Bornagainbabe

It could be that the sleeved part of the stomach is tougher and doesn't stretch like the old stomach could.

I had to return a skirt I had ordered today as it was miles too big!!! I couldn't believe it and was certain that I was still in a UK size 18. I didn't have the confidence to order a 16 as the size 18 jeans I wear every day don't seem that big on me. Anyway it has gone back and a 16 is now on order. I haven't lost any more weight lately but I definitely seem to be losing inches as a couple of people have commented on my weight-loss recently. It's really great to be able to wear lovely clothes again and not the tents that were 'comfy' xxxxxxxxxxxx

Don't know about 'style-guru' Dalited! Don't know about Primark as well! Would set my sights a bit higher than that!

I am sure you will be fine. Try not to get too stressed over the Christmas vacation and relax. When do you have to start your pre-op - can you not wait until after New Year? I'm only curious because I had to start mine 10 days prior to the op. I know that all surgeons have different requirements though so you must follow what yours' prescribes. I am sure your surgeon will be fine as well so don't worry. I know there are people who have different opinions on this where bariatric surgery is concerned but you must have had confidence in him in the first place (do you know his success rate?) and as he has been performing surgery on cancer patients for some time he will have plenty of experience in that area of surgery where gastrectomies are concerned. I don't think you should worry as it's not like revision surgery where he has to deal with slipped bands, scar tissue etc. Good luck and enjoy your Christmas xxx

All the best. Hope it all goes well x

It's great isn't it to look in the mirror and actually like what you see for a change. I know I will be at the large end of a 16 as I was this weight and size about 12 years ago so I think I have a good idea of what will fit now. Size 14 is a long way away at the moment. Even when I was young I couldn't get into 14 bottoms when I was around 154lbs (I'm 5'8") as I have a rather large bum!!! I am going to an 80s party on Saturday as.....wait for it.....Madonna! I have got all the gear together...rara tutu, leg warmers, fingerless lace gloves, etc. etc. I shall upload the photos for you to have a laugh at. I would never have dared do that a few years ago! I am going to look a prat but who cares.......???!!!

Yeah it's all normal. You have just had major surgery so you can't expect anything else at the moment. Just keep taking your painkillers (these will enable you to keep mobile), get plenty of rest as well (you may experience restlessness at night but that is normal too) and follow your surgeon/dieticians guidelines regarding food intake. You will progress through the diet now and before long you will be onto mushy turkey, roasties and sprouts lol! Take care and you will be fine x

No Joon! I will just stick with the ecstasy and crystal meth! Joke!!!

That's brilliant Tiffy - well done! Mine's about the same now as well. Started at about 47 and now 29. It's great isn't it?

Good one! Was really worried when I saw your previous post and was going to tell you to ask for some different painkillers! You're obviously sorted out now. Make sure you get plenty of rest at home x

If the headache gets bad stop the morphine. I didn't have any after day 1 as it made me so ill and the post-op pain was easier to bear than the headache from hell. Ask for a non-opiate based painkiller if you need it x

Yes it could be hematoma, not trying to scare you here, and it can easily be treated. Just get it looked at asap. It may also just be scar tissue but you won't know until you get it checked out. I had a hematoma and it was soon sorted out with antibiotics so don't get into a panic x

A hairdresser over here suggested Evening Primrose Oil. Not tried it yet but I have noticed hair loss, nothing too serious, when I wash it.

Yes it's not easy is it? I know what you're going through. My husband was in the army for 22 years and fought on the front line in the first Gulf War. My daughter was 12 months old when he went and we were living in Germany with no family for support. I gained 30lbs whilst he was away as my only comfort was in wine and food! We are all here for you to have a good old moan to when you need to xxx

I had it! I was itching all over, in particular on the soles of my feet and my palms but it was everywhere else as well. I came out in little red blotches on my hands and feet which would flare up and then disappear. My surgeon had no idea what it was and I treated it myself with anti-fungal creams at first. My GP had no idea what it was either and prescribed me with a very strong anti-histamine and anti-itch cream. It did go though and I am no longer troubled with it. My friend who is a doctor is convinced it was pruritus (?) and could have resulted from all the stuff they slap all over you prior to surgery.

I agree with what's already been said and I would just keep an eye on it and not panic. You are bound to have occasional pain considering you have just had an operation and as it was revision surgery there will be more scar tissue etc. I still get pain every now and then but nothing that I am overly concerned about considering what my stomach has been put through. I did get sharp pains soon after surgery, especially after eating or drinking and it was just my stomach being sensitive, which it would be after having had a band slipped the third of the way down it, daily reflux and vomiting and then most of it cut out and the remaining bit stapled up!

I am a band to sleeve revisionist and I have posted quite a bit on this subject in the past. There are several of us on here, many with more experience on the subject than I, but I think I am right in saying that I believe your success will depend largely on your attitude and how you work with your sleeve. By that I am not trying to insinuate that you didn't work with your band as I, like you, had many problems with the band and couldn't wait to get it out. When you first have your sleeve you have to stick to the dietary guidelines given to you by your surgeon. Foods not recommended won't get stuck but they will give you a lot of pain and will have the potential to cause you serious damage. It's not rocket science but it's not easy either and it is very important that you go into it with the right attitude and are prepared to do as you are told and work with it. I think that the recovery rate is very similar to the band if you have laparascopic surgery. I didn't as I had major abdominal surgery at the same time and that was a greater issue to me pain-wise and recovery-wise so that's why I am guessing that the sleeve surgery alone is not so bad, but I am sure that there will be plenty of people here who might put me straight on that one!!! You will be up and about straight afterwards though and in hospital 2 or 3 days. I think that if you have the right attitude and need to lose a lot of weight then you would be mad not to have the revision surgery as without it you will only regain those 30lbs you lost, if not more, and then be back to square one. But you really do need to give it a lot of thought and consideration and some some research of your own. Plenty of advice will be along here after Thanksgiving! Good luck, Helen x

