An Aussie Girls GCS Story

[LizK]

Welcome to my new short term thread about my GCS here in Australia

On 28 November 2018 I will be admitted to Masada Hospital for my GCS that day. The preliminary information I have is that I am due for surgery in the afternoon.

This new thread of mine is not really a replacement for my old thread "On being Liz" but simply a  new more focused thread specifically to provide information for Aussie girls in regards to this kind of surgery in Australia. When I went looking for information and to see what my options were I discovered a real lack of any detailed kind of information. By its very nature GCS is not the kind of surgery that you expect to see pictures of plastered all over the Internet, whilst there are plenty of postop GCS pictures available there none that I could find of surgery completed by Dr Ives there are any general information available about him.

One of the first topics I'm going to cover is the financial preparation required to the surgery. This will include a discussion on costs both at the time and the preparation. I will go over the procedure for obtaining funds via your superannuation although there is a thread to specifically deal with this there are a number of pitfalls of which I will try and give you the heads up.

I will be addressing other topics more specifically my appointment with Dr Ives. What information I was provided with, an idea of costs I was provided with and my general impressions of Dr Ives.

I will include any preparations that I am doing such as laser treatment, fitness regime, weight loss and anything else that I see as relevant to this part of the journey.

I hope this thread will be of some use to any of the Aussie girls who read it or any of the girls who read it for that matter.

Update

A quick update to go on with...Had my meeting with my brother and I came away with the feeling he had been quite dishonest and disingenuous...so I have decided that no matter what he does I will not be responding to him any further...maybe in 10 years or maybe never. I need some time...

I have continued back into my walking after my pump replacement and have been averaging 7 ks per day although tomorrow will be out unless I wake up feeling remarkably well. My hip continues to be an issue and each time I try and push to the next level I get a reminder I should be grateful I can get my hip to still function. If I injured it now that would be a real hassle.

I had noticed over the last 4-6 weeks a changes in my skin, more hair on my face, mood changes and generally not feeling myself. I saw Dr Kent and she took some bloods...if this "lowish" reading I had earlier is repeated  and not an anomaly then she will most likely double my Oestrogen...will have to wait and see but what ever we need to do to address these symptoms she will do. A really good outcome from my point of view. She has also offered to give me my first post op check up 4 weeks after I get home from Melbourne. So again...nice to have her genuinely caring.

This thread is now "open for business" I welcome any questions and am always happy to hear a different perspective.

Take care

Liz

PS......

81D10H27M BWCA? 

[Jessica]

Hi Liz, I believe even this girl from California will gain information from this thread.

In regards to your brother....you kinda suspected that all along.

Hugs and smiles from a California girl

[Michelle_P]

Hi, Liz!  I do like the idea of a more tightly focused thread for each of our major transition experiences, and a GCS thread on your experience, especially on the NON-medical aspects of GCS is a very interesting topic.

I know that I and others focused pretty heavily on the medical side.  That may have been foremost on our minds, but as you say, there's a whole other side to this.

Thank You!
Michelle P.

[Kendra]

here's to being Liz
an Aussie Girls GCS
share experience

prepare for great change
taking care of what matters
mind over matter

so many great goals
amazing weight loss achieved
a future well earned

Liz from down under
with surgery down under
making things all right

we do care so much
best family many have
right here at Susan's

[JudiBlueEyes]

Hi Liz!  You've got my attention and we're counting the days!

Sorry to hear about your brother.  I guess its his loss.  Que sera sera.

Judi

[Nicole70]

Hi Liz,

Thank you for starting this thread, I am very interested in what you have to say, I contacted Dr Ives yesterday and will be booking an initial consult for January.

Sorry about your brother, it's heart breaking when family members turn there backs on us. I hope time heals the wound.

Nicole

[Faith]

Hi Liz!!  I made it over here to lurk some more. Stalking = bad, lurking = good

[Jayne01]

Hi Liz,

Thank you for this thread. I will be following with great interest for you and also for myself, hopefully in the bit too distant future.

Sorry about your brother. These things are always hard when family is involved.

Your countdown is going down quickly now. Nearly less than 80D.

Looking forward to your updates.

Hugs,
Jayne

[Rayna]

Hi Liz, I'm hanging out also. Not that I actually need to know much about Aussie GCS, but I want to stay connected to you and your experiences (and what also comes from others). You are a central connector on the site 

Good luck with all your preparation.  Randy

[Northern Star Girl]

Hello Liz:
I am checking in to let you know that I made it to your new thread to follow the next phase of your journey.

This will be an exciting time for you and your followers.
I will eagerly looking for your updates as you feel so led to post them.

