Indigo1991

Quick update. Another week and just done my second jab - and still no need for Methotrexate. And I have cold hands and feet!!! I have lived for years with hot hands and feet because of my arthritis - had forgotten what it was like :-))) Still emotional about all of this. I got sleeved to change my life and I will never be able to explain how grateful I am for what is happening. Life is good.

I undertook this surgery primarily because 18 months ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes. It is a terrible disease and I managed it through diet and exercise although I was told that, in time, I would need meds despite my efforts. I could have coped with that if I had one chronic illness. But I had been fighting severe inflammatory arthritis for the previous 7 years that saw me taking the maximum dose of Methotrexate, a chemotherapy drug, and injecting Enbrel, a biological therapy, just to keep the arthritis in check and to allow me to live a relatively normal life for as long as possible. But the combo of two chronic conditions meant that, by the start of this year, I was crumbling with month after month of bloods for checking liver and kidneys, feet checks, eye checks, sugar levels ... I felt that I had been branded as being a sick person when I feel anything but and had fought so hard to get on with life and accept my lot. A gastric sleeve seemed to be the option to tackle my diabetes, so I went for it. Two weeks out, all is looking well on that front. But a huge surprise to me, my rheumatologist and my surgical team is that my arthritis is still in remission, a month after stopping my meds. I have now been cleared to restart taking them but my rheumy has suggested restarting the injections only to see if we can keep the arthritis in check before it comes back with any force. I can't explain how I feel - the prospect of this surgery giving me a chance to stop the Methotrexate - even if only for a few months - is truly life changing. Keep ur fingers crossed!!!!

Good luck - and welcome to the club! Hope it all goes well for you today.

You look great! I am 3 weeks out tomorrow and even I can now see the difference in myself - have gone down two sizes in clothes (weight loss is more than on ticker but no idea how much - my dietician asks that we don't weigh ourselves in the first few weeks after the two week check, so due to get weighed next on 5th June. Strangely enough, I can wait because of the shrinking clothes thing). Good luck...

Thanks for sharing this - checked out the new post on your blog and wow! I had large breasts even when I wasn't overweight. I had said that when I lost weight I would get a reduction and lift, even seen a surgeon. But post sleeve, I couldn't contemplate more surgery and thought I would just have to live with saggy boobs. However, even three weeks out from the sleeve, I can see already that that's not going to be an option. But I didn't know anyone who'd done this post sleeve. Then up you pop! So thank you, thank you, thank you for the inspiration. You look great and sound so happy with life. That'll do for me :-)))) Jac x

I am day 18 too and in last couple of days have noticed it is much easier to get all my liquids in. Was also a bit concerned but maybe that's the stomach swelling going down? Beyond that, there's not really any "normal" from what I can see. I am trying to get some shape back in my day by having meal times again. Yesterday, i had 3 tbspn of milky porridge (I am Scottish!) for breakfast, 2 tbspn blended fish and 2 tbspn mash for lunch, similar amounts of blended chicken and veggies for dinner. Have one shake that I split and use as Snacks, a small yog mid evening and lots of baby tea that is pretty much hot milk. No probs with any of it, just trying out something new to eat every day. Appreciate I may still need more Protein but I am doing the best I can - as are you. Good luck, hope your good recovery continues! Jac

Glad you are ok! My doc doesn't allow it because it stimulates saliva, which in turn makes your stomach think food is coming and it produces more acid. Tooth brush and paste in future :-)))))))

Don't beat yourself up - how many French fries would it have been in the past - just one??? And how many sweets in the "old" days??? 36lbs in 7 weeks is great, focus on how well you're doing, that you are eating well and forgive yourself minor blips. Too soon to give up on yourself, anyhow no-one here will let you :-))))

Ps ... Good luck to u too Lawrence for Thursday!

Think we are all scared when we do this, whether we admit it publicly or not. When I arrived at hospital to have my surgery, I couldn't quite believe I was there and what I was going to do to my body. And that was despite me having spent around 18 months considering every aspect of the sleeve. But I went through with it two and a half weeks ago. Has it been easy having this surgery? Not really, there were moments when it was physically hard. But as Lawrence says, you get meds to get through. There have also been times when my emotions kicked in and I seriously questioned what the heck I had done. But I kept reminding myself of the prize - better health, longer life. Was it worth it? After only two and a half weeks, for me, yes. My diabetes is no more and in an amazing twist, the arthritis I have suffered for many years has gone into remission meaning I am off the chemotherapy drug used to control it and am now only injecting. A miracle. We all experience this surgery differently. But we all do it for reasons that matter to us - keep that to the front of your mind cos your life is going to change. Good luck, stay strong on Tuesday and use this site for as much help and support as you need. Jac

Thank you all so much, very grateful for the positive comments. It is exciting and terrifying all at once but I will be happy with any respite, no matter how long.

