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?

Do you feel no hunger any more @CoronaCurls? I still get hungry- I’m just satisfied a lot quicker now

I know that my stomach is empty but my head is no longer screaming at me that I need to eat is the best way I can describe it.

I could quite easily not eat at all but I take medication that goes down better with some food so I eat 500-600 calories most days, mostly protein shakes with lots of vegetables in.

Wow that’s impressive. I eat pretty much normal food and average maybe 800 jacks daily. Can’t stomach protein shakes tho

I've just got a vibration plate to exercise on - has anyone else tried one?

It is supposed to help with loose skin so I thought it was worth a try!

Never tried one myself but would be interested to hear how it works for you @CoronaCurls

I’ve never tried a vibration plate either - let us know if you think it works! I haven’t lost enough for loose skin to be a problem yet and I think - fingers crossed - my tummy will be ok. My upper arms however are a different story. I’m not planning on any plastics so sleeveless tops will probably never be my friend :)

@MindBodyChocolate When do you think you'll be able to tell skin wise? I'm sort of waiting to wake up one day all saggy!

Mine looks fine so far but its only been 3 months & still have minimum 40lbs to shift. My surgeon said he won't reccomned/refer for plastics for at least 12/18 months after reaching goal weight as the skin does improve itself a little after the weight loss stops. (To a degree)

I don’t know - I would have thought I’ll need to lose at least another 2 stone (3 lost so far) til the loose skin really reveals itself! The reason I’m more confident about my tummy is that I carried weight everywhere so never had a very big tum (well it was, but was in proportion!!) and I was also fine after 2 pregnancies. My arms are already looking a bit crepey and they probably are out of proportion to the rest of me (ie were very fat).

I’m not going to worry too much. My health is my main concern plus it’s not as if anyone apart from my other half ever sees me with no clothes :) I understand why ppl go down the plastics route but I’m not keen on another operation.

Oh no plastics for me either- it terrifies me

The only 2 operations I’ve ever had are gallbladder removal and the sleeve. Both were keyhole and physically, were very easy to recover from. The plastics look like massive ops!

I've had the same @MindBodyChocolate!

Also really don't want to have any further surgery for loose skin, hence trying the vibration plate.

I don't have loose skin yet, apart from my stomach, but have another 5 stone to go.

Totally agree. Health benefits of losing the weight will make any skin issues worth it. The surgery looks way too intense & painful for me so fingers crossed I guess

I’m finally onto purées as of yesterday! It’s wonderful! Haha.
Day 16 post op today and felt my restriction for the first time eating some cauli cheese and onion mash earlier.
Lost 1.6kg last week which is not as much as I’d lost in the previous weeks but I know my body is still perplexed by my unpredictable fluid intake.

Feeling more positive and mentally light than I have on quite a long time!

Well done @queenofpain. I went straight onto purées when I got home so you've done really well. What's your favourite?! I liked shepherds pie the best - it was a taste sensation after milk and yogurt :)

I think my favourite so far has been cauliflower cheese! Delicious!

Have had puréed lasagne for my last two meals it was nice but not mind blowing. Going to try cottage pie next I think.

Can I ask where you have all had your operations?
I was due to have a sleeve gastrectomy in April/May last year, (NHS), but of course it was cancelled.

The lists are so far from being opened, that I am contemplating paying for the surgery privately.
I am in West Yorkshire, so recommendations in the north would be gladly received.

I had my surgery at the BMI Alexandra in Cheadle, done by Mr Bilal Al-Khaffaf, went through a company called Tonic.

You get five years aftercare through tonic; surgical support - follow up calls with the surgeon for that five year period, bariatric nurse, dietician, psychotherapist and regular calls with their personal trainer.

Hi can I join in? My gp referred me to the weight management team last year. But it was just like going to the dietitian, she just asked what I ate and why etc. I’m over 50 years old I know how to diet it’s the keeping it off I can’t do. I lost over 9 stone with LL but it soon crept back on. I’ve now got a bmi of 68
and am desperate for a bypass but the management team said I don’t know how we can help you if you haven’t got a problem with food. That got sorted thanks to the therapy with LL and getting a divorce! I eat once per day. A healthy meal no chips cream cakes etc that skinny people and doctors think that you are eating but I can’t exercise as I’m disabled. Though even eating just a little bit I still can’t lose weight. If I’m not a candidate for surgery then who is! I’ve read about some of you going abroad for your surgery so I’m thinking about getting a loan and doing it. I’m just so desperate to get some of this weight off. I went on slimming world and put weight on ! The leader thought that I was lying yet the girl I sat next to had McDonald’s everyday. I think that a lifetime of yo-yo dieting has mucked up my metabolism. So do you think that it would work for me. Sorry for the essay. Well done to all of you that have done it and are planning on doing it. 💐

@Ladybird69 I think you should definitely look at having it done privately.

My experience with the NHS was that they were looking for any reason not to do it - apparently my eating was 'too dysfunctional' well no shit Sherlock perhaps that was why I was 10 stone overweight!!!

My lovely private surgeon was so positive and helpful. I had a sleeve in October last year and have lost half my excess weight. I has changed my life massively for the better already.

Go for it you won't regret it!

If I knew when the waiting list was due to re-open, I would probably wait to have it done on the NHS, since I was so near the top of the list. It is the not knowing.
We seem to have handed over all control to the pandemic and it's restrictions, and I think I can take back some control of my life by having the operation, even if I have to pay for it.
My savings won't be any use to me if I'm dead!

@PUER125 I’m in the same boat and have started enquiring today into going private. With the uncertainty on when an NHS date is likely to be offered, I feel I just can’t wait around any more.

Thanks @CoronaCurls when my Gp referred me to the clinic I asked her does that mean would be having the op and she said yes. Can I ask where did you have your op and what did you have? . I was on cloud nine when I left drs surgery then at hospital I saw a lady I don’t even know what she was tbh and filled in a questionnaire couple of phone appts and that’s it. Definitely not what I was expecting. I remember how I felt being 9 stone lighter and it helped me with my disability tremendously. I’m frightened about having the op and dying but then the way I am at the moment I’m not living either. @RalphtheMouth where are you thinking about going? I’m on disability benefits so there’s no way I could have it done here but I think that I could get together enough money for going abroad.

@Ladybird69 I have a consultation with Transform Hospital Group next week and waiting to hear back from Spire Gatwick and one other. Been waiting for two years on the NHS so far. Can understand other areas of the NHS need beds and resources much more that I do at the moment but it’s hard not having any idea when it’ll happen. The private providers I am looking at offer 0% finance, so may go down this route.

@RalphtheMouth it’s like torture isn’t it, them telling you that you can have the op and then keeping you waiting over 2+ years. They should at least keep you informed. I’ll take a look at those groups but I think that I’ve got it in my head to go overseas.

@CoronaCurls I meant to say that when I lost all my weight before I used the vibroplate in my gym workout. I lost 9 stone but skin wasn’t too bad afterwards. I don’t know if it helped or I would have had a good figure afterwards anyway but it doesn’t hurt to try.