Indigo1991

Think you put your finger on it when you said clear liquids are going down fine but thicker liquids are feeling stuck. At only a few days out, everything is still very swollen and the feeling you are likely to be having is the signal to tell you to stop drinking, you're full. The little you have had to drink in terms of Protein shake or yogurt may not seem enough to have filled your stomach - but it will be. Take it easy, stick to what you're doing but don't force anything down. As the swelling goes down over the next couple of weeks, it will get easier and you will notice a difference soon. Congratulations on your weight loss to date, good luck on joining the sleeved side :-)

Could be low blood sugar or BP-related, even if you have good BP. Don't know enough about it but could be related to your thyroid meds - you may need to have then reduced in line with your new weight (congratulations on your loss!) Best to have it checked by PCP sooner rather than later, don't want to hurt yourself if you faint or fall over

Skikyd, no mistakes, no fun:-))))))

Thanks to you both, will ask surgeon about options for anaesthesia. The more I look at my body, the more I realise I need more than a boob lift. Did you do any muscle building before the op?

CBT, had a bad reaction. Felt ok and was ready to get up and walk within 2 hours but every time I tried to walk, I passed out! First night and day, I had to be held up on toilet and was on oxygen. It took 40 hours before I could stand without fainting and the consultant told me it was the anaesthetic. Cosmetics surgeon told me that their anaesthetic was different to the bariatric version - he said if they had people sick from the anaesthesia, no one would ever have more than one procedure! Did reassure me a bit...

Thanks, sounds like it would need to be done over the summer as I can afford to take six weeks off then. Apprehensive about the anaesthetic (bad time post sleeve op with anaesthetic) but ok about the rest of it - for now, lol!

Thanks all. Sounds like one op is do-able. GJ, how long did you need to take off work?

BK sorry, just saw that you are in London.

Are you doing this privately or NHS? Depending on what you need to know, there's a good site BOSPA (British Obesity Surgery Patient Association) at www.bospa.org.uk which you might find helpful. Apart from info on the surgery, they have a list of UK surgeons that might be a good starting place. I had my surgery done in Scotland through Weight Loss Surgery Scotland, a very experienced team who work out of Edinburgh. Where are you?

I can also drink pretty much as before but I do make the effort to take smaller mouthfuls. I still don't drink and eat at the same time, never will, and it's now a habit as my nut says that can stretch your stomach over time- it also allows you to eat more. As for the amounts of food I can eat, I can definitely eat more now than even two months ago. But I still feel a restriction once I get to a certain point so continue to eat Protein first and in starter size/small main portions. You shouldn't worry about stretching your sleeve. Unless you regularly overeat to the point of feeling pain, even if you drink more, you should be ok. Every sleeve relaxes a bit as time goes on, just be sensible and you should be fine :-)

Lmao BrantS1976!!!!!!!! Great post, so pleased for you and your wife... lets hope your confidence keeps, em, "growing" :-)))))

RJ, I have knee high red suede boots. - and black fringed ones Let me know when you need them, lol!!!!

I think you are doing this cos you are going to get a big reaction, you bad girl!!!!

Thank you all for your kind words and understanding. It is a privilege to know such compassionate people -friends- who understand what the rest of the world doesn't. Today is a better day, everything is back the right way up :-)))))

Well, I thought I would dig out old fat pics to do the "before" and "after" post... I didn't realise the effect it would have looking at images over the last 10 years. It reminded me of all that's happened and every picture is tied to how I felt over that time - and in the few pictures I have of me, I am overweight and deeply unhappy. Year after year. It's so easy to forget life pre-sleeve. I haven't looked at any of this since the surgery and it's like looking at someone else but feeling all the pain. I know I am the girl in the photos because it's my ex husband and my son with her. But it's like another lifetime, I no longer recognise her but she is me and I am her... and it breaks my heart to remember that life. I also look at my ex husband and wonder what he saw in me. In holiday pics, I am usually overdressed in an effort to hide my size, which was a futile exercise. I am sweaty and miserable and I had forgotten how big I was. I can't find one photo where I look genuinely happy. So, I will get round to posting the pics in the next couple of days. But I am shocked at the emotion these pictures have brought tumbling out. I haven't cried like this for such a long time (except day 4 post op when I wondered wtf I had done!) ... but I know I will be ok tomorrow. I will also be grateful to that brave girl who, in the depths of a miserable existence, took the extraordinary decision to get sleeved. I have to do justice to her and live life to the full - and have lots of happy pictures that show how much my life has been transformed.

Congratulations on being sleeved! It was a brave thing to do, it's not an easy surgery, but you have now taken control of your health and well being as well as your weight. You have also ensured that your kids won't be denied you being in their lives when they grow up.... I am so sorry about your father but I bet he will be watching and be very proud of you. Good luck in your journey ahead - this is just the beginning of your story, let us know how you are doing :-)

Hi, yes there are a few of us on here :-) Ask away, lets see if any of us can help you!

Kathy I am so happy for you - congratulations on reaching 6-0. It's just a number and you have such a young, dynamic view of life that it's actually a redundant number in relation to you :-) And 2 years at goal ... you are an inspiration, you do everything without fuss but much humour. Your contributions on here are unique and loved by all. They also hit home when needed. Where would we be without you???? So Happy Birthday, I hope you are having a great day and that you have many, many more birthdays to enjoy your rebirth post sleeve.... Big hugs and kisses xxx

Whilst I have been set on breast reduction and lift, I am now considering a tummy tuck or lower body lift. Is it better to get everything over and done with in one surgery? How manageable is it? I live on my own - would I need any help, even short term? Thanks for any advice.

Sounds like you are doing really well :-) Puréed foods will get easier, still early days, and then you will be on to soft foods, then normal eating before you know it! Keep doing what you're doing, just ease up on the googling, lol...

Yes, in the early weeks, there is a danger of a leak post surgery and very rarely, slightly further out. But beyond that, never heard that we are at risk forever. I would treat that with a large pinch of salt... I think you are worrying yourself unnecessarily and maybe need to stay away from "research" for a little while? Sorry that docs can't get to the root of your dizziness, that must be pretty tough feeling like that 24/7. How far out are you and how are you doing with your sleeve?

The key to success is never to give up, even when we do things we probably shouldn't. I know that's what I did in the past - wth, I ate that crap so I may as well eat more.... You didn't do that, you ate small amounts and your sleeve did its job, it stopped you eating more. That allowed your brain to catch up and acknowledge what you'd done. Now leave it behind, eat clean going forward and there's no real harm done, just a lesson learned. Onward and upward!

I make myself little chicken casserole pots and use heaps of celery to flavour it. Don't necessarily eat a lot if it but it makes the chicken really tasty. :-)

I am so sorry for you, you have every right to be angry and disappointed. What is your surgeon/nut saying or doing? It may ultimately be an endo thing but are your team helping you get to the bottom of this? I hope they are coming up with suggestions... Doesn't feel right if they have sleeved you and then stepped away. One observation - I have never counted calories as my dietician said that all calories are not the same. So one month out, my focus was on 60g Protein, 64fl oz liquid and moving... are you hitting all the protein/liquids targets? That aside I have nothing to offer other than sympathy and support. To go through being sleeved and have this outcome must be devastating but please don't give up. Someone has the solution, you just have to keep fighting to find it. X

The pre op diet is primarily to shrink your liver. Am not sure exactly what a margarita will do but it's unlikely to be good for your liver the day before surgery. I wouldn't do anything outwith the instructions you've been given if there's the slightest chance it could impact on the op. Best of luck with the surgery, won't be long before you are cleared for alcohol again!