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

I'm 6 weeks post bypass surgery. Ive been hungry and was reaching up to 700 calories but the dietitian says I should aim for 500 calories and drop protein drinks and aim only for protein with texture.

How many calories are others at?

@RevisionSurgeryQ and @Icecrown thank you. I am sticking to the LRD to the letter I think that’s why I’m so hungry!! I’m so terrified if I don’t I’ll ruin my chances!!! I have lost weight already! Which helps a bit. I will also be doing 16 days total LRD my surgery is on 13th 🙀. Very glad to hear ur recovery is going well @Revision really helps with my nerves to know there’s light at the end of this. Are you hungry too like the others? Good luck @icecrown!! Nearly there now!!

Woken up really early by my partner's alarm and feeling mentally shit. So having a moan here. My partner went out with friends for some drinks last night as it was his birthday this week. I didn't go as I'm 13 days post op.

He got in late and was drunk disrupting my sleep. Then fell asleep while I was still awake! The he'd left his fucking 6am alarm on. So I'm now awake and fuming while he is still asleep.

I feel like I'm probably being a bit of a dick as he's done everything for me since I came home and we couldn't do much to celebrate his birthday. So I do think he deserves to have a nice time. But like could it be less irritating to me?!

When I get like this I find myself picking at everything and can end up feeling quite low and weepy. I also find it hard as what I'd probably normally do is go to our lovely local bakery and try and rescue my day with a nice breakfast and reset my mood, but now I just feel like that's entirely been taken away, which I know is probably what I need and what has to happen. It was probably behaviour like this which made me fat.

But it's hard to go through a really emotional and uncertain time without one of the things you'd normally rely on for socialising, connection and boosting your mood.

I think now is especially hard as I'm on the puree stage so it's not like I can have a mini version of something nice to eat.

Go sorry this post is a pity party, just feeling like shit this morning and it's not even 8am

@goingslowfornow

I'm 6 weeks post bypass surgery. Ive been hungry and was reaching up to 700 calories but the dietitian says I should aim for 500 calories and drop protein drinks and aim only for protein with texture.

How many calories are others at?

I wasn't given a calorie or protein goal. I get the impression the approach from NHS dieticians is to get away from calorie counting. As it's part of the cycle of deprivation / binging for a lot of people and can lead to focusing too much on what you can have rather than being full and listening to your body.

Also 500 feels very low!

@neonplant I don't belong on this thread but I check from time to time to see how you are all doing and quietly wish you all well.

You have described how you feel so eloquently - I really feel for you. I hope your day gets better!

@Keepthefocus

Are you hungry too like the others?

I'm not feeling physical hunger at all. I went to the supermarket last night, my first outing, with DH and felt quite detached from all of the rubbish food I'd usually put in the trolley. I have a friend coming over later for lunch and was able to buy her and DH pudding/cake without having any desire to eat it myself.

I feel 'hollow', perhaps that's the feeling that's replaced hunger? I don't know.

@Neonplant I am so sorry to read what's happened and can totally understand why you're feeling so upset. Any post op recovery is tough, but add the absence of food which brings low energy and low mood is a double whammy. Added into that mix we are in a mourning period for our previous lifestyle, one that did us absolutely no good whatsoever, but it was familiar and comforting. And now that's gone.

I have past experience of this mourning period and can assure you that it absolutely does get better, so hang in there.

With hindsight, it would have been good to have a strategy in place, if home space allows, that you have the main bed and your DP, if/when he goes out, sleeps in a spare bed or on the sofa, allowing you the space you need and not have your sleep disturbed. Is this something you could do in future?

I hope your day improves

Well at least I've done that right! Thanks for your good wishes.

I'm trying to just get on with my day so. I've got up, had a shower, done my meds (& Injection ), had a decent sizes bottle of water and put on some cozy clothes. Sometimes this can take me hours!

Plus put the heating on for the first time! Also small stuff like having nice shampoo and shower get etc helps.

Still not feeling great. But trying not to wallow.

