YORKSHIRE GIRL ANGE

Hi everyone, just want to introduce myself. I'm Angela and I'm due to have my VSG surgery Dec 7th. I'm having the op on the NHS at my local hospital. At the moment I am not feeling nervous about the procedure, but this might not last ! LOL !!! I'd be really interested to hear from any of you with your post op experiences and with any advice you can pass on. The stories I have read on the site since I joined have been really encouraging and helpful. Its good to hear it from the people who are living it. I'm starting a milk based pre op diet around Nov 17th, yum yum !!! I'm really looking forward to that LOL !!! No more appointments now before the op, I'm just sitting back, getting as prepared as possible and waiting for the day. Only 44 days to go, not that I'm counting LOL !!!! Looking forward to hearing from you Best wishes Angela.

Hi there. I’m Angela and I was sleeved here in the UK in February. I was given lots of advice re eating by my dietitian. I’ll add you as a friend and send you a bit of info via a personnel message. Hope it helps. If you need anymore info, I’ll be glad to help if I can. Just send me a message. I think our sleeve sisters and brothers in the US are far more fortunate then us when it comes to the different foods available to have post op. I just love wandering round the supermarkets over there and finding maybe 50 versions of an item where here at home we might find about 10 !!!! I was lucky enough to have my op on the NHS at my local hospital and it is really the best thing I’ve ever done. Could I ask you why you went all the way to the States for your op ? Hope the info helps Angela

Hiya Sue, It really is a great feeling that isn’t it ? It just shows how it takes our brains a while to catch actually register that we can possibly fit into something that isn’t our usual huge size. We see that smaller number on a thing and automatically think it isn’t for us. Just think as well, a lot of online stuff can tend to be a bit of a smaller fit anyway so maybe a high street 16 might be good to go for you. This made me laugh, I hope it tickles you. I got my Take That outfit sorted out about a month ago. I decided to have a trying on session on Monday night. I’d got a top and a pair of black pants. The top was fine, the pants wouldn’t stay up and the legs were so baggy they looked like Crusty the clown should be wearing them !!!! I spent Monday evening totally re-modelling them. I had to take the legs in and run some knicker elastic through the waist so they wouldn’t fall down when I was bouncing with Robbie on Tuesday !!!!! The moral of the story is of you’ve got to buy anything for a special occasion, do it the day before and not the month before !!! Love and Hugs Angela xxx

Hiya Sue, good to hear from you. I hope everything goes ok with your hubbie and his knee. Lets hope it ends up being a simpler procedure and he recovers sooner than you all thought. As to the stress question, flippin heck love what a load you’ve got on you just now. I’m lucky in that I don’t really get stressed, but then again I don’t have a husband and kids, maybe thats why LOL !!!! If it helps you, I was retail manager for about 20 years. At our busiest times, namely Christmas, we could have queues of 50 or more people at the tills. A lot of the girls who worked for me would get totally stressed out when they looked at the end of the queue and think they’d never serve everyone. I would tell them to look at the person in front of them and not the 50th and do their best. Look at the paper in front of you that are marking and not the pile that is left and do your best love. You’ll take a lot of the pressure off by doing that. Sit your lovely girls down and talk to them about what you’re facing just now and ask them what they can do to help. That way they won’t feel that they are being told what to do and it will help build their self esteem when they take on a little of the responsibility for themselves. I find its always better to turn things around and have people think that it was their idea to do something instead of me actually telling them what to do. As to the chocolate “ crutch “. This is going to go against everything everyone else is saying. What the hell Sue love, if a bit of chocolate helps you, just go for it. Don't beat yourself up, these are exceptional circumstances you are going through just now. It isn’t like you’ll be able to scoff down buckets full of the stuff like before your op. Its just an added bit of stress trying to be " strong " and resisting, we are only human at the end of the day after all op or no op. One of the reasons I went for the sleeve is because I would not have to cut out everything and believe me I could wolf down tons of all the bad stuff before stressed or not. I’m thinking about you and sending positive vibes. Remember, 1 thing at a time and you’ll get through it. I’ll be in touch soon. Love and hugs Angela xxx

