summerseeker

I had the surgery when I was incredibly unfit and I had major health issues. I was classed as disabled. I am sure this impeded my recovery. I had to stay in hospital 4 extra days due to vomiting. I struggled with sickness and GERD for about 6 weeks until I got the correct medications. I needed to sleep sat up all this time. They found my internal stitch line was very swollen and eating and drinking was difficult. This resulted in me being very weak until I could reach my goals. I am retired but if I worked, I would not have been able to go back for 3 months. I had zero pain, either gas or from the surgery. I have a high bed so needed a step to help me get in and out of it. I used a bed wedge for the GERD. The main thing that people on this forum teach us is, do not over buy. This surgery seriously affects your taste buds. Its 2 years to the day since my surgery and I still detest my once favourite foods, salmon and lamb.

You are looking fabulous. Your joy shines from the photo. I never realised that I would get so much from this surgery either. You have so much determination you will get to your goals.

I think you need to go back to your team. You need advice on real foods. You should not need protein supplements this far out. I had 6 meals a day at 1 year out too. Breakfast - 100 grams Greek yogurt with fruit - 10 grams protein Snack - 25 grams nuts - 5 grams protein Lunch - 100 grams prawns and small salad salad - 16 grams protein Snack - 25 grams Biltong - 13 grams protein Evening meal - tuna - 50 grams with mayo and on a slice of super seeded bread - 17 grams protein snack - Glass of milk or protein pudding I hope this helps a little, I could get in 60 - 80 grams of protein a day eat similar foods to this

I had my surgery at the end of November, 2 years ago. I missed Christmas, TBH I did not care. I wanted this surgery all my life. I have a whole pile of Christmas's to come

No human being goes into elective surgery without the jitters. We are choosing this and its a biggy. Its a leap into the unknown. We can all tell you that its so very worth it but will you believe us ? If you can not do this surgery now - you will regret it and return to it at a later date. I can not say for other forums but this one. People come on here because they have an issue. They want advice and mostly its an easy fix. These people never come back again, they go on to lead skinny, happy lives. So you see people do not post that they are doing well, we know we are. The tiny fraction of people who are struggling and have written about it are your red flags. You are not seeing the invisible 99% who have little to no problems. Make the correct decision for you. Your time may not be now, Its your body and your life. However its one of the safest surgeries going.

Your pictures look so different, in a good way. Its like looking at those before and after pictures for an advert for diet products. You just know its can not be the same person, But there you are, you are the same person. Congratulations. I hope you feel as good as you look

Congratulations on your will power to get this far, you will be fine. Its one of the safest surgeries around. To me you are doing the hardest part, the pre op diet really sucks. Let us know how you get on

As everyone has a different regime, it would be advisable for you to contact your team and ask where they want you to be.

Yes he's so correct, I had black pudding for my tea [ evening meal]

Definitely either a Shepherds pie, its made with beef mince or a cottage pie if its made with minced lamb. You can add grated cheese to the mash to make it even more yummy. They are very portable. Fish pie is a similar thing. Its usually white fish and a few prawns in a white or cheese sauce with mashed potato on top. Any stew, with or without dumplings. Here in the north of UK, its all long , slow cooked cheaper cuts of meat that we love like oxtail or neck of lamb [ scrag end ] The bones make yummy gravy Scotch Broth is a thick soup with barley [spelt] and vegetables with almost any meat and can be carried in a flask. Rice pudding with lots of nutmeg and vanilla is still a recipe that has passed the test of time, we love the stuff. Anything with custard like the Christmas fav of Trifle. Curry is the No. 1 favourite food in the UK, so we can steal that too. There are lots of Keema ones made with minced meat. I make a lot of Tarka dhal with red lentils Have a great time

You need to go back to your team and get them to work it out. You should not be ill every time you eat. You will feel tired and yucky. You are getting no nutrients. I hope you get the answers you need What foods do you eat ? Are you sick if you have liquids ? Are your foods dry ? You are a little late for a stricture so that can not be the problem. I occasionally vomit [ the foamies] because of over eating or drinking too quickly after food. I still take anti nausea and Gerd medication.

