_Kate_

Thank you Jenn x

I am going to keep this short (If I can!); I’m English and English people tend to keep things to ourselves with strangers, especially if it is a point of failure so I am nervous about posting this. I had a gastric sleeve on 23rd July 2015, so 2 years and 7 months ago and it has been easy peasy with regards to food. I used to think that I couldn’t really support other people as I never had issues with the operation, or the months that followed nor with the huge weight loss. I felt fantastic, healthy and was going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week, swimming a couple or more times a week and walking my lovely Labrador a couple of hours a day. I could walk up steep mountains and still have breath to talk non-stop. Life was great. My second son got married at the end of Feb 2016 and I had a glass of champagne and a couple of small glasses of wine at the reception. The three drinks lasted 9 hours. For the rest of the year the drinks increased. I would have a couple of glasses of wine at the weekends. Then after a rough day at work (I have a very stressful job) I would have maybe one gin and tonic. That became a glass of wine and a gin and tonic and so on. I would have odd weeks where I didn’t drink at all so I never really saw it as an issue. I enjoyed it but did not really crave it. Jump to January 2017 and I had skin surgery. Tummy tuck lower and upper eyelids and a breast reduction and uplift. The first four weeks were perfect and then I started having the wounds split on my tummy and breasts. I was very ill and had to go to the hospital every day to have the wounds redressed and packed (they were black and absolutely stank at this point) initially I had three open wounds and as one started healing another would appear. In all I had 17 wounds along the scars and had to have additional surgery in June to clean 2 of them out and re-stitch them. In 2017 I had a total of 6 months off work because of this and slept in a riser recliner for 4 months. So, I started drinking heavily around May last year (that’s not an excuse its just the reality). I did it in secret, I hid bottles all over the house where I knew my husband or sons wouldn’t go (like the washing machine lol). I hid them in wellington boots, in old handbags, in my laptop workbag, in the garden, the car, behind furniture. I tried a few times to stop but just couldn’t. I spoke to a gentleman on here who had the same issue in the past, he said he had never posted about it because it would just get backlash and I felt the same. I told three close friends, I stopped drinking and lasted 3 weeks then started to drink more than before. I would get alcohol at different shops daily, so they wouldn’t judge me! Once I bought two ltr bottles of gin and the woman behind the counter said, “watch out, you will become an alcoholic with all that”. I nearly burst out crying, I felt so ashamed. It got worse and worse then a lot worse. I was drinking 4 pints of beer and half a ltr of gin a day. I functioned well in my job and no one suspected a thing. Even the friends I had told before didn’t know I was back on the booze. Then one night, I was driving home from work, stopped to buy some gin, and thought I’d get some ready made up ones too which come in cans. I drank 3 whilst I was driving home. That was my wake up call. Im an ex policewoman and have been to many accidents where the drivers have been drunk and I was ashamed of myself. I saw the Doctor the next morning and whilst I was telling him what I had been doing and sobbing my heart out, I had a panic attack and ended up passing out. He was so good with me and signed me off work for a month and referred me to a drink and drug support group. He then put me on a 10 day detox at home where I have to take a ton of tablets. This is my last day. Tomorrow I only have to take 6 tablets a day of one medication and the other one has stopped. I have my first appointment next week with the support group. Once they have seen me I will again change medication and will need to stay on that between 6-12 months. I am so lucky to have had the guts to see the GP and tell him the truth. I feel so embarrassed and ashamed. Throughout all of this I have kept to my eating plan, stuck to drinking 64oz water, and taken all my vitamins. I cant believe that I have had the control over that yet not over the alcohol. On the day I saw the GP my Blood Pressure was 202/147 so I have to go every day and its now normal. I am now 176llb so have put 40llbs on, not through food but through drinking calories. I haven’t read through this after typing it as I might just lose nerve and delete the lot so if it sounds odd or the grammar is poor please excuse that. I am still having withdrawal symptoms (just the tremors) but at least I wake up in the mornings and can remember what I did the night before. I know people here who have a glass of wine every night after work. Some people can, I obviously can’t. Just be careful. Please.

People can eat whatever they want and how much they want, they just have to accept the consequences. I eat out a lot but tend to stick to starter sizes and even then I can’t always finish it. I am coming up to 3 years out and so happy I still have that restriction. You will be able to eat more in time, your tummy is still healing right now, so please don’t worry! Do I miss regular sized meals, hell no. if I tried to finish a reg sized meal I’d be throwing up in the loo and being sick is not my idea of a good time. Congratulations on the surgery! kate ?

It’s normal to have doubts. It’s normal to think ~ can I really do this? Best thing I have ever done... it’s not easy but SO worth it. Be kind to yourself and don’t over think things xxx

You have this... take each day at a time and focus on the bigger picture xxx

Awesome ... you are doing great ?

Agree totally. It will eventually drop off... Good for you sticking to the plan. Four and a half pounds.. I bet you beamed when you saw that. ?

So proud of you ! ?

Omg what an achievement.. you look fab but I guess not as good as you feel !! Amazing ... well done ?

I agree with Ashley.. keep hydrated ... and if it continues call your team and get their advice. Hope you feel better soon and congratulations on the surgery !

Amazing and beautiful.... congrats ?

Whooop whooppp congrats ?

Congratulations... fantastic, such a difference ?

Did I mention your post?

I haven’t been on here for months because of the post some newbies post. I came back as I thought it had changed. It’s the same stuff all over again. night.. best of luck ..

Of course. ?

Good luck... contact me in four years and we can chat.

It’s never been easy for me ....I paid twenty four thousand dollars to have this gift... no insurance... no easy days. I have worked hard. Very hard. Then had plastics. It’s been 31 months of hard work so when I hear of someone eating pizza at two weeks I feel sorry for them. I pity them. I’m not angry or pissed off with them. I just feel sorry for the medics who might have to patch them up. Is that wrong, Or should we just validate their choices. People can stuff themselves with food at week 1,2,3... ohhhhh I made a mistake. Now all say you did too and we can be part of a gang. The reality is... if you’re not going to listen to your surgeon then so be it. But I won’t be someone saying awwwwww when you are ill. Now making a mistake months out. That's different. We have all made mistakes. I know I have. But 2-4 weeks out? After surgery. Not listening to their surgeon? Fill your boots. The reality is that people make choices. Don’t whine about it...

I would give up Jess. Let’s leave it to those a few weeks out who seem to know everything. If it wasn’t so sad it would be laughable.

You can close the thread ?

This far out and my nose still runs when I eat. l'm constantly telling people I don't have a cold. I really wish it would stop !

Walk, sip, sleep, sip, sip.... walk sip sleep sip sip.... wash and repeat. Congratulations

I didn't have what I would consider a 'stall'. Perhaps I was just lucky as I know so many experience them at week three. I haven't kept any notes on how much I lost on each week but it was a good steady loss. If you are losing at all, even if its half a pound a week, its not a stall. Congrats on the surgery !

For one night: Loose clothes to go home in. Something to read (such as magazines, which you can just pick up and put down in between walking, sipping, sleeping, walking sipping) Gas-x strips Soap, toothpaste and toothbrush. Nightwear/underwear I stayed 3 nights and 4 days and so in addition I took and found helpful: Kindle Face wipes Lip Balm Phone and charger Shampoo and body wash 3 x nightwear I spent most of the time in between the walking etc either in bed sleeping or watching tv/reading or being checked over by the health professionals, especially in the first day. My husband brought a pillow to put over my tummy so the seat belt didn't dig in for the drive home. Otherwise the hospital provided everything else I wanted. Kate

Congratulations and best wishes for a speedy recovery :-)