summerseeker

Hi John, Another Brit here. Life is all ups and downs and sometimes the downs are a doozy. Coping is the hardest part isnt it. My hunger hormones finally kicked in and like you I began to gain. Worryingly I cant seem to drop the half stone I gain. If I eat over 1500 cals a day I gain and to loose I need to drop 500 cals a day. If I dont eat enough I faint, its catch 22 I asked my doc too. They have never ever helped with my weight. I self paid for my surgery. Am I angry ? Oh yes. Also pre diabetic, Back on blood presure meds and statins. No help either. No referal. I bought Wegovy from a reputable chemist. It has taken me 4 months to loose 6 lbs on low dose Wegovy but I think I will always have to return to this. I am unsure if I will stay on a small dose ?? I have yet to tail off.

What did your team tell you ? We all have differt regimes to stick to, with different drinks and foods. I was allowed coffee and tea. Others are banned for life...... I think my quota was 2 litres a day but I forget.

Everyone going into this surgery is anxious. Its a whole new world on the other side of surgery and that is scary. We would be robots if we didnt worry over major changes. One thing that I can assure you is that you will not regret the surgery or the work you put in after. Deal with what you can now. Prep what you can but dont over buy protein shakes because oh boy do your tastes/ likes change. All the new regimes that are scary now are quite easy once you begin. So if you heard that water drinking takes forever, straight after surgery it does. Drink as much as you can. It helps with nausea. Tablets and vitamins seem a minefield ? After the internal swelling recedes they slot in pretty quickly . Your new stomach has to be treated like a new born baby. Time on liquid, then mush, then start introducing foods litttle by little. Dont rush do what your team say. Foods you can research beforehand but we are all given different regimes and its difficult to advice you. Things to pre buy are sugar free lollies { I'm English !} Bonebroth, A few different protein shakes. Your recomended vitamins and pain meds. You wont need much until you get mobile again. If you have a recliner in your lounge, you will find it better than your bed for the first week after surgery. Its easier to get out of. I didnt and had a little step by my bed and a wedge pillow to prop me up. Biotin mouth spray is good because after surgery we can get dry mouths. A thermos cup to keep your everlasting drink warm or cold. If on the day of surgery you bail, its not your time. You will regret it. You will return and be in a better place. Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Yes I think we all did this. Very very few get turned away. Occasionally the odd one has medical needs that need treating initially.

Good luck, not long now

Time crawls towards the surgery, or so it seems. We spent so long deliberating over the surgery that we feel like a petulant child awaiting christmas. My wait was 8 long months. This and my 3 week brute of a pre op diet made sure of my commitment. I swear I ran to the operating theatre with a smile on my face. Good luck going forward and dont be afraid to ask questions. Your new you and your new obesity free life is just around the corner and its a wonderous thing.

That is really good to get in that head space. BUT, keep your inner circle small. Their opinions will hurt the most.

Wow thats a story. I am so glad that your awful pain has gone. Fingers crossed for you. x Ps I learned a new word too.

Lots of people have zero side effects. They seldom post, so all people see on social media is help wanted posts for side effects. Some people can take a tummy ache with a hot water bottle and others think they are dying and need pain meds. You are you and dont fear something that may save you.

It took me two years to get where I was happy with my weight and size. Don't give up hope yet. Occasionally people have had to lower their expecations of goal weight but lots of us have smashed it. Keep your nerve and carry on, you have this.

So happy to see you have some improvement. Its miserable when it gets really bad. Try and keep on top of things and you will be fine.

A few dates every day do it for me. They help with a sugar craving too.

This was huge for me too. Congratulations

Congrats on doing so well and so soon.

Temptation should be my middle name. What happened to my super power that could say - no thank you, not today.

How are you doing ? Still going well ? x

Oh so well done, You look amazing x

We dont change our mind set just because we had this surgery, the girl wants what she wants after all. I keep myself in check with a daily diet diary. I stick rigidly most of the time to my protein goal. I still have 5 small meals a day. I dont buy icecream unless its a special occasion. I buy better for me snacks, so nuts, dates, plenty of fruit, some good cheese. If I crave chocolate I buy small dark chocolate bars because if I bought a large bar I would still eat the lot in one go and know it will make me vomit. I buy low calorie ice lollies and low calorie snacks in small bags. Our super markets sell lots of variety under 100 calories. I get by. I am skinny. I walk in a better place but some days its damn hard. Find your middle ground. I hope its not a battlefield.

Thats drool food. Enjoy

I can't either, some times I have to wait so long to drink that I am so very thirsty. I will then eat a low calorie ice lolly to help with the thirst. [Popsicle ] I look at it as a blessing because if I could finish my food plate I would, with a good restriction like mine it keeps me in check.

This is a new start to a new life. You have a lot of changes coming. Don't try and rush things. It takes as long as your body needs. Ok sermon over. I had 3 strikes against me, high BMI, disabled and old. It took me six months until I could begin walking outdoors again. My weight had put a massive strain on my heart and lungs. Six months later I was feeling a new woman but still had a long way to go. Another twelve months down the line and I was where I wanted to be. I had dreams but didn't dare dream too far. I do not believe my life now. Have patience, your dreams are coming to you.

Good luck with your search

I am now 4+ years post surgery. I feel like I was the ugly duckling who changed into a old swan. Had you asked me this question one month after surgery, my answer would be the same as now, YES! Hell yes Yes the first few months are difficult. The last time you learned to eat was at a few months old, its all new and for the first week or so its down right scary. You worry about everything and there is so much to learn it seems. A few weeks later you will be sailing along. My scars always swell and it meant I had internal narrowing for some time until that eased. My family were more alarmed than myself and my surgeons team. I have had a lot of surgery in my life and I thought it might happen. I survived [ I always want to do the dramatic Ta Dah and walk through the closed curtains at this point] I wasn't at deaths door as my family thought. I did vomit a lot. This forum like others is a help forum, people come here for reassurance and help. I did in my vomitting period. People dont usually need the forum when times are good, we have too much life to live, too much time to make up for. If you only see people posting with problems, you will think everyone has huge problems. They don't. Its classed as safe surgery. You will know if its time to have this surgery. If nerves make you postpone, then its not your time. You will regret it but may return to the process at a later point. People will always be here with kindness and help. Its a pay it forward kind of place . Good luck.

The first stall stinks, we all freak a lot. Try and read the back pages headed - First stall, it will keep you busy for weeks. We have all posted on there asking about it. BTW , Oh my. You are so lucky that this is your first stall. I was on at least my third by 11 weeks. They suck but you do get used to them. Dropping weight by bariatric surgery is not easy and we will all tell you its a tough journey through it. Some fall on the wayside. It took me two years to drop my excess weight, be patient, you will find it easier if you could.

Pleased for you and laughing at the same time