Had my op. On HDU now. Slowly on the road to recovery

[Germgirl]

I had a gastric band removal and sleeve gastrectomy operation yesterday (stomach stapling')
Just wanted to tell people really. :)
I lost 10kg in the 2 weeks pre-op on the pre-op soup & yogurt diet but I'm still a massive 143kg. Which is frankly disgusting.
But I'm here now, in lots of pain with 6 incisions and a drain poking of of me plus 2 IVs, the usual wires & oxygen lines. Tied to the bed almost!
The physio has been to see me & we went for a stroll up & down the ward.
Everyone says I'm doing ok.
Very very very tired.
Just rambling now. Wanted to say I'd done it. I didn't tell many people before the op but now I can :)
I have s long road ahead. But this has to be the start of a new life.

[senrensareta]

Likewise Shelagh, I am trying to restrict my eating by thinking that I would have to restrict it if I had surgery as I am scared of taking that next step.
I am in the age and weight range where the sleeve would be most appropriate so am watching with interest. Good luck OP

[Germgirl]

QOD do you tell people who congratulate you on your weight loss that you 'just' dieted? (I know it's not 'just', couldn't think of another way to say it). I don't really know what to tell people. A couple of people at work know that I was having the op but I haven't told everyone. Although nothing is sacred there so I'm sure they all know by now :) I've never moaned about my weight at work & I'm sure people thought I was 'happy' being fat. Nothing is further from the truth of course!
I had a spinach, nectarine and raspberry smoothie yesterday with added protein powder and fibre powder. Tbh is was pretty grim but I need the vitamins etc.
I haven't been to the loo for 3 days now & im getting a bit worried. DH says I'm not eating very much so not to expect to go much but I'm so terrified of constipation.
Shelagh and senren I am very glad I've done this, although today I feel utterly dreadful :) I have struggled with my weight for my whole life. Was 'chubby' till I was 19, then it just went mad. I love food, love cooking and even now, watch endless food programmes, but it had got out of control. I had to admit that I couldn't stay on a strict diet for anywhere near as long as I needed to to have any discernible effect.
Three weeks ago I weighed 25 stone. That is disgusting. This morning I weigh 22.4 stone. Still disgusting, but going the right way.
If you think you need surgery, please talk to your doctor, feel free to pm me if you want any more info or a chat.
ugg and RJ, thank you for your encouragement and good wishes. It's nice to think that people are on my side :)
fox I'm not sleeping well, as I'm sure neither are you! At least I can nap during the day if necessary, thank you too for your kind words :)
Re 'food', QOD I made a cauliflower cheese soup yesterday, just onion, a small potato, a cauli, some chicken stock and a bit of strong cheddar. Blended till smooth. It was bloody lovely! It's the first savoury thing I've 'eaten' for a while as I gave up soup a week into the 2 week soup & yogurt diet, so I've basically been on milk & yogurt for a week before the op and then coffe, milk & smoothies since the op. The savoury cheese was just splendid :) I was craving cheese & thought the soup was a better idea than sucking a block of cheese (the second option I considered)
Every mouthful still hurts though, all normal apparently, but bloody annoying. I know I'd be drinking a lot more if it didn't hurt so much!!
Ah well. I shall persevere :)

[senrensareta]

Germgirl One of my friends had a band fitted 2-3 years ago and has done brilliantly as she didn't have a huge amount to lose and had it done privately in this country with an aftercare and counselling package. Obviously her husband knew but apart from him she told only myself and one other friend as she wanted a bit of support from us but felt she did not want to face the questioning and focus on her weight that would result from others. She started telling people around 2 years later when her weight was fairly stable and she felt able to cope with that added pressure. I guess you have to do as she did and just think about what is right for you

[Germgirl]

