SParkle

Barbara - great results!! Congratulations!! Kathy

Hiya I also have thin hair, and am concerned, and I'm also up for surgery in June, and have upped my Protein now, with a Protein Drink every morning in order to make sure I am getting enough at least now.... and I always take a multi vit with Iron anyway so will continue to do so after surgery. Good luck Kathy

Thanks from me too, to all contributors, as I was also anxious to know what people went thru....

Hi You must be excited but nervous....I can't wait until I have only 4 days to go... if it wasn't for having to go back to England for a wedding I'd book in earlier! How are you finding your pre op diet - is it a liquid one or just the low carb food? Way to go for loosing 10lbs in a week tho!! Kathy

Fab story and beautiful picture of you in your new dress! You'll knock 'em for 6!! Congrats Kathy

Great idea to try and kick some of those habits before...I'm trying that too.... with surgery booked for June 10th I feel like time is dragging. But I have been productive by clearing out all 'bad' foods from the kitchen cupboards. Hubby has started his annual summer diet, so its pretty easy for me to be really good at the moment, so I am focusing on trying to lower my weight for the surgery, and to ensure I'm as fit as I possibly can be I have started a fitness regime today- I have aWii Fit, and have dug out my sports bra to hold me in place as I jog round the lounge (with the dog in tow!!). I'll second that - I have a small sample of one chocolate one which was 'ok', but not great..and the guy in the shop was trying to convince me to buy a 1kg tub! I've also got a small tub (630g) of Lean Dessert coming thru, and I've just bought a 200g tub of a soya protein one... which is ok, but i would prefer it if I wasn't one that turns out to be lactose intolerant after surgery!! Good luck with your waiting....I'm sure nearer the time there will be more with surgery around that date, so it'll be good to be impatient together!! Kathy

Congratulations.. and you have a buddy to see you thru this as well in your step mum. Keep us posted.....and keep up the good work!! ;o)

Thats a great result - well done!

What a great link - I've seen quite a few others, and this one seems to have more detail - thanks!

Congrats on your surgery..... and thanks for posting!

Hi Sonia and welcome to the board. I'm sure its great that you can both go thru this together.... and i know you'll find everyone here very welcoming and theres so much information which will help you both as well. I'll be interested to see your replies on the waking up thing - I don't sleep well sometimes, and usually take herbal remedies to help me get some shut eye, (valeriana Leo) so it'll be something I'll add to my list for my pre op consult next month to check if I'll be able to take it. Good luck to you both Kathy

I'll be round soon... please keep some of that yummy food for me!!! Seriously tho, Tiffany - wishing you good luck with your surgery. Kathy

Ahhh - Ok thanks Tiff for the rapid response! I didn't think the Protein with Water counted as clear.... so that'll make things a lot easier I reckon. I'm going to take the info on the one I reckon will be ok with me to the next appt with the dietician so can run them past her to check they're ok, and i did test a sample one today,half of it mixed with water and also half of the pack with milk as well to see what difference it made - I was shocked how different it tasted! My concern is that I don't want to buy massive jars as most say tastes change post op, so 1lb jars sound ok.

Ok - with surgery booked for June 10th I have plenty of time to prepare..... and have been looking at Protein shakes - I think I have found one which will be ok and isn't in too large an amount (just over 1lb jars) which I can get on the web. My thoughts are now on the clear liquid stage where you need to get as much protein as possible. Keep in mind I live in Spain so can't get unjury or Isopure.... But I did find these which I can also order...... 6 x 45g Dymatize Elite Liquid Protein Container Size: 1 Box Serving Size: 1 bottle (89ml) Servings Per Container: 6 Elite Liquid Protein Amount Per Serving: Total Calories: 180 Protein: 45g Total Carbohydrates: 0g -Sugars: 0g -Dietary Fibre: 0g Fat: 0g -Saturates: 0g Sodium: 125mg Elite Liquid Protein Ingredients: Pure Filtered Deionized Water, Elite Liquid Protein Blend (Biopeptide, whey Protein Isolate and Casein Protein Isolate), L-Glutamine), Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavours, Sucralose, Red #40 Is this the sort of thing I should be looking at during those first few days to get as much protein as possible?? Ever hopeful! Kathy

Thanks Jack. It was a hard decision but in the end I went with the one who does the 3 rows, feeling it would be safer - I had problems with a seroma (build up of fluid like an internal blister) on a previous surgery, so know only too well about complications and the emotional turmoil they can cause so wanted to try and ensure as much as possible that all goes well. At the end of the day its an elective surgery, and I am fully aware of the risks. Thanks for the wishes.

Today is our 3rd wedding anniversary, and my wonderful husband has just given me a cheque to have the surgery! (This is a joint birthday and anniversary present - for about the next 30 yrs !!!) So I have to finally make the choice between the 2 surgeons we saw. So.. .advice please.... Surgeon A Done over 700 ops with only 1 death due to patient being highly morbidly obese and having post op complications Uses size 34 bougie does 2 lines of staples with sutures Surgeon B Done over 170 ops with no deaths Uses size 32 bougie Does 3 lines of staples with sutures Apart from that they are on a par. Both seem very good and I got on well with both of them, travel wise the B surgeon is only an hour away, the other is 1hr 45, so not much in it really. Does the amount of staple lines make a difference?? So excited and yet nervous too!!! Kathy

Fabulous pictures!! No wonder you're grinning from ear to ear!! Thanks for posting, and for being such an inspiration. Kathy

Thanks Tiff - June 10th it is!!! The countdown is on.

Hi to you all I'm an Ex Pat living in Spain - (we've been out here for 7 yrs now) so this UK part of the forum was the nearest I could find for me! I'm currently 94kg, BMI 34.9, and have always struggled with being overweight, luckily no complications from it tho. Heaviest was 105kg about 5 yrs back now. I'm a self pay, op just waiting to be scheduled, probably around early June as I need to come back to the UK end of May for my nieces wedding, and don't fancy having it done before then just in case of complications. I did look into prices in the UK and also Czech republic and Belgium, but in the end felt more comfortable having it done nearer to home. I find the forum excellent, but struggle when looking for hints on the dietary needs/protein drinks etc due to all the US products, so thought at least if I can find some UK stuff then I can get it via the web. Congrats on all of you ready sleeved..... looking forward to joining you soon!!! Kathy

Thanks Mini Me - just waiting now for date info.....So early June here we come, after our trip to the UK!

Two rows or three? Both with oversewing.... Is 3 better - more secure? My surgeon choice is really coming down to this, plus the fact one does more leak tests (on table and each day for a week, done at home by yourself and watch your drains for blue dye) - the one who does 2 rows - but you have to wonder does he do more as there is more chance of leaks...??? The 3 row one does 3 leak tests.....on the table, and two the next day before going home.

As far as I understand only one of them....I know from previous surgery sometimes the drains are necessary, but it is a risk for infection..... I think we have made a decision to go with the 3 row one, and are now waiting for a date from him.

Did anyone have a tube to help relieve stomach gas? I have heard this is possible, and having read some comments about trapped gas/wind, wondered if this might be a major plus on the comfort front?

Good to hear its nothing major then....I could imagine being windy for days and gassing my husband!

Thanks! We talked about it last night and I think we will end up going for B - the 3 lines of staples is just pushing him into the lead for us.