pdc1605

UPDATE Well....quit smoking! Passed my nicotine test. Pre op requirements completed. Packet being sent to insurance next week! Now the wait begins.

I feel like I can totally relate in a way. My surgery date was 4/19. I did have pain at the hospital but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, it hurt less when I first started walking. Honesty, I mostly just felt tired haha I actually haven't had to take any of my nausea medication through my recovery, I haven't felt any nausea. In fact, im only in my second week and im already having more energy. I did feel more proud the next couple of days after surgery especially when I tried to get out of bed, my fiance had to help me. That was really painful, I had to take pain meds for about a few days but it was mostly gas pains as well. However, after four days, I have been fine! The walking really does help and I just believe that my recovery has been a lot of smoother than I imagine it to be.

I Finally made it to Onederland. I am 9 weeks post op. Feeling great and looking forward to next goal of 100 Lbs down. At that point I will post a before and after photo.

HW 264
SW 235
CW 199
GW 130-140

Having been here a few months now, it’s become obvious that it’s so different for people having weight loss surgery in the UK. Procedures here before WLS is different. Most of the people over the pond have it through their insurance and this means a lot of pre operation meetings/assessments/work, over many months. In some ways I feel this is good, as people get to learn so much before having their surgery. However that’s not the usual way here in the UK. You tend to learn ‘in the moment’. If you are eligible for WLS through the National Health Service, you may have to wait for a long time, 2 to 3 or up to 10 years unless you are at the stage where your weight is life or death. So, many fund it themselves.
I think this site is excellent for advice and support however it does mainly tend to show what happens in the States, where you can buy certain things and what’s available. So here’s a few things (not exclusive, would love it if others add stuff here too) I have learnt in my very short weeks since surgery.
PLEASE can we all add our own likes/dislikes, UK advice etc etc
Bariatric cookery books are excellent however there are many other options to learn about pre and post op foods. My dietitian is great but I have learnt so much through researching online. There are so many Bariatric Centres all over the world showing what you can eat pre ad post op and as long as you add a dash of common sense, it can work well. For example; if I read from a Bariatric Centre that I could eat tuna on day 3, I would be clicking the X asap!! Centrum advantage chewable Vitamins are lovely and recommended by UK Dietitians for post bariatric surgery. Tesco’s have them on offer at the moment, 3 for 2. They have carbs, but balancing a few carbs for nice tasting Vitamins isn’t going to kill me for the time being. Keep your fridge/cupboard stocked once you know what goes down well for you. Don’t spend too much in advance in case you don’t like it. I spent a lot on liquid Iron without asking around and my god, it was disgusting. I took it twice then threw it away. I could have asked here and go advice but I didn’t. (see below) Use this UK forum to keep in touch with others in the UK to ask for and pass on advice. We aren’t the minority in the world for WLS however we are a small group here. Make friends here, they can be the best support you can ask for! OVER TO YOU !!!

How moly, it’s almost hard to look at! I still have so much work to do but I cannot get over the changes in under 6 months! At times I really miss a cold beer (and I am not really a drinker) or a good old dish of homemade Mac and cheese but then I look at old photos and it quickly reminds me that I don’t need them that badly! What do you miss or what gives you that added incentive to shut the fridge door?

3 29 21 here. Tough part is family members eating and buying your favorites. No support what so ever. But I stay focused. I ate alot of sugar free Popsicles for a chew sensation. And ate same thing day in day out. I'm getting ready for soft food transition next week cant wait.

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UPDATE Well....quit smoking! Passed my nicotine test. Pre op requirements completed. Packet being sent to insurance next week! Now the wait begins.

UPDATE Well....quit smoking! Passed my nicotine test. Pre op requirements completed. Packet being sent to insurance next week! Now the wait begins.

I agree. With Tim. This has been what I consider easy meaning if you follow the guidelines you get results. No pain or food intolerance. I have no desire for Snacks or junk food. My tastes are not changed or off. I am exercising daily. I am down 36 lbs in about 9 weeks since surgery- 65 overall since I started seeing Bari surgeon. I think it is because I did not have a true food addiction or emotional issue involving food. I just enjoyed eating the wrong things too much. Hoping it continues to be easy and I continue to see results and that others can feel this way too without guilt.

I think this is something that isn't said alot on here because of the fear of making others feel bad. I mean I get how it would be defeating to read about other's non-issue recovery/experiences when one is really struggling. With that said, I theorize there are actually quite a lot of people out there who actually did experience this process as "the easy way out" and did not struggle at all.
I just basically said this in another thread: While it IS very nice/kind to keep the feelings of others in mind when posting stuff, it is also totally okay to say eff YEAH to Celebrate your own successes, whether it came easy or not. The level of difficulty one goes through to get to goal doesn't diminish nor increase the value of said goal. A goal is a goal is a goal. Yay, EVERYONE!

