I had weight loss surgery on the NHS. 5 months ago. AMA

[smallereveryday]

I had a Sleeve gastrectomy in October after 8 yrs of obesity and god knows how many attempts at Conventional diet and exercise including ww /sw/ Atkins/low carb/ 5:2 /Cambridge /blood diets. I have gone from a size 24 to 14 in just under 4 months and feel amazing and healthy at last.

Sharon what a heartfelt and brutally honest post. I am so pleased you found our thread and found the place where you can articulate your thoughts. Your story is EXACTLY why 'eat less move more' is not always the answer and exactly why obesity is so incredibly complex and multi-layered. With one overwhelming truth - it's a downward spiral of self loathing.

My surgery - and every one I have met who has had the same - or similar (sleeve or Bypass not band) would say that it has reversed that spiral . With the physical weight loss igniting the pilot light of self regard, which improves mood, which improves activity , that creates results, which elicits encouraging remarks from friends and family, which improves mood .. and spurs you on ... until you stop hating yourself and begin to love .

Obesity is an evil disease that destroys mind AND body in equal measure. Why would I not use whatever means possible to recover from it ? To me it is still the best decision I have ever made for my mind and body's wellbeing.

Good luck Sharon. Research research research. Go to your GP and ask to be put on the NHS Tier3 weight management pathway for Bariatric surgery. If s/he refuses , see a different GP. If you still get knocked back - PM me and I will guide you through the appeal. X

Thank you so much Smaller. Honestly this thread has helped me big time. I will let you know how I get on

That would be great! Xx

I have only just found this. I go for my surgery early June. I am very scared not of the surgery but of the 2 weeks milk diet. How the hell do you stick to it? I have a social occasion which includes a meal, I won't drink and I will have to push the food around my plate.

I am 5ft 3 and 15 10 st. BME of 40 I am fed up being fat.
I am scared of the head hunger and then of struggling in social settings.
I am going private as my health insurance covers 75% of the costs.
I have no real medical issues but want to remain active.
This has been very helpful. Thank you

I understand your fear !! BUT there is a big difference between this and a normal diet. A normal diet has no 'end' date. Whereas this has a fabulous end. I did it and within 4 months had lost 55Lbs..

You can do it !

I had a sleeve in 2013.i lost 60kg. I’m currently back to being obese due to drinking calories. So please don’t rest on your laurels

Wow. I'm 17st 3 right now.

I didn't know this was an option.

I've struggled with my weight for 15 years :(

I'm going to go see my GP

Whatnot... Is yours in the NHS too?

Sorry just read it isn't x

I set my date for my surgery today and I’m having a mini gastric bypass. I’ve previously had the balloon and I still have my band that I never got to grips with. I’m having the mini bypass due to the band making a sleeve just a bit more difficult to do thus increasing the chance of leakage.

I’m having the procedure done privately as were the previous procedures and I’m having it done based on a BMI of 35 plus two co-morbid

I’ve lost 15 kilos myself this last year but I’m stuck and I’m mentally tired. I’m putting energy into negativity but by having the op I’ll be putting energy and effort into positivity.

I can’t wait to have the Op. I’m 61 and still cycle for 28-30kms at a time but I’ve had enough of my mind being engulfed by trying trying trying.

Thanks for the thread, smallereveryday, I've not quite finished reading it yet, but wanted to add something that may spur you on and congratulate you on your efforts so far.

I've been where you are as I had a gastric bypass in 2012.

Sounds like we were similar weights (at my heaviest I weighed 250-255lbs), though my bmi was 46 as I'm a bit shorter than you.
I also had multiple co-morbidities including sleep apnea.

Although it hasn't been an easy ride and there are some things I'll never be able to eat or enjoy again, I don't regret what I've done.

I was told I would likely die if I didn't do something soon and, although I still hate the way I look due to masses of excess skin, I'm still here and no longer suffer from several of my other health issues, including the sleep apnea.

