Page 32 | Bariatric surgery no.2 thread

Seriouslyconfused3 · 2021-01-31T21:17:50+00:00

For everyone following from the last thread... If you’re new please feel free to join in and share your experiences

Icecrown · 05/10/2021 14:51

@Neonplant
That is a great summing up of obesity. In particular your last paragraph.

I am having my bypass at tomorrow.

NCForthisxox · 05/10/2021 15:10

1 week gastric sleeve post op ! I can comfortably drink fluids now not gulping but not the pathetic sipping like at the beginning I was getting so mad how long it took to have a drink. I'm doing the 30 minute wait now
Today I've had 150 MLS of soup for breakfast fortified with a bit of skimmed milk and unflavoured protein powder took me about 45 minutes to have didn't seem too much of an effort . For lunch I had a protein shake which took 2 hours to have and two teaspoons of liquidised baked beans (with skins sieved) which was bloody gorgeous.
For tea it's another protein shake I'm sick of them now 🤣

Neonplant · 05/10/2021 15:39

[quote Icecrown]@Neonplant
That is a great summing up of obesity. In particular your last paragraph.

I am having my bypass at tomorrow.[/quote]
Very best wishes for your bypass. I'll be thinking of you.

Yeah its really sad the prejudice which we experience when seeking medical care. But experience and various research shows its a real thing. I have an underactive thyroid and adenomyosis (a bit like endometriosis) both of these diagnosis have been hard to get and I've been fobbed off with it being my weight so often.

Keepthefocus · 05/10/2021 16:15

@Icecrown good luck!! Please let us know how you get on!!
I’m one week tomorrow - the wait is awful! Although I’m incredibly anxious I could do with it just being over with now!!!

Can those who have had their surgery let me know ur weight losses - just as inspiration!!

RalphtheMouth · 05/10/2021 16:17

@Brindille I was originally on the NHS pathway (for 2 years) but bit the bullet to have the op done privately as I didn’t know how long I would need to wait due to COVID backlog, so w already made the decision to go with bypass. I discussed it with Chris and he agreed that it was the best option for me. No doubt he will talk through both options with you.

Aftercare has been great, have had follow up calls with the nurse, Chris and a couple of dieticians too since the op.

Am over 6 stone down since end of March. I just wish I had done it years ago. Good luck!

Neonplant · 05/10/2021 16:31

[quote Keepthefocus]@Icecrown good luck!! Please let us know how you get on!!
I’m one week tomorrow - the wait is awful! Although I’m incredibly anxious I could do with it just being over with now!!!

Can those who have had their surgery let me know ur weight losses - just as inspiration!![/quote]
I know the wait is awful. Actually for me way worse than recovery. I'm only 2 weeks post op. I've made my partner hide the scales so I can just weigh weekly as I was weighing daily which is not good.

I lost 13lb 1st week and just over 3lb the second week. Starting at 18st 10 and I'm 5'6 tall to give an idea.

From reading online I think some people don't see much the first few weeks as your healing or have a stall week 2 to 4 ish. I also knew my second week wouldn't be anything like the first. So I'm hiding the scales and focusing on not being constantly hungry which I was before due to insulin resistance.

To put it in perspective I dieted for months while doing the groups which are mandatory on the NHS and didn't lose this much weight.

Brindille · 05/10/2021 17:44

@Neonplant thank you for your wise and reassuring words. It is easy to find horror stories online. I've been comforting myself by telling myself that the people who haven't had problems just quietly get on with their lives and the majority of them won't bother to post on bariatric support groups because they've moved on.

Best of luck for tomorrow @Icecrown. Will be thinking of you and hope all goes smoothly.

@RalphtheMouth that is really reassuring. I watched the documentary by Rachel Batterham which someone linked in the previous thread and he seemed very caring and committed in that.

I hope this week passes swiftly for you @Keepthefocus!

Brindille · 05/10/2021 17:45

And well done for your losses @Neonplant!

