esp_is_me
My name is Lisa and I'm 42. I live in Western Australia.
I have been big all of my life but in the last 5 years my size/weight has really got out of hand. About 10-11 years back I was able to get my weight down to about 120kg/264lbs through diet and exercise but within 6 months the weight had started taking hold again.
In August 2006 I went to my doctor for my 12 weekly appointment (something I dreaded) and he bit the bullet and suggested that I ring a Doc Gordan Padovan who was a bariatric surgeon who did lap-bands. I had been tossing around with the idea of surgery and this was the push I needed.
I made my appointment and got the shock of my life when his scales said that I weighed a staggering 228kg/503lbs! I knew I was HUGE but that HUGE!!!! It was a big shock and to be honest once I knew the real amount I was staggered that I was still 'sort of' functioning as a member of society...if you call turning up to school (I'm a teacher) each day...struggling to my classroom, huffing and puffing back to my car again and crashing (literally) into bed every afternoon. I very rarelly went anywhere else and Gary (my partner of 5 years) did any shopping etc that was required.
Doc Padovan, his anaesthetist Doc Swann and his team were amazing and all along I was treated with the upmost respect and dignity...actually when I look back I was actually my own worst enemy and I made many situations worse than they were...a mucked up 'obese' mind is a terrible thing to live with.
Before my operation I was diagnosed with sleep apnea (yet another thing I was in denial about!) I hated my cpap machine but hey I LOVED the sleep I was getting!
On Thursday 30th Nov 2006 I had my VSG operation. I went straight to ICU after the op and apart from a traumatic experience trying to do a swallow test on the Friday (the xray table only catered up to 125kg/ 275lbs!!) my stay was far, far less traumatic than I expected.
I have certainly had my up's and lots and lots of down's over the past 6 months but at 31 weeks out of surgery I have lost 60kg/132lbs. I now weigh 168kg/371lbs...BMI 62 down from 85!! I haven't really set myself a 'goal' weight at this stage but my ticker below is set for 120kg/264lbs because I know that I have reached that weight before. Anything beyond that will be a very pleasant bonus!!
My surgeon and own doctor are very happy with me and my Mum is over the moon as my weight was a very big worry to her and has ALWAYS been an issue between us. Unfortunately my Dad passed away just under 2 years ago but I know that he would be sooo proud of my courage and achievements.
WLS is a HUGE decision for anyone but obviously the bigger you are to start with the bigger the risks and the ability to find a surgeon and anaesthetist who are prepared to take them with you. I will be forever grateful that I found my special WLS angels and I will be forever in their debt as they have given me my life back!
If you want to know more about my WLS journey or just want to say 'Hi' then I'd love to hear from you. Whatever you decide to do with your weightloss journey in the future...take care, be strong and best wishes today and always.
~~~~~~~ 12 Months Down ~~~~~~~
I am now just over 12 months out from my VSG. I was 300grams off loosing 75kg (164.4lbs) in one year...BUT I am soooo pleased with myself. I weigh 153.3kg (337.3lbs) at 12 months out exactly. It has been a tough journey in many, many ways however it was a journey that I NEEDED to take as I honestly do not think I would be alive today as my life and weight were so out of control that death was the only conclusion...I honestly believe this.
Please do not put your decision to have WLS off for too long as your quality of life is way to important for hesitation.
Feel free to get in touch if you want to chat....take care and stay safe and BE STRONG xox
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1 year and 32 weeks down!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As of 11th July 2008 I weigh 135.5kg a loss of 92.5kg! (203lbs)
I saw my wonderful surgeon yesterday and we discussed my reconstructive surgery that lies ahead. Doc Padovan has always promised that he will remove my HUGE spare tyre that is making me feel a bit down as from the waist up I look ok but that middle section from waist to knees is just YUKKK!! :(
At the end of the school year (here in Aussie) which is mid Dec I will go in and have my tummy done and the excess skin removed from my inner thighs. The thighs are a real concern for me I'm afraid. When I walk they slap together, they are VERY unsightly and the itchiness ect is driving me mad.Also when my tummy is removed I will be able to see them WITH NO EFFORT at all :(
Basically my thighs will be done like an arm lift so I will have a scar on each leg but I DONT CARE! The scarring isn't my issue it is purely comfort and health resons why I want all my excess skin removed AND it finishes the HUGE job I undertook nearly 2 years ago. By the time my reconstruction is done I hope to be down to 128-130kg a loss of very close to 100kg (220lbs) which ALWAYS felt like a pipe-dream for me!
For many of you who read this you may not be able to relate as the end of my journey is nearing but the weight I am NOW is where YOU are starting in many cases. The weight loss may be out of your imagination and scope but my life with a sleeve is VERY much the same so PLEASE feel free to ask me things.
I wish you all the best in your personal weightloss journey and I promise I will photo the reconstructive surgery in all its gorey detail and post them here in the new year, after I give myself the VERY BEST Christmas present I can!!
