SParkle

I'd call him just in case but I was sick in hospital due to an adverse drug reaction, It wasn't pleasant but he didn't seem unduly worried about my sleeve. Make sure if you are going in the sun that you put sunblock on your scars and cover them up as well to minimise long term scarring.

I'd not thought about it, but I had a couple of walks where I figured I'd overdone it as I had tiny sharp stabbing pains across my lower belly - the pain went, but it wasn't blinding pain, just a weird sensation a bit like pins and needles but inside. When I asked my surgeon about it he said it was nerves endings inside and scar tissue formation. I'd forgotten this as I was more thinking about the larger sharper pains I had when I twisted strangely. Hope this helps with the light at the end of your tunnel! :smile1:

I told people I was on a liquid detox boost diet.. no caffeine/booze etc.... no one really questioned it. They knew I was on a diet anyway (was at WW since November 2009) and I just said I was stalling having had guests etc and a wedding to go to... so this was my way of kickstarting myself again - thus preparing for the long term diet.... I also have up my sleeve (forgive the pun) an excuse of hypnotherapy cds, and a couple of slimming therapy books.... My scars are healing nicely - and I think will fade to virtually nothing. Just take are of them during the healing process. I can also say that at 2 weeks I felt back to normal again with much more energy. Good luck! Kathy

I had to do 1 week but only Optifast shakes and fluids (no booze, fizzy drinks or caffeine). No Snacks. The important thing to get into your head is the fact this is not a test for how you will cope after the diet - this is what the operation depends on - shrinking your liver. I put a sticky note on the fridge at eye level saying DO NOT EAT! - that worked for me - every time I dove into the fridge for something I saw it. I went thru all my kitchen and chucked out any foods which might have tempted me, or got hubby to eat them!! If necessary don't let anyone eat in front of you... have your shakes at a quiet time and sip them slowly to enjoy and savour them. I didn't mind the challenge of people eating in front of me so they did and I sat there with my shake. That wasn't easy but I knew I was in for the same post op and wanted to try and nail it. Good luck.... if you get tempted then get out the house and go for a walk.... or have a shower or bath, anything but eat something. Kathy

A very good point as I am one that buries my head in the sand rather than deal with stuff like this. Luckily I had no complications... but it did occur to me before the surgery what if.... but I didn't act upon those worries. I'm not good at all on dealing with the life/death issues, prefering to side track talk rather than turn into a blubbering wreck (this has got worse since losing my mother a year ago). Maybe I should have done something. I do have a will. But nothing about what I want done if something went wrong.....

Firstly, congrats on your surgery..... I didn't get hiccups, but I was very gassy - both up and down and inbetween! lol If you can sip Water than try drinking from the wrong side of the glass, upside down, if not too painful..... it always works for me. Kathy

I got mine via the internet (Ebay)..... Theres also a spanish oil called Rosa Mosqueta ( I think) which is also very good. I don't think almond oil has any major benefits.... maybe a vitamin E oil might be better if you can't get any Bio Oil.

What a lovely post....you're doing a great job and are reaping the benefits from being sleeved. Keep up the great work and you'll be reporting more losses soon I expect. Kathy

Thats great news - well done!!

I had a few stabbing pains, but they passed. I hope yours do too - soon!! Kathy

What a great moment for you!! Keep up the good work. Kathy

Its very hard not to try your own things when we have such a great thing as this forum to use and so many fellow sleevers to gain experience from, but it sounds like your nut was right esp regarding the Snacks. Is it worth getting your bloods done early just to double check and allay any fears in a lack of something? Hope it shifts soon for you! Kathy

I had internal stitches, and started using Bio Oil twice a day once the scabs had come off. Luckily mine don't itch at all.

Sorry to read about your torment.... maybe this is the way you are coping with the fact you can't turn to food anymore. They say people that give up smoking (for eg) become irritable and emotional.... so as you can't turn to food now you're finding another way to vent your frustration....also if you were on the anti depressants before hand possibly this is another side effect of not hiding your depression with food intake. I can only give ideas - and possibly another view on things, I'm not qualified at all.... but its worth chatting things thru with your therapist to find the root cause. Good luck Kathy

I had to wear them during the op and post op while I was in hospital - which was 2 days. My surgeon was very cautious about thrombosis - and I'd much rather play on the side of caution than risk a DVT. Hope you get the all clear to take them off soon. Kathy

Thats great news - well done!! Congrats on your weight loss too... you must be very pleased with that. Kathy

HI Jen and welcome I was in the same boat regarding other people - having yoyo'd for 20 yrs I felt like a magic wand was waved when I found out about this surgery. I only told 2 people - my husband and my best friend. My friend was sceptical to start wondering how this could help mend my bad relationship with food. I've not told family as i feel that they love me for who I am and don't understand the huge emotional battle I have had with my weight over the years. Having had several comments about my weight loss recently from friends and my dieting techniques ( I told them I was on a liquid diet for a month to boost the 18lbs I had already shed pre deciding to have the op) their reactions were so diverse i chose not to tell people as it opens up a can of worms in my experience. It works for me - others spread the word loud and clear which I wish I could - maybe long term I will tell people I feel it may benefit. Workwise I am luckily enough not to work, but I would say take the first 2 weeks off....I feel 'normal' now having gone past my 2nd week. Before that I felt tired and lacking energy. If you can get someone to help with your kids for a bit then that'd help as well no doubt. You'll find this site great for help and information - I can't help regarding the insurance side or which surgeon as was self pay here in Spain ( I am an English ex pat). But I certainly will say I don't regret this surgery at all. Good luck with it all and keep us informed how you get on. Kathy

