Lissa_S

Hi guy's So my recovery continues to be slow I had a bad day yesterday and was dry reaching for about 30 minutes. Yuck. And I've been coughing and sneezing a lot the last few days. And then I had some loose mince last night and was in pain for about three hours afterwards. I am freaking out. Today, I still have pain but think that it is muscle rather than a leak. It has totally freaked me out though...I haven't really eaten anything today and when I do, it hurts. I think that it's anxiety that's doing it but damn, this journey is more of a head game than I thought. On the upside (sorry to be a downer today) I have lost 33 kg now. I haven't been this light for over 5 years. So the surgery worked at least Hope everyone else is going better! Cheers, Liss

Hi Mimz, I hesitated to respond since my situation is so different but I still struggle with nausea. I actually have to tablets still. But as I said, I am probably not the person to ask. Cheers, Liss

Just spoke to my dietician who green-lit my nutrigrain What a relief! She also cleared me this week to try mashed veggies instead of pureed ! Life is GOOD! lol (I never thought I would be so happy to have a vegetable lol!)

Hmmm....had a little "wobble" today on my post-op diet...had really soggy nutri-grain. Seemed to go down okay and I chewed it really well. I am going to 'confess' to my dietician today but can't see how it would be harder to digest than the oats. I just couldn't face more of the same lol. So my question - did anyone else have post-op "wobbles" or diversions from the plan set out for them?

Good luck with your operation Scotty and please let us know how you get on! Cheers, Lila

Thanks for the responses guys - it makes me feel so much better hearing what your experiences were. It sounds so much like where I am. One of the problems I have is my very caring parents who just don't get that this is normal for this operation and the struggles I have. Out of concern I know, they came around last night and tried to yell me into drinking more which just made me feel even sadder given I struggled with nausea all day yesterday. In the end I had to say I love you but need you to leave. I am anticipating their return this morning which doesn't feel great. I am so glad to hear that other people felt the same way in relation to their discomfort - I know that I am panicking a little about every twinge and bit of discomfort - which is silly. I am just so concerned about another leak - although I've been sticking to the recommendations from the dietician and surgeon to the letter. They've had me on fluids for quite a long time now so I should be fine but there's always that niggling doubt. And I am just dying for "normal" food. A bit of toast, an egg etc. Veggies. I don't know how on earth I would tolerate this food, but it's what i want. I am so sick of Soup it's not funny. I am going to try to get out a little today and walk around though - it's hard but I am worried that unless I do I will hold up my recovery. I've lost so much strength and conditioning over the past two months that it's going to take some time to get back to normal. Not sure when I am going to get back to work at this stage. I was hoping a week on Monday but my GP put the kybosh on that I'll just play it by ear. I don't think I will feel that things are back to normal until I am back to work. Given I would work about 65 hours a week pre-surgery I am not used to having all this time on my hands... Again, thanks to everyone...I will no doubt be annoying you all with questions as things continue over the coming weeks... Cheers, Lila

Hello fellow sleevers. It's been two months since my last entry and this is because I am one of the unlucky few that got a leak post surgery. I was still in hospital when it happened and was rushed into emergency surgery two days after my original operation. I had a brief stint in ICU and then a two month stay on the surgery ward at my local hospital. I can't describe how awful this time has been. There were several complications in addition to the leak (although I had no indicators of being high risk prior to surgery) so it wasn't just the leak but without the leak they wouldn't have happened. For anyone considering this surgery, I don't want to put you off or to scare you. But even though I was aware that this could happen to me I had no idea what it would mean. So I just wanted to break it down a little - for me it was: Intense pain following the surgery; Heart rate over 150 beats per minute Two central lines inserted in my neck Inability to breathe properly 6 hour emergency surgery Two stomach drains Drips Being fed through drips for 7 weeks Pneumonia Collapsed lung two drains inserted through my back to move the fluid from my lung so it would reinflate Inability to sleep lying down for two months due to drains and drips etc No privacy Inability to see to my basic needs without help Depression Anxiety countless tests Know what you are getting into. Even though I am now home, I am not sure that I would have gone through with the surgery had I known. I hope that over time I will feel better about that . Anyway, I hope that anyone going into the surgery has a better idea of the risks and that you make an informed decision. I have to note that my surgeon and her team were amazing!! They kept me alive and got me home and for that I will be forever grateful!

Hello fellow sleevers. Sorry again it's been so long since I have signed in but wow, things have been moving quickly. Last Friday I was discharged from hospital. In the end, I asked to be discharged as I couldn't face another night in hospital. After two months, I'd had enough and as soon as I felt I was able, I wanted outta there! Yesterday I arrived home in Gunnedah and it is so wonderful to be in my own house! I am so pleased to be home! It's been a difficult transition to having to rely on me to have enough fluids and nutrition. I admit I am not doing as well as I would have hoped. I am only managing about 1.5L a day of fluids including "food" like Soup etc. Although it is getting a little easier every day it's really hard. I wasn't expecting it to be this hard! So I have a question for the forum - in the first week post op (which essentially where I am I guess), did you struggle too? I get uncomfortable so quickly and food is simply unpalatable most of the time. I do get hungry but not for what I can eat. Mostly I am having yoghurt or soup to eat and the rest of the time, it's Water with a little juice in it. I've had a callippo today which was nice (thanks for the suggestion Jules) but mostly everything is super sweet and just a bit gross. The discomfort I feel is like a pressure in my stomach. In the past few days it does seem that it takes a little more for me to feel this way (now it's about 75-100 mL I can get in before feeling like this). I am also really struggling to get in Protein. Not having shakes as I just can't manage it. I am hoping that when I move on to the next phase it will be easier. Thanks again for all your support over the last few months. It's meant a terrible lot to me and Iook forward to posting better news. Weight update - I've lost 26kg so far. Not the way I wanted to lose weight but at least it's coming off I am almost into the 130's - last weighed at the dieticians on Monday at 140.3 (shoes on lol)...

