So now I'm about 6 months out and weigh 71kgs...so close to the 60's! I tried on a pair of size 12 pants today and they fit!! Woohoo!! It's funny how I still feel like I'm the biggest person in the room and how I still look at the size 18 clothes before realising I don't need them anymore. I think it's going to take a little while for my head to catch up with the rest of me. Food wise everything is going well. I'm able to eat a bit more now which is nice. As far as exercise goes, I started back at Spin today which was excrutiating, as always, but much more comfortable without all the extra weight. So life is good. I'm happier than I've ever been and loving the Sleeve :o)
Till next time...
J
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wow I didn't realise how long it's been...
I need to get a bit better at updating this blog! I am now around 4 and a half months out and things have gotten much better. Sure some days I find it hard to eat much, if anything, and could easily subsist on milky tea but on the whole I'm feeling pretty good. Last week I had an appointment with my surgeon, the fantastic Dr Padovan, and he's really happy with my progress. It was nice to have someone who is just as excited about the weightloss as I am! My losses are exceeding his expectations which is fantastic. It's funny reading back over my posts. I was so worried I wouldn't be able to lose the weight, that I'ld be the first one to fail, so I just wish I could go back and tell myself to relax. All that worry for nothing! So if there is anyone reading this blog that is about to go through this life-changing experience....relax! It'll happen. It might be frustratingly slow at times but the weight will start to drop and every gram adds up!
So now for the numbers....as of this morning I weigh 77.5kgs. I never thought I would ever get down into the 70's but here I am! Watch out 60's, here I come!
So I'm well into the 70's, eating a much better variety of foods and things are good. I'm still losing my hair, at times very scary amounts, but it's a small price to pay for my health. I'm hoping the hairloss will slow down, I'm told at about 6 months along it should stop, but I'll probably be bald by then!! I might need to go shopping for some pretty scarves :o(
To all those who are about to go and have surgery, hang in there! It's a rough few months for most learning about your new tiny tummy but there is a light at the end of the tunnel and believe me, you won't regret it.
Till next time, take care.
Jodie
So now for the numbers....as of this morning I weigh 77.5kgs. I never thought I would ever get down into the 70's but here I am! Watch out 60's, here I come!
So I'm well into the 70's, eating a much better variety of foods and things are good. I'm still losing my hair, at times very scary amounts, but it's a small price to pay for my health. I'm hoping the hairloss will slow down, I'm told at about 6 months along it should stop, but I'll probably be bald by then!! I might need to go shopping for some pretty scarves :o(
To all those who are about to go and have surgery, hang in there! It's a rough few months for most learning about your new tiny tummy but there is a light at the end of the tunnel and believe me, you won't regret it.
Till next time, take care.
Jodie
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
6 weeks on...
Today is 6 weeks to the day since I had my operation. A huge milestone considering the past few weeks have been a little rocky. Not rocky in relation to recovering from the operation, that has been pretty easy and basically painless, but in regards to eating. To say I've been struggling with eating would be a huge understatement. My problem is I don't want to eat at all. I hate eating. I feel great almost all of the time except when I have to eat. Kind of funny when I think about the way I was before the op, completely obsessed with food. So the biggest problem I face 6 weeks post-op is eating enough.
I'm very rarely hungry and when I am it is very mild and can be ignored which isn't a good thing! I've started trying different foods...small pieces of meat and chicken, toast, poached egg and as long as I chew them up really well there doesn't seem to be a problem. I get full to the point of bursting on around 2TBSP's of food. I have absolutely no interest in take-away food. I had a go at trying a McChicken burger when we were away camping and that turned me off for good! 2 bites of the chicken patty was enough for me! My weight is coming off, albeit slower than I expected, but it's coming off and that's all that matters. My eyes are still way too big for my belly but that's slowly changing.
