Catherine Davis

@@Sajijoma glad it didn't "kill you" if it had, i'd be writing to myself walking a block is a good start next you'll be walking 2, 3 blocks etc eventually running them too!! phone ALWAYS rings when your sitting, resting, recuperating back when, i would "run" for the phone, answer it - i would also be out of breathe mom, or daughter would say"where are you running from"? would always say something like "i was upstairs, had to runall the way to phone" truth is i would/could be in next room, just exhausted breathing hard to get to the phone good luck with surgery healthy, speedy recovery kathy @@The Candidate ROFLMAO i'm not laughing at you, well actually............. i'm laughing with you having problems putting your shoes on??? those days are gone for me but i remember them well you are still pre-op this "physical chore" will be gone for you too really would i lie to you ?? kathy Oh it's definitely open for a good laugh! It was hilarious in review kind of like watching a bad comedy. I was pretty upset at how fat I've slipped down, because I used to be able to run the block 5x even at 300lbs and be all cool afterwards and just energized and here I am trudging and gasping like a fish after a fought for walk around once. Oh well though, It's a start! I mean, 2 days ago the farthest I had walked prior to that was to the van at the bottom of the driveway to go grocery shopping or the length of Super Target and back and that was my upper most tolerance, so I AM improving, even if it isn't as much as I'd like. Before I had kids I went to the gym for aerobics 4 plus times a week, jogged the other days, and did belly dancing a few times a week. Since I had kids walking down the street is a major achievement ????. I haven't got strategies for exercising sorted out yet, and I really need to work out what to do. Since I got fat I am very self conscious exercising in public (especially since I had d$ckheads in a car abuse me and laugh at me). I feel kind of embarrassed out walking since that happened. We can't afford for me to go to the gym. I would love to get a treadmill at home to walk on, but we can't afford one and we don't really have the space. I tried home fitness DVDs, but for some reason my kids hate me doing them, and my husband won't look after the kids while I exercise. Also since I broke my kneecap in 2012 aerobics makes the knee really sore. I'm hoping weight loss will help with the joint pain. ????

I am sure this sort of thing happens all the time- just ring your surgeon and fess up! The surgeon is the best person to give you advice ????

I had to do this after I broke my kneecap a couple of years ago. The injections were easy to give, and not painful (I had been on insulin before that for gestational diabetes so I wasn't worried about injecting myself, but it is very straightforward and anyone could do it). You will be fine ????

Could you do some art or craft work in your down time? I love love love knitting, crochet, braiding, drawing etc but fitting it in around the kids, work, housework etc is tough. I have small projects on the go that I can pick up and work on for ten minutes or so at a time between all the constant distractions (looking at you kids ????) and it means I at least spend a little time on them most days. Perhaps something like that could work for you too?

I am sure I will regret it big time for the first week at least! A month ago I had my gallbladder removed because I had several gallstones and the gallbladder was inflamed and painful, but the first week after surgery was so painful I wished I'd just lived with the pain from the gallbladder instead! Now I feel good and I know I made the right decision ???? I'm expecting to feel much the same after I am sleeved next month. I know it will be a big adjustment to change my eating habits so completely, but I feel prepared mentally to take it on. I think the hardest part for me will be coping with cooking for my family (husband and three kids) and having to prepare totally different meals for myself. But I try to remind myself that since I usually have to prepare three different meals at each meal for the five of us anyway, in reality it probably won't be so bad (my eight year old has an eating disorder that developed out of his extreme sensitivities to most foods, and my seven year old is a fussy eater. Luckily my 11 year old eats almost anything!). Unfortunately my husband doesn't cook, and I will be back cooking all the meals the day after I get home from hospital, like after my previous surgery. ???? Hubby does not cook, make school lunches, get kids ready for school, soccer training or games, help with homework, vacuum, change kitty litter trays, fold washing etc "sigh". I normally do all that plus I work during school hours so I am home with the kids before and after school. I was driving with a pillow under my seatbelt four days after my gallbladder was taken out because we had problems with the school bus not stopping at the right stop, but my husband wouldn't take any time off work to pick them up from wherever the damn bus driver dropped them off each afternoon. I was panicking that they would get lost or kidnapped or something crazy like that (very unlikely in the little country town we live in, where everyone knows each other, but still...) ???? Luckily the bus thing is sorted out now and they are on a different route with a reliable driver (you'd think the school bus thing would be easy to sort out, but with around 18 different school buses picking up/dropping off at the school it was not easy!). Sorry for this massive rant! I get so frustrated, but I feel bad talking about it to people. It is a relief to vent sometimes, and people on this website are very understanding ???? Thanks everyone!

Move to Australia and have it done! ☺️. Seriously though, I will be out of pocket around $5000 all up, and here in Australia you just choose a health insurance package which covers Bariatric and wait 12 months for the waiting period to be over. It is so much easier than all the annoying assessments etc you guys have to endure, we are so lucky here. Wishing you a good outcome "hugs" ????

