GinaCampbell

I wish it was "free". We are taxed to the hilt for it so it's only free if you have never worked. Ironically, the same surgeons who do our bariatric work are also the surgeons who do the private bariatric surgery at the local private hospital. Your statement about cancer patients does shock me. I do hope you blew the whistle on anyone who did that! There are times when I have had good care here. Recently, not so much. The reason I can't seek medical care elsewhere is because no one wants to touch another person's problems. People do bring lawsuits here, but that is something that I wouldn't do. Any compensation I got would mean that someone else went without care. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My point about the "normal and workable" stuff is that we were never given that information beforehand so our expectations were different than what happened to us. When asked questions, we were told not to worry, these things are rare. Would you want this surgical team and hospital to take out your gallbladder? Would you feel comfortable going straight back into surgery after finally absorbing an abdominal abscess? Probiotics have not helped my diarrhea, so far. I sip fluids from 7 am to midnight. Having diarrhea means that I am always behind in my fluids. I have accepted dehydration as yet another part of my new problems. Hopefully, I can get a referral to someone in gastro quickly to find out why I am having cramps and spasms but I expect a six week wait. As I have explained, we are all being treated by the NHS. These are not private doctors that we "hire". We still have to depend on this service for our healthcare. We can't just make a complaint, then have our complaints addressed without consequence. We can even be removed from our GP surgery should our behaviour be deemed "inappropriate". I have expressed my concern about my individual care, which is all I can do. I get that expressing my feelings about my experience might not be popular but I will do all I can to make sure that anyone in the UK considering bariatric surgery, gets proper, genuine information from the NHS. This surgery is not always right for everyone for many reasons. Not everyone will move through the food stages normally. Not everyone will be able to get Protein in. Not everyone will be "eating normally" just smaller portions. Not everyone will ever eat meat, eggs, lettuce again. We are told just to order our liquid meds from our GP, no problem. Getting your liquid meds for the six weeks after surgery may be almost impossible so prepare to go without a few days. Most GP surgeries will refuse to do it and the bariatric team won't pre order them for you. If your surgeon tells you to take large pills (as mine did), don't do it. They can get stuck and hurt you. Not everyone will understand what a dramatic lifestyle change this will be. If thinking about food and dieting each day is too challenging, then thinking about food and Water in detail each day may be also. I am disabled and find cooking hot meals awkward due to losing control of my hands and dropping hot things (even from the microwave). I used sandwiches and Cereal mostly beforehand for meals. I was told not to worry, that I could use Protein shakes, slim fast etc. Well no, I can't. I want the seminars and meetings to say these things. I want the discharge booklet (that goes into more details about foods that might be problematic) to be available pre surgery. I want people who have rapid weight loss due to complications to be given medication to protect their gallbladder. The drug Cyclizine should be banned from NHS hospitals. Staff were overheard saying that they "pray each time they administer" this drug. I also think that the incidences of people who have these surgeries and then later die of malnutrition or other post op complications, should be addressed pre surgery. Then we can all give informed consent. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

