Bariatric surgery thread 3

[HotSteppa]

Relocating to shiny new thread for all those going through or considering weightless surgery in all its forms.

Sorry - I meant to say that. Yes - UIC. The journey took about 6 months to complete. I filled a questionnaire in in August and had my op in January. I'm keeping well now! Unfortunately, I ended up with muscle damage from the drain which slowed my progress, but I'm already feeling lighter! I'm week 6 po and from the start of my liver reducing diet, I've lost 2st 9lb. Unfortunately, the hospital don't offer any payment plans themselves and you would need to get your own plan in action!

Well all went well. Back in the room within a few hours. Have some pain but not as bad as I thought, and only when I move, although better today.

Very little sleep last night as had the compression thing for my legs beeping every 30 seconds and every hour the blood pressure cuff inflated but I’m alive, I’m not in horrendous pain and I can move around. Waiting for the kitchen guys to come round and ask if I want jelly or consommé! Also waiting for the surgeon to come and see me. I am still hoping he will let me go home tonight but I don’t think it will happen.

Glad to hear your doing will @MagentaRocks the hardest bit is done now

@MagentaRocks

The pain will ease, just take it slowly x

@Twinsandsome

Thank you both so much. I'm really sorry to hear the aftercare isn't there for you *@Keepthefocus* are are you doing now? *@pcosstruggler* was it the Ulster you went with? I think I would def need to pay extra then as I've just worked out my bmi and it is 60.2? Over double what it should be for my height. How are you keeping now after your surgery? I think I'm going to have to see about finance or else save for another 18 months but 18months scares me where I will be by then xxx

I went to Turkey and paid £2650 plus flights

Thanks @MrMrsJones I think with what's going on in Russia I'd be way too scared to go anywhere further than maybe over the water to mainland uk. Xx

I'm sorry for all these questions, but could I ask, is there anyone in this thread who has or had a similar starting point as me and if so where did you go to and who with?

The embarrassing bit
I have a bmi of 60.2
Shock of my life getting on the scales at 27.5 stone.

I think the scariest bit for me is I have health anxiety which has been under control at the minute after a lot of CBT but I'm terrified I'd die on the table so that's another reason I wouldn't go further than mainland UK as I'm in NI as all I can think is imagine my poor family having to try getting me home in a box

Appreciate any advice xxx

@Twinsandsome hi I’m doing well I healed well and quickly after surgery I took a total of 4 weeks off work but in reality could have been back if I had to after 2. I was back at gym by week 6. I’m 5 months post op and I’ve lost 4st 12lbs. BMI going from 44 to 34. Still a way to go and thus but is getting tougher!! I am struggling with the emotional/mental side and I’ve sourced a bariatric psych but at £80 a session I need to delay the start until I’ve paid off a bit more of the surgery. I actually got a 0% loan on my credit card which worked out better than the finance offered by hospital. Ah look I can’t fault the result of my surgery and my time in the hospital but for £12.500 I haven’t got any more than if I’d paid a fraction of that and gone abroad. I stayed here because I was terrified to go abroad alone especially during covid at that time there were isolation stays needed and risks of getting stuck there if you tested positive so I paid the premium rather than wait until restrictions ended and in fairness at that point no one could see when that might be!!!!

I’m being discharged today. Surgeon has been round and said I look really well and as if I hadn’t had an operation. Still have some pain but not too bad.

@Keepthefocus naw you would def expect more than 6 weeks of support given you paid a premium. You have done amazing!!! I think I will need a bypass which scares me as a lot of the online info says it's more risky than the sleeve.

80£ 😬 well it might not be much better but I had CBT (put she does a whole range of things) it was £60 an hour happy to give you her details if it's any good she is very stern but in a good way? Could do way winning cashcall today 😂 xxx

@MagentaRocks that's brilliant keep us updated on your progress

@MagentaRocks great news 👍

If you have a bypass you need to take tablets for the rest of your life. But with a sleeve you don't.

It's much better for you

I’m home, had a bit of a sleep this afternoon and then had a quick shower. Still sore but not too bad. Haven’t had to go mad with the painkillers, going to save them for when I properly need them.

I have 2 dogs that have been brilliant. They are young and they like to jump up and climb on me but they have been great, they know something is different and are being very careful with me. I have one lying on my feet and the other close to me at the moment.

I had a pot of jelly but still haven’t finished it. I have had 2 attempts with just a little bit at a time and I am sipping water, protein water and peppermint tea.

