Bornagainbabe

Yes, I am experiencing head hunger and cravings at the moment and I think that is because I have just come off liquids and really, really 'need' nice food again. I'm finding it hard to gauge when to stop and have felt very uncomfortable a few times. I just want to keep going and finish the lovely food off because it is so nice and I know I should stop sooner. I am only having very small portions now and going at it very slowly - nearly all those flipping chocolates have gone, which is a good thing really as there is nothing around to tempt me now. Now I really 'needed' them! I haven't been sick at all. I think I just need to pay more attention and be more strong-willed in putting the fork down sooner!

I told 'everyone' both times - when I had the band and now the sleeve - and part of me regrets doing that. I nearly didn't tell anyone about the sleeve op as I knew what kind of reaction I would get but ended up having too as I needed family support in caring for my autistic son. Do NOT listen to anyone else. You know yourself that you need to do it and why you do. The people who badk on and on about it being drastic, risky, the easy option (!!!) are mainly those who have never had an issue with food, do not have other issues in their lives (in my case extreme stress and depression) making dieting virtually impossible - by that I mean being able to get up the energy and motivation to embark on it and stick to it and as Bearded said, those who believe everthing they read in the media. All surgery has it's risks and at the moment bariatric surgery is the favoured one to have a pop at. Do what you think is right and ignore everyone else if you can. Most people supported me in the end as they agreed that I would only gain all my weight back if I didn't have the band to sleeve revision, but there were the odd few who couldn't bring themselves to wish me well and all I say is 'stuff them!' because I know I will be nice and slim, happy and healthy and generally a better and more understanding person. Helenxxx

Hi tandy, glad you're doing well. I had my op nearly four weeks ago in Sheffield and you will find it will get easier. I was a band to sleeve revision so have not lost as much as you yet - I lost 7.5 stones with the band and then had the sleeve after having a lot of problems with slippage. I would still like to lose another 4 stone though to get to goal. Sounds like you are doing really well though and it won't be long before you are shopping in Next! Why do you need an injection for the next 6 weeks? I only had to self-inject clexane for 10 days post-op in order to prevent dvt. There are lots of really lovely and supportive people on this site and I am sure you will find all the help you need. They tend to do some things different to us and what I have done is supplement the advice given by my surgeon and dietician with that given here. I wasn't advised to have Protein shakes or to take an acid reducer and I have been doing both now after taking advice from people here. Unfortunately information is rather sparse in the UK - my GP didn't even know what a sleeve gastrectomy was or bother to look it up and you will find that there is a lot of general ignorance surrouding bariatric surgery over here. Sounds like you have a very supportive family. Helenxxx

Yes, I made sure I was well-trimmed this time. Glad you're on the other side now Bob and doing well xxx

Tiff, hang in there. I know exactly how you are feeling. My husband fought on the front line in the first Gulf War back in 1991 and I didn't hear from him for the duration of the war. He was away for 6 months too and my daughter was only a baby then. We lived in Germany in an age before the internet or mobile phones. I had no family nearby and the unit my husband was detached with didn't even realise he had a wife and family! He also did other tours of duty where he was away for months at a time but luckily had done his time by the time Iraq and Afghanistan came up again. Anyway, on a lighter note, we used to love your PX when we were in Germany. We were allowed to shop there and the stuff was different to what we were used to and a lot cheaper. We would travel for 3 hours to the one in Frankfurt just to get a Burger King! There were no Burger Kings in Germany at that time and the American ones were just out of this world! And the Americans are far more polite and well mannered than the Brits too! Soldiers would hold the door open for you..... I'm fed up today although i don't really know why. I'm still not feeling 100% better as my abdomen is still swollen from where I had my muscles stitched up. I went to the hospital on sunday as I was worried and they gave me some antibiotics just in case it's a hematoma. I just want to be better know but I think that having 2 ops in the space of 3 weeks has really taken it out of me, especially as the last was 2 ops in one! Sorry about your losses too Judy. Hope you are feeling much better soon. You are all so lovely and friendly on this site. I am glad I found you. Take care all, Helenxxx

Tiffykins, where is your husband? Am I right in reading that he is in the military? My husband was in the army for 22 years and separations were always difficult. I know where you are coming from there!

