Hello from Victoria

Thank you Sharm. Yes a positive attitude is very helpful. I am so pleased I got the sleeve. I know my wife was a bit hesitant to discuss the issue with me but she didn't know I had been considering it so when she brought it up I was already predisposed to considering it. Plus, My sister died suddenly last November from a brain aneurysm and my father-in-law died 3 days before my surgery. It was a wake up call to me that I was also headed for an early death. That would be very unfair to my wife. I have no regrets at all. I am sure your experience will be great too!

Rick I am very pleased for you that you are receiving such wonderful support within and outside the forum.
I think that a lot of successes in life can be achieved with a positive attitude and to have our own personal cheer squads certainly helps to point us in the right direction. I wish you continued magnificence!

Sharm I think that your attitude and commitment will bring you to good success. It seems there is a common denominator here that seems to bring people to a point of commitment to have the sleeve. A lady said to me this morning at church, "Pastor, you are looking magnificent". I have been called a lot of things but that was a first. I am feeling more able and better every day. Sure teh surgery is not without real risks but I am frankly surprised at how easy this post op phase has been.

Sharm wrote:

Thanks Snowbunny - I guess once our surgeon gets us through the op it is up to us as to the sleeve's true success. Although your surgeon was relatively inexperience you are very successful. Well done on your amazing weight loss to date.
Rachel I am quietly excited and will be following you closely I hope with a date not too far off yours (crosses fingers). Although I am looking at this forum every day I am enjoying the other people's stories at arms length and dreaming - it is hard for me to comprehend that it will be me in the near future. I have just come back from holidays and in the middle of Easter as well - let us just say I am not going to lose weight on will power alone.
Rick I hope I will be posting my date in the next few weeks as the true beginning of the new me
Thanks heaps for all your replies

Thanks Snowbunny - I guess once our surgeon gets us through the op it is up to us as to the sleeve's true success. Although your surgeon was relatively inexperience you are very successful. Well done on your amazing weight loss to date.
Rachel I am quietly excited and will be following you closely I hope with a date not too far off yours (crosses fingers). Although I am looking at this forum every day I am enjoying the other people's stories at arms length and dreaming - it is hard for me to comprehend that it will be me in the near future. I have just come back from holidays and in the middle of Easter as well - let us just say I am not going to lose weight on will power alone.
Rick I hope I will be posting my date in the next few weeks as the true beginning of the new me
Thanks heaps for all your replies

I am sure Sharm that all is going to be well for you. Keep us up to date on your journey if you will.

Hi Sharm,
I am new to t he site too and also in Melbourne / Victoria.
I am having my op on the 2nd of May and will post updates as I go. Let us know when your surgery is booked for.
I have found everyone on here lovely and so helpful so far. Great to have somewhere to go to talk to people about this.
Good luck, Are you excited?

Hi Sharm
The surgeon that did my sleeve was a relative 'newby' as well.
From memory, he had done about 100 sleeves.
I had no complications and according to the nurses, a very 'easy' recovery.
I was out of bed the night of my surgery, and was able to toilet and wash unassisted.
The nurses were always checking the hallways for me, I walked around the corridors a lot.
If you feel comfortable with your surgeon, just go for it.
Even the best surgeons had to start somewhere, and some have spotless records (in terms of complications) after many years of surgery.
Goodluck

Val 007 wrote:

Sharm Welolme

I am so glad that you didnt go for the Band - been there done that only to have it removed.

I was Sleeved 20th March, and feel a million bucks. Hope your journey is as successful as mine.

Val

Hi Val it was the huge number of band to sleeve conversions that helped form my desire for the sleeve. I hope that your conversion has gone smoothly because WLS is traumatic let alone having to endure it twice - my hat goes off to you. Congratulations on your success and thanks for saying hi!

Sharm Welolme

I am so glad that you didnt go for the Band - been there done that only to have it removed.

I was Sleeved 20th March, and feel a million bucks. Hope your journey is as successful as mine.

Val

Thanks Rick he has told me he has done many stomach removal surgeries for other reasons than sleeving so I do not doubt his abilities (crosses fingers)

Good for you Sharm. I am sure it will go well. I think gottaryhme is spot on. The surgeon will be extra careful. Keep us informed on how it all goes.

Thank you so much for the encouragement - the GP I had to go to also said that the surgeon would be very keen to do the surgery. I think you just have to trust your surgeon and hope for the best.
I will have a good look at the different parts of the site as you suggest thank you Gottarhyme

Well, welcome to you!

I suppose every surgeon must begin somewhere, and he will be EXTRA careful with you, so that's a bonus! Also, he would have to be a very good general surgeon to begin with in order to contemplate this specialisation!

Read everyone's diaries,(especially those who started of at a similar weight to encourage you) add a new thread about your surgeon in the surgeon thread to let others know of the new kid on the block, and then begin a diary yourself to track your weight loss journey!

I decided in March this year to have WLS and thought that I would get a band. I then went lurking and reading on various forums and think i would be nuts to go the band over the sleeve. I spoke to the surgeon and he had done many bands and was about to do his first sleeve but he agreed with me that sleeves are the way of the future. So here I am. I see the surgeon on April 23 to get a date for him to do his second sleeve - bit scary being the guinea pig...
Anyway I am 42 and I have a 2 year old daughter and I am tired of the weight merry go round. I have a BMI of 41 and it would appear as though my BMI is trying to catch my age.
I got asked yesterday if my daughter is my grand daughter and it so confirmed I need to lose weight and get fitter and look younger!
I look forward to sharing my journey with you wonderful people.
Sharman