FifiLux

So my update.....
On Friday afternoon I sent my CT scan imaging and report from the week before to the professor who is giving me my second opinion on whether I needed further surgery. Within two hours he rang me to say that it is not a case that the clip should come out because it could impact my quality of life or a reaction but that it MUST come out asap as the area around it is infected and I have what is called a superinfection. It appears that one of the leaks from two years ago has not healed, it was just being held together by the clip and if the clip is removed the leak is there!!
He wants to remove the clip and then put in a pigtail (coil tube thingy) into the hole so the stomach will heal around it and then the pigtail will either pass through in a few months or can be removed easily at a later date - this is what he did before to stop the other leak and it worked successfully. And just for clarification, his hospital are not the ones who fitted the clip, that was done by my original local hospital who did the sleeve surgery.
Anyway it is a special machine that has to be brought on site to do the procedure so I will travel there (Belgium) at the weekend and have the procedure this day next week.
I still don't feel great but the antibiotics are helping though I am struggling to eat (no interest) so have lost almost 3kg in the last two weeks.

So my update.....
On Friday afternoon I sent my CT scan imaging and report from the week before to the professor who is giving me my second opinion on whether I needed further surgery. Within two hours he rang me to say that it is not a case that the clip should come out because it could impact my quality of life or a reaction but that it MUST come out asap as the area around it is infected and I have what is called a superinfection. It appears that one of the leaks from two years ago has not healed, it was just being held together by the clip and if the clip is removed the leak is there!!
He wants to remove the clip and then put in a pigtail (coil tube thingy) into the hole so the stomach will heal around it and then the pigtail will either pass through in a few months or can be removed easily at a later date - this is what he did before to stop the other leak and it worked successfully. And just for clarification, his hospital are not the ones who fitted the clip, that was done by my original local hospital who did the sleeve surgery.
Anyway it is a special machine that has to be brought on site to do the procedure so I will travel there (Belgium) at the weekend and have the procedure this day next week.
I still don't feel great but the antibiotics are helping though I am struggling to eat (no interest) so have lost almost 3kg in the last two weeks.

So tomorrow is two years from when I had my sleeve surgery, though it is only just over one year since my last procedure due to all my post of complications, and a few weeks ago I turned 50.
Here is a picture of me at 40 and a picture at 50. My weight back in May 2015 was about 130kg (20st / 286lb), it went up and down in the years between to where I was 120kg before surgery and now I am between 63 & 65kg (10st/141lb) so I am now half the person I used to be.

40yrs vs 50yrs

The last two weeks I have had really bad abdominal pain on and off and when it showed no signs of improvement I went to the emergency department where my bariatric surgeon had some of his team waiting for me. After CT scan and blood tests it showed my abdominal area was very inflamed but no infection thankfully so they hooked me up to painkillers and sent me home with a prescription for more pain killers (tramadol) and muscle relaxers. Yesterday I had my follow up and the surgeon has said that following a review of my results it looks like the clip that they had to place when I had my leak is now causing a reaction so I have to continue on the pain meds plus add in antibiotics for a couple of weeks.
The surgeon has said the clip has to come out as it is a matter of quality of life for me going forward as he says the pain can come back any time in the future if left it. The choices he gave are that it can be done by open surgery to remove (which he says is his second choice) and his preference is to do a revision surgery to bypass. Given all the sleeve post op complications I told him that I didn’t want to go down a surgical route, especially back in the same hospital but he feels this is the best option though he did say I could of course get a second opinion. So I have done just that, I contacted one of the surgeons (a mentor of my bariatric surgeon) who I had to be transferred to when my leak would not heal (the one who had to ft the pigtail/tube in my stomach) and he has said from looking at my files he believes it can be removed without the need for surgery and can see me in two weeks time to review my case and check scans so fingers crossed he can do something endoscopic wise.
I am due to get my arm lift surgery end of October so if I had to have stomach surgery in the next few months I wouldn’t then be able to get my lift. Obviously that is not a reason to decline the surgery if it is the best and only option but it would be great to get everything resolved without stomach surgery and still be able to get my arm lift.