I would say a 9. I didn't have one. I so wished that I did. I had to sit up in bed and sleep for 5 weeks. It was torture. I had terrible nausea, reflux and vomiting and it would not let me lie flat. It would have been easier to get in and out of instead of a bed too. I had to get a step

Just nausea and vomiting. I never had any pain.

You have a very raw surgery cut line in your tiny stomach. When we can not see it, we kind of forget the inside of us. All your nerves have been cut as well as the skin. It will take at least a month for you to be healed. When you do not eat real food the acid in our stomachs has nothing to work on and makes us feel nauseous. The liquids we drink do not make things any better as they swish about. It feels like a storm at sea. In time it gets better as you progress to better foods. If you haven't already done so, try warm, hot and frozen drinks. Warm worked for me. Try a little yogurt in your milk to thicken it a little if its on your plan. these will help with the spasms. I still take anti nausea meds 2 x a day. I have acid problems if I miss a dose

Congratulations Charlie, So much success in such a short time

I don't think that I have had this situation but many people have not mentioned my weight loss at all. Its odd because I have totally changed from a disabled person to one who can do anything my heart desires.

I have always got low calorie ice lollies in the freezer. I found a brand that I love. I have them daily.

First summer in an awful lot of years that my heals did not crack and bleed. They were so painful and ugly. To me this is a reason never to regain.

Hello and mega congratulations. Its good to hear just how well you are doing. In such a short time you have gained so much. I feel the same joy every day just living life in a smaller body.

I made my own broth. I put 2 whole chickens in a large pan with water and a few carrots and onions and any herbs I had. I let it simmer for 4 hours. I strained it and froze it in bags. Also, I used packet chicken noodle soup and strained the noodles out of it. We also have dried beef cubes called OXO that we stir into boiling water. My favourite is Bovril, its very beefy. My team were not big on protein before and early after surgery. So these drinks were ok for me. You can add protein

I bought a thermos cup, I hated cold drinks. It would take me an age to drink a cup and that saved me from repeated journeys to the kettle

Hello Danielle. I am light years out from periods but can say from reading on here women get very fertile after this surgery. If you are in the right age bracket and do not want a pregnancy, you need to take extra care. As we release fat cells that stored our hormones our bodies and minds are in chaos. I felt as if I was in the early days of pregnancy. Tearful, nausea and had mood swings. Yes I had hair loss, many / most of us do. Mine begun at about 4 months out. It is upsetting, I began to think I would need a wig and then I stopped shedding. I had my very long hair cut into a pixie cut. I have never heard anyone on here say that any formula no matter the expense, has worked for them. Your hair is dead as soon as it appears out of your scalp. The surgery accelerates the normal shedding cycle and new growth takes a while to catch up. I am still in the weight loss stage, its very slow now but I am still grateful for every pound. I have researched the next step and its a simple formula really. Eat enough calories each day for the daily quota your body needs. It seems 1500 - 2000 calories a day are where we need to be. You just need to find your own set point and stick to it. Good luck going forward

If you like milk, there is a heap of protein in it. Add milk powder or yogurt with fruit and its good and easy on the pocket

I am sorry my nausea meds are from the doctor. They are called Lansoprazole in the UK. My eating out has got better, today at lunch I had breaded fish with fries and peas. I only ate the inside of the fish. My friends are now used to seeing me leaving food. I had a wonderful day out. I wish you could too

I have Fibromyalgia which I believe to be a little similar. I was told by my surgeon that the surgery would not change my Fibro. It hasn't. I overdid it yesterday and I am totally wiped out today. I am in tired, painful agony. The other thing to consider is how your meds work with a small stomach and the other pills you have to take. I have a huge calcium tablet that has to be taken away from other pills. I take antacid/ nausea tablets twice a day. These line my stomach and I feel they stop my pain medication from working well. Straight after my surgery, I was not able to take them as crushed up they taste vile.