NickyD

I hope this helps your mind to settle:- I am 31 and I lost my mother to cancer the day after my 30th birthday! My whole family is devastated by this loss. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2010 and it's so hard to hear as of course she smoked! I immediately felt the strain of my weight-I have 2 young daughters and I would feel so so guilty if I became I'll because of being obese so god know how my mother felt about her illness. I immediately started Lighter Life diet and lost 4 stone-but when my mum died in the May, I just couldn't maintain not eating and feeling miserable about it. I put on all the weight loss and more and my weight rose to over 17 stone! Then I was lucky enough that my Aunt offered me the money to have surgery! I dived in straight away so I didn't have time to think too much and I ignored everyone's concerns or thoughts of it being too drastic my BMI was around 37-38 so did not qualify for free treatment! I ignored everyone who thought I was irresponsible doing it with young kids and now I know I was right to! All I could think was how much I wanted to do this for my kids to make sure I was healthy for them!! I'm about 5 weeks post-op and don't have a single regret! I'm down to under 15 stone, 2 dress sizes smaller and feel healthier and happier an know that I have kicked into touch my fears about becoming ill from my weight and leaving my beautiful girls to suffer without me as I now suffer without my mum! Sure-as you say-could get hit by a bus tomorrow-but I know I am doing everything in my power to be a healthy mum who will be there as long as possible for my kids!! Yes the first week was hard-yes I thought it might be better to just be fat-but each day gets so much easier and food is no longer my life or my emotional guidance buddy-it's something I eat to be healthy in small amounts and nutritious ways! Best decision I ever made for me and my girls! Only wish my mum could have had an operation years ago to take away her smoking addiction so I could still have her with me now! Good luck what ever you decide! I was fit and no health problems at the start I this journey and have been lucky not to be that <1% who run into trouble! Nicky xxx

Sounds to me like everyone is doing great! These first few weeks have really been about adjusting and building on the textures of food and drink before we can settle onto a better higher Protein diet! I'm pretty happy with how things are going-had surgery on 26th July, lost 5lb pre-op and have lost 18 since. Not really counting calories or carbs at the moment-only on purée stage so know its more about getting something down me and some nutrients etc in. Looking forward to getting onto normal food and then sticking to a healthy diet and exercise! Then the long-term fun really starts I guess! Good luck all! :-) xxx

Dear all - just felt like sharing something totally positive: Today I am 17 days post-op. I've lost 23 lbs so far and I'm feeling good. I took my daughters to the beach (Cornwall in the UK) and swam in the sea with my 5yr old and taught her how to Bodyboard! I had porridge and banana for Breakfast, scrambled egg for lunch and salmon and veg for dinner (about 3 spoons of each as purée style at moment and tiny amounts fill me up). This is for those who may be struggling or scared about surgery - there are great success stories out there and for me: so far so good and fingers crossed I'll get to where I want to be and keep living my life to the full for as long as possible! Thanks for listening-and happy thoughts for all :-) xxx

Thanks all. Yes, gave the tongue a good brush to***ht-yuk! As for the staples- I guess all I can say is "welcome to me!" Xx

6 days post-op and all is going well. Feeling good and coping with liquids well! But I have a couple of questions: 1) my tongue is really furry-you know coated with white fur! Any ideas on this? (thinking just result of all the meds in the last week???) 2) what happens to all the staples? Will the row of metal staples be there forever? My surgeon gave me a DVD of my op and so I saw exactly what it all looked like in there and my brother watched it too-and he asked me if the staples stay or disintegrate and I have no idea? Thanks all Xxx

Thanks all! Hoping for a good nights sleep tonight and an even better day tomorrow! Happy recovery everyone!!!! Xxxx

Thanks all for your reassuring words! Today I have managed a 6 hr car journey and arrived at my aunts where I am staying for the next 3 weeks to get my strength back etc. I feel much better today and have been impressed with how much liquid I have been able to cope with-although feel very full up and sloshy about all the time! It's great to hear others stories and also other people who feel a bit overwhelmed too! No doubt we will all reach our goals and look back on this difficult time and smile at how worth it this process really is! Fingers crossed hey!! Xxxx

Hi all. Well, I had my op on Thursday so am now 2 days post-op! Feeling so delicate and tired and sick! I know it will get better but can anyone tell me how their first week or so went cos right now I'd rather have my old stomach back!! I'm getting quite a bit of Fluid in which is ok but just can't seem to shake the headache! Any advise out there at all?? Nicky Xx

I all. My surgery is day after tomorrow (thurs) and I have been totally hopeless with the pre-op diet! Feel like my surgeon opened a gateway by telling me that since I'm not that heavy then I should stick to it roughly but not worry too much. My BMI is about 37. Has anyone else been in a similar position? Will I be ok for surgery! Feel really cross with myself that I've been so rubbish!

Thanks guys! Feeling a bit better about it today anyway-I do remember being told first few days of the preop diet can be the worst!! You both look amazing btw! Looking forward to feeling better over the months to come! Xx

Hi all. I'm new here and am so excited about starting this journey. I am 2 days into the pre-op diet and have my surgery next Thursday (26th July). It's currently all I can think about (in between running around looking after my 2 young girls, the dog and cats etc) and I am just wondering - feeling like I am obsessed with food right now-what ican eat and what I can't- and I ind that really exhausting! Can anyone tell me-does this obsession stop and does life become easier at all after the gastric sleeve?? Really hoping so!! Nicky Xx