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.

I've sort of become more resigned to it as the days have gone by after having major doubts after my pre-op with my surgeon’s registrar. Lovely, lovely lady but she did question whether this was the right surgery for me and had I considered the band. Who knows what is right and what is wrong but it’s happening on Monday at 1.30 pm West Australian time. I’ve shopped for all my travel sized toiletries and splurged on a pair of new pjs in Target which were just $10 when I got to the till. Maggie journey I’ll see your 57 and raise you 10 lol. I’m doing this so I don’t end up like some of my long passed relatives being pushed around in a wheel chair. I have this amazing photo of my great grannie in her wicker bath chair overflowing in every direction with my tiny grandad getting prepared to push her. God knows how he managed it. I want to enjoy my grandchildren to the full, there’s another on the way, due in October. I want to knock my diabetes on the head, or at the very least, control it with diet. This 2 weeks on Optifast has seen my blood sugar levels drop dramatically. Yes I’m scared. I’m frightened I won’t wake up. Then I’m frightened my hair will drop out and turn grey. I’m nervous about eating afterwards but hey ho, onwards and upwards I say.

This is my greatest wish to lose a goodly proportion of my bust. Currently I'm a 42G and I so long for something a lot lot less as they've been the bane of my life for many years. Surgery is on Monday for me so let's up there are some new and lovely bras around the corner.

I'm on day 6 of the mostly liquid diet. I'm allowed 2 cups of veg from a list given to me by my dietician. I generally stir fry those with a quick spritz of Fry-light then douse with soy sauce. It's not been a bad run so far, I was sorely tested yesterday when I had 2 birthday cakes to make and must confess to licking my some cake mix of my finger! I took a bowl of salad to the evening party and that was just fine. I did have a moment yesterday in the middle of the cake decorating when I felt very nauseous and sweaty but it passed off equally quickly. I have to be at the hospital for 11.00 on the 16th so I will be in theatre sometime in the afternoon. Just read an article saying that later afternoon was the worst time to have surgery, wth, I have no control over that.

Hello everyone, I hope you don't mine if I join in. My surgery is also the 16th, here in Perth, Western Australia. I started my pre-op diet yesterday which consists of 3 shakes/soups a day with 2 cups of vegetables. I'm using Optifast but quite honestly it's ghastly and I find it very hard to drink it. It's sickly sweet which is my main problem with it. I've also tried the Soup twice, I don't know what's in it but it has me sprinting for the loo like some demented greyhound after about 15 minutes. The thought of another 12 days of this is just depressing. I'm 67 and some days I think I must be mad to put myself through this but on my more sensible days I just would like to be rid of this excess weight. I've also got type 2 diabetes and I'm hopeful that I can reduce my medication. Thank you to whoever recommended the app, I've downloaded and look forward to tracking like mad. Cath

I have a similar issue but it's my sister who I have to decide whether I tell or not. We live on other sides of the world so my instinct is to tell her when I see her next (in July). When I raised the subject with her before she was pretty horrified and said that if I must do it to make sure it's reversible. Well, it won't be so I'm more than ever certain it's best not to say. We are very close in spite of the distance apart, but she can be very judgemental. As to telling your mum, you know her best. If you think she would be very upset and hurt to be kept out of the loop then I would tell her. Otherwise you might say that you wanted to not worry her until you are on the road to recovery but preferably before your dinner date.

Hey cathy!Im also getting sleeved a couple days after you... and we are at similar starting weight! So i completely understand how you are feeling. Im totally freaking out since its so close! Where are you getting yours done? Im in Sydney Hi there, I'm in Perth with Dr Kevin Dolan doing my surgery. It's scary indeed, I really just want to get on with it now. I've got my dieticians appointment in a couple of weeks so I guess it will feel more real then.

I can't begin to imagine how you are feeling just now and my thoughts and hopes are with you. Try and stay positive as difficult as that maybe, it’s a setback for sure but look at it this way, thanks to your decision to have this elective surgery the mass was discovered. Please let us know how everything goes.

Hi Texy, I so badly want that new lease on life, not that I feel so dreadful now. It's good to hear that you have no regrets. What I’m hopefully going to get rid of, or maybe partially ease, is the dreadful sweats. The slightest bit of exercise and it’s like someone has turned on a tap on my head. Anyone else have this issue? Last night I went to a party in a restaurant with allocated seating. I was seated next to a lady who was even heavier than me, the space that was left was very, very snug. I want to be able to glide into that space with inches to spare, albeit then to push the food round my plate lol (but you can’t have everything). I’m from Yanchep in sunny Western Australia.

Carolyn,I am 69 and had my surgery 3/28/16. Not seeing a lot of us older girls out there. Sent from my QMV7A using the BariatricPal App Exactly, not many of us older gals to compare notes with. Still very early days for you, how are you feeling?

I've been lurking around and very, very occasionally posting so why did I miss the over sixties group! Everyone seems to be so young here, I couldn't believe I was alone, well here you all are and it's lovely to meet you. I'm 67, that's my calendar age but really it's rubbish. I feel more like 50 or so. After some gentle encouragement from my GP, I have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, I went to see the surgeon about 16 months ago with the intention of having a band. However I had to increase my health care cover and wait for 12 months before I could go ahead. To cut a very long story short, I'm scheduled for 16th May but decided to have the sleeve instead after reading some negative feedback about the band. I'm scared but excited at the same time. I want a new, healthier me going forward.