Are there any Australian Sleevers out there, Would Love to hear from you.

I am going to see my sleep specialist tomorrow. She suggested surgery to me 6 months ago and wrote the referral. She doesn't know I have done it. Hoping to have a repeat sleep study early in New Year and would love to able to give up sleeping with a CPAP machine for sleep apnea.

That would be great if you could say good bye to the machine! I don't know about you Kelli but every time I find the sleeve has impacted my health in a positive way (in my case, normal liver function now!) I feel like I am claiming back part of my life - a bit dramatic I know but I am sure you get what I mean!

It's so awesome guy's to hear of your improving health. I didn't have any diagnosed complications before the surgery but I notice that my sleep and breathing is so much better than before!! Minor things but it makes a huge difference to my quality of life!!

That would be great if you could say good bye to the machine! I don't know about you Kelli but every time I find the sleeve has impacted my health in a positive way (in my case' date=' normal liver function now!) I feel like I am claiming back part of my life - a bit dramatic I know but I am sure you get what I mean![/quote']

Hi Sue, yes I agree. Will let you know how I go, but I doubt she will take me off machine without a repeat overnight sleep study. I have felt so much better since day one.

Great news. Sleep doc very happy with my weight loss and I can stop using my CPAP machine straight away. YIPEE!!! This was a major goal and a big reason I had the surgery. I still have to do another sleep study on 13 January, but she thinks it unlikely that I will need it ongoing. Again, this is the best thing I could have done for my health.

Saw the first photo since starting this journey that i loved this week. I have been really struggling with still seeing myself as fat. I'm now 62.5kg but until seeing this photo, still felt like I was 100kg. I won't post the pic because it has my daughter in it, but thought I'd share my NSV.

Hello So like many of you, I have Christmas Party Palooza over the next three days. Back to back dinners. Tonight it's Thai, tomorrow it is a BBQ and Saturday it's another restaurant. Wish me luck Cool that I will only be able to eat a little though!!!

Great news. sleep doc very happy with my weight loss and I can stop using my CPAP machine straight away. YIPEE!!! This was a major goal and a big reason I had the surgery. I still have to do another sleep study on 13 January' date=' but she thinks it unlikely that I will need it ongoing. Again, this is the best thing I could have done for my health.[/quote']

That is awesome Kelli. You can't put a price on those sorts of improvements to quality of life.

Hello So like many of you' date=' I have Christmas Party Palooza over the next three days. Back to back dinners. Tonight it's Thai, tomorrow it is a BBQ and Saturday it's another restaurant. Wish me luck Cool that I will only be able to eat a little though!!![/quote']

Good luck!!

Oh and I lost another two kilo's this week Down to 126!! Only a kg to go before my Christmas goal!!

Hi everyone.

I've been following your stories over the past few weeks and am so inspired and encouraged by your experiences with the sleeve.

My cardiologist suggested WLS to me about 18 months ago and I thought he had gone crazy at the time, but have come to the realisation that I can't lose this weight by myself and keep it off just by dieting and exercising.

That and the fact that he recently told me that if I don't lose weight I might be on his operating table within 5-10 years..

So a little about me.

Almost 39 year old, Melbourne Mum of a 4 year old and 10 month old.

I'm 163cm and somewhere around 93kg (have stopped weighing myself as too depressing) which puts my bmi around 35. During my last pregnancy I developed gestational diabetes and high blood pressure so cardiologist thinks I'm a ticking time bomb.

So here's where I'm hoping you lovely people might be able to point me in the right direction as I don't know where to start..

I've been referred to Ian Michell in Melb, but I will be self funding hopefully through super release.

Do I get an appointment with the surgeon first and then apply for super or do I have to have that approved first? I'm a bit overwhelmed with what needs to be done to get the ball rolling.

Thanks in advance

Hi Novo

Glad you have joined us on this site. For me, my experience has been so worth it. My only regret is that I didn't do this earlier.

You will need to see your surgeon or find a surgeon you feel comfortable with. Mine I knew straight away I was going to go with him, even though he was not the cheapest and he didn't give out too much info, I found I liked him immediately and i would do it all again with him and he is sooo happy with my progress. Your surgeon will have to do a letter, along with your GP that covers exactly what is required by legislation to release super. It is to be word for word and meet the elements such as;

Either life threatening or acute pain (back pain, etc) and not readily available in the public health system.. When you have the two letters to include in your application, you then submit to human services which will take 10 days to get a response then a further 7 days or so to get funds.

Your surgeon may get you to see a dietician and physiologist first then will usually set a date if happy with results, however in saying this all surgeons are different in what is required....

If you need anything else whilst you are considering this surgery, please do not hesitate to ask as this is such a great group.

