Bariatric surgery no.2 thread

[Seriouslyconfused3]

For everyone following from the last thread...

If you’re new please feel free to join in and share your experiences

@BigToLittle I went with GetSlim, I've been really anxious since I got back but that's not a reflection on them, just my anxiety in general. I went to Ekol with Dr Ismail and my recovery, physically, has been brilliant. The reviews for them are very good. I felt that we didn't get the same care as most people get while there but it was fine. It definitely is scary going to somewhere like Turkey but they do make you feel at ease there. I think if I had to go again I would choose Godze though, Ekol was a hospital in a very busy town and was all very hectic, Godze seems like a nicer place to sit and relax.

I've heard good reviews for GetSlim but it'd worth noting there was a recent case where a young woman unfortunately died. And there is some confusion over what procedure she had.

They do have very happy customers though too and obviously any surgery carries risks regardless of where it's carried out.

@GreenEyedMonsterMunch and @LadyShmuck - thank you both so much for your feedback. I think I have 80% made my mind up... just need to speak to a few people about their real experiences I think!

Thanks @AwFeebs - I think its the first thing most people do when they're contemplating going abroad is look up the horror stories and work their way back from there to the positives. Or maybe thats just me lol :)

@AwFeebs it's worth mentioning the surgeon whose patient died doesn't work with Get Slim any longer.

I went to Gozde and if I went back I think I'd go to Ekol haha! I do think the reviews on the Get Slim pages are very 'rose tinted glasses' it does feel a but rushed and like a conveyor belt of people going into surgery especially the pre op stuff. However I do think the care was good and I don't have any real complaints about it.

Can I ask if anyone who has had surgery has also considered joining Food Addiction Anonymous or something similar to help you cope longer term and get the full benefits of this opportunity.

Or is that not a consideration for most?

@summeriscomingsoon I had therapy before I had WLS so I went into it with a clear head.

It has helped so much to have worked through all my bad habits with a psychotherapist; I would definitely recommend it.

It wasn't cheap, but neither was the surgery and it has made a huge difference to the success of the op.

Also I felt that I was worth investing in

Yes, another one here who had therapy before hand. Though thankfully on the NHS, as you can self refer to a specialist Eating Disorders service in my area (subject to their assessment and acceptance into therapy) so I had a year of therapy and CBT for binge eating disorder before I’d fully decided to go for surgery. I really needed to do it, that year was really hard and I found it quite destabilising and was low in mood a lot of the time, partially due to just realising the breadth and depth of my issues with food, but I really needed to do it.

My surgery package also comes with a psychotherapist but tbh her contact has been minimal apart from the initial assessment.

It’s massively beneficial to do the therapy before hand so that you already know your triggers and problem areas. I’m much better now at identifying when I’m having emotional hunger rather than actual hunger.

@LadyShmuck that's good to know. It's so hard as you don't know how strictly the companies FB groups are monitored...

@CoronaCurls

Yes, we're all worth investing in and we must remember that ❤️

Hello, I've name changed so I can join in freely! I've read most of this and the previous thread. I've been thinking about WLS for the past two years. I have a BMI of 46. I did a lot of work with a dietician to stop yo-yo dieting and Intuitive Eating. It worked in that I stopped fixating on food and I've kept the same weight. I've really tried to embrace body positivity, but I can't escape that I'm really quite depressed, I feel like life is passing me by in a flurry of missed walks with my kids, triggering photographs and a constant search to find clothing that fits and looks appropriate for someone in their 30s. I've been overweight since pre puberty apart from a couple of successful ( but fleeting) diets.

I've made contact with my local bariatric surgeon. I'm scared I've got this far and I'm going to be told no (does that happen?). Paying to go private. I feel like I'm on the edge of a precipice and scared to step off. This thread has been great. I'm scared, I'm excited at the prospect of not being obese but... yeah.

Welcome @Jubilate.

It’s almost certain you won’t be turned down for surgery, especially if going private. Only complications might be if you had lots of unstable medical conditions or things like that, even then it would be a “go away and come back when things are more stable”. But if any medical problems are well controlled then you’ll be fine, and if they anticipate a complicated anaesthesia recovery then they’ll book you an ICU bed to return to from theatre so you’ve got enhanced monitoring.

Good luck with everything, I’m sure you’ll be glad you’ve done it, especially as you’ve already done the mental work.

Hi @Jubilate - I don’t think you need to worry about being turned down but I’d do as much research as you can so you can have an informed discussion with your surgeon. Good luck with everything - I too really tried to embrace my size but it just wasn’t me. I’m aiming for a 7 stone loss but even having lost 4, I feel so much better physically and mentally.

