Having been here a few months now, it’s become obvious that it’s so different for people having weight loss surgery in the UK. Procedures here before WLS is different. Most of the people over the pond have it through their insurance and this means a lot of pre operation meetings/assessments/work, over many months. In some ways I feel this is good, as people get to learn so much before having their surgery. However that’s not the usual way here in the UK. You tend to learn ‘in the moment’. If you are eligible for WLS through the National Health Service, you may have to wait for a long time, 2 to 3 or up to 10 years unless you are at the stage where your weight is life or death. So, many fund it themselves.

I think this site is excellent for advice and support however it does mainly tend to show what happens in the States, where you can buy certain things and what’s available. So here’s a few things (not exclusive, would love it if others add stuff here too) I have learnt in my very short weeks since surgery.

PLEASE can we all add our own likes/dislikes, UK advice etc etc

1. Bariatric cookery books are excellent however there are many other options to learn about pre and post op foods. My dietitian is great but I have learnt so much through researching online. There are so many Bariatric Centres all over the world showing what you can eat pre ad post op and as long as you add a dash of common sense, it can work well. For example; if I read from a Bariatric Centre that I could eat tuna on day 3, I would be clicking the X asap!!

1. Centrum advantage chewable Vitamins are lovely and recommended by UK Dietitians for post bariatric surgery. Tesco’s have them on offer at the moment, 3 for 2. They have carbs, but balancing a few carbs for nice tasting vitamins isn’t going to kill me for the time being.

1. Keep your fridge/cupboard stocked once you know what goes down well for you. Don’t spend too much in advance in case you don’t like it. I spent a lot on liquid Iron without asking around and my god, it was disgusting. I took it twice then threw it away. I could have asked here and go advice but I didn’t. (see below)

1. Use this UK forum to keep in touch with others in the UK to ask for and pass on advice. We aren’t the minority in the world for WLS however we are a small group here. Make friends here, they can be the best support you can ask for!

OVER TO YOU !!!

I would say so not very nice just let your stomach settle and have fluid , yoghurt and stuff like that if I have eggs I either poach , boil or scramble them if your going to scramble them try cottage cheese instead of milk its lovely I had laxatives which did this to me hope you feel better soon

8 hours ago, Jue said:

I would say so not very nice just let your stomach settle and have Fluid , yoghurt and stuff like that if I have eggs I either poach , boil or scramble them if your going to scramble them try cottage cheese instead of milk its lovely I had laxatives which did this to me hope you feel better soon

Edited August 17, 20224 yr by Paul W

Thanks Jue. Completely blindsided me.

13 hours ago, Paul W said:

I could do with some advise from somebody more experienced than I am yet. Decided to try a couple of fried eggs on a piece of toast for lunch. Used a skillet which has been seasoned and which released some of the vegetable oil during the cooking process so they were fairly greasy. Never crossed my mind that might cause a problem. They didn’t digest well anyway but after a couple of hours felt a bit nauseous and very tired, and started sweating. And then, well just say I couldn’t get to the loo fast enough. And repeat 4 more times since. Not pleasant and I had no control. Feel delicate but much improved now.

Have I experienced dumping syndrome or is this just my body telling me it does like fried food?

It sound very much like Dumping Syndrome. It may be the oiliness, the bread, the amount of food or the eggs. All are symptomatic. Eggs, chicken, fats, sugar and bread are particularly difficult for lots of bariatric patients

Even now I can not eat bread unless it is toasted so crispy that it snaps. Its all about trial and error, you are early out and I dont know what regime you have been given but at 5 weeks out I was still on soft foods. Even now I can only eat one egg for a meal.

Until your new tummy heals, you wont have any feelings of fullness. At your stage my nose would run or I would sneeze and that was my cue to stop eating. Its all a learning curve and its not easy.

7 hours ago, summerseeker said:

Thank you.

I’m meant to be on soft food but still blending stuff as I just feel too uncomfortable otherwise. A couple of small teaspoons of something like fish in parsley sauce and smash potato and I can feel indigestion coming on.

Quote

It sound very much like Dumping Syndrome. It may be the oiliness, the bread, the amount of food or the eggs. All are symptomatic. Eggs, chicken, fats, sugar and bread are particularly difficult for lots of bariatric patients

Even now I can not eat bread unless it is toasted so crispy that it snaps. Its all about trial and error, you are early out and I dont know what regime you have been given but at 5 weeks out I was still on soft foods. Even now I can only eat one egg for a meal.

Until your new tummy heals, you wont have any feelings of fullness. At your stage my nose would run or I would sneeze and that was my cue to stop eating. Its all a learning curve and its not easy.

Edited August 17, 20224 yr by Paul W

Apologise summerseeker. Getting in a dreadful muddle trying to quote your reply to me and can’t seem to amend or delete my post

Paul have a look on Pintrest and type biatric stages and it will give you recipes and the stages of what you should be having hope your feeling better today