Hi, I live in England and had the sleeve done on the 12th May 09. Although I am only a recent sleeve sister I am happy to help and try to answer questions from people in the UK. I did not uses the NHS though so I can't help with any questions on that.

Hello Everyone,

I am home again after been sleeved on the 26th April. I stayed an extra night in Belgium which wasn't needed at all, but helped me to relax more before my flight home.

I also had my gallbladder removed. I had stones, so this has worked out well for the future as I won't ever require another operation for that problem. 2 ops for the price of one! Not bad. Eh?:tongue_smilie:

I am really happy to be home and on the road to weight loss.

Bookleen

hiya

i'm new on here & due to be sleeved on 11th may!!

sooo nervous & scared, can you give me any tips to prepare myself please?

Hello Everyone,

I am home again after been sleeved on the 26th April. I stayed an extra night in Belgium which wasn't needed at all, but helped me to relax more before my flight home.

I also had my gallbladder removed. I had stones, so this has worked out well for the future as I won't ever require another operation for that problem. 2 ops for the price of one! Not bad. Eh?:thumbup:

I am really happy to be home and on the road to weight loss.

Bookleen

Hi Booklean,

Great news about your surgery/ Hope things are going well.:tongue2:

Hi all UK sleevers!

I come on this site for inspiration but have not joined or posted previously. I was referred on the NHS but refused surgery on the grounds I was too healthy...I was fat enough just not sick enough !! i had been having health problems and knew it was a matter of time and that if I did not find a permanent solution to my weight issue..I would end up very ill for sure!

I saved up and had the surgery in India (Had set of veneers slapped on my teeth at the same time and came home with change from 6k). that was in November 09. I am now 75lbs lighter and still losing...want to lose another 30lb. I feel like a new woman and have the energy and zest for life that was always there but just didn't have the fight to get out from under all the blubber I was carrying around.

The surgery is a godsend....oh and the teeth are pretty amazing too!!:tongue2:

Hi all UK sleevers!

I come on this site for inspiration but have not joined or posted previously. I was referred on the NHS but refused surgery on the grounds I was too healthy...I was fat enough just not sick enough !! i had been having health problems and knew it was a matter of time and that if I did not find a permanent solution to my weight issue..I would end up very ill for sure!

I saved up and had the surgery in India (Had set of veneers slapped on my teeth at the same time and came home with change from 6k). that was in November 09. I am now 75lbs lighter and still losing...want to lose another 30lb. I feel like a new woman and have the energy and zest for life that was always there but just didn't have the fight to get out from under all the blubber I was carrying around.

The surgery is a godsend....oh and the teeth are pretty amazing too!!:wink0:

Hi kazzy,

Thats good, how did you find the surgeon in India, and was it a good experience?

Was the long haul flight OK and how long after surgery did you fly home?

I need to get my teeth done too, plus a boob reduction/uplift, tummy skin trim and a bit of a face lift. Probably won't do any of them but I can dream.

Cheers,

Jane:thumbup1:

Hi Jane

i did my research on the internet. I had originally planned to go about a year before I actually did....but bottled out the first time!!! I flew to India business class ( i figured the additional expense was worth it given I wanted to be comfortable - and it was great experience) i stayed in India 10 days. The company I booked with were fantastic and arranged everything - internal flights, pic ups drop offs and documentation. The surgeon was a lovely man who gave me every confidence and carried out all the pre/post op tests efficiently and explained everything in great detail. The nursing care was also good..the fabric of the hospital I was treated in could have been better but overall it was a very:thumbup: positive experience. The dentist was super too.

Like you I am now planning lifts sucks and tucks!!!!!

Hi Everyone

I'm having my operation on Tuesday on the NHS in London. I'm a little nervous, but mainly because I have another health condition and I'm not sure how I'll go with taking my medication after the surgery.

I really appreciate you all sharing your stories. I haven' thad to do a pre-op diet, despite my BMI being 53, so I had no idea what the diet would be like until I visiting this thread.

