comgrats on getting your date dark .

Hi 2timemumma,

I GOT A DATE! 23 March! So all that eligibility anxiety was for nothing. Mr France had no doubts about it!

Good luck!

Dark

HI 2timemumma

i to have a chocolate addiction i hardly go a day with out it so i to need to try to give this addiction up very proud of you 12 days out my weight loss plateau and has been for a few months i know my biggest problems is the chocolate

Noone asked or worried about me and chocolate but i was done publicly so maybe they justt didnt care to much dont know for sure

Keep up the good work and hopefully your surgery will be soon good luck

cheers Sue

2ndtimemummua.

I was 96k banded (6years ago) with High blood pressure, high chol and pre diabetes. My surgeon thought I was and ideal canditate. Band didn't work so having the sleeve now.(long story) Same problems still, so praying surgery will work out this time.
I think if you are genuinely committed to a better diet and lifestyle, the few times you slip up wont have as much damage overall. I have a new gp now and he is so supportive and believes the sleeve with make a bid difference to my health.
I also know without help early it was only a matter of time as my scales only had one way stuck on them - up
Motivation from family and friends helps , you can do it and don't give up the fight!

Hi Dark. My BMI was only 37 when I had the surgery - I hope the doctor doesn't take that into account for you.

Hi 2ndtimemumma,

Had one appointment with one surgeon, where he said he thought I was a candidate for "something," but I haven't had the comprehensive work-up yet.

Having another appointment with another surgeon (my preferred choice) tomorrow. Will update you after that.

I do have a history of successfully losing weight, but failing to keep it off, and I can (generally) resist the sweet stuff. However, I do, at present, graze on wholemeal bread, because it's cheap and filling. I hope that will change when I don't need quite so much filling.

The obstacles I foresee are:

-lowish BMI for this (38.8)

-only "lower risk" co-morbidities so far evident (mobility already a problem, but strong family history of diabetes hasn't yet manifested in me)

-the fact that the bipolar meds may be contributing to weight gain. Because the bipolar meds may improve in the future, a surgical fix would not be appropriate if it were only the bipolar meds that were causing the weight gain. My shrink (whom I otherwise love) has suddenly come all over coy now that I'm really intending to go through with WLS, and he's talking about changing my meds to see if this makes a difference to weight gain. I'm not sure whether he intends to withhold support for the surgery until after we've tinkered with the meds or not. The timing here is not ideal. He developed scruples YESTERDAY (literally). Better timing would have been a year ago when I first raised the issue and before I started making appointments with surgeons, but I don't think he's been taking it seriously until surgery came on the agenda.

The other worrying thing is that almost all the available bipolar meds cause weight gain. The meds I'm on are known to cause weight gain, but they're the best avaialble: the other meds have really horrendous side-effects, including renal failure. There are some not yet on the PBS that may cause weight gain in fewer people, but he's not willing to start me on them yet... although he wants to later. Whether "later" means before or after surgery, or instead of surgery, is not something he's expressing...

My shrink hasn't seen me at previous high weights: he first met me when I was at a low weight, and he's seen me gain the latest 30 kilos, but I don't think he really believes that I was yo yoing dramatically for years before I was ever diagnosed or treated for bipolar. This means I'm a bit less sure of his support for the surgery than I was, and without his support the surgeon may not go ahead. Or there may be along delay while we trial other bipolar meds. I'm collecting GP records and photographic evidence of previous weight swings to try to demonstrate to both surgeon and shrink that this has been a life-long problem, independent of bipolar meds.

Cross your fingers for me that these two guys can sort it out between them. I'll cross my fingers for you.

Best,

Dark

Ok, so I thought it was all gonna be good. Dr Hamdorf didn't say no at the first appointment, but...
The dietician was not very positive. Because I am ever so slightly addicted to chocolate. Chocolate and ice cream apparantly just flow straight through the sleeve and therefore it is possible to not lose any weight. Therefore not worth the risk. Don't think I will get a very good recommendation (to the surgeon) from her.

She was skinny as a stick too, totally put me off being open with her, because I can hardly imagine she has EVER had to worry about her weight. Seriously, paper thin...

Then I saw the physician and she wasn't too keen either. BMI not high enough, heart murmur, chocolate addiction etc etc etc

She sent me for heart tests which have all shown that my heart murmur is innocent enough. Just a noisy heart apparantly.

So I decided if I am to have this op I am gonna have to kick my chocolate addiction first. So today is day 12 of my sugar abstinence. Decided to go the whole way - so no lollies, cake, chocolate, ice cream, pastries, biscuits etc. I didn't even have a piece of my own birthday cake. I have never done this before so I am incredibly proud of myself (blush) but I needed to prove that my weight sticks like glue no matter what.

So even after the 12 days, my weight is still exactly the same. Hasn't budged at all.

Have the appointment next week with the psychologist and then back to Dr Hamdorf in a fortnight for the decision.

From what I have gathered so far from my appointments, the ideal candidate for this operation is someone who has been able to lose a lot of weight from dieting, but who has not been able to keep it off because their hunger causes them to overeat at mealtimes. Grazers and bingers are not considered to be good candidates as the outcome may not be as favourable (apparantly).

Wish I had known this before I went so I hope this info helps someone else on the same journey.

Darkstar have you had your appointment yet?

Hi Gail,

Brilliance and people skills are rarely combined in a surgeon. Roll on the appointment!