Right, I get it! Pretty obvious really - just me being a bit thick there. We don't work in kgs (yet) in the UK but we do convert every 14lbs to a 'stone' (just to be awkward - like driving on the left) so everytime I come across, say, 195lbs, I am working it out in my brain how many stones and pounds that is! It will take me a while now to calculate if I have hit onederland at all during my journey with Maths not being my strongest subject ha ha!!

Truly inspirational story! Well done. Just one question - I have seen it referred to a few times but what is 'Onederland?' Maybe the anesthesia is still affecting my brain but it has been perplexing me lol!

Hi Paloma, Did you have your hernia repaired at the same time or has that got to be done once you have lost weight? I had an absolutely huge hernia (I was always being told by strangers that I would have my hands full once the 'little'one arrived) and mine was restitched at the same time I had my VSG done which was just over 3 weeks ago. I still feel very sore. It takes a while to recover from major abdominal surgery and everyone is different. Take the advice already given here and I am sure you will be fine. Don't overdo it though! Helenxxx

Hi Hyacinth, I have been following my surgeon and dietician's advice so far and mainly sticking to that although I have been incorporating some Protein shakes as I am not sure if I am getting enough protein. The information on here is brilliant though and I have been supplementing the info I already have with advice and ideas given here and on other US sites regarding the op - they have been doing it longer than us and have far more experience than we do. Jane has mentioned similar in another thread I think. When is your op? Helenxxx

I have just added two of you - Susie and Norma (so you know it's me when you get the requests!) but I can't find the others so you will have to make friends with me :clap2:

Hi all, sorry if I have been unresponsive to some of my posts recently. My internet connection is intermittent at the moment and am having it fixed on Thursday - hopefully. It's driving me mad! Anyway my name is Helen Odling if you want to add me as a Fb friend. I think there is only one on there! And I won't discuss weight loss or surgery with anyone on their profile unless they do. I have recently stopped doing so on mine as I have attracted some weirdos and some of my friends have recently received malicious messages from individuals after joining groups, so I am being very careful now as to how much I reveal about myself publicly! Helenxxx

Thank you!

I had this when I had my band and I know it's easy to say this but try not to dwell on it too much. You will find that there are times when you will jump on the scales and suddenly you will have lost a lot and other times when it just doesn't seem to move at all. I'm 3 days behind you and have lost 10lbs since I got home from hospital which seems a bit on the slow side considering how much I'm NOT eating but there again my body has probably been shocked into keeping hold of it. It's been said before as well that the more you have to lose the faster it will probably drop off. Lots of factors, water retention, hormones, all sorts.xxx

I'm on Fb if anyone wants to make friends with me! Does that make me sound like Billy-no-mates???!!!lol

Do these Calcium Citrate pills interfere with prescribed anti-depressants? I have just got hold of some but I am unsure as to whether or not I should take them now as I take Citalopram daily for anxiety and depression.

This is a weird one but just wondered if any else has experienced this in connection to their weight loss surgery. My palms and wrists have been itching like mad for the last few days and as I have never had it before have Googled it and apart from the possibility of kidney failure, Crohns (which I am confident it's not) and dermatitis, allergic reaction etc. another cause mentioned is Vitamin deficiency, in particular Vits B12, B1 and B6. Has anyone else encountered this, out of interest? I'm not panicking as it could just be my shower gel irritating me but with just having weight loss surgery am curious as to whether a vitamin deficiency could be the cause at this early stage? A strange one I know but any comments or theories welcomed. Helenxxx

OMG what if it is an allergic reaction to chocolate?? Anything, anything but that LOL!!! No, seriously, I haven't a clue what it is but it was worth asking the question as you never know somebody somewhere may have experienced the same thing as a result of surgery. It was a long shot... I have never suffered from hives or anything like that so I don't know really and you would think that if it is shower gel or anything like that that my whole body would be affected. Maybe it's the soap when I wash my hands... Anyway, I shall try some Benadryl and see if that helps. It can't be the chocolate...............