I can only echo the other posts by saying that you are giving your family and yourself a wonderful gift by doing this. Good luck

Congrats and welcome to the losers bench. Great start with your weight loss.... but can I ask if your ticker is right that you only have 26lbs to go?

Its weird how when you lose weight you evoke such emotions in people.. most are delighted for you especially if you haven't seen them for a while. I've been 'dieting' for over 20 yrs, never reached my goal (not yet anyway!!) I lost 56lbs 3 yrs ago for our wedding and regained at least 28lbs.... Anyway.... we were out socialising with a neighbour last week who commented on my weightloss and said how great i looked, don't lose too much etc..... We also saw her last night, and boy did I suffer at her tongue. We've been invited as part of a party for a paella.... I accepted the invitation from the host saying we'd love to come but at the moment I am on a liquid diet to kickstart my weight loss again ( I'm not telling them about the surgery.....). The host replied she could do me a salad..... I politely declined saying no, honestly don't worry about me, I'd love to come but I'll sort myself out before we arrive and hubby would love the paella. Word has got round to the other woman who is going (as it does!) and she laid into me last night saying I was crazy being on a liquid diet... why did I want to lose any more.... I gave her my practised speech about the fact I'd like to be at the higher end of my recommended BMI of 147lbs. Also if I get there my husband added in an incentive that he would give up smoking. ( I actually want to get to 140lbs but wasn't telling her that) She replied well you'll never get there, she was 5ft 10 and wasn't 147lbs so how did I think I was getting there. (Shes not overweight IMO). I said well I've battled with my weight for the past 20 yrs... she said well if its not worked then why will it work this time.....(in a really bitter sort of way) She then started to go onto the fact I have a lovely face (WHY is that ALWAYS the pity comment they give...???) and then luckily we were interrupted by someone else which diffused it... but I was getting SO angry with her. The good news (?!) is that she said, don't worry we can finish the conversation on Tuesday when we meet up for Paella........ OH JOY!! The long and short of it kinda sums up why I'm not telling people about my decision for having the surgery.... most people just don't get it. Unless you've struggled with your weight, been bullied etc thru the years then you cannot grasp how desperatly unhappy it makes you inside. They don't see 'fat ' people as having problems, they see them as greedy. They don't realise there are eating disorders which make you over weight... they only know about the 'slim' ones..... I can tell I'm in for an emotional time when we do meet up, andthat I will tell her to butt out if she gets to me too much, its my life and my decision to lose the weight, if I'm not happy with myself then I have the right to do whatever I want to make me happy. What else is strange is that her husband told me I look 10 yrs younger already!! Phew.... sorry for the long post but it insensed me that she was really having a go at me for what she thought was fad dieting.... blimey if only she knew the truth I'd be hung, drawn and quartered over it!! Kathy

Just to update.... the evening passed without too many comments luckily. She did keep apologising for the fact I wasn't eating.... to which I replied well done.. as its my choice. If she chose to give up smoking I'd not apologise for her or feel sorry for her....to which I just want you to be happy.... (she doesn't actually know me!) to which I replied that I willbe - I wasn't and I wasn't healthy, but I will be and I'll also be healthy with it - as well as hubby who said he'll give up smoking if I get to 147lbs. So all in all a good result I think!!

I'm so sorry you didn't get it!! Al that build up and then not going in... must suck bigtime. But congrats on the sushi front - I bet it never tasted so good.....!!! Good luck!

Blimey..... I don't know how to respond really..... so sorry you had to go thru it but I'm glad you're here with us now. Good luck in whatever route you decide to take from now. Kathy

Likewise to others posters I can only say that I don't get to read all the posts... and try and answer as many as I can in the time that I am online. I'm sorry you felt that way, but hope the response you have had since has in a small way made up for it. Its sounds like hell.... and I cannot begin to imagine going thru it myself... I wish you all the best from here on in and hope its smoother than your journey has been so far. Kathy

I had a drain which was removed before i left hospital. I have had a couple of twinges which I think was from scar tissue inside but it was literally a twinge, not pain and not long lasting. Regarding liquids - I was more scared to start with about drinking - so built up my Fluid intake slowly but have no issues getting mine in. I keep a drink with me at all times and log what i am drinking during the day to make sure I'm drinking enough. I felt 'normal' again at 2 weeks regarding ability to do stuff. Before that I did feel weak and more tired doing everyday things so too kit very easy during that time and didn't push myself too far. Everyone heals differently, so it'll be interesting to see how others reply as well for you to gauge how you can expect to feel. Good luck