Well done for trying to make the best of things

@RevisionSurgeryQ thanks for your reply.

Yes we should have planned for him to sleep in the spare bed. He doesn't go out much so it's not like I'll need to think about it again for a while! But you're right.

You know when you're annoyed and you sort of make a list in your head of everything that's annoying you!

He's been excellent looking after me so I don't want to be a dick to him about going out either. I know it's more about how I'm feeling.

I'm glad you get the thing with mourning food. Also I did used to cook and eat quite healthy meals. So it's not like I ate crap constantly. Just too big portions and too much of the less healthy stuff. So I'm missing cooking and texture. I know this will get better as I move into a more regular diet. As it's literally everything at once so a big adjustment.

I do get what you mean about feeling hollow rather than wanting food you had before. It's hard to say while on puree, but I do feel like there's a change in my hunger and desire for food. So I'm trying to focus on that. If I think about how I'd be on this little food and just puree before surgery, I know I'd be going crazy with hunger. So I have to trust the process. (a phrase I hate!)

How are you doing?

@Neonplant - it's really positive that you're focusing the fact that your DP has been/is really good and not letting this 'one off' fester. Next year for his birthday, it will be a whole different ball game. You'll be going out with him, in a new outfit, looking and feeling absolutely fabulous!

I'm doing okay thank you, better than expected. I spent a couple of hours with a friend yesterday which felt good. I have another friend coming over for lunch later today and I managed to work out that we can eat the same thing, Yorkshire Provender chicken and vegetable soup, but mine will be blended/thinned out. I won't be having crusty bread this time, but I'm hopeful that I will be able to have bread in future - just not a large amount!

Tomorrow will be my rest day. I'm autistic so time spent with people has to be followed by time alone. DH doesn't count. I can be around him. He knows me well enough to just let me be.

@Neonplant. I’m sorry you are having such a tough morning I’m an emotional eater so I’m with u in the heading to get a good breakkie to boost your day. Well done for trying to make the best of it.

[quote Keepthefocus]@Neonplant. I’m sorry you are having such a tough morning I’m an emotional eater so I’m with u in the heading to get a good breakkie to boost your day. Well done for trying to make the best of it.[/quote]
You know what I don't think I would have said I was a huge comfort eater. Before I'd started to examine how I eat. But I think actually it's way more complicated than comfort do emotional eating is such a better way of describing it.

Thanks for the support it means a lot!I'm glad I posted rather than taking my upset and anger out in a different way. This really has been a great thread for me.

I'm feeling much better. I've been to get an iced coffee from Starbucks. I know it's not very popular on MN. But I love a Starbucks iced latte, I've changed to nut blend milk from my normal soy as although neither have taht much sugar I could taste the sweetness in the soy milk after surgery! It will take me hours to drink but that's fine!

@RevisionSurgeryQ so pleased you are doing well! I actually feel/felt physically a lot better than I expected. I've had no surgery before and don't have children so had no experience to compare it to and was expecting the worst.

Glad you're seeing friends. I'm not autistic and get what you mean about needing time to yourself after socialising (although probs not the same for me) so it's great you're looking after yourself by not hiding away but still having time alone.

I'm currently doing a chunky Cross stitch and a bit of browsing getting ideas for Christmas presents while I'm recovering, plus watching ER (again!) what is anyone else up to?

I'm feeling much better. I've been to get an iced coffee from Starbucks. I know it's not very popular on MN. But I love a Starbucks iced latte, I've changed to nut blend milk from my normal soy as although neither have taht much sugar I could taste the sweetness in the soy milk after surgery! It will take me hours to drink but that's fine!

Who cares if it's popular! You enjoy it, that's the main thing.

I hope everyone has a peaceful/enjoyable weekend.

@RevisionSurgeryQ exactly! My outfit today will attest to the fact I'm not doing things for other people!

Hope you have a nice weekend too

My outfit today will attest to the fact I'm not doing things for other people!

