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Original poster

I've lost 20lbs in 17 days

81 replies

VsgKitt · 14/08/2021 13:31

And am over the moon. Had a gastric sleeve after 15 years of weight issues.

Am just amazed at the difference already in my body.

Hard work but I already know its going to be worth it.

OP posts:
Original poster
VsgKitt · 15/08/2021 18:01

@gardeninggirl68

2.4k for surgery...how much did it cost in total, flights,accomadation etc?

well done by the way!

300 flights. Accommodation is included as hospital stay and 1 night in hotel. All included. Transfers included. Partner can stay with you for free and they get basic meals.

I only bought a bottle of water over there.

OP posts:
Muchmorethan · 15/08/2021 18:06

@JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam

Well done.

My husband lost 13 stone after gastric sleeve surgery and is a million times healthier than he was. We paid private but it still annoys me when I read people saying the NHS shouldn't cover this sort of surgery.

Why do you think the NHS should cover it?
Original poster
VsgKitt · 15/08/2021 18:11

Because people that are desperate enough to have 85% of their stomach obviously have other issues and have tried every avenue of weightloss. I tried for FIFTEEN YEARS to maintain a healthy weight but thyroid issues and depression /agoraphobia prevented me from olever making progress.

By getting this done I would like to think I've prevented myself needing a lifetime of NHS provided diabetes medicine (in family), high blood pressure (also in family) and countless other Obesity related diseases.

People who need to lose 14lbs and are just too lazy to go to the gym don't get bariatric surgery you know.

OP posts:
Original poster
VsgKitt · 15/08/2021 18:16

I really don't want this to turn into a debate around gastric surgery on the NHS. Please start another thread if you feel the need.

OP posts:
trebelclef · 15/08/2021 18:19

Hi @Vsgkitt just wanted to send you some encouragement:-)

I had surgery 4 years ago. I went abroad due to cost also, and there were 5 other ladies out there with me. We are all still friends and are all doing well. We are all in the normal or overweight range now, and we were all super morbidly obese when we had it done. My BMI was 48 and it is now 22. My ankles and knees were so bad I couldn't get into and out of my car without help. I've run 4 marathons so far this year Smile

AngQuinn · 15/08/2021 18:21

wow! i gained 20lb is 17 days

trebelclef · 15/08/2021 18:31

@Muchmorethan I feel passionately that the NHS should fund obesity surgery for three reasons.

  1. It saves the NHS a lot of money that can then be used for other patients. The NHS's own figures suggest the cost of the surgery is saved on average, 18 months after the operation. This is because conditions such as type 2 diabetes are cured instantly with surgery and these are incredibly costly long term conditions otherwise.
  1. People suffering from morbid obesity are literally suffering. It is an awful way to live. There are few areas of life that are not impacted negatively by morbid obesity. This surgery can end that suffering.
  1. If patients with morbid obesity lose weight by other means, such as diet or exercise regiemes, the body has a physiological response to drastic weight loss that means the chances of this loss being maintained is very, very small. The body literally lowers its metabolic weight in order to 'save' calories to increase body fat even in individuals eating low amounts of calories. A 5 foot 5 inch woman who loses 10 stone, has a basal metabolic rate that is, on average, 500 calories a day less than a 5 foot 5 inch woman of the same weight who has not been overweight. This means it is virtually impossible for a morbidly obese person to maintain a low weight without surgery.
Muchmorethan · 15/08/2021 18:44

I'm not disagreeing, l was just interested in the views as to why.

I personally think that those who have lost vast amounts of weight should be entitled to excess skin removal surgery but this is classed as cosmetic and so denied in most Trusts

1forAll74 · 15/08/2021 18:44

I don't think the NHS should fund these operations for everyone. Not for those very morbidly obese persons, who spend their lives eating everything in sight, and everything that is no good for them. Everyone should have the same understanding about their bodies, and what dangerous problems can arise with the constant eating of a very very bad diet all the time.

blueberrywaffle · 15/08/2021 18:49

My friend had this done at Christmas. Went from a size 16 to a size 8/10. Shes gone so slim! She's beyond happy to

Bookridden · 15/08/2021 19:07

With a gastric sleeve, what happens when you've lost the weight? Do you go back to normal eating? Can you have it taken in and out, or is it permanent? If it's permanent, surely after a year, you've lost so much weight that it would be dangerous to continue?

