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

Sorry I’ve not been on lately- new job! Sounds like everyone is doing fab tho. I’m 38 weeks out and 8lbs away from goal! Need to do some seriously toning up now though! Not so much struggling with loose skin but more general flabbyness! Totally lost my appetite right now tho- so am really struggling with protein. I’m anaemic too so back on iron tablets. It’s my own fault tho- I’ve just lost interest in food so am not getting proper nutrition.

How’s everyone feeling in the warmer weather? I’m really enjoying it for the first time in years

@Seriouslyconfused3 that’s fantastic about being so close to goal!! I can only dream of that right now!! Do you think you will be able to find an enjoyment in food again? Dies thus make u regret the surgery? I’ve been accepted for surgery but it’s abroad so it’s on hold for now until the travel restrictions ease. I’m still looking at uk clinics. Has anyone used nutrition/diet counselling or psychologist pre post surgery? I think it will be key for me so if anyone can recommend I’d appreciate it.

Thanks @Keepthefocus. Honestly it’s been life changing for me. I still get joy from food- I just don’t eat excessively anymore. Don’t get me wrong it was hard for the first couple of months- the purée phase was just awful. But now there isn’t anything I can’t eat- it’s all just in moderation.

Thank you @Seriouslyconfused3. That is great to hear! I’m expecting it to be horrible but with a positive outcome. I’ve an online appt with the tonic surgeon in Manchester. Although it’s so much more expensive than going further away I am seriously considering it. Just need to get my family on side!!

Great to hear everyone’s news! I’m nearly 8 months out and have lost 5 stone 3 :) It’s always been reasonably slow but it keeps coming off every week. Amazing.

I’ve also just tipped over into the 13 stone bracket which I don’t think I’ve been in since I was 30 (now 43). So happy!

On hair loss @CoronaCurls I had a lot of hair loss between 3 and 6 months post op. The dietitian said it was normal and a result of the big ‘shock’ to the system of having an operation followed by significant weight loss. It did stop though after 3 months. I take biotin but not sure it helped.

Hi, has anyone had a revision from a gastric band to a gastric sleeve?

I had a gastric band fitted about 10 years ago. My weight has crept up over the past 4 years or so due to eating 'slider food' and stuff that I find easy to eat, which is usually food that I shouldn't be eating.

I really miss eating 'normal' food like salad, meat etc as they get stuck.

I've been thinking of revision surgery for a while now, but I'm getting to the point where I really have to take action before all of the weight I lost post gastric band surgery goes back on. To be honest, I'm not really that far off that point. I feel very depressed about it all.

I'm in the Midlands and I had my gastric band surgery with the Hospital Group but I'm not overly keen to go back to that provider.

I hope there are some 'revisionists' around

I haven’t had a revision but I don’t think it’s that unusual - I went with Streamline and I think any of their surgeons should be able to advise you. Good luck.

Hi friends. I bit the bullet and dropped of of the NHS tier 3 and 4 fast track programme when they finally admitted they were running over 3 months.

So I’m doing it privately on the 19th! Just days away. I’m both excited and scared!!

Good luck @Hopetobe4mrfatty

Quick update, 60lbs lost since bypass at end of March. Enjoying smaller clothes but the hair loss has started. Not much can be done about that so just going to ride it out.

It was definitely the right decision for me, no regrets at all.

@RalphtheMouth I am having the vsg. Did you go all the way? Was it painful? PM me if you want to be overwhelmed with questions xx

Hi @Hopetobe4mrfatty, I had the full bypass - it was painful the first night and uncomfortable for about a week but nothing too terrible.

Feel free to PM with any questions.

Thought I'd update. I had my mini bypass14 weeks ago and I've lost almost 4 stone. I've never had any dumping, can eat most things and live life practically normally. I dont bother eating bread, pasta or rice though as they just fill me up too quickly for no taste!

Hi all, I have taken the decision to have sleeve privately. Thing is, I’m nearly 60 & still feel a bit ashamed that I have to lose the fat this way. Anyone feel like lifting my spirits a bit?
Surgery with Chris Sutton on 28th September…. I know I will be asking many questions of you lovely people between then & now!

Afternoon friends. After you had the vgs and came off water, what did you eat?