I've been told that I'll need to inject warfarin post-surgery in case of blood clots. Is that something pretty standard?

I'm a little worried too about not being able to drink enough Water. I drink between 4 and 6 litres a day at the moment. I'm not diabetic.

One thing I would ask is the best places to find high Protein supplements. Is it just Holland and Barrett? Or are there other places too?

Wish me luck!

Bella

Hi Everyone

I'm having my operation on Tuesday on the NHS in London. I'm a little nervous, but mainly because I have another health condition and I'm not sure how I'll go with taking my medication after the surgery.

I really appreciate you all sharing your stories. I haven' thad to do a pre-op diet, despite my BMI being 53, so I had no idea what the diet would be like until I visiting this thread.

I've been told that I'll need to inject warfarin post-surgery in case of blood clots. Is that something pretty standard?

I'm a little worried too about not being able to drink enough Water. I drink between 4 and 6 litres a day at the moment. I'm not diabetic.

One thing I would ask is the best places to find high Protein supplements. Is it just Holland and Barrett? Or are there other places too?

Wish me luck!

Bella

Hi Bella,

First welcome and good luck for Tuesday

I had to have some injections post surgery called heparin, which does the same function as warfarin. The main thing is to drink enough water, walk as much as possible and get your lungs going after surgery. In the Czech Republic where I had mine done they taped a rubber glove to the end of a straw and I had to try to blow it up every hour to get my lungs working properly, They said that this help prevent pneumonia. You should be able to drink enough water but you need to keep sipping to do it. You will be getting hydrated via an IV line post surgery so you won't have to do this straight away.

Protein suppliments can be bought cheaply from Asda, go to the health section. Body builders use them as they are after protein and low carbs just like us. Atkin day break bars are available from Boots and large supermarkets and are a handy way of getting some of your protein later on. When I got to eat mushy food I found soft scrambled eggs brilliant. Expect your food likes and dislikes to change in this op. Mine did.

If I were you I would do a liver shrinking diet leading up to Tuesday.

BOSPA - The British Obesity Surgery Patient Association

Just to make yourself safer.

Please let us all know how you get on and if you want to get in touch please private message me.

Jane x

Edited July 16, 201016 yr by Jane_J

Hi,

I agree with Jane and can't really add much to that as I was done by the NHS in Sheffield and was only given a diet sheet to follow after my op. I'm surprised that you don't have to follow a pre-op diet as well but your surgeon may have his reasons for not asking you to follow one with regards to your other health issues. I would keep to a fat-free diet if you can between now and Tuesday though as it will help make your surgery safer.

As for the lungs issue post-op I didn't have to do what Jane did but was instructed by a physiotherapist to sit on the edge of the bed and do 'huffing' exercises. Now, I have had several ops before this and was never visited by the physio before and she was quite shocked about that and said I should have been so make sure you ask about that if no-one comes round. It's not hard to do and, as Jane says, is important for clearing out your lungs.

Sip your Water throughout the day, get out of bed and moving around once they tell you to and ask for more medication if you find it painful. It's important to get mobile and the painkillers will allow you to do that.

I was never instructed to take any Protein supplements either but I think it was Jane's advice I followed on here on getting some powder from Asda.

After 3 days of just water I was allowed blended up meat, potatoes, vegs, egg and low fat cheese etc. but as this was only in very small limited quantities (you really don't feel like eating much at first) I did supplement with the powder. There are a few websites on the internet giving dietary advice and a lot of people on this site who have a lot of good advice to give.

Good luck for Tuesday and let us know how you get on,

Helenxxx

Hi Bella

All the best for Tuesday...I, like you have various medications to take because of other medical conditions, I will be 2 months post op on Sunday and I have lost just over 37 lbs and I have not had any problems taking my medication at all...I did spread them out as much as I can though.

As for those injections, they are really easy to do and if you pinch the flesh on your lower abdomen and insert the injection there it will not hurt...it's so painless and safe that I let my grand daughters do them for me, one of them age 8 and the other age 11.

