JudyM

I had no drain, and only have 4 incisions - one tiny one between my boobs, 2 teeny ones that are almost healed already (one practically invisible!), and the larger one on the left, where I assumed they hoicked out the leftover bit they had cut off! I had staples, not stitches. I use a soft pillow to add extra cushioning and I can then lie on my side. Off to bed now, as have exceeded my PC time!! (TOH is restricting me sitting at PC for too long at one stretch!)

Ermmmm... I'm on them already! Have had Soup, scrambled egg, mash with teeny bits of ham in, weetabix and milk (as a mush), fromage frais, slimfast drink (on a day I couldn't think what to have!) So far so good. My doctor (French) was adamant I wasn't to stick to Clear Liquids, but to have pureed veg soup, fromage frais etc. I had veg soup, yogurt and apple puree in hospital my first meal 3 days post op!

Good luck from France Lillita - you are one week behind me, so I shall be looking over my shoulder!

If you were in France, you would be doing exactly what the doctors tell you! I was worried, as I had no pre-op diet, no breathing exercises, no real post-op dietary advice, except NOT to have liquids only... Bon appetit!

That is soooo what I would have liked to have said! I agree - being overweight is NOT a crime (not that you would guess the amount of hysteria and discrimination around), neither is doing something about it. Totally agree. Pat yourself on your gorgeous back for finding the solution and going for it. Good for you! x

Yayyy!! Good luck, and be a good patient for those nurses!! Will be thinking of you tomorrow - hugs xx

PCindy - You will be fine. We look forward to seeing you back on here post-surgery! Bon courage, as they say here in France! x

I had my op last Tuesday, in France, so that won't help with answering your first few questions! For me, the first 18 hours after the op were a bit grim.. (but nothing when compared with the pain after the hysterectomy I had 10 years ago). By Wednesday morning, I was starting to feel better. I was up and about Thursday, had my first full drink of Water. Ate a light 'meal' on Thurs evening. Staples out and home Saturday. I am SO glad I had this done. It is early days, but it seems fine so far. My gas is escaping well the more I move around and that reduces the chest tightness you feel. A tiny bit of nausea in the first 24 hours. Not on any pain meds at all since last Thursday morning. Friends know what I have been doing, and my brother and fab sis-in-law. Others just know I have been in hospital :confused1: Read up all you can - I did and this forum has been amazingly helpful and generous. You are on the first step of your Journey!

Dear Mary, Sherri and Monica, my fellow 22 June Sleevers.... It is a beautiful summer day here in Normandy, France. I feel great! I still have a restriction from the gas pumped in during the operation (HOW do they pump it in there?!!! :smile:), but that will dissipate (Thanks Jane for the advice on that!) I have had a lovely shower, Breakfast was a puree of apple and banana. I had a walk around the garden, and I am going to try my first small cup of tea in an hour or so. I am sipping at cool Water all day. I had NO pre-op diet, NO post-op dietary advice, NO drugs, and the surgeon was adamant for me not to go onto clear stuff, but to start with thick Soups and pureed mash. So far so good! I've had cream of tomato soup; cream of chicken Soup, a bowl of mashed potato with teeny tiny bits of ham stirred into it. My next challenge is to make up a food diary to make sure I get sufficient Protein. This afternoon, England play Germany in the World Cup (sorry that USA went out by the way, even though they beat us ). We have friends coming round for a barbie and to watch the game. I can't believe it is less than a week since the op!! For anyone still waiting - go for it - sure the first 24 hours afterwards was not a day I'd like to repeat, but the recovery thereafter was - and is - astounding! I'd be happy to talk to anyone that would like to (but pls remember the time difference: GMT + 2) on Skype. My Skype address is judy-mansfield ... I am the only one in France!, so easy to find!

Have 'only' lost 2 kgs so far, but I wasn't on a pre-op diet. In fact, in the French hospital, they don't go in for clear Soups afterwards, they get you straight on to pur?es to get your stomach working. Was on a drip for 2 days, then Water (tasted like champagne!) and then a pea velout? Soup thing, followed by a natural yogurt, which was very cool and soothing. I also had a mid morning Cr?me Vanille, and for lunch yesterday, another soup. At dinner, I had some pur?ed potato with a teeny tiny bit of cheese melted into it. NO post-op diet advice given at all, which is why I have found this US site so flipping useful. Managed half a small tin of tomato soup for lunch, and my husband had saved the first 2 juicy strawberries from our garden, which I pureed and stirred into plain fromage frais. That will be my mid-afternoon treat :001_tt2: Still have lots of gas to get rid of :blushing: And you're right, it does obstruct your breathing.. But nothing alarming, and I feel remarkable considering. Oh, nearly forgot! I have a nurse coming in every evening (from this evening) to give me a blood thinning injection, and to do a blood test every 2 days. Voil?!

