Contemplating bariatric surgery.... advice?

[Seriouslyconfused3]

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?

Still nearly 3 stone in 2 months - that's amazing

It's taken me 2 years to lose 2 stone @ 1500 stupid calories a day

Best of luck today @LaurieFairyCake

@MonkeysandParrots you are doing brilliantly; my weight loss was quite slow at first and I cried down the phone to the dietician...then lost thirteen stone in one year lol so it all evens out in the end. Just keep doing what you’re doing.

@BillyAndTheSillies don’t worry too much about the LRD; mine was 4 pints of milk a day and it was grim but you do weirdly get used to it and it’s so worth doing. People do wake up to find their surgery didn’t happen as their liver was too big so it’s really important to stick with it

Had my surgery and am in a lot of pain. I can't lie down/sit down as you use your stomach to do that - so I'm walking round. They've given me morphine and a paracetamol drip - but got two hours to the next

I was in icu/recovery over 3 hours as my blood pressure went up massively during the op - the consultant came to visit me a few times in recovery but I've no idea what he said as I was so woozy. They had to give me a lot of fentanyl as I was in so much pain - 200mg over the 3 hours

I actually feel 10 times better than 3 hours ago - but I still feel bloody terrible

I've just been out to ask if I'm allowed anything to eat/drink as obviously it's now 3 days without food - I really wanted a coffee - but no, just sips of water.

I have to get through 3 litres of saline drip - the consultant said why but no idea

Bless you @LaurieFairyCake the first little while is rough. Walking around is the absolute best thing you can do, for the gas pain and stopping blood clots and just general healing. Walk walk walk and sip sip sip - when they do let you have a coffee it will be amazing!

I was in ICU for two days after my op as my blood pressure went so low - the opposite of yours - and I was quite gutted to be moved back to the ward Got used to my lovely nurse there!

You’re doing great. This part is just a very short period. You’ll start feeling the benefits in no time and it will all be worth it.

I'm actually hungry though - did NOT expect that

ICU for two days - oh god, you poor thing. This is such a major deal doing this. I feel like a warrior.

You ARE a warrior. You’ve done such a brave scary thing for your health and future. The hunger will pass and you’ll reach a point where you only eat because you have to. Then eventually you’ll be 18 months out like me and wish for those days again

I am due to get sleeved on Sunday covid test tomorrow and I am full of cold so absolutely dreading my op being cancled especially because I have the same surgeon as @Seriouslyconfused3

How you are feeling better @LaurieFairyCake

I am definitely doing a bit better even though it's the middle of the night. Keeping the morphine topped up really helps. My stomach is definitely pretty swollen as even taking the small amount of liquid the morphine is making me burp.

The nurse said there's others had them on my ward but you can't see anyone as we're all in our own rooms. There's more than one surgeon at my hospital who does them, mine was the only one he did yesterday.

Hope your cold goes down enough Zoe that you can have your surgery

i'd try hypnotherapy first.

Anyone know if they refund you for nights not taken in hospital ? They're thinking of discharging me today rather than tomorrow

The price included 2 nights in hospital

Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner Laurie, work went well but I was glad to only be doing Thursday/Friday as I was definitely well worn out after two shifts.

I’m surprised your doctor didn’t recommend you withdraw from coffee pre op, you’ll probably be feeling worse for caffeine withdrawal too. Are you allowed coffee as part of your post op diet? I was recommended to stay away from it for at least 6 weeks.

Yes coffee is on the list

I've just eaten my first meal. Was absolutely starving. Was consommé soup - thankfully full after eating it.

Has the pain in your stomach gone Hyaluronic ? I'm still doing the morphine every 4 hours and bending is impossible- getting in and out of bed is a mission

Well done @LaurieFairyCake - I hope you’re starting to feel better and glad the consommé went down ok!

I'm just awake now, going to brave the shower and get dressed.

I'm actually almost vegan and I've certainly never eaten chicken for 13 years - and the consommé was chicken Nice to see all my principles went out the window when I thought I might starve to death

@LaurieFairyCake it’s mad isn’t it I follow some one on insta who was veggie and since her op only wanted meat. But they say your tastes change x

I just can't bend at all, too painful and my stomach is like a football - apparently gas after surgery.

My boobs are pretty close to my waist so I'm not sure that's helping with the bending

Basically I can't sit down. I do have coffee though

What I'm really confused about is that there's no milk on the fluids list - yet I'm supposed to drink 1.5 pints of milk a day as soon as I get home Anyone know why?

I am 100% going to be drinking this as warm, slightly hot chocolate milk as I can't do cold drinks without burping. Warm drinks slip right down.

Good god so many medications

I have to inject myself for 28 days with blood thinners

Glad to see you are through to the other side @LaurieFairyCake. I think the milk is to do with protein intake - I actually enjoyed glasses of milk sipped slowly in the early days.

The different approaches and advice fascinate me. I had no advice to avoid caffeine so have been drinking coffee and tea since leaving hospital. I, too, only stayed 1 night - a refund of the unused other night would’ve been nice so let me know if you manage to get that 😆

@Zoecarter I hope you are feeling clearer and your surgery goes ahead.

I stayed the two nights but I'm home now. I had hot and sour soup liquidised from the Chinese restaurant and watered down for dinner.

Definitely getting better. So glad to get home to dog cuddles.

Struggling to drink the water with the soluble paracetamol in it - just makes me burp

SeriouslyConfused - have you got your date?

I'm now 3 days out from Op. Less pain but still have to keep the co codamol every 4 hours.

Everything takes so long. Taking painkillers as they're dissolved takes about an hour. I also take a capsule for arthritis and I just swallowed it whole - I emptied it into water yesterday but it tasted horrible. The stomach calming med omiprazole you have to take half hour before food. I've been up two hours and I'm just about ready to tackle a banana protein shake

I'm 5 pounds down since Monday morning - not really a surprise since I've had 2 bowls of watery soup and a few sips of hot chocolate. I am not counting this as real weight loss as it's not normal to eat fuck all

I'm working Monday so I'm hoping I make better progress pain wise. Also I can't have clothes touching my stomach, it hurts too much and I'm pretty sure I can't do work naked.

I am properly drinking coffee - there's no way I'm giving that up. It's my favourite thing.

Had gastric bypass 6 weeks ago, best thing I’ve ever done! Since the liver reduction diet I’ve lost nearly 3 stone already which the team at the hospital are pleased with but have said it’s actually a bit quick and they want me to eat more! I’m shocked how little I can actually eat and for the first time in my life I’m trying to increase my portion size (on the advise of the dietician) and they are encouraging me to drink calories and eat more carbs - I’ve always had to do the opposite before so it’s a bizarre feeling!
It’s completely taken the addiction side of eating away for me but most of that is thanks to the work I did mentally pre surgery! To anyone really struggling with their weight that have tried all other options first and can’t keep the weight off I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to people! It’s hard work and only a tool but it has made my life so much easier, I have more energy and get up and go- and it’s only been 6 weeks so I’m excited to see what my life will be like in 6 months ect!

That's amazing Twizzled

I can't wait to be 6 weeks down. I didn't have to do a LRD, just a liquid diet 2 days before surgery.