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 15/08/2021 19:11

@1forAll74

I don't think the NHS should fund these operations for everyone. Not for those very morbidly obese persons, who spend their lives eating everything in sight, and everything that is no good for them. Everyone should have the same understanding about their bodies, and what dangerous problems can arise with the constant eating of a very very bad diet all the time.
@1forAll74

you have no idea why those "morbidly obese" people eat everything in sight so best if you stop with with that kind of judgement.

knowing what's good for you doesn't mean good choices: lack of impulse control and hyperfocus are just two characteristics that are linked to certain mental health problems and a non-neurotypical brain is hard or impossible to override by sheer will & knowledge. it's one of the top reasons why some people binge eat and it's not their fault.

plus, because of certain hormones being produced/used up at different rates, some vitamins & minerals can be depleted much faster than for a neurotypical person. Which can lead to fatigue, which can lead to craving sugar for energy.

if you don't know what I'm talking about then kindly keep your opinion to yourself. it's hurtful and ignorant

Original poster
VsgKitt · 15/08/2021 19:20

@Bookridden

With a gastric sleeve, what happens when you've lost the weight? Do you go back to normal eating? Can you have it taken in and out, or is it permanent? If it's permanent, surely after a year, you've lost so much weight that it would be dangerous to continue?
The sleeve is having 85% of your stomach removed. It is not reversible.
OP posts:
IceLace100 · 15/08/2021 19:25

I went to Turkey. Surgery was £2.4k but I paid another 500 to have my gallbladder out.

This is actually not as expensive as I thought it would be... given the amount we spend on weight loss clubs, diets, gyms, personal trainers etc. And who can put a price on long term health?

Original poster
VsgKitt · 15/08/2021 19:25

@IceLace100

I went to Turkey. Surgery was £2.4k but I paid another 500 to have my gallbladder out.

This is actually not as expensive as I thought it would be... given the amount we spend on weight loss clubs, diets, gyms, personal trainers etc. And who can put a price on long term health?

My quotes for the UK were between 11 and 12k!
OP posts:
ScrumptiousBears · 15/08/2021 19:26

I've always wondered if you will ever be able to eat properly again?

A friend got this done recently privately in the uk and it was £11.5k such a difference.

Alternista · 15/08/2021 19:27

You’ve had 85% of your stomach removed???

What happens when you are at a healthy weight?

Original poster
VsgKitt · 15/08/2021 19:28

@Alternista

You’ve had 85% of your stomach removed???

What happens when you are at a healthy weight?

Your body naturally levels out at a healthy weight and metabolism.

Thousands of people have had it done. If everyone starved to death I don't think they would allow it Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
VsgKitt · 15/08/2021 19:30

@ScrumptiousBears

I've always wondered if you will ever be able to eat properly again?

A friend got this done recently privately in the uk and it was £11.5k such a difference.

Well not in the way I ate previously, that's the point, I overate completely.

Now I need small, high protein meals.

You can eat pretty much anything after a while but a small portion.

OP posts:
Monkeytapper · 15/08/2021 19:38

Are you worried about excess skin?, are you able to exercise alongside this to try prevent it, asking as I have read a couple of articles about people who have had this procedure and lost all the weight and are now miserable with what there body looks like now.

IceLace100 · 15/08/2021 19:41

@Monkeytapper

Are you worried about excess skin?, are you able to exercise alongside this to try prevent it, asking as I have read a couple of articles about people who have had this procedure and lost all the weight and are now miserable with what there body looks like now.
Even if OP has some excess skin she will be so much healthier, fitter and will have a better chance of a long healthy life.
Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo · 15/08/2021 19:43

Can I ask why you had your gall bladder out too?

Original poster
VsgKitt · 15/08/2021 19:54

@Monkeytapper

Are you worried about excess skin?, are you able to exercise alongside this to try prevent it, asking as I have read a couple of articles about people who have had this procedure and lost all the weight and are now miserable with what there body looks like now.
I really don't give a shit what I look like after in all honesty. I hate my body now, I'm pretture sure I will hate it after too but at least I'll be healthy.

As long as I can walk down the street without getting abuse from idiots then I'll be happy.

OP posts:
Original poster
VsgKitt · 15/08/2021 19:57

@Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo

Can I ask why you had your gall bladder out too?
Rapid weightloss after gastric sleeve can cause acute gallbladder issues. In preop tests they discovered 3 very large gallstones. Given the fact that people with zero gallstone issues commonly develop them after I didn't want my first 6 months to be filled with gallstone attacks and waiting for the NHS to remove it in a separate operation. So I opted to have it all done in one go.

I had mystery pain for years which I now realise was my gallbladder but was never diagnosed.

And I got to keep a gallstone. Grin

OP posts:
Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo · 15/08/2021 20:25

Oh wow. Sounds like it was a good move!