Gesined

Yep, am on purée, but it tends to get 'stuck'. Probably because it's not quite puréed enough, but I am so craving the chewing part of eating! Anyway, I will need to focus on mushing my food a bit more and just taking things a bit slower. You won't get hungry watching your partner eat, but you will still want to eat! The mental challenges are far harder than the physical!

After reading everybody's story on here, I was fully prepared for a two week 'pre op' diet, but apparently Padovan doesn't worry about that. The day before surgery I was only allowed fluids, and fasted from midnight. That's it! Too easy. Had the op at 7 am on the Tuesday morning, came home the following Friday morning. I was a bit sick the Tuesday afternoon and the following Wednesday, but Padovan came in and told me I would turn the corner the Wednesday evening, and I did. I layed off the narcotics t his suggestion, and it was all up hill from there. I was given the all clear last week. Padovan said if there was going to be a leak it would of happened up to 10 days post op. I had minimal gas pain, and the incisions were not sore at all. When I look back it has been a pretty cruisey ride, apart from the first two days. There is a fair bit of mental challenges, that I dare say will be ongoing for a while, but surgery wise, it's been great

Hi Jane, When I say WA, I mean a Western Australia.....so a long way from you! Happy to be buddies, as support is so vital during this experience. Good luck next week!

Hi Krystal. I had dr Padovan, and he was terrific. I've dealt with a few specialists in my time, and he was the most 'normal'. Very understanding without being over the top. I had minimal pain from the surgery, and am most impressed with his handy work! I wasn't that happy with the care from the hospital (The Mount), but managed ok. Where abouts are you from in Perth? Ask any questions you would like to know. Myself and another lady (deb) were both sleeved by Padovan, so between us we should be able to deal with anything you need to know. Cheers

Cheers YummyMummy. I did up my calories over the last couple of days, and the scales moved 0.5 downwards this morning. I will keep going along these lines and see how I go. I figure the weight must shift eventually, even if it is slow. I am eating heaps less than what I used to, so it's just a matter of me learning to be patient. Thanks heaps

I was sleeved on 20th May. Started at 117kg (258 pounds) and am now 111 kg's (244 pounds). I've had a bit of a stall this week in the weight loss, which is very frustrating, however, I have lost this morning, so hopefully the scales are on a down ward spiral again. I have moved from 'nourishing liquids' to puréed foods as of today. I feel great, if not a little tired. I do get hungry, but have learnt the hard way how much I can eat before my sleeve is full! The hardest part for me is the fact that I can't keep on eating past a few mouthfuls. I had developed the bad habit of eating for the sake of eating ( hence me being so over weight). The sleeve MAKES us stop, but my head is screaming at me to keep on eating, especially when I am enjoying whatever it is I am eating. It's all part of the psychological changes that I ( we) must deal with. So far, I have been very lucky and have no complaints.

Cheers Oz.....will try and increase the calories today. I must admit I didn't get too many calories in yesterday, in the hop of losing some weight today. I will eat a bit more and see what happens.

Trust my body to want to hold on to this weight! What you say makes perfect sense......however, it doesn't make it easier to deal with, nor does it stop the deflated feeling. I feel like I have gone through all this, only to have lost 8 kg's. I know the weight HAS to start moving in a down ward spiral again....how could it not when I am eating so much less? The hard bit is staying up beat and positive. Many thanks for your response and helping me stay focused.

Ok, I'm officially pissed off. I've stalled at 2 weeks out. I've lost a totally of 8kgs, and it's all come to a screaming holt! Over the last three days the scales haven't moved. It's very frustrating as I am eating under 700 calories a day and getting all my Water in and also walking everyday. Is a stall normal at this stage?

I had my first visit to my surgeon today, day 10. A total weight loss of 6 kg's since day of op. Everything is going well, still on fluids, walking my dog everyday, and best of all, still another week off. I didn't think I would be feeling like this last week. It's amazing how quickly the body can recover. I am sick of fluids, and can't wait to get on to puréed doodle. Can't say that I am hungry, however, those pizza adds certainly make my mouth Water. I guess it's all part of the mental struggle and the 'head hunger' thing I keep reading about.

My drip fell out three times, so have big bruises where they tried to resight it each time. I also have bruising on my wrist and going up in to my palm from a catheter they put in whilst under anaesthetic, one on my chest from god knows what,multiple little bruises all over my tummy from the heparin injections plus the bruising from the wounds! Like you, I look like I've been through a war. I also had a blood nose when I woke up in the recovery room. They are all turning a lovely green colour at the moment.

