Weight loss surgery.

[Sammi38]

Hi all,

Has anyone had or soon to have weight loss surgery?

I’m having a gastric sleeve procedure this month, so wondering if there’s anyone in the same boat?

I’ve got 5-6 stone to lose. Getting nervous as op day is fast approaching.

[CatalinaCasesolver]

@Sammi38

Do you mind me asking how you are now?

I am thinking about going to the same hospital in turkey as you and stumbled across this thread when doing my research.

Any advice would be most welcome :)

Thanks

[Zoecarter]

Oh you look amazing I am just on my lrd one week today and I get my sleeve xx

[wibblewobblex]

@Sammi38

How’s everyone getting on? I’ve got 8lbs left till I hit target. This has to be one of the best decisions I made. I’ve not really had any major issues apart from adjusting to not being able to eat the way I did before.

@Sammi38

Just had a read through all this post. wanted to say you look amazing

[Sammi38]

How’s everyone getting on? I’ve got 8lbs left till I hit target. This has to be one of the best decisions I made. I’ve not really had any major issues apart from adjusting to not being able to eat the way I did before.

[Sammi38]

But yes, feel free to dm me.

[Sammi38]

Name change fail there

[needadvicethankyouplease]

@Sammi38 please can I DM you?

[Sammi38]

@needadvicethankyouplease it was mainly cost and genuine feedback that made me opt to go there. I researched the surgeon, contacted a few of the previous patients about their experiences, the company who I went with seemed to offer good support. Also, the pre op tests in Turkey were considerable and very thorough. I was also able to take my mum With me free of charge, so that helped!

I was a bit apprehensive about going abroad, and some people thought I’d lost the plot when I told them, but it’s been quite interesting, as I’m on a few bariatric Facebook groups, and most of the complications such as leaks are from surgery in the UK, rather than the hospitals abroad that people go to.

It is a bit of a minefield, and there’s lots of people that go abroad for surgery, there’s a place in Prague that is really popular for weight loss surgery,

[needadvicethankyouplease]

@Sammi38. Thanks for posting the link on my thread. How did you decide to go to turkey, was it cost alone?

[Sammi38]

Donebeingfat, that sounds really frustrating! How is your search going for another clinic?

I went to the Ekol Hospital in Izmir, my surgeon was Dr Ismail Yaman.

Had my very first episode of sickness last night. Ate some dry kebab meat, some of the pitta then, without thinking had a gulp of fizzy Pepsi max. It wasn’t good, and a lesson was learned.

[donebeingfat]

@cuddlecouch
Where are you going to have your op done ? I am now trying to find a good clinic/hospital to go to after my disaster with KCM clinic also now looking at here in uk too as worried about the problems with getting right anaesthetic ?

[donebeingfat]

My op didn't go ahead on Saturday as they didn't have correct anaesthetic even though I told them when I booked it in October that I had allergies to certain anaesthetic ! To say I was gutted was an understatement ! They have refunded me all my money and paid for my flight home on the Sunday and want me to go back for it in a couple of weeks but I'm not sure if I want to go back there as they also weren't there to pick me up at the airport when my flight got in at 00.35 and it was 3:10 am before someone eventually picked me up to take me to hotel 1 and half hours away so was not impressed with being stuck in a foreign place at that time of night on my own ! I have been looking at other places over the last couple of days to see where else I could go ?
Welcome @ cuddle and how did you get on deciding where to go ?
@Sammi38 sounds as if you've had a very positive experience and are doing amazingly and it was Turkey you went to wasnt it ? Who was your surgeon ?
M

[Sammi38]

How are you doing donebeingfat? Hoping you’re not feeling too uncomfortable and your op went well?

Hi @Cuddlecouch welcome! My op was abroad and I really rated my experience, going abroad isn’t for everyone, but I was so ready for the operation and I couldn’t have afforded £11k that I was quoted here for the sleeve.

My GP has been fantastic. I have bloods done every three months at the moment as my surgeon requested these. The gp surgery have undertaken these at no cost to me. I then send the results to my surgeon in Turkey. All is good so far!

I know what you mean about food being a crutch and then having it taken away. I was really down a couple of weeks ago, and tried to eat some pizza, as before my op, pizza was my ultimate comfort food and made me feel better in times of stress! It does take a little getting used too, but the change I’ve undergone already with my weight and health has been amazing, so it’s worth the pay off I think.

I had 5 stone to lose, I’ve lost 4st1 so far, and my op was the end of last September. I’m feeling really good. Whereabouts are you going for your op?