We all had the same team but different surgeons. We are in Yorkshire, England. Why would I have an attorney? I have read of complications here on these forums. Perhaps the ratio of people having WLS in the States compared to the population makes the incidence sound smaller. I also think that people on forums don't want to sound negative so skim over complications etc. We signed for a surgical complication rate of 1%. But that is the issue. The statistics are split between actual surgical, post op, ward care, etc. We feel that this program should be halted until we all are treated and are well and the reasons for all the abscesses etc are dealt with. But obviously, we are still under these surgeons care for the next two years so can't really complain. I am lying here now with agonising spasms, cramps and diarrhea which I have had since Saturday. No one from that team is interested so it will be up to my GP to investigate then send me to a gastro consultant. All which will take weeks. As they didn't alter my bowels in surgery and the dietician doesn't think it sounds like a gallbladder issue, I am just left out here with no help. This worries me. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Each one of us attended a two year program where we lost weight if we could naturally, went to meetings, seminars, bariatric team discussions etc. We had exhaustive tests and each were either given the sleeve or bypass. My friend who had bypass was in a program that offered excess skin removal after year one. They moved the goalposts to year two. Then they discontinued the excess skin removal agreement. She can only eat a few foods so lost all of her hair because she can't eat Proteins and has constant diarrhea. She is miserable. All of us feel that during the two years, we were not given full and honest information regarding after effects. We weren't given any medication to prevent damage to our gallbladders nor were we warned they might have to be removed. We weren't given information regarding food revulsion, inability to eat through the food stages, constant diarrhea, lactose intolerance etc. We also were not told of the amount of people in our program who had complications after surgery, and we asked. My surgeon still says my surgery was "textbook" and declares his record as problem free despite my having severe complications and still being ill 8 weeks post op. So we feel mislead. All three of us that had sleeves had severe post op complications. One had an abscess on her spleen and Fluid on her lungs and spent weeks in hospital on IV antibiotics. Her sleeve leaked and had to be re done. She is still really ill. One of us was in intensive care for six weeks, had to have a tracheotomy and was on the critical list, he is still gravely ill. I had a 6.6 cm abdominal abscess that nearly killed me, spent weeks in hospital, dropped over 60lbs in 4 weeks, which might have killed my gallbladder, was given a near fatal dose of Cyclizine which caused lingering stroke symptoms and I am still ill on fluids at 8 week post op and can't eat any proteins, am now lactose intolerant, I will have my gallbladder out once the abscess clears, if I am brave enough. My wounds haven't healed yet from the sleeve op yet. I can't tolerate any Vitamins etc I am supposed to take. And the aftercare we receive has been awful and totally confusing. We all also feel that we were not fully informed about eating after the sleeve. We were told that once we got through the stages, we would be eating normally, just small portions. We weren't told how many of us die each year from malnutrition here in the UK. On discharge, we were given a booklet regarding food stages and foods that might cause problems. None of us would have had our surgeries if we had had this booklet before our sleeves. So no, we can't get together as we are all at home, ill, mostly on antibiotics and other treatments, facing more serious ops and treatments, months after our sleeves. Most of us battling dehydration. Another lady we know has lost over 120lbs in 8 weeks. She is still in hospital and they don't know what's wrong yet. We feel that we have been made permanently disabled by this surgery and not given accurate information so that we could make informed decisions. I researched this thoroughly and asked questions and was told not to worry, that they rarely had problems. They split the statistics up so that the complications are shown as ward aftercare etc. Four out of four of us is not rare, but a 100% complication rate. Yes, we will all have to accept our stupid decision. Our families will get over the trauma of us nearly dying from complications. I am in counselling via telephone. We are all just hoping to be well enough to drive a car again, go to church again, eat enough food to live again. (I am still only getting 300 or so calories but I am up from 100 calories a day for six weeks). I am not "fighting" this sleeve. I am learning to live with an elective disablement. Maybe this is just the difference in healthcare between countries. None of us were above 250lbs, all of us could walk normally, only one of us had diabetes and still has it two years post op after all the weight was lost. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi everyone! I am 8 weeks out from VSG and as most of you know, I have had some complications. My bariatric nurse is away for two weeks on holiday so I have no one to ask advice from. For the past four days, I have been having bowel cramps and diarrhoea. My poop is orange (sorry). Because I have IBS-d, my surgeons etc, have not been concerned about this. And I myself am unsure what IBS-d looks like after a VSG. I first put this episode down to experimenting with new soft foods. So I stuck to trusted things like chicken Soup (broth). Still cramping and pooping. I figured my bowels now are just angry and inflamed and hoped sleeping would help. By bedtime, my belly is swollen (like with IBS), but cramps don't wake me up while sleeping. This morning, I woke up with a soft flat belly. Lying there, I hoped for the best. Within minutes of waking up, the spasms started again. The surgeon had an ultrasound done Saturday looking for anything unusual like gallstones etc. All looked well. I do still have the abdominal abscess at 3 cm. So the big question, when are bowel spasms and cramps not IBS-d? They feel like they are on fire, angry and inflamed. I am not on pain meds so it is possible that I am simply feeling the pain more acutely. I am keeping hydrated as much as possible due to the episodes of diarrhoea. (spasms at least once an hour now). The thought of being in A&E waiting in a hard chair for eight hours, in pain and using the public toilets for these spasms, fills me with dread if this is not a serious problem. Advice? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had an ultrasound which didn't show any gallbladder issues so the bariatrics are putting the diarrhea down to my severe IBS-d which I had before surgery. I had a sample test after my last clinic appt (a few weeks ago) that ruled out any infections. Obviously, I am concerned and would prefer to have proper investigations by my surgical team rather than guessing, but health care here can be hit and miss. It will be at least two weeks if not more before I see someone in the bariatric team about both the gallbladder and the bowel issues. My GP is seeing me Thursday but because my symptoms could be a range of issues, she would normally just refer me to a hospital consultant. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Totally regret it! My three friends also regret it. But we can't change it now. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you! I thought the hardest part would be just missing food! x Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Oh no! Alot of what you are describing is what is happening to me! Severe urgency, cramping with or without poop, the "fire out the a$$" stuff. Also the eating thing, it hurts less if I eat. It can't be a coincidence though that I am eight weeks out from VSG and this starts. I would really love to be sure it's not surgery related but the person available (dietician) said that they didn't touch my bowels and I had IBS-d severely before. And these symptoms don't match gallbladder issues. The orange/yellow poop could be due to rapid transit. Very painful but the codeine phosphate seems to be helping. Just worried, that's all. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you for replying! I have had IBS-d severely for thirty years and to be honest, like you, I just dealt with the runs as you do. Over here treatment varies but I have a home colonic kit prescribed by my GP to be used to empty my bowels so I can leave the house. I don't have any enema medication, the system just uses Water. I feel that if I could just calm my bowels down, soothe them. Things would be better. I do have Gaviscon and lansoprazole for the upper parts. My stomach feels okay, not even gassy or burny, it's just my intestines. I can feel my stomach empty, the noises start, then the minute Fluid gets lower, cramp and spasm starts. I do have imodium for diarrhoea but it stops everything and I can't get fluid in so I have taken the codeine phosphate only 15 mgs) the incontinence clinic prescribed for the diarrhoea hoping it might calm things down. Unfortunately, my bariatric team are overloaded and a bit disjointed so it might be a couple of weeks before I can see anyone there to discuss things. I am also trying to heal before they insist on removing my gallbladder. I think that I will make an appt with my GP to see if there is anything he can do or try to get a referral back to the incontinence clinic. How did you find out that you had gone from IBD to ulcerative colitis? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I didn't like to say, I get nowhere near that in! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So happy for you! I have been alone 7 years now. At 54, I think my chance of having a new relationship is over. But it really warms my heart to see other people find love! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

