Bornagainbabe

Hi Matt, Welcome to VST. I'm in Sheffield too - whereabouts are you? It's quite normal to feel nervous but Mr Ackroyd is an excellent surgeon with an equally excellent reputation. He has operated on me three times and I have always felt very safe in his hands. You will find loads of information on here regarding diet etc. and the dietician will see you in hospital to go through it all. I wouldn't worry too much about keyhole versus open surgery. Mr Ackroyd will do as he considers necessary. I had open surgery as I needed my ab muscles repaired at the same time and it probably only delayed my recovery by a week or so. Don't worry about that right now. I am sure you will be fine as long as you do as you're told and will make a good recovery. How are you doing with the pre-op diet? Helen

I am glad you didn't cheat. Well done! As was stated before, it's easy to slide downhill really fast once you do start slipping in things that aren't prescribed by your doc. I had to do a milk and yoghurt diet for 10 days twice! The first time at a BMI of 46 for my band op and then again at a BMI of around 30 (I think) for my revision to sleeve. I did stick to it rigidly both times but I did have the occasional oxo drink to get in some savoury as I hate yoghurt and it makes me feel sick. It was all worth it though and my liver was nicely shrunk down for surgery. Good luck, you're doing really well xxx

Hi Michelle and welcome, this is a great site full of lovely people and excellent advice. Good luck with your pre-op diet. Am looking forward to hearing of your progress xxx

Oops! Just seen your new 'do' and it's fab. You look great - very very pretty xxx

Love A! The style looks easier to maintain than C as well!

Hi Snow, Welcome to VST! You will find lots of support and useful info here. Hi Chilli, Ditto Jane. Not been here for a while so may have missed your updates. Hope you are doing ok. Helen x

✮✮✮MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR✮✮✮ To all my VST friends wherever you are xxxxxx

Sometimes I feel really hungry and at other times I can go for hours without thinking of eating. The problem with that though is that when I do start eating I quickly realise how hungry I actually was and then end up scoffing too much and too fast. The answer for me is to try and keep to a fairly regular pattern. I still don't get clear 'full' signals and if I am enjoying something can over indulge and then end up being sick - I try to avoid that by telling myself that it's ok to go back and get some more later on (usually I forget and don't bother). It's getting easier as time goes on I think.

A bit long but very funny! FROM: Patricia Harris, Human Resources Director TO: All Employees DATE: 4th DECEMBER RE: Christmas Party I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23rd, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols...please feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if the Managing Director shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1.00 p.m. Exchange of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over 10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets. This gathering is only for employees! The Managing Director will make a special announcement at the Party. Merry Christmas to you and your Family Patricia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FROM: Patricia Harris, Human Resources Director TO: All Employees DATE: 5th December RE: Holiday Party In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Chanukah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on we're calling it our ' Holiday Party.' The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians. There will be no Christmas tree or Christmas carols sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment. Happy now? Happy Holidays to you and your family, Patricia. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FROM; Patricia Harris, Human Resources Director TO: All Employees DATE : 6th December RE: Holiday Party Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table...you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, "AA Only," you wouldn't be anonymous anymore!!!! How am I supposed to handle this? Somebody? Forget about the gift exchange, no gift exchange allowed now since the Union Officials feel that 10.00 is too much money and Management believe 10.00 is a little cheap. NO GIFT EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED. Patricia. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FROM: Patricia Harris, Human Resources Director TO: All Employees DATE: 7th December RE: Holiday Party What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20th begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during day l i ght hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs, perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party - or else package everything up for you to take home in a little foil doggy bag. Will that work? Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women will get the table closest to the toilets, Gays are allowed to sit with each other, Lesbians do not have to sit with gay men, each will have their own table. Yes, there will be flower arrangements for the gay men's table, too. To the person asking permission to cross dress - no cross dressing allowed. And No, no blow-up sheep. We will have booster seats for short people. Low fat food will be available for those on a diet. We cannot control the salt used in the food. We suggest those people with high blood pressure taste the food first. There will be fresh fruits as dessert for Diabetics, the restaurant cannot supply "No Sugar" Desserts. Sorry! Did I miss anything?!?!?!?!?! Patricia. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FROM: Patricia Harris , Human Resources Director TO: All F*****G Employees DATE: 8th December RE: The ******** Holiday Party. Vegetarian pricks I've had it with you people!!! We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death", as you so quaintly put it. You'll get your f****** salad bar, including organic tomatoes, but you know tomatoes have feeling, too. They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them scream right NOW!! Hope you all have a rotten holiday * drink, drive, and die! The Bitch from HELL!!!!!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FROM: John Bishop - Acting Human Resources Director DATE: 12th December RE: Patricia Harris and Holiday Party I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patricia a speedy recovery, and I'll continue to forward your cards to her. In the meantime, Management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and instead, give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd December off with full pay.

