Lorraine Freeman

My dietician told me the 20 rule, you chew everything at least 20 times, wait 20 seconds between bites, and anything left on your plate after 29 minutes has to be pushed away. Hope this helps. Oh yeah and bites should be no bigger than your thumb nail. Xxxx

I had to lose 10% of my body weight in the first year and then show I could maintain it for a year before I was approved for my sleeve. (I'm in Scotland though do things are different here)

Yeah I got this also, its just your body healing. I used to get it if I turned or bent a certain way, it felt like a sharp pain as if someone was sticking a needle in me from the inside. If its sore all the time I would get checked, otherwise just keep an eye on the incisions to make sure they don't become infected.

This is totally normal at this stage. My nut told me that it should take you no longer than 20 mins to eat something, as soon as you get to 20 mins whatever is left should be put away. As you get on to solid foods the feeling of restriction becomes easier to determine and the stuck/full to the top of your throat feeling subsides, you feel it in your stomach like you did before your op. everything just takes time to heal and get back to 'normal' When you get on to solids just remember the 20 rule, chew everything 20 times at least, wait 20 secs between bites, and anything left after 20 mins should be pushed away. Hope this helps. XXxxx

I was on my period when I had surgery also.when the surgeon came round to speak to me before surgery I informed him sheepishly that I had my period and that It was pretty heavy (tmi) He told me to keep my pants and pad on for surgery even though the nurses would tell me to take them off. I explained to the nurses what the surgeon said and all was fine. ( I didn't have a catheter but made sure I went to the toilet straight before surgery). Ask your surgeon when he comes to see you before surgery, I'm sure he will be fine with you keeping your pants on, just be sure to pack loose fitting ones so that they can easily roll them down and back up again if required (over your tummy) Xxxx

Yeah I had those thoughts all the time. I am from Scotland and its a two year wait before surgery and you are required to lose 10% of your body weight in the first year a d then at least maintain it in the second. After I did this I asked my surgeon if he thought I could "go it alone" He said it was up to me but in his opinion surgery was for the best as this would ensure that I wouldn't gradually fall back into bad habits and the weight go back on. He said that 90% of people that have over 9 stone to lose, without surgery would put the weight back on. In Scotland we don't pay for surgery, so he had no reason to lie about it. I am 10 weeks post op and can honestly say I don't regret it at all. I'm not going to lie, the first couple of weeks were rough but now that I'm through them every day becomes less and less obsessive about having had the surgery and more about living a "normal" healthy lifestyle.

I came to the final decision by weighing up my life the way it was before the surgery and the way it could be after the surgery. I had not long graduated as a nursery teacher and couldn't get a job because of my weight. I couldn't run around and play with my kids. If I walked anywhere I would sweat like I was just out the shower. I couldn't fit into any theme park rides. When going out for meals with the family I had to make sure I picked a booth/table that I would fit in. Diabeties runs in my family so u was high risk. To sum it up, I really didn't have a ME life. I have and always will have my kids, however I didn't have any real quality of life. I have lost around 40lbs since surgery on 7 th of November and already I feel for once like there is light at the end of the tunnel. The sweating has gotten a lot better. My clothes fit better. I have more energy for playing with my kids. I take up less space on seats. This is only the beginning for me. I am determined to get a life back and know I couldn't have done it alone. I have less fear of failure as I know I have something to help me. I know if I am good to my sleeve and treat it right, it will return the favour. Sorry for droning on. Hope this helped. Xxxx

Thanks for that, sounds yum. We don't have anything like that here though :0(

Only my best friend and my husband knew I was going through the process ( it takes 2 years across here and only 10 people a year are accepted in each postcode) I did tell my family after I had the operation but apart from that I have kept it to myself. WLS is a very frowned upon thing where I live and people have the "it's the easy way out" opinion. It's up to you who you tell or don't tell, it's you who is going through the life changing journey nobody else. Go with what makes you feel comfortable and at a later date if you want to tell more people then the option is always there. Xxx

Forgot to say, I also have a Horlcks made with milk before I go to bed.

Hi for breakfast I have either a fat free yoghurt - 100 cals and 9grams of protein or a slim fast - 230 cals 15 grams protein. Lunch I usually have either 100grams mussels - 102 cals 19 grams protein (pickled mussels in a jar) or crab sticks and prawns (same nut as above) or I sometimes have crackerbread with laughing cow light, pâté or peanut butter Tea I have 4 oz of meat eg. Chicken wrapped in bacon with a little cheese in the middle or cheese ham and tomato quiche ( I don't eat the pastry ), scampi, prawns with lime and ginger, chicken and sweetcorn soup, home made turkey meatballs. I am eight weeks out and have lost 30 pounds since surgery. I hope this helps. Xxxx

Stupid question but what's chipotle? From Scotland and never heard of it. Xxx

Protein helps your body to heal quicker after the surgery. It repairs all the cut muscle and skin.

Yeah I had real bad nightmares about vampires and stuff :0s My doc says its cause your body is in shock after the surgery.

Be careful having red meat at only a month out, my doctor recommended I stay away from it til 3 months out. I know every doc is different but just saying if you are having it chew it really well before you swallow. ( I don't want to sound like I'm bossing you or anything) XXxxx

My advice to you would be to go for more dense proteins such as chicken, fish etc as these fill you up quicker. There are foods that you will be able to eat more of but try and stick to proteins first. You should be having around 2-4oz's of dense protein at a meal before thinking about eating anything else with it. Hope this helps hunny. XXxxx

How far out are you and how much can you eat?

Yeah this is totally normal I'm afraid. My doc recommended I took liquid codeine for a few days to help make things more solid. It's so miserable having the runs, make sure you are keeping. Hydrated though as this can cause your kidneys to fail and you to get kidney stones. XXxxx

I have been quietly following you and am so glad that things (touch wood) seem to finally be looking up for you. Hopefully you will be home with your loved ones for the New Year and be able to start a new complication free journey. I really admire how strong you have been throughout this whole thing and would like to wish you all the best for 2013. XXxxx