So tomorrow is two years from when I had my sleeve surgery, though it is only just over one year since my last procedure due to all my post of complications, and a few weeks ago I turned 50.
Here is a picture of me at 40 and a picture at 50. My weight back in May 2015 was about 130kg (20st / 286lb), it went up and down in the years between to where I was 120kg before surgery and now I am between 63 & 65kg (10st/141lb) so I am now half the person I used to be.

40yrs vs 50yrs

The last two weeks I have had really bad abdominal pain on and off and when it showed no signs of improvement I went to the emergency department where my bariatric surgeon had some of his team waiting for me. After CT scan and blood tests it showed my abdominal area was very inflamed but no infection thankfully so they hooked me up to painkillers and sent me home with a prescription for more pain killers (tramadol) and muscle relaxers. Yesterday I had my follow up and the surgeon has said that following a review of my results it looks like the clip that they had to place when I had my leak is now causing a reaction so I have to continue on the pain meds plus add in antibiotics for a couple of weeks.
The surgeon has said the clip has to come out as it is a matter of quality of life for me going forward as he says the pain can come back any time in the future if left it. The choices he gave are that it can be done by open surgery to remove (which he says is his second choice) and his preference is to do a revision surgery to bypass. Given all the sleeve post op complications I told him that I didn’t want to go down a surgical route, especially back in the same hospital but he feels this is the best option though he did say I could of course get a second opinion. So I have done just that, I contacted one of the surgeons (a mentor of my bariatric surgeon) who I had to be transferred to when my leak would not heal (the one who had to ft the pigtail/tube in my stomach) and he has said from looking at my files he believes it can be removed without the need for surgery and can see me in two weeks time to review my case and check scans so fingers crossed he can do something endoscopic wise.
I am due to get my arm lift surgery end of October so if I had to have stomach surgery in the next few months I wouldn’t then be able to get my lift. Obviously that is not a reason to decline the surgery if it is the best and only option but it would be great to get everything resolved without stomach surgery and still be able to get my arm lift.

I wanted to address this because it's just not correct.
I'm not trying to discourage anyone from doing resistance training since there are a lot of benefits, but this idea that it helps you burn more calories is based on outdated science.
We used to think that adding a pound of muscle mass would on average burn an additional 50 or so calories in a day. More recent research shows it to be closer to just 6 calories per day. Considering that the average woman that strength trains might do well to add 10-12 pounds of muscle in a year, Strength training consistently for a year is only going to get you to a place where you burn maybe an additional 60-70 calories a day. For comparison, this is roughly the equivalent of 1/2 a scoop of your typical Protein Powder.
Yes, you do burn some calories as you do resistance training, but it's not even close to the amount you can burn doing moderate to heavy cardio such as running, spinning, etc. Resistance training does contribute to a higher level of something we call EPOC, or Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption, but the contribution there is also minimal. Even with the increased EPOC amount, resistance training simply can't touch the amount of calories burned in moderate to intense cardio.
Once again, I'm not trying to discourage anyone from doing resistance training. There are some tremendous benefits, from increased health and longevity, to being more capable (and bad a$$), to making you look seriously hot, but as a way to burn more calories? Eh, not so much.

I'm exhausted just reading all that 😂

I found pilates great as my first exercise to do regularly post sleeve.
I did it once or twice a week for six months and it helped build up my strength. I would have stayed going but the place closed down and I joined a gym instead (can't afford both) .

I found pilates great as my first exercise to do regularly post sleeve.
I did it once or twice a week for six months and it helped build up my strength. I would have stayed going but the place closed down and I joined a gym instead (can't afford both) .

