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I had my surgery on awednesday and went back to work on the monday with no problems at all, I think the sooner we get back into the swing of things the better we feel. Good luck.

Well thanks to Norovirus, and 2 days of sickness I am now 1lb from my valentines target! I guess every cloud has a silver lining!

Hey folks, Sorry if this is TMI, but I've caught Norovirus and have spent the last 18 hours projectile vomiting I've been so sick there is NOTHING left, but still my body is trying! I'm really worried on two scores, but dont know if I am over reacting. Firstly how much pressure can my new stomac take? I dont want to losen or tear something! And secondly as I can normally drink less now, how long do I leave it before worrying about dehydration? Thanks for listening, just in a bit of a panic! Cx

Thanks so much ladies, its good to know its not just me. I'm sure that time is a wonderful thing and ultimately this too shall pass! Although I've had my first moment of "What have I done?" mostly I've already stopped thinking about my sleeve other than at meal times, and in truth even thats passable during the day when I'm at work, however that damn head hunger and junk cravings kick in as soon as I'm in my own environment. Jane I agree with the clothing thing when the scales fail, I sifted my whole wardrobe Tuesday, and ditched everything with room in it. One of my resolutions is to stop hiding in baggy clothes, and I really have no chioice now as they have gone to charity! Thanks for the pick me up. Cx

Ok so 4 weeks out and 18lb down (still in the 3 week stall ), I am soooo tired of liquids. I'm ok with scrambled egg, and Soups even some with a few small noodles in, but I've tried to vary this and keep being sick. I'm tired of the couple of things I can eat, and need more inspiration, but I'm also worried that at this rate I will NEVER get on solids without hurting myself. I've slowed my eating down, I'm only going for small ammounts of soft stuff, what else can I do? I actually doubted my sleeve for the first time yesterday. Thanks in advance. Cx

Thanks everyone. I dropped 1lb and thought it had passed, then gained it back and I'm still stalling. Ho hum! As the scales are not currently my friend I spent last night trying on, and throwing out clothes. It was brilliant! Gone are my pre christmas 24's, 22's and 20's, I have 18's and some 16's and I've promised myself not to hide in baggy things, they make me look fatter, and are a comfort I dont need! Although I'm using better underwear to make the 16's work! Thanks for the encouragement! Cx

ok so, in my own words: I decided to have weight loss surgery because I have been unhappy every day for over 20 years becase of my weight, if I remain over weight I am at a high risk of many serious and possibly fatal health conditions. I deserve to live, and I deserve to do so happily. I looked at the lap band, and almost booked it, and then I met a lot of people online who were unhappy, people who couldn't get the fill right, people who had had slippages, and people who had ended up seriously ill because the band had eroded their stomach which almost killed them. I dont want my weight, or it's solution to rule my life. I read about the sleeve, it is one simple keyhole procedure, when its done, its done, no adjustments, no foreignobjects in your body, you get the op, you heal, you get on with the life you deserve. I shared a room with two people when I got my surgery both in for band procedures, one was getting it fitted, one was getting a bad band repaired, after they heard about the sleeve, and saw hw much quicker I was up and around than they were BOTH told me they wished they had researched more and gotten a sleeve instead. I'm loving mine so far! Hope this helps. Cx

Hi I'm joining late, but need the motivation! SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal Avilda......................275.................187..............177..............10 BlackBerryJuice.........208..........149..............145..............4 Brendasgonnalose...335............233..............225..............8 Cherice95405.......248............... 177............ 164..............13 Chilo1.....................216................160...............154..............6 Coops ...................238................191...............177...............14 Cwalker.................250.................180..............170...............10 Daisy......................237.................138.............130...............8 DJackson..............229.................222..............215.............7 HollyW...................259..................233............215..............18 Ibejjo.....................249..................249............229................20 Juliarh...................230..................217..............215...........2 Kimmes................239..................222..............200............22 Kgremmy.............225.................210..............199..............11 Laylasmojo.........242.................180...............170..............10 LeslieH..................212..................212.............199..............13 LilMissDiva...........235................229.............220.............9 Mellifrits...............210.................132..............125..............07 Meriteri................240...................187.............170...............17 MichelleLee..........252..................222................199..............23 MINI-Me...............203..................124.6............125..............0 & holding! mlr777...........200.8...........174.6............160.............14.6 Mommy2Girls.......275.................240..............228..............12 Moniluv.................190.................190..............178..............12 MRSKOUBIK........317..................266.............255..............10 pattimomof3nj......203.4..............160.9..........155...........5.9 PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..…..275……..……..255…………..20 Sailorgirl.................240.................220..............200..........20 Secret Surgery34..........205.........174...........165...........9 Seniorsleever........290.................279.............260............19 Sleeve 4 me.........166..................163.............156...............7 Sweatinitout..........245................170..............160...............10 tlang262 - Texas.....240..............240..............230..............10 Yolanda240...........236.................203..............170..............33 livelovelaugh.. ...236............ ....207........ .....189..............18 Cludgie................235................220...............209..............11