I don't miss food anymore. In the first few weeks after the op I really missed eating what everyone else was eating it was really strange. I didn't expect to feel that way and I wasn't prepared for the regret I felt at having had the operation. It didn't last long but it was a pretty rough few weeks thinking I had made a huge mistake. Thankfully it only lasted a couple of weeks and now it's all good :o)
So 6 weeks on I am through the worst of it and I am pretty happy with my decision. I've lost 10.1kgs and am in the 80's again! I'm hoping that now I can exercise again I'll drop a little faster and be in the 70's for our trip to Bali in August.
Here's my progress so far...
04/03/10 99kgs (date of sleeve op)
11/03/10 96.4kgs
18/03/10 92kgs
25/03/10 +0.4kgs (!!??)
01/04/04 91.7kgs
08/04/04 89.6kgs
15/04/04 88.9kgs (loss of 10.1kgs)
Till next time,
Jodie
I'm very rarely hungry and when I am it is very mild and can be ignored which isn't a good thing! I've started trying different foods...small pieces of meat and chicken, toast, poached egg and as long as I chew them up really well there doesn't seem to be a problem. I get full to the point of bursting on around 2TBSP's of food. I have absolutely no interest in take-away food. I had a go at trying a McChicken burger when we were away camping and that turned me off for good! 2 bites of the chicken patty was enough for me! My weight is coming off, albeit slower than I expected, but it's coming off and that's all that matters. My eyes are still way too big for my belly but that's slowly changing.
I don't miss food anymore. In the first few weeks after the op I really missed eating what everyone else was eating it was really strange. I didn't expect to feel that way and I wasn't prepared for the regret I felt at having had the operation. It didn't last long but it was a pretty rough few weeks thinking I had made a huge mistake. Thankfully it only lasted a couple of weeks and now it's all good :o)
So 6 weeks on I am through the worst of it and I am pretty happy with my decision. I've lost 10.1kgs and am in the 80's again! I'm hoping that now I can exercise again I'll drop a little faster and be in the 70's for our trip to Bali in August.
Here's my progress so far...
04/03/10 99kgs (date of sleeve op)
11/03/10 96.4kgs
18/03/10 92kgs
25/03/10 +0.4kgs (!!??)
01/04/04 91.7kgs
08/04/04 89.6kgs
15/04/04 88.9kgs (loss of 10.1kgs)
Till next time,
Jodie
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Op
So everything went well at the final Psych appointment and she gave me the clear to have the operation. The anethetist organised to meet with me on the day of the surgery which was much easier for me.
THE BIG DAY
Day 0 Surgery Day Thursday 4th March 2010
I had to be up at the hospital at 6:30am so in my usual form I was there at 6. I starting to get pretty nervous about the whole thing and worried about what was to come. A nurse came up to me and took my name and let me know I was 2nd on the list so the wait shouldn't be too long. At about 6:45 a nurse came down from upstairs and led a group of us up to the Day Ward where we were to wait until much closer to our surgery time. After about 45mins my anethetist called me in for my appointment which was a very simple check up. He let me know they would be putting in a Nasal-Gastric tube but it would be removed before I woke up. He told me I would be going in around 10am. All good there and back into the waiting room.
I think it must have been about another hour before I was called into the ward to get ready for surgery. The girl came in and took my weight, gave me a gown and asked me to put on the TED stockings. Then I was left to wait until it was time to go to the pre-op room. While sitting there another larger girl came in with her partner. She was clearly doubting her decision and when the gown they gave her didn't fit she became near histerical. I felt so bad for her. The nurses quickly remedied the situation but I think the damage was done. I never saw her again but I hope that she is ok. I'm not too sure how much longer I waited but eventually the orderly's came and wheeled me up to pre-op and a lovely nurse had a chat to me and put a heated blanket over me. She asked me to keep my hands warm to make it easier for the anethetist to insert the drip.
About now I started to panic a little. I was really working myself up into a state until the lovely Dr Padovan came in to see me, all smiles, and reassured me everything would be fine. I think without this visit I probably would have been off and running I was so scared! In I went to surgery and I was asked to move across from the bed to the table. The anethetist took my hand and started the first of a couple of attempts to get a vein. I have to say this was excrutiating. Eventually he found one and I was off to sleep.
