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

My dp's reply, not my dog's 😁

@Seriouslyconfused3

Hi *@GaryUnicorn* I hope you’re finding them helpful. Is it something you’re thinking about?

I don’t have the balls or the money to have bariatric surgery, but I’m in awe of you that do. I just trying to lose weight with a vlcd, but the grit and determination that you guys have is really spurring me on. Good luck everybody, you deserve it!

I'm also de-lurking as starting to be tempted to have weight loss surgery.

I'm 50 and BMI of 40 with around 7 stone to loose.
Am I too old as maybe starting menopause soon?

Also I have known around 10 people over the years who have had surgery and only 1 has managed to maintain their loss.
A colleague had the gastric bypass around 7 years ago and lost 10 stone. He is now heavier than he was pre-surgery.
Is there a specific mindset to be able to keep it off?

I'm going to have a good read of both threads. Some of your stories are really inspiring. I'd like to know more about the omega loop bypass.

Just as an update - having moaned about losing slowly, I lost 6 pounds this week meaning in 3 months I've lost 4 stone! I'm also now before 20st for the first time in a long time. I've also swapped my 44 back sized bra to a 38. Suddenly loads of progress!

@MinnieAnonyMouse fantastic, well done!

Well done @MinnieAnonyMouse , brilliant progress!

@Mmmmcheesecake approximately 20% of people will have a regain as the surgery is to help reset you on the path to better choices

[quote StylishMummy]@Mmmmcheesecake approximately 20% of people will have a regain as the surgery is to help reset you on the path to better choices[/quote]
I need help to focus. I'm brilliant losing 2 stone on a diet but once I reach that I lose focus and go the opposite way and binge.

It's either diet or 'anything goes' so I need a middle ground where I can have a healthy relationship with food.

Thinking about what I need in my hospital bag; what did you include that you didn't need, and what didn't you pack, that might have been useful?
How long were you in hospital for?
I am trying to get organised, batch cooking for my husband for the first few weeks post-op etc.
I am still at the excited to be doing it stage, but think this might change to thoughts of am I doing the right thing, the closer my date comes. I know that I need to do this, so any unwanted negative thoughts will be ignored!

I stayed just the one night, realistically I needed very little, but I’m an over packer and wouldn’t have felt comfortable not covering a few eventualities.

All I needed in reality was a pair of pyjamas, clothes to go home in, slippers, underwear, a couple of sanitary pads, toothbrush and toothpaste, face wipes, lip balm, phone charger and a V Pillow.

My absolutely must have items were the V Pillow and lip balm. Brand new V pillow so it was still big and supportive.

I took a couple of sets of pyjamas, a couple of sets of clothes + underwear and it did all fit into a small “carry on” size case. If I’d needed to stay any longer than my overpacking would have been useful.

Like @queenofpain I took a ‘carry on’ suitcase and completely overpacked for my 2 nights in hospital. In terms of necessities:
*phone and charger (ideally with a long cable)
*very comfortable pyjamas to change into after operation
*comfortable, stretchy clothes to wear home
*muslin cloths I used to wipe/wash face which I then threw away
*toothbrush and paste
*deodorant
*a book/kindle for the wait before the op and when you feel better afterwards

Things I didn’t need were dressing gown (always hot in hospital), slippers (they’ll give you non slip socks although take some to be on safe side), peppermint teabags (private hospital offered a range of teas!)

I had surgery 10 days ago if anyone would like to ask me any questions, I'll try to help.

I'm a week post op and really struggling with the mental side of things, like post op complications, sepsis/blood clots etc. I know I took this risk for my future health but right now the risks are clouding any happiness I should be feeling. I was high risk for clots as I've had a Pulmonary Embolism before so my surgeon prescribed blood thinners for 6 months but even with those I'm convinced I'm going to have another clot. I've been up walking around since the evening of my op and physically feel well but mentally I am anything but.

Has anyone else had such health anxiety after the op? I know in a few weeks when the risk window decreases that I'll be so happy I did this. I just can't settle at the minute and it's consuming all my thoughts.

Sorry to bring down the thread but just hoping for some experiences of similar or some reassurance.

I don’t think I was white as stressed as you sound, however I did do an awful lot of catastrophising and was pretty gobsmacked when nothing bad happened to me. I even got covid three weeks post op and was convinced that would definitely kill me if surgery didn’t manage to, but I was okay after that too.

I think it will get better with time, my bits of health anxiety certainly have. Have you got a psychotherapist included with your surgery package?

*quite

@GreenEyedMonsterMunch it’s still such early days for you. I think I was in a daze for about 2 weeks post op and didn’t feel deliriously happy. It did later on though so just get through this early stage, start losing some weight and you’ll start to see it was the right decision. Good luck :)

Thanks for the replies, I seem to have settled a bit these past few days as I really do feel well in myself it's just the anxiety causing me problems at this stage. I did have a bit of a wobble last night when my leg was really tired but after a walk it was fine, then tired again this morning when I woke up. I think that's probably due to lack of nutrients really but apart from that I do feel good physically.

I went to Turkey so sadly no mental health nurse included. I think that's the main reason for my anxiety, the 4.5 hour flight home wasn't a great idea after surgery and increased my risk but having looked at prices in the UK I knew it was Turkey or nothing.

@GreenEyedMonsterMunch Glad you feel a bit more settled.

@Undertall Hope you’re feeling ok after the operation

I start LRD in one week! I’m having a real mixed bag of feelings - desperate to have it done on the one hand but worrying about if I mess it up and end up losing and regaining. I keep reading lots of examples of this recently. I know it’s totally down to me, how I work with it etc. Just stressing I think.

@RalphtheMouth thank you, I'm doing great. Well, better than great to be honest, but didn't want to comment after @GreenEyedMonsterMunch's post.

@RalphtheMouth pressed send too soon - good luck with the LRD, I found it went very quickly and didn't really struggle. Keep the end game in sight!

Oh I hope I haven't put anyone off posting. I love reading all the different stages of everyone's journey. To be honest I should also be feeling really great as physically my recovery has been brilliant, I am just an anxious person regarding my health as I had a bad experience with blood clots a few years ago so it's top of my health worries.

@GreenEyedMonsterMunch not at all, I just thought it was in poor taste to do a "me me me" post when you're struggling

No, brag away please, it actually helps to see people doing so well and know I'm gonna be that happy soon. It's great to see people having really good experiences as it's such a life changing thing to do.

I start my Liver reducing diet tomorrow.
I'm excited but nervous at the same time!
Wish me luck.