Hiya Sue, Sooooo many congrats on breaking that bloomin rotton stall. Lets hope that this is the shape of things to come from now on. Its obviously a special early birthday pressie for you, are you doing anything exciting for the big day ? Have a brilliant birthday whatever you are doing, the weather looks like its going to be great for you. Not long to go now for us and our boys !!!!!! What do you reckon to the PSBs supporting them ? While my friend and I were seeing Robbie over here on his last tour, her husband was seeing the PSBs in Hong Kong and he said that everyone was walking out as they were rubbish !!!! We’ll have to wait & see won’t we. Don’t really care that much what they’re like but if they’re good it will be a bonus !!! Take care, I’ll message you soon for a natter. Love Angela xxx

Hi Jenny and welcome. I’m Angela hope everything is going well for you. I was sleeved on 1st February and so far everything is going great. Weight loss is steady and I’m more than happy with it. I’d rather take the slow and steady approach than expect the weight to drop off overnight. At least I know it will stay off this time if I treat my sleeve as a tool to help and not a magic wand LOL !!!! Guess what, I’m just down the road from you in Dewsbury !!!! I’ll add you as a friend. If you feel like a natter or a moan ( LOL !!!!! ) just click on my profile and send me a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Best wishes Angela xx

Hiya Sue, HUUUUGE CONGRATS on this momentous Williams related NSV !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I, as you know, do not scoff at the inspiration of the one and only Williams, he truly has magical powers !!!!!!!!!!!!! Just think, when you got your Tshirt in 1999, you got it for Robbie the boy. In June you will be wrapping yourself in it for ROBBIE THE MAN !!!!!!!! I am a great believer in fate. It must be meant to be that after all these years our boys are back together in the very year that you are able to wear that treasured Tshirt for the first time. Today really is a good day!!!!!! Keep up the great work love and stay positive. Not long to go now, June is just around the corner !!!!!!!!! Love Angela xxx

Hiya Looby, I'm Angela and I'm in Yorkshire. I was sleeved, also on the NHS, 1st February in my local hospital. You'll get a warm welcome and a wealth of great advice and support from everyone on this site. I joined in March last year and it really helped me to arrive at my final decision to go ahead with the surgery. Keep in touch and keep us posted on your progress through your various appointments. Best wishes Angela x

Hi there Angel, its Angela here from the UK. I don’t know if you’ve picked up my reply from your other post so I’ve pasted it over to this one. WOW you are doing brilliantly, I am sooooo impressed with your weightloss. Even though I’m not quite in the 200+ group, I only hope that I can do as well as you. Everything is going just fine for me, no stalls as yet at almost 8 weeks out. The weight is coming off steadily and I’m more than happy with it that way. I am sooooo thrilled that I have my sleeve and feel greatful everyday for it. What a coincidence that I should happen upon your post today, I was going to get in touch with you anyway. I just wanted to let you know that the new series of Supersize vs Superskinny is starting over here next week. I can’t wait to see it and will be looking out for you. I’ll let my fellow UK sleeve sisters who I have as friends know about it so that they can also tune in. Take care and keep in touch with your inspiring posts. Love Angela xxxx

Hi there Angel, its Angela here from the UK. WOW you are doing brilliantly, I am sooooo impressed with your weightloss. Even though I’m not quite in the 200+ group, I only hope that I can do as well as you. Everything is going just fine for me, no stalls as yet at almost 8 weeks out. The weight is coming off steadily and I’m more than happy with it that way. I am sooooo thrilled that I have my sleeve and feel greatful everyday for it. What a coincidence that I should happen upon your post today, I was going to get in touch with you anyway. I just wanted to let you know that the new series of Supersize vs Superskinny is starting over here next week. I can’t wait to see it and will be looking out for you. I’ll let my fellow UK sleeve sisters who I have as friends know about it so that they can also tune in. Take care and keep in touch with your inspiring posts. Love Angela xxxx