[Cuddlecouch]

Hi ladies can i join you? I go abroad in May and am dreading it now. It's like you have the sleeve in the UK but it's too expensive. My concerns are that I won't be able to eat afterwards and will have complications. Also worried that my gp here will be angry that I went abroad leading to lack of after care. After a v traumatic childhood food became my love and my safe space. I'm sad that once it's gone I won't have that comfort. I only want to lose 3-4 stone which I keep losing and gaining, and people around me think I don't need surgery but it's something I've read about since 2018 so this isn't a rash decision. Thank you for sharing your stories and hope you've all recovered well.

[donebeingfat]

Thanks

[Sammi38]

donebeingfat. Wow, that’s exciting! I was so nervous before I went, but I told myself that if anything made me feel uneasy or nervous I would just come home. I didn’t have to pay my money until after all my pre op tests / endoscopy was done so I felt it gave me a bit of space to make a well informed decision.

I’ll be thinking of you on Saturday and wishing you a smooth recovery.

Yes I’m feeling really well, but I do make sure I’m eating good healthy foods and taking my vits. I haven’t had any noticeable hair loss from my scalp but the fall down on my clothes and brush is slightly more than usual.

I also gave up smoking last month, so I think that has definitely contributed to my overall feeling of wellbeing.

[donebeingfat]

You've done so well Sammi and your result is amazing ! Are you feeling well within yourself and how is your energy levels ? What about hair loss, have you noticed any of that as I see quite a lot of people experience that ? I go to Poland tomorrow and op on Saturday so feeling a bit nervous now but I'm sure it'll all be worth it !!

[Sammi38]

How’s everyone doing?

I’ve lost 4 stone now, just 2 more stone to go.

Eating well, can’t tolerate chicken breast still and I don’t eat bread, chips and noodles as they’re too bulky and cause me some digestive pain, which isn’t a bad thing really as sandwiches and chips were my weaknesses. I also don’t eat pizza or anything heavily carby. It definitely takes some getting used to.

A typical day food wise for me would look like this; (I have never eaten breakfast, and just eat my two main meals with snacks if needed).

L: (I normally have this around 11 am, and it’s the first thing I eat for the day) tuna mayonnaise with cucumber, mini pepparami, some soft fruit such as melon, banana or nectarine/peach. My portion sizes aren’t big.

Snack: (normally have this between 4.30-5.30 pm) nuts, I can tolerate any, but my favourites are cashews and pistachios. And I’ll also have some cheese. I can eat any cheese, hard, soft or cream, and maybe some tostadas too.

D: (anytime between 8.30 -10.30 pm). Salmon fillet with a lemon dressing, broccoli and cream cheese mashed together, and maybe some aunt bessies carrot and swede mash.

I have the odd unhealthy snack too sometimes, maybe some crisps or a biscuit, but only in moderation.

[Sammi38]

Well done @ShippingNews you look great. How have you found maintaining?

Doing ok here, lost just over 3 stone since September, eating is a little bit trial and error at the moment, I need to slow down with it I think, I’m not sensing I’m full until it hurts and I get quite a severe crushing pressure type feeling in my chest. Think I just need to take slower bites and wait a little before my next one.

[ShippingNews]

I had a lap band inserted 15 years ago. I've had no problems with it and wouldn't change anything. I went from 20 stone to 12 stone in a year and have maintained ( approx) that ever since. It isn't easy, you discover naughty things that you can eat and so it's still as hard as it ever was. But you've always got that " road block" in your stomach which reminds you that you've eaten your fill. I'm happy I had it done.

[donebeingfat]

How's everyone getting on ?

[Sammi38]

@Magenta82 well done! I’m not really eating snacks either. Good luck.

[Sammi38]

Thankyou. I’m back on track now after my bug. Hit a stall at the moment which is slightly depressing, but it’s only been a week, so hoping next week the numbers will shift again.

Supplement wise, I’m only on centrum chewables and stomach protectors. Had my first set of bloods back which were all fine, all my vit levels were in normal range, so will not need b12 injections at the moment.

Interestingly, before my operation I’d had high platelets for a couple of years at 545, normal range is I think 140-420. My results show now that my platelets are now 325, so now within normal range. I’ve been looking at research papers online and there’s a link between high platelets and women with obesity (no difference in men though). So I’m very pleased.

[Carblover]

That's really interesting and reassuring, it makes me less concerned I've done damage by speeding up puree to soft
I've bought the bariatric bible and although it has a slowish transition though the stages the recipes look good and im looking forward to trying them