lifebegins2012

Well done you!!xxx

Hi. It's only natural to be nervous of the unknown. I busied myself clearing out cupboards etc when I wasn't at work. This helped occupy me but also helped with the pre op weight loss! I had my op 2 days ago, I haven't been sick at all and have slept well. Today my stomach is a little sorer but I think it is due to the bruising. I can't say I have had proper pain at all, some discomfort on Thurs /Fri in my right shoulder but I have mobilised a fair bit. Now I need to learn how to take things easy;)

I was banded yesterday. I had to put those disposable knickers on and the anaesthetist loosend my gown while I was awake.. The knickers were on throughout surgery as there was iodine staining all round the waistband. My period was last week and I did swell a little. I got weighed when I had my gown on for surgery.They weren't bothered about how much I'd lost, just that I'd eaten less to reduce liver. Home this morning and have come to bed in last hour with 2 hot water bottles. Not that I'm in any pain but they feel nice on shoulder and stomach:)

HI All. I expected to be really emotional yesterday but since I wasn't due to go to the hospital until midday I busied myself with washing the car, hoovering etc. An hours journey passed fast and I was told to shower straight away once shown to my room. I walked to theatre, had the anaesthetist tell me a joke, I told him one back. I had read that if you suffer travel sickness, you will probably have more nausea on waking so I mentioned this and was told they would dose me up good and proper. I went to theatre at 1.30pm and was back in my room before 3pm. I could not keep my eyes open. My parents were about but I only saw them briefly about 4pm as I was trying really hard to stay awake but couldnt and told them to go home. By about 10pm I'd only been awake in total for about an hour since surgery( and that was due to my door being opened again and again for my post op obs). What a fabulous sleep!!The kind of really deep sleep you have when exhausted but with absolutely no headache from being overtired. After yet another sleep, I woke at 1.30am this morning and did have some discomfort in my collarbone, mostly right side. The nurse brought me some tramadol as I wasn't due the next dose of paracetamol. It did the trick but I haven't been tired enough to sleep since. I watched tv through the night and read some of my book. I've had no nausea at all and by 6pm yesterday was drinking orange juice as well as water. The more I talked, the sorer/drier my throat was and by the end of the night i was down to a whisper. It's normal today.I had cranberry juice in the evening and this morning had 3 cups of tea and a breakfast smoothie. I was discharged after 10am. I'm just amazed how normal I feel. I had a cushion in the car but didn't wince at all when we went over the potholes. My surgeon has put 4mls into my 10ml band so should feel restriction when I move onto mushies then solids. My only gripe is a small one and that was just admission and discharge times.I was told I would be in at midday and out at midday on the phone 2 days prior to surgery but the ward staff told me they had expected me in earlier and I found out late last night that I would be discharged 2hours earlier than planned. Not a problem for me but I had to rearrange my lift home. l in all I'd consider it to be a great experience.The staff were all lovely and obliging. I hadn't realised until late last night that I was in room 13( I am a tad superstitious) but here I am sat at home on my sofa in normal clothes feeling, well normal! The nurse said my recovery was probably helped because I was very active in the 2 weeks prior to surgery( I had a good clear out in garden and house). I did move about alot in my room at the hospital and wil continue to do so now I'm home to help myself with the windpains. Now it's confession time..... My pre-op diet was a calorie count of 1,000-1,200 calories a day. I went slightly over one day and 7days ago had a greedy day and consumed nearly 2,000 but to top it all, the day before surgery I had a 200cal ww meal for lunch with a smal apple for pudding then dinner was chocolate. Yes lovely CHOCOLATE!! lol Smarties and Cadbury's Caramel and yummy it was too!! I even had a cheeseburger for supper!! Overall I did lose 9lb in 2 weeks so don't really feel any guilt