Some of the effects, like sugar dump, can lessen over time and if you're not strict you can stretch the pouch again so that you're able to eat more, and can then gain weight. According to the dietician I saw before surgery (saw 1 for almost a year) I've damaged my metabolism from so many dangerous, fad diets and would always have to be careful how much I ate. I generally have to keep my daily intake at around 1000 cals, otherwise I gain weight.

My best advice to you is to stay vigilant. I've actually found that although I was a chocoholic previously, I don't enjoy chocolate anymore (still got my Easter egg from last year, and told everyone not to buy chocolate any more for me).

My tastes have changed and I cannot eat pasta, which I used to love. I also cannot eat icecream without being sick, so I've not had that in years. I've learnt to listen to my body and eat slowly.

I was an emotional eater, which is why the bypass was best suited to me, and I have to say that that's the hardest habit to break. I still sometimes struggle, but not to the extent that I did before.

I wish you much luck and joy on this journey.

Than you stillneedwillpower, it's always god to hear from others who've walked the same path .
I had the sleeve for the exact reason you had the bypass..our own particular eating demons. In my case I have never been particularly interested in sweets and cakes. I am not an emotional eater - in fact I tend to not eat if upset. My BIG problem was portion control. Bought in by longterm steroid (predisalone) use. Therefore a stomach that can only hold 120ml is ideal.
I am now 5 months out. I haven't (not do I have any interest in) chocolate, sweets, puddings or anything processed with the exception of the occasional piece of bacon. I have always cooked from scratch as I enjoy it - the big advantage being the knowledge that no sugar is sneaking in.

So - so far so good as the Op suited my lifestyle and addresses my particular habits. I still haven't got my head round it and will load up my plate - only to push it away after 3 tablespoons.. long may that continue!!

DO you know wether you have to have something else’s wrong with you other than the high bmi? My bmi Is 46 but I have no apnea, diabetes or high blood pressure, no obesity related problems so I don’t think I could get nhs help

No. The NHS criteria are BMI of 40 or above OR BMI of 35 and above with a co morbidity. The definition of co morbidity appears to be un- defined except by its title (a health condition that unchecked will cause early death). Although I was accepted on to the program with severe arthritis in both knees - (Not life threatening though ) and then later diagnosed with Sleep Apnoea.. buy my BMI at time if Referal was exactly 40. So I probably didn't 'need' additional illnesses.

I have always cooked from scratch as I enjoy it - the big advantage being the knowledge that no sugar is sneaking in

You sound very much like me. Cook from scratch. Big portions. I’m also a snacker.

Strangely when I was researching Bariatrics I came across the mini bypass and thought it sounded ideal for me but it’s not widely used and I thought I’d be offered the sleeve. As it is I’m not in the UK and my surgeon had previously worked in Italy where it’s mainstream Bariatrics and I was surprised/delighted to be offered it.

My only worries are acid reflux. I’ve not experienced it before. But if it does occur I know it can be dealt with.

I’ve just bought a few specialist cookery books because I was quite shocked by the packets of this that and the other that were being suggested on various forums. It was all processed and I’ve no intention of going down that route. I just need a few ideas from the books to get over the first few weeks.

Prior to surgery I can only have carbs for breakfast but I’m ok with that as I’ve been on 150gms daily for the last year.

Thanks for the thread smallereveryday. Congratulations on your weight loss. You are doing so well. I hope your success continues.
My DH had the sleeve privately about 5 years ago before I met him. Initially he lost a lot of weight. Down from 30 stone to 18 stone in about a year. Which was great. Like you he was able to much more. He has chronic pain from a leg injury so getting the weight off meant much less pain. However, over the next 4 years he gradually put more than half of the weight back on. Went up to 24.5 stone. He has managed to get back to 23 recently by cutting sugar and carbs down but it’s very slow. It’s very frustrating.
Initially he did have the ‘dump’ response after sugar but that gradually wore off so that he was able to eat sugar again. He still can’t eat big meals but the amount he can eat has increased over time because the stomach stretched again.
But it’s frustrating because people look at him and see a big guy and accuse him of being a greedy and lazy. When actually he eats very little compared to them, cannot exercise, is in constant pain, has invested £12k of his own money trying to lose weight, and works long hours.
It infuriates me when people who have no experience of being overweight are so critical of people who are or have been and the methods they have tried to do it.

