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A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Bariatric surgery no.2 thread

999 replies

Seriouslyconfused3 · 31/01/2021 21:17

For everyone following from the last thread...

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

OP posts:
pcosstruggler · 28/09/2021 17:34

Congratulations, @Jubilate !! Hoping that things settle down for you quickly!!
I just got a phone call inviting me to the clinic within the next couple of weeks. I'm guessing this is pre-op assessment!

NCForthisxox · 29/09/2021 06:47

I had my op I feel fine apart from being tired and the need to constantly sip

NCForthisxox · 29/09/2021 06:49

The actual operation was horrendous I woke up as he was slicing me the doctor asked was I awake and I said yes I started freaking out at the end and shouting I want to go home. I wanted a tummy tuck and implants next year but I'm terrified of waking up.

RevisionSurgeryQ · 29/09/2021 08:22

@NCForthisxox

The actual operation was horrendous I woke up as he was slicing me the doctor asked was I awake and I said yes I started freaking out at the end and shouting I want to go home. I wanted a tummy tuck and implants next year but I'm terrified of waking up.
This sounds horrific! You woke up at the beginning of your surgery as you were being cut open? I sincerely hope that you are okay after that ordeal.

I'm one week post op today. I have one week left on liquid only and I'm so fed up of milk shake type protein drinks and 'milky' drinks. I have an awful metallic taste in my mouth which is tainting everything. Even my favourite drink, tea, doesn't taste nice Sad

Can anyone give me any suggestions for refreshing drinks that contain protein please?

Neonplant · 29/09/2021 09:21

@NCForthisxox that's awful. Although very rare. I was worried about this. So the anesthetist talked me through the monitoring and said BP and heart rate would increase before consciousness if that was happening.

How are you doing now?

Neonplant · 29/09/2021 09:22

@RevisionSurgeryQ I got some clear protein water powder from my protein. They could be an alternative to the milky stuff. I don't drink milk, soy milk is high ish in protein but probably not refreshing.

NCForthisxox · 29/09/2021 13:38

[quote Neonplant]@NCForthisxox that's awful. Although very rare. I was worried about this. So the anesthetist talked me through the monitoring and said BP and heart rate would increase before consciousness if that was happening.

How are you doing now?[/quote]
I'm ok drinking milk , I still feel a bit frightened over the experience my OH didn't come with me due to looking after DD but if I have any other surgeries I want him to be there as that would have made me feel better.

Keepthefocus · 30/09/2021 13:03

Hi all I hope you are all doing well. I’m on day 4 of LRD and still so far so good. I’m on a real food diet for now from a list of approved foods (basically 800kcal high protein low carb no sugar). I plan to move from tomorrow onto meal replacement (exante) which I think will get tougher. My question is this - the hospital called with my pre op instructions- she said I had to have a purée diet the day before. I confirmed I would be on a meal replacement shakes and soups by then - was that ok? She said I might want to have something more substantial as long as it’s puréed. Bearing in mind I will be traveling what could I make to take in a flask? Or should I still follow the meal replacement?

alldressedupinblue · 30/09/2021 13:48

Hi, I have just received a date with Guy Slater to perform NHS Bypass at Chichester. Will be 1 November.

Any buddies around having surgery around the same time? Has anyone been given details of LRD?

Thanks 🤞

Jubilate · 30/09/2021 15:51

@Keepthefocus could you take some soup? Buy a really nice one and give it a blend to remove any chunks?

Jubilate · 30/09/2021 15:54

Day 5 post surgery. I am bloody starving and keep fantasising about food. Tummy pains and nausea seem less. Tongue resembles a retro draft excluder.

Keepthefocus · 30/09/2021 17:55

Thanks @Jubilate yeah I think maybe soup is a sensible option. Oh no it must be so frustrating to be so hungry. It does seem like it’s a common effect after the surgery but it passes once you get more solid food. How long are you on liquids for?? Why the issues with ur tongue? How are you healing? Are The wounds and ok?

Neonplant · 30/09/2021 17:55

@Jubilate

Day 5 post surgery. I am bloody starving and keep fantasising about food. Tummy pains and nausea seem less. Tongue resembles a retro draft excluder.
What are you eating at the moment? I'm feeling quite hungry today too!
Neonplant · 30/09/2021 17:58

@Keepthefocus yeah I'd puree something like soup you don't eat for the whole day of surgery and normally the next day very little. So I'd eat something substantial.

Keepthefocus · 01/10/2021 20:12

How’s everyone doing today? LRD day 5 and I’m hungry.

Kummerspeck · 01/10/2021 20:30

@RevisionSurgeryQ - Do you mind me asking what problems you had with your band? I have a band which, luckily, is good so far although my weight loss has stalled somewhat short of where I hoped it would go.

I was talking to one of the nurses at a clinic appointment recently who was telling me that revision surgeries are becoming more and more common and I'm very curious about it

UnknownFemale01 · 01/10/2021 20:39

So I had my tier 4 seminar yesterday, looks like the process is another 6 months of groups/appointments with a 5 percent weight loss goal before you are put on the waitlist and even then they aren't doing elective surgery due to covid so could be 1 year plus.....I am needing a revision (band removed in May).

