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

@QueenOfPain thanks for replying. Oh gosh, my GP never said how long it would be but said I could ask for a cancellation when I meet the team 🤣 sounds so silly now I’ve read up on it and how long it’s likely to take. Can I ask is there a chance they can refuse me? I mean obviously I know if they think I’m not committed they could but with a BMI over 40 and no pre existing conditions ( borderline diabetic type 2) appreciate any knowledge anybody can offer

@Seriouslyconfused3 I am always googling before and after pictures for motivation, if you’re happy to share it would be great 😊

Streamline surgical ask for the milk LRD, I wonder if they’d let me do a VLCD instead? I’ll ask. How many calories were you restricted to? Anything would be better than trying to force down 4 pints of milk a day 🤢

Hi @MananaForever - I did the milk diet for 2 weeks and I don’t particularly like milk :)

I’d say that once you get to 2 weeks before surgery and you have to do it, this helps. Remember it’s a liver reduction diet which needs to be done for safe surgery. It isn’t particularly pleasant- especially to start with - but it does get easier.

My dietitian recommended a half milk half plain yogurt approach - this was good as the yogurt provided some texture.

I had crusha (I didn’t particularly like it but it made the milk palatable), cappuccinos, plain Greek yogurt, sugar free jelly and miso soup.

It’s tough but make yourself a schedule and stick to it. You’ll be healthy for the surgery and will probably lose some weight as a fortunate by-product of the diet.

Good luck. End of may will roll round fast!!

Just in case anyone doesn't know this (and I had forgotten to renew my prescription!) Lanzoprazole reduces stomach acid and makes it easier to eat all food/drink

I get pain in my back and feel weird from eating anything bigger than a couple of teaspoons if I haven't taken it in the morning

It's one tablet in the morning without food

Back to being able to eat anything (including gin and broccoli 🥦- my two favourite things!)

I'm now 33 weeks since surgery and a size 14 (39 pound loss). Still losing a pound a week - but not every week, it's just in hindsight. 2 stalls of not losing weight for 3/4 weeks and then woosh it's gone again.

I’m on Lansoprazole 30mg twice daily for the first 6 months post op, then I drop down to once daily for another year. Dunno if it’s to do with me having the bypass though and needing to protect the anastomoses from acid.

I’m on lansoprazole once a day too. Surgeon advised it for 6 months which I’m now at. I think I’ll carry on with it at least for a while as it’s only one tablet and so far I’ve had no problems whatsoever with eating or different types of food.

I've started taking a 2nd omerprazole through the day to see if it can help me eat a little better as I've gone a bit backwards and can't eat much without bringing it back up again. Hopefully it helps!

Has anyone been 'out' yet since being sleeved? Like a pub etc? Just wondering how you got on with drinks/food.

@GreenEyedMonsterMunch I’ve been out to lunch - luckily a tapas restaurant and had part of a tortilla and some cheese. It was ok actually and so
nice to get out!

I cant wait to go 'out' for food. I will eat a starter, skip the main so it gives me a break as I can only eat small amounts - and then hopefully have enough room for a small dessert

If not DH hoovers up anything I don't manage

I’ve been out! I was sleeved 6 months ago but because of lockdown it was my first meal out last week. it was quite informal so ordered a couple of small plates and had about half of each. DP and DSs ate the rest. It was really good, didn’t feel pressured to eat/order more and didn’t feel I was missing out on anything. In fact it was nice to focus more on being ‘out’ and enjoying myself rather than focusing on the eating which I always used to. Roll on more outings!

I’ve eaten out- just made sure I chose something I could share with my ds (he’s a bottomless pit). Only weird bit is the lack of drinking (not booze just in general)

@Cupcakefairy12 I'm the same as you. I was referred last week by my GP, although not to my hospital of choice. So I'm brand new to this world.

I have an appointment to see the consultant tomorrow. Trying to think of questions I want to ask...

@Jubilate how long did it take you to get to this stage if you don’t mind me asking?

I think maybe 6 weeks. I've also had a dietician appointment. I'm going private as there is no NHS provision near me.

Hi there my partner is thinking of weight loss surgery he is 24 stone nit sure of BMI, severe sleep apnea and ED basically its ruining our relationship and his quality of life.

Currently helping him research options, surgeons clinics so any advise woukd be great.

He is currently on the NHS diet workshop but he really needs help sooner rather than later. I can only imagine the wait list after Covid.

We are looking at private options so please any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks very much x

Forgot to mention we are South East/Essex area

Hi @NaughtyNell - I went with Streamline which has several excellent surgeons who operate in London / south. Their package includes a dietitian too. It’s around £10k for the package. Have a look at their website which has lots of info. My surgeon was Ali Almandani and if you google him he’s done several videos on options.

People also speak highly of Tonic who offer similar options. I don’t know about waiting lists for private surgery now but it’s months vs years on the nhs.

www.streamline-surgical.com/weight-loss-surgery-treatment-options/?gclid=CjwKCAjw7diEBhB-EiwAskVi178MQoLcdHKnqOhHAvY_26vzZhUJ6XQOixuhnqpAf9HMtBjnAKrFIhoCXoYQAvD_BwE

Good luck!!

Thank you, I did not trawling through this and previous thread that Streamline was mentioned alot and Tonic so thanks will have a look x

Sorry I did notice that was meant to say

How was your experience with them please Mindbodychocolate

Hi @NaughtyNell I went with Streamline too (Chris Pring) - can’t fault them at all. Had 6 week follow up Thursday with surgeon, plus calls with the nurse and dietitian in the weeks after surgery. Also had a call this morning from their support group, so after care v good.

Streamline has been very good. My surgeon was excellent and the dietitian very helpful too. I was booked into their harrow hospital but because of COVID pressures they rearranged me to the London clinic for the same day. I was very pleased with the hospital and care received.

It looks like the consultant will leave it up to me to decide which surgery to have. I have 9 stones excess weight. My gut (if you'll excuse the pun) is to opt for the sleeve, but I'm worried that I won't get the weight loss I want (somewhere around 6-8 stones, which is a bit higher than the 65% average he quoted). To be fair the difference between the sleeve and bypass only works out at about a stone for me. I suppose I'm apprehensive about going through surgery to have a small weight loss.