I don't remember much about waking up. With my past gall bladder op I vividly remember waking up in pain before being given pain relief but this time I don't remember anything. When I finally came around I was groggy from the PCA but the nurse handed it to me and showed me how to use it. I vaguely remember my husband and daughter coming to visit but I am told I slept most of the time. My only other memory of the first night was the visit from the surgeon telling me everything went fine and the constant inflating and deflating of the foot pumps.
Day 1 Post-op Friday 5th March
The next morning was a little less foggy. I was so tired from the lack of sleep the night before coupled with general discomfort which made for a pretty ordinary day. I got up and had a shower, a feat in itself with drips and a drain attached, and basically slept when I could. In the early afternoon I was wheeled over to radiology to have the Gastrograph and swallow to check for leaks. Basically you stand on a platform in front of an xray machine and drink mouthfulls of this vile aniseed tasting fluid while they take xrays to see if there are any leaks along the staple line. After a few too many goes they finally got what they wanted and confirmed that there is no evidence of a leak. Back in bed and the nurse informs me I can now start drinking 30ml cups of vile blue cordial every 20 mins. This was so sweet I couldn't stomach it and ended up drinking water instead. C and Mum came to visit bringing along the kids which was nice. Poor J had trouble seeing me in hospital and a few tears escaped before I was able to reassure him that I was fine. Another rough night of sleep with the constant sound of the pumps and being woken up continually.
Day 2 Saturday 6th March
This was my roughest day. I had woken up in the morning with pulling pain whenever I moved. It was so bad that when I pushed the button on the PCA (Morphine) it had no effect. Dr Padovan came to see me and said that all my bloodwork and the barium swallow went well so the PCA, IV and drip could all be removed and I could go home when I was ready. I could also start on clear fluids. I was really happy with this as the pain I was having was coming from the drain site so I was eager to have it removed. I waited...and waited...and waited and come 3pm the pain was excrutiating and nothing had been removed. I ended up ringing the bell and telling the nurse. She immediately called Dr Pado and he told her they should have already been removed. Thankfully this wonderful nurse tried her best to remove it as quickly as possible but it was one of the worst pains I have ever felt....but it was over in seconds. The nurse said the drain had gotten caught on some tissue and that's why it hurt so much. The relief when it was out was beyond belief. No pain and I felt great. Unfortunately they wanted to keep me in another night after the drip ordeal. A night of much better sleep and less interruptions. I was looking forward to going home the next day.
Day 3 Sunday 7th March
Home today! I woke up feeling great. No horrible drips or drains, my first "free" shower. I packed up my stuff after the morning round of needles and tablets and waited to be discharged. The nurse came around and removed the last part of the drip which was great and relatively painless and let me check out. Off home black and blue from the waist up but sooo happy to be out of hospital!
THE BIG DAY
Day 0 Surgery Day Thursday 4th March 2010
I had to be up at the hospital at 6:30am so in my usual form I was there at 6. I starting to get pretty nervous about the whole thing and worried about what was to come. A nurse came up to me and took my name and let me know I was 2nd on the list so the wait shouldn't be too long. At about 6:45 a nurse came down from upstairs and led a group of us up to the Day Ward where we were to wait until much closer to our surgery time. After about 45mins my anethetist called me in for my appointment which was a very simple check up. He let me know they would be putting in a Nasal-Gastric tube but it would be removed before I woke up. He told me I would be going in around 10am. All good there and back into the waiting room.
I think it must have been about another hour before I was called into the ward to get ready for surgery. The girl came in and took my weight, gave me a gown and asked me to put on the TED stockings. Then I was left to wait until it was time to go to the pre-op room. While sitting there another larger girl came in with her partner. She was clearly doubting her decision and when the gown they gave her didn't fit she became near histerical. I felt so bad for her. The nurses quickly remedied the situation but I think the damage was done. I never saw her again but I hope that she is ok. I'm not too sure how much longer I waited but eventually the orderly's came and wheeled me up to pre-op and a lovely nurse had a chat to me and put a heated blanket over me. She asked me to keep my hands warm to make it easier for the anethetist to insert the drip.
