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

Good luck @Jubilate.

Yes, the pasta was protein based - stuffed with meat/cheese and I ate it for 2 meals. And the bread has protein added to it (highly processed)

I have no sensitivity to processed food - my body works on consuming less calories

I was always able to lose weight if I ate 1000 calories a day - i was just never able to eat that for any sustained period as I was starving - made no difference if I ate satiated foods like meat/cheese - over the years I tried low carb/slimming world/dukan/south beach/Atkins/weight watchers

The biggest difference removing 80% of my stomach has made is that I'm no longer starving on 1000 calories.

Fantastic ! Revision - I really should have read the whole thread

Good luck @Jubilate!! Hope it goes well.

@AmsterDAMN I'm sure you think you are being helpful. But please remember, as this is a nice supportive thread, not everyone is the same or had /has the same attitude to food. Your post is judgemental where no opinion was actually asked for.

You may have a problem with processed food but this doesn't mean the pp you were replying to does. I trust they know their own body well enough to eat what works for them. As they say the difference with bariatric surgery means that they aren't starving on 1000 calories a day and their current eating pattern is working for them.

Best wishes @Jubilate let us know how it goes ill be thinking of you!

@LaurieFairyCake

Fantastic ! Revision - I really should have read the whole thread

No problem! It's a lot to plough through.

I can barely remember what day it is at the moment and I definitely can't keep up with who had what surgery and when

@GoingToInfinity in a teacher and had surgery 10 days before the start of term. I was ok - a little sore and I didn't and am still not doing lots of late days but each week it gets easier.

I knew I wouldn't be able to get the time off to have the surgery during term time if I asked so I went private as I knew could choose a surgery date and work around school.

Are you going private? Or are you having the OP via the NHS?

I'm 5 weeks post op tomorrow.

It's been a rollercoaster of a ride and I can't stomach many foods yet which is frustrating. At the moment I can manage 3/4 spoons of mash, a mini rice pudding pot and those cheese and meat roll things you can get from marks and Spencer's and that's about it. Chicken and other meat have been rejected by the sleeve and have come back out I also have a wound that's not healed yet and is requiring 2x weekly visits to the nurse.

Despite the above, I don't regret it and I have seen 3 different stone brackets since my LRD.
I can't wait until I feel more comfortable in my own skin and I don't spend every waking moment hating the body I am in.

Sending everyone who is earlier on in their journey positive vibes!

I'm having a bit of a low day tbh. My diet is puree from day 2 but I'm keeping it fairly light for now. I'm still getting hunger and not noticing loads of restriction on the thin puree.

The dietician and loads of people in support groups have siad this is normal. But I had a but of a wobble and a cry today. I'm really scared ill have done all of this and then I'll be the bloody odd bod who is still hungry.

Also I've come on my period. (because of fucking course!) so I'm adding that emotional and hormonal mess to the situation.

I just feel like so much is riding on this. I'm not expecting it yo be a miracle cure I know it's a tool. But it's so easy to worry it won't work whne I'm feeling hunger.

But then I think about if I'd normally had 50p cal in a day I'd be doing an armed robbery on a takeaway! So I do know logically there's some impact. But you know if I can over think ill do it!

I was so convinced I'd die on the table, despite being very low risk. I honestly felt like it would be my penance for being fat. Which is not true and rediculous. I was elated to have got through the op. I think that carried me over a few days. But now I feel emotionally I've dropped off a cliff.

So yeah anyway today has been a tough one. It's my partner's birthday on Mon and I managed to wrap some presents
But I'm feeling guilty it will be a bit crap for him. He's obviously said he's not bothered! But feel bad we can't have dinner out. I know it won't be forever though.

@SleevedOff sorry to hear about your wound. Which one is it? And do you know why its not healing?

One of mine definitely hurts more than the others. Second furthest from the left. I changed my dressings for the first time yesterday. It was a bit much as I'd hat a hot shower and no food so got a bit faint. But they seem to be doing well in terms of healing.

I'm shattered. Can't imagine teaching in a week or so. What age do you teach?

Lovely to have you all to catch up with. It's really helping me.

Neonplant

Totally normal to feel hunger - I found it really weird to feel hungry and not be able to eat. Loads of it was head hunger, took my head a good while to catch up.

@SleevedOff I'm on the waiting list for NHS tier 3 but that's over a year long in our area, let alone tier 4. I'm fairly certain private is going to be the only viable option and some relatives has offered to help me with the cost very kindly.

I'm thinking about getting it done at the start of the Christmas holidays so I'll have plenty of time to recover. I'm hoping as I'm part time anyway recovery should be slightly easier.

I'm not sure though whether I had surgery on a non-working day whether there's anything to prevent me doing that. As presumably once I've had surgery I'd be signed off of work. Ideally I'd minimise any impact on work by having it done on/near a holiday as I don't want to effect the kids/other staff, but it depends when I can get a surgery date.

@SleevedOff Three different stone brackets since LRD in that time frame is amazing!! Sorry to hear about the wound. I hope that it's not too long before it's fully healed.

@Neonplant it's perfectly normal to feel up and down for a while post surgery, so give yourself a break, do something nice, non food related of course - shower, lovely scented body cream, put on your best PJ's/lounging clothes and just be proud that you've taken a huge step into making your future a much brighter, healthier one.

You're in the healing phase, don't focus on 'restriction'. As @LaurieFairyCake said, it's likely head hunger, which is a real mind f**k for some.

