Bornagainbabe

I'm going to try doing that as I haven't managed to quit the habit of grazing in the evenings. I'm ok throughout the day and don't particularly think about food but as soon as the evening arrives I can't stop craving and nibbling on stuff I shouldn't.

Have all seen the film Thunderpants? Well, that's what I'm like when I take Lactulose!

I was a bit reluctant to be the first to jump in here but I think that my hunger has diminished since my revision. I can go for quite a while and forget to eat, but, when I do I have to be very careful not to stuff myself with too much or eat it too quickly. My band worked very well for me until it slipped and I found that I recognised the fullness signs far earlier than I do now, but I do find that if I am strict with myself and only put a small portion on a small plate I am fine. Sometimes I do snack but that's habit and 'head hunger' more than anything, but I can't and don't really binge anymore. Lots of people here will have varied experiences x

I have also posted on other threads that my husband's grandmother had a partial gastrectomy years ago and lived until she was 87. She died from an unrelated illness.

I was concerned about this although luckily it wasn't an issue in the end, but I had planned on asking my doctor for the pill as I didn't want the embarrassment or inconvenience on top of my operation as well. As Tiffy says they are well prepared for it and you won't be the first.

I get what you're saying about wanting some evidence of the long-term effects of this surgery and I was the same after having a band and it failing but if it helps, people do have to have partial gastrectomies for all sorts of medical reasons and my husband's grandmother had one when was about 50 and didn't die until she was 87 from an unrelated illness. She always had to stick to small portions and was sick now and then - just like vsg patients, but otherwise she was fine, nor did she ever get fat!

Just hit onederland this week! Didn't realise it until I sat and worked out my stones into pounds lol! Am happy - it's slow but steady and that's ok for me now x

Hi Cat, There's not much I can add except to emphasise, and I will be quite blunt here, that with a BMI of 50 you are probably going to die early from an obesity-related illness anyway and you need to weigh up the pros and cons. It's very easy, with so many obese people around these days, to delude ourselves by thinking that we aren't that bad really, but society is getting bigger and bigger on the whole and it's not normal or healthy. I had a BMI of 48 2 years ago and I was umming and aahing over it and trying this diet and that...in the end I had to take the bull by the horns and do something about it, and then I opted for the band thinking to myself that as it was a reversible operation and once I had lost the weight I could have it removed, I would be fine and never put on weight again! I was still deluding myself then that I didn't really have that big a problem and I was wrong. It is major surgery and it is a scary prospect to everyone (you just wouldn't be normal if you didn't have some worries) but you know yourself that you won't lose weight by dieting. You wouldn't be here if you could and if you're like me and addicted to food you will be even bigger in a year's time. I had a band 2 years ago, then revised to the sleeve in July this year and have lost a total of 115 lbs to date. I am very, very happy and much healthier as a result. You will get lots of very good advice on this site from people whose surgery has been a great success and from those who unfortunately did suffer from some complications. What you need to do now is research and be honest with yourself in making what is not always an easy decision. Good luck Cat Helenxxx

I agree with what the others say and whilst it's good that you have done all your research and are aware of pros and cons, I think you should try relaxing now and just concentrate on the advantages and how great you are going to look and feel. I nearly backed out just hours before my op and it was nerves, all the what ifs and they are just that - what ifs. Dying from obesity and diabetes are sure things really. You have think to yourself, 'what is the alternative?' and then take the opportunity you have. Chill out now and try not to get yourself into a state over it xxx

I say the same as everyone else! Good luck for Tuesday and see you on the losing side xxx

Hi, glad you are doing well. You will be fine. It's expected to feel some discomfort at first but it sounds like you are doing well and you will find lots of help and advice here. Just keep on the fluids and follow your surgeon's dietary advice and you can't go wrong x

Yeah I think that's the problem with accents. Although we all speak the same language at times they can be pretty different. Sometimes I have problems and I studied UK Accent and Dialect plus some Ebonics, English as a Global Language etc. etc. at university. We all use different expressions as well which makes it all the more difficult. US English is 'more' pure than English English (particularly that of New England, Jamestown etc., despite what the Brits say) as that is the form that was brought over and has survived (very similar to the Norfolk accent) and it is English English that has changed. At the moment I love True Blood and I really have to concentrate hard on the dialogue in that. Most bits in it speak for themselves though and don't need any translation - not saying which but I wouldn't recommend it to my elderly mother ha ha!

I don't even live in the States but since I have been on this board I haven't heard a single bad thing said about Dr Aceves in Mexico. If I was pre-op now I would be wanting to come over there...My surgeon is really good though so I'm certainly not dissing him. All surgery carries some risk. Everyone wants their doctor to say it's fine, you will be fine blah blah blah and despite my surgeon being very confident he did lay it on the line and discuss the risks. The main problem with bariatric surgery and convincing our loved ones that it is the right thing is that the media always reports on the failures, but statistically there aren't really that many. Our surgeons are so experienced with this type of surgery now as they are doing so many every day. And I am confident that all the reputable surgeons don't want to tarnish those reputations by carrying out surgery that they are not confident is right for the patient. Does that sound right? There are many success stories on this website and those who have suffered complications (I'm certainly not underestimating them) but I think that you have to research, choose a reputable surgeon and ultimately put your faith in them. The alternative is dying anyway....from obesity. Helenxxx

Not seen the US version (my daughter has and loves it) but saw the UK one a few years ago. It's very observant isn't it? For those of us who have worked in offices, we all know one of the characters at least!