Kelli - that is awesome news about the sleep machine - bet that news alone makes it all worth it. I still remember when you first made contact with us on here and look now where your at

Guys - your kicking butt with the loss each week. I actually started a jump start with a week of Opti. I thought perfect time just before Xmas but wanted to go back to basics for a week as been a little slow over the last 2 weeks and want to drop a little more before Xmas... and funnily enough I actually enjoy Optifast now so do 2 a day and just had some salmon for dinner:)

Anyway will chat soon, hope you all had a great week!

Hi everyone.

I've been following your stories over the past few weeks and am so inspired and encouraged by your experiences with the sleeve.

My cardiologist suggested WLS to me about 18 months ago and I thought he had gone crazy at the time' date=' but have come to the realisation that I can't lose this weight by myself and keep it off just by dieting and exercising.

That and the fact that he recently told me that if I don't lose weight I might be on his operating table within 5-10 years..

So a little about me.

Almost 39 year old, Melbourne Mum of a 4 year old and 10 month old.

I'm 163cm and somewhere around 93kg (have stopped weighing myself as too depressing) which puts my bmi around 35. During my last pregnancy I developed gestational diabetes and high blood pressure so cardiologist thinks I'm a ticking time bomb.

So here's where I'm hoping you lovely people might be able to point me in the right direction as I don't know where to start..

I've been referred to Ian Michell in Melb, but I will be self funding hopefully through super release.

Do I get an appointment with the surgeon first and then apply for super or do I have to have that approved first? I'm a bit overwhelmed with what needs to be done to get the ball rolling.

Thanks in advance[/quote']

Welcome Novo and congratulations on your decision to take back control of your health. I am the same height as you, but started at 107kg. It's all relative to your situation. Often you need to be at least 40 BMI or ave multiple co-morbidity's to be considered for WLS, so it sounds like you would qualify. Most of us tried to do it ourselves over many years with limited long term success. The sleeve is the best thing I have done and my health has definitely improved already. I am 4 months today since my surgery ad am down 22kg so far. So much energy and feel great. I was covered partially by Defence Health and Medicare, so cannot advise you re self funding, but Shelley's advice sounds about right. There are a few others on this thread who got money from their super. Make sure you budget for a contingency just in case you need to be in hospital a night or two longer than expected. I was in for 3 nights which sees fairly common. Hope this helps and we look forward to joining you on your journey.

Hi Novo

Glad you have joined us on this site. For me' date=' my experience has been so worth it. My only regret is that I didn't do this earlier.

You will need to see your surgeon or find a surgeon you feel comfortable with. Mine I knew straight away I was going to go with him, even though he was not the cheapest and he didn't give out too much info, I found I liked him immediately and i would do it all again with him and he is sooo happy with my progress. Your surgeon will have to do a letter, along with your GP that covers exactly what is required by legislation to release super. It is to be word for word and meet the elements such as;

Either life threatening or acute pain (back pain, etc) and not readily available in the public health system.. When you have the two letters to include in your application, you then submit to human services which will take 10 days to get a response then a further 7 days or so to get funds.

Your surgeon may get you to see a dietician and physiologist first then will usually set a date if happy with results, however in saying this all surgeons are different in what is required....

If you need anything else whilst you are considering this surgery, please do not hesitate to ask as this is such a great group.

[/quote']

Thanks Shell

Would I be correct that I don't need the GP letter if my specialist is happy to write one for me? He has said he will do and write whatever I need, he's really keen to get me healthy.

I'm pretty happy with the surgeon he is referring me to, have only read great things about him, and I trust my cardio so I guess that means at least one thing I can cross off the list.

Now that I've made the decision, I'm getting really excited on starting on the journey to a better life. Just hope that the surgeons appointments etc are not to drawn out..lol.

Im looking forward to following everyone's journeys.

Kelli - that is awesome news about the sleep machine - bet that news alone makes it all worth it. I still remember when you first made contact with us on here and look now where your at

Guys - your kicking butt with the loss each week. I actually started a jump start with a week of Opti. I thought perfect time just before Xmas but wanted to go back to basics for a week as been a little slow over the last 2 weeks and want to drop a little more before Xmas... and funnily enough I actually enjoy Optifast now so do 2 a day and just had some salmon for dinner:)

Anyway will chat soon' date=' hope you all had a great week![/quote']

Hi Shelley, good idea. I think I might do the same as my weight loss has been slow for the past few weeks too. The odd rum ball or piece of Christmas cake isn't helping. on the plus side I have started going to the gym more often. I've had a few personal training sessions and am aching in muscles I forgot I had. Have another session early tomorrow and know it's going to hurt. I have also been to a few group classes which I am terrible at, but do get a good workout. I've joined the Goodlife gym at Bardon in Brisbane. Is anyone else on this forum a member there?