Hi All.

I had the VSG 03/10/2011 (4 nights ago) (DD/MM/YY for you septics )

The 1st 2 nights were a blur of pain and blind compliance to the nursing staff.

Then I thought I was ready to go home (and I wasn't)

Released today (Friday) into the care of wife and 4 young kids!!!

To think that they offered me another night and I refused.............

Haven't weighed yet.

Vale Steve Jobs

Hi Patto,

Good to hear that you are on your way to recovery.

I was sleeved in Sydney on the 22nd Sept, so a few days before you.

I was in hospital for 3 days, agree the first 2 days are a bit like being in a fog. I refused another night in hospital too, got sick of being the youngest person around by a good 3 decades hehehe. And in hospital they made me take pain killers, havent taken one since leaving the hospital.

My recovery has been going well, better than I had expected. My new stomach has some tempermental days but most days I coping well. The biggest thing I deal with is fatigue, but hope that will be better when I get on a normal diet.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

are you all still around I would be interested to find out how you are all going especially with the band to sleeve conversion

I still check in on the board. However I did not have the band to sleeve conversion, just straight into the sleeve.

I am 4 and a 1/2 months out and doing great. I am sooo close almost 40kgs lost.

I feel healthier and fitter than I remember being.

Still a long road to go but it will happen.

Happy to0 answer any questions you have.

I see your in Sydney, same state as me Im on the mid north coast at Port Macquarie.

So I am really fixated on the whole reflux issue... how have you been with that and are there any other issues that you have now ...he he heee apart from amazing weight loss.

How was the op, was it horrendous. On the Aussie forum most say it wasnt too bad but I notice here most say it was horrible. I was wondering if we have a different level of whats bad.

How long before you were able to fend for yourself at home comfortably. I will be coming home to a house where no one is home during the day and will have to die in solace. My husband works in the mines and my two adult children cant get time off

Sorry for the epic questioning, I just have so much going through my head

Hi Trishah!

Here is my experience with the surgery.

Before surgery I did not have any symptoms of reflux however did develope these post op. The symptoms have diminished over time. I still get some acid build up generally when I am hungry/stomach is empty. IT is more a cue to eat as I do not get hunger symptoms (other than head hunger still). I no longer take any medication for it, tho did take that the first 2 months after surgery.

I did not find the surgery too painful. I had been ready for the worst, so have been surprised how easy it was for me. The biggest surgery I before this was to remove a lesion of an ovary which did not involve any cutting, so really had no measure for how much pain it was. The only complications I had were immediately after surgery I started throwing up which is apparently not normal, but that was a single episode. Then the drip fell out of the vein and my hand blew up. The first night was uncomfortable but the pain meds helped me sleep. I was in the ICU and they were surprised I slept so much as it apparently got chaotic. Didnt need the pain med after the 2nd day, and that was mostly because they put me to sleep rather than having alot of pain if that makes sense.

We aussies may be a bit tougher than the yanks (ssshhh wont say that too loud).

I spent the first week and a bit with my folks, but probably would have been OK on my own. I was prepared before surgery with Soups and broths, yoghurts etc for post op so I did not have to make too much effort. You will spend alot of time sleeping, best way for the body to heal. I would say that you should atlest have someone come and check on you. Be as prepared as you can be so you dont have to do alot and give yourself the best chance to recover quickly. I had 2 weeks off work and went back the 3 rd week, however this was a very exhausting week and probably the hardest of them all.

Also I could not sleep in a bed for the first week, so was sleeping on my parents couch.

As I said I am happy to answer any questions. Hope these answers helped. They are just my experience and other react different etc.

Hey Guys, would love to hear about the support you have had post sleeve? Not much around I have found and would love to have some ideas of local support

Have you tried the aussie sleeve site.... there is a big community of sleevers in Melbourn who have regular meet ups

Can you send me a link? thanks

Link to the site so you can join

http://www.gastricsleevesupport.com/

Scroll down the front page till you get to the sleevers get together page then go in there and check for any get togethers organized and if there is none you can post to organize one... everyone is usually pretty keen to get together

thank you! I will be checking it out!!

Hi I'm getting sleeve I'n Melbourne 30 may any one else from Victoria ? I'm I'n Echuca

Me! Im near Mt Dandenong

I had my op on 20/4 and am 10kg down 4 weeks post!

How are all the Aussies going?