Hiya Ann, I’m Angela and I’m just up the M1 from you in Dewsbury. What a gorgeous day we’ve had today. Hope you made the most of it, it could be snowing tomorrow !!! LOL !!!! I was sleeved 1st Feb here in Dewsbury and can honestly say that, so far, it is the best thing I’ve ever done. How about yourself, how are you feeling about the whole thing ? People who I told before the op laughed because I was more bothered about the hair loss than having the surgery!! I can totally relate to what you say about the hair thing. I’ve been big all my life and a bit obsessed about my hair being just right and my nails being painted at all times. I’ve always had control of these things where clothes etc. have been out of my control because of my size. The thought of major hair loss sends a cold shiver down my spine. So far, at nearly 7 weeks, no signs yet. Believe me I’m checking every 2 minutes !!!!! If you look on the new content bit on the site and change the drop down at the bottom from 24 hours to the last week, on page 15 theres a post about hair loss with a reply from Tiffykins that has a couple of links that explain why and how the hair loss occurs. The’re a bit scientific but really helpful & may help to put your mind at ease. Tiffy is so brilliant at posting these links and everything she posts seems to answer everything you need to know. Thanks Tiffy xx Did you have your op done in Sheffield and did you pay for it or have it on the NHS ? Keep in touch and let me know how you’re doing. The little band of UK sleevers is growing by the day. I’ll add you as a friend, if you need to message me feel free. All the best Angela xx

Hi there, I'm Angela joining you from the UK. I was sleeved on February 1st. I actually wanted to keep my removed stomach, pickled in a jar, but was not able to do it. I was told that it was due to the risk of contamination. I was, however, able to have the surgery recorded on DVD. I had watched various recordings on You Tube before my surgery. I now have my very own to watch, in glorious technicolour, whenever I want !!! LOL. It is fascinating to watch. It is not like you're watching yourself being operated on. So far I haven't managed to find any friends or family brave enough to watch it, they are all wimps !!! LOL. I think, if your stomach ( whats left of it !! ) is strong enough to watch, it is a great idea to have it recorded if it is possible. I think it will be great to spurr me on if I start to struggle in the future with my eating. When I see what went on inside and what I went through I'm sure it will get me back on the straight and narrow !!!! Good luck for your surgery. Keep us posted Best wishes Angela x

Hiya coops, Thanks for your message this morning. I'm feeling better by the day cutting down on the zombie pills makes me feel better !!! Just wanted to say, what a fantastic reply from thinoneday, I've copied it and will keep it to spur me on when I get my " Its not fair " head on. Its in a box at the minute and is very well worn so I know just how you feel !!! hee hee ! I can't give you much advice on the stall. Lets hope that when the blood tests come back you might get some answers. My stars !!! the exercise your doing, is it because you're doing the Olympics next year ??? I need to get off my bum and do some, I'll be better when I get back to work and living a normal life again, not that I am exactly normal !!! Hee Hee. I used to go swimming to a ladies only thing, I wouldn't subject anyone to the sight of me in a cozzie right now but maybe in a month or so I might pluck up the courage. By the way, have you checked out our boys in their Kidz video on U Tube ? If not have a look at it, you'll get a bit more inspiration from it. In the words of Borat " WAAA WAAA WEEE WAAA !!!! " is the only way to describe it !!!!!! If you need a rant or a moan just message me and I'll put my twopenneth in. Stay positive and use and abuse the power of the Williams !!!! Take care love and hugs Angela xxx

Hi, I'm Angela joining you from Yorkshire. Congratulations on your getting your sleeve and for being lucky enough to find this site. As coops says, there are quite a few of us here in the UK. You'll get loads of advice and support from our fellow sleeve brothers and sisters. I've found so much information here that is hard to come accross in the UK. I was sleeved on 1st February and I was lucky enough to have my op done on the NHS at my local hospital which is only a 5 minute drive away. Since the op I'd lost 23lbs up to last Friday. I'm going to stick to weighing once a week as I don't want to be hopping on and off the scale and getting frustrated when things slow down and when I hit the inevitable stall. What is your post op eating plan like ? There seems to be a lot of difference between surgeons and what their requirements are. I was on liquids for 2 weeks, then soft foods. I'm now able to have just about anything, in small amounts of course, so I'm doing a lot of experimenting right now. I'm a relative novice, but if I can offer any help I will so don't hesitate to get in touch. Good luck and keep in touch Angela x