Hugs and well wishes.
Danielle

[LizK]

Oh wow thank you all so much for your kind words of encouragement,unfortunately I am feeling unwell but better than I was 8 hrs ago . I will make a more detailed reply hopefully in the next 24-48 hrs when things have settled down for me.

Take care
Liz

[Jayne01]

Oh wow thank you all so much for your kind words of encouragement,unfortunately I am feeling unwell but better than I was 8 hrs ago . I will make a more detailed reply hopefully in the next 24-48 hrs when things have settled down for me.

Take care
Liz

Liz, so sorry you are not feeling well. Rest up and try to have a good sleep. I hope you are feeling better in the morning.

Hugs,
Jayne

[Kendra]

Liz, hope you're feeling better.  Take two <no dosages please> and call your doctor in the morning.

[Megan.]

I'll be following this thread with interest.

First question: If they are operating on day of admission, will you have to do the pre-op 'clear you out' process at home?

X


Sent from my MI 5s using Tapatalk

[LizK]

Hi to All thankyou for the posts and the kind words of encouragement. I am feeing a bit better....what I thought was  flu bug turned out to be a flare up of my Chronic illness. Pretty straight forward, I know what the cause is and I also know what the most effective treatment is.  Usually some rest and meds will do the trick but I also had the added bonus of a visit from Cindy who regaled me with stories of a miss spent youth and beauty pageants. It was a fun way to spend a few hours.  I am feeling so much better today...not quite 100%  but pretty darn good.

In regards to your brother....you kinda suspected that all along.

Jessica that is dead right I did kind of expect that....best thing is I have closure so no matter what he does it won't really impact me like it was befoer....he made this bed he can enjoy slleeping in it.

I know that I and others focused pretty heavily on the medical side.  That may have been foremost on our minds, but as you say, there's a whole other side to this.

Thank You!
Michelle P.

There is so much info on procedures and how things will look and dilation, depth and function....but where do I stay, how do  I finance, what about when I get home how will I cope , how do I get there, who is paying for what and how much? Plus I am sure a whole heap of other that I will endeavour to share with you all.

here's to being Liz
an Aussie Girls GCS
share experience

prepare for great change
taking care of what matters
mind over matter

so many great goals
amazing weight loss achieved
a future well earned

Liz from down under
with surgery down under
making things all right

we do care so much
best family many have
right here at Susan's

Brilliant I love it, thank you Kendra for taking the time to write this poem I was touched.

Hi Liz!  You've got my attention and we're counting the days!
Sorry to hear about your brother.  I guess its his loss.  Que sera sera.

Judi

Judi I agree with you completely Que sera sera....he could have been a part of mine and my families life. He has no other relatives here in Australia, no family of his own apart from his toxic wife (whom I suspect responsible for a fair amount of the animosity) Such is life!!

Hi Liz,

Thank you for starting this thread, I am very interested in what you have to say, I contacted Dr Ives yesterday and will be booking an initial consult for January.

Sorry about your brother, it's heart breaking when family members turn there backs on us. I hope time heals the wound.

Nicole

Fantastic to hear you have your consult booked, I am sure the time will fly. You will get to experience his new rooms at Masada Hospital and probably get a tour of the facilities with is his new specialised nurse from England. Good luck

Hi Liz!!  I made it over here to lurk some more. Stalking = bad, lurking = good

Love my lurkers/stalkers  Glad to see you made it!! 

Hi Liz,

Thank you for this thread. I will be following with great interest for you and also for myself, hopefully in the bit too distant future.

Sorry about your brother. These things are always hard when family is involved.

Your countdown is going down quickly now. Nearly less than 80D.

Looking forward to your updates.

Hugs,
Jayne

I hope this thread is able to provide you with some practical help when preparing for Surgery. ...as far as countdowns go...watch this space!!

Hi Liz, I'm hanging out also. Not that I actually need to know much about Aussie GCS, but I want to stay connected to you and your experiences (and what also comes from others). You are a central connector on the site 

Good luck with all your preparation.  Randy

Thanks Randy I appreciate you dropping by. I enjoy your post and interaction and hope you will be an active participant in this thread. 

Hello Liz:
I am checking in to let you know that I made it to your new thread to follow the next phase of your journey.

This will be an exciting time for you and your followers.
I will eagerly looking for your updates as you feel so led to post them.

Hugs and well wishes.
Danielle

Thankyou Danielle I am glad you made and hope you will get something from this thread and are able to share your experience's as well.

I'll be following this thread with interest.

First question: If they are operating on day of admission, will you have to do the pre-op 'clear you out' process at home?

