Central Coast says hello

First topic message reminder :

Hi everyone :D
I live on the Central Coast of NSW and am booked in to have the sleeve done by Dr Talbot in Sydney on 23rd June 2008.
It's been a bit of a wait, firstly because I was doing research, and then because the doc had to go away a couple of times.
Like most people, I considered the lapband first, but decided that the sleeve was the best option for me, for a variety of reasons - and the doc agreed. WLS has been suggested to me several times over the last few years, however I've always said it wasn't for me - until I read a magazine article about a woman who could have been me, and had had the lapband and it has made a huge difference in her life. I decided that if she could have such a positive result, it was worth while finding out more about it before saying no again. :?:
I've been doing the Optifast thing for the last several weeks, because after I finally decided to go ahead with the surgery I found that I was having a bit of a "food funeral" and started putting on weight, which I'd been losing since the beginning of the year.
So far I've lost nearly 15kg this year, and about half of that has been while I've been on Optifast. It's still a week until I really had to start it, but I'm in a better place now because I started it early.
No, I don't really like the taste, but I feel more in control now and am happy that I'm losing weight before the op - but under no illusions that I could just keep on dieting successfully to lose all the weight I have to and do without the op, either. :lol:
I'm a bit nervous about it, but having just had carpal tunnel surgery and found that a lot easier than I expected, I think I've settled down a bit now.
I'm 51 years old, 160cm, and currently 135 kg. I was 150 kg at the beginning of this year, and that's the biggest I've ever been.
I have diabetes, and have to take insulin 4 times a day, as well as medication. I also have reflux, which the doc said he'd fix while he's there. Add arthritis, chronic back pain, asthma, and a few other bits and pieces, and you get the picture that I'm not a very healthy person.
I also suffer from severe depression, which is one of the reasons I put a lot of weight on, as I eat a lot when I'm depressed. Having suffered badly from this over the last several years, I put on heaps of weight. I'm only now able to do something about it because the depression's improved so much over the last 6 months or so, with a new treatment I'm having.
My husband works in Sydney each day, which means I'm alone much of the time. I don't work any more due to my health problems. So the internet support that I'm getting is very important to me, and I really appreciate this new site that I've just found.
I have told a couple of people I'm having the surgery, and most have been okay about it. Only one will be able to visit me in hospital though. I haven't told any of my family because I know that there will be some very negative responses and I just don't want to have to deal with that yet. I haven't yet decided when or if I'll tell them about it.
My husband is going to stay in a motel nearby, so he can visit me at night and not worry about travelling all the way home each day - he usually spends 5 hours travelling, so it'll be good for him not to have to do that, even if he does have to spend time visiting me!
Bye for now
Chris

Hi everyone
Well, it's Saturday and I was sleeved on Monday and got home yesterday.
As I said in my last post, I'm doing okay. I'm on full fluids now, but although I was supposed to be having them in the hospital, could only get down milk and apple juice until yesterday.
I have a disgusting headache though, which I can't seem to get rid of. My usual strong headache meds would probably work, but as I can't take any pills yet, even crushed up, I'm battling on with just liquid panadol. Actually, it was so bad on the way home from hospital that I got hubby to stop off at the massage therapist on the way home to see if that would help. It did, but not enough.
I'm going to post a long one with my whole op experience, but might start a new thread for that to make it easier for those looking for that info.
Naturally I'm exhausted too, so will do that long post later in the day. Didn't sleep well, and have been up for an hour now and totally stuffed!
Bye for now
Chris

Thanks guys - didn't get these messages until just now.
I got home about an hour ago and am now stuffed.
I'll post more tomorrow, but am feeling okay now, after a couple of bad days.
Bye for now
Chris

That's fabulous Chris.

How are you feeling today? Are you all packed and organised?

steph

Thanks for your good wishes, guys.
I weighed myself this morning, and measured too.
I must say that I was very pleased with my progress so far.
Since the beginning of the year, I've lost 18.8kg in weight
And since the 11th of May (when I started Optifast) I've lost 8.5cm off my bust, 8cm off my waist, 4cm off my hips, 1cm off my arms, and 8.5cm off my legs.
Not a bad start, eh?

Good luck tomorrow Chris, I wish you all the best with your surgery and look forward to hearing that everything went well.

steph :flower:

Enjoy your big dinners ladies, (of course not too many though),
not long until you will be eating tiny!!
Then you have to worry about what you should be putting
in first so you dont run out of room!
LOL!! Thats my biggest dilemma.

Hayley

Thanks guys.
Oh, how glad I was to read you're having Chinese tonight, Nicole - I just finished a lovely Thai dinner! LOL
Fingers crossed and away I go!
Chris

good luck chris, i will be thinking of you. not long till mine either. Im going out for chinese tonight.....my last supper... :lol!:

cant wait to hve some yummy food as the shakes are starting to get annoying.
I havent packed still, most of the stuff i will just put in my bag on thursday.