Thank you both. I have no underlying health issues, and any I have had have been resolved (apart from the obesity and depression!!). I have been reading a lot. I know I might be given advice by the surgeon but how to people decided between the sleeve and the bypass?

I wanted the sleeve but the surgeon advised the bypass as I’ve had reflux in the past. Reflux is known to get much worse with the sleeve in a lot of people, so I just trusted his advice on that.

I’ve had no reflux since, but I’m on 60mg of lansoprazole a day for the first year post op, to protect the anastomoses between my stomach and bowel from ulcers and erosions, etc.

I think it’s a case of doing a lot of reading and research. The bypass is more invasive but is reversible in the worst case scenarios of malnutrition and uncontrolled excess weight loss. The sleeve is less invasive, but not reversible.

A lot depends on your BMI and how much you have to lose, which the surgeon will discuss with you when they make their recommendation.

Thanks @QueenOfPain I think that's what I had worked out. I have had reflux in the past and a family history of oesophageal cancer, so wondering if the bypass might be better. I'll take the guidance though. I think I knew the bypass is reversible which, at this stage, feels important but I know there is a good chance it won't matter.

I think a history of reflux will probably mean you’re recommended the bypass but your surgeon will advise you. I had the sleeve - no history of reflux - but was also considering a mini bypass (this is one join with the intestines rather than two - I think!!)

Although not everyone has the side effects (called dumping) some ppl choose the bypass as you’re less likely to be able to tolerate sweet things. I didn’t have a sweet tooth so didn’t feel I needed the extra motivation to avoid sweets.

Most studies indicate a pretty similar overall weight loss and success rate with bypass and sleeve as well so it’s your choice!

It’s worth noting that although the bypass is technically reversible, it’s a much more dangerous and complicated surgery to get reversed than getting the bypass done in the first place. And is only done where the considerable risk of reversal is outweighed by severe malnutrition that literally poses a risk to life, so I certainly wouldn’t hinge a decision on the reversibility of it.

You’re unlikely to have that level of malnutrition with either surgeries, but obviously it does happen to some people, and part of the bypass procedure deliberately creates malabsorption and therefore malnutrition which the sleeve doesn’t do. But of course with supplements and b12 injections and a varied and balanced diet most people with a bypass won’t be malnourished either.

I think when you talk to your surgeon and have their option you’ll know the right way to go with it.

Good luck!

I agree with @QueenOfPain - the first surgeon I spoke to said I shouldn’t view the bypass as reversible. Despite having done hundreds of surgeries he’d only done a couple of reversals and said they were horrendously difficult.

Day 14 of my Liver Reducing Diet, and I am 1 stone 3lbs lighter.
Just one more week until my surgery.
The only people who know are my husband, (of course), my son, and a couple of friends. I keep thinking I should tell the rest of the family, (siblings), but then I think, I haven't seem them for a year, I am unlikely to see them anytime soon, I might as well just present the new me when we next meet. Is that wrong?

Hi @PUER125. Well done on your LRD. I’m one week in and 12 lbs down.

What day are you having the op? I’m 26th.

My husband and children know plus my best friend and sister. Was worried about telling my sister as she is a worrier, but she was v supportive. I haven’t told my brothers yet and like you won’t see them for a while. Not planning on telling anybody else.

Well done @RalphtheMouth.
My op is on the 27th, I am having a sleeve, at The Alexandra in Cheadle. We shall have to compare notes, and act as each other's support since our surgeries are at the same time.
Glad to hear it's not just me keeping family in the dark about the surgery. I don't intend hiding the fact I have had surgery, I just don't want any negativity beforehand

@Jubilate

Thank you both. I have no underlying health issues, and any I have had have been resolved (apart from the obesity and depression!!). I have been reading a lot. I know I might be given advice by the surgeon but how to people decided between the sleeve and the bypass?

My understanding is that the bypass offers the same absorption of medication as the sleeve, in case you were wondering about that as a factor if taking medication

@PUER125 I'm also at the Alexandra for a sleeve but on the 12th April.

I'm so excited now.

I'd recommend the book living with bariatric surgery. It's helpful for trying to get in the right mindset for surgery.

Hiya,
I'm new to all of this, I've had a Tier 3 referral put in to my GP and first appointment is tomorrow. I'm not sure what to expect or if weight loss surgery is something I want. I have very little information at the moment but my weight has caused significant medical issues recently so there's now a sense of urgency to me losing weight. I have a complicated mental health history and I'm worried about that impacting any eligibility.

Any advice for tier 3 process gratefully appreciated 🙏

@PUER125 yes, we can definitely support each other. Covid and one more blood test then set to go. I am sure they make you do the LRD so you start actually looking forward to pureed food which is not something I ever thought I’d say!

Can’t wait to get it over with now. Are you getting nervous?