Argh! Day 15 post op, and I happily jump on the scales to find a 1lb GAIN! So I pee, I move the scales, I stand on one foot, and that sneaky little 1lb is still there! I'm about to seriously start excercising as my wounds are almost healed, and I think my diet is ok, I went abroad so don't get follow up nutritional advice, but I've been having 2 Protein shakes a day (just over 200 kcals between them) and either a cuppa Soup, an egg or a couple of spoons full of mushy stuff for tea (impossible to be more than a couple of hundred kcals tops), I've managed 2-4 Hot drinks a day, and about a pint of Water to make sure I'm hydrated, and I've had around 76g proteine a day too. So I'm on 300-500 kcals max, how can my body not be using that? Could anyone please suggest where this additional lb has come from, and what I am doing wrong? I'm most unhappy with it, and so soon from surgery I feel like I am failing! Cx

Hey folks, I'm in Notts, good to find some other Brits doing the sleeve journey! I'm 12 days post op and I've lost about 8lb since surgery (difficult to be precise as my surgeon didn't weigh me), it seems sooo slow compared to other people i see who are a couple of weeks out and have lost 20 odd pounds, but I guess in this race I'm only competing against myself. Happy sleeving folks

So I'm 12 days post op, and I've just re-read how totally unhappy I was in my 1st blog. Don't get me wrong, my new stomach has not been a cure all, I'm still clinically depressed, and have to be on meds for anxiety but I know that food was something I've buried my problems under for years, and just because I coated them and myself in fat, I ddn't solve any of them (well not just yet anyway). HOWEVER I'm starting to feel good about me! I am losing weight more slowly than a lot of people, but 4 days ago my jeans started to fit me again, and today when I wore them they started falling down a little, and what if my weight creeps down, its taken me a lifetime to get this big, and my sleeve is forever its going nowhere, so whats the rush?? It has really started to hit me that every pound I have lost, I have lost for the very last time. I love my sleeve!!!!

I think my what ifs kicked in the minute i was wheeled into theatre, and thankfully by then they were very brief! I can only speak from my own experience, but I have done liquid only diets, in the past, and as son as I am denied something completely I want it much more! So I am 12 days post op, and I've already made some mistakes (Sadly I've not been re-born as a person with an Iron will), however the sheer magnitude of such slip ups is so minor compared to the "old" me. I struggle on liquid only, and can technically move on to mush, but I find mush too filling, so I am choosing to have liquids for most meals, but when I get the urge to eat I'm havng a little mush. Tonight I had a single scrambled egg and was full. I am satisfied, and thats what helps resist temptation too much. I allowed myself a single bit of chocolate tonight (normally a family sized bar would be gone in seconds), and I had the sleeve because I don't want everything to be taboo forever. I ate a tiny chocolate (yes just one), I enjoyed it, like really stoped and enjoyed it, then I put them back and walked away happy - this has NEVER been something I could do before. I have a skinny husband, and two skinny kids so our house will always be full of temptation, and although I still instinctively open the fridge whenever I pass it, I now feel able to close the door again without taking food I don't need. I know that people talk about the restriction easing, and I guess it must so that we can get back on to solids, but I am making the most of this whilst it lasts, and hope that I can change my habits whilst I have the most assistance. Good luck with your decision, and let us know how you get on. Cx

This is a really positive step, I guess sorting our thinking out is much harder than the surgery itself. Well done on striding forward and making such a positive change. I've been compulsive about shapewear, and got to the point before sugery that to go out soially, or to go to work I'd wear 3 types of underwear simultaneously to pull me in and push me out in the right places. I'm only 12 days out, but my clothes are looser, and my shapewear is gathering dust in my drawer! I'm really lucky as a friend of mine lost lots of weight last year, and we started the same size, so she has clothes in every size which she is donating a bag at a time as I lose a little more - she is saving me a fortune!

and been fine with that, but now if I drink too much it feels like its backed up into my throat, and I certainly can't ignore that feeling and just carry on. I think liquids may be a deceptive stage as I can drink almost normally, but I've tried a little thicker liquid and after a few spoonfulls I'm done! Good luck with your journey. Cx

Hi I'm only 8 days out but LOVE my sleeve so far! Yes its tedious on liquids, and I've struggled to adjust my thinking so have made some mistakes, but when I have, I have known about it, and I'd have to be hell bent on self destruction to continue. In the past I have over eaten to the point of discomfort,

Thanks for the suggestions. I feel so ready for something more and have ventureed a couple of thicker soups, although I know how silly that is so soon. I'm now stocked up on a Protein drink with 38grams protein per serving so heading the right way. Cx

Hi, I am now 6 days post op and my surgeon just said 2 weeks liquid only then soft food for a couple of weeks before normal texture food. He didnt suggest what good liquids were Well I'm living on cuppa Soups and I'm bored enough to go nuts, I also tried slimfast but it gave me terrible dumping. Can I ask experienced sleevers what got you through the liquids stage? Thanks. Cx