Last year, I got diagnosed with sleep apnea, and was made to start using a CPAP machine to sleep, I really disliked using it and I ever got used to it, and because of that, I made the decision to do the weight loss surgery
My surgery team said I should make short term goals to keep myself motivated on my new journey
Right off the bat, my only goal was to get rid of the CPAP machine, nothing else mattered, but after a few follow up appointments, I managed to really think of what I wanted to have
After some thought, my goal list grew:
1. Give up my CPAP machine
2. Buy and wear a bathrobe from Macy's
3. Hit 200lb minimum

I'm happy to report that today, my 1st goal has been met, my sleep apnea is under control and when sleeping my oxygen levels don't go below 92, my doctor said that if I wanted to, I can stop sleeping with it, and I happily left it behind with him

1st goal down, 2 more to achieve, I can't wait!

I'm exhausted just reading all that 😂

I'm exhausted just reading all that 😂

I used to regularly get similar cramps but since my sleeve surgery, doing more exercise and losing weight they are thankfully less frequent though when I do still get one they can still be so bad I almost vomit. Something I am using most nights is a massage roller on my feet and legs and I find it can help. When I do get a cramp, if I can manage it (sometimes is too bad to do more than walk and stretch it out) I will roll on the area and massage it out.
I also take electrolyte powder a few nights a week if needed.

I used to regularly get similar cramps but since my sleeve surgery, doing more exercise and losing weight they are thankfully less frequent though when I do still get one they can still be so bad I almost vomit. Something I am using most nights is a massage roller on my feet and legs and I find it can help. When I do get a cramp, if I can manage it (sometimes is too bad to do more than walk and stretch it out) I will roll on the area and massage it out.
I also take electrolyte powder a few nights a week if needed.

I don't know if this is a win, but there is a podcast called "isnt the stall the point" ... to me at some point weight stalls should be the point. I've noticed in the bariatric community that some are never satisfied and steady strive for more. I certainly won't be living my life like that. So my win is I stalled for six months, which I was fine with but at my breast augmentation appointment my weight had finally broke the STALL. I am finally 7 pounds from my goal weight in which the STALL and living my Life in Maintenance will be the point. 💪🏽

Wow so restrictive on the veg, did the doctor tell you why? I have never heard of that before, I was made have veg from day one on liquids by way of Soup.
If your bariatric team are not going to allow you veg (fruit I can understand being a no) then surely they should provide you with a bit of a menu guide, my team gave me recopies and food lists for each stage, and veg and even fruit were allowed throughout by way of a slow reintroduction.
In the puree stage I had a homemade bolognese (though it had tomatoes and bit of carrot) and chili con carne (again has tomatoes but pureed right down so might be ok for you depending on why you are so restricted) and the kidney Beans are a good Protein, dhal. What about some hummus, can get different flavoured ones to kick up the flavour a bit? Omelets that you can then add seasoning/spices to?

Sorry you are in so much pain.
I have a B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia) and a some of your symptoms are what I suffered from before my diagnosis and now when my level starts to drop, though I was diagnosed about 12 years ago so way before my WLS.
My anaemia cannot be managed through oral supplements or food (as my body does not break down the B12 sufficiently) but the bariatric multivitamin I take daily and dairy products do help maintain my levels in addition to regular B12 injections (every four to six weeks).
I think getting a B12 supplement and Multivitamins should be top of your list, if you don't already take them but obviously that is not going to solve all the issues you are having with hernia and such. Make sure you get an appointment with the bariatric team to discuss everything with them and request full bloodwork and then also keep the appointment for the ultrasound etc. Hopefully you will get some answers soon that result in a course of action that will treat the cause and end the pain.

I love the VB dress.
I always keep an eye out for ones in a good deal but haven't seen full length like that (I hate my ankle and calf area being on show). Dress is lovely and you look fab.

Nope tea wont make you loose an ounce.
A bit off topic, I have never drunk tea, the one cup I remember drinking was after giving birth. It was sweet and wet and I was drained.
I saw as a child what tea did to my parents cups, yuck, no thanks. I drank the only other thing available, corporation pop. 1950's english slang for Water. Them days, coffee came in liquid form called Camp Coffee. It was made from chickory. One time mother was ill and dad made a meal and used this as gravy browning. {we like brown gravy here} We ate it because it was this or nowt. It was a week till mother worked out what we actually ate.
So, after my rambling, I come to the point. Here I am sat in Greece drinking Iced Peach tea like it was going out of fashion. How my tastebuds have changed. This will defo not make me loose weight as it comes with a lump of baklava at this bakery. It would be rude not to.