About now I started to panic a little. I was really working myself up into a state until the lovely Dr Padovan came in to see me, all smiles, and reassured me everything would be fine. I think without this visit I probably would have been off and running I was so scared! In I went to surgery and I was asked to move across from the bed to the table. The anethetist took my hand and started the first of a couple of attempts to get a vein. I have to say this was excrutiating. Eventually he found one and I was off to sleep.
I don't remember much about waking up. With my past gall bladder op I vividly remember waking up in pain before being given pain relief but this time I don't remember anything. When I finally came around I was groggy from the PCA but the nurse handed it to me and showed me how to use it. I vaguely remember my husband and daughter coming to visit but I am told I slept most of the time. My only other memory of the first night was the visit from the surgeon telling me everything went fine and the constant inflating and deflating of the foot pumps.
Day 1 Post-op Friday 5th March
The next morning was a little less foggy. I was so tired from the lack of sleep the night before coupled with general discomfort which made for a pretty ordinary day. I got up and had a shower, a feat in itself with drips and a drain attached, and basically slept when I could. In the early afternoon I was wheeled over to radiology to have the Gastrograph and swallow to check for leaks. Basically you stand on a platform in front of an xray machine and drink mouthfulls of this vile aniseed tasting fluid while they take xrays to see if there are any leaks along the staple line. After a few too many goes they finally got what they wanted and confirmed that there is no evidence of a leak. Back in bed and the nurse informs me I can now start drinking 30ml cups of vile blue cordial every 20 mins. This was so sweet I couldn't stomach it and ended up drinking water instead. C and Mum came to visit bringing along the kids which was nice. Poor J had trouble seeing me in hospital and a few tears escaped before I was able to reassure him that I was fine. Another rough night of sleep with the constant sound of the pumps and being woken up continually.
Day 2 Saturday 6th March
This was my roughest day. I had woken up in the morning with pulling pain whenever I moved. It was so bad that when I pushed the button on the PCA (Morphine) it had no effect. Dr Padovan came to see me and said that all my bloodwork and the barium swallow went well so the PCA, IV and drip could all be removed and I could go home when I was ready. I could also start on clear fluids. I was really happy with this as the pain I was having was coming from the drain site so I was eager to have it removed. I waited...and waited...and waited and come 3pm the pain was excrutiating and nothing had been removed. I ended up ringing the bell and telling the nurse. She immediately called Dr Pado and he told her they should have already been removed. Thankfully this wonderful nurse tried her best to remove it as quickly as possible but it was one of the worst pains I have ever felt....but it was over in seconds. The nurse said the drain had gotten caught on some tissue and that's why it hurt so much. The relief when it was out was beyond belief. No pain and I felt great. Unfortunately they wanted to keep me in another night after the drip ordeal. A night of much better sleep and less interruptions. I was looking forward to going home the next day.
Day 3 Sunday 7th March
Home today! I woke up feeling great. No horrible drips or drains, my first "free" shower. I packed up my stuff after the morning round of needles and tablets and waited to be discharged. The nurse came around and removed the last part of the drip which was great and relatively painless and let me check out. Off home black and blue from the waist up but sooo happy to be out of hospital!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Psych, The Dietician, Pre-op And Me
The Psych Appointment
This was the one appointment that I was really worried about. This lady has the ability to cancel my surgery based on her opinion of me from two sessions. Two one hour sessions. So I had the first session Monday and it was ok. I left feeling like I had told her way too much and maybe I should have stuck to the original plan of everything's good, I have no issues but hey, who am I kidding. I wouldn't be in this position if I didn't have some food-related problems. I found it really difficult to keep talking while she scribbled down notes based on my answers. It was a weird experience and I'm not looking forward to my final (hopefully!) appointment on Friday. Fingers crossed she gives me the ok.
