katieTC

I had my sleeve on the 14th of feb. My pain level in hospital was through the roof for the majority of the two days I was in there. I am 3 weeks out now and still have to take paracetamol and codeine 4 hours. If I laugh I have servers pain, crying gives me severe pain and general day to day movement gives me a lot of pain, that's why continue to take my pain killers. A friend who had her op the same day as me has had no pain for two weeks. She's been doing light swimming for two weeks. I could not imagine doing any exercise. I struggle to do a decent amount of walking. What are other people going through? Xxx

Hi no your not doing it wrong, your just learning. I'm 10 weeks out and I still have a ton of stuff to learn. Don't worry about your weight loss it comes off slow for some people. My sister is 2 weeks behind me and has lost a lot less but she is still loosing. I dropped a load of weight really fast and now I've stayed the same for weeks. It really is different for everyone. My doctor told me not to have shakes and just try to eat real foods at a consistency i could manage. I still struggle to drink enough water ( if I'm honest I never drink anywhere near enough water). Follow what your doctor says and just do your best. Try not to stress it's still a long road even with our sleeves but it's going to come off xxx

Strange things are happening now. I'm almost 10 weeks out, I've lost 2 stone 9 pounds which is great but my weightloss has been stuck at this point for about 3 weeks now. I was pain free for about a week and a half and before that my pain was manageable. I even started swimming which was great. In the last week I have had several severe episodes. It starts slow with small twinges down my left side. These twinges build to severely painful spasms. At one point last weekend I was back in bed for two days unable to move. I call my hospital, the first thing they said was "we only cover you for 20 days after your surgery" nice to know their priorities. After I advised them I was not looking for free treatment the nurse said if it's been 9 weeks since your surgery I don't think it will have anything to do with that. Ring the hospital. Thanks for all your help Spire! You are of no comfort at all. I know the pains are surgery related they are in the exact same place as all my other recovery pains. It's a little bit disheartening as I was really enjoying getting into swimming but when I have an episode I just try to slow down and dose up on pain killers xxx

Hi Slightly embarrassing but how long did people wait after their sleeve surgery before having sex? I know this sounds mental but my doctor told me not to do any strenuous exercise for six weeks!! that is too long!! My husband comes home in two weeks. Im four days post op now by then I'll be about 15/16 days post op. I have a very high sex drive and I am already getting twitchy lol. You did you all do?

Lol it's starting to get comical if I'm honest. I'm like a geriatric only less able bodied. I've got to laugh else of cry! Thanks tho donna hearing from you really helps me, I think we've had a very similar state of affairs. How are you doing these days?

Bummer, yet another set back. I was starting to manage quite well only need pain killers a few times a day. Yesterday at work the shutters wouldn't open and I had to really stretch myself to try and sort them out, that coupled with doing hair and nails for 10 hours has really set me back weeks. I'm in agony again today. I can hardly move and lucky for me I keep having a sneezing fit, which I know you'll all know how much that tickles. Never mind it's five weeks tomorrow for my op so I'm hoping this will all be cleared up in the next week. Please everyone cross your fingers for me xxz

How long did people wait before they had a drink. My surgeon told me 4 months but he never said why. Does anyone know why you have to wait so long and how long did you all wait before u had a glass or red? Or whatever floats your boat

No I'm still in a lot of pain. The pain has spread to my back now to. I think my posture must be bad due to the pain in my left side. It's getting annoying if I have a busy day or if I do anything physical like go for a walk or muck my horse out I can not move the next day. I have faith that they will tho and I am looking forward to it. I constantly have a hot water bottle strapped to my front and my back. The heat helps a little. Thank you for asking. I know it will all be fixed some time xxz

Thank girls I've called the nurse today she said it'll be my stitches being tight and all my insides fusing and healing becoming tight. Hopefully it shouldn't go on for much longer ten days or so. If it goes on for two weeks I have to call back. On the plus side I've had great weight loss I'm already over a third of the way to my goal :) No regrets happy days x x x

I haven't tried anything yet that I loved and now hate, probably cause I'm only two weeks out and still on liquids. However I do have a totally different taste pallet now. I used to crave sugar and sweet things constantly. Now I have very little desire for them. I want savoury, wholesome food, my body may just be craving the food it needs to heal itself but I have heard of peoples food preferences changing after being sleeved or banded.

