GemmaLicious

Hello, well I had my surgery a month ago and didn't stop vaping. I vaped in front of the staff just before going for my surgery and once conscious I continued. I've not had any complications due to nicotine. I believe cigs with the tar and chemicals would have had an effect on my recovery but not vaping. So happy days ) So my advise to anyone awaiting surgery who smokes would be to make the switch. )

I can't answer this question but I'm interested in the answer.

Hi all, I had my sleeve 21 days ago and feeling so disappointed with myself. I lost approx 2 stone since starting the liquid diet. After the first week post op my weight stopped dropping of and I've become disheartened. I was following the food plan and am on the 3rd stage of soft moist foods but I've deviated and eaten a lot of chocolate and some fruit the past few days. I was hoping I'd get a bad reaction and not be able to tolerate the sugary foods I shouldn't be having but all what's happened is I can't eat the amount I used to as quickly. I'm now really worried what the scales are going to say when I wake up in the morning and am really concerned I'm failing and this operation wouldn't have been worth having it. I really want this and thought I was ready. I know it's not a magic wond and I need to control my eating but I'm scared it's all going so wrong so quickly. I have been trying so hard and trying to stay active and motivated. All the threads I've read are so positive. Has anyone experienced a similar story to me please? Should a very small amount of food make me feel more full and uncomfortable? Should it be impossible for me to eat too much so early on? Please help I'm feeling so lost, scared and alone right now. Thanks Gemma

Ok great thanks. I'm going to put a lot more effect and just try and trust everything will be ok.

Yep I was worried to death as well and I've read a lot of other threads like this. Your not alone, many of us found the pre op diet very hard. Keep going and let us know how you are post op. You will be fine X

Yeh I know, thanks. I'm going to wake up tomorrow and start as I mean to go on and put a lot more effort in. But can you tell me if you could have eaten more than you were told to at the beginning? Thanks

I did the same & I was fine. I think the pre op diets more to get your mind ready for post op. Just stick to the suggested diet from now on and all will go well I'm sure. X

Oh my fitbit one user names Gemma sheringham Please add me.

Hi I have a fitbit. How do I add you? This should make fitness fun

I think MFP needs email addresses. Please add me gemmasheringham@aol.com Thanks X

Hi all, I had my sleeve on 1st April and am new to MFP. Can't work out how to add you guys so please add me. Will be great to be sharing our info as we proceed on this wls journey together. My user name is gemmasheringham Thanks, Gemma

Hello, I'm 18 days post sleeve surgery. My main pain & swelling was on the left side and I think my surgeon said that's where they pulled the part of my stomach they cut away out. I had pains both sides but was significantly worse on my left. It's a big op but if your worried check with your surgeon or GP. I hope that helps and hope all goes well on this great journey.