I had a lap band put in about 15 years ago. Nothing but trouble for me the whole time I had it. I could not swallow at night with the least amount of restriction in it. I know many here have/had lap bands and did well...congrats for that. For me that damn thing was straight from HELL!! I hated it! I am only now realizing how much I hated that thing, more than I thought. For me this Sleeve surgery has been amazing. Even with around 20 days of stalls in the first 58 days I still have lost about 30 lbs since surgery. I am not quite 2 months post op and have no hunger which is really incredible. If I had any pain ,and I know most do , it was that first day and I slept thru most of that .I had surgery on a Tuesday (Sleeve AND lap band removed as well...Thank God! I had a 250 mile trip home on Wednesday, went back to work on Thursday. My circumstances may be unique to me but this has been easy so far.I wish I had done this years earlier. This is the ticket my friend!

I came home from the hospital a little heavier than when I went in and thought, “Oh no!”. Now, a few days later, I’m exiting a lot of Fluid and the scale is showing movement a little bit. I agree with the more experienced folks here that it’s better to stay off the scale for a couple of weeks.....but I admit I just can’t help myself. I decided not to be too concerned what my weight does for the first few weeks. There’s a lot of adjustment going on. Right now, I believe it’s best to work on doing stage 2 well, build good habits, and start being active when my body can handle it. Starting slowly now.

I had my gastric sleeve at 63. Best decision I could have made. Paid for it out of pocket without insurance help. Didn’t want to jump through hoops for another year to have insurance pay for it. Highly recommend it to change your life. I’m 11 months out and need to lose 11 lbs to reach my goal.

I had my sleeve done on 12/16/2020. I will be 66 in April of this year....probably one of the best decisions I have ever made! Only wish I had done it sooner! No problems, no issues....never missed a beat! It's made me more conscious of what foods I purchase by reading labels and getting more exercise each day.

My insurance requires smoke free. I quit March 31st. Took my nicotine blood test May 1st. Waiting for results....all my or op requirements are completed. Once results come back, clinic will submit to insurance for approval!

Circling back in case anyone has CareFirst in the future (isn't a lot of discussion about them on here). Care First approved my surgery in under 36 hours. So excited!

I think that will be very helpful. I wish I could get to the root of why I eat so much whr I am board. Idk if that is considered disordered eating or not but I also have that. I felt like the psychiatrist I seen just gave a rubber stamp and really didn’t do me any favors to set me up for success. To be honest you may have to do a bit more work up front but it sounds like they are better preparing you for what is to come. Like right now I am 6 weeks out and I do not have actual hunger but I am home and I have thought about eating several times outside of eating time and it’s just boredom. I am able to control it without the hunger hormones on top of it but once they come back it would be helpful to know how to control the head hunger.

Yeah, even if you're a perfect candidate I think the only way to get surgery quickly is to go to Mexico. And even then, it's not TOMORROW. I wish my surgery process wasn't taking as long as it is; I am so frustrated right now! But every time I say this people who have had their surgery tell me it will fly by and then the efforts I'm putting in now to make the necessary brain changes are super important.

I think it comes down to statistics. I haven't researched statistics in the last 15 years, but it used to be 'weight at surgery' vs 'low weight post-op' vs 'ending weight' (at a specific point, like 2, 3 or 5 years post-op.
So, it's really easy to say "hey, if you have a lower weight at surgery, then all the following numbers, on average, are lower. Thus, I think it ultimately is playing games with statistics.
But, regardless, statistics are great for evaluating odds, but sucky on what will happen with the individual.
Lies, damned lies, and statistics.

I got approved!! Now I'm nervous...

I think I am wanting Snacks more often than I should. Perhaps this is because I can't eat very much during my regular meal and my body wants more? I think to deal with this issue I'm going to go back to recording my food to actually understand how much food I'm taking in and I'm going to get some therapy. I think that the surgery helped my fat body, it didn't help my fat head...lol. Before surgery I tried many things to help me get it "right" although I never did. There are a ton of reasons why I ate and why I eat now. I want it to be about nourishing my body and not about all the other reasons why I want to eat.

I would do a self care reboot and contact a therapist. For self care, I buy myself beautiful flowers (lavender colored roses are my fave), take a bubble bath, put on some music and dance, maybe get a massage or pedicure. Whatever you like and feels good!

My experience is very similar. I can have an occasional treat, even something sugary, like a piece of pie or cake. But I need to get right back on plan (no dragging my treat out over days). And to nip cravings in the bud, I have to keep carbs at least moderately low (the more extensive my treat, the lower and longer I will have to restrict carbs). But it's great to know that I have the flexibility to enjoy something special AND a reliable way not to let it turn into a destructive binge.

I had a sleeve done yesterday, late morning, and I am about 24 hrs out.
My doc put me on gabapentin the day prior, and I had some dilautid in recovery. SO much LESS pain than I anticipated. I was about to drink Water and broth all afternoon and night with minimal discomfort. Walked twice up and down the halls... today am feeling well enough to get out of bed alone use the bathroom and walk without assistance. Had a tiny (1/2) dose of some narcotic overnight, more as a precaution, otherwise have been comfortable with Tylenol and torodol.
Good luck to all the upcoming surgeries!
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