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?

Great @needtoloselots won't be long

@Seriouslyconfused3

It begins to feel really real when you start that ! I think I found that the hardest bit tbh ! Excited for you

@nandaandm

Hi I private messaged you but don't know if you got it as you wanted to ask me some questions ?

[quote luckylady22]@nandaandm

Hi I private messaged you but don't know if you got it as you wanted to ask me some questions ? [/quote]
I didn't get it, but I have googled the surgeon and sent an enquiry. Thank you xxx

This is such an interesting thread, I'm keeping this on my list and hoping all your surgeries go well.

@nandaandm
Aww that's good I wondered about you when you never replied ? It was a couple of weeks ago. Keep me posted how you get on ?

I was 125kg on day of surgery and I'm now 97.2 and that's in just under 20 weeks ! Very happy and still a bit to go but the difference I feel already is amazing

That’s brilliant @luckylady22 I’m getting nervous now. Followed a few us based Facebook groups but they’re quite negative- all about cheating and stomach stretching so I’m praying I’ll do well on it

@seriufrom the forums I'm on that is the exception rather than the norm

@Seriouslyconfused3 made a mess of that lol as I said I think that is the exception rather than the norm you do not feel hungry really ! well up until this point I haven't and you will still fancy the odd treat but you can't overeat or you will just be sick so as long as you listen to the advice of your surgeon/dietician and also your own body you will be fine and always make sure you focus on your protein intake first so you stay as healthy as possible.

@Seriouslyconfused, hi, I got a mini gastric bypass about 6 years ago. It was very successful. I lost 10 stone in one year. I ended up getting it reversed as I kept losing weight. I had to take ensure drinks to keep my calories up. I looked desperate, hair fell out and I would faint regularly. My periods stopped for 7 months too. I remember my surgeon saying he could fix my stomach but not my head. I went from a size 22 to a size 6 in one year, my head was fucked. I didn't recognise myself. I thought losing weight would make me happy, it didn't. I lost all my confidence. I was happier and more content being bigger. I became very angry. I would recommend counselling before any surgery and be totally honest with yourself. I'm now a healthy weight but I still struggle to have a healthy relationship with food. I wish you all the best for the future

Indie thanks for sharing. My op is coming up and the last few weeks all I've seen are negative posts. People posting about being sick constantly, losing hair, losing teeth, malnutrition, cravings, depression, anxiety etc etc. I don't know if my poor addled brain is on the lookout for these posts, but I've succeeded in completely terrifying myself. I'm not sleeping with worry and feel so so so guilty for putting my hubby through this worry. I also feel sad and angry that fat people in the UK are treated pretty badly by the nhs. I'm angry at myself too for getting to a point where I'm having surgery. It's such an emotional rollercoaster and the mental challenge is greater than the physical one. For me, there's no going back, I need to do this for my health. All i can hope for is no complications post surgery and if I did have them, a supportive gp who will understand the absolute desperation of someone who tried to take control of their health issues.

@Cuddlecouch I’m on my lrd now and I feel the same way. I think it’s anxiety taking over- I keep thinking I’ll be the person it doesn’t work for and I’ll have wasted so much money. It also terrifies me at the thought of leaving my kids- I keep wondering if I should write them a letter just in case

Keep the faith @Seriouslyconfused3 & @Cuddlecouch, remember that it’s far more common for negative experiences to get airtime as most people who are successful with the procedure then just get in with their lives.

All surgery carries risk - I’d suggest the risk of staying as obese as we are carries more.

We can do this! Looks like my op will be August 3rd.

You can all do this !!! Please try not to worry too much (easier said than done I know) x looking forward to hearing how you all get on and hearing your fantastic results

Thanks guys- the first day or the lrd is kicking my arse a bit if I’m honest. I’m just so hungry. I’ll stick to it tho but I think I’ll be having a few early nights this week

@Seriouslyconfused3 looks like I’ll be joining you sooner than i thought - spoke to surgeon earlier, op happening on Fri 31st.

What LRD are you doing?

I've got my date!! 14th August. It could have been sooner (end of July) but I have to come off the hrt patches a month before surgery (due to clotting risk). I've even told my children about it (they are 18 and 16 so needed to know). Now it's really happening!

Yey @MonkeysandParrots that’s brilliant news! I’m doing the vlcd prescribed by tonic. So far today I’ve had 30g of cereal, a splash of milk, an egg and a tiny slice of bread. I’m starving it’ll be worth it in the end though. Who have you booked with and which hospital?

That’s fab @needtoloselots which clinic and hospital have u gone with?

@Seriouslyconfused3 I've gone with healthier weight, Mr Singhal. I'm not going to be at the hospital I originally thought though, as it isn't opening yet. I'm going to be having it at one in Bromsgrove. Hopefully it'll be ok.

@Seriouslyconfused3 I’m booked with Mr Osborne through eweightloss, surgery here in Bristol. Just ordered a load of huel powder for lrd, shakes are easier for me than tiny portions.

I think I’d prefer the shakes to be honest- I’m finding tiny portions a challenge. Am counting down until dinner time tonight (how depressing is that).

How are you both feeling about the surgery itself?

@Seriouslyconfused3
LRD is so hard as you still want to eat and feel hungry all the time whereas after surgery you won't feel like that