Lol...I just read my post....'bus open'? I meant buscopan! Stupid auto check I am still getting nausea, but it is easing. I am taking maxalon when I need it and it works fine. I wasnt focusing on my shake this morning ( was paying bills and drinking the shake at the same time) and took a big swig of drink...ouch!! Painful! It was a not so gentle reminder to take it slow. I some times have the feeling that something is stuck in my chest. I just sit up straight and take in some really deep breathes and I goes away. I'm so happy you have lost weight. To go through all this and to not see those scales move would be heart breaking. You go girl

Bus open would have been perfect! The spasms are horrible, but thankfully are easing up today. I look forward to keeping in touch with both you and yummy mummy to see how we all go!

Best thing I ever did was stop taking so much pain medication and just moved more. Within 24 hours I was like a different person. All I took between day 3 post op and today (day 5 post op) is pandadol every 4 hours. Worked a treat.

I read somewhere (I've done a lot of reading!) that the stomach goes from the size of a small football to the size of a banana. Interesting! So far so good today. Need pandadol to help with the gas pains, but otherwise ok. Feel 'hungry' and eat something, but can't fit more than a couple of teaspoons in, but still have that 'hungry' feeling.....weird I wish I had thought to refuse the narcotics. I know just codeine taken at home makes me feel sick. Next time I will remember...not that I am planning on going through this again in a hurry. I hope your recovery continues to go well. The weight will start to come off in time...

I am day 5 out, and if there I sine thing I have learnt, is LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!!! Drink small amounts of whatever sits well with you at whatever temperature feels good. Don't try and eat, even if they say you should, if you don't feel like it. You will just make yourself sick. Take it slow. Move as much as you feel comfy doing, and drink whatever stays down in whatever quantity!!

Hi yummy mummy and ozikiwi.... How did you go ozikiwi? I must say, today is the first day that I have felt 'well'!! I was so sick the first 48 hours, I wondered what the heck I had done to myself. I decided to listen to my body and decided to refuse all the drugs they were pumping in to me, and felt heaps better within 24 hours. I was in hospital for a total of 4 days. Turns out me and narcotics are not friends. Any way, home now. 3 kg's lighter and just had my first yogurt. I was starving! Sipping lots, taking pandadol (dissolvable), and enjoying my kids and my partner fussing over me. It was a bit scarey when I couldn't stop vomiting and shaking, was hot, then cold, was puffed up like a balloon, crying all the time....gahhh. I hope your experience was a bit better ozikiwi! To think I took my knitting in for when I got bored!

Thank you so much for your very open and honest post. I get a lot of reassurance from people who post the negatives, yet still say they have no regrets. My op is tomorrow, and I'm scared that the mental side is going to be my failure.....posts like yours make me feel that it's normal to think twice, however, with commitment and focus, it all works out in the end. Thanks heaps and good luck in your continued journey

I'm really lucky...no pre op diet for me. My surgery is Tuesday ( it's currently Monday morning here in Western Australia) and all I have to do is have one day of liquids only but I'm even doubting my ability to do that! I'm so nervous that I will fail post op. I've tried so many diets over the years, I can't get it out of my head that this will just be another one and I will end up spending a heap of money, with no outcome. Fingers crossed, in a couple of months I will be lighter and not doubting my ability to do this.

Thanks ozikiwi Good luck to you on Wednesday! Let's catch up in here on the weekend and compare experiences

By Wednesday it will be all over red rover! Well.....the op will be. My op is on Tuesday. Technically, Wednesday will be the first day of the rest of my life I'm not on a pre op diet. Just liquids on the day before I go in to hospital. So I'm pretty lucky really. I'm off to the shops tomorrow and will be getting enough food....I mean fluids...to last me a week. I hope to keep busy enough so I don't have to think too much about what's ahead. We got this!

Your a gem! Thanks for the positive comments. It does make me feel so much better. It's normal to be nervous. I just want it over and done with!

I'm not on any preop diet at all. Just have to drink liquids only on Monday and that's it! I'm just lucky I guess. Still switching between nervous and excited, and right now I'm excited. Thinking of having fish and chips for dinner and calling it my last supper! How are you feeling?

Ok......I'm getting nervous. Starting to have second thoughts! Am reading all the negative stuff....dumping syndrome, vomiting after eating the wrong thing, infections, constrictions...... Oh dear

Hi deb, Did you have to do a pre op diet? We are pretty similar in weight and have the same surgeon. I'm just a bit concerned about my liver being a problem cause it's too 'fatty'. Padovan has not asked me to start a pre op diet, other than clear fluids the day before surgery.