Madam Reverie

Thanks, Sanks, I certainly hope to continue the way I'm going. I would be elated to achieve the successes you've had, for sure. Amazing. How's your life changed since? Would be good to hear your story In fact, I wonder if we could start up a British thread? Not that i want to marginalise anyone and all folks are always welcome, but there are certainly differences in the way things are done over here to how they are done in the states. Particularly when it comes to Protein shakes, Isopure access and the likes? Anyone know how we'd be able to do that - if there was sufficient interest? x

You're more than welcome and thank you. Us Brit sleevers are thin on the ground ('scuse the pun!), so it's nice to meet some others. As for the surgery, I think things went relatively well. Surgery is surgery and I had some trapped wind and anesthesia issues, but on talking to the nurses in the ward, apparently I was good in dealing with it (Who knew I'd be capable of that?!) Here I am, day two, sat in bed with my man beside me, feeling pretty chipper. Plus a bit out of my head on pain killers, so it's all good! I can walk, I can sip things, sometimes I ache, sometimes I burp, sometimes I go for a little walk and feel better, sometimes I get tired and have a nap. I think the best thing I can say (and this is obviously based on VERY limited experience), is something I read from a sage person on this site previously: Listen to your body. It won't put you wrong. I certainly found that out when they tried to give me dis-solvable paracetamol. I'd let it sit, so the bicarb had 'evaporated' ; but as soon as it went in, it came straight back up! So, guess what was first off my list of 'acceptable drugs to take'?! Either way, you'll be great. Keep positive, keep your eyes on the prize and keep in touch. If you have any questions or queries you feel I can answer or help with, or you just want to have a natter; give me a shout. Best of luck! xx

Hey! Congratulations!!!! Wonderful news! I'm in the same boat. I had my surgery two days ago and I'm working on the basis of looking to find the right dress as I go (because even though I will lose weight, my body will still suit certain dress shapes because of my bone structure, so won't be too far off the mark) and will get it tailored with someone very skilled, right at the 11th hour. I have a year or so to sort mine out, but I'm focusing on everything else that needs sorting first and leaving the dress thing till pretty much last. Also, it helps on the money front, cause you can get dresses in sales and things like that. Have you set a date yet? x

And here's a hollar from a London chick, 2 days out, currently in Scotland! You'll do fine. Keep us informed! xx

I have PCOS and had my surgery on Thursday night - so I'm two days out. Took the decision to stop my Metformin two months ago to see if my body will 'heal' itself naturally. Besides, Metformin makes you super fertile if you're a PCOS-er with periods and I don't fancy the pitter-patter of untimely feet - just yet! I'll let you know how I get on xxx

I think that's what they rely on.. people not remembering. However, I was 'lucky' enough, whilst trying to vomit my newly eviscerated stomach through my mouth, to come round pretty quickly and remember everything. Even down to the complaints made by three nurses about a) the anesthetist and his crap record for that day and the nurse who was man-handling me. I was given a feedback form to fill out. Guess what I'll be writing up?!

I have to say and pardon my french, one of the nurses in the recovery room was a complete a*****e. They'd jiggled something they shouldn't have done during surgery, my anesthesia hadn't gone that well and I had trapped gas in my ribcage (allegedly) and this bird wanted to throw me around as I was attempting to chuck my guts up. Just so she could wrap me up, 'check a box' (words used by the collecting nurses) and get me out of there. A few were horrified. When I said 'LEAVE ME ALONE', there may have been an expletive in the middle of it and in front of her colleagues. I make no apologies for that . Although, after paying for 'top quality' private care in the UK - I expected more. Glad I'm on the other end of it though. The nurses on the main ward made up for that persons lack of professionalism.

Nurses in post operative recovery room - Think because you're somewhat out of it, they can man-handle you. (A quick 'LEAVE ME ALONE' worked wonders) Anesthetists - make the difference between a good surgery and a surgery with 'issues'. Trapped gas - what a total and utter biatch. Drugs - Have them all drinks - weird how some work and others don't food - my partner is fast becoming the human dustbin. If I can't drink it/eat it (I'm on clear fluids, plain yoghurt and jello), then he finishes it off. He's not complaining. Drugs - Did I mention the drugs? No? Yes? If I did, my apologies. I'm just too high to remember or to care! Huzzah! Thanks for all the pre-op advice, it was invaluable. I shall now be devouring your post-op advice, too! Revs -x-

Looks fab to me.

The absolute best of luck. I'm tomorrow, so I share your jitters!!! xx

PCOS, insulin resistance, dodgy boderline thyroid issues (with horrendously strong family history) and all the other associated horrors here. Does anyone else, like me, get bored of listing it all?! Gave up taking Metformin 1,700mg per day 2 months ago in preparation for the op. May sound odd, but because of the lack of conclusive findings on whether PCOS causes weight gain, or whether weight gain causes PCOS - I am approaching this as well, 'me'. Besides, Metformin is a bloody horrible drug and makes me feel extremely icky, crotchety and gives me the constant runs (although I concede this might be helpful with all the Protein we're supposed to be consuming). So, I'm just going to see if the weight loss will improve/rectify my symptoms naturally. Additionally, Metformin makes you VERY fertile (if you do have sporadic periods). I don't fancy my body responding positively to the weightloss (if albeit a bit slowly at the start due to the insulin resistance issue) and then the Metformin boosting my fertility out of the ballpark leaving me with an unplanned pregnancy! I don't know whether this is the right thing to do, as not taking it affects your HDL/LDL levels/ Liver Function, etc. I don't have access to my consultant gynae where I am. However, based on what my surgeon said about this surgery largely reversing 'most' 'issues' which present themselves and are enduring to significant excess weight - I'm willing to give it a go. Surgery is on Thursday - so it won't be long till I find out! Who knew I'd become a 'tree-hugger' in my old age? I will not, however, be going so far as to grow my armpit hair... That is a step too far. Even for me! Best of luck to all xx

Please feel free to add me. As for second thoughts.. Lets just say life has become very complicated!