Well a second opinion is defiantly a positive thing. I had no idea stress can effect a band either. I would keep hassling your GP and try and get a referral as surely if you can't eat a nutritional diet and hard protein foods this far down the line something needs to be done. Plus if your not able to eat properly you should be loosing weight quickly. You should mention how low you are feeling as well. I've always been an emotional eater as well which has always been a struggle. Have you tried counselling? I hated it at first but stuck with it and still see someone once a week. I started counselling 3 years ago. I wouldn't describe myself as depressed but do sometimes feel low. I also wouldn't say I've had a terrible life it was actually very good but Couselling has helped me look at why I turn to food to fix the way I feel. It really has helped and is maybe something worth looking into. I also attend OA meetings (overeaters anonymous) which has also really helped me. You can find the meetings by looking on their website. It's not a diet club and might sound weird but it could help. There's loads in London and all over the country. It might be worth a try. Everyone will welcome you and be very supportive and friendly I promise. It's just a suggestion as I feel it helped me understand my eating issues & to not feel so alone. I think that's where paying privately can sometimes be an issue as my assessment for surgery on Nhs was a long process with help and support from the specialist dietician and also psychologist. Then on top I was attending counselling and OA meetings. So I've had a lot of time to work on myself which I'm sure will help with this part of my journey. Weight loss surgery is only a tool to support you feeling fuller quicker. I'm sure you know this so sorry if I sound patronising it's not meant in that way. What I'm trying to say is that it sounds like there's definitely issues with your band but you could also benifit from other forms of support. Yes I'm still on soft foods but should be able to eat a little of everything 4 weeks post op so in another couple of weeks. I've not really felt hungry only a few times but it's the head hunger which is horrible. Like you I keep thinking about the foods I love and miss which seems to be the harder part. Do you feel hungry? I might be wrong but I thought with a band you shouldn't be on soft foods for long? I thought the idea is to be able to eat harder/more solid foods so the nerves where the band is feels the food passing through so you then feel fuller? I've still got a good 5 more stone to loose to get down to my bmi goal weight. Don't give up, hassle your GP until you get somewhere. My GP was really supportive with this process and got the ball rolling but she then left. I then saw a different doctor and I had to hassle much more to keep things going with my referral & funding application. It's not right that the NHS can expect you to carry on with the way things are. Let me know what the second opinion consultant says. Keep your chin up and message me anytime. XX

Hi RobbieKatie, Are you waiting to have weight loss surgery then? If so have you got a date? Are you having it on the NHS or privately? I agree it's defiantly nice to know other people who can relate to this process. So many people think it's an easy option, they couldn't be more wrong lol. However I am extremely happy I went ahead and can't wait to be a thinner healthier me. It's so exciting to have the opportunity to make this work. I'll attach a photo with details I found on a website with details of a support group in London. I might even attend that one as well so might see you there. I hope it helps. Where abouts in Essex are you from? I've lived in Chelmsford, Romford & Gidea Park.

Well I hope they get to the bottom of problem I can understand how frustrating it must be. It doesn't make sense so I'm sure they'll find the problem. I'm surprised your private consultant hasn't resolved this issue for you. I had my sleeve on the NHS due to my diabetes. I was going to go privately last year but all the consultants I was seeing for my health advised to wait for NHS to do it. What they said was that if I paid privately then the NHS wouldn't help if I had problems further down the line if it was connected to my surgery. I was also going to have the band but the surgeon thought the sleeve would best suit me as my history of disordered eating was usually binging which can cause the band to move. Plus the sleeve removes the hunger hormone which when I heard I knew that was the right treatment for me. Plus I had heard that the band can cause lots of problems. Maybe you should consider having the band removed and at the same time they can do the sleeve? It would defiantly be something to look into if the consultants can't find a solution to not loosing weight & not being able to eat harder foods. You must be so fed up with soft foods, I know I am already lol. How much weight have you lost since having the band fitted? I'm also determined to succeed, we'll get there it's just going to take time. My family live in Gidea Park near Romford so not too far from you. Obviously years ago now but I also used to live and go to school in Chelmsford. XX

Hi all, I agree with all of what has been said. I think not to have fear would be abnormal and much more of a concern. Its a big life changing decision to have wls which only you can decide if your ready to make this step. I've had counselling for quite some time working through my past and food addiction until I knew I was ready. I had my date and as my surgery approached I started to question if I was doing the right thing. For me I knew deep down I had to go through with surgery as I'm unable to reach a healthy weight and my health was suffering. I knew if I didn't go through with wls my diabetes and other health issues would only get worse and I'd be heading to an early unnecessary young death. As I prepared myself for surgery I told myself I need to learn to eat to live not live to eat as another member said. Fear is normal, but make sure you've had support and feel ready for a tool to help you change your eating habits. I made many changes prior to surgery to make post op easier. I'm only 2 weeks post op but know I've made the right choice. I'm not finding it easy but I was under no illusion this would be easy. Life's worth fighting for and I'm giving it my best shot. Do what's right for you. Take care, Gemma