The Dietician
Now this appointment was one I have been really looking forward to. I was thinking it would be about recipes and food plans...boy was I wrong!! It was fantastic but in a bringing me down-to-earth kind of way. Really, for the first couple of weeks I'm not going to need recipes. For the first couple of weeks (up until the next dietician appointment about 2 weeks post-op) I am going to have absolutely no need for recipes as I'm not going to be able to eat food! The first 3 days post-op I'll be concentrating on getting down at least a litre a day of clear fluids in 30ml doses. After day 3 I'll move on to nourishing fluids in 30ml doses gradually increasing over the next 3 weeks. Debra (the dietician) spoke about the need to supplement with protein powder to aid recovery and to keep me healthy post-op. So the appointment mainly dealt with the liquid stage and explaining a bit about how little I will be able to eat. I had read a lot about this on the forums and in researching the op but until it was put in front of me I don't think I had completely grasped how little it really is. I have to say it really made me get the seriousness of the op and of not overeating (especially in the early stages for fear of stretching the staple line and causing a leak). I also found out that the blood test I had done revealed that my body is in the early stages of insulin resistance and that if I continue like I am I will end up with Diabetes. Any niggling doubts I had went out the window...I am doing this to be healthy. I'm probably more nervous now but excited as well. Deb explained that around 80-90% of their patients are losing 100% of their excess body weight. I can't wait to be one of those!
Pre-Admission Appointment
Today was my pre-admission appointment at The Mount and it went well. BP normal, temp normal, my only worry is that everyone in the house has come down with a cold. I'm popping vitamin C tablets like candy in the hopes that I can avoid this one and not have to postpone surgery. So far so good! Pre-admission was pretty standard. The girl was lovely and reassured me that the pain will be manageable, measure me up for TEDS, gave me the body wash to use the night before and the morning of the op and sent me off. While in the waiting room I noticed a large guy wearing TEDS sipping on V8 juice who I'm assuming has had the operation too. If he had he looked really well which is reassuring.
Me
I'm doing really well. A little nervous, a little worried but nothing too bad. I have my final psych appointment to go and I'm waiting on the Anethetist (sp?) to get back to me with his appointment date but other than that it's just waiting. 9 more sleeps!
This was the one appointment that I was really worried about. This lady has the ability to cancel my surgery based on her opinion of me from two sessions. Two one hour sessions. So I had the first session Monday and it was ok. I left feeling like I had told her way too much and maybe I should have stuck to the original plan of everything's good, I have no issues but hey, who am I kidding. I wouldn't be in this position if I didn't have some food-related problems. I found it really difficult to keep talking while she scribbled down notes based on my answers. It was a weird experience and I'm not looking forward to my final (hopefully!) appointment on Friday. Fingers crossed she gives me the ok.
The Dietician
Now this appointment was one I have been really looking forward to. I was thinking it would be about recipes and food plans...boy was I wrong!! It was fantastic but in a bringing me down-to-earth kind of way. Really, for the first couple of weeks I'm not going to need recipes. For the first couple of weeks (up until the next dietician appointment about 2 weeks post-op) I am going to have absolutely no need for recipes as I'm not going to be able to eat food! The first 3 days post-op I'll be concentrating on getting down at least a litre a day of clear fluids in 30ml doses. After day 3 I'll move on to nourishing fluids in 30ml doses gradually increasing over the next 3 weeks. Debra (the dietician) spoke about the need to supplement with protein powder to aid recovery and to keep me healthy post-op. So the appointment mainly dealt with the liquid stage and explaining a bit about how little I will be able to eat. I had read a lot about this on the forums and in researching the op but until it was put in front of me I don't think I had completely grasped how little it really is. I have to say it really made me get the seriousness of the op and of not overeating (especially in the early stages for fear of stretching the staple line and causing a leak). I also found out that the blood test I had done revealed that my body is in the early stages of insulin resistance and that if I continue like I am I will end up with Diabetes. Any niggling doubts I had went out the window...I am doing this to be healthy. I'm probably more nervous now but excited as well. Deb explained that around 80-90% of their patients are losing 100% of their excess body weight. I can't wait to be one of those!