I'm in exactly the same boat and my surgery is in 7 days time. Not a good feeling, is it? Lemme know how you sort it out! x

I'll have to give this some thought! Is there anything out there for men to swallow these days?!

Sod the jogging commercial. I'm going for rollerskating along a tropical beach promenade in white lycra mini-shorts, listening to 80's soft-rock whilst using sanitary protection for the first time in years, with Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Anniston as cheerleaders shouting 'you're worth it' as I flip my (no doubt) threadbare but shiny, fragrant locks (and a 'bird') in their general direction. I say as long as you're compos mentis about the cons (which you clearly are), you have every right to revel in the potential pros. As Oscar Wilde once said: 'We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.' You go, girls! x

Mamachef, it's a truly amazing blessing! CONGRATULATIONS! . I was warned about this by my nutritionist as I have PCOS. He stated that my fertility could 'rebound' greatly after the op and I should be extremely careful. I'm on the pill at the moment. Anyone got any contraception ideas, other than condoms, which would be 'good' for sleevers? (Save a full-body neoprene suit or a vow of chastity?!!) Anyone tried those three monthly injections?

Personally? How close are you to this lady? Is she like your BFF? May I ask if there has been competition between you two in the past? Weighty silences that have spoken volumes because of issues which have never truly been resolved? Not that I've had exactly the same problem (because I'm yet to have surgery), but most certainly, some times people who are closest to me have a habit of touching raw nerves. This is primarily due to a mixture of my hyper-sensitivity and belief that they should KNOW that I'd be touchy about a certain subject and their belief that they can say what they please because they're my friends. If you were looking at these comments objectively and in the third person, you'd probably think 'eh? I'm being a little sensitive here.' But it's different when you're in it. There are a million ways of dealing with these situations if they are grating on you - and all have varying results. In my personal opinion, I always find a bit of humour works. Humour mixed with sarcasm can be even wittier whilst getting your point across, but you have to feel comfortable with the delivery. If it was me, I'd err towards 'Yes, yes, I need a meal for a munchkin. Ideally to be consumed whilst situated by a mirror in the restaurant, so whilst I'm not eating my meal I can watch my ass disappear by the second which should provide you with endless amounts of entertainment for? All of 5 minutes?'. Deploy an over-exaggerated yawn, smile, wink and say 'Are we done with all this weightloss commentary now?!' Then watch either for a nervous laugh (in shocked, but friendly feigned collusion) or a huge back-track with blustery burbles of 'oh, I didn't realise'. I'd hazard a guess it's going to be the first one, as this chick appears to think she's funny.... By making out that her humour is banal or tiresome and that you're much funnier because you can 'quip it away' rather than get all deep and meaningful on it, she'll realise she's actually as funny as syphilis. Consequently, if you think her utterances are from a 'resentful place' she'll have to find another way to go about making her digs, or come out and say it straight. Either way, by batting it away with sarcastic humour will let her know that a) her digs haven't gone unnoticed you're finding it tiresome and c) she's going to have to get up far earlier in the morning to bring you down again. I know this is not the desired approach for some. However, the idiom 'There's many a true word spoken in jest' wasn't pulled out of thin air and in this instance, cuts both ways. Go get 'em, tiger

I ended up pushing mine back until I sort out a few domestic issues. To be honest, I'm having second thoughts. How are you feeling? How did it go?

'Ed' is the abbreviated term for 'Editor'... Not Mr. Ed, the talking horse. However, if you're using that as a euphemism?............

I overdosed on them. Found myself saying in my head (and sometimes not in my head) 'Oh doooooo shut up!!!' I'm an impatient sort if I'm looking for concise information. I like my information how I like my food; fast. Frankly, I don't give a rats about cats, dogs and other pets. Not particularly interested in people's children. Okay, before I get lambasted here, I understand that there's an element of investiture when people do videos over a long period of time, but I do wish people would get to the point. There was one particular person who is about 4.5 years out from her VSG that I really ended up shouting at through the screen. This time it was more along the lines of 'Jesus H, will you shut up moaaaaaning! You have IBS, so what, so does 33.33% of the population. Stop drinking rocket-fuel coffee in the morning which affects your autonomic nervous system and wondering why you then have to run to the toilet afterwards?!!!! Stop whinging at the screen to covet sympathy and banal statements of 'oh man, that's bad' and go and read some medical journals!'.... Yeah, I'm kinda impatient like that...

LOVE the caption on your second photo! Never a truer word said. You look absolutely fabulous, too! I'm so jealous!

Oh, if that's what happens at 4 weeks, my man is gonna lurvvvvvve me! Think I better give him a pass to go to the pub every day!

Posts like yours build my confidence. Glad you're doing well. Many thanks

Nice response by the surgeon, but what was the deal with your blood type? Did they know your blood type? Out of interest, what is your blood type?