It is good to hear that drinking has improved so much for you @NCForthisxox

goingslowfornow · 05/10/2021 18:48

I'm six weeks post op. Honestly, it's fine. You feel crap the day after but then rapidly improve.

After the first few weeks you start eating normal food but smaller portions and cut out all the crap.

You don't feel different at all. It's just you get full up quicker. It's that simple! It gives you control.

I had hardly any weight loss first few weeks then about 3-4 pounds a week.

Brindille · 05/10/2021 19:28

So that's about a stone a month @goingslowfornow? That is amazing!

Brindille · 05/10/2021 19:32

So a question I've got is how to talk to children about WLS. I have a DD who is 5. She is pretty sensitive, a worrier, and a bit of a perfectionist, so I am concerned that she has some of the characteristics of children who develop eating disorders. How do I talk to her about my surgery, diet and weight loss in a way which is least likely to trigger any issues with food and body image for her?

Obviously, she will notice that I am having surgery because I'll be away, and then will notice changes in my diet and probably weight loss as well, so I feel that I have to address it with her.

How did you all talk to your children about your WLS?

Neonplant · 05/10/2021 19:47

@Brindille yep you're totally right about the people without complications just getting on with things!

I don't have children I have a niece who has just turned 5. We told her afterwards I'd ad an operation so we need to be careful with cuddles for a while.

Obviously I don't live with her so she won't notice my eating as much but I do spend a lot of time with her. If she asks or if it comes up while I'm on puree I'll say my stomach is healing still a little poorly.

Keepthefocus · 05/10/2021 20:08

@Brindille I had to explain it to my DDs. They are slightly older than yours but are both at a key age for awareness of food, diet body image etc. I explained that I was going for an operation on my stomach which was to help improve my whole health and ability to do all the fun things and that they would notice I’m eating differently and this is to help the operation and healing but I reinforced that I am not “sick” that this is to help make me healthier long term not to “cure” me of anything. Hope that’s helpful.

Jubilate · 05/10/2021 22:13

I did very similar to @Keepthefocus. I talked about being heavier and how it was stopping me doing some things in my life that I wanted to do. I also emphasised a lot of people are happy with their lives at all sorts of weights, and my decision wasn't a reflection on them, but one me, and my life. Kept away from the word 'fat' or even size, and tried to keep it to weight, so to take the focus away from appearance. I also explained that our tummies all behave differently and the op would help my tummy behave a bit more like daddies.

Jubilate · 05/10/2021 22:16

I also couldn't decide what operation to have, I just sat with it for a while, talked it through with people who knew and it gradually became obvious.

goingslowfornow · 05/10/2021 22:55

@Brindille

So a question I've got is how to talk to children about WLS. I have a DD who is 5. She is pretty sensitive, a worrier, and a bit of a perfectionist, so I am concerned that she has some of the characteristics of children who develop eating disorders. How do I talk to her about my surgery, diet and weight loss in a way which is least likely to trigger any issues with food and body image for her?

Obviously, she will notice that I am having surgery because I'll be away, and then will notice changes in my diet and probably weight loss as well, so I feel that I have to address it with her.

How did you all talk to your children about your WLS?

Don't.

Say your having a routine op for something else. She doesn't need to know. No one does. Just say having an op has spurned you onto a fitness drive.

goingslowfornow · 05/10/2021 23:01

@Brindille

So that's about a stone a month *@goingslowfornow*? That is amazing!

That includes Liver shrinking diet too. In total I've lost 32 pounds in 8 weeks. I suspect it will settle into 2 pounds a week which is fine. I feel perfectly normal just eating smaller amounts and feel full quicker. I ate 900 calories one day as I didn't eat protein. It felt like a massive Christmas dinner in my stomach! Most days is 500-600 now.

I love being more in control but I still feel hunger but can satisfy in more easily. Key is to focus on protein.

From a Facebook group I'm on, everyone loses at a different rate. I'm realistic that if I got down to a BMI near 30 after a year I'd be ecstatic. Then I'd have enough restriction to maintain that.

