Indigo1991

Giselle, lots of great answers and advice for you. Just one more thought - what do you want to achieve from this surgery? Looking beyond all your genuine fears and concerns pre surgery, where do you want to be in future? Is there any other way to get there? When I made my decision, I was scared of all the possibilities for things going wrong. But I was more scared of dying before my time. Having tried every diet, exercise etc known to man, I saw this as my last hope - literally. And that outweighed all my surgery fears. So I just kept breathing and got through. Had all the usual WTF moments post op that McButterpants mentioned but do I regret the surgery, even though it isn't the easy option ? Nope, not one jot. I now have a life and I am living it. At 31, you deserve the same. Good luck, keep talking, we'll keep listening... x

Sounds the right thing to do :-) You won't feel hungry just now. I am almost 9 months out and I don't really feel hungry the way I used to. It's different but, trust me, it's all worth it! And if you need reassurance for time to time, you've come to the right place here....

Oh yes, real hot mommas coming through... Sorry Alex for hijacking this thread but shows real friendships have been made :-))))

Revs, you know what I mean :-)))))) But yes, some are more real than others, lol xx

Whilst I have been set on breast reduction and lift, I am now considering a tummy tuck or lower body lift. Is it better to get everything over and done with in one surgery? How manageable is it? I live on my own - would I need any help, even short term? Thanks for any advice.

Trust is crucial. I am in the UK, so not sure yet what the approach to sedation is here. I will ask at the next consult. But you're right, it's hard to evaluate what we are being told. We just have to do the best we can with the info we have. The surgeon I have been to see doesn't recommend implants for me. He's going to use the remaining fat in my breasts and reposition it when he does the reduction. So that's one less decision to make!

I don't have enough fat to lipo, just skin to remove :-( Checking out Pilates classes as I want to get some muscle and shape to my butt, back at the gym for t Toning the rest of me. Thanks for the advice, lots to think about.

I don't think I could have got through my surgery, recovery and everything that followed without this site. In the early days, I was lost and even with the support of a good bariatric team, being able to speak to people who'd been where I was was invaluable. I have made friendships that may be virtual but are very real. Now that I am pretty much at goal, I still hang out here and try to pay back all the advice and support I was given by patient souls. They might have been tired of the newbie who kept asking daft questions but they never showed it! Great site, genuinely useful and filling a need.

Think you put your finger on it when you said clear liquids are going down fine but thicker liquids are feeling stuck. At only a few days out, everything is still very swollen and the feeling you are likely to be having is the signal to tell you to stop drinking, you're full. The little you have had to drink in terms of Protein shake or yogurt may not seem enough to have filled your stomach - but it will be. Take it easy, stick to what you're doing but don't force anything down. As the swelling goes down over the next couple of weeks, it will get easier and you will notice a difference soon. Congratulations on your weight loss to date, good luck on joining the sleeved side :-)

Could be low blood sugar or BP-related, even if you have good BP. Don't know enough about it but could be related to your thyroid meds - you may need to have then reduced in line with your new weight (congratulations on your loss!) Best to have it checked by PCP sooner rather than later, don't want to hurt yourself if you faint or fall over

A friend just shared these words, by Neil Gaiman, and you might find them encouraging or inspiring... words to live by :-) I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before and, more importantly, you're Doing Something. So that's my wish for you and all of us and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes no one's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it's not good enough or isn't perfect, whatever it is; art or love or work or family or life. Whatever it is you're scared of doing - do it. x

Skikyd, no mistakes, no fun:-))))))

Thanks to you both, will ask surgeon about options for anaesthesia. The more I look at my body, the more I realise I need more than a boob lift. Did you do any muscle building before the op?

CBT, had a bad reaction. Felt ok and was ready to get up and walk within 2 hours but every time I tried to walk, I passed out! First night and day, I had to be held up on toilet and was on oxygen. It took 40 hours before I could stand without fainting and the consultant told me it was the anaesthetic. Cosmetics surgeon told me that their anaesthetic was different to the bariatric version - he said if they had people sick from the anaesthesia, no one would ever have more than one procedure! Did reassure me a bit...

Thanks, sounds like it would need to be done over the summer as I can afford to take six weeks off then. Apprehensive about the anaesthetic (bad time post sleeve op with anaesthetic) but ok about the rest of it - for now, lol!

Thanks all. Sounds like one op is do-able. GJ, how long did you need to take off work?

BK sorry, just saw that you are in London.

Are you doing this privately or NHS? Depending on what you need to know, there's a good site BOSPA (British Obesity Surgery Patient Association) at www.bospa.org.uk which you might find helpful. Apart from info on the surgery, they have a list of UK surgeons that might be a good starting place. I had my surgery done in Scotland through Weight Loss Surgery Scotland, a very experienced team who work out of Edinburgh. Where are you?

I can also drink pretty much as before but I do make the effort to take smaller mouthfuls. I still don't drink and eat at the same time, never will, and it's now a habit as my nut says that can stretch your stomach over time- it also allows you to eat more. As for the amounts of food I can eat, I can definitely eat more now than even two months ago. But I still feel a restriction once I get to a certain point so continue to eat Protein first and in starter size/small main portions. You shouldn't worry about stretching your sleeve. Unless you regularly overeat to the point of feeling pain, even if you drink more, you should be ok. Every sleeve relaxes a bit as time goes on, just be sensible and you should be fine :-)

Lmao BrantS1976!!!!!!!! Great post, so pleased for you and your wife... lets hope your confidence keeps, em, "growing" :-)))))

RJ, I have knee high red suede boots. - and black fringed ones Let me know when you need them, lol!!!!

I think you are doing this cos you are going to get a big reaction, you bad girl!!!!

Thank you all for your kind words and understanding. It is a privilege to know such compassionate people -friends- who understand what the rest of the world doesn't. Today is a better day, everything is back the right way up :-)))))

Congratulations on being sleeved! It was a brave thing to do, it's not an easy surgery, but you have now taken control of your health and well being as well as your weight. You have also ensured that your kids won't be denied you being in their lives when they grow up.... I am so sorry about your father but I bet he will be watching and be very proud of you. Good luck in your journey ahead - this is just the beginning of your story, let us know how you are doing :-)

Hi, yes there are a few of us on here :-) Ask away, lets see if any of us can help you!