I'm 8 days post op I'm off pure liquids and onto soft/purée food. I've made soup and I've blitzed a dinner with success. Other things I've made I've not enjoyed, everything seems very unappetising once it's puréed. Does anyone have tips, food ideas, recipes to share please :-)

try and keep researching and talking to people i had my sleeve on the 14 feb and my sister has her op tomorrow, its been really helpful having someone to talk to. we have someone to bounce our thoughts off and someone to help remember why we are doing this. its really helpful. if you have no one at home make some friends on here and try to talk out your nerves. There are some things about my future that make me nervous, relearning how to live with my new body but i think about my past and the things that made me nervous about going out and the thing that made me most sad on a daily basis. It was always my weight, We are all unhappy with our health, weight and bodies so when the nerves attack try to focus on the way you have felt for so long and how wonderful it will be to be without those feelings in the future. xxx its all going to be worth it in the end x x x

I had my op a week ago today. I was doing great with my recovery, eating well, moving about well and my pain was really starting to ease. Yesterday my pain came back massively, I feel like I've skipped back to day 3! I may have over done it I think as I was starting to potter about at home doing bits of house work and things. I find it very difficult to just sit still when I'm feeling ok. Well now I'm going to have to I'm in a lot of pain again. I'm not losing heart it's all part of the process I'll just go back to day three and start again. Hopefully that will help. I can't wait to be thin ha ha :-D

Hi I hope you start to feel better soon. I felt better today, I've called into work to see them and I'm just about to walk my dogs. I'll be taking it easy tonight and tomorrow. It's really strange how things just switch from one day to the next. The only surgery I've ever had before was on my hand so this is a totally new experience for me. I guess it's a learn as you go kind of thing for us. I hope it goes well for you. Keep in touch x x

Try not to let people bum you out. You have a goal set and it will make you happy to achieve it. They're just not used to you seeing you looking different. They'll get used to it, do your thing and the others will catch up with you in time. Do what makes you happy x x x I'm 5 days post op and my mother told me yesterday she's worried I lose to much weight cause my face is looking gaunt. Block out the stuff that holds you back and hold on to the stuff that pulls you through. X x x x

Thank you but I was kind of hoping for some answers from the girls. No offence guys. It's just girl talk

Hi all my jitters are gone ???????? I'm 4 days post op and I feel so great. I'm super positive and I'm so excited for my future. I had quite a bad time in hospital. My pain relief was negligent and there were a lot of mix ups. It was very stressful and I was really scared about the pain I was having but now I'm home and taking care of myself I am great. I move around as much as I can and rest regularly so as not to over do it. I'm very determined with my eating and drinking and stick rigidly to what my dietician tells me. I know I did the right thing and I have no regrets at all. I'm so happy ????????????????❤️????

Im going for my pre op medical tomorrow then my op is on friday. Ive been getting pretty nervous, this forum has really helped me. I keep reading other peoples nerves and the great responses from people. I know I'm making the right choice but all the what if's and maybe's are creeping in. Does anyone have any tips? Any pointers of what you did post op that was helpful? I have no idea what to expect after my op. Im nervous that its going to be very painful. I am really looking forward to getting past that part and getting into my new life. I am a little worried about not exercising for six weeks after, im worried I start to develp saggy parts in just that short time. All helpful hints welcome, advice and guidance is much appreciated. K

I have around 20 or so tattoos at the moment. Some are just a few inches big and are dotted about. some are quite large and cover a lot if my arm and chest and some cover a lot of my back. I love my tattoos and I only plan to get more. I'm working up my left leg now and once I hit my target weight I plan to reward myself with a big very detailed image on my right side ribs and side. I'm saving up for it already as it will cost several several hundred pounds I think. Enjoy your tattoos, make good choices you'll have them for life x x x