My surgeon doesn't like pre-op diets either and I have been informed that this is because he believes that we are better able to cope post-operatively because we have not deprived ourselves of the nutrients that some post-op diets would leave us. (He told me to lose about 7 lbs if I insisted on dieting prior to the op; and that was about 9 months prior to the op)...I wonder if we have the same surgeon?...Mr Ameet Patel at Kings.

My surgeon also likes his patients to stay on liquids for 6 weeks post-operatively and getting enough Protein was hard at first...but I used Myoplex Diet shakes made up with soya milk and that helped a lot...I could only manage one sachet per day at first and this was split into 3 portions...the soya milk helped to make up the lost calories and gave me extra protein too...I increased to 2 sachets eventually...in between I had Marmite drinks or an Oxo now and again...I kept a bottle of Water by my side all the time, even in the car and have have had no real problem getting my 1 - 1.5 ltrs in per day. I started eating little bits of solid food now, and some foods are proving a little difficult but it is a bit of trial and error to begin with...just remember to stop when you feel full, and believe me you will feel full quickly...I have been given a booklet regarding diet after the operation and this is an adaptation from Weill Cornell dietary advice for Gastric Sleeve Patients. Just give me a shout if you need to know more.

All the best for your op and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Snow xx

Edited July 16, 201016 yr by Snowcrystal

Good luck for Tuesday

I was on pre op diet for 2 weeks and my BMI was 56 and as I had to use a spirometer to prepare for surgery good advice from the others so i won't repeat it ....I had no complications and was home in 2 days now I am 7 months post op and have lost 131 lbs and my BMI is now 33 so have faith this op will change your life

my thoughts are with you we have all been there

Hi Everyone

I'm back from hospital. I was in for 7 days and it all went well apart from a couple of days of being constantly sick and some reflux from swelling at the top of the stomach. I seem to be producing a lot of stomach acid and that was making me sick, but with the anti-acid medication, and some gavascon liquid just before bed, I'm doing fine now.

I didn't end up following the pre-op diet as you suggested as my surgeon is very well respected and prefers his patients not to diet prior to the surgery as it can inhibit the healing process.

I've had some trouble swallowing my previous medications but have now figured out I can do it if I take it with a glass of milk. Otherwise it burns my stomach and makes me ill. The anti-sickness tablets help too.

I'm not taking pain killers at the moment, I don't have any real pain unless I move too quickly, lift anything or try to pick anything up from the ground (so I don't). I don't have much energy but that is no surprise. I'm just taking it easy, chilling out and doing very little.

Overall, the operation was both harder and easier than I thought, but I can only praise the high quality of care I have received so far from the excellent surgeons, doctors, nurses and nutritionists alike. The NHS may be slow, but it is good. I guess it I can say that so far it has been a success.

Hi Bella,

I'm really glad that everything has gone so well for you. I found it difficult to take tablets when I was first out and I know that some of the US surgeons don't recommend it. Mine didn't advise me either way but as I was already on a dispersible Lansoprazole for my reflux it wasn't too much of a problem, plus my other medication, including Vitamins, could be taken in liquid or suckable form. If you do find you have any problems go and see if your GP can offer you any alternatives.

After a year I can now take tablets fine and only have a problem if I gulp too heavily! I am sure you will be ok but just remember that your new stomach is very delicate right now and needs a lot of tlc.

Lots of love

Helenx

Hi I've had my gastric sleeve 1 week ago in Newcastle, I don't really know where to write yet, just wanted to know if anyone out there had their sleeve done in newcastle(washington-Mr Small) I'm doing really well, no pain, no hunger pangs, can't believe it! I lost about 4 pounds in a week, which I'm happy with. The only thing nobody warned me of the constipation! I think I'm not drinking enough fluids, anybody went through the same??

hiya

i'm new on here & due to be sleeved on 11th may!!

sooo nervous & scared, can you give me any tips to prepare myself please?

Really sorry cpfc, missed your post. How did you get on??

Jane x