having to well resleeve might be the best way to describe it. It left me with about half the pouch she was aiming for. I eat every few hours but it can be left overs from the other meals depending on the day. I have to eat regularly cause my blood sugar dips too low (a few weeks ago I was down to 2.2 and had to stay at the surgery until it rose or I was going back to hospital on a drip). It's complicated by the fact I can't tolerate the Protein drinks etc. I certainly agree it's not sustainable long term though!! I do have malnutrition issues and am trying hard to get this sorted out It's slow! Hopefully I will be able to increase it again in the near future

LOL Puppyphat I was going to say pretty much the same thing about the sweets. it's hilarious - my new coping mechanism is that I buy the sweets and then take them in to the admin staff the next day cause I won't eat it. Before I'd eat the whole lot on top of my massive dinner. Now, as long as I say I will try that if I am still hungry after dinner, I usually don't touch it. The only thing I do have is a bag of peanut M&M's in my fridge. A 55g bag lasts about two weeks lol. But it fixes my craving and you know, Protein hahahahaha. With regards to what we eat, I am sure it is all different. I use myfitnesspal.com to track what I eat and I get in on average about 500 cal per day. An example of where I am (at 5 months) is: Breakfast 8-10 grapes or half a piece of multigrain bread with ham, cheese and tomato lunch 3 crackers and cheese (munchables) or quarter-half a chicken, cheese and avo sandwhich on multi (takes about an hour) Dinner Lean protein about 30-50g (a meatball or piece of ham), brocoli and carrot or 1 piece of Multigrain bread with ham, cheese and tomato melted Snacks Pistacio (not every day) Peanut M&M (not every day) I can't eat steak, chicken, eggs, lamb or pork. Too heavy for me still. It looks like I eat a lot of bread but I actually try to keep it to one meal per day. I find that I can eat more if I take longer i.e. lunch is usually my biggest meal cause I have an hour to sit around eating with friends. Brekky is quick (admittedly usually at the computer at work, hence grapes) and dinner is usually quick cause I am so disinterested in eating - I am over it by the end of the day. With regards to the time it takes to eat, my NUT said that I should stop after 20 minutes otherwise i will get in the habit of grazing. I don't want to do that so I am trying to challenge myself not to do that. The consequence is that I am eating less again which doesn't help the weak/ shakey feeling I get at times. Anyway, I hope this helps a little but wouldn't worry if you have more than I do - I've only been eating for 3 months not 5 due to the leak so I am probably a bit behind Cheers, Lila

Hey Sara Congrats on a good outcome! Don't rush, go back when you feel you can and then commit to your decision it sounds like you are setting yourself up for success anyway! With regards to the sweets, I know I can eat three peanut M&M's and feel okay. If I even have one more, I am sick. It happens when I have too much sugar. Example - had one coffee with a sugar in it - it was okay. I had a second one several hours later and that was enough to send me off. I had to have a lie down. I was sick and my heart was racing. Another friend who was sleeved years ago tells me she has the same thing - her story was that she ate about a third of a Maccas sundae and had heart palpitations and had to lie down for hours too. And thanks for the congrats

LOL Sue - it's so funny...people keep coming up to me and grabbing my waist, saying "look how skinny you are"....it's oddly disconcerting and funny at the same time. BTW I live in a very small town where I grew up and I am related to 50 percent of inhabitants and grew up with the rest lol. Still, it's odd It's also really nice too. I went into work today and all the nurses wanted me to "do a little turn" - felt like a bit of a rock star hehehehe. You know, with the exception of a little run in with my mother the other day, I haven't had a single negative comment from anyone about this. Even my friend, a diabetic nurse, who is really kinda mean about other people we know who had the sleeve has been really supportive. I think it's cause I have so much to lose that she could understand it was impossible without the surgery. It's lovely having all the support though- I am truly blessed!!!