I have been lurking for a while (named changed for this) and am delurking now and I have booked my gastric bypass for the 6th of October at BMI Alexandra. It's quite a way from my home area *South Shropshire) but after a horrible experience at Shrewsbury Nuffield, it seems OK. At least when I went for the initial consult it did anyway. I have to say I am quite nervous!

@Icecrown

I have been lurking for a while (named changed for this) and am delurking now and I have booked my gastric bypass for the 6th of October at BMI Alexandra. It's quite a way from my home area *South Shropshire) but after a horrible experience at Shrewsbury Nuffield, it seems OK. At least when I went for the initial consult it did anyway. I have to say I am quite nervous!

It's a big decision, and very anxiety provoking!

I had a bypass 4 days ago. It was revision surgery, to remove a problematic gastric band and convert to a bypass.

Whilst I can't do anything to alleviate your nerves, I would like to give reassurance that I am post op by 4 days and the only pain relief I have taken today is 2 paracetamol. I have 8 wounds, quite a bit of swelling and bruising, but minimal pain.

Prior to the surgery, I was absolutely terrified of post op pain. Not so much of the pain whilst in hospital for the 2 night stay, but pain when I got home; however, I've been worrying over nothing.

I really hope that your experience at BMI Alexandra is a good one. Who is doing your surgery?

Any questions, please ask

@RevisionSurgeryQ
Thank you for your reply. I am having it done with Prof. Senapati. My BMI is very high at 62 and so he thought a bypass was the best option by far.

Wow! That level of pain relief is very reassuring

@Neonplant feeling hunger is normal. I’m about 10 months out and I feel hunger - but normal hunger if that makes sense. I’ll have breakfast and then will start to feel hungry around lunchtime - just like my body is designed to! What is different is that I’m not constantly thinking about eating, not planning my lunch as soon as I get to work, not overeating. I get hungry, I eat something small and healthy, job done So don’t worry about hunger - it’s a good sign.

@Icecrown

I've read positive things about Professor Senapati. I would trust his judgement for the surgery that he thinks is right for you. I wish you the very best with your surgery and weight loss journey.

Initially when I was looking at revision surgery, I thought the sleeve would be suitable for me as my BMI was just under 40. But, as per medical advice, a bypass is a better option for revision surgery due to delicate scar tissue from the band that can cause leaks with a sleeve.

I panicked a bit at the word 'bypass' as it sounded so drastic, but my surgeon was very reassuring that it was the right option for me.

Hi all just checking in. Its been a week since my surgery! I've lost 13lb. Which obviously I know won't continue!

I've had a bit on an emotional day. It's my partner's birthday and we had our first little trip out which was exhausting! But nice to get out. We got some nice scented candles from tk maxx. So exciting. I'm getting fairly fed up of the puree now. But trying to think of it as healing rather than deprivation. Then when we got home I thought about how at this time a week ago I was going into surgery and how scared I was and got upset. I'm on my period too so that's bit helping!

I'm feeling quite achey and knackered a bit like when you have a cold. Did anyone else get this? I'm sure it's normal, I'm a week out of surgery and eating very few calories after all.

I've started to get a bit of anxiety about the future and if I've done the right thing and what if I end up with complications etc. Although I know my very good recovery so far makes this unlikely, I think it's just more a sign of my emotional state.

My partner is being amazing, doing everything and really supportive which in my state is making me weepy thinking about! So yeah juts a bit all over today!

Wow 13lb amazing!!!! I think you are entitled to be emotional so much has changed in just 1 week and ur head is catching up and ur body still has significant healing and adapting to do!! Rest.

What are you managing to eat??
I’m finishing day 1 of LRD. So far so good. It’s hard to think that’s me done with “the extras” I’ll not lie I’m extremely anxious.

Hello, thank you for all the well wishes. Surgery on Saturday went well. I don't think I was prepared for the recovery. The surgical incisions have been ok, but my stomach has been all varieties of unhappy over the last few days. That said, I'm noticing an improvement day by day and am now able to tolerate most of the stuff (liquids) I'm eating. I'm feeling hunger and thirst.

Another random effect is that I find everything too sweet. Including my toothpaste. So weird. I imagine it's a temporary side effect!

Congratulations @Jubilate. So pleased it all went well. Have you been sick? It’s good it’s settling now. Hopefully things will continue to improve. Any advice gratefully received.

Yes @Keepthefocus. Day after surgery, a couple of sips, stomach went into cramps and then sick and dizzy. I really wasn't prepared for it tbh. But I think everyone reacts differently. It passes but it's not easy!

Glad to hear @Jubilate

I haven't bern sick or felt any nausea beyond the minutes I came round after the anesthesia. @Keepthefocus so it's not inevitable! I feel like I've been pretty lucky with my physical recovery. I can drink water pretty easily too, which was one of my biggest fears.

I'm doing a bit better today emotionally. You're right in that so much has changed lots to adjust to. I'm not sleeping well at night so I've just had an epic nap, which lasted longer than I expected as my alarm didn't go off. Which will probs not help the sleeping tonight! So need to nip this on the bud! How are you doing energy wise?

I think a change in taste is common. I lived on iced soy lattes from Starbucks before. I know the soy milk they use is ever so slightly sweet compared to the one I use at home. But I had one yesterday on my first very brief trip out and it did taste quite sweet

Let us know how you are feeling post surgery as it is a lot!