oh my stars! I swear I just wait for food porn here! I dream of a chicken wing! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I do much more careful shopping and choosing even though I can only tolerate liquids. I spend alot of time making homemade Soups. But I waste alot. Some things I try, I get a bite down and the rest gets thrown away. I have doubled the cost of my food shopping bill too unfortunately. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I think that my sleeve is quite small because the surgeon said something to me about how small he had made it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am not sure exactly what components I could tolerate in a smoothie. I haven't been able to tolerate any Protein powders, slimfast etc yet. Not allowed berries or fruit yet. And I can only take in a few ounces every hour so have to choose between Water for hydration and food. Still all very difficult, especially when I read of people eating so much at a time! I have no idea how they do it! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I couldn't tolerate readybrek or thin porridge. pureed cottage cheese didn't work either. So far, small amounts of milk, Water and soup, blended seem to sit okay. But I am basing some of this on the result once it hits my bowels. I can't tell the difference between what my sleeve doesn't like and what my bowels don't like. If I use imodium, I then can't get anything in, no water, nothing so my bariatric nurse said to stop using it. Still can't find any Protein that I can get in so nearly eight weeks out, I am getting no protein and less than 400 cals a day. Which is an improvement on 100 cals a day though. Ironically, the weightloss has stalled (which I don't mind). Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

lol this new life is sooo tricky! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

They still do the buffet here but it is nothing like the American version. Just a few basic pizzas, Pasta and salad. I can order things off the menu but again, it's all solids that will be outside my comfort zone Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

They said no to bringing my own food. I have been looking at the menu and all they have is solid food. I am thinking that I will just order whatever and fake it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Still on Soups, milk and Water at the moment which is my problem. I also have a very aggravated bowel for whatever reason. I am trying soups with more substance. I have even tried a couple of things like thin readybrek and mash potato but they don't sit well and pass straight through. The only way to calm my bowels down is to stick to water, a bit of milk and the lightest soups I can find or make. I am better as in the rapid weightloss has stopped, I am no longer dehydrated despite the constant runs etc. But I am still very weak with no energy. The abscess is still there at 3 cm but can't be drained. Can't have my gallbladder out until it clears. But I have sat with my family twice and I don't want to miss out on this trip in August because my granddaughter thinks that I am so sick that I might die. She has nightmares about it so I am pretending to be well a couple of hours a week to ease her mind. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I can't believe how stressed I feel about it. It's so odd. The normal routine of ordering a drink when you arrive is different, all just ordering a buffet plate together, different. And our pizza huts here in the UK only offer basic salad. Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrot, beetroot. They do offer mac & cheese though which I thought might be an option. My concern isn't calories or weightloss, I just want to go with my granddaughter and appear to be normal. She is only five but sharp as a tack and will notice if I don't eat. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am more worried about my food stages. I am quite scared of food and will only be 9 weeks post op then Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My family are taking my granddaughter out to her favourite restaurant, pizza Hut. It will be my first time going out with the family. Have no idea how I am going to deal with it. My granddaughter wants me there but what on Earth will I eat? The little one will notice if I sit with Water and don't eat and ask why. Feeling really stressed about how to fake my way through it Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

They don't feel that I have any problems with circulation. They blame everything on fibro. Except my diarrhoea, they blame that on IBS. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App