I have had enough of jumping through hoops, my age is against me for losing weight before TTC. I spoke with the lovely people at Tonic today and have my surgeon consultation next Friday. Looking like Bypass in Manchester in November is the plan! Ahhh! It's a bit more expensive as although my band was removed I guess it might be a trickier operation due to scar tissue etc

I applied for my loan and got it put in my bank a few hours later, good rate too, about 4%.

Looks like this is happening all being well with my appointment. I weighed myself today to send my medical forms in to Tonic....heaviest I have ever been, BMI 42.

Onwards and downwards!

RevisionSurgeryQ · 01/10/2021 21:27

[quote Kummerspeck]@RevisionSurgeryQ - Do you mind me asking what problems you had with your band? I have a band which, luckily, is good so far although my weight loss has stalled somewhat short of where I hoped it would go.

I was talking to one of the nurses at a clinic appointment recently who was telling me that revision surgeries are becoming more and more common and I'm very curious about it[/quote]
I had my band 10 years ago. I lost most of the weight I needed to (would have liked to have lost another 5 to 7lbs but it didn't happen and I was okay with that). Then my band had a suspected leak as the fluid, when checked, wasn't as per the record card.

From then on, I could never get the correct restriction. The band was either too loose or too tight. It would tighten on its own if I felt stressed/anxious/unwell. And another fluid check showed more fluid than was supposed to be in there.

I experienced years of pain at the site of the port for no reason (the pain was worse at night) and I started to regurgitate food and drink despite the fact that I never ate fast and chewed everything to a pulp and I did not drink at the same time as eating. I also experienced a fair amount of 'vague pain' in the area where my stomach is.

The band would not tolerate so many foods that I should have been eating and had previously enjoyed at a time that the band had more fluid in - lettuce, peppers, carrots, broccoli, tomatoes to name a few; it just didn't make sense why, when there was less fluid in, I couldn't tolerate certain things.

This increased my anxiety with eating, particularly around other people.

I never ate after 8pm, but I'd go to bed and feel as though I was choking.

I began to hate the band. Dysfunctional eating started and I was gaining weight due to eating around the band/slider food. After doing a lot of reading, I felt that the band had reached the end of its life and I wanted it out of my body as the pain was pissing me off and I was getting fatter.

I hope this helps Smile

@UnknownFemale01 - good luck with your surgery. Even though your band has been removed, we are always classed as 'revision surgery' so it does cost more.

I am 9 days post op, band to bypass. From day 3 I have not taken anything other than paracetamol. I have not taken any pain relief today as I am not in any pain. I put this down to the skill of my wonderful surgeon.

This was not the case when I had the band - I needed pain relief for weeks afterwards.

RevisionSurgeryQ · 01/10/2021 21:42

@Keepthefocus

How’s everyone doing today? LRD day 5 and I’m hungry.
@Keepthefocus - as your user name says, keep the focus Grin. During my LRD week I kept on saying 'it's a means to an end' out loud, talking to myself. I recall when I had my band 10 years ago someone in the bariatric forum I used to belong to was closed back up as she hadn't done the LRD. I kept that in my mind too.

You can do it!

Today has been my best day post op. No pain at all. I hope it lasts.

Kummerspeck · 01/10/2021 21:57

@RevisionSurgeryQ Thank you. I'm on a couple of FB groups and it seems to be a constant refrain from WLS patients with all procedures that they wish they'd had more info before surgery. I certainly wish I'd had more although I work in the NHS and have seen a lot of things that have gone wrong so was terrified of that and the band was more easily reversible than others so I may have stuck with it anyway.

Icecrown · 01/10/2021 22:01

@Keepthefocus
I'm day 16 of my LRD, gastric bypass 6th October. It hasn't been easy but I have some weight. When is your surgery?

Icecrown · 01/10/2021 22:02

'Lost' that should say.

RevisionSurgeryQ · 01/10/2021 22:12

[quote Neonplant]@RevisionSurgeryQ I got some clear protein water powder from my protein. They could be an alternative to the milky stuff. I don't drink milk, soy milk is high ish in protein but probably not refreshing.[/quote]
Thanks for the tip. I made the purchase on the day of your post for 2 flavours. They're due to arrive tomorrow. I'm looking forward to Peach Tea protein powder mixed with water.

I hope it's more refreshing than milky Ufit protein shakes and milky drinks.

UnknownFemale01 · 01/10/2021 22:23

@RevisionSurgeryQ thank you, I too had problems with the band. It basically turned me bulimic, I could eat slider foods and anything else including healthy for foods like vegetables were too uncomfortable to eat. I could eat a Domino's pizza a few bites at a time and just keep returning to the toilet to purge it all. I'm hoping the bypass will be better for me in this sense, I love my chocolate and ice cream which I won't be able to eat.

Neonplant · 01/10/2021 23:06

@RevisionSurgeryQ

I actually just made my first protein water today. I blended it and it went white / cloudy. I was very skeptical but I left it an it was clear later. Tasted good with ice. I have the apple one.