YORKSHIRE GIRL ANGE

Hi there everyone. Just checking in to ask you all to keep your fingers crossed for me that I don't get cancelled again tomorrow. I have to call the hospital around lunchtime to make sure they have a bed available, my op is on the NHS here in the UK. If all goes well, I will go in at 4.00pm Monday and get my longed for sleeve on Tuesday. Good luck to anyone else who may be having their op on Tuesday. Also continued thanks to all of you for your help, advice and support, you relly are a great bunch and I can't wait to join you all on the losers bench. I'm keeping your best advice of sip, sip, sip, walk, walk, walk at the top of my things to do list !!!! I'll be back in touch whenI get home, probably Friday. Love to everyone Angela, UK member xxxx

GRRRR!!!!! Here I am, all ready to go to the hospital for my op tomorrow when I get a call to say it has been cancelled !!!!!!!!!! I’m having the op on the NHS here in the UK. There is a shortage of beds and my surgeon’s list has been cancelled for tomorrow as the op is non urgent. All I can do now is wait to get another appointment, not sure how long that will be. The hospital are saying a couple of weeks, the appointments centre say it could be the New Year. Hopefully I’ll still become a December sleeve sister to you all. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Best wishes A very fed up Angela ( UK member ) xx

Hi there to all my brilliant sleeve sisters. Thank you so much for your support. It is really great to know I have you all there to lean on at times like this. I'm going to phone the hospital tomorrow to see if I can be added to the surgeon's list for next Tuesday. I don't think it will be possible, but its worth a try. If they can't do that I've decided to wait until the New Year. My surgeon only does the procedure at my local hospital on Tuesdays and I don't really want the week after as it is Christmas week. I live on my own and don't want to put upon family and friends for help over the Christmas holidays, I'd feel so guilty. I'll let you know what happens after I've called the hospital. Once again, thank you so much for your support. Best wishes and hugs Angela xx

Hi there to all my fellow December sleeve brothers and sisters. I just wanted to send lots of good luck and hugs to all of you for your ops to go smoothly and for your speedy recovery. I can honestly say that this is the best ever Christmas gift that I have had.!!! No more of the stuffing my face at Christmas and New Year’s resolutions to loose the weight. No more thinking “ it will be different next Christmas because I’m going to loose the weight “. No more beating myself up when next Christmas arrives and I’ve not only not lost the weight, but put on even more !!!!!! I wonder what Christmas 2011 will hold for all of us ?????? Once again good luck and hugs to all of my new December sleeve family Angela xxxx ( UK member ) Sleeve date Tuesday December 7th

Hiya Daisymay, I'm Angela joining you from the UK. I'm being sleeved the week after you on Dec 7th. I could have chosen the same day as you, but I turned it down because that would have meant getting it as a birthday present!!! Although I can't wait, I didn't really fancy that LOL !!! I've just started on the liquid torture, I have 3 weeks of it, lucky you to only have 2 weeks LOL !!! Keep us posted on how it all goes, I'll be thinking of you on the day. Best wishes Angela x

Hiya Libby, Wow that is absolutely fantastic !!! You are a true inspiration to all of us pre-op members. I'm starting my pre-op liquid diet tomorrow, really looking forward to that LOL !!! My surgery is scheduled for Dec 7th. If I can do only half as well as you are doing I will be more than pleased. Keep up the amazing work. Best wishes Angela x ( UK member )

Hi there Cindy, Lots & lots of good luck and hugs for tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you. Best wishes Angela x ( UK member )

Hiya Viv ! I'm Angela joining you from Yorkshire. I'm having my op, also on the NHS, on Dec 7th at my local hospital. My journey hasn't been as long as yours. From start to finish it will have been a year in total. Every PCT has its own procedures and conditions and I'm lucky that mine follow the nice guidelines. My only condition for acceptance was to loose a stone as a sign of my commitment. I start my pre-op diet next week, really looking forward to that LOL!!! How long have you had to do the dreaded pre-op, mine is 3 weeks. Are you all prepared for post op ? You'll get lots of help, advice and support from all the members here. They have all really helped me to make my final decision to go ahead with the op. Keep in touch and let me know how you are doing. I'll be thinking of you on the 18th GOOD LUCK !!!! Best wishes Angela x

Hi there Angel and welcome. I'm Angela, joining you from the UK. I'm pre-op & due to get my sleeve Dec 7th, I can't wait !! You will get such a warm welcome from everyone on the site, as i did. The other members will help, advise, encourage and support you every step of the way down the road to your new life. Congratulations on your acheivement so far, you're doing a brilliant job. I've bookmarked your blogg so I can follow your journey from this side of the pond !! Best wishes Angela x