So my win yesterday was being able to comfortably fit into my new Victoria Beckham jeans, size 8UK / 4US, and eat a meal (2 mini slider burgers less the buns) without fearing I would split the zip

So my win yesterday was being able to comfortably fit into my new Victoria Beckham jeans, size 8UK / 4US, and eat a meal (2 mini slider burgers less the buns) without fearing I would split the zip

So my win yesterday was being able to comfortably fit into my new Victoria Beckham jeans, size 8UK / 4US, and eat a meal (2 mini slider burgers less the buns) without fearing I would split the zip

So my win yesterday was being able to comfortably fit into my new Victoria Beckham jeans, size 8UK / 4US, and eat a meal (2 mini slider burgers less the buns) without fearing I would split the zip

Definitely a win in my eyes, or more accurately, a near win
I walk passed a charity shop every day on my way to work and they've had a dress in there that I've loved for awhile (Light grey stripes with neon yellow stripes). I never bought it because it's a size S and I'm not a size S. Still sometimes never think I could be. But still, I admired it from afar.
For months, I've seen it in there next to the neon yellow hot pants (I love neon, but I will never be a hot pants person as I don't like the wedgie feeling)
I handed in my resignation a month ago and am moving on to new neon green pastures. So I told myself, if that dress is still there on the last day of work and it's the last time I will walk by that charity shop, it must be fate.
So I bought the dress. As my mother would say "just because it goes around you, doesn't mean it fits". She was right. It doesn't fit. Yet. But the fact I can even get a size S to go around me is a victory. Something I would never have dreamed.
But it WILL fit me. Not just because I believe in fate, not just because no one else wanted this grey and neon yellow eye sore, but because I've quite literally worked my arse off.

So my win yesterday was being able to comfortably fit into my new Victoria Beckham jeans, size 8UK / 4US, and eat a meal (2 mini slider burgers less the buns) without fearing I would split the zip

A couple small wins yesterday.
Small, but I take note of them and small wins encourage the behaviors that lead to bigger wins, right ?
So...this 'un is a two parter.
Several months ago, a few weeks before I had taken action to burn off the regains and dig my way back.... I was goofing around on the web... looking through a certain company's website. They make gear that is hobby related. I happened to notice that they also had some logo T-shirts that looked cool. So I ordered two....but ordered them for two sizes smaller than I was wearing then.
They arrived and were stashed away with some other clothing, all smaller sizes, that I'd been ordering. The stash had made it's way upstairs to be put away.
Soon afterwards... I started putting in the work....burning off the regain and get in better overall health. Kitchen discipline being the first step.
Fast forward to yesterday.....laundry day at the hacienda.
Grabbed a shower and started getting dressed so I could go knock out some errands. Almost dressed but remembered my normal day off work stuff was on the drying rack. Damn.
I spied the stack of smaller sized stuff still in shopping bags....sitting there. Hmmm. Screw it...let's find out, dude...either it'll fit or it won't. Grabbed one of the new cool guy t-shirts and some new flat fronted cargo pants. Cut off tags & peeled off stickers and began to.....WTH !!! This shyt if fitting. Bamsucka. Got dressed and strutted around the room like a bantam rooster....chest poked out....big grin.
Small Win Numba One Achieved.
While running errands I wheeled into a parking space in front of one of the local gyms I'd been considering. Took my bantam rooster arse up in there and looked around. It was clean, plenty of open treadmills and recumbent bikes...just what I need for pre-habbing my knees. Gonna build up the muscle tissue before getting those suckers replaced over the next couple years.
I joined.
Small Win Numba Two Achieved.
I plan on never having to eat an elephant (although I used to look like I could)......but....but if I did....I'd eat that thang one bite at a time.
Thankfully getting healthy may prove to be easier than elephant eating. 🤣