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I'm so relieved! I had been really nervous about telling my GP about having the surgery abroad, because I've heard a lot can be quite unsupportive of the idea of going for surgery abroad. My doc was fine with it, will help me with any potential reflux medicine and are willing to do blood tests later. I didn't realise how much this was worrying me until I put the phone down and I feel so much better now.

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I was lucky in this regard too. My PCP ("preferred care provider" is what we call them in the US) was very supportive about me travelling to Mexico for my surgery. In fact, I have another appointment with her on Feb. 29 for my 18 month follow-up and blood work!

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So glad you had that experience. Mine refused so I had to find one who would supervise me.

I was really worried that would happen to me. I've heard a lot of stories about GPs refusing, but it seems my doctor had a couple of patients go through the NHS and one (a long time ago) go privately, so it's not entirely new. She said as long as the hospital let her know precisely what they want her to check for in the blood tests etc she's got no problem doing them.

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I have had one negative comment from GPs at my surgery. Before I waddled off to Belgium to have surgery I informed one of the GPs who knows me well of what I was about to do. He suggested that instead of surgery I try 'portion control'. I was tempted to point out to him that it was my idea of 'portion control' that had got me to the point of needing surgery to control my weight! Last week I saw my own GP who was great and just asked me how I had gone about the whole thing. He was really pleased for me. As I had the op done abroad I had my stitches taken out at my surgery by the practice nurse. She is all for bariatric surgery-her husband is a bariatric consultant!! I am going to cost the NHS less money in the future as I am not going to have all the co-morbidities of being overweight dealt with, and paid for, by them. Surely, WLS makes economic sense and shouldn't be seen by the NHS as a last ditch attempt to solve an individual's obesity problem?

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You're preaching to the choir here, and yet...

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I have had one negative comment from GPs at my surgery. Before I waddled off to Belgium to have surgery I informed one of the GPs who knows me well of what I was about to do. He suggested that instead of surgery I try 'portion control'. I was tempted to point out to him that it was my idea of 'portion control' that had got me to the point of needing surgery to control my weight! Last week I saw my own GP who was great and just asked me how I had gone about the whole thing. He was really pleased for me. As I had the op done abroad I had my stitches taken out at my surgery by the practice nurse. She is all for bariatric surgery-her husband is a bariatric consultant!! I am going to cost the NHS less money in the future as I am not going to have all the co-morbidities of being overweight dealt with, and paid for, by them. Surely, WLS makes economic sense and shouldn't be seen by the NHS as a last ditch attempt to solve an individual's obesity problem?

I've watched the BBC Fat Doctors and they talk a lot about how it costs the NHS much less over the life of a patient to provide WLS versus all the long-term care they would need for obesity-related diseases and medications.

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I went to see my GP on Friday regarding my surgery later this month and she was fab. I asked her if she would do my DVT injections (the thought of doing it myself freaks me out) and she said I have to go and see her the the day I get back and she'll sort out for the District Nurses to come to me and to let her know if I need an other support. She's said she used to live in Prague so has no reservations about me having my surgery there.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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    • Doughgurl

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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