Hi everyone. I've had a good think while I've been reading all your comments and here are some of mine wants. I hadn't realised just how many changes I want and how many things I automatically do or don't do because of my size/weight. I want to be the smallest sister:) I want an up to date family album When my sons announce they are getting married I want to be really happy for them without immediately thinking about my weight and the photos ( this has been at the back of mind for years and one son isn't even dating at the moment!) I'd love to run a half marathon. I've always had a big bust so am hoping to lose more from that area. Shoes- I love shoes but wear practical ones. I'd love to wear the stilettoes with a side buckle and be able to do the buckle up myself without having to become a contortionist! I'd like to walk up to the works carpark with a colleague and chat all the way instead of deliberately asking something that will take them a few minutes to tell me so I don't have to chat and become breathless( crafty I know) up the hill. I'd like not to feel guilty about whats in my shopping trolley when I get to the checkout- no more hiding the chocolate bars under a packet of Cereal while it's on the conveyour belt in case people are looking at what I'm buying. Yes I too would like my collarbone to be noticable.. oh and to feel my hipbones- I'm not after not skinny just without the padding I have:) I want to love myself again and then be brave enough to date again I want to be able to say 'no thanks, I'm full' (lol)

Do you think it was all down to your eating habits? I'd be inclined to asking for an extra stitch to hold it in place lol x wishing you well x

Do people measure anywhere else as well as waist, hips,thighs? I don't know how far to take it. I'm now thinking I'd quite like to monitor my wrist. It might sound a silly choice but I've not been able to get one of those watches with a fixed size bangle/strap on for something like 15 years. What about feet and ankles? xx

Thanks girls.You've all made some good points. I still have some of my attendance/weight cards from slimming clubs as far back as 2004 so in a way I suppose it's a similar thing. I've looked at those in the past to help get motivation to try and continue with yet another diet, I think I maybe will take measurements. I may decide not to look at them again but they'll be there. Best wishes to you all xx

Great news!!!! You'll be making your mind boggle from the avid reading you're about to do on here!! I'm 7 days away, no liquid diet but calorie counting xx

HI. My surgeon has told he that he may leave some in at the time of fitting but I won't expect it:)

I googled wls and the word 'support'. It lists ones round the country but my local one isnt on there. Only that group came up xx It looks like most are set up by patients having surgery at nearby hospitals. The group I'm going to tomorrow night is similar but there are members who have travelled abroad for their surgery. xx nite xx

Found this one for you... Liverpool Location: Lee Vally Millenium Centre Childwall Valley Rd Liverpool, Merseyside, L25 2PR liverpoolsupport@wlsinfo.org.uk Meeting day: Tuesday Time: 6.30pm-10pm Frequency: Monthly - Third Tuesday

HI Sarah. There's lots of support and good suggestions here. I read your status but had a neighbour round for the evening so couldnt coment earlier. She had me in tears. I only told her last night, she's told her boyfriend who apparently said ' Why's she ****ing having a band' etc etc. In the end I told her to stop talking about it as I didn't need to justify myself to anybody(after I'd expalined over and over). She said if I was doing it for me then go ahead. LIKE I NEED HER APPROVAL. I got upset, she came over and hugged me( I wanted to punch her. SHE'D made me upset). As you know I've told people I'm having the surgery and it seems to be men who just don't 'get it'-my dad, both my brother in laws and now a neighbours boyfriend. My brother was fab tho( he's just married his love who has been at least 340lb since they met 10years ago) Nothing is going to change my mind.I can't wait until I have the power of confidence when I can hold my head high, be brave enough to walk into a pub alone and wear those 'oh so high stilettos'. Sarah it does sound like you need to talk to a few people. Start with the co-ordinator and ask for other people that may be more appropriate. The psych assessments are done if having surgery on the NHS and ours was just the tickboxes on the form. I agree they should have at least been more comprehensive and gone over at consultaton. I wish you well whatever you decide . You could probably do with writing things done-- pros/cons and a big long list of questions you need answering xxxxxx

My post was based on what I have learnt from fellow patients at my hospital but obviously it is just for info and every surgeon have their own criteria xx