Hi, I'd echo that everyone is totally different, but I think it helps if you know what to expect (this was my 3rd abdominal surgery) and if you are focussed on getting back on track. I'm 5 days post op, and did 9 hours at work today without any issues. I was in hospital 24 hours, my drain was out after 12 hours, and I had paracetamol for 3 days for discomfort at the drain site. I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old so just can't totally avoid lifting but I'm going as gently as I can, and I think our bodies tell us our limits pretty quickly. In my experience working but not spending 12 hours man handling things should be ok. As for the band 2 people were banded the day I was sleeved (one was a replacement), and both told me they wish they had looked into it more and got the sleeve instead, both were also finding it harder to get back on their feet due to their port sites being very sensitive. Good luck, and let us know how you get on. Cx

Hi, I'd echo that everyone is totally different, but I think it helps if you know what to expect (this was my 3rd abdominal surgery) and if you are focussed on getting back on track. I'm 5 days post op, and did 9 hours at work today without any issues. I was in hospital 24 hours, my drain was out after 12 hours, and I had paracetamol for 3 days for discomfort at the drain site. I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old so just can't totally avoid lifting but I'm going as gently as I can, and I think our bodies tell us our limits pretty quickly. In my experience working but not spending 12 hours man handling things should be ok. As for the band 2 people were banded the day I was sleeved (one was a replacement), and both told me they wish they had looked into it more and got the sleeve instead, both were also finding it harder to get back on their feet due to their port sites being very sensitive. Good luck, and let us know how you get on. Cx

Hi Folks, Well I finally got my sleeve yesterday, I'm now drip free and drain free and up and about so things are getting easier already, however I am getting soo many mixed messages about what my new smaller (and obviously quite battered at the moment) stomach realy wants. I feel quite gassy and bloated, and have been sipping Water and juice today, but I just don't know my limitations and I'm scared to take more than a few sips. I know i am probably rushing things, but I just wondered how long most people found it was before thy got to grips with the new limitations, and knowing what your body wants? Thanks Cx

Good Luck Nina, I'll send up some prayers for you. I'm getting sleeved on the 5th, and am also quite nervous, although I'm figuring that after one previous keyhole surgery, and an emergency c-section I should be prepared for waking up sore! Let us know how you get on. Cx

Hi, Well I finally decided to start charting this crazy rollercoaster ride to a new and (hopefully) improved me, so here goes; I am 30, I am a professional person, I have an astoundingly wonderful family including two beautiful children aged 6 and 2, and my husband really is my best firend and soul mate. I should be happy! In fact I should be ecstatic, skipping along with a song in my heart - I AM NOT! I am truly thankful for all of the blessings in my life, but despite all that the biggest part of every day is painful for me, it usually goes like this; When I wake up in the morning, just before my husband gets up to go to work I make sure we get to hug, but before I do that I have to make sure I am lying a certain way, that my body is covered, and that he doesn't accidentally brush past a body part I am not happy with. When I get up shortly after him I agonise over the days clothing choice (nothing fits, nothing looks right etc etc etc). I weigh myself, I wee, and I weigh myself again shortly before kicking the scales hard and swearing loudly. I then try all of my clothes on again, and usually end up in the least revealing and most shapeless garment I can find, by which stage I feel humilliated and tearful. I will eat something in secret even if it is just a few crumbs of something, and then I'll have a healthy and modest breakfast with my family to keep them happy. By the time the kids are dropped off and I get to work I am always paranoid about my outfit choice, and will spend hours obsessing about how i look from each angle, and how much worse I will look if i actually breathe out, and what on earth people must think about me. Lunch is an hour of trying not to eat in front of people, but usually failing. Sometimes I settle with just a coffee, and sometimes I go for as much crap as a human body can hold, either results in paranoia and a few odd looks! The afternoon is just like the morning, and is followed by an evening of more secret emotional eating and snacking to "cheer myself up". At night I undress and get into bed in stages intended to avoid unflattering angles, and if all else fails make my husband look away! I then spend 8 hours intermittently waking and re-positioning myself to avoid accidental touching of wobbly bits. I know how repressed and tragic that all sounds, but thats my starting point, I have 66lb to lose to be a "normal" healthy weight, and have never come close to that through other conventional methods, so the sleeve it is. Thanks for listening. Cx

Hi Folks, I just typed a really long introduction to myself, and my wireless went awol and I lost it, so I'm saying a much briefer "Hi" for now - I just wondered if anyone facied introducing themselves a little more? I'd love to know what journeys we have all been on to get here, and what our motivations are for taking this step now? Basically I had a realisation upon turning 30 that the same isue was destroying me which had blighted my life from being age 6, and although I have fortitude even I draw the line at almost 25 years of misery, so exactly 2 months before I get to 31 I am getting sleeved an I hope it will mark an upturn for the next 30 years, and close the door on the most difficult part of the first 30. However that being said its so long since I was a "normal" weight I still just don't believe it will ever work for me - weight loss is something other people achieve! Heres to January guys! Cx

Hi I'm new here, and based in the UK, although my surgery will be in belgium. I've booked it for January 5th, and I think it would be awesome to get that January group up and running, will be fab to know others are going through exactly the same as me at every step. Cx