Ok, I am only outing myself because no one knows me here but I had bariatric surgery 10 years ago. I lost over 7 stone. I was not mentally prepared. I thought I was. Recovery physically was minimal but have gained a great deal of it back. I still can only eat small meals but nothing like just a 1/4 cup at a time. This takes nothing away from the success others have had. I am thrilled for each and every one of you. Just a cautionary tale. For me it is/was coming to terms with why I have such an eating compulsion. Working on that in therapy, have modified my eating habits and greatly increased how much I move in a day. Am down 34 pounds since the end of January. This is absolutely a marathon for me not a sprint.

Can I ask realistically how long people needed off work following sleeve surgery? My job is quite active/physical - think ward nurse level of activity and needing to be with it at work.

@Darkrainbow not less than 2 weeks in my opinion. I have a desk based job and I only felt mentally with it enough after 2 weeks to concentrate. I also still felt quite tired so I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything too active.

Also bear in mind you will still be getting used to much less food (and after 2 weeks you may not even be on food depending on your diet plan) so your energy levels probably won’t be normal.

Good luck!

Thank you @mind I'm thinking 4weeks off and then 2 weeks avoiding the most physically demanding bit of my job should do it? I will ask the surgeon what they think when I see them, I just want an idea as it will effect when I can have it done.

Yes your surgeon will know but I would have thought you’d be fine like that. My actual incisions and tummy didn’t hurt at all afterwards it was the tiredness and in the first week a bit of grogginess from the gas and anaesthetic.

Hey.

Hope You don’t mind me jumping in! I’m away to read this thread and the last but was wondering whether anyone could advise re gastric bands. I need to lose around 3-4 stone, I’ve been a serial dieter for years but just can’t shift it. It’s affecting my whole life right now. My mum is morbidly obese and has been all the time I’ve been alive… size 30+

I’m thinking of going private to have a gastric band fitted.. is this the best option? I’ve read a lot of stuff on the hospital website but they seem to give best and wurst scenarios as opposed to “this is how it is” and “this is what to expect”

Any thoughts/experiences anything would be appreciated, I’m sure I’ll have more questions once I’ve finished reading!

Hi @Redtartanshoes - although you can still pay privately for a band they’re not used in the nhs now as they don’t represent value for money. From my research I decided quite quickly that I wouldn’t have a band as I wanted to lose weight permanently and didn’t want a foreign object in my body.

Do lots of your own research - but the sleeve and bypass are seen as the gold standard for WLS now.

Hi all! So I’ve been approved for surgery (sleeve) and going for a date in October! I’m excited and nervous and feeling guilty at the cost to the family but I’m determined too. I’ve also started some psyc work on my relationship with food. So my question is for those who are on the other side. Once weight loss has been achieved- what is your eating pattern and types of foods to maintain. That is my biggest worry that I go through this and put my family in this position to not be able to keep it off long term. (Note my focus is to become active and be able to take part in sport better and with less complications to now)

@momtoboys Mindset is often neglected in WLS and, through my work, I have seen a lot of people who have regained substantial amounts after all procedures. Do you mind me asking what kind of therapy you have found that helped?
Good luck on the next part of your journey.

@Redtartanshoes I had a band fitted 4 years ago privately and am around 5 stone down, still have another couple to go but have stalled for the last year and need to get my arse in gear again.

As @MindBodyChocolate said they no longer do bands in the NHS but it's worth knowing that they are not cost effective, not just because the success rate is lower as they are easier to "eat around" but also because they require numerous appointments and clinic/staff time for fills after the procedure. Most people need at least 3 fills to reach any kind of restriction whereas sleeve or bypass don't need as much follow up if all goes smoothly.
I researched a lot before the op and went for a band as, in the event of anything being wrong, it could be removed and I was scared of anything that irreversibly changed my anatomy. I also knew 2 people with bands, one very successful, one less so and one person with a sleeve who has lost a lot of weight but is still heavier than she would like and constantly dieting and trying other interventions. I don't know if I might make a different decision now that the band has fallen from favour or if I might have just been too scared to do anything which would have meant staying heavier and less healthy.
Good luck with your decision

Hi Everyone
I had the vsg on 20 July, returning home to the U.K. Saturday just gone and have lost a stone. This is not the easy way to do it but I needed to. It is still early days but wanted to say “I made it” x

Hi @Hopetobe4mrfatty congratulations! Where did you travel to? Good luck with the recovery!!