Then I am a lot like you because when I was 115 nobody believed it. I am now 78 and people think that I have reached goal which really cracks me up because I have got nearly 20 to go.
I went to see Michael today and his waiting list has come back down to 3 months and believe me he will take you on.
I went through it exactly like you and if your BMI is over what it should be he has no qualms what so ever.
My knees and pretty much all my other bits are so grateful to me for this surgery, no wonder it is a cheery photo LOL

And in case you hadn't guessed I think that Michael is a brilliant man and on top of that he is a really nice bloke as well, when I saw him today we just chat about everything. I wound up paying about $2000 on top of my private health and there is no charge for follow ups with him don't know about the others.

Sorry I tend to go on a bit !!!
Hugs Gail

And thanks to Libby for re-directing my first post. I'll just look up the get-together now.

Great cheery photo, Tempest.

The other Adelaide surgeons sound good, too, but you and a couple of other posters pretty well decided me on Michael France (see... I have been lurking), so now I'm just working my "pitch" to get him to take me on. Of course, I'll shop around a bit...



PS My username is Darkstar because I sometimes manage to look smaller than my rather substantial weight (not that I look small... but smaller than 103kg). A gift in some ways, but my knees know the truth and remind me of it frequently. You're not kidding about quality of life!

Hi Darkstar,
You sound like me. I had my first consult at 103.5 but at surgery was 99 kilos.
Michael will do it if you have problems with knees etc because it improves the quality of life.
Mind you I still needed to lose a lot of weight because I am only 5 foot 1. I think that it is all about how you feel and I know that I had no intention of having a lap band and am so eternally grateful for the Sleeve.

Good luck and why not come to the get together and chat to us in person if it isn't too far out of the way for you.

Cheers Gail

Thanks for the big hug, Libby!

Your story's been helping me considerably in deciding the "band or sleeve" question. It's not fair that you've had a rotten time, but you're an inspiration in your stick-to-it-iv-ness. I'm just hoping that's not in the future for my "bandit" relative!

Hi Darkstar,

Yep your right, this is a great site full of lots of info and great people.

We are having a meet up in February. Check out the Sleevers Get Togethers page and put your name down if your interested.

I hope your wait goes quickly for you.

Hello all, great community here. I've been lurking for a little while but this is my first post.

I'm loving the reassuring words from people who've been sleeved without meeting the rather forbidding list of criteria. As a newbie, I'm trying not to get too excited until I get confirmation about my elibility. My first appointment with the surgeon is in May 2010.

My BMI is a shade under 40 (163cm x 103 kg). I have other health issues, including dodgy feet and knees from carrying extra weight around, but they're not life-threatening (no high blood pressure etc).

What I want to prevent is Type 2 diabetes; my Dad and my maternal Grandmother both developed it young, and died relatively young of diabetic complications. That's the future I want to avoid. What do you reckon? Is that a case?



PS I don't fancy the band: a relative's had that and I don't like what I've observed. I'm going straight for the sleeve if I can persuade the surgeon to do it.

I am wondering this too. My weight is 94.5 - BMI 31.5. I booked my first appointment today. I only have to wait until 1/2.

I have been treated by a psych for binge eating disorder but after 20 x $100 consultation, I couldn't notice any difference in my eating behaviours.

I am needing this for so many reasons - to be a better wife, to be a better mum to my 2 young boys, to be a better role model, for my health, for my sanity, to lift me out of this fog of despair, to get some self respect and self esteem back, for my finances (bingeing is so expensive!!!). I could go on.

I will be devastated if the doctor turns me away..

My BMI was 32. Weight - 81kg, height - 5'4". I had no real major health issues. My surgeon didn't really even hesitate. Thank god - it's been 2 months now and I feel great. So far it's one of the best things I've ever done.
I didn't really do it for the 81kgs. I did it for the 100kgs + that I could see looming in my future and was terrified of.

Hi Cheryl
When I went to my initial meeting with lots of others, the speakers and the surgeon and his crew all spoke well about the surgery. There was only one lady there who had had the sleeve. The one thing, tho that the surgeon stated quite plainly was that no matter what your bmi, it's better to keep your weight under control, and the sooner the better. The lady he'd sleeved was under 100kg when done.
I wasn't sure at the time if it was just a promo for the op, but after doing an awful lot of reading, I've decided he's right.
My hint would be to do as much reading on as many websites or books etc as you can to be as informed as you can before going back to the doctor. That way you can be more prepared and more ready with persuasion of you own!!
Good luck!

My personal opinion is not to have the lap band.... you will have read on here that there are many people who have had the lap band removed and then the sleeve done. Doctor/Surgeon's do prefer to do the lapband on "younger" people but if you are interested in the sleeve I would go back to your Doctor/Surgeon to discuss it again. If you don't get the response you like, see another surgeon..... it is your body....
good luck and let us know how you go!

Thank you all for your supportive responses , I have been to see one surgeon and they are sure that iwill be eligible however that is for the lap band and i have researched this and i dont think its for me. I get the feeling that this is their preferred procedure and i cant say why but i think it has to do with reduced risk , what do you guys think ,did you encounter the same response?

Cheers Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

Welcome to the forum

Having a lower bmi doesnt mean that you wont be eligible for surgery, particularly if you have health problems associated with your weight.
Your best bet would be to get a referral from your gp and go meet with the surgeon and see what they have to say.

xx
Tamara

Cheryl,
The only way to know for sure is to do what Libby has suggested...
Go to your GP and get a referral...

All the best
Sharon

Hi Cheryl,

I think the only way to really know is to get a referral from your GP to see a surgeon.

What is your height and healthy weight range?

There have been others on here that were sleeved at 99 and under.

Hi there everyone , this is my first post , can anyone assist me i dont know if i will be eligible for surgery as my weight is 99 kgs and i think the bmi that coresponds with this is to low , anyway let me know what you all think,
Cheers Cheryl