I was advised first night to sleep/lie on my side. Being flat is very uncomfortable for me with wind in my chest but lying fully on my side is not comfortable either. I my pillows in a ^ shape so as I lie tilted to the side I have a pillow to support my back and a pillow to rest on. They cradle me and stop me moving about to much. It's painful to fidget around so I kind of just get comfy in my little nest and stay there ha xx

That's sad that you and your husband are at each other at the moment. That won't be helping your recovery much, you need as little stress as possible. It's a very intense time and you are both going through your own emotional roller coaster. I was having trouble deciding weather to have the band of the sleeve. I was concerned about the extra cost and the sleeve being more extreme but I didn't like all the risk surrounding a band. My husband helped my chose the sleeve over the band by researching and looking on forums he thought it was a better opp as I did and help me make peace with the struggles in my head. Now he's right on side, he asks lots of questions and I tell him exactly how I feel (good or bad), he still looks into things about the sleeve like after care programs and things and he's really positive about the whole program. He lets me take the reins when it comes to my aftercare and just supports me with the things I tell him I need. You are very precious to your husband and this op is a very big deal to some people, I think some people really struggle to get their head around what happens next. Maybe if he reads some of the conversations on the forums and chats to a few people. I take my husband with me when I see my dietician or doctor if he wants to come. It helps him learn hearing things first hand. I'm sure your medical team wouldn't mind chatting over the phone with your husband to set his mind at ease and answer any if his questions. Hopefully the extra information will clear out the grey area for him. He may be feel a little useless and less frustrated. More knowledge of the procedure will help him feel confident when it comes to your aftercare. I hope you both start to see eye to eye soon and both start enjoying your new life together x x x

Thank you everyone for your replies. I home now and managing my pain better. Peppermint tea is helping move the air and although I have the mobility of a 90 year old things are improving every day. It seems there has been some slight neglect with my aftercare in hospital which I am in the process of following up. I've had a few issues with my prescription for my take home meds to. I'm not a complainer but I really think I need to take these issues further as you all know it's a lot to go through and I chose to go private to try and make it as smooth a journey as possible. I have no regrets however, I feel better each day and do as much as I can within my limitations. I can not wait to be healed and able to work out and get active again. I wish u all the best and hope you all keep enjoying great results x x x

I'm on day two I had surgery at 8am on valentines day. It's now almost 6pm the day after. I'm still in hospital and I'm a little afraid to go home tomorrow. I have had really severe pain it gets worse through the night. I'm doing the things my doctor tells me but I can't hardly move. The wind pain in my chest and shoulders is a whole other ball game to. If I lie down I can't breathe so I try to walk around as I'm told but then the pain in my side worsens. It's very much a vicious circle. I'm not regretting it, in fact I can't wait to get over this part and start to walk out and feel better. Did anyone else have a really hard time post opp. Please tell me it's not just me. Xx

Hello my lovely sleevevers I'm about 8 hours post opp!! Oh my lord the pain is out of this world but I'm staying strong. British stif upper lip n all that. I can not wait to be healed and really get this show on the road. Good look to everyone. Keep in touch! Xx

Hi I know it's very distressing loosing your hair, I haven't yet had my op but I'm a hairdresser. As people have said your body is using all the nutrients in other parts of your body. Your also eating a lot less oils and fats. This has a major effect on your hair and skin. Try including in your protein essential fatty acids, oil rich food like avocado, nuts and seeds, drink as much water as you can. If you doctor allows you take additional vitamins and include some oils like vitamin E, oil of evening primrose. I don't think you can totally prevent the hair loss but these things could help to reduce your hair loss and promote healthy hair growth. Another thing which will help your hair grow is scalp massage. Gently massage your scalp when conditioning your hair, this encourages blood flow to your scalp which encourages cell renewal. For the hair you have left, be kind to it. Don't over use heat styling products, try not to put stress on it which will help prevent breakage and split ends. I hope at least some of this helps. Good look with your journey K x