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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Contemplating bariatric surgery.... advice?

999 replies

Seriouslyconfused3 · 08/05/2020 09:06

Hi as the title states I am contemplating a gastric sleeve. I am a serial yo yo dieter and my metabolism is fucked. I have pcos and have tried Xenical, saxenda etc- successful until I stop using and the weight piles back on.

I’ve seen an endocrinologist and he said that, in his opinion, sometimes surgery is the only viable option. I’d be paying for it myself as I don’t quite meet the nhs criteria yet.

I’m miserable- I don’t lose weight unless I starve myself ie 600 calories a day and then I’m even more unhappy. I’m worried about my health in the long term, but then the prospect of surgery scares me too.

Any advice from those who have been there before?

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needtoloselots · 31/07/2020 08:07

@MonkeysandParrots Good luck today. I'll be thinking about you as I start my LRD!

Coronacurls · 31/07/2020 17:41

I had a consultation today - all fine but the surgeon thinks I should have a bypass rather than a sleeve gastrectomy because of my age (I've just turned 50)

Has anyone had a bypass?

Sofasogood1 · 31/07/2020 22:44

No, I had the sleeve. All I know about the bypass is that it's a bigger op, but hugely successful with less chance of acid reflux etc. Taking your vitamins etc even more important. Someone at work had one and had great success.

I don't know why age would factor? You burn fewer and fewer calories as you age? So a stricter op might suit? What was the surgeon's reasoning?

Coronacurls · 01/08/2020 08:28

The surgeon said that because I'm 50, there is a much higher chance of reflux, so he would recommend a bypass.

I suppose he is the expert but I had made the decision to have a sleeve and now I'm not sure!

MonkeysandParrots · 01/08/2020 10:20

Hi All, just a quick update to let you know everything went fine & I’m feeling pretty good all considered. Off home later today - when I’m on proper WiFi I’ll pop back on for a longer post.

Coronacurls · 01/08/2020 11:14

Great news @MonkeyandParrots 😊

luckylady22 · 01/08/2020 11:54

@MonkeysandParrots
Glad it all went well and good luck with your weight loss journey now, you will not regret it Smile it really isn't that bad at all so well worth it

LaurieFairyCake · 01/08/2020 12:25

So glad all went fine and you feel ok, really looking forward to hearing your longer post Thanks

Seriouslyconfused3 · 01/08/2020 12:47

So pleased for you @MonkeysandParrots keep as filled in as soon as you feel up to it

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SplitterBug · 01/08/2020 19:36

Good luck to all who have taken the decision to go down the surgery route.

I wondered if people might be interested in the videos of Dr Robert Cywes, e.g. www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgstitDD9ciWQXWs16AinQUv2_AipzxHS

In a nutshell, he's an American bariatric surgeon who was once obese himself and contemplating surgery, but managed to lose weight via low carb eating instead. The underlying cause of his obesity was carb addiction, he says. He seems very alert to the emotional/behavioural strategies needed to avoid recurrence following surgery.

Sofasogood1 · 03/08/2020 11:28

Hope you're doing ok @MonkeysandParrots. Keep sipping that water!

MonkeysandParrots · 03/08/2020 12:33

Hey folks, am back on line, apols for the weekend absence.

First up, if surgery day was day 0, then today is day 3 and I am doing well. Slept all night in my bed last night, have had a lazy morning with radio 2, shower, hair wash and just about to attempt a v slow stroll to local shop to peruse range of soups on offer :)

Backing the bus up a bit, I’ll go back to Friday and give you guys waiting for surgery a brief description of events - remember, I had a sleeve.

Checked in at 7am, forms, visit from surgeon & anaesthetist, unpacked bag, into gown and then down! No messing about, I was on the operating table by 8.30am.

Don’t remember too much then until afternoon time, was v sleepy, a bit of pain which iv paracetamol and an oxycodone (I cant take morphine or tramadol) dealt with. They kept me on 15 min obs & was wearing an oxygen mask because my blood pressure & oxygen sats weren’t behaving but I felt ok. Felt v well looked after, surgeon came to see me a couple of times, nurses in and out etc.

Early evening, I managed to get up and have a pee - I wasn’t catheterised (which having experienced before, I was pleased about). I was also managing to sip water albeit slowly. Mask removed, replaced with oxygen tube thingy up nose.

Late night, I went for a little walk around the ward corridors. Didn’t sleep much, felt a bit uncomfortable almost like an animal was sat on the area between my boobs but watched the tv, had a few walks, talked to the nurses and dosed on and off, Twas fine.