Unfortunately the hay fever that I thought I had grown out of a few years ago has come back so the sneezing isn’t fun. Just have to hold my stomach when I sneeze for the moment,

I’m not as tired as I thought I would be but early days, I still have another 9 days off work then I can work from home and do shorter days so not worried about that,

I was very emotional last night, waiting for my husband to visit, and I didn’t want him to go at the end of visiting time, but being discharged early helped. My parents visited today as well so that was nice,

Just relaxing for the evening before my anti sickness injection and then I will go to bed. Sleeping in the spare room for a while so I can prop myself up and not get knocked.

So glad it's gone well for you so far MagentaRocks, I hope you're getting some good sleep tonight.
The anti sickness injection does everyone have this? Also was it the surgeon that signed you off or do you need to get through GP?
I've cancelled my sleeve for now I was booked with Spire but not sure about my experiance with setting appointment and lack of vontact etc found I was having to keep chasing for info. Has anyone else had any experience with them?

@Luckycloverzz

So glad it's gone well for you so far MagentaRocks, I hope you're getting some good sleep tonight. The anti sickness injection does everyone have this? Also was it the surgeon that signed you off or do you need to get through GP? I've cancelled my sleeve for now I was booked with Spire but not sure about my experiance with setting appointment and lack of vontact etc found I was having to keep chasing for info. Has anyone else had any experience with them?

I think everyone has the anti sickness injection but only for a week.

Do you mean signed off work? I have taken leave, I wouldn’t get it as sick as it is elective, so I don’t know if surgeon or GP.

I used the bariatric group. They were really good and helpful. They don’t pressure you into doing it and when I was considering having the balloon it was them being honest about it that made me not go for that. Might be worth shopping around. My sleeve was 11.5k

Didn’t get much sleep but I don’t suppose it matters too much as I can sleep in the day time when I am tired. Hopefully by the time I am back at work it will be easier to sleep and I will be ok.

@MagentaRocks

How are you today

[quote MrMrsJones]@MagentaRocks

How are you today[/quote]
I'm doing ok thanks @MrMrsJones still sore but sore rather than painful apart from when I sneeze. Not needing a massive amount of painkillers which is good. Sipping water and protein water. Still not able to eat a whole jelly pot in one go but I just go back to it through the day.

Planning on going shopping on Tuesday to get yoghurt etc for the puree stage. Looking forward to moving through the stages.

How are you getting on?

That's good to hear

I'm on week 5 so far, lost 1 stone and 7lbs.

I am eating 125mls of protein shake for breakfast

60 g smoked salmon and two laughing cow lights

67g chicken with grilled cheese

125ml protein shake

So about 500 calories per day

That’s a good loss @MrMrsJones

I am going to try a shake tomorrow, I expect it will take all day to drink it. I am trying so hard to drink a lot of water but not getting through as much as I should.

Try these, I can only drink half at a time though

I'm one week shy of 7 months out and have lost all but 2lbs of the weight I set myself to lose.

My BMI is 26.5 but I'm happy with where I am. I can pretty much eat anything but I'm still physically sick approx 2/3 times a week for no real reason. It's not overeating, more my sleeve just says no to something and it has to come back out. I really need to get into the gym to start toning up because I haven't really done anything and I want to increase my cardiovascular fitness.

It's still the best thing I've ever done - even when I've been sick and feel a bit bleugh.

The hard part now will be eating enough to maintain my weight and ensuring it's nutritious enough to sustain my health.

Good luck to everyone x

Considering gastric sleeve and gallbladder removal (I already have stones) Would anyone like to suggest their surgeon and if you are a recent health traveller what did you pay? I see a lot of websites advertising gastric sleeve surgery for £2999

@MrMrsJones

Try these, I can only drink half at a time though

Thanks. I will have a look.

Less sore today, no painkillers yet. The wounds are starting to itch though and it is so hard to not scratch them.

@SleevedOff

I'm one week shy of 7 months out and have lost all but 2lbs of the weight I set myself to lose.

My BMI is 26.5 but I'm happy with where I am. I can pretty much eat anything but I'm still physically sick approx 2/3 times a week for no real reason. It's not overeating, more my sleeve just says no to something and it has to come back out. I really need to get into the gym to start toning up because I haven't really done anything and I want to increase my cardiovascular fitness.

It's still the best thing I've ever done - even when I've been sick and feel a bit bleugh.

The hard part now will be eating enough to maintain my weight and ensuring it's nutritious enough to sustain my health.

Good luck to everyone x

That's brilliant 👏 How much have you lost altogether?