summerseeker

I had Hidradenitis suppurativa in my 40's . I was going through the change and had 3 family deaths, My body and mind couldn't cope. My skin and mind exploded, it was a terrible time for me. I had help for the conditions and eventually the conditions abated to tolerable levels. Every now and then I would have break outs but they became less and less. Now I have had no real symptoms for the 3 years since surgery. Is it a body or age thing ? I can see only the worst scars now with some black on the skin, it scratches off easily. I hope you can put it behind you too

Pre surgery I didn't dream further than doing simple things that a fitter person could do. It was all I could do to keep our home clean and cook our meals. Thankfully we have shopping deliveries or I would have come unstuck. I could not go around a supermarket. I was so out of shape. I rarely went outdoors, it embarrassed me. I had learned never to reach too high, crashing into depression is a long road back to normality. So, My new world is eye poppingly wonderful to me. I now have to squeeze in some at home free time. I have a pass that lets me use the trains and buses free. If I feel like it and I mostly do, I am off exploring. I have no need of a car any more I am never hot and sweaty, out of breath or having an internal tantrum because I need to sit down and there is no seat I jump out of bed and into the shower with out needing any aids. It doesn't weaken me for the day I go out and never have to plan the route beforehand. I walk everywhere. I donated my walking sticks to the charity shop. I go abroad alone on holidays and explore alone. I have been married for almost 50 years and its so wonderful to have some me time. He is done with holidays. I do what I want to do, go where I choose. I have made new friends who wish to holiday with me next year ! I'm popular !! I have a small bucket list, To never gain any weight back. In the past I have been lucky, I have seen lots of the world. I still want to see Vietnam, visit Easter Island and live long enough to get new knees on the NHS. Dream big and stay small everyone

No words to say how amazing you have done. Congratulations on the new you

This and I also detest animal print. To answer your questions. I don't sleep any better. I am old enough to have to get up twice every night to pee, I also have Fibromyalgia so I am constantly changing position to ease my pain. If I had a magic wish, I would love to sleep through the night again. Now Activity, I am a winner here. I can stand 8 hours behind a very busy charity shop counter once a week and still manage to get home, just about. I walk miles, any excuse and I am off down the road. I never realised how my obesity made me disabled. My walking stick is no longer needed. You will be amazed. Fashion, I am a late developer here. I hated clothes before. My new love is bright colours and over the knee dresses. I love clothes shopping, actual shopping and not just the online outlets. This big U turn shocked me to the core. I hid and now I want to be seen. People ask where I shop fgs. Anything you can wish for and many you won't have thought of will become your new life. Its so very amazing. You have the very worst pre op as I have said before but I know in the end its going to be worth it for you. Keep going, you have got this.

Hello and welcome in the forum. If you have a surgery date you can join ' your month ' Otherwise we are all open to questions.

I read some ones advice on here to take a bed pillow and hug it on the way home. Our roads here are full of pot holes and it did help somewhat.

I dont drink many fizzy drinks, I like zero sugar blackcurrant squash. I will occasionally have a long alcoholic drink and then I use diet Sprite, tonic or a Britvic 55 which is a fruit juice with added soda water. I have no problems now or earlier in my journey. If you try one, my advice would be to to put it in a glass and stir it to de gas it a little.

Well done for having the hutzpah to go alone. IMHO some gym's really have nasty people in them, If you have found a good one, well done. I used to ask when the quiet times were and found how to use the equipment just in case. I never like to make a fool of myself in public. Later on a few people would comment on how I had really progressed, in a good way. Small steps, big leaps. As I have said before your surgeon is brutal. He really wants you to work for the surgery. You know when you are at your weakest and can plan for it next month. If you need a few cheats - Could you make sugar free squash ice lollies ? Use your milk in a low cal milk shake ? Add some water noodles and chopped spring onion into your broth and add some 5 spice, it would be only 7 ish calories more ?

When I was fat I would have to go hunting in my wardrobe for clothes that fit. I would usually find nothing and need to buy new. It was so frustrating because I usually couldn't find what I needed and was never totally comfortable in my clothes Now I can always fit in all my clothes, shoes and boots. I decide in bed in the morning which outfit to wear. Its a stress free joy.

You look amazing, great weight loss

You look fabulous, Great photo

Whoop whoop, you look So Good. You must be thrilled

Don't be worried to go back a stage until you feel ready for the next. We are not all able to go ahead at the same time. If you can manage soup or a shake for your evening meal then that's a win at this early stage

Sorry to here this, you have been through the mill and back again. I hope you get the answers you need from the community here. I imagine you will have a lot of scar tissue and need a mesh insert. As they have said not the easiest surgery and many surgeons won't take this work on.

Happy Birthday @NeonRaven8919 May I say your surgeon is a pig to have you on such a regime. That's brutal. Kudos to you for not complaining or venting about it. You have your head in just the right place. New nails and a Comedy club sounds amazing, enjoy. Next time your birthday comes around you will be super slinky and feel like a million dollars.

Do you think you are depressed ? To me you sound like it. You are sabotaging yourself. Do you believe that you don't deserve to be thin ? My counsellor told me once - Do one thing every day that makes you feel better about yourself. So change something and be proud that you did. Little steps. Drink your allotted water, your whole body and mind will thank you. If you want to chat privately, message me. You deserve this. You have reached out that's the main thing

Oh my I am so sorry this is happening to you. I had at least 6 months of this, day in, day out. They tested me for a stricture but found my stitch line was swollen and inflamed and although I could swallow liquids slowly, solids were difficult. Now I still take Lansoprazole twice a day and antacid when I need it. It sucks to be the 1% that has difficulties. I found that artificial sugars, some protein substitutes, rich meats and iron in the vitamins were not for me. I didn't reach my liquid or protein goals but my team were sympathetic and monitored me. I was told to focus on drinking. I tried to eat 6 - 8 tiny meals a day. Every time I had a day of vomiting I would go back a step to liquids. I had a lot of thin soups, tiny slivers of cheese and milk. I tried to eat as clean as I could which wasn't hard with the tiny little amounts of food I could eat. I am occasionally sick now but its because I overeat, forget not to eat grape skins or eat too fast. Now I just give my stomach a days rest and continue. I am used to the feeling of pre vomit and I will usually deal with it. For some reason a popsicle sometimes works

Me too, so comfortable and tight enough to hide my wobbly arms and legs

We dreamed, we did it. Be proud.

What is your stage 3 ? Nobody has the same regime.

I am allowed all and everything. I limit myself because I can eat a whole bar of chocolate before I feel ill. So I buy small bars of really good chocolate. I know I will only eat one. Sometimes I melt the chocolate and dip strawberries in. I know cottage cheese is not for everyone but I love it. I chop