Bornagainbabe

Too much knowledge is not always a good thing is it but I think the answer is to try to push those fears to one side and focus on the benefits of the surgery and the possible consequences (heart disease, diabetes, cancer etc.) if you didn't go for it. Good luck. You will be a 'loser' very soon. xxx

Oh yes, it was heavenly and I only had a little bit, but I shall have to stronger. I just couldn't prevent it from flying into my open, drooling mouth (Homer Simpson- style drooling)! I have got a HUGE box of chocolates 'hidden' in my room upstairs that my mother bought me when I came out of hospital! I said, "Mother, thankyou, but I can't eat these!" to which she replied, "But you moaned last time you had an operation that no one brought you any chocolates!" I said, "Yes mother, but I hadn't just had three quarters of my stomach removed in obesity surgery!" She still didn't get it and insisted I kept them and didn't let my family get their hands on them. Think I may end up letting them have them though and not tell her!

Well done. That's brilliant! Very encouraging!

Hi Beth, I had my VSG the day before you so I am at the same stage as you. Diet advice and guidelines are slightly different over here in the UK but basically we are doing the same thing. I am on blended foods at the moment and it is getting very boring. Then I go onto to crunchy foods (breadsticks, melba toasts etc.) and more solidy foods before venturing on a normal diet. I have been taking advice from the American websites though as well as they seem to have more information. The bariatric surgeons over here are great but the aftercare seems to be a little 'fluffy' in places. I did have a lap band prior to my VSG though so I ahve got a bit of experience. Anyway, you will find everyone here extremely friendly, helpful and supportive. I do, even if I don't always know what they're what they are talking about lol!!! Hope you're feeling fine now and don't worry too much about your initial weightloss. I have only lost 8lbs since surgery, which is better off than on, but not the drastic loss I was expecting. You will find you have periods when it drops off you and others when it's very slow. Don't get disheartened because you are now on the losing side and will be looking and feeling fab in no time. Love Helenxxx

Yes, I am finding that if I put too much on my plate I will keep going so I am now limiting the amount I dish up. It's strange because when I had my band I would automatically stop at the first sign of being full (maybe that was more down to a fear of things getting stuck and me vomiting) but now I am craving for things and if I like them really want to finish them off. Does this change one you go onto normal solid foods? I am avoiding being sick at all costs at the moment as I have this abdominal repair to consider as well.

I don't know why I wasn't told. There is quite a lot of info on the net that I haven't been given. We are quite a long way behind you over here in the UK and whilst our surgeons are fine some of our family doctors aren't very clued up. I was in my doctor's surgery on Friday and I could tell that he didn't have a clue what a sleeve gastrectomy was and then proceeded to ask me why I needed a repeat prescription of Lansoprazole!! No doubt we will catch up eventually... xxxx

Hello Barb, the support and info on this site is just great and everyone is really friendly and helpful. Helenxxx

I can second that! I'm nearly 2 weeks out and sick of liquids! BUT it is worth it all and if laparoscopic sleeve surgery is anything like band surgery (I had open but that's because I had had previous abdominal surgery and required further surgery at same time as my sleeve revison) then I can also second that the pain will be minimal and you will be back on your feet within days. Can't comment on the hair issue though as it hasn't been a problem for me. Good luck Helen xxx

Hmmm, try living in the UK...rain is ALL we ever have:thumbdown:

Hi Vegas Angel, do you blend the Soup up and at what point of the post-op diet is this suitable for? I want to give it a try as never had anything like that before and can easily get hold of those ingredients. Thank you Helenxxx

I can't really add anything to what has already been said but well done on getting through everything you have been through and making what isn't always an easy decision. I am certain it will be the right one and not only will you feel great you will look great and that will boost your confidence further. Good luck xxx

You could be onto a nice little earner there!!

