_Kate_

I was advised to take the following: Multivitamin twice a day (12 hours apart) Calichew with with D3 three times a day (Not sooner than 2 hrs after/before the multivitamin) Vitamin D once daily In addition I take Vitamin C, Vitamin K and a B12 patch I took Centrum chewables for the first 6 months, just letting it melt in my mouth. Then I went onto Centrum advantage tablets. I never thought I would get the hang of all the Vitamins but its easy peasy now. Don't even have to think about it. Kate

It is expensive in the UK however I chose to have it here as I was having more than one procedure at the same time. I also liked the fact that for 12 months, I have follow up appoitments. I go to the hospital twice a week at the moment for wound checks and will see the surgeon at 4 weeks, 4 months and then 12 months. I am having a thigh lift with the same surgeon in the Autumn. So with the VSG and with plastics up to now I have spent a total of £34,000 and worth every penny. I am not rich by any means but I did have a lump sum paid to me recently and also a private pension. I think you are very brave to go abroad, I wouldnt have the guts to do it !! Kate

Do you have someone who could support you through all this. It's overwhelming to do it all alone and I find when I am like that, talking it through with someone and making a list prioitising what i need to do and when really does help. *hugs* Kate

Hope you feel better soon ! Kate

Being able to drink so early on is a real blessing. I was able to drink a lot after a few days and it was always a worry for me pre op, that I wouldn't be able to. Enjoy it !!

Six weeks but seeing as I still felt so tired every day, I waited until 12 weeks to go back to the gym. From week 4 I walked my dog and felt fine doing that. Congraulations on the surgery Kate

Yes you are lol . Put the scale away, stick to the guildelines and get weighed in a few weeks. You will be able to tell you are losing inches, with the clothes you wear. I know its really difficult not popping on the scales daily but doing so can completely screw your head up. Congrats on the surgery. Keep smiling !! Kate

It really depends on how long you are staying in for but the things I took and used were: Change of clothes for going home (baggy dress as I couldnt stand anything round my tummy) Toiletries/hair brush GasX strips Lip balm (dont use Vasaline if you are on oxygen after the surgery!!) Mobile and charger Ipad/kindle and charger Some magazines 3 nightdresses (I stayed in 5 nights) For the drive home, my husband brought a pillow so I could put the seat belt round it. Best wishes for tomorrow !! Kate

WLS is never a waste. What is, is not using the great tool we have to reach our goals. Now that IS a waste. We have all been given a second chance to reclaim our health and wellbeing. Is it easy? No, at times it isn't. Do we have bad days? Sure we all do. Do we know what to do when we start gaining? of course we do. Its the ability to be really honest with ourselves which will keep us on track. Go back to basics. Water, Protein, good carbs. Record your intake, exercise, feelings. See if there is a pattern when you go off track. You CAN do this !! Best of luck Kate

I was advised to take the following: Multivitamin twice a day (12 hours apart) Calichew with with D3 three times a day (Not sooner than 2 hrs after/before the multivitamin) Vitamin D once daily In addition I take Vitamin C, Vitamin K and a B12 patch I took Centrum chewables for the first 6 months, just letting it melt in my mouth. Then I went onto Centrum advantage tablets. I never thought I would get the hang of all the Vitamins but its easy peasy now. Don't even have to think about it. Kate

Congratulations ! Wow, sounds like you are really on the right track with it all. Going back to work can be hard and tiring, especialy so early out. Make sure you rest when you can, keep up with the fluids and give yourself some TLC. Speedy recovery Kate

Im so sorry for your loss, i wish I could reach out and give you a hug. If it doesnt hurt too much can you keep a photo of your sister in the house with a mantra placed below it, go to it when you feel weak and say it aloud 5 times. Something like, 'My sister believed in WLS and I want to suceed in her memory because I know shes looking down on me and willing me to suceed'. Also if you can, perhaps attend grief therapy or some form of therapy which may be able to support you at this very difficult time. Keep posting here too ! Kate

Just to clarify, the pyloric valve at the bottom of your stomach stays open for liquids to pass through and so as long as there is no food blocking that passage, it runs right through. Food in your stomach gets digested, which turns it into liquids which signals the pyloric valve to open and let things pass through. If you drink something and there is food in your stomach, the pyloric valve could sense that liquid and allow the food to pass through earlier than it would have otherwise. So in short, drinking Water before eating is NOT going to stretch your sleeve, nor is it going to take any space up in your stomach, it just goes straight through. Drinking fluids with a meal or too early after a meal, should be avoided if you want to feel satisfied for any amount of time. If you do, Its not going to kill you, stretch the sleeve but its one of the things I feel make people sucessful with WLS. Just my 2 cents and each to their own. Kate

Thank you for such an honest post and congrats on the surgery Kate

Difficult to gage how you will be after the surgery. Im a side sleeper but had to lay on my back for ten nights before I could lay on my side. I bought a riser recliner for my recent plastic surgery and I sleep in that. Its the best thing I have ever bought!

Looking damn good !! Congratulations Kate

@@moniquea So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. *Hugs* Kate

The only thing I would say is that as you lose weight you will need to keep having your bloods checked in case your dose of medication need changing.

I have Hashimotos and did the liquid diet for 18 days... I asked about my thyroid and was told it would be fine. Can I ask what they say the problem. would be? As for a cold.... vit c and lots of reSt. Hope you feel better soon

Minute chance of GERD v Malabsorption issues. Risks on both sides.

Private for sleeve: £11,000 (13,745.05 US$) Private for plastics: £23,000 (28,739.65 US$) My husband deserves a medal lol

Make sure you eat and drink enough throughout the day to help you with your energy. It will get easier !! Congrats on the surgery Kate

food adverts: Thats one area which has never bothered me Alex. I never took notice of them before and i don't now. I know psychologists have a field day with subconscious messages around adverts but even though I was overweight, I tended to eat clean and decent meals. I have never been one for burger bars or the appeal of two for one. I think my downfall around food was supermarkets. Psychologists state that people walk the same way around supermarkets and this lulls them into buying more. So I have started shopping from where I usually end up. It's odd but I am getting used to it. Now don't get me started on two for one on household cleaning... that I CAN'T resist

Whohoooo not long Linda. I am 4 weeks out on Monday and went for my first long walk today with the dog (about an hour across farmland) and now I hurt lol. I kept having to remind the hubster to slow down. Don't worry about the house, when you have visitors and they ask if you need anything let them clean! lol. Kate Be prepared for swelling and make sure you wear your binder day and night.

Goodness, I bet you were glad to see the back of 2016. So sorry to hear about your home. Now, 2017.. it's going to be your year!!! Not too long to wait, congrats Kate