Hi Helen, I’m Angela, joining you from Yorkshire. I was sleeved on 1st February, like Viv. I had minimal pain post op, for which I am very grateful. I am also now on more solid foods. I have zero hunger and have been like this since the op. I really have to remember to eat, what a difference that is LOL !!!! I had my op done on the NHS at my local hospital. They have a patient support group that is once a month. I haven’t been to it yet but I am planning to go and see what goes on there. I don’t know what I’ve lost so far as I haven’t weighed myself yet. I’m trying to leave my first weigh in for when I go to see the dietitian in a couple of weeks time. I lost quite a bit pre-op so I’m not expecting a huge loss. Anything will be a bonus and at least I know that it will stay off this time, so fingers crossed. I’ve added you as a friend. If you need to get in touch just click on my name and send me a message, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Did you have your op done on the NHS or privately ? You’ll find a wealth of support and advice on the site. The only down side is that a lot of the products that are mentioned are available in the States but not available to us in the UK. Let me know how you are doing and don’t hesitate to get in touch. Best wishes Angela xx

Hi there, I'm Angela joining you from the UK. I will have been sleeved for 2 weeks tomorrow. Like you said, taking it 1 day at a time, no pressure, just concentrating on feeling well and getting back to normal. I haven't weighed myself yet as I don't want to start the cycle of jumping on and off the scales all the time. I can tell I am loosing though !!! I honestly had NO POST OP PAIN, I have felt just great so far. Think positive is the motto I have followed throughout and I think that is what has helped me. Have a safe journey, be as positive as you can manage and just think what a wonderful tool we have in our hands to help us to finally achieve our goal. I'll keep you in my thoughts tomorrow. Best wishes, your soon to be sleeve sister Angela x

Hiya Viv, Angela here. Like you I'm now on the soft food. Everything has gone great so far, apart from having really bad constipation for a couple of days but that has now been sorted. I can't help you with the stalling subject. Can I just tell you though that I have still not weighed myself since the day of the op. I don't want to get caught up in the jumping on and off the scale thing and ending up disappointed if I haven't lost as much as I want and feeling defeated when the stall hits. I'm actually going to try to not get on the scale until I see the dietitian in a months time. My main focus, at the moment is to get over the op, get well and back to normal as soon as possible. I have another couple of weeks before I go back to work. I'll be more than happy for the weight to come off steadily as I know that, as long as I use this wonderful tool that I feel so fortunate to have been given properly, it will come off and stay off this time. I can tell that I have lost some weight. Even after just 11 days my rings are spinning round and I can see that my face looks thinner when I look in the mirror. I've also been able to get into clothes that were a bit too tight to wear when I tried them just before surgery. I'm using things like this as a gauge of how it is going. I know we're all different in how we deal with things and what we expect. I just find that this is the best way for me but, as they say : " Whatever floats your boat " Ha Ha !!!! Keep up the good work Viv and keep in touch. Best wishes Your sleeve twin Angela xx

Hi there to all my sleeve brothers and sisters. After getting cancelled back in December I am now very pleased to tell you I have my sleeve !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My op was last Tuesday, Feb 1st and I came home on Friday evening. Like Viv I am also in the UK and had my op on the NHS. Although I have no co-morbidities, my surgeon insists on your staying in the hospital for a few days. Everything went just fine. I’ve had no pain at all, just a bit of discomfort from the drain until they took it out and of course some gas pain. It is so good to be home, you can’t beat sleeping in your own bed can you ? I’m doing great, so far, with the drinking and Clear liquids. I could, perhaps take in a little more Water and I’m working on that. I haven’t weighed myself since the op, I’m going to leave it for another week if I can. I have my op recorded on dvd and watched it yesterday. It isn’t like watching yourself so it doesn’t make you feel weird. Its fascinating to watch, I think it will keep me on the straight and narrow if I go through any sticky Patches in the future. I can’t wait to start living my new life properly. I want to say a huge thank you to all of you for your kind thoughts and support throughout this whole journey. I’ll keep in touch to pick your brains for post op tips and advice. Take care everyone Love Angela x UK member.