I think it's going to be all round the lab (work) by the time I get back. Its impossible to keep a secret there and I had to tell a few people as I couldn't just vanish for surgery, plus I've had lots of pre-op appointments etc so I had to give reasons for them.
I have obviously told my husband, who told his mum!
My dad and his partner know, as again, I didn't think it was right to have surgery & not tell him.
Tbh I'll probably tell anyone who asks, if they have a problem with me having surgery then that says more about them than me. Every single person I've told so far has been supportive, well, to my face at least!
I'm hoping it'll be blindingly obvious in a few months time, when I'm all slinky :)
I am well aware I will never be slinky

[QOD]

I just said I was eating small.portions and.concentrainng on.protein. I snuck in just before the press went mad so I think people just didn't really know.
Also.i walked miles every day. 3 plus and then started running and it all.morphed into me losing loads of weight

[Germgirl]

I need to exercise. I find it so hard at the moment but I know I need to do it.
I'll heal up first though :)
Well. One week post op. I think I've lost about 6lbs this week.
I'm massively constipated & I think I've torn something inside my bum by straining :( can't even sit down at the moment.
I saw my gp yesterday & he gave me Laxido and a local anaesthetic ointment. I took 8 sachets of the Laxido last night which is starting to have an effect but there's a long way to go. I can see me staying near the loo today! Oh my god it's painful! :(

[senrensareta]

It'll be worth it though in the long run.
My friend told people she had "a minor gynae thing" when she had hers done as people tend not to pry if you are a bit vague about issues like that. Having said that she did not have much to lose (not by my standards anyway!) so probably would have had a lot of questioning. I think you are probably as well just being matter of fact about it if some people know anyway, otherwise it could become a bit stressful

I work in the NHS so do see some patients. The ones who do well are like QOD who change their eating, take up exercise, etc. The ones who struggle are almost always those who don't follow advice and expect it to be a magic wand. You are doing brilliantly and I'm sure it won't be long till this pain is just a memory and you'll be on your way!

[QOD]

Thing is I'm.not super slim, I'm. A.size 13 I reckon. Can wedge in some 12 and 14 a bit big
But normal. I know my dh cousin went absolutely tiny and then put back on to a large 16. But she is still normal!
I went down to this weight in 9 months and.fluctuate by 1/2 stone

[Germgirl]

I was a size 30-32 a few weeks ago. Probably still am tbh. Size 16-18 would be an absolutely amazing size for me. I know lots of people who are that size don't want to be but it'd be brilliant for me.
I'll never be super slim as I'll have lots of excess skin. If it's too bad I will have it cut off but I can't even really think about that yet. Just being smaller is a weird concept.
I don't think I've been size 18 since I was about 16. It's just not something I thought I'd ever be again.
To get to a reasonable size and stay there is all I want. :)

[Germgirl]

Although at the moment all I want is my bum to stop hurting. :(

[QOD]

Don't get too obsessed with it because actually there's probably hardly anything in there

[Germgirl]

That's what DH keeps saying. :)
I've got a fissure, which means that when my body tries to 'go' everything seizes up & all that happens is an uncontrollable dribble!
The local anaesthetic cream isn't that brilliant so I'm spending a fair amount of time wailing on the loo :)
I'm sure it'll all heal eventually
I've had so many conversations about poo and pooing in the last few days, it's ridiculous!
Going to go & see my dad today, the first time I've properly left the house since I came home (apart from the trip to the gp for which I was basically wearing pajamas)
Drinking is still painful so I'm staying on thin fluids despite now being allowed to go up to thicker things if I want. The thickest thing I'm 'eating' is very thin homemade soup, about the thickness of double cream.
It's so weird, about 6 little spoonfuls of soup is filling me up, it's an odd feeling, the fullness, it's not the sensation you get after a big roast dinner, more the feeling that's if I have one more spoonful I'll be sick. I suppose that's how I feel 'full' now :)
If my bum would sort itself out I'd be a a lot happier, but apart from that things are going ok. I'm still completely knackered all the time, my skin is going a bit odd, probably because the most I've done is rub a damp flannel over it. I had started a new skincare regime before the op that was going really well so I must get back to that.
But today I'm going to get up, shower & wash my hair, dress & go out!
Thank you QOD for your continuing support :)

[WiIdfire]

If your GP thinks that you've got a fissure you need to suggest to them that they prescribe some GTN ointment - the painkiller cream wont treat the underlying problem, but GTN will. You dont need to have to deal with a painful bum on top of everything else!