My endocrinologist told me the same thing, so I am going to try to eliminate them (and yes, I am a food addict) ????

Hi there! I am first on the list and need to be at the hospital at 7am. I am being operated on in Canberra, and as we live across the border in Yass, about an hour away, it will be an early start. My kids are happy though because they will get a day off school ???? . I don't know how my husband will go getting them to school for the few days I will be in hospital though, because he has only ever made school lunches about twice in 6 years lol ????. I'm pleased to be operated on early though because otherwise I know I would stress myself out all morning. I'm sure you will do a better job of not freaking yourself out than I would ???? Good luck for the 18th though, I will keep you in my prayers.

I am scheduled for August 18 in Canberra. Can't wait to get this journey started! ????

Thanks honey, I'll try ????

Every time I look in the mirror I see this fat old woman staring at me. I wish she would stop following me everywhere ????

Why is life so cruel to women! ???? My best friend told me she has hair EVERYWHERE. At least I am not covered in hair over my body, but I am sprouting white hairs on my chin and around my lips. I leave the house thinking I've done an ok job plucking those suckers out, until I am stuck in traffic in my car, and see all the ones I missed in my rear view mirror, or my husband "helpfully" points one out ????

I hope my sex drive doesn't drop after my WLS!!! Since I had kids it is usually about zero. I hardly ever feel in the mood. Unfortunately my husband has a very high drive and would be at it every day if he could ???? The bad thing is that he is always pissed off at me and frustrated, but I can't help it. Maybe I should have been a nun instead ????

Yass, NSW, Australia

I am lucky to have found a lovely, supportive gp who is happy I am making changes to improve my health. The gp I saw previously was also great, but was an hour's drive away, and unfortunately didn't bulk bill. The medical practice I go to now does bulk bill, which is a godsend considering how often I am there, either for one of my chronic medical conditions, or with one of my kids ???? I am saving a fortune!

Hi there. I haven't got a definite date for surgery yet but it will probably be late August. But I have a great fear (almost to the point of a phobia) about vomiting after surgery. I think it comes from having terrible morning sickness, especially in my first two pregnancies, and being hospitalised several times for dehydration (just sipping water made me spew). My biggest fear (after my fear of excessive pain) is of vomiting a lot when I start on liquids after surgery. Some people seem to really suffer with vomiting and nausea, while others have very little problems with this. I know that you are supposed to take small sips often to avoid dehydration, but can anyone give me any advice? Cheers ????

Hi. I've tried to avoid thinking about what happens in the surgery because I feel very queasy about operations of any kind. I have avoided reading descriptions or looking at diagrams of what will happen and have really focused on the practical things I will need to do after surgery. That has helped me to not freak out about it. ????

This is something I will really have to work on - not making food the focus of every occasion. In the past, even when I was skinny and eating in a healthy way, I would think about food ALL THE TIME!!! I would even wake up in a panic after dreaming I had been eating "bad" foods. I have a tough road ahead...

I had similar pain for a few months before I was diagnosed with gallstones. I found out just before my first appointment with my Bariatric surgeon- he took the gallbladder out on 18 June. When it heals I will be getting sleeved. The surgery got rid of my pain and was worth it ????

Canned potatoes? Didn't even know they existed! ???? I have only ever made mashed spuds with fresh potatoes, milk and butter.

Be careful with grapefruit juice. It interferes with some medicines, like statins (for cholesterol) so check with your gp first). ????

Hi there. I know how you feel with the lack of support. My mum is supportive of the surgery, but I live four hours away from her so she has not been to any appointments with me. My husband keeps asking me if I really want to do this, and frankly is a bit horrified at the idea of the surgery- he would prefer me not to go ahead with it and has also not come to info sessions or appointments. But I will be relying on him after the surgery because I have three primary school age kids. I had my gallbladder removed just under three weeks ago, and although I had hoped for help, by two days after being home from hospital it was back to me doing all the cooking, cleaning, getting kids to and from school etc and I am expecting much the same after getting sleeved. ???? Unfortunately the rest of my family live near Newcastle 500km away (I am in Southern Tablelands, NSW) and I am not comfortable telling my friends here about the surgery (they are mostly parents of my kids school friends rather than my friends). I am relying on these forums for my support too ☺️

Hi all. For many of those who have food obsession or food addiction (like myself) it is difficult to just stop doing the addictive behaviour. One approach is to substitute more positive behaviours for the overeating etc. Can I ask, what have you been able to substitute or change to help overcome unhealthy eating behaviours? ????

Hi there. What is Bari-bread??

Hi. I have never drunk much in the way of soft drinks with sugar, for some reason I have always preferred the taste of diet drinks. So I am not worried about carbonated drinks for their calories, only the effect of carbonation itself on the sleeve. I think @@Babbs is right, I need to avoid them, full stop. ☺️