blondie88

Hi all, please accept my sincerest apologies for the massive delay in my reply. I think once you read what happened to me, I may be forgiven. So just after I made this post, I went worse, I went to Accident and Emergency 3 times to be sent away, with no answers. Even when I begged them to keep me in, for observations they refused. I got even worse, and was unable to eat anything, I was vomiting orange bile continuously, couldn't drink not even Water and my head was exceptionally dizzy, my eyes were flickering side to side and I couldn't stand without swaying. Then one day at the beginning of August whilst feeling this poorly I went to walk down the stairs to go to the GP and I couldn't. I landed at the bottom hitting my head off the metal radiator. My mum was with me, and instantly called an ambulance. As they didn't think I was a priority (not a Heart Attack or Stroke or bleeding out- as told on phone by operative) I waited over 3 hours to be seen by two paramedics, who immediately took me to my local Hospital to see a Dr. So, what then happened was, I was admitted to Hospital for 8 weeks, I spent them in a Gastroenterology ward, with patients in their hundreds, I was 28. I couldn't move, eat, and was double incontinent due to this mystery illness. I also had short term memory problems, so my verbal questioning/recall was on a 30 second loop. It took 6 weeks to be formally diagnosed, and this was by specialists at a Hospital over 100 miles away. I was diagnosed with bilateral radiculopathy, which was caused by an infection in my stomach, which they believe was from my surgery, due to no prior history and no other apparent reasons. This infection, spread to my spinal nerves, causing them to be inflamed and this spread to my brain, causing the eye flickering, confusion and short term memory. Long story short, I spent 8 weeks in the hospital, then I was sent to an inpatient neurological rehabilitation centre for a further 10 weeks, where I had to learn how to sit again, then stand/balance, then take steps. After the 10 weeks I had learnt to walk with a Zimmer frame- very fashionable for a 28 year old, I think we'd all agree. Then I went onto a 4 wheeled Walker, then crutches, and now walking sticks. I was discharged from the rehabilitation unit 10 weeks ago to my parents, as they're both retired and able to offer 24 hour care, and were able to accommodate me downstairs in their home, as I could not walk long distances nor do steps/stairs. So here we are, after 28 weeks of hell, I am now definitely on the road to recovery, I still use walking sticks 90% of the time, but I have taken my first steps without them. I can also get up steps/stairs with a crutch, and a bannister on one side. My short term memory can still be problematic when I'm tired but I have learnt to write everything/anything important down in a book which I have on me at all times. I am also very lucky that I have such a supportive and caring family who have had the patience to take me in at my lowest time.
So, what I genuinely get asked is, 'do I regret my WLS?'. Well, yes and no. No I don't regret it for the amount of weight that I have lost, today's scale reading was 10 stone lost!!!! However, the price that I seem to have paid for the weight loss is, over 6 months of excruciating pain, illness, confusion, hopelessness and hospitalisation and separation from my family and loved ones. It has been the single most scariest time of my life, and all I am thankful for is that I am still alive and recovering.
So yeah, that's my update!! Once again sorry it's taken months to reply! I hope you can understand why now. Hope you're all well!
Much Love xx

You look amazing, congratulations! 74 months in 3 months is incredible, so pleased for you x
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Hi all, I'm new to this forum but having read the posts I can see that you're all wonderful and a great support network for one another. I'm from the UK, and unfortunately haven't been able to find a forum like this in the UK, so hope you don't mind me joining in?! I'm due for a sleeve on 1st May, so I'm currently doing my 2 weeks pre-op diet... Best of luck to everyone with their upcoming surgeries. Xx
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