Hi Judy, Difficult to answer for me as I still do have a lot of cravings and have been struggling with portion sizes but I think that I am getting there. I don't think about food all the time anymore and I don't think that I am depressed. I have a chocolate when offered one and I ate some cake the other day and had to stop when I had had enough (my friend had the job of finishing it off!). My weight loss is very slow now but that is fine as I have lost a lot already. There are so many positive aspects (same as Jane quoted) that definitely outweight any negative ones so I wouldn't dwell on them and would just look forward to being happier and healthier.

I agree with everything that has already been said and can't really add much other than support. It will come off. Your body has been shocked into hanging onto it at the moment but you will start losing soon so stop fretting x

Ditto what Susan said. I am band to sleeve revision too and like all the others would not recommend it now. VSG is great!

Hi Nancy, you don't say how much weight you need to lose but I had to convince my husband and family 2 years ago when I paid to have my band. I was huge, had a massive abdominal hernia and just 'couldn't' lose the weight myself. My surgeon refused to operate on my hernia until I lost weight so it was a vicious circle really. I was fat, depressed and ate and ate, felt guilty, lost a pound or two and then ate again. I booked my band surgery without discussing it with anyone first and they all said the same 'It's dangerous, it's drastic, blah blah blah' and I retorted that being morbidly obese was also dangerous and I was looking diabetes in the eye as well as all the other obesity-related conditions. They weren't convinced but I knew it was right and eventually won-over some support as I really had to have my hernia fixed as well. Anyway, I have had no regrets since and not one person has said I was wrong. It was right for me despite revising to the sleeve this year (don't be tempted to have a band - that's another issue). I have lost just over 112lbs in 2 years - see my photos- and I feel great, absolutely brilliant. AS well as my health being improved, so is my confidence. I was obese for years (it piled on slowly and gradually) and just could not conquer it whatever I did - Atkins, WW, pills, you name it. I don't really know what you can say to your husband to convince him as there are a lot of people out there who claim it is the 'easy' option. It's not, it's major surgery, but you have to work out the pros and cons. Despite my band eventually failing it was money well spent. Luckily the NHS in the UK agreed to fund my revision surgery so I didn't have to pay out again but I needed the permanence of the sleeve as it was a sure-thing that I would gain all my weight back without it. I am a food addict and always will be. Good luck in making your decision and hopefully you can win your hubby over! Helen xxx

I had the pangs of regret immediately afterwards as well and was questioning myself as to whether or not I had done the right thing. It's all very emotional isn't it. Like you those doubts were short-lived. Glad you are on the mend now and that it was a positive experience for you. Hospital and staff all sound excellent xxx

I had the headache from Hell with morphine and anesthesia and when I had epidural as well. Am still unsure whether or not it was combination or any single drug to blame. This last op I was crying so much from the pain of the headache that I had to tell my husband not to allow my visitors to come. In the end they stopped the morphine and gave me a different non-opiate based painkiller but I felt really grotty for a while. Hopefully you will feel better once it's out of your system. Helenxxx

Lucky you! My doc had me do it twice, first at BMI 46 for my band and then at BMI 36 for my revision. I had to stick to milk and yoghurt (nothing else at all) and it was awful...but I did it!

Hmmmm, well I will be honest in telling you it's not easy but it also depends on what diet your surgeon puts you on as they vary. It can be made easier by avoiding all 'food' situations if possible (family cook for themselves, you go in another room, change your routine, go food shopping less etc.) and it is always worth sticking to in every case as it makes the surgery easier and safer. Good luck Helenxxx

People you don't see regularly definitely notice it more and pass comment. When my daughter came home from uni she said 'Mum, you're wasting away' and recently at a wedding a friend said he could see it in my face (would prefer it to be my bum but still a compliment nontheless!!!). And sometimes family comment when I haven't lost any weight so that must be body shape!

I know exactly what you mean! I used to be shocked by how much my friends and family ate when I had my band though as well. You really do notice it, especially when they are piling their plates up and eating all of it. I think how can you eat all that?? The only problem we have now is that when we have eaten out my husband is finishing things off for me so that no comments are made about me not liking the food (you know what I mean?) etc etc and I told him that whilst I am losing weight he will be putting it all on! I think it has helped my family to eat more healthily though as I am buying in less rubbish and cooking far smaller portions that before! We shall see. I don't want them to have to go what I went through and keep telling them that. It's becoming as much as a problem in the UK as it is in the US now and all we ever hear about in the media is the 'obesity crisis'. Healthy eating and exercise are the answers aren't they, but easier said than done for a lot of us eh?

Yes I was going to say the same. I have had a bit of pasta (the lasagne with all the sauce)-that was ok, and I have had rice a couple of times and had different reactions. If I limit myself to one spoonful with a bit of chilli, curry, etc. I am fine. When I had too much a few weeks ago I felt really ill. I haven't tried bread yet and haven't really missed it to be honest. I had a bit of toast with a poached egg and that was ok but haven't attempted a sandwich or anything yet.