JJCool

I wanted to write this to help anyone considering the surgery the benefit of my experience. I don’t represent the NHS or anyone else’s journey – I just want to be open about what mine has been like.
For those who have been through it, sorry if this is all familiar to you and boring. I hadn’t ever had surgery before this and had never stayed in hospital before so I enjoyed reading about the experiences of others to help me understand what to expect. And there isn’t that many to fine online from people in the UK going through the NHS so just wanted to add mine.
Before October 2015 I had been meeting with my GP (local doctor) regularly to treat an anxiety disorder that I have had at a serious level for about a year, as well as to facilitate my recovery from a lower back injury. After a few months of counselling, drug treatments and physiotherapy he suggested to me that he thought both could be relieved to some degree by a serious weight loss and he referred me to meet with a bariatric surgeon.
I’ll try to explain some of how the National Health Service works in the UK, as I understand it. I’m not a professional in this area, this is just as it has been explained to me.
In the UK a governing body called NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellent) set recommendations for our medical trusts (all the hospitals etc in a region that make up a group, and that group has an amount of funding allocated to it.) The management for that trust then decides how that money is allocated, and usually bases these decisions on the guidelines set by NICE.
In regards to bariatric surgeries, NICE recommends:
· Patients with a BMI above 50 be referred for bariatric surgery assessment
· Adults with a BMI of 30 or more for whom interventions such as weight loss clinics and programs have been unsuccessful can have a discussion about alternative interventions for weight management such as bariatric surgery
· Adults with a BMI of 35 or more who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the past 10 years are offered an expedited referral for bariatric surgery assessment
As well as some other particulars (you can read more about that here Soup (both of a particular brand) and a pint of milk a day. I don’t know if this is the way my bariatric team work or if they made this specific to me but it was fine and it worked.
On the day of surgery, I met with the nurse surgeon and anaesthesiologist separately to discuss any last minute questions and to talk through what I was to expect. It was such a nice experience, the worst part of my day was when I had to change into the hospital gown and realised that the dressing gown I brought from home (which was a short one) wouldn’t actually cover my backside. So if any of you happened to see someone with a red face clutching their gown closed at the back with both hands while walking through a hospital – yeah that was probably me.
I was reassured at every stage leading up to the operation and wasn’t really scared at all. Such a relief! I didn’t wake up for many hours after the surgery and I found out later that they thought I might have to be moved into ICU (Intensive care unit) afterwards because of this. But I did wake up finally in the recovery suite that evening and in my hazy state I apparently fought with the oxygen mask enough to amuse the nurses so they knew I was ok.
I was moved to a ward with three other women – only one other had a bariatric procedure but she didn’t speak English so no one I could compare notes with. I had two days in hospital – I won’t go through it in detail but will just note that in that time I had the most wonderful care from the hospital staff. I was visited by my surgeon and the bariatric nurse each day and they were both happy with my recovery. I started taking small amounts of Water on the first day and by the second was allowed other liquids such as tea, milk etc. The thing I found the most difficult about being in hospital was that they wanted to weigh each wee I had, so had to wee into a cardboard bowl. I don’t know why but this led to me being a bit wee-shy, but they weren’t going to let me go until they were sure that the liquids I was drinking was going through as expected so I had to just get on with it!
I had a drain in my right side while I was in hospital to drain away any internal bleeding from the surgery and that was removed on the day I left the hospital. I had water proof dressings on each of my 5 wounds so could shower without any issues straight away and didn’t have to have the dressings changed until about a week later.
When I was discharged I was sent off with a load of medications, which is all part of the NHS service. I was pretty surprised; it took two large carrier bags to carry them all! Included was:
liquid paracetamol (for the pain) and ibuprofen (for pain and inflammation)
Liquid sytron (Iron supplement)
Effervescent Adcal D3 (Calcium and Vitamin D supplement)
Multivitamin pills (to be crushed and mixed with water for the first few weeks – yuck!)
Enoxaparin injections (for the avoidance of blood clotting)
Lactulose solution (for, erm, regularity)
Lanzoprazole tablets (to reduce stomach acid, and heartburn)
And I was sent on my way!
I had a pretty sharp internal pain and a big dent behind my biggest incision for the first few weeks that made getting about quite difficult. I rang the nurse and she explained to me about how the remaining stomach was given an internal stich to the inner muscle/fat lining of my skin to stop it from twisting while it heals. And as she predicted it popped around week 3 as the internal stitch dissolved. It gave me a bit of a scare at the time, I was bent over shaving my legs and literally felt a *pop* and I was too scared to move! But then I remembered what it was and was so relieved that all the pain suddenly left so I was happy.
And it’s been plain sailing ever since. I have been able to move through the food stages as planned and haven’t have any vomiting or diarrhoea. I met with the nurse again at about 6 weeks and she was happy with my progress and my healing. I have an appointment with the surgeon in about a month and will continue to meet with them both over the course of the next two years at least – or longer if necessary.
So that’s me, I fully appreciate that everyone’s journey is different so please don’t use this as canon. But I hope I can help anyone doing research for their own operation. Based on my experience I would recommend it whole-heartedly.
Jo x

