My First Post!

Welcome to my first post!   I wanted to write a blog - but wasn't sure what to write about!   I know that probably no one will be reading it but me - but I'm still a little cautious about what to share (just in case!)

But anyway - here goes.

Today is Friday 9 August 2013.  In 10 days I will be going into hospital and undergoing a vertical sleeve gastrectomy - or gastric sleeve - operation.   I am really excited about this, but also a little nervous.  

I have been overweight since the late 1980s.   I wasn't an overweight child, but when I hit about 21 things changed.   I met my (now) husband and he was a qualified chef - so I was introduced to really yummy food!  I don't blame him - he didn't force me to eat - but being happy and eating out a lot just packed the weight on.   Then after we were married and our first child came along, I got bigger and bigger. 

In 2003 I decided that I had had enough.  I had over the years tried various diets, all of which worked a little, but nothing lasted.   Then I heard about gastric banding or lap banding.  I found a doctor and had the operation.   I went from 135kg to 95kg.  I was thrilled.  But then problems set in - the band is adjustable and every time I had the band tightened I would get terrible reflux.  So I would have to have it loosened - of course that meant I was able to eat more, so the weight started creeping back up.   Eventually it was discovered that my band had slipped - which probably explained the reflux.  So I had it removed and replaced.   But even then the reflux was still an issue and I couldn't have the band as tight as was needed to control my appetite.    So in March this year my second band was removed.   I then had to wait until now to have the sleeve operation.

Unlike the band, the sleeve is permanent and not adjustable.   A lot of people who were band patients have had the same issues as I did and have had the sleeve.   I know that it won't be easy - but the results other people have had are every encouraging and I am hopeful that I will also be a success story.

My 10 day out pre-op statistics are:

Weight: 122kg (approximately - our bathroom scales are not the most accurate!)
Height: 168cm

I am taking other measurements too (bust, waist, hips, etc) but I am not going to publish them here!

ANYWAY.... fingers crossed as I start this journey....

This is an awful photo - but is probably the most recent - I tend to hide when cameras are around!