Maroux

Hello! I'm back, now 4.5 days since learning I was en route for the gastric sleeve journey, end of next year. At first, I was delighted, then freaked out, and now I'm at the stage where I have 100's of random questions... So I'll label them with letters to make it easy to reply, if you want to just quote the letters . Here we go... A - Meds 1- If you're on meds for depression, can you still take them after the operation or do they go through your system? 2- Still on meds : when you have a headache, can you still take tablets? (I'm pretty sure half the stomach is taken, but I can keep the brain) B - Living alone 1. After I get discharged from the hospital, can I go down a couple of steps (to get home) 2. My bed is elevated. Right now, it's a national sport to get on and off it because of my weight. Is it possible to manoeuvre getting in and out of bed without help shortly after the op? 3. Now the embarrassing one: Erm. What about bathroom breaks? Can you wipe? 4. How long after the op can you take a shower? C - Work 1. I know everyone is different, but how long after the op are you sufficiently pain-free and physically able to work a full day and concentrate on your tasks? 2. When the office is open again (not fully open in Ireland yet), I usually go to work on a bicycle: how long after the op would you say it is possible to get on a bike and cycle? So, these are my questions after only 4.5 days. Brace yourself for more in the next year! Luckily there are only so many letters in the alphabet! Thank you in advance for your replies! Maroux

Hi there, I've just learned yesterday that I'm on the list for the gastric sleeve in Ireland. The op should happen in the next 6 months to a year, with various appointments with various specialists beforehand. I have never kept track of food in my life, except when I see the fridge gets half-empty, and I start panicking and order some more. Does following a healthy diet become a new obsession daily after the op, and is there much time spent on thinking about meal preps, food types, after the op? What happens if I'm rubbish at it? Thank you for your advice! Maroux

I so want to respond to your post right now in a lenghty way, but I'm preping for an interview for the past week and working to deadlines at the same time. I just want to say for now, that I'm delighted by your good news, all around, and so glad you were able to adapt to travelling with ease. A bit worried about about your hunger feelings, as being pre-op, I am sometimes hungry WHILE eating. I guess the brain takes a while to stop demanding. I'll reply more later. Well done! x

Hi! That's because I'm not insured, and I am referred to it via the liver specialist within a hospital setting. That means I am on a waiting list, and there are many loops to go through 1st before I can get the go ahead. All the specialists I have to see have their own waiting list, mostly due to backup from the pandemic. I am sort of happy that I have whole year to form new habits. It could happen quicker though. A year is the max time.

Many thanks for your replies Tek! I didn't know popcorn was allowed post-op!

Hi ClareLynn, I'm so glad you got the help and the information you deserved to continue onto your journey. Some doctors can be obnoxious and hear their voice 1st before their patients'. Do you know anyone else with endometriosis who did the duodenal switch? This forum is so huge, you are bound to find at least one person who can share their own journey with you, with tips and all, specifically around endometriosis in this context. Take care, Maroux

Oh fabulous! It feel incredible getting that feeling of winning the battle and not flinching to the sweet stuff. Congratulations on your journey. That gives me hope!

Hahaha, I see you have experienced the French cuisine. At leat The Irish staples are very much bariatric op ready! 😅 (banter). That's actually a good point you made. I don't think I've realised what the actual portion size will be or look like in a plate. It might be a bit of a shock reconciling what I see and what I can actuall eat after.

You seem like a good organiser, I wonder if the op will teach me more of that. I also live alone and, it's been a great excuse for hiding my food intake, so I better look out for this, in case bad habits come back in 50g forms, just for habit sake!

Great idea about emptying the pantry of useless or harmful foods, I will definitely write this down. I'm going to have to learn much about proteins, I am very much clueless 😅

Do you ever look at what you used to like eating and great like it is a friend who passed away? Or is the weightloss so good that it's easy enough to put the yearning aside?

Hiya! I think I just don't want to get trapped in bland meals, as I've often failed diets for lack of imagination.

Many thanks for your suggestions! All the appointments with a Dietician are being set by the hospital at present. I am a naturally anxious person, maybe it's a bit early for that 😀. You're right, they probably wouldn't let me go through unless I prepare for it slowly and surely. I better get a bigger freezer and millions of little freezer bags just in case! Thank you, Maroux

Thank you for your advice Tek. I was both thrilled and scared when I learned the news. Still feeling both, and I can see it is going to be a long journey. I mostly rely on ready meals, so haven't much of a clue about cooking healthy. Also I am originally French and I can't see myself eating beige food for the rest of my life, like turkey with mash and cauliflower 😋. I guess this is going to be a longer journey than I thought, but I can see by your rely and the ones from others here, that I have joined a fine support group. Thank you, Maroux