I wanted to write this to help anyone considering the surgery the benefit of my experience. I don’t represent the NHS or anyone else’s journey – I just want to be open about what mine has been like.
For those who have been through it, sorry if this is all familiar to you and boring. I hadn’t ever had surgery before this and had never stayed in hospital before so I enjoyed reading about the experiences of others to help me understand what to expect. And there isn’t that many to fine online from people in the UK going through the NHS so just wanted to add mine.
Before October 2015 I had been meeting with my GP (local doctor) regularly to treat an anxiety disorder that I have had at a serious level for about a year, as well as to facilitate my recovery from a lower back injury. After a few months of counselling, drug treatments and physiotherapy he suggested to me that he thought both could be relieved to some degree by a serious weight loss and he referred me to meet with a bariatric surgeon.
I’ll try to explain some of how the National Health Service works in the UK, as I understand it. I’m not a professional in this area, this is just as it has been explained to me.
In the UK a governing body called NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellent) set recommendations for our medical trusts (all the hospitals etc in a region that make up a group, and that group has an amount of funding allocated to it.) The management for that trust then decides how that money is allocated, and usually bases these decisions on the guidelines set by NICE.
In regards to bariatric surgeries, NICE recommends:
· Patients with a BMI above 50 be referred for bariatric surgery assessment
· Adults with a BMI of 30 or more for whom interventions such as weight loss clinics and programs have been unsuccessful can have a discussion about alternative interventions for weight management such as bariatric surgery
· Adults with a BMI of 35 or more who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the past 10 years are offered an expedited referral for bariatric surgery assessment
As well as some other particulars (you can read more about that here Soup (both of a particular brand) and a pint of milk a day. I don’t know if this is the way my bariatric team work or if they made this specific to me but it was fine and it worked.
On the day of surgery, I met with the nurse surgeon and anaesthesiologist separately to discuss any last minute questions and to talk through what I was to expect. It was such a nice experience, the worst part of my day was when I had to change into the hospital gown and realised that the dressing gown I brought from home (which was a short one) wouldn’t actually cover my backside. So if any of you happened to see someone with a red face clutching their gown closed at the back with both hands while walking through a hospital – yeah that was probably me.
I was reassured at every stage leading up to the operation and wasn’t really scared at all. Such a relief! I didn’t wake up for many hours after the surgery and I found out later that they thought I might have to be moved into ICU (Intensive care unit) afterwards because of this. But I did wake up finally in the recovery suite that evening and in my hazy state I apparently fought with the oxygen mask enough to amuse the nurses so they knew I was ok.
I was moved to a ward with three other women – only one other had a bariatric procedure but she didn’t speak English so no one I could compare notes with. I had two days in hospital – I won’t go through it in detail but will just note that in that time I had the most wonderful care from the hospital staff. I was visited by my surgeon and the bariatric nurse each day and they were both happy with my recovery. I started taking small amounts of Water on the first day and by the second was allowed other liquids such as tea, milk etc. The thing I found the most difficult about being in hospital was that they wanted to weigh each wee I had, so had to wee into a cardboard bowl. I don’t know why but this led to me being a bit wee-shy, but they weren’t going to let me go until they were sure that the liquids I was drinking was going through as expected so I had to just get on with it!
I had a drain in my right side while I was in hospital to drain away any internal bleeding from the surgery and that was removed on the day I left the hospital. I had water proof dressings on each of my 5 wounds so could shower without any issues straight away and didn’t have to have the dressings changed until about a week later.
When I was discharged I was sent off with a load of medications, which is all part of the NHS service. I was pretty surprised; it took two large carrier bags to carry them all! Included was:
liquid paracetamol (for the pain) and ibuprofen (for pain and inflammation)
Liquid sytron (Iron supplement)
Effervescent Adcal D3 (Calcium and Vitamin D supplement)
Multivitamin pills (to be crushed and mixed with water for the first few weeks – yuck!)
Enoxaparin injections (for the avoidance of blood clotting)
Lactulose solution (for, erm, regularity)
Lanzoprazole tablets (to reduce stomach acid, and heartburn)
And I was sent on my way!
I had a pretty sharp internal pain and a big dent behind my biggest incision for the first few weeks that made getting about quite difficult. I rang the nurse and she explained to me about how the remaining stomach was given an internal stich to the inner muscle/fat lining of my skin to stop it from twisting while it heals. And as she predicted it popped around week 3 as the internal stitch dissolved. It gave me a bit of a scare at the time, I was bent over shaving my legs and literally felt a *pop* and I was too scared to move! But then I remembered what it was and was so relieved that all the pain suddenly left so I was happy.
And it’s been plain sailing ever since. I have been able to move through the food stages as planned and haven’t have any vomiting or diarrhoea. I met with the nurse again at about 6 weeks and she was happy with my progress and my healing. I have an appointment with the surgeon in about a month and will continue to meet with them both over the course of the next two years at least – or longer if necessary.
So that’s me, I fully appreciate that everyone’s journey is different so please don’t use this as canon. But I hope I can help anyone doing research for their own operation. Based on my experience I would recommend it whole-heartedly.
Jo x