Pre-Admission Appointment
Today was my pre-admission appointment at The Mount and it went well. BP normal, temp normal, my only worry is that everyone in the house has come down with a cold. I'm popping vitamin C tablets like candy in the hopes that I can avoid this one and not have to postpone surgery. So far so good! Pre-admission was pretty standard. The girl was lovely and reassured me that the pain will be manageable, measure me up for TEDS, gave me the body wash to use the night before and the morning of the op and sent me off. While in the waiting room I noticed a large guy wearing TEDS sipping on V8 juice who I'm assuming has had the operation too. If he had he looked really well which is reassuring.
Me
I'm doing really well. A little nervous, a little worried but nothing too bad. I have my final psych appointment to go and I'm waiting on the Anethetist (sp?) to get back to me with his appointment date but other than that it's just waiting. 9 more sleeps!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
And the cat's out of the bag
So today ended with me having told all of my family, including inlaws, what I am going to do. The response was extremely supportive which I am so thankful for. My Mum is still struggling with it all though. She makes these occasional comments which suggest to me that she thinks what I am doing is something to be ashamed of. It kinda hurts hearing her say these things but I know that I'm doing the right thing for me so I've just got to grow a thicker skin, build a bridge...
I think I'm going through the phenomenon known as the "food funeral" (according to the sleever's forum). Madly eating the foods that I won't be able to eat after the Op which is just plain crazy. This lack of control makes me realise how I've gotten to this place and why I really need to change this pathetic behaviour. I'm hoping the dieticians appointment is going to help me plan out my meals and get a few extra kg's off before surgery. At least this time they are kilo's that won't be coming back.
Till tomorrow :)
I think I'm going through the phenomenon known as the "food funeral" (according to the sleever's forum). Madly eating the foods that I won't be able to eat after the Op which is just plain crazy. This lack of control makes me realise how I've gotten to this place and why I really need to change this pathetic behaviour. I'm hoping the dieticians appointment is going to help me plan out my meals and get a few extra kg's off before surgery. At least this time they are kilo's that won't be coming back.
Till tomorrow :)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
My first blog, a big decision, and telling my family
This week has been a monumental week for me. I had my first appointment with my surgeon, I got the date of my surgery, and I told my immediate family what I am planning on doing (by far the toughest thing I've had to tell my Mum).
8th February 2010 The Surgeon
After much research I've decided to go with Dr Padovan. He's a surgeon who has no cases of leaks (for those who are yet to look into the complications of sleeve surgery this is the main risk. A leak along the staple line can result in months in hospital) and he has a fantastic reputation. So I arrive at Waikiki Private Hospital for my 3 o'clock appointment a bundle of nerves. Millions of questions are running through my head, "what if he says no?", "have I really given dieting a good enough shot?", "will I be one of the 10% who don't lose weight and won't change my crap eating habits?"....I think you get the picture. Anyway, I'm sitting in the waiting room listening to my heart pounding away absently watching Hi-5 on the little LCD TV (I had to laugh at this...I was so stressed and there they are singing away with huge smiles on their faces) while I wait to see the doctor.
I'm called up to the reception desk to hand over my referral and form listing my medical history, and I mentioned to the receptionist how nervous I was. "Don't worry", she said "I had lapband surgery and have now lost 60kgs. It's changed my life." I was dumfounded. This gorgeous blonde, very slim girl who looks like she's never had a weight problem in her life has been in the same position I am now. I started to feel much better. The nurse comes in, calls my name and asks me to follow her. "I need to get your height, weight and BP", she says. She directs me to these massive scales, almost like the ones you see at the vets, and takes my weight. 98.7kgs. I want the ground to open up and swallow me whole I'm so embarassed. Oh well, that's why I'm here. BP is normal and height a very short 154cms...have I really shrunk?!?
