Hi guys. Today is Tuesday and I am due to go to hospital for my operation tomorrow.

I live in Ireland and will be traveling to the hospital tomorrow and getting knifed on Thursday morning the first of October. I am having my surgery semi privately. It is paid for by my insurance, but happening in a public hospital. That's how Ireland rolls I'm told.

I've been on liver shrinkage for the last three weeks and i've honestly found my groove with it. I am not always hungry and i find it fairly manageable. The only thing i'm having difficulty with is getting in my three Protein shakes every day. I'd say I average around the two mark with occasional third ones. I'm just not hungry after i have my dinner these days..... go fig.

I've lost quite a bit of weight during the three weeks of shrinkage. I don't know exactly how much as we don't have a scales at home, but definitely a bit. My friends, family, acquaintances and veritable strangers are all mentioning it to me for the last two weeks.

Right now i'm a little scared and the occasional person has said "sure if you can do it now do you really need the surgery?". Honestly that gets to me. While I know the statistics and enough related to weight loss to fill myself a small- medium sized book there is still a side of me that wonders if this is the right choice. I'm fairly certain it is, but the doubts are getting a bit louder and brasher the closer I get to the surgery date. Natural enough really.

Either way it's all ahead of me and rather soon to be honest. Last night I was attending a rehearsal for a play. It was happening at a community/sports complex type building. As i was walking in the door a group of youths old enough to know better were congregated outside clearly after some sort of sporting thing. As i walked past there was a chorus of look at the state of him walking in there etc. I'd like to think it wasn't me, but i'm fairly sure it was. I find it hilarious that i can still manage to get myself bullied as a 33 year old man and it literally makes my blood boil that in that moment walking in the door I said to myself "i'll show them in a few months time"... they literally do not matter. These are people who literally have no manners and piss poor parents.

I can not however deny that this has steeled my will somewhat yet it vexes me to the bone that it is one of the reasons i am having surgery the day after tomorrow. I'm tired of being stared at. 33 years is enough. I've had enough. I am full.

So heres to the changes. I plan to give another update tomorrow. If anybody else is going through this process then feel free to get in touch.

I love you all and am so proud of each and every one of you changing your lives for you not for anybody else.

See you soon

Des x

I am post-op day # 4 and it is rough. The nausea is finally subsiding and my belly is still quite bloated. I am sure it will get better but right now I am pretty down. I'd love to hear if others had a more prolonged recovery or if most got their spring back in their step quickly!! Please post encouraging words! I need it!

I am post-op day # 4 and it is rough. The nausea is finally subsiding and my belly is still quite bloated. I am sure it will get better but right now I am pretty down. I'd love to hear if others had a more prolonged recovery or if most got their spring back in their step quickly!! Please post encouraging words! I need it!

I felt pretty horrible from day 1-4. Day #5 is when I started to feel human. It just got better and better from there. I hope it is the same for you

I hope you'll have your surergy soon Desmond. Best of luck!