I was having Tomato Soups in my first week, they were a lifesaver!
Jo x
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I just came across this site https://mydiet-shop.co.uk when I was googling to see if we can get Torani sugar free syrups in the UK - looks pretty good!
Thought I'd share.
Jo x

@ That's really interesting, thanks for posting it.
Does anyone else find it a relief to see more medical research referring to elements of weight gain that are out of the patients control now? I mean, of course I know there are many things that are IN our control that we can do to keep our weight down, but hearing more about the hormones and genes that influence our need for food takes away some of the crippling guilt I have been carrying all my life.
Jo x

I went to the theatre today which is something I love but used to dread cos those seats are so small! Usually my big bum means my knees are shoved into the back of the seat in front of me when I sit - not today! My first tangible moment of weigh-loss appreciation. It was wonderful!
Jo x
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Ps, this is a great idea for a thread Rosie x
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Well I for one dont want to feel like carp. Heck, I cant even swim.
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I too hated 'fat shops' They seem to think being fat equals no dress sense and they make things in the most garish and clashing colours ever. I am enjoying shopping and dressing again and it's no longer a case of going to the wardrobe to choose from my vast range of black sacks. I'm a self-confessed label queen but have not been near any decent labels in years, whilst there are some labels I'll never get back into because they think size 14 (UK) is plus size, I'm slowly getting there. Had a browse in Harvey Nicks the other week and pretty sure I'll be back for my Christmas outfit as I no longer feel embarrassed just looking at the clothes.