RevisionSurgeryQ · 06/10/2021 06:49

@Icecrown very best wishes for your surgery and post op recovery. Please let us know how you are when you feel up to it

I'm 2 weeks post op, revision band to bypass. I feel very fortunate that the post op pain I've experienced has been minimal.

My post op regime is 2 weeks liquid, 1 week puree followed by one week 'mush/mashed food'

Today is the start of puree week and I'm quite nervous about having something pass my lips that's not liquid. Did anyone else experience anxiety at this stage going from liquid only (thin enough to pass through a straw) to puree?

GoingToInfinity · 06/10/2021 22:14

I've just paid the money for my initial appointment with the psychologist and dietician to see whether I'll be approved for the surgery. Feeling more real now!

Can anyone let me know what those appointments involve? I'm really worried they'll turn me down for some reason or another.

Neonplant · 06/10/2021 22:16

@RevisionSurgeryQ I was on puree (thin) from day after my op. But I have had a bit of anxiety around eating thicker puree. Or if I feel even mildly 'too full' luckily I'm gauging whn to stop pretty well. But occasionally I've had anxiety when eating that I'm going to feel sick or get too full and hurt myself. I think a bit of anxiety is really normal.

How's everyone doing today? I've come down with a cold which I could do without post 2 weeks surgery! But I'm still off work so it could be worse! I've been super bloated and gassy. I think it's because I was swallowing lots in my sleep due to a sore throat. Also I did have a bit of a drink out of a straw. Does anyone else use straws? I feel like there's conflicting advice on their use.

I had a covid test as I wanted to be super careful. Although I don't have the traditional symptoms and I'm fairly certain it's a cold. Waiting for the results back still.

Hope you are doing OK @Icecrown xx

Jubilate · 07/10/2021 20:37

@Neonplant I think I've caught your misery! I wonder if it's a physical reaction to surgery or some kind of 'reality hits' after a week or so of trying to recover and keep body and soul together. I feel kind of angry, pissed off and sad, all at once. I find my mind wandering to the future and worrying about not losing weight or never eating 'normally'. I think I need to go back to taking it one day at a time.

Neonplant · 07/10/2021 21:06

[quote Jubilate]@Neonplant I think I've caught your misery! I wonder if it's a physical reaction to surgery or some kind of 'reality hits' after a week or so of trying to recover and keep body and soul together. I feel kind of angry, pissed off and sad, all at once. I find my mind wandering to the future and worrying about not losing weight or never eating 'normally'. I think I need to go back to taking it one day at a time. [/quote]
Aww sorry to hear that. I've been feeling much better this week. Despite having a rubbish cold.

Honesty I think most people go through this. There's the adrenaline at getting through the op. But then I found days 3/4 for a week or so really tough mentally. I'd be fine then weepy. I did get my period too which didn't help with my emotions!

I was definitely thinking about all of the stuff you mention and worrying about how I was feeling re hunger and if I'd lose weight. I do think a day at a time is the right approach. It's hard though!

Neonplant · 08/10/2021 13:11

My cold is bloody killing me! My throat is so unbelievable sore. So I don't think I'm drinking enough as it hurts to swallow. How's everyone else?

RevisionSurgeryQ · 08/10/2021 15:05

Sorry to hear that you feel so unwell @Neonplant. It's very tough to drink/swallow when your throat is so sore, but please persevere as hydration will help with your recovery.

Fingers crossed that you feel better soon

Neonplant · 08/10/2021 19:19

Thanks @RevisionSurgeryQ

I'm nit actually feeling to bad in myself now. But the pain in my throat is awful. Especially when the painkillers are wearing off.

One of the things I've been having as a treat is home made slush made with a can of pepsi max. I have the frozen cup things. The slush making process removes all the bubbles/fizz. I'm looking forward to one tonight to ease my throat. Its also amazing to have something to crunch in the absence of texture in my food!

Id def recommend for anyone on the puree or liquid stage missing texture.