Don't worry Stimpy. It sounds like you have done just fine. Your surgeon will have trouble finding your liver, let alone your stomach!!! You have really cut down on fats and that's what your surgeon wants. I have seen programmes where the patient has cheated all week on burgers and fries and all sorts and surgery has still gone ahead. I'm not advocating that though as the surgeon has known straight away and had difficulties. But he won't with you so stop worrying. It's a tense time for you now but good luck and let us know how you get on. Helenxxx

Hang in there Bob. I know it's horrible. I, like Susan, had to do the pre-op diet both for my band 2 years ago and again this time. Mine was a milk and yoghurt diet - that was all I was allowed and it was foul because I don't particularly like either. I did stick to it though as it makes surgery easier and that is what you have to keep in mind. The only thing I allowed myself when I was getting sick of all the sweet was an oxo drink and that helped a bit. Different doctors prescribe different diets and if you are really feeling totally lousy give your surgery a call and see if they can offer any advice. Good luck. Not long until the big day and then you will be on 'the other side'. Helenxxx

Thanks, I am sure you are right and that I am just worrying needlessly at the moment. I was never told to take any meds after, but I was on Lansoprazole prior to surgery so maybe they assumed that I knew I needed to continue taking them. I shall do from now on anyway so thank you for that advice. Am worrying about swine flu now...........

Some of those sound absolutely delish Susan but seeing as I can't get hold of half of those ingredients here in Blighty do you think you could make me up a parcel, all recipes made up of course, and post it over to me as soon as.....:biggrin:

During the day I would be inclined to let the air get to them whilst you are resting as that will encourage them to dry up. Cover them at night and when you are dressed and active. xxx

Welcome and good luck with your op. I am 8 days post-op and feeling fine. You will be too. Helenxxx

I keep dreaming of King Prawn Madras with bhajis! Don't think that would do me much good right now!

I agree with everything you say. I have been on Facebook for about 3 years now and it is so easy for people to get really wound up over comments made. It's the same with texting in that you can't always 'get' the intonation of the person commenting and it may p you off a bit. I try to be very careful in what I say but don't always get it right and then have to say 'I was only joking, having a laugh'. Last week one of my Fb friends had a friend of hers delete her because she said that Elvis was more talented than Michael Jackson! Eh?? How sensitive is that! You just have to be careful I guess.

I am a band to sleeve revision, only being sleeved since last Monday, so I can't compare the two yet, but I can tell you of my experiences with the band. I suffered two severe slippages during the two years I had it, neither of them caused by my not following the diet correctly. I suffered from horrendous indigestion and acid reflux (never suffered from them prior to banding) which did make me vomit a lot. It was truly awful. I was tired, dehydrated and in pain quite a lot of the time. A lot of foods just wouldn't go down at all and whilst I don't regret having it (I lost 105lbs in 12 months) I was absolutely desperate to get it out at the end. When my surgeon performed the revision he found the band to have slipped down to a third of my stomach. Also fills, defills and finding your 'sweet spot' are a pain. You can easily find yourself too tight, not even being able to get liquids down and then you really are in trouble, especially if you have to find someone to perform a defill for you as an emergency procedure. I had the band for the exact reason that it was reversible but even after two years I still need restriction. I have had weight issues for nearly all my life and they are not going to be resolved in the space of 2 years. I needed the permanence of the sleeve for my future health. I don't know much about the long-term issues of sleeving but my husband's grandmother had most of her stomach removed, for different medical reasons when she was young, and lived until she was 87 (dying from unrelated causes) so I am not too concerned about that. Diabetes could hit me quicker and be more of a risk to my health. Keep researching and ensure you make an informed and educated choice. Good luck, Helen xxx

LOL!!! I think that there a lot of people out there looking at any WLS as being the easy option, the quick fix etc.without the necessity of making some lifestyle changes as well! If we could wave a magic wand it would be easier for all of us. Helenxxx

Thanks everyone! All is fine at the moment. It's a bit difficult to tell where the pain is coming from with having the two ops at the same time but I have experienced the cramping and now it's mainly if I eat too much. My feelings of fullness aren't kicking in very quickly now and I feel like I can keep going so will have to be very careful. I am also craving food and want chocolate and all sorts. Think that's more in my head tahn anything else. My diet guidelines are slightly different to yours over there in that I was kept on Water for 3 days and then had to have some blended food before I could go home. I am now on a diet of 5 small meals a day with a main meal consisting of some blended meat, potato and veg. It has to be of a very runny soup-like consistency. It's going down fine except that last night I overdid it and ended up feeling really rough with stomach pains and general discomfort for a while. It does worry me that I could end up bursting my staples by stuffing myself but am guessing from what I have read of others' experiences on here that I would be sick before that happened. Keep in touch Ash. You and I are at the same stage of our journey so it will be interesting to see how we get on and swap tips and experiences. Thanks all for your support and encouragement! Helen xxx

Welcome Chancie. Awesome weight loss so far xxxxx