Back to the waiting room. Now we're watching Alive and Cooking. Watching the guy throw slabs of butter into a frypan was hilarious considering where I am sitting. Then it's time to see the doctor. Dr Padovan has a very french accent (I think he's french-canadian but I might be wrong). He starts to explain lap-banding to me until I interupt and ask about the sleeve. He explains the surgery, the risks, the recovery thoroughly and agrees that for someone who travels a fair bit it is a good option. I tell him I'm decided and to book me in ASAP. The 4th of March he says....oh great I say, it'll be just after we get back from Bali in April, he looks at me strangely, March he says again....OMG! It's only 3 weeks away!! I'm inwardly doing backflips while he tells me that I'll need to see a Psychiatrist and that she'll have to clear me before the surgery will go ahead but I'm not really paying attention now....the 4th March!! Yipeee!
So by this stage I've settled down a little and I'm signing consent forms and being handed a information package about blood tests and appointments I need to book. I sign a form consenting to paying the fee, $5400 for the surgery of which I'll get back $1173.35 from HIF after the surgery. Not bad considering the money I've wasted on fad diets over the years. I'm elated, this is the beginning of my new life.
My Family
I found it really tough to tell my husband C what I was planing on doing. He's never had a weight problem or food issues so he just doesn't understand why I won't just eat healthier and exercise more. It's simple in his mind. Don't get me wrong though, he is very supportive, just a little confused about the whole thing. So I sat him down and explained why I want to do this, before the appointment with the surgeon, and he told me that the decision is mine and he'll support me no matter what. So no problems here.
Telling my Mum was even harder. Recently I broached the subject with her and was a little shocked at her reaction. I know that she's my Mum and worries about me, but she was so vehemently against the surgery that I was taken back a little. Feeling like a little kid I agreed that I should just exercise more, "look at your sister, she battles her weight as well but she goes to the gym for hours a day". May I also say my sister doesn't have 3 young children either. My Mum knows this as well. She is well meaning, I know that, but she's watched me struggle with my weight most my life, try every fad diet out there and fail, so why doesn't she get what I need to do? So the conversation ends with me agreeing to try harder.
Fast forward to yesterday and I call my Mum. I'd spent the day working out what I was going to say and how I was going to tell her. C and I had taken the kids over the evening of the doc's appointment because I wanted to tell her in person but the opportunity never presented itself and I went home feeling deflated. I talk to my Mum about everything, I needed to tell her about this. So we start talking about the kids, about my day, and then I just blurt out "I'm booked in to have surgery". She was very quiet so I just started talking about why I need to do this, why it will change my life and at the end of it all she says "I understand". I felt like crying. She understands...a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
The Appointments
So the 9/02 was all about appointments. I booked my pre-admission appointment at The Mount hospital, the Psych appointment (the first of two that are required), the Anethetist (sp?) Dr Baimbridge who also requires an appointment and the dietician's appointment. This, coupled with the many after school activities the kids have, is going to make the next couple of weeks very busy to say the least!
So now you are up to date with where I'm at. This weekend I'm going to be telling the rest of my immediate family which I'm a little nervous about so I'll keep you updated on how that goes. I'm going to use this blog to document all the highs and lows (hopefully not too many of those!) and everything I can remember about the surgery both pre-op and post-op. Hopefully this will help others that find themselves in the same position I am. Till tomorrow...
8th February 2010 The Surgeon
After much research I've decided to go with Dr Padovan. He's a surgeon who has no cases of leaks (for those who are yet to look into the complications of sleeve surgery this is the main risk. A leak along the staple line can result in months in hospital) and he has a fantastic reputation. So I arrive at Waikiki Private Hospital for my 3 o'clock appointment a bundle of nerves. Millions of questions are running through my head, "what if he says no?", "have I really given dieting a good enough shot?", "will I be one of the 10% who don't lose weight and won't change my crap eating habits?"....I think you get the picture. Anyway, I'm sitting in the waiting room listening to my heart pounding away absently watching Hi-5 on the little LCD TV (I had to laugh at this...I was so stressed and there they are singing away with huge smiles on their faces) while I wait to see the doctor.