What do you get if you cross an owl with a hedgehog? ........a prick that stays up all night!

It is near the Christmas break of the school year. The students have turned in all their work and there is really nothing more to do. All the children are restless and the teacher decides to have an early dismissal.. Teacher: "Whoever answers the questions I ask, first and correctly can leave early today." Little Johnny says to himself "Good, I want to get outta here. I'm smart and will answer the question." Teacher: "Who said 'Four Score and Seven Years Ago'?" Before Johnny can open his mouth, Susie says, "Abraham Lincoln." Teacher: "That's right Susie, you can go home." Johnny is mad that Susie answered the question first. Teacher: "Who said 'I Have a Dream'?" Before Johnny can open his mouth, Mary says, "Martin Luther King.." Teacher: "That's right Mary, you can go." Johnny is even madder than before. Teacher: "Who said 'Ask not, what your country can do for you'?" Before Johnny can open his mouth, Nancy says, "John F. Kennedy." Teacher: "That's right Nancy, you may also leave." Johnny is boiling mad that he has not been able to answer to any of the questions. When the teacher turns her back Johnny says, "I wish these bitches would keep their mouths shut!" The teacher turns around: "NOW WHO SAID THAT?" Johnny: "TIGER WOODS. CAN I GO NOW?"

Yes I agree - lasagne is fine with me but I was sick the other week after eating spaghetti bolognese so I am avoiding pasta. Rice is fine now too.

I had emergency surgery on an irreducible incarcerated hernia in June and was fully recovered after a week. You will be fine x

I'm on Lansoprazole, same as Jane, and have no problems with it. If I don't take it I know about it and have indigestion. I have no plans to stop taking it as it protects my stomach.

It could be that the sleeved part of the stomach is tougher and doesn't stretch like the old stomach could.

Don't know about 'style-guru' Dalited! Don't know about Primark as well! Would set my sights a bit higher than that!

I am sure you will be fine. Try not to get too stressed over the Christmas vacation and relax. When do you have to start your pre-op - can you not wait until after New Year? I'm only curious because I had to start mine 10 days prior to the op. I know that all surgeons have different requirements though so you must follow what yours' prescribes. I am sure your surgeon will be fine as well so don't worry. I know there are people who have different opinions on this where bariatric surgery is concerned but you must have had confidence in him in the first place (do you know his success rate?) and as he has been performing surgery on cancer patients for some time he will have plenty of experience in that area of surgery where gastrectomies are concerned. I don't think you should worry as it's not like revision surgery where he has to deal with slipped bands, scar tissue etc. Good luck and enjoy your Christmas xxx

All the best. Hope it all goes well x

It's great isn't it to look in the mirror and actually like what you see for a change. I know I will be at the large end of a 16 as I was this weight and size about 12 years ago so I think I have a good idea of what will fit now. Size 14 is a long way away at the moment. Even when I was young I couldn't get into 14 bottoms when I was around 154lbs (I'm 5'8") as I have a rather large bum!!! I am going to an 80s party on Saturday as.....wait for it.....Madonna! I have got all the gear together...rara tutu, leg warmers, fingerless lace gloves, etc. etc. I shall upload the photos for you to have a laugh at. I would never have dared do that a few years ago! I am going to look a prat but who cares.......???!!!

Yeah it's all normal. You have just had major surgery so you can't expect anything else at the moment. Just keep taking your painkillers (these will enable you to keep mobile), get plenty of rest as well (you may experience restlessness at night but that is normal too) and follow your surgeon/dieticians guidelines regarding food intake. You will progress through the diet now and before long you will be onto mushy turkey, roasties and sprouts lol! Take care and you will be fine x

No Joon! I will just stick with the ecstasy and crystal meth! Joke!!!

I had to return a skirt I had ordered today as it was miles too big!!! I couldn't believe it and was certain that I was still in a UK size 18. I didn't have the confidence to order a 16 as the size 18 jeans I wear every day don't seem that big on me. Anyway it has gone back and a 16 is now on order. I haven't lost any more weight lately but I definitely seem to be losing inches as a couple of people have commented on my weight-loss recently. It's really great to be able to wear lovely clothes again and not the tents that were 'comfy' xxxxxxxxxxxx

That's brilliant Tiffy - well done! Mine's about the same now as well. Started at about 47 and now 29. It's great isn't it?

Good one! Was really worried when I saw your previous post and was going to tell you to ask for some different painkillers! You're obviously sorted out now. Make sure you get plenty of rest at home x

If the headache gets bad stop the morphine. I didn't have any after day 1 as it made me so ill and the post-op pain was easier to bear than the headache from hell. Ask for a non-opiate based painkiller if you need it x