I will look forward to hearing how you went.

Big hug coming your way :cheers:

Nicole

hi Chris
good luck for monday. I am sure everything will go fine. It will be great if your other half can let us know how your going .
Fadding away

Hi everyone
Well, I just called the doc and was told that I'm second on the list on Monday, and that I have to book in to the hospital at 6am.
We're driving down to Sydney on Sunday, and staying at a hotel overnight, so won't have any trouble getting there on time.
My husband is going to stay at the hotel for the week so he can go to work and then come and see me (we live about 3 hours from the hospital). If he can, he'll get online some time after the op to let you all know how I'm going. I've just started a new thread for partners, under general chat, as a place for them to give an update.
I was told 4-5 days in the hospital, to make sure I'm okay before making the trip home, so I'll be home about this time next week.
Bye for now
Chris

Thanks, Nicole.
Yes, it's good that all of us are going through it together, isn't it?
Never mind, luvvy, it's only a few days!
I hope this one gets through - the last 3 have crashed!
Chris

good on ya wobbly mummy,

Ilove it when that sort of thing happens.... :lol!:

It souunds like you have the whole thing sorted out (telling people) have heard some people say that there doc told them to say they had a hernia op, as the post op recovery is the same.



Good on ya chris, you can breathe easy now, sounds like she tok it quite well.

Isnt this great there a 4 of us withiin a week
Jezzy 20th
Chris and wobblymummy 23rd
me 27th

damn im last....grrrrrr :(

oh well better late than never :lol!:

Nicole

I also found all the appts exhausting - especially with an inquisitive 2 year old in tow! I am glad they are over now but they each provided a bit more info.

I didn't like my gym bunny (ex phys) though! She was rude, offensive and had the audacity to accuse me of being defensive - I was but only in response to her rudeness. her jaw hit the floor when I sailed throught the physical assessment and was actually quite fit!!!!! i told her it was ok to be so surprised - most people only see the fat person not the abilities and skills we have.

It is so hard telling people isn't it? I think because it is so important to us and we have spent such a long time agonising over this decision that we want it to be important and exciting for others as well?

I have only told 2 SILs (they are both helping out a little with my daughter after surgery), my hubby (of course), a girl in my sewing class (she had a lapband by my surgeon), a sister who lives far away and I never see and rarely talk to (she was considering it and was staying with us when I had my first appt with the surgeon) and another dear friend.

I tried telling others i was thinking about it and had such negative reactions - mostly from people who had had boob jobs done (and they had elective surgery!!!) - that I clammed up.

My family are either estranged or won't be supportive at all.

I have thought of how i am going to explain it afterwards and have come up with this plan of action. Most of them know i am on Opti and seeing a dietician - for my lifestyle change. i will tell them that i am on a portion control diet imposed and supported by the dietician. And that will fit in with the smaller potions i will be able to eat. Also I will be exercising so i can tell them that helps.

My hubby's mum is going to be concerned for a while because she knows i love my food. But she will buy the diet and lifestyle change thing. And then when i am at goal weight and still watching what i eat my hubby says 'what does it matter who knows then?'. He is so right.

But by then they will have seen it working and how happy i am so I won't mind telling them then.

Thanks Chris :)
It is a lot of people to see... in the space of two weeks... as well as sitting 4 exams... I'm exhausted just thinking about it.
I didn't know what an exercise physiologist was either :) She's kinda a personal trainer, with a uni degree in something or other, and also a specialist in working with bariatric surgery patients. She works at / runs the gym they have at Mercy Hospital for bariatric patients too, so she provides ongoing support, which is pretty super.
I'm going in next Friday (the 20th), so I'll be coming out when you're going in.

Thanks, Jezzybel!
You're right, it is a weight off my mind. (No punintended) Now I can just get on with it and not worry about whether I should tell or not. I wonder what changed your brother's mind? Maybe he researched it and found out what a good thing it is.
Wow, that was a lot of people to see. I don't see anyone until I go to the hospital. My doc didn't mention dietitians, but when the paperwork came, it included an EPC form to give to the doctor to get cheaper dietician's fees. Of course he doesn't know that I've already used mine on osteopathy!
As for the "exercise physiologist" - I'm not even sure what that is! LOL
I had to call and pay the surgeon in advance today, and also pay a deposit to the anaesthetist. And I had to call the hospital to book in, too, but it seems the procedure has now changed and after a lot of stuffing around, I found out that I don't have to call a week ahead any more - pity they didn't tell me that when I rang up and paid them money this morning!!!
I'm glad you're feeling good about the surgery now, and I'm sure having the exams half finished is great - I remember that feeling! Good luck with the rest of them. A pity we're not going to be in the same hospital! I think you're a day or two either side of me? I'm on Monday 23rd June.
Chris

Yay for Chris! I'm glad it went okay with your mum, and congratulations on getting it over with!
Now you can just look forward to your surgery!