The advice we are given over here is to get a regular Vit B12 injection. I haven't had it yet myself but I feel tired all the time too and think it's just a post-op phase that should improve once I am eating more regular foods and off this liquid mush!

I have just been out to the fridge in our extension for a bottle of water and lurking there on the top shelf was some chocolate. Before I knew it it was in my mouth and having the life sucked out of it. It wasn't my fault. I just don't know how it could have happened. Will I go to Hell for this?

Throwing them away is a sin in itself isn't it??? They will just have to be eaten then - not yet though. I shall save them for when I really NEED them!!!

Hi, I'm home too now. Had my op on Monday - 2 ops in one actually. I was opened up right down my front, had all my abdominal muscles stitched and re-stitched and had my revision to sleeve. All went well with no problems apart from severe side effects from anaesthesia and morphine and being very sore. I am up and about now but wanting to rest a lot as very uncomfortable most of the time. Every position is ok for a while and then I have to move. Am now on blended food and managing that very well despite only needing very small portions. I get some discomfort after eating but that is only to be expected after having more than half my stomach removed and the remaining stapled up! The band guided me well as far recognising 'the signs' and I am only optimistic now for some more substantial weight loss. Size zero here I come!!! Well done to everyone who has just had surgery like me. It's not the easy option everyone thinks it is but, to those considering it or about to embark on it, with the right research, support and of course, surgeon, it is a step- up to coming a new, confident and above-all healthy you. And the advice and support I have received from the lovely people on this site is second to none and that is really what you need - to hear from people who have experience and have been through it all. On the losing side now. Just looking forward to getting more mobile now and back to normal. Won't be long but feels interminable at the moment!! Good luck all!!! Lots of love Helenxxx

Janette, my surgeon assured me that if he considered it to be too risky then he wouldn't be carrying it out and would just remove my band. I know that's not what you want ideally but I should imagine from what you have said that yours is experienced enough to not want to take any unnecessary risks. Helenxxx

Hi Janette, I had open lap band to VSG revision surgery two weeks ago and I, like you, was having my doubts right up until they wheeled me down to surgery. Open surgery is when they cut your stomach open rather than doing it laparascopically and it is usually preferred if you have had surgery before. I had had several operations on my stomach and my surgeon told me from the start that he would need to open me up. I had had my band repositioned last year and then it slipped again and that's why I came to the decision to have the VSG and, like you again, all my family were concerned. I won't say they were against it but they were worried about the surgery mainly as a result of all the media attention. But, as has already been said ALL surgery carries some risk. You really need to discuss this with the surgeon if you can and find out how much revision surgery he has done. Here in the UK there aren't all that many bariatric surgeons, in comparison to the US and elsewhere, and our services are absolutely swamped with people wanting surgery. My particular surgeon has got the monopoly on it in the Yorkshire area and has carried out loads and loads of operations and is held in wide regard across the whole country. He had also carried out my band surgery and abdominal surgery so he was well familiar with me and my personal situation. He was absolutely confident that performing the sleeve op was the right thing for me and as a result I had to put my trust in him as I would most certainly have regained all my previously lost weight. He did point out the complications to me and did tell me that there were more risks involved, but, as I say he was absolutely confident in his ability to perform the op successfully and help me. Talk to your surgeon, find out how much revision surgery he has done and then take it from there. I am two weeks out and am fine. I have had very little pain from my VSG op and am progressing well with the diet. And don't worry about open surgery either. I have had loads of open surgery and although I have a nice big scar running right down my front it is nothing compared to all the extra weight I was carrying and still am! Good luck in your decision. I know it's not easy. Love Helenxxx

Good luck Jeff. I can only add that you will find lots of support and friendship here as everyone is in the same boat. I hope it all goes well for you and that you are soon on the losing side xxx