Hiya Sacha, WOW 15lbs IN A WEEK THAT IS BRILLIANT!!!!! I think the fastest I've ever lost that much is in about a month. You're doing a brilliant job, keep up the great work. Good to hear thet you are feeling so well. It makes me feel very encouraged for when I have my op on Dec 7th. Best wishes Angela ( UK member )

Hi there, I'm Angela joining you from the UK. My surgery is a week after yours on Dec 7th. I do keep getting the odd flash of " What am I doing ? " this is permanant no going back. Do you know what, I just think to myself what would you rather do ? A ) Stay fat and risk ending up with a long list of co-morbidities ( I have none at all right now, goodness knows how I've missed them after spending my whole life abusing my body with food.) Carry on for the rest of my life with my weight going up and down because, although I can loose some, I always end up putting it back on again and then some ! I also can't bear the thought of having to have someone take care of me in later years purely because of weight related issues that will crop up. OR ............ B ) Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to help put an end to this cycle for once and for all. I know it isn't going to be easy for us, it isn't magic and we'll have to work hard at it. Just think though, how many times have we struggled to loose the weight only to end up feeling a total failure, in your own and everyone else's eyes, when it does go back on ? I also read, read and better read the posts on this site from everyone who has been there and come out the other side. The inspiration I find and the advice the members give is absolutely priceless and I am truely greatful that I happened upon the site, purely by chance. Try to think positive, do yourself a list of pros & cons and I'll bet I know which list comes out longest !! I have to start my pre-op milk based diet next week for 3 weeks (yeuch !!! ) really looking forward to that !!! LOL Keep in touch and GOOD LUCK for the 1st Best wishes Angela x

Hi Chilo, what brilliant news and you've got there in next to no time you'll be at goal before you know it. I think the best thing is that the sleeve will help us to stay there this time. My weight has gone up and down, like a fiddlers elbow, my whole life. I'm so looking forward to my surgery Dec 7th. Thank you for telling me of your experience on the pre-op diet, I start it in about 10 days can't wait LOL !!!!! Keep up the great work Best wishes Angela x

Hi Sacha, I'm Angela joining you from the UK. Glad you're home and feeling so well. My surgery is due Dec 7th. I'm also a stomach sleeper and was pleased to hear that you managed it so soon after your surgery. I had a knee op a couple of years ago and wakened up on my stomach in my hospital bed the evening of the surgery, my body just natually migrated to that position while I was asleep from the anaestethtic. I couldn't turn over onto my back because it was sooooo painful and I had to have 2 nurses help me to roll over again ! I may have to ask them to tie me down to the bed to stop it happening this time LOL !!! Can't wait to join you on the loosers bench Best wishes Angela

Hiya Coops, phew sooooooo pleased that you managed to get tickets to see our boy & his mates!!!! What a nightmare, was thinking about you this am and keeping fingers crossed. I'll warm them up for you on the 7th LOL!!! As I'm due for my op Dec 7th, I'll be 6 months out in June. Although I won't be at target, I will be using the " Power of the Williams " to help and inspire me !!!! Last year when I went to see TT in Manchester, I felt a bit uncomfortable " letting myself go " NO CHANCE of that next year, I'll be as near to the front as I can get, within grabbing distance LOL !!!!! We may have to contact himself when we both reach target to thank him in person for his help !!!! Well we can dream anyway, can't we LOL Best wishes Angela x

Hi there, good luck for tomorrow, I'm sure everything will be fine. Looking forward to hearing your post op news. Best wishes Angela ( UK member )

Wow that is absolutely fantastic, you don't even look like the same person !! The more I see of the success stories of people like yourself on this site, the more I know I have made the right decision to have the surgery myself. Huge congratulations to you and thank you for posting, it really is the very best encouragement that all of us pre-op members could receive. Best wishes Angela ( UK member ) Surgery date due Dec 7th.

Wow that is absolutely AMAZING !!! Congratulations, I only hope I can do anywhere near as good after my surgery on Dec 7th.. I know from my visits to Florida that it is lovely and flat and great for walking. I don't think I'll be able to do the same walking mileage as you so soon after surgery as I live in a very hillly area. I might manage to stagger a few up hill yards to start with LOL !!! Keep up the brilliant work. Best wishes Angela ( UK member )