X


Sent from my MI 5s using Tapatalk

Hi Megan

I am due for surgery on the 28th I fly into Melbourne on the morning of the 27th and will then proceed to the hospital and Dr Ives consulting rooms. I will collect my "elixir of life" and go back to my hotel where I shall have a few hours respite before commencing the cleaning out of my system....last time I had to do this I drank the two litre mix and about 30 minutes later I went to the loo....once only!!! I can assure you despite the infrequency I was a clean as a whistle according the Dr who did the colonoscopy 


I will do a proper update since its been a few days since I last did one

Once again thank you all so much for your support.

Liz

[LizK]

Milestone Passed

First thing to report on are my two appointments from Monday. One with the Psychiatrist and one with the Psychologist.

I had been seeing the Psychiatrist since February 2016 and after 3 visits he really didn't know what to say to me anymore as we had very little to discuss.

The Psychologist I had been seeing since early 2015 and had been "discharged" from her care nearly 12 months ago.

The appointments were to do my surgery letters for November. I was surprisingly uptight about all this and spent Monday morning in a bit of self induced tail spin only to pull out of this dive into the rabbit hole at the last minute our other resident rabbit hole expert @Laurie would have been proud of me!!


I saw both these people at the same place one after the other and left the surgery with the letter from my Psych recommending the surgery for me. The second letter I will have in the next day or so the Psychologist is just finishing the formatting. I have been formally discharged from both their care but have made an appointment to see the Psychologhist only as a precaution after surgery plus I like her, we enjoy chatting LOL and she want s to see me to see how the surgery was etc etc


So my psychological gatekeepers are finished with me, finally,  both lovely people but I am still pleased to be finished...there is no longer any medical professional standing between me and GCS, in fact there is now nothing standing in the way at all.

This is all getting very real now. I have my phone appointment a week on Friday with Dr Ives. This will be the last time I speak with him before Melbourne. I would also expect to see a bill along with a list of requirements (in prep for surgery) in the next 30 days.

I continue to do my walking although this week I have reduced the walk to 5ks per day. I want to see how much difference that makes to my weight loss while preserving my hip. Speaking of which I weighed in on Monday and have lost again and sit now at 92.9kg....7.29Kgs to lose till I reach my ultimate goal weight of 85kgs.

I have my pinultimate genital laser treatment on Friday yay...not!!! But I have to say I am still concerned about my inability to get Genital electrolysis and what issuies this may cause me down the track. It is just so frustrating...I have again contacted another 1/2 dozen clinics asking if they do it and if they don't then who does? After several laser treatments there is not a whole lot there to worry about.


More updates to come

Liz

[Nicole70]

Hi Liz,

Congratulations on your milestone and great weight loss, your efforts are an inspiration, I'm still trying and making slow progress. Sorry to hear about your flare-up, I hope it clears soon.

It's definitely a problem not being able to access electrolysis for down there here in Adelaide, I spoke with mine and she said she is open to the idea but needs training and does not like to inflict that much pain.

Not long till your surgery!

Nicole

[LizK]

....

It's definitely a problem not being able to access electrolysis for down there here in Adelaide, I spoke with mine and she said she is open to the idea but needs training and does not like to inflict that much pain.

Not long till your surgery!

Nicole

I haven't given up completely.....Is that Amber you are talking about?? I am going to see someone at Morphettvale for an assessment on the 27th of this month. She wants to talk to me about the genital stuff(I think) but I also said to her I wanted my face looked at as well. I think I probably need about 10 hrs to finally finish off to a point where I am completely happy I actually thought I was pretty much done...I want my top lip cleared again...the hairs are so fine but can be annoying there a few along my bottom lip as well apart from that its just stragglers. 

Take care

Liz

[AnonyMs]

I have my pinultimate genital laser treatment on Friday yay...not!!! But I have to say I am still concerned about my inability to get Genital electrolysis and what issuies this may cause me down the track. It is just so frustrating...I have again contacted another 1/2 dozen clinics asking if they do it and if they don't then who does? After several laser treatments there is not a whole lot there to worry about.

Can you travel? You can definitely get it done in Sydney. Bus is probably quite cheap.

[LizK]

Can you travel? You can definitely get it done in Sydney. Bus is probably quite cheap.

After Months and Months of searching I have found a place to at least have a look at the electrolysis I want done. This happened about 4pm this afternoon and I have only just been able to log into the board I am astounded that it has taken this long but it sounds very promising. I spoke to the Technician who proceeded to give me a lecture regarding the pain of electrolysis. So I have an appointment for them to assess the area. It would seem I still have time....I was contemplating going to Melbourne but it would seem that is now unnecessary...