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?

I'm getting in only two glasses of water a day - I can't manage more

Ah it’s tough when you can’t drink water Laurie, I’m so thankful I haven’t struggled too much with that, it’s just a chore to continuously sip all day. They go on at you to up the water, and I must admit that when I’ve done 2litres a day the weight slides off. Have you tried the protein water you can get? I’m a fan of the bitter lemon and peach tea from my protein, it’s a powder that dissolves to a clear liquid so it’s like flavoured water/squash. 20g of protein per scoop and it goes towards your water intake.

Could you post a link to the protein water? I keep hearing people talking about it, but I’ve tried to look on Amazon and it’s just a maze of all different kinds of expensive protein things.

Surgery is seeming very real now. I’ve been pinged by the covid app so I’ve got ten days of isolation now, then after that it’s only 7 days until I need to start my liver reducing diet.

I really hope I don’t develop any covid symptoms while I’m isolated and end up very poorly because of my weight.

I sent Dh to Holland and Barrett in the early days for protein water and he couldn't find any

I think the waters a problem because I've always gulped a big glass or drank a small bottle down - this sipping lark is too annoying - I'm just not sitting down enough to drink

Another thing - I didn't have a period for 8 weeks - has not happened before in 35 years of periods! Must have been the shock to the body.

I’m deffo a water gulper. I can nail 500mls of squash in a few minutes. I’m wondering how well I’m gonna do at not drinking any fluid with a meal as well.

Interesting re the period. I’ve seen some people say they started their period the day of surgery in recovery after the op, earlier than it was due. Strange how it has such an impact. When I’ve done VLCD’s in the past I’ve always bled continually untill I started eating normally again.

Here (I love the rainbow candy one)
https://www.myprotein.com/sports-nutrition/clear-whey-isolate/12081395.html?affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&variation=12081396&thgppccampaign=71700000047779818&productid=12081396&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-fPbu-Ol7QIVSflRCh3j-AOkEAQYASABEgITvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

This post has really upset me.

I was repeated turned down for a referral to the bariatric department at 20, 21 and 22 stone. I'm 5'5".

I'm now 22 stone 8 pound. (Just beaten breast cancer, mastectomy, chemo and radiation) I'm so angry and utterly miserable. I need to get down to 14 stone to have breast reconstruction surgery, you'd think that this would have motivated me more.

I've tried slimming world and I'm currently trying low carb. I don't eat sweet foods, I don't eat rice, pasta or bread as my stomach doesn't tolerate them.

Could you self fund weight loss surgery?

That’s what I’m doing, it’s £11.5k so not cheap, but I’ve decided it’s a small price to pay for freedom from this tubby prison and my chance to be a mother.

My GP did refer me to the tier 3 service, but it all takes so, so, so long, even when you’ve jumped through all the hoops and have finally got on the surgery list it can still be a two year wait.

Have you gone into your GP armed with the nice guidelines? Or looked online for the referral criteria for the CCG in your area? If you’re happy to disclose a rough idea of your location I’m happy to have a google for you (I’m a nurse).

Im also a nurse (im on long term sick due to cancer and recovering from all that goes with it) and ive spoken to 5 different GPs at my surgery. The other 2 surgeries locally wont accept me as im "not in their catchment area"
2 referred me to the local weight loss hub who refused to help as i was beyond their limit. 1 told me to go to slimming world and the other 2 just told me to "eat less and move more"

Ive had a look at the CCG and i should have been automatically referred to the local bariatric clinic when my BMI was over 40.

Ahh, okay.

So do you think they’re refusing to refer you even though the guidelines say you should be referred?
Have you been seen by Tier 3? Normally if your BMI is too high for Tier 2 or have other complicating factors (perhaps your cancer) then you should be referred onto tier 3. But like I said, tier 3 is a long, long process to get through before you get signed off and moved onto Tier 4 (surgery tier).

You could write to the practice manager?

Not been seen by tier 3. Im afraid my GPs may be gatekeeping a little to effectively.

Ive emailed the surgery tonight requesting a referral to the bariatric clinic and my weight/height and quoting what the CCG say. So fingers crossed they actually do what they should do but given the world/nhs situation i fear it will be unsuccessful.

Fingers crossed for you, with your BMI category you absolutely should be referred if it’s what you want.

God, think I’m just having a taste of what life will be like with post surgery restriction. My boyfriend just dropped me a Sunday dinner from his mum at the front door as I’m in isolation, and I was so hungry for a proper meal (I’m a snacker and a picker when I’ve nobody to cook for) that I gulped it down super quick as I wanted to get on with some uni work and now I’m so, so, so uncomfortable. It didn’t even seem that big when I started eating, and I left quite a bit of stuff on the plate but I just feel so stuffed and like something is stuck. I need to do some big burps.

@QueenOfPain the ONLY thing that has caused me trouble post surgery is eating too quickly. It really hurts. Once it was so bad I brought the food back up. Never again!

Hi, just found this thread. I'm day 7 post op mini bypass in Aus (originally from the UK). Thankfully nothing like tier 3 hoops to jump through here but I do have private cover. Had post op bleeding (known but low risk) which has left me a bit anaemiuc which hasn't helped the energy levels. Other than that I'm just so over liquids. My surgeon didn't make me do the LRD. Water goes down fine, I'm not hungry I'm just craving something with a bit of texture.

Hi @divegirl77 sorry for the late response. How’s it going?

Does anyone have any meal ideas/meal plans they use now they’re on solid foods again? I’m struggling for inspiration

I'm plugging away on slimming world, as required by my GP. I am losing weight, but it's hard going. She's prescribed orlistat to help me along, and it's helped me over a very depressing stall month.

I've lost a stone in 8 weeks. I've been really careful. I'd hoped for more, given how hard I was trying. But every little helps. I've hit the 5% that they say makes a significant difference.

Will keep it up as long as I can, and see where I am at when I get to the end of the tier goalposts!

Thanks @picklemewalnuts slimming world might not be a bad idea for Recipe ideas. It’s hard going sometimes isn’t it? How far post op are you?

Sorry, I'm pre op, as in working my way up the tiers. I'm over 40 BMI and GP says I have to do slimming world first.

Ah right I see. God that is gruelling for you then. Still a stone off is great progress considering you’ve not even had your op yet!

What worries me more, is that I'm inclined to binge cycles. If I think about it too much, I get anxious and stuff myself! It's a vicious circle.
I'm holding it together, mainly, probably because lockdown means I'm not particularly stressed.

Still one day at a time.

Buy the fast 800 recipe book and just try some of the dishes. Gorgeous tasty food, life style changer. I feel like a new person 6 months in and no sign of yo yoing. Prepping the food has become my own therapy by taking back a bit of control with what and how I eat. I'd say if you're contemplating surgery, it's important to get the psychological support too. You can do more than you realise.

Thanks for that reminder Bristol- I bought it when I planned to do that rather than the SW the GP put me on. I'll get the book out- a couple of days a week doing that will help a lot!

The bit at the start of the book is really helpful explaining why full fat yoghurt, olive oil and butter are great at keeping you full. I love making the soups! Good luck everyone.

Don’t want to sound like a dick and it isn’t my thread, but if at all possible, could we perhaps not derail this into a generic dieting/weight loss thread? As there already plenty of those and post op weight loss surgery comes with its own unique set of nutritional rules and behaviours that are not comparable to SW or the like.

It’s very useful to have a thread specifically for those who are having or have had weight loss surgery.

Of course, if the OP doesn’t mind it then I’ll happily STFU.