I'm called up to the reception desk to hand over my referral and form listing my medical history, and I mentioned to the receptionist how nervous I was. "Don't worry", she said "I had lapband surgery and have now lost 60kgs. It's changed my life." I was dumfounded. This gorgeous blonde, very slim girl who looks like she's never had a weight problem in her life has been in the same position I am now. I started to feel much better. The nurse comes in, calls my name and asks me to follow her. "I need to get your height, weight and BP", she says. She directs me to these massive scales, almost like the ones you see at the vets, and takes my weight. 98.7kgs. I want the ground to open up and swallow me whole I'm so embarassed. Oh well, that's why I'm here. BP is normal and height a very short 154cms...have I really shrunk?!?
Back to the waiting room. Now we're watching Alive and Cooking. Watching the guy throw slabs of butter into a frypan was hilarious considering where I am sitting. Then it's time to see the doctor. Dr Padovan has a very french accent (I think he's french-canadian but I might be wrong). He starts to explain lap-banding to me until I interupt and ask about the sleeve. He explains the surgery, the risks, the recovery thoroughly and agrees that for someone who travels a fair bit it is a good option. I tell him I'm decided and to book me in ASAP. The 4th of March he says....oh great I say, it'll be just after we get back from Bali in April, he looks at me strangely, March he says again....OMG! It's only 3 weeks away!! I'm inwardly doing backflips while he tells me that I'll need to see a Psychiatrist and that she'll have to clear me before the surgery will go ahead but I'm not really paying attention now....the 4th March!! Yipeee!
So by this stage I've settled down a little and I'm signing consent forms and being handed a information package about blood tests and appointments I need to book. I sign a form consenting to paying the fee, $5400 for the surgery of which I'll get back $1173.35 from HIF after the surgery. Not bad considering the money I've wasted on fad diets over the years. I'm elated, this is the beginning of my new life.
My Family
I found it really tough to tell my husband C what I was planing on doing. He's never had a weight problem or food issues so he just doesn't understand why I won't just eat healthier and exercise more. It's simple in his mind. Don't get me wrong though, he is very supportive, just a little confused about the whole thing. So I sat him down and explained why I want to do this, before the appointment with the surgeon, and he told me that the decision is mine and he'll support me no matter what. So no problems here.
Telling my Mum was even harder. Recently I broached the subject with her and was a little shocked at her reaction. I know that she's my Mum and worries about me, but she was so vehemently against the surgery that I was taken back a little. Feeling like a little kid I agreed that I should just exercise more, "look at your sister, she battles her weight as well but she goes to the gym for hours a day". May I also say my sister doesn't have 3 young children either. My Mum knows this as well. She is well meaning, I know that, but she's watched me struggle with my weight most my life, try every fad diet out there and fail, so why doesn't she get what I need to do? So the conversation ends with me agreeing to try harder.
Fast forward to yesterday and I call my Mum. I'd spent the day working out what I was going to say and how I was going to tell her. C and I had taken the kids over the evening of the doc's appointment because I wanted to tell her in person but the opportunity never presented itself and I went home feeling deflated. I talk to my Mum about everything, I needed to tell her about this. So we start talking about the kids, about my day, and then I just blurt out "I'm booked in to have surgery". She was very quiet so I just started talking about why I need to do this, why it will change my life and at the end of it all she says "I understand". I felt like crying. She understands...a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
The Appointments
So the 9/02 was all about appointments. I booked my pre-admission appointment at The Mount hospital, the Psych appointment (the first of two that are required), the Anethetist (sp?) Dr Baimbridge who also requires an appointment and the dietician's appointment. This, coupled with the many after school activities the kids have, is going to make the next couple of weeks very busy to say the least!
So now you are up to date with where I'm at. This weekend I'm going to be telling the rest of my immediate family which I'm a little nervous about so I'll keep you updated on how that goes. I'm going to use this blog to document all the highs and lows (hopefully not too many of those!) and everything I can remember about the surgery both pre-op and post-op. Hopefully this will help others that find themselves in the same position I am. Till tomorrow...
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