Would love to connect with any kiwis who have or are going to begin this journey!
Same! Did you get my message earlier on the groups thing? I've just joined this site myself. I'm in Hamilton. Kia ora!
HI There
I haven't been on this site for ages I live in Auckland, and was sleeved at Easter time last year.... I'm now at my goal weight, such an amazing experience and for me totally problem free, happy to answer any questions you have. My surgeon was amazing his name is Habib Raman.
Tena koe Skibabe! Sorry, I haven't quite figured out how to reply in all forums yet! It's great to connect with you, I'm expecting surgery within the next week - get a date tomorrow hopefully. It's both exciting and scary, especially because alot of the great support I've found on here so far, has been from the other side of the world and I'm not even sure we have some of the recommended products in our shops!
What part of the journey are you at? I had psych appointment earlier this week, and have appointments with both the excersise and nutrition consultants tomorrow and then after that I see the surgeon again and start Optifast.
Keep in touch
Kia ora Natalie G
Wow - how terrific to be at your goal weight - I am so excited to one day be able to say the same thing!!! Has it been a hard year? Had you found a particular brand of protein shake in NZ that tastes ok?
The forums talk alot about Gas X strips? - do we have an equivalent in NZ? What was your diet like in early days / best food to puree? What are you eating now to continue losing in the long term?
Sorry - so many questions in my mind!!! Thanks for your help xo
Wow, exciting! I'm waiting for my appointments, happening on 5th March. Could've got in this month with appointments spread over two days, but i couldn't get a babysitter for those times (got a 4 year old in crèche and a littler one at home). So I have to wait :-( really hope I get a sleeve, my surgeon prefers bypass but sleeves sound great to me! So is Optifast like protein shakes? I don't know why we can't have normal food pre-op but I will ask!
Hi Natalie G, that is awesome! I can only dream at the moment :-) how do you find social occasions, eating out, with family, etc? Can you eat what you like, just less? Do you indulge at all? (I'm trying to wean myself off everything now, like wine and chocolate, before my appointments, but it would be good to know what life might be like in the future) :-)
Hey did you guys get any help with the cost of the op? Mine will be around $20,000 so if I can get any money off that, I will try to!
Cool! Any idea which policy?
I just looked into Southern Cross and it looks like I have to be a member for at least 3 years to get that $7500 so looks like I'll just have to be poor for a while after :-) I won't be spending so much on food after the op, that's for sure!
OMG so have not figured out this replying thing... Here goes again just lost my last reply!!! Finally getting 5 mins to look at website after 6 weeks of school holidays!! Prior to my surgery I went on OPTI-FAST, fav favour was chocolate! Cheapest place to buy was website called Pharmacy Direct. After Surgery I was on liquids for 2-3 days then straight onto pureed foods, some surgeons different though and keep you on shakes after surgery for a couple of weeks. I am now happy with my weight and infact need to make another appointment to find out how to stop loosing!! NEVER thought I'ld be saying that!!! I eat anything I like at the moment, just smaller quantities than before, only thing I stay away from is fizzy drinks because I've heard that they can stretch out your stomach, not sure if true but will clear it up with Nutritionist next time I see her. Eating out is fine, I just order an entrée or pick off everyone elses... or order main and take home 3/4 as a doggy bag. Only downer is you need to constantly tell waiter that you LIKE the food but just can't eat much of it!! I was so much more active this summer I jumped off a jetty, went on a banana boat, wore togs to beach and felt fantastic, its been an awesome experience for me. If you want to contact me my email is nataliesam2001@yahoo.co.nz. Cheers Natalie
That is an awesome outcome Natalie - it still sounds too good to be true to me!! My surgery date is set for 4 March. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions closer to then and throughout the journey. Did you have much hair loss and what helped? Any equivalent to GasX here in NZ or did you not need that after op?
Hi all. I'm in N.Z too My surgery is on 5th March. Its nearly here and I'm feeling nervous but super excited. Any of you from Auckland?
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