I used Bassetts chewables for the first few weeks, it was fine.
Jo x

Hiya, I started about 15lb higher than you and I'm 37, so close-ish. I'm exactly 2 months post op and have lost 50lb. Good luck on your journey!
Jo x
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@
I have to get to work so I don't have a lot of time to refute you but there are about 20 studies since that study that counter it. Also you have to consider scientific advances in this century as opposed to the past. That was a post WW-II study and we are now in the post modern era. Also, we have to remember RMR is if you do absolutely nothing but lay in bed. No one posting is in a coma doing nothing, everyone is burning above their RMR, just living, even if they are a slug. So the deficits are much higher than what people think.
I don't know if you missed the whole massively long thread we had about the Biggest Loser contestants but to make a long story short they ruined their metabolism on low calories and excess exercise and years later the results are perm.
I have lost weight increasing my calories and never keeping them below 800, and I have a normal metabolism, most people don't lose 150lbs in a year and keep a normal to high metabolism.
What @@JamieLogical said ...
Is something I think we should have a more serious discuss about and it would be nice if all the experts that wrote for the magazine would address the topic of post-op eating disorders. We see more of that being posted about here than anything else but it is glossed over and ignored.

Hiya, I started about 15lb higher than you and I'm 37, so close-ish. I'm exactly 2 months post op and have lost 50lb. Good luck on your journey!
Jo x
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Butter and cheese are life.

I, too, eat full fat everything. Sour cream', dressing, glorious cheese'. I eat sausage and bacon and 85/15 ground beef'. Real mayo is key in chicken, shrimp, seafood salads. The light stuff generally has more carbs, and the full fat stuff tastes better and keeps me full longer.
And butter.... Butter!!

@@Doots75 that was me! And you're very welcome.
Jo x

I agree that carbs can be very harmful to the body. My concern is we need to eat healthy, low calorie carbs along with plenty of Water. Not only for the Fiber (anyone have issues with Constipation? ) but ketosis from consuming high Protein long term may cause some issues with the kidneys especially if you already have underlying kidney disease. (I'm a certified dialysis nurse). Make sure you discuss this with your surgeon and dietician. Our goal is to be healthy. Sounds like you are doing wonderful on your weight loss. Keep up the good work!
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This is helpful! Thank you Sent from my SM-G920F using the BariatricPal App

I went to the theatre today which is something I love but used to dread cos those seats are so small! Usually my big bum means my knees are shoved into the back of the seat in front of me when I sit - not today! My first tangible moment of weigh-loss appreciation. It was wonderful!
Jo x
Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App
Ps, this is a great idea for a thread Rosie x
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Thought I would share this article I came across. It's well-thought out, succinct and well-cited.
(protein) food for thought....
http://www.muscleforlife.com/the-truth-about-protein-absorption-how-often-you-should-eat-protein-to-build-muscle/
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There's alot of good info on asmbs.org

My local Co-op have started selling these Protein shakes called Acti-shake. They have 172 cals and 25.2g Protein. And best of all they are only £1 - that's the cheapest I've seen anywhere.
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"While it’s true that bananas pack more carbs per bite than other fruits (because they’re lower in water), there’s no need to shun them, even if you’re trying to lose weight. Bananas are a rich source of potassium, which in addition to reducing blood pressure, supports muscle maintenance and acts as a natural diuretic that alleviates Water retention and bloating. Their Vitamin B6 also helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels and their Fiber content boosts satiety and improves digestive health. "
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I wore one for a few weeks after surgery. It wasn't about the gas pain which, in my case, was gone after the first couple days, but for the pain where my pouch was stitched to the muscle lining my skin. When I lay down that stitch lined up and there was no pain but when I stood or sat the stitch pulled intensely on the muscle and caused pain. The binder really helped to hold the skin tight and not have so much pain. After a few weeks that stitch dissolved just as it was supposed to and the pain left, I haven't needed the binder since.
Jo x
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I wore one for a few weeks after surgery. It wasn't about the gas pain which, in my case, was gone after the first couple days, but for the pain where my pouch was stitched to the muscle lining my skin. When I lay down that stitch lined up and there was no pain but when I stood or sat the stitch pulled intensely on the muscle and caused pain. The binder really helped to hold the skin tight and not have so much pain. After a few weeks that stitch dissolved just as it was supposed to and the pain left, I haven't needed the binder since.
Jo x
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I can't speak for anyone else, but I had one of those cast Iron stomachs before surgery and have had no issues or illnesses since the surgery. I haven't tried bread or rice or anything really solid like raw carrots, but I have tried a good selection of different foods including some Pasta and potato and no problems so far.
Jo x