I am a new new newby! Starting from scratch.

Hi Daizygirl,

I really felt the pain of your story, as I imagine everyone else will when they read it. The forum is a gregat place to find support from people who have seen similar, and know the pain and degradatino that excess weight can cause.

I trust all goes well for your appointment on Friday.

Cheers, Janet

Hi Daizygirl

You've had a rough trot by the sounds of it hon. I'm sure many, many of us have been through similar ups and downs with diets and also similar experiences feeling shamed or embarrassed for whatever reason. You're definitely amongst people who care and won't judge here :)

As for your experience at Canberra Bariatric - how exciting!! Just ring them and ask if you need a referral. If it's to see a surgeon I imagine you might but they will be able to tell you for sure if you ring them. When I went along to my initial surgeon's appointment he basically just ran through the procedures of what a lap band, sleeve and bypass each entailed. He drew me pictures on a whiteboard and explained each one. I then just took some time to think it over and decide which one I wanted. I didn't really ask much but it depends what you want to know - you could ask about risks, costs, healing time, time off work, success rates, potential complications, what weight loss you may be able to expect, post-surgery follow up and support, whether the surgeon recommends one procedure over another for you (unless your heart is already set on the sleeve), pre surgery procedures - ie would you need to see a dietician, a psych, what tests would you have to have etc, how soon you could get the operation, and so on. Just ask whatever is on your mind - I'm sure they've had weird and wonderful questions before! Try not to be nervous, it's just a chat and I'm sure they'll be lovely. Remember, they do this day in day out and have the tools and experience to really help you.

Best of luck with your appointment and let us know how you go x

Hi, Thanks for the lovely welcome!! <3 <3

I am so glad to have found this place... I have been reading non-stop for weeks. I am getting all kinds of tidbits and loads of very helpful information.

So, I have an appt at Canberra Bariatric on Friday morning this week. Nervous as hell. What happens at this appt? Do I need a GP referal?.. My doctor is away for two weeks and I cant get it till then. What do I need to ask??????? I will take notes...

Any info you guys give me is really appreciated!!!! Thanks xxx

-DaizyGirl74

Hi Daizy

I could read your pain - I was like bfscott - I wouldn't have even tried to get on a ride. I too was humilated when travelling by air. I asked for a seatbelt extension on boarding, I asked again in front of the passengers sitting around me before take-off - nothing materialised so I made the decision to cover up the seatbelt with my cardigan and book rather than ask again and bugger me if the hostess didn't twig and in a very loud voice questioned why I hadn"t asked and then called to another hostess to bring her the extension - I just wanted to die and I haven't been back on a plane since.

There is heaps of info on here for accessing your superannuation - my only tip is to make sure that the specialist letter and your Gp's read very similarly and they must point out the consequences for you if you don't have the surgery. I don't regret my decision to sleeve and now for various reasons need to have a bypass. It is a long journey and it is only a tool but if you are determined enough you will get there

Glenys

Welcome Daizy you have come to a wonderful place to get lots of help and support. Unfortunately cannot help with the money side of things and accessing super etc as I am lucky enough to have private health but I am sure you will find lots of ppl who can give you that advice.
I hope you find your way to get the sleeve done and lots of luck with your journey.
Liz :)))

Welcome DaizyGirl74,

I can relate to a lot of what you said re fun parks etc, I too couldn't enjoy the fun with my family as I was 200kg so no way I was fitting on anything!

But that will change soon.

Anyway good luck on your journey to a healthier, happier you.

Oh Daizy I had that happen to me once on a ride at dream world... twice though the second time was at movie world and they managed to forced the safety rail down and it jammed a peice of my belly in it and I had to do the whole ride with my belly pinched in the lock... not nice and I still have the scar...still it took me another 5 years to do anything about it.

Its hurtful and devistating but you are here now and you are very welcome to become part of the community.

welcome aboard, I look forward to following your story

Hi All,
I have been reading the site now for a couple of weeks after finally deciding that I need to have a sleeve. I have been over-weight (145kg/ 167cm tall) since early 20's, now almost 40. I have tried every single diet out there and lost (and found) plenty of weight. My poor body is now finding it tough, knees are both shot, high blood pressure, severe clinical depression and a host of other bits and pieces all weight related. I slipped a disc (and pinched a nerve) a few years back and don't want to die... not like this anyway! I have a couple of kids, a hubby, dogs and a great job. I am just too tired to enjoy any of it. My life is crap and I feel about a hundred years old. I get severe migraines and am cranky and tired all the time. I just cant be bothered. I have so much to live for and I could have a great life. I don't want to let my family down and would really like to see my who-ha again on day!!

The real revelation for me was a few years back when the family all went to QLD and did the whole fun park thing. I didn't fit on the slides at Wet n' Wild and sat there watching everyone having fun. We went to Movie World a few days later and I tried to get on a roller coaster...took all kinds of effort to secure the bar and then the ride wouldn't start. The controller person came along each person and checked the harness/bar thingo and when he did mine an alarm sounded. It was secured but so tight that the outward pressure on the harness was sending an error message and stopping the ride. So, thankfully it was reasonably dark because my face was burning and I knew in my heart that it wasn't going to end well. The controller and now the supervisor were both pushing, pulling and rattling my harness/bar thing to try make it work. It wouldn't. They told me in a nice loud voice that I was too big to fit and that I would have to get off. I thought I was going to die from humilliation, or maybe I was wishing, at least people would stop staring at me!! I disembarked from the ride, red faced, and asked the supervisor if there was a back exit I could use. Np, oh crap. There must have been a hundred people standing in the queue all watching (and judging) me, and now I had to exit the ride back through the giant queue. I excused myself and hurried out but by the time I reached daylight I had tears streaming down my face. I made my way to an alley and just cried.

Up till then I had been in denial about my weight problem. I dieted, I did every diet in the book. I went to Sure Slim (lost 18kg), Jenny Craig (put kg on), did Atkins (lost 23kg) tried the CSIRO diet (lost a few kilos) and then Terry Ferguson Shakes (lost 22kg.)

Each time I lost the weight, exercised and felt great... untill I introduced other foods and tried to transition back to a 'normal' healthy diet I would stall, then the weight came back. Plus extra each time.

During all this dieting I went to an info session at Calvary Hospital (I thing it was put on by CanBari) and looked into the lap band. I did some homework and saw the complications people were having and then asked about the cost. I don't have PHI and couldn't afford to do it. I decided to just lose the weight myself and didn't need surgery. I thought I could do it all by myself.

I put it aside and haven't really thought about it for a little while until a friend told me she was having a sleeve. I see light at the end of the very long tunnel. Expensive? yes. Less risk, hell yes!!

I have been talking to people and researching it now and have found my motivation again.

There is still the matter of money... I will be relying on my super - any and all advice you guys can give me is appreciated. I have no PHI and don't really know what my first move is, finance wise. Up till recently I was lost for money, I hadn't heard about accessing my super. I certainly cannot affort a loan, I have nothing to sell and without it I believe whole heartedly that I will be dead inside 5 years.

I feel hopeful for the first time in years after finding this site. thankyou for that.

-daizygirl74