This brought tears to my eyes... Fantastic and you are looking great! Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, I appreciate your support :-)

Thank you! Good luck to you too, will update things as I go....

Congratulations! Everyone's recovery and story is slightly different so don't worry about what you read - may not happen to you. But the site is great for answering questions and getting support from the people who have gone before you. Hope you continue to recover well - you sound pretty organised! Jac

Well, have done my first injection without also taking Methotrexate, which I had been taking for more than 7 years prior to the sleeve. Surprised myself by bursting into tears! Been a big couple of weeks and I know that the respite from taking this med may only be temporary. But I can dream....

Congratulations! U r doing so well, keep sipping the Water :-) Hope all is good once you are up on ur feet. Am two weeks post op tomorrow and, despite a bit of a sticky start, have no regrets. Like you, I am excited at starting a new life, just started eating blended foods today. Last week, I didn't think I would ever eat again, lol. But time passes quicker than u think.... So good luck, hope u r not bored for too long!

It would be fantastic if she got some respite as an unexpected side effect of her sleeve. AS is terrible. My arthritis started at 22 years old but I simply ignored it until my mid 40s when it was making life difficult coping using NSAIDs. No one here can explain why this is happening and I am trying to stay calm... but I will let you know how things progress. Wish your wife well from me x

It is a chance I never expected to get! You are right, the feeling of being back in control is exciting :-))))

That's a great weight loss! Life must be very different for you...but you will have worked hard to achieve that. Have come to realise that a sleeve is not an easy answer and it seems to be more a partnership between you and it - you get back what you put in. So altho I didn't undertake this lightly, was still slightly taken aback to have the "what have I done?" conversation with myself. But as you said, it passes. Thanks for taking the time to respond. I may take you up on your kind offer of answering questions - I have a way to go yet. We probably have the same team at Spire Edinburgh. They have been great but nothing beats hearing from someone who's had the op and is travel the same road, albeit firther ahead. Had a good day, feeling confident I can do this. Thanks for inspiring me :-)))) J x

Today marks my first week of being sleeved. It has been a roller coaster ride but I can see light at the end of the tunnel - and, finally, it doesn't feel as if the light is coming from a train heading towards me :-) What has made the difference is this site and all of you. With every new issue that has arisen, I have come here and found answers to my questions because you have taken the time to share your experiences. From nausea to sleeping positions, I have found reassurance, advice and, most important, learned that we all experience this life changing event differently. But we are all on the same road. And that helps big time. I may be doing this my way but I feel I am not alone whatever lies ahead. Thank you :-) Jacqui x

Thanks -and to you too!!!

You put your finger on it - we are doing this for a better life... Am going to chant this every time I feel down :-)

Am a couple of days behind you and sympathize completely. I want to vomit at the thought of milk or Protein Shakes. However, spoke to my nurse this morning, who said I was trying too hard to get the Protein in. She suggested milky coffee, creamy soup (no bits and you can add milk without actually tasting it), yogurt, Water, frozen yogurt, sugar free lollies (Popsicles). Have tried this and now feel as if I am back in control and that I can survive this phase. Hang in there, never has the phrase "this too will pass" been truer! Ps I could kill for a piece of roast beef, something I wouldn't have thought about pre-op, lol

I'm with u on the retraining.... Spoke to my nurse today and she said I was trying too hard and needed to ease back on forcing down liquids. So am being more relaxed and I have to say I feel better, less of a failure. As a result, have had some soup, Water and tea so am now peeing properly which is progress, lol. I am in Edinburgh so we take our pain relief in tablet form from day 1 so don't have any probs with the meds. But this isn't an easy option, as you say, it's hard and support is crucial. My 21 year old son, who has been a star, has been a bit apprehensive about eating around me. Looking at his lamb, potatoes and mushrooms, I try to remember there will be a day when I can eat that again - although not in the same portion size as I used to. Day by day, we will get there. It's early days and you need to be kind to yourself too. Hope today is a better day form you. And my name is Jacqui :-)