Cathy48

Hi Sissiegirl, it's pointless looking back. Have no regrets and just go for it. I was 67 when I had the procedure (last May) and haven't looked back since. Like you I do wish I'd taken the plunge years ago but it is what it is, I didn't, I have now and I have never felt better even though I'm still 14 kg short of my target. Friends and relatives can't believe the transformation in me. Yes it's been hard and still is some days. Those all you can eat buffets are a thing of the past and I tend to look at food portions with a new eye, I can't believe what some folks eat but I was that person. The thing that finally spurred me on was my GP warning me that I was a short step away from insulin to treat my type II diabetes. I'm still taking medication but very minimal. I hope to come off that at my next check up. Do let us know how it's going. Cath

Welcome Judy, you're never too old is my thinking and I have absolutely no regrets. Even though I'm beginning to look like a deflated balloon with no clothes on I really don't care. As long as I start to look good IN them is enough for me. I like that I don't have to worry about squeezing through gaps or hope that 100kg weight limit chair will hold me and not crumple into a heap. The downside is that my formerly well cushioned backside gets very uncomfortable in a solid chair and I'm beginning to disappear behind the steering wheel of my car. So go for it lovely lady and let us know how you are.

I'll be 68 in a couple of weeks and sleeved 4 months and delighted to say that I'm 20kg (about 44 pounds) lighter. Hand on heart I can't say it's been an easy ride, the first month was truly awful, but the change in my wellbeing is fantastic. I actually enjoy walking and for once I'm not looking forward to the long Australian summer with my usual dread. It's been a long and unusually cold winter here and I'm well and truly over it. I don't know about anyone else at this stage but I still have good and bad days and have to be careful of food choices or I find myself throwing up. My new stomach throws a curved ball from time to time by rejecting something that I've been fine with previously. Still no regrets, I'm halfway to my goal according to my surgeon who has set a kg a week as my target. He tells me I might even get a smile from him at my next appointment in December if I stay on target (he's a very dour Scotsman). That's a thrill I can barely wait to experience lol.

I am 61 and had my sleeve surgery on May 10, 2016. 5 weeks out and down 25 pounds. So far I feel great and have no regrets.@@Cathy48 I hope your surgery went well. It's 5 weeks today since I had my surgery and I'm pleased to say it went very well but the first 3 weeks of convalescence were truly awful. It was found that I had helicobacter post surgery which meant a week of strong antibiotics to get rid of it. The combination of medication and the helicobacter gave me awful foaming and heartburn. Some days I was totally laid up. After 3 weeks I seemed to have a breakthrough and I've been pretty good since apart from dreadful fatigue. I've lost a few ounces short of 21 lbs and am down a dress size. We weigh in Kilos here and I'm so close to being in double digits, just 2 kilos to go to see that magical figure.

I'm devastated, I received a letter from my surgeon yesterday to say that pathogy on my removed stomach had revealed I had Helicobacter and am now on strong antibiotics to try and eradicate it. My poor tiny tummy is to be assaulted once more. Having researched this condition I see that it is very common and in the US it seems most people are tested for it before surgery. It certainly didn't come up here in Australia and if I'd known it was a possibility I would have asked about it before hand. Something to discuss with my surgeon when I see him next week. Hubby has gone to the Chemist to get me a decent probiotic which I hope will help restore some of my stomach flora. On a positive note, I'm wearing a pair of capris today that I bought at least 6 years ago and have never worn because I couldn't do them up - result!

My reflux is bad to I've narrowed it down to the pain meds. Sent from my SM-G386T using the BariatricPal App I think one time it was a statin I'd taken that set me off.

Day 9 and I'm still having ups and downs. Most days I can take in all of my fluids and Protein but am still plagued by bouts of what I suppose is heartburn. I can't figure out what the triggers are, certainly not eating too quickly, but when it hits it can take some hours to get back to normal. It's very debilitating when it happens. Otherwise, I'm healing well and am pain free. I can't ask for much more. I see my surgeon and dietician next week so I hope I can get some answers to help with my digestion issues. Anyone else had this problem?

You might like to join Gastric Sleeve Support which is an Australian Group. Nowhere near as good as this one but for your particular query it might be better if you have no other responses. There's also a section about doctors.

I'm now day 4 and was so looking forward to starting a week of thin nutritious fluids. I've been drinking really well prior to this, no pain and easily reaching my Fluid goals. What happens? I got the foamies and it's most unpleasant. I feel as if I've an impassable lump in my throat and am retching foamy mucous. I'm so upset as I'm feeling quite weak and lethargic and know I need an energy boost that Opti would give me. I'm going to try an anti-histamine to see if that will dry me up a bit.

I had such an amazing food funeral between seeing my surgeon for the last time and starting 2 weeks pre-op that I put on about 10 lbs. Can't believe it really. Anyway, I did lose that additional weight over the 2 weeks but it did mean that to all appearances I hadn't lost a thing.

Oh that's not good, I do hope you feel better soon. I'm still on clear fluids only until Friday when I can introduce some protein. I think I've been incredibly lucky not to have gas pain or heartburn. Now off the computer and try and get some sleep. Oh that's not good, I do hope you feel better soon. I'm still on clear fluids only until Friday when I can introduce some protein. I think I've been incredibly lucky not to have gas pain or heartburn. Now off the computer and try and get some sleep.

I'm thrilled to say that I'm home and sipping a cup of green tea with lemon. Everything went like clockwork and I had the most charming anaesthetist who came to tell me I had a really strong heart! The first night I slept very fitfully and was interrupted constantly by the nursing staff checking on me and giving me small amounts of water to sip. Yesterday I was able to have a shower first thing, the best thing in the world at that point. I had a pump for the pain but apparently used very little. The most painful part was the incision with the drain. I was given a menu for lunch dinner and breakfast, not a menu as you would know it really. I chose to have consommé which was lightly disguised vegetable water. So this morning my surgeon popped in and asked if I wanted to go home, did I have someone to look after me etc. So here I am. Virtually pain free and feeling rather chipper, long may it last. Finally I must give a shout out for the nursing staff who were all marvellous. Let's hope we all continue to recover well and good luck to those still waiting.

Well it's 7am and today's the day that my life changes for ever! I've knocked back the 2 glasses of Water + Opti before the cut off of nil by mouth from now on. My surgery is at 1.30, admission at 11.00. Good luck to all the other WLS folks whose day is today.

I've just had a call from a nurse at the hospital where I'm having surgery tomorrow to go through a few final things. Another $75 for pressure stockings and antibacterial soap! Will it never end. Apparently I will have blue wee after the event, I haven't heard anyone discuss that one before. It's a dye the surgeon adds to ensure everything is working well so blue is good. I'm on a liquid diet today with no fluids after 7am tomorrow, I'm not a morning person but will have to make an exception tomorrow to get in an Opti and 2 glasses of water. Now I'm fretting about the hour's drive to hospital with water and Opti trying to get out. My time is 1.30 tomorrow and I'm just starting to get anxious and snappy.

I've loved reading these posts. With one or two exceptions we all seem to want the girls to shrink to a more manageable size. The thing is I vividly remember lusting after breasts, I was 14 and a late developer. I even resorted to cotton wool in the cups lol! Be careful what you wish for is all I can say. Back in the 60s larger cupped bras were thin on the ground and what were available were obviously designed by someone who built bridges in a previous life. Nowadays at least some attempt is made to give us larger ladies a bit more lacy nonsense but let's face it, holding those big girls up calls for some serious infrastructure. I look at the lacy pieces of frippery and long to fasten one on. So what if I'm well past the first flush of youth, in my head I'm still young.