OP did it occurred to you to pay for it privately and not burden the NHS with such an avoidable operation?

@SeasonalVag
Did it occur to you that it’s way way cheaper for the NHS to pay for surgery to help people lose weight than to pay for the cost of the many obesity related illnesses?
Did it occur to you that by getting a kick out of putting someone else down you are being abusive?

I'm not being abusive at all, it's a genuine question.

My son needed Speech and Language therapy. He was 3. No NHS money for that. Huge waiting list, couldn't wait. We did that privately.

Sister suicidal. Counseling wait list 7 months. Done privately.

NHS is under fuck loads of strain and I would be referring to those situation as critical.

And yes, I have some idea of what's she's going through as I went from size 24 to size 10 about 20 years ago, did it the hard way, portiOn control and exercise, so I'm certainly not kicking somebody when they're down, just completely bewildered.

Season I’d believe you weren’t being abusive if you hadn’t mentioned you lost weight the ‘hard’
way. As it is I think you’re rather vindictive.

@SeasonalVag
I am bewildered by your ability to put someone down and then say, “so I’m certainly not kicking someone when they’re down” within the same sentence!
I agree with you that our NHS is underfunded and that is why I vote Labour.
The OP is not responsible for where funding is allocated. She tried to get funding for an op and got it and is making the best of this opportunity. You tried to get funding for family members for other things and didn’t get it. If you had got it you would have used it. And who would anybody be to criticise you for it? So why do you get to criticise the OP? To say that the OP’s problem was avoidable would be like someone saying that suicide is avoidable. Mental health conditions are an illness and deserve funding. Obesity affects mental health and mental health affects obesity. It all needs funding.

No seasonalvag it didn't occur to me because I am a UK citizen and have worked and paid NI contributions and income tax for over 39years.

I am a fervent believer in the NHS and as such have not the slightest qualm about using the system I have paid into for nearly 40 years 'at my point of need' for a health issue that could be greatly alleviated by a surgical procedure . A procedure no different from a heart bypass. In that - without a Bypass when needed - a patient will have an increased chance of dying prematurely from heart failure.

My heart is thankfully fine - but my eating and appetite had become disordered. Which would have lead to a premature death.
Therefore I had a medical issue -that had in turn caused other more serious health issues. Type 2 diabetes, High Blood Pressure, and Sleep Apnoea.

Type 2 diabetes costs the NHS £1.5 million an hour !!! Your post makes you sound quite ignorant (as in without knowledge of the facts) but I'm sure you can work out the maths and see why a 8k operation makes sense.
I was in remission from Diabetes before I left hospital and was only in for 48hrs.
I am no longer on any medication except over the counter vitamins.
I averaged 2 GP appointments and 2 clinic (diabetes, arthritis) appointments a month.
I haven't been to the doctors for 3 months.
I know longer have Sleep Apnoea and returned the CPAP machine 6 weeks ago...

The NHS doesn't provide cosmetic procedures.

You also need the facts on weight loss. All kudos to you for 'doing it the hard way' but the largest study to date - of 140k people monitored over 5 years in 2016 by Imperial College found that at BMI 35 you have less than a 1:1000 chance of dieting back to a healthy weight 'the hard way' and maintaining it for five years... whilst Sleeve and Bypass have a 80.2% chance of maintaining that healthy weight for 15 years.

I'm sorry your son didn't get his speech therapy on the NHS but you are comparing apples and pears. Happily speech issues are not at an epidemic level . The consequences of speech issues do not cost the NHS £1.5 million an hour. If they did then there would be greater resources to accommodate the issue.
Obesity and Diabetes will bankrupt the NHS if something isn't done soon. Bariatric surgery is one way to help this situation.

Hi OP

Your post is very inspiring.
How are you getting on? x

Also hoping OP will update us.