Just a quick post to let you know that I was discharged from hospital this afternoon am staying on the coast for a few days to see the dietician.bfore starting to go home on Tuesday on the free fluids for two weeks now but am just gld to be out of the hospital!

Thanks everyone they still have me on such limited stuff but fingers crossed I will go home soon and I will have a bit less food restriction

Lol weet bix not week box hahahahaha

I told everyone at work what I was doing...since I work in a medical field I couldnt lose this kind of weight without questions anyway. Lucky i did or I would have some 'splayning to do lol Still in hospital but getting better every day. A little help...struggling with the fluids part of the diet ...what did others eat in the first two weeks post op? I am hankering for something savoury . My hospital has me on Protein drinks and week box at the moment- kak

Thanks to everyone. I can already see that the biggest problems going to be me managing my eagerness to get the hell outta dodge. But considering where I have been, I think I can manage my own impatience

Hello fellow sleevers had another rough week last week but it was due to a reaction from the antibiotics nothing sinister. But the last three days have been pretty good and today hey retested to see if he leak has healed... And it looks like it has!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been on clear fluids for the past few days- the problems been the diaherrea post eating and vague nausea which is apparently due to not eating anything for so long. But that should settle over he coming weeks too. The plan now is for me to get off the TPN (IV nutrients ) and hopefully home by the start of next week. The last drain is coming out too! They have had me on 9300 kJ per day of nutrients but even so I have still managed to,loose 17 kg since the op six weeks ago. So I am pretty pleased with the world today no prolonged recovery, no gastric bypass- just normal stuff. I will no doubt be checking out with you guys over the coming weeks about " is it normal..." lol Anyway I am so pleased to have good news to share! Cheers, Lila

Hi all. Sorry it's been so long but it's been a very rough time the last few weeks. Last time I posted I had pneumonia. From there I got a large plual effusion on my left lung which then collapsed. I had some of the most painful procedures that included two underwater chest drains and insertion of picc lines an cannullas. It's honestly been the hardest weeks of my life. I have another ct scan tomorrow as I am worried that I will need another Chest drain (the last one only came out Friday). This is excruciating so please join my prayer that they won't do this. So what's the good? Today they placed me on a. PCA where I press a button and get pain relief. Prior to this the pain meds were insufficient and inconsistent. The pain has been horrendous and seemed never ending. Tonight it's a lot better not completely gone but consistently less which is nice. Not so good- they tell me now that the leak is still there and could be there for 12 months and if it's longer still they will go the full gastric bypass. The surgeon has apparently consulted with other experts and they think that since the leaks so small we should get me on food under supervision to try to get me back home in a month or so. So the other good news is food started tonight ( was too sick from picc line to have it though damn it lol) but can have custard or jelly or strawberry milk . First food in five weeks. And depending on how things go I could be home in early of November. I need to make an apology about name confusion - my nephew has called me Lila (couldn't say Lissa) and when none of my Lissa user names worked that I liked I changed it to Lila. I answer to it in real life as he still calls me Lila to this day. My name is Melissa Scott and that's why you couldn't find me. I am at Tweed hospital on floor surgical 1 room 25. I haven't been up to visitors the last few weeks and depending on the outcome of the scan tomorrow will inform me of how I am feeling for the rest of the week . Again thanks to you all for you kind thoughts and posts. I am hoping I will be well enough to pop online more regularly!, Thanks, Lila (Liss)

Hi all, it's been another rough few days. Recent surgery wasn't successful and they couldn't do the nasal feeding tube. I also have pneumonia. It's been a very rough 48 hours. On the upside the leak is healing. If I can just avoid any problems with the picc line and get a few days to recover I am hoping that they will have better luck trying the nasal tube next week. And that by then the pneumonia will be better under control. It still looks like I will be in here for two or three more weeks. It's now 17 days since I have eaten or drunk anything but occasional bits of ice. Not hungry but get fixated on having a drink. I am hoping that I will have better news to report soon. I've not been up to regular posts but promise to post when I can. Thanks all for your thoughts. It's great to hear from you! Cheers Lila

Wow Sheelz, you look amazing! Congrats !

Had another setback today I am afraid. Ct showed more pooling in my abdomen so they are trying non surgical options with the drains but if it doesn't work they will have to reoperate. The upside is though that they found it earlier than last time so hopefully it won't be back to icu they are the sorts of silver linings right now

I am completely overwhelmed by your generosity to me - a person you don't really know. I am speachless at your kindness. Though I can not accept any cash from you ( I have very generously been given as much time as needed by John Flynn to pay when I am back to work) I would love to arrange to meet with you before I go home and then perhaps again at the 6 th and 12 month mark? Truly, I feel as though I have friends in you all through what has been an especially tough period. God bless you all!

Lol I'd take it at the moment its been nice not being hungry...hope it comes back. Think it's the dreaded head hunger everyone talks about