I think people can surprise you like that, I was reluctant to tell my brother, because his attitude to my (and our parents') weight problems has always been "pull your head in and stop eating crap!", which is easier said than done :) That was his response when I went on Optifast, etc. And one of his best mates told him he was considering a lap band, and my brother had the same response to him too. He knew about my surgery from my parents, but yesterday was our first discussion about it, AND... he was wonderful! He said he thought it was great, and he was really proud of me for taking the initiative to get something done about it and improve my health. So I was very pleasantly surprised by that.

My appointments with my doc, dietitian and exercise physiologist went really well, and I'm feeling a lot more confident about the surgery now, I guess cause I know I'll be well supported. So, I'm not too scared now, and getting nice and excited - I think it helps that half my exams are out of the way now :)
1 week to go! *dances uncoordinatedly around the room*

Well, I've done it! Mum just called back, and I told her about the op, and she actually said she was glad that I was doing it. Wow! I told her that I hadn't told anyone earlier because I didn't want to deal with anyone else's insecurities about it, and that I didn't want to have endless questions about how much weight I'd lost or anything else, and she said that she'd wait for me to offer information. I told her I wouldn't have to - that she'd see the results! LOL Oh, and she told me that when I did it, I might find that my other health problems improved - surprise surprise! LOL I said, yes, Mum, that's why I'm doing it. And - drumroll - then she said that I'd have to have a tummy tuck after I'd lost the weight, because that's what Adro had to do. Oh well, guess I can't complain - she took it rather well. Couldn't figure out if she'd already heard or not - but not worrying about it.
Chris

Oh, lucky you, but your poor sister! You have to try and laugh about it, but it's difficult sometimes, isn't it?
I called Mum to tell her, but she was out. Then I called another sister, and when she asked how I was, and I said good, she said, oh that's good, considering the surgery. Hah - so much for others not telling, eh? She tried to cover it up by saying she was talking about my hand, but she was talking future, not past. I let it ride, though - no use getting het up over it, especially since I knew that it would get around, despite promises to the contrary. Oh well, I wonder if Mum knows already then? LOL
Chris

My nanna is like that, lucky for me she doest say to much about my weight, but she keeps asking when im having this op, i think she is happy for me :D but she seems to make nasty comments to my sister about her weight ( not sure why she doest say it to me) my sister is about the same size as me....
my nanna is not overweight.

nicole

Thanks, bugs, but I'm afraid there is absolutely no chance of my mother being supportive and understanding. She doesn't know how! She is absolutely obsessed with weight - putting it on and taking it off, not just herself, but everyone around her. If she sees someone she hasn't seen for ages, she doesn't say how nice it was to see them, but she says how much weight they've put on!
I once asked her not to comment on my daughter's weight, when she was a teenager - the first thing she said to her was "gee, those pants are tight" and then wondered what she'd said wrong! No-one in my family has the weight discussion with her willingly. She believes she was anorexic when she was young, and I don't doubt it, but she's never really recovered - she doesn't make herself throw up, or go to similar extremes, but is definitely obsessed, and thinks it's normal. And no, she's not overweight - if she puts on as much as a pound, it won't stay there long! In fact, she's a bit on the small size, as far as I'm concerned. I still haven't done it - maybe later today...
Chris

good luck chris,

i hope your mum understands and is supportive of you!!! why doesn't she like talking about weight? is she over weight herself? my whole family were, except for my dad, he was a skinny little welsh man lol i wish i had the genes from my grandfathers as they were both skinny as, but i got all the dudd genes in the family lol next time around i am going to make sure i am first in line for the good thin healthy bodies are being handed out!!!

fingers crossed your mum is supportive and understanding

take care

bugs

Okay, so I've told two of my sisters about the op and they're both supportive, so that's terrific.
The big one will be my mum, and although one of my sisters has offered to break the news to her after I go to the hospital, I don't think I can leave it to her to do. A lovely offer, though, as you do NOT want to talk to my mother about weight! Oh well, guess I'll have to do it sooner or later...and now that the cat's out of the bag, it won't be long before someone slips, despite the good intentions, so I'll have to do it soon. Wish me luck!
Chris

you go girls and guys.
you are all doing great on the optifast.
its hard but won't be long and it will be over
Fading away

Thanks hayley,

I felt like i needed to, they are a great bunch of girls( apart from one, but i wont go there...lol)
Most people that i have told my weight to have had a hard time believing me i think cos im am reasonably tall and dress well (lots of black to cover everything up..lol) .I have even had one say to me, i didnt think you would be a candidate for that.
But i am overweight by around 30-35kg and that is enough for me to go ahead with this surgery.

Thanks again

Nicole