'Diamondstar' Congrats, I'm excited for you. I'll be at the pre approval stage soon, so I will pick your brain, I wish you the best Hi there and thank you so much for your message. Still feeling great and no pain at all. Please feel free to pick my brain, anything I can do to help I will do with pleasure. I hope you're not kept waiting too long for your approval, the waiting really is the hardest part isn't it ? Keep us posted on your progress Love Angela x

'sleeve me plz' Congratulations on your sleeve. I am so excited for you. Hi there and thank you so much for your post. Still doing just great at this end. Your 2 months will fly by. When my op was cancelled, back in December, it seemed like forever to the next possible surgery date in February. All of a sudden 2 months have just whizzed by and here I am sleeved !!!! Keep us posted on your progress. Love Angela x

'Anxiously Waiting Approval' I have read a lot of the stories on here and I am so glad to see another story where you did not have horrendous pain after surgery! I am very scared of the pain afterward b/c I am a big baby when it comes to pain. I hope I am as lucky as you to only have some gas pain and soreness. I hope to have surgery March 15th...but currently waiting on an answer from United. Great job on being on the other side and on your journey to the rest of your healthy life! Hi there and thank you so much for your message. I don't think that anyone has ever been as surprised as me to have had virtually no post op pain !!!! I was expecting to have the " OH GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MYSELF " feelings for days. The gas pain wasn't that bad at all and I can honestly say that once my drain was out I was fine. The drain isn't really a pain, its more of a discomfort and not that bad. I'm no different to you, I can be a big baby as well when I want to LOL !!! I would just say go in with a positve attitude, try not to be too nervous and everything should be just fine. I didn't have any pre-op meds to relax me. I had resolved in my own mind that I was doing the right thing for me and was so chilled out about the whole thing, everyone was amazed. I think that positive attitude went a long way towards my recovery. Good luck for getting your approval, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Keep in touch and let me know how it goes won't you. Love Angela x

'AutumnLily' Congratulations! I am just a few weeks behind you. I can not wait to start my new sleeved life. Keep us posted on your progress! Hi there Lily and thank you for your kind thoughts. Not long to go for you now, are you all prepared ? I'm sure you'll be just fine and that everything will go smoothly. I have felt so well that I really can't believe that I've had such a major procedure. I hope you feel just the same post op. Sending you hugs and all good wishes from the UK. Can't wait to hear how it all goes. Love Angela x

Lila21' Angela! Congratulations!! I still think of you as an honorary "december sleever" :-)) Keep us posted on how you are going! Oh thanks a lot for that, it means a lot to me to still be part of the December sleevers club. I hope that you and all my other December sleeve family are doing well and feeling healthy. I'll keep you posted on my progress, its early days but definitely so far so good. Love Angela x

Hiya, yes I was sleeved on Feb 1st so we are sleeve twins !!!!! How are you doing a week out ? I'm still doing great, maybe could still get a little more Water down but I'm not pushing it too much, don't want to hurt my tiny new precious tummy !! LOL I was going to go out for a walk today but the weather has been really awful. It was really windy and raining all day. Tomorrow looks like a better day to try it so I'll be putting my best foot forward !! I've decided that, like our Queen, I'm now going to have 2 birthdates. My real one in November and my new one Feb 1st each year, a good idea don't you think. It is,afterall, the day we were re-born into a new life. Let me know how everything is going won't you ? I hope you are feeling as good as I am. Take care Love Angela x