[Germgirl]

Thank you Wildfire I had a telephone consultation with my GP this morning & she decided I have a fissure from my description of my symptoms. She just told me to keep using the painkiller cream, laxatives and pile cream.
I might make an actual appointment tomorrow if nothing improves. Thank you! :)

[Germgirl]

I've been persevering with the Anusol cream and suppositories plus the painkilling cream (my GP didn't want to prescribe the GTN yet) and I think it's a bit better today. I managed to 'go' yesterday and this morning. It's still incredibly painful but my body isn't spasming up at the pain & is allowing me to actually go!
So I'm back to 'eating' a bit more, I was terrified to before!
I've had an apple, plum & orange smoothie this morning with protein & fibre powders added. It was hideous tbh but I managed to get it down. Having a lovely milky coffee at the moment.
Nearly fainted in the shower yesterday. I had the roaring in the ears and my vision was going black. I managed to squeak to DH & he came & rescued me. I got a stern lecture about eating more.
Been signed off work till 10th June, hopefully I'll be taking in enough nutrition to avoid fainting by then! :)
Might make a curried parsnip soup today, I'm getting a bit fed up with the cauliflower cheese one :)

[senrensareta]

Glad to see things are moving ahead for you Germgirl

QOD is right, there'll be so little inside you that if ever there was a good time to have a fissure this'll be it!

[Germgirl]

Thanks senren
I seem to spend all my time talking about & thinking about poo! Every time DH calls from work his first question is "how's your bum?" :)
I need to stop being quite so fixated on it

[Germgirl]

Ages since I posted. I'm going back to work tomorrow. I've lost another stone (ish). Had to be admitted to hospital last Thursday with constipation :( highly embarrassing and painful & I'm now even more paranoid about it.
But I'm eating more & feeling less knackered all the time.
Wondering whether or not to tell my workmates what I've had done , a couple know but most don't. I think I'll just see how it goes.

[QOD]

It's totally up to you. Did you tell your employers? We don't get paid sick for this sort of surgery so I Kinda lied

[Germgirl]

I told my boss. I've had paid sick as my surgeon wrote that I needed the surgery for medical reasons rather than cosmetic.
The people I have told have been brilliant, just not sure I want to tell everyone.
Might tell the lab gossip. Then everyone will know.

[SauvignonBlanche]

Bloody hell Germgirl, you've been through it!
Sorry to hear you've had such a rotten time, I remember well you keeping me 'company' when I was ill last year.
How was going back to work? You must be tired.

[Germgirl]

Hello Sauv! How are you? I'm going back tomorrow. I shall let MN know how that goes (I'm sure everyone is waiting with bated breath) ;)
Hope you're ok now

[SauvignonBlanche]

I'm fine, thanks. I'm awaiting cranioplasty but have put it off a) for convenience and b) I stupidly read some research about waiting a year post infection being better and I don't want to take any risks after last year's shenanigans. I've been back at work for ages now but still can't drive.
Good look for tomorrow, take it easy x

[Germgirl]

Thank you Sauv.
I love they way you nonchalantly say "I'm waiting for cranioplasty". You're so cool! I'd be a gibbering wreck!
Will you be allowed to drive again?

[SauvignonBlanche]

I've reapplied for my licence as I'm hoping I'll get it back 12 months after the Grand mal seizure I had. If the cranioplasty is going to delay it, I'll stick with rhe hole in the head!
My next challenge is going to similar to yours and to lose some weight.