Hi everyone I could probably give at least 100 reasons, but here goes with the main ones. 1) To feel healthier, I have no co-morbidities but I just feel so tired all the time. I want to feel better both physically and mentally. 2) To not getting backache after walking around for more than a few minutes. 3) Hopefully reducing the crippling migraines I have suffered from since I was about 16. 4) Not living in fear of seeing someone I haven’t seen for a while because they’ll see how much more weight I’ve put on. 5) Being able to walk into any shop and buy clothes because I like them and not just making do with whatever they have that fits me. 6) Being able to get more than a couple of items in the washing machine at a time. 7) Not standing for hours doing the ironing because everything is so big LOL !! 8) Going on holiday with a case that is not overweight due to the size of the clothes. 9) I’ve always wanted to learn to dance. I’m watching Strictly Come Dancing (Dancing with the Stars to my sleeve brothers and sisters in the US ) as I type this. This time next year folks LOL !!!!! 10) To round up I want to get my life back and to have a voice instead of keeping to the background so as not to draw attention to myself. Phew, that’s better out than in LOL!!!!!! Roll on Dec 7th, can’t wait !!! Angela x ( UK member )

Hi there, you are both looking great, what a brilliant weight loss for both of you and in such a short time too ! I have around the same amount to loose and it is so encouraging to see how well you are doing. I am due to have my surgery Dec 7th. Keep up the good work both of you and thanks for the inspiration. Best wishes Angela ( UK member )

Hi Helen, I'm having my op done in my local hospital in Dewsbury on the NHS. I come under Mid Yorkshire PCT incorporating Huddersfield, Wakefield & Pontefract areas. Anyone having the op done has to come to Dewsbury for referral and all their appointments and to have the surgery. My surgeon is Mr Clive White who also does the procedure privately at the Spire hospital in Elland. He has years of experience. He has been an upper GI cancer speciallist for years and performed partial and full gastrectomies on cancer patients before the VSG came in for weight loss. He is really nice and I have every confidence in him. I can have some fruit and veg on the pre op diet, woo hoo ! I'll have to get a bit creative with that won't I ? I asked Mr White if it would be a complete disaster if I had the odd bit of fish or chicken if I get desperate, he said he has no problem with that. I think he would prefer that rather than me going completely off the wagon and guzzling buckets of rubbish LOL !!! I live on my own, so I'm getting as organised as I can. All my friends are lining up to help and I have a direct line to my GP surgery, for any post op issues, as I work for them ! I think the main issue I have at first is working out how to feed my cats without busting a gut LOL !!!! I've been trying to train them to jump up to be fed, but they're not having any of that so far ! Thanks for replying and for the advice, look forward to joining you on the loosers bench. Best wishes Angela x

Wow you look brilliant !!! The difference in your whole body shape from the start to now is just amazing. How is your husband doing ? I am using you as my inspiration Christy. I am a similar weight and shape to you, although very much older LOL, so you are my template for the future LOL !! I only hope I can do nearly as well as you after my surgery in December. Keep up the brilliant work and here's to getting to your 100 next month !!! Big meows to Phoebe from my cats Mr Malcolm and Mr Sunny Bunny. Best wishes Angela x ( UK member )

Hi there, good to hear from you. I'm not sure what time my surgery will be yet. I have to go into the hospital on Monday Dec 6th and the op is the following day. All I know is that I will go home on the Friday. I'm having my surgery done on the NHS. My surgeon is really nice and very experienced. He has spent many years as an upper GI cancer speciallist and had been doing partial and full gastrectomies on cancer patients for years prior to the VSG procedure being introduced for weight loss. I had such a laugh with him in my initial appointment. I asked him if I could a) keep the removed section of stomach pickled in a jar, or at least see it. He said he hadn't been asked before but if I ask him when I go into hospital he will see what he can do. ( I really would like to keep it if possible, honestly ! ) I also asked if I can have a DVD of the procedure. He said as long as there is recording equipment available on the day that won't be a problem. I am feeling quite relaxed about the actual procedure, I trust my surgeon completely. I am, however, having fleeting seconds of thinking " oh wow, this is forever " but they soon pass. It might seem a bit silly, but the thing that freaks me out most is the propect of hair loss a few months down the line. I'm going to start taking Biotin this week and hope that helps. Hopefully the loss won't be too bad, I have really thick hair so I can afford to loose a bit of it ! Let me know how your appointments that are coming up go. I don't have any more before my op, so I'm now just sitting back and waiting !!! Only 44 days to go, not that I'm counting LOL !!!! By the way, where in England was your grandmother from ? England is not such a big country, we could end up being related LOL !!! Sorry, but I do tend to get carried away and waffle on a bit, I can talk for England LOL !!! Look forward to hearing your updates. Best wishes Angela.

So pleased to hear that everything went well and that you are safely home. Keep smiling, between the burping LOL ! I'm sure you'll feel much better soon. Best wishes Angela x