This is a copy of a post I made on a fb group following my surgery in Turkey last year. I’m now 5 months post op and almost 9 stone down
Hi, I had my surgery on 5th November at the Izmir hospital, the surgeon was Mehmet Deniz.
I’ve stayed in worse hotels than the hospital! Each room has a sofa in it, so if you have someone travelling with you, they can sleep on it.
Fasting from midnight before surgery.
On the morning of surgery day I had an ultrasound of my liver, stomach amd gallbladder, and also a gastroscopy (this was done under sedation, don’t worry!)
My surgery was quite late in the day, but a nurse helped me put on the sexy compression stockings and surgery gown and away we went.
I came round from the anaesthetic in my own room, with staff doing what they needed to do. Felt a bit groggy as you do, but don’t remember actual pain, however that might have been to do with the IV antibiotics and fluids. I had a drain in my stomach, and 3 small incisions.
Slept most of the night, and was given the best drink of water Ive ever had in the morning! you have to sip that tho.
A visit from the surgeon who confirmed all had Gone to plan with no surprises.
Didn’t feel too bad really, but I was well medicated! Still on IV painkillers and fluids, but able to sip away at water.
Day 3. Checked over by surgeon again, he was happy, so I was too. The drain was removed that day, amd very much encouraged to get up and walking the corridor regularly. Was given a “leak test”, which is just what it says on the tin. Youre given a stomach MRI, while in the machine youre givena weird (but not bad) tasting drink then the MRI is done, where they literally check for leaks in your new riny stomach.
Day 4. Felt pretty good, a day of walking the corridors again😁although I know other people went outside the hospital main door for fresh air-kind of wish I‘d thought of that!
Exciting day, as I was given a protein shake! Again, sipping it slowly and it went down fine.
Day 5. Freedom day! There was a half hour-ish presentation and Q&A session with the surgeon, giving you a good grounding on your timetable back to “normal” food and exercise.…Just before discharge from the hospital to hotel, I was given an information pack which included a suggested meal plan for the next 4 weeks, and I was also given my medication-antibiotics, painkillers, stomach protectors and blood thinning injections.
Taken to the hotel by luxury minibus (I met a group of 4 other women who had surgery the same day so we stuck together) and realised we should eat! We all ordered soup, but to be honest for all we could eat, we’d have been as well ordering 1 plate and 5 spoons😂
Flew home the Next day with absolutely no regrets.
It’s 5 weeks today since I had the surgery and I‘m 3.5 stones down. I had a good recovery, but did take it easy for the first couple of weeks before I went back to work.
I spoke to my GP who was delighted for me (probably thinking of the £££ I saved the NHS 😂), and she’s happy to arrange the blood tests I’ll need going forward.
Happy to answer any questions, but it’s genuinely the best piece of self care I’ve ever done for myself