I'm home too! Had surgery Tuesday, got home this morning. All went well, keyhole surgery (4 incisions) - scars are minsicule apart from the biggest one (I assume where they hoicked the unwanted stomach out!). Will write up my blog, but I have to say I feel FAB! :lol0: xx

Bonjour! Well, it's Sunday. Off to the hospital tomorrow. I have to be there for 3.30pm, even though the operation isn't until Tuesday morning. I get a 'light supper' about 5 pm, then apparently I'm to have a shower and wash my hair with some antibacterial jollop that smells like drain cleaner! and again in the morning. The instructions are very precise on how and where to wash - makes particular mention of your bellybutton and between your bumcheeks :scared0: Hope they don't come and inspect!!! The hospitals here are very hot on preventing MRSA (do you have that in US?) by scrubbing everything and everyone to within an inch of their lives. Which is a good thing. I took the dogs up around our fields this morning - the sun is shining, birds were singing fit to bust. :thumbup1: I collected the eggs, did a bit of weeding in the veg patch and planted some more salad crops. Couldn't help wondering when I will do that next - not too long, I hope! Spent ages in the bathroom, used all my body scrubs and delicious shower gels (had already got rid of the 'lady garden' (TMI, I know :thumbup:)... Buffed my finger and toenails, did the cuticles... I'm scrubbed, smoothed, trimmed and fragrant as can be. It is all about displacement activity and that pretence of being in control again!! Tomorrow is my last blog entry before I'm a fully-fledged sleever! Can't believe it.. Will load some more radio programmes onto my iPod today - I have Book at Bedtime, Play for Today, the News Quiz and The Archers Omnibus x 2 and Desert Island Discs (All from Radio 4 and 7 - the Brits on here will recognise the progs!). French TV is so rubbish, it isn't worth me paying the equivalent of 10 dollars a day for my own TV.

To the hospital today.. It is midsummer's day, and the longest day of the year... I bet it will feel like that, too! I'll be glad when it is tomorrow afternoon, my tummy is doing somersaults already :crying: I have a few work things to do, which I hope will keep me occupied until we leave around midday. Have a fab week all, and good luck to everyone having their operations this week :scared0:

Hi to the 22 June girls! We are The Sleever Divas :confused1: Couldn't resist a last quick peek on here.... it always leaves me feeling better :confused1: If anyone wants to call me next week (remember I am on Paris time, which is GMT+1hr), you can get me via Skype (which is free) as judy-mansfield and I am the only one listed in France! Let's meet up on here on Sunday, and compare notes!! Lots of love, Bon chance et ? bientot! (Good luck, and see you soon!) xxxxxx

You are looking very good - you must be delighted!

Oh my goodness - that must have been scary... So glad all is well x

I'm not ashamed of having this operation! I am actually proud of having identified a solution and taking positive action. As you say Carolyn, hiding at the back in pics is horrible. In my case, there are whole family holidays and occasions with not one pic to even show I was there! For me, that is where the shame lies; hiding away, feeling miserable and cross and guilty .. PCindy - I can't comment on the pre-op loss. My surgeon didn't ask me to do it and said the pre-op diet wasn't necessary.... but you still have over a week to go, so you may manage a few more pounds off? I am so motivated for this - I want to see my cheekbones, I know they are in there somewhere!!! x

Brilliant news - thanks for the update - you must be feeling better by the day! Sooo glad your friend and her mom were there for you too x

Cindy - I didn't mean to leave you out, but not sure when your surgery date is? Just hang on in there - you have come a long way already, and it would be a shame to make a U-Turn just now. Try and stay positive xx

Dear Mary and Sherri - Here I am, also anxious about the 22nd!! All 3 of us on the same day!! I have been busy fiddling about with this and that... I have made some Soup that I have pureed and put into the freezer in little bowls ready for 'thick liquid' phase! I've done the ironing, dusted and polished, and I have exfoliated, trimmed, tweezed, plucked and conditioned myself.... I go in to hospital tomorrow afternoon, then home again Saturday, they said - France does like to keep you in hospital a long time (if I can get out earlier, I will!). I'm most anxious about the pre-med drowsy bit (I hate not being in control :001_rolleyes:) and the 24 hours after surgery. Other than that, I think I'm fine. I keep daydreaming about buying clothes in a UK size 12-14 instead of UK 22-24. Bring it on, I say! Let's be gorgeous slim girls together - I want to rediscover my ribs and cheekbones! 'Bon Courage' as they say over here!! Go girls!!! :thumbup::thumbup: