Arabesque

I had put off buying new bras & then started suffering upper back pain. Went to my acupuncturist & jokingly said the pain was from my badly fitting bras which were way too big (I could pleat the cups). Ding ding ding ding yes it was my bras. So off I went to get properly fitted. Dropped from 18E to 14F (think I might be almost a 14E though now). And miracle of miracles no more back pain. I went to a large upmarket department store to get fitted where they knew what they were talking about & put me in numerous brands & styles till they found one that worked best for me. Nothing worse than badly fitting uncomfortable bras. Of course it ended up being an expensive brand sigh but I bought a nude one and then a couple of weeks later they had a special deal & I got 2 more at 50% off. Woo hoo.

My surgeon didn’t say anything about alcohol consumption. I just avoided it because of the calories & lack of nutrients. I did have a drink 4 weeks out at a cousin’s 40. I nursed that gin & tonic for 3 hours - lol - & no side effects. A couple of weeks later I tried some champagne (the real stuff too) but it was disgusting - way to sweet & blah. My changed tastebuds meant I just didn’t enjoy alcohol as much. Now, 5.5 months out & 400g shy of my goal weight, I have a small glass about once every 3/4 weeks at social outings. I’ve found a gin or scotch easiest to drink at social events. I still take ages to drink it & often don’t finish the glass. Have to admit I’m a bit nervous for this weekend as I’m off on a girls’ weekend & there will be lots of bottles of bubbles consumed. I intend to sip my one glass all night long.

A lovely friend took me to the hospital and stayed until I was taken to start the pre surgical processes. My bag was taken from me at this point & was in my room after the surgery. My doctor said he would keep me in a second night because I lived alone but I stayed a third night as I suffered terrible back spasms. My friend picked me up when I was discharged. I slept most of the time in hospital after surgery (except when I was in pain from my back 😩) - couldn’t seem to concentrate to read, watch Netflix or make conversation with visitors so being alone wasn’t an issue. I made sure I had all my protein shakes, clear broths, etc. and non prescription medications all set to go before I went to hospital so I wouldn’t have to go out or get people to go shopping for me for two weeks post surgery. Good luck.

I’m sorry you are having this experience. Deciding to have WLS is not easy and you should expect your team to be supportive and encouraging. Everyone in this forum will tell you there is no one size fits all (no pun intended) in this process though I can see benefits in a general introduction to the basics of the process in a group class before your individual appointments. Yes, in Australia it is different and each doctor has their own requirements. Mine requires his patients to visit a dietician before surgery and regularly for at least 12 months post surgery. A much younger friend went to a different doctor and only had to see a dietician once. She is struggling post surgery with her food, trying to take the easy route of takeaways and frozen meals & wonders why she is in pain & vomits a lot. My doctor also recommends therapy but considers each patient’s weight gain/loss history & personal history before making the recommendation. He said I didn’t need to but provided a list of therapists I could see if i wanted pre or post surgery. My dietician isn’t very good but better than the one I went to years ago who told me I didn’t eat enough. Consequently I put on weight seeing that one - thanks a lot. This one asks what I eat (I just tell her my basic menu), what I weigh and that’s it. Five minutes & I’m gone. No information about calories, macros,... I rely on my own research ( God bless google & this forum) and a friend who had the surgery 12 months before me. Be patient, keep calm, breathe deeply when attending meetings with your team and follow the steps. Keep up your own research & this forum. Don’t let your frustration with this pre surgery process hinder your surgery. You won’t regret it. Good luck.

OMG. I thought I had glandular fever or some other illness that had induced this crazy exhaustion. For years I would only manage 5/6 hrs of sleep a night but for the last couple of weeks I’ve been sleeping 8/9/10 hrs a night. Any less & I felt like a zombie. Then the other day I dragged myself downstairs to my treadmill & honest to God I wanted to put my head down on the control panel & just go to sleep. Could barely put one foot in front of the other. Forced myself to continue for 12 mins but no more. Thought I was going to fall off the treadmill. So I dragged myself back upstairs. I have been keeping my carb intake low because I struggle just to get my protein in - last bloods showed my protein was low but everything else was good. Thanks for the reassurance that I’m not got some virus & will try to up my carb intake with a snack before exercising. Now if only there was a way to stop the hair loss 😜.

I started losing hair exactly two months post surgery and at four months it’s still falling. I too have reduced my hair washing frequency (thank goodness it doesn’t get as oily with my weight loss) because it was distressing pulling handfuls of hair from the drain. I have hair all over my house which I never had before. I take liquid silica (dietician recommended) and apply a treatment mask every second wash. I’ve had a couple of inches cut from the length but I can still put it up. I’ve been told it’s a combination of the anaesthetic and reduced protein intake. My doctor said it will grow back but not when. 😩

It’s the little things that bring joy sometimes. I’m able to zip up my knee high boots. I bought a pair of over the knee boots and wear them with my pants tucked inside them. Best of all I can wear my 4 inch heels again without the balls of my feet burning after 5 minutes. My rings fit me - so glad I didn’t get them made bigger. It’s a breeze to shave my legs in the shower - no stomach in the way. My old timber floor doesn’t creak as much. When I say I have nothing to wear it’s because my clothes are too big not too small.

I eat fairly simply. Never been a spicy food person so no loss there. The only carb I knowingly eat is rolled oats. I can eat fish, all meats, eggs & cheeses. My tastebuds still are not fond of many vegetables & fruit I used to love though. The only takeaway food i’ve tried is Chinese chicken & cashews (without the cashews). As I can only eat small amounts, I focus on protein and eat little or no vegetables or salad - three/four spoons of protein (half a sausage, a small lamb cutlet, small chicken leg) & a small cauliflower floret & i’m done. Takes me three days to eat two scrambled eggs. I eat slowly & mindfully. If i’m stressed (like worrying about what I can eat when dining out) my body shuts down & I can eat even less. (I’ve had to calm several concerned wait staff stressing everything tasted delicious & the reason i’ve barely touched my meal is just me.) I find it hard to get my fluids in each day. Alcohol is an occasional treat now - I can nurse a gin & tonic for hours. Tolerated my first glass of champagne last week. Yay! Only vomited food once. I just wish the gurgling would stop and the hair loss. Listen to your body. Find what works for you. Everyone’s experience is different. Yes, you will have to change your diet & find healthier foods to eat. But this is a new and better world. Enjoy!