That's me, every single day of my life. I've never cared to fit in and never will

[quote Neonplant]@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.[/quote]
It's the one opposite the stomach exit wound. No idea why it hasn't closed but at the last check up, the nurse said it was getting better so I'm feeling positive!

I teach PT in nursery this year with the rest of the time out of class so it's exhausting but I do love it.

How are you doing? I'm meant to be on real food now but am worried as I don't really want to rest random foods incase they come back out!

[quote GoingToInfinity]@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.[/quote]
I completely see where you are coming from. I was lucky that there were a few dates to choose from when I booked my surgery. If you are going to go private I'd imagine you might be in the same boat so that will help.

If it's a non working day it shouldn't make a difference. Good luck whatever you decide xx

[quote UnknownFemale01]@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.[/quote]
Oh no, this makes me nervous about my band, particularly as I do still struggle to control my eating. Having said that there are risks with all procedures and I may be lucky, fingers crossed.
I spoke to a bariatric nurse a while ago who had been to a major conference where a lot of attendees were from the US, which is well ahead of us in bariatric experience. They said they now view obesity as a chronic disease that may need more than one intervention, so in the same way as a diabetic may progress from diet control to tablets to injectables to insulin, an obese patient may progress from diets to band or sleeve to bypass.

@Kummerspeck it's really interesting re obesity. I have been saying for a while now I think we will view it differently and more like this in 20 years time.

Although tbh I don't believe bmi is a very good measure of health and I do think you can be outside of your ideal bmi and be healthy. But, I'm not sure I believe you can be very far out of it and be healthy eg a bmi above 35/40.

Obviously this is individual and why bmi isn't great as there are very fit but 'fat' people. But what I'm saying is on the whole I don't think you have to be at a perfect bmi to be healthy but once it goes beyond an extra few stone I do think it effects health. That's based on my own experience and of family. But also being in fat positive groups online where people do have mobility and health issues due to weight.

Obviously it goes without saying or does it? That just because you might be unhealthy because of your weight it doesn't make you less worthy or a bad person. Just like having any other chronic conditions doesn't.

I also think as a woman in particular lots of health stuff is blamed on being fat when that's not it. It's really sad but one of the reasons I had surgery is my experience of this and worry for the future as I experience menopause and potentially other age related health issues. I was worried how hard I'd have to fight to get proper care if things could be blamed on my weight. It's honestly potentially deadly.

@Kummerspeck

Oh no, this makes me nervous about my band, particularly as I do still struggle to control my eating.

Our eating habits do not vanish with bariatric surgery. Struggling to control your eating is unlikely to be due to the band. Please don't be nervous about your band; if it's working for you and you are not in pain/vomiting/regurgitating/experiencing reflux, then there should be no need to worry.

It's just something to bear in mind that people do have band related problems and may need revision; but that won't apply to everyone.

The info on this link may be of some use: www.healthierweight.co.uk/gastric-band/faqs/

Hello everyone, I wanted to dip my toe in here. I contacted Streamline yesterday about having either the sleeve or the bypass.

I've read through all of both threads and your stories are inspirational. It gave me the push I needed to do this for my health.

Has anyone had Chris Pring? I think that is the surgeon I will see.

@Brindille hi, I had Chris do my bypass surgery in March, highly recommended him.

I thought someone had used him but couldn't remember who! Did you know you wanted the bypass or did he advise you? At the moment, I am in a real quandary about which surgery would be right and I'm hoping that my surgeon will be able to give me guidance on that.

Also, how has the aftercare been with Streamline?

Hi @Brindille I had my sleeve on the NHS so can't help with recommendations. But can hopefully help with any questions along with other posters.

I'm in various Facebook groups. Which are helpful, but I'd say give the worst case scenario a lot of the time. As people are asking about stuff they're having complications or trouble with.

So they can be helpful to answer some questions, but I'd take everything with a pinch of salt and perhaps stay away pre op if you're especially anxious.

Also in terms of which op you have it is very individual so don't be too swayed by others experiences, you Nedd the op that's right for you.