Hey Dream to be slim. I'm from Essex, grew up there and moved to Bristol a few years ago. I go back to Essex regularly, sometimes every weekend to see family and friends. Which part of Essex are you from? I was sleeved on 1st April this year so about 2 weeks ago & could do with a buddy as well. I'm feeling the same as you, I've lost 2 stone since starting my pre op diet but not lost any weight this week which is very disappointing as I'm eating less than my brothers 1 year old son lol. Anyway drop me a message if you like? I'm sure we could support each other. Gemma

Hi all, I has my wls last Tuesday and am really struggling taking my medication as I've got to crush them all. I can't sip sip sip it as it's making me feel very sick but so does drinking it quickly. Anyone struggling as well? Any tips?

Hi everyone, thankyou for all your messages, advice and support. I spoke with the hospital and I'm just taking the medication when I can for nerve damage and diabetes and taking some tablets which are small whole, which they said should be ok. I was surprised but very happy and have now started taking vitamins and minerals in liquid form as changed the brand which tastes ok. )

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This is day 4 for me, op was on Tuesday 1 st April. Lol well I hope to turn into an expert sipper. So you were in the army? That's pretty impressive. Where are you living know? How are you finding eating now your 22 days into this new way of eating? Although I'm in pain and finding even sipping liquids a challenge I'm defiantly experiencing feeling a bit down and questioning if I made the right choice. It doesn't help I've put on a few pounds in hospital which can only be from all the liquids they pump in you. Hopefully I'll feel happier once I start seeing results. Did you feel the same?

Hi everyone, I was due to have my operation on 25th March and was told to do the liquid diet for 7 days before which I did. I went to the hospital and was there from 7.30am. There was a women who was being operated on before me. She had already lost 12 stone and so they were removing excess skin but there were complications plus they had messed up booking in a 6-8 hour operation in as being 2-4 hours. They sent another patient home who was waiting for a balloon and I went down to theatre at 4.15pm. They gave me general anaesthetic but when I woke up they said that the surgeons and knifes were ready but there had been a power cut and the back up generators had kicked in but as they hadn't quite started they decided it was to big a risk to take. Then they told me they might be able to do it on 27th March (Thursday) but then that wasn't possible so I am now booked in for next Tuesday 1st April (April fools day, great!). So I'm feeling angry and disappointed and not confident in the staff. I was told I could eat sensibly Thursday and then go back to the yoghurt diet today but I didn't eat sensibly. I have cheated and eaten more than I should yesterday and then today I've stuck to it apart from having one chocolate bar. If I stick to the liquid diet for the next three days do you think my liver will still shrink and the operation will be safe? I'm so upset with myself as had stuck to it so well last week with no cheating but felt so disappointed I think I gave up a little. Anyone else not stuck to liquid diet but still went ahead with operation? Should I be worried and tell the surgeon? If I tell them could my operation be cancelled again? Feeling so upset and disheartened today and very worried about now having the operation, please help. Thanks, Gemma

Hi Odesa yes all went well with no complications thanks. Struggling with keep sipping water at the moment due to the pain and sickness but I'm sure that will improve. What date was your op?

It's exciting isn't it. Good luck everyone

Hello, I've not read all your responses so sorry if I repeat what others have said. I'm 30 years old and diabetic. I wanted to have the band but when I met with my surgeon she raised her concerns as I have a history of binge eating and she suggested the sleeve stating it would be a better option for me. She explained how the sleeve & bypass are better options for diabetics due to a chemical reaction when part of the stomach is removed and it removes a hunger hormone. She suggested due to my age the sleeve because if in the future I put weight on and my health and diabetes becomes out of control again I then have the option of a bypass op. Once you have had the bypass further weight loss surgery isn't possible. How old are you if you don't mind me asking? I straight away listened to her professional opinion and am having the sleeve in a couple of days. I hope this helps and keep us updated on your decision and journey. All the best, Gemma