Is Mr Ahmed doing yours Chilli? I know of people getting it on the NHS but like you they have other health issues. I was very lucky in getting my revision done on the NHS and the surgeon told me that it would definitely not be offered to me again if I backed out. I didn't have serious health issues but I did have a slipped band that was causing me a lot of pain and discomfort as well as well constant vomiting as a result of the reflux. I had had surgery the previous year on a huge abdominal hernia so perhaps the PCT reckoned that it was in their best interest to fund the revision rather than me regaining all my lost weight and having further hernia problems. I was lucky anyway as here in Sheffield no one, without other health issues, is considered for bariatric surgery with a BMI of under 50! Hi Hyacinth, not seen you for a while. You have really been through it lately haven't you? That was my worst nightmare having a cold before my surgery date. I hope you finally get your surgery in Jan though and can be on your way. It must be so frustrating for you xxx

I think that is a good cautionary tale and I have watched programmes on TV where patients are viewing this surgery as a magic wand being cast over them in order to become a size zero. I think there are those who do see it as an easy option and have no understanding of the seriousness of major surgery or its possible complications, similarly to those seeking cosmetic surgery for minor imperfections. I know that NHS patients in the UK, as chillihot rightly stated, undergo rigorous pre-op assessments but I expect that is a slightly different story for some private patients prepared to part with 10k. I didn't have any pre-op assessment at all when I had my band done. I was a private patient with a huge abdominal hernia who failed to lose weight in order to undergo surgery and my surgeon who is also a highly reputable bariatric surgeon carried out band surgery a month after us discussing it. However, band surgery is a lot less invasive than other bariatric surgeries and I am confident that he was confident that I was intelligent enough to follow all the dietary guidelines and be wholly sensible. I was and I stuck to my pre-op diet rigorously and followed all instructions after the op to the letter. This was the same when I had my sleeve done. Again I had already proved to my surgeon by working with my band for two years and losing a lot of weight that I was a candidate for revision surgery. It is major surgery though and you just can't go into it thinking it anything but that. I had researched it, I was well-aware of the possible complications associated with it, as with any surgery, and I did exactly as my surgeon instructed. Follow-ups are not so good over here as I haven't seen anyone since August and am waiting for my 3 monthly appointment, but, I know where I can go if I do need any help. I agree with you and dispute whether or not your mother-in-law was a viable candidate for this surgery. It does appear, on first reading your post, that she didn't have a full understanding of what she was getting into and the surgeon and dieticians involved should have been more aware of this. I know that many will not carry out surgery if the liver hasn't been shrunk enough and patients are being stitched up and sent back up to the ward! I am very sorry for your mother-in-law. It must be very stressful for all of you and I hope that she makes a good recovery. I also think that your post is a very valuable cautionary tale for those who think that this surgery, or any type of bariatric surgery, is an easy option. It does have to be taken extremely seriously and does require commitment from the patient as well. Helenx

Helen, White castles are a very small hamburger or cheeze burger. The buns are like a dinner roll. Very soft white bread. The meat patties are square like a large postage stamp. they put chopped onions, grilled if you want on and that is it. No sauces of any kind. there are little packets of ketchup and pickles and mayo you can add your own. The whole thing is steam cooked. All very soft and wonderful. Horrible for you I am sure! It is a chain of fast food places in the Mid west and Eastern part of the US. I do not thave them in California. I have relatives in Michigan. Hence my knowledge. White castles were the cure for a hangover when I was of that inclination. We can get them here frozen from costco, but, they are NOT the same. All the restruants out here are making "sliders" little tiny hamburgers, but, really good ingredients. Excellant for sleevers. Only, three of us need to go eat one plate of them. hahaha. It's all good. They sound alright! I looked at the link Bill sent and didn't quite get what 'sliders' meant but it is all becoming clearer now. I have never been a fan of burgers, even pre-op I was never much into that type of food and if we ever went to MacDonalds I would always opt for chicken or fish. Fast food tends to make me feel bunged up and sluggish! However, very occasionally I have had the craving and would love lots of fried onions and ketchup on it. I haven't seen anything like that in Costco over here so maybe they don't think that they would appeal to the UK market - good idea for kids' parties though!

Thanks Bill! Good idea if you can only eat very small amounts and are dying for a burger! Can you order just one though or do you have to have a portion of 4? It's ok if you have the family with you and they can finish off the leftovers although it's not very good for them and they are expanding as quickly as I am shrinking lol!

Well done Judy! Reaching Onederland is your first milestone reached and it's great! You will feel great when you're slipping into that slinky little black number at Christmas! Incidentally, I'm one of those people who doesn't know what White Castles is???

It may take a while Daisy. Be patient and get plenty of rest - you're only a week out. I had abdominal surgery at the same time as my sleeve and it seemed to take ages to get over it. Glad you are on the mend though and if you have any worries see your doctor. Take care x

Hope you are feeling better soon. It's doing the rounds this side of the pond too, together with sickness bugs, and I like you work with children so only a matter or time I guess....

I am so sorry for all you have been through. Revision surgery is always riskier and you have been extremely unfortunate. There's nothing more I can say except that I hope you continue to get better. Much love x