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Calling all fellow Aussies!!



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Getting sleeved on the 22nd of March in Melbourne and would love some Aussie buddies to chat to!

Any other Australians here, either pre or post op? Please share your story with me

I’ll go first: my name is Steph and I’m a junior doctor training to be a GP. I’ve always been slightly overweight but then I fell into a severe, deep, treatment resistant bout of depression. I was treated with antipsychotics which, along with the complete lack of physical activity from being hospitalised for a total of 10 months in 2 years caused me to stack on more than 30kg in a short amount of time.
Fortunately my depression is now in remission, I’m back at work, and I have been dieting and exercising to keep healthy. Unfortunately that hasn’t resulted in much weight loss, probably because I’m still on quite a few meds. So I decided to try a VSG on the advice of my doctor. I researched for ages and spoke to a lot of people about it and eventually came to the decision that this was the right choice for my health. I’m now 4 weeks away from my surgery date and I’m so excited (and a little bit anxious)- can’t wait for it to be done!

So let’s hear your stories, I’d love to get to know you all a bit...

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Hello and welcome.

I had VSG in March 2020 in NSW, best thing I ever did for myself and my only regret is that I didn't do it much sooner.

The month will fly by, hope it all goes well for you.

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Also a fellow Aussie here from Nsw. I had the sleeve in 2017 but due to GERD and weight regain have had revision to bypass in dec 2020. I have zero regrets about my decision to have the revision, and since December have lost 20kg. (40kg from highest weight in 2017)
All the best for your journey !

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Hi everyone - I've joined this page/conversation just now. I'm having VSG on Wednesday next week (3rd March 2021) and it's really beginning to hit home now. Steph, I'm excited and nervous/anxious too but it's taken me 2 years to get to this point so I'm all in!!!

It's encouraging to read the previous comments and I too wish I had made the decision earlier. Perhaps I just wasn't ready to admit to myself that I was in a place I couldn't get myself out of.

Anyway, good luck to everyone sharing your thoughts here.

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Yoohoo, I was sleeved on 4 January, and live on the sunny Gold Coast. Welcome to the forum, it's a great place to find out details you may not remember to ask your surgeon.

Remember, it's based on peoples experiences, and not so much medical so it's a pretty descriptive forum haha. So here is a bit about me...

My name is Janine and I work in IT - from home all the time now, quite a good thing after surgery! I have always been SUPER active with my weight fluctuating from 70kgs - a healthy weight - to over 100kgs. I was 97 when I finally bit the bullet and went to the surgeon. My food diary was very balanced, just waaaaay too much of it. I have back fractures from my own stupid behaviour on my jetski, which makes me nearly paralysed some days. The pain went as soon as the weight started coming off.

I am cranky and moody and such a b***h at times. My moods have definitely improved, but I think my husband will disagree with me there!

Post surgery was somewhat of a breeze. I feel full all the time, so getting food in is a challenge. Getting fluids in was really really hard....so I did a 50/50 apple juice and Water and that helped. I've had no nausea at all, just the feeling of being full. I am nearly breaking the 80kgs and my goal is 65kgs.

A little confession...I nearly pulled out when I was on the table. I'm glad I didn't.

Another confession - the day after surgery I thought I'd made the BIGGEST mistake of my life. I was being a drama queen and very precious...it's the BEST thing I have ever done.

Feel free to connect via messages here. I don't do social media any more so I'm not a facey or insta girl.

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Hey , I just joined recently , had my sleeve done on Tuesday , still feel absolutely crappy .

I’m from Melbourne.

My usual weight was always a 57-63 max , started going through depression, taking medications , anxiety , and I was stress eating , depression eating , annoyed at the husband eating , everything made me eat , until I got to my highest of 89kg

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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