Sat morning, blood pressure had stabilised as had oxygen so was taken off the tube up nose thingy (apparently I was on 3 litres of oxygen, Boris on 4 litres when in hospital for Covid ... makes you wonder how much hype there was around his illness). Surgeon came to see me and agreed I could go home at tea time once I’d had some consommé, juice etc., and had shown them I could inject myself with the blood thinner.

So I duly had half a small bowl of chicken consommé for lunch and some watered down apple juice. Not gonna lie, wasn’t the most pleasant thing ... both tasted mega sweet and I think I had them too quickly because I felt slightly dicky afterward so I had an anti emetic and a little sleep, felt fine after that. Cup of tea, did the injection and DH came to get me. So nice to go home.

Sat night I just had tea and water, chilled out on the bed and went to sleep early but struggled in bed, still felt like animal sitting on chest albeit not as heavy, so went to living room and slept sat up in chair with feet on pouffe which was much more comfy.

Yesterday, drugs wise, had two lots of disposable paracetamols over the whole day, didn’t need anything else. Managed 2 small yoghurts and 100ml of soup throughout the day/evening plus about 600ml of milk. Wandered around the house a lot. I was a bit uncomfortable bowel wise 😳 so asked DH to pick me up some lactulose. That was a good call, would recommend. Small animal decided to get off my chest and go elsewhere so uncomfortable feeling disappeared.

Which brings me to today.

All in all, although it’s sore, it’s been far less painful than I anticipated.

Constantly have a glass of water at side and am regularly sipping.

Day 4 post op update tomorrow!

Coronacurls · 03/08/2020 12:48

Thanks for the the detailed update @MonkeyandParrots 🙂 really glad to hear that you are recovering well.

Seriouslyconfused3 · 03/08/2020 13:15

Sounds like you’re doing really well @MonkeysandParrots. Thanks for the update- look after yourself Flowers

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DoorbellsSleighbellsSchnitzel · 03/08/2020 14:32

Glad to hear all went well @MonkeysandParrots!

MonkeysandParrots · 03/08/2020 15:24

@needtoloselots how are you getting on with the LRD?

@Seriouslyconfused3 how are you finding your eating at the mo, given the delay? I think I’d have struggled to stay on the straight & narrow in your shoes ...

@Coronacurls did you book?

Seriouslyconfused3 · 03/08/2020 15:28

@MonkeysandParrots my eating isn’t too bad- been having some treats but haven’t gone crazy or anything. Was told today there may be another delay- which will push me back to mid October at the earliest. I’m now really unsure, as to do that I’d have to pull my dc out of school for two weeks and my dh would have to take unpaid leave Sad

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Coronacurls · 03/08/2020 15:56

That's not great @seriouslyconfused3 - what about October half term?

I emailed straight away after my consultation to say that I definitely want to go ahead - just waiting to hear back from them.

Now I've made the decision, I just want to get it organised and a date in the diary.

Seriouslyconfused3 · 03/08/2020 16:42

@Coronacurls I honestly don’t know. I’m so fed up with it now. Which company did you go through?

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uglyface · 03/08/2020 16:47

Speaking as someone who has PCOS and insulin resistance, you have my every sympathy. Yes I am losing weight successfully atm, using a mix of low carb and IF (I only eat once a day), but it is hell on the energy levels and tricky to do on working days. I’m a teacher, so summer holidays are prime time to really starve myself.

The only time I ever lost weight eating ‘normally’ - that’s to say having a small amount of carbs and two meals per day instead of one - was during my pregnancy and shortly thereafter. The endocrinologist said that was the pregnancy hormones temporarily regulating the PCOS.

I’d say go for it. I may do so in the distant future.

Coronacurls · 03/08/2020 16:58

I'm going through eweightloss - if they get back to me!

MonkeysandParrots · 03/08/2020 17:15

@Seriouslyconfused3 oh no, that’s so disappointing, I hope it doesn’t come to that, did they give a sensible reason?

@Coronacurls am trying to remember, I think I got an email back within a few days with appointments for the psychologist & dietician. Liaised directly with Mr O for the operation date. If you don’t hear tomorrow (keep an eye on trash), happy to share all the contact details I have on pm if you’d like them.

Seriouslyconfused3 · 03/08/2020 17:49

Apparently a change in surgeons schedules. I understand it’s a bad time for it all right now but it’s making me wonder whether it’s meant to be

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Coronacurls · 03/08/2020 18:12

Thanks @MonkeyandParrots

Sofasogood1 · 03/08/2020 19:01

Sorry if this is a stupid question but why would you have to take your kids out of school and your DP would have to take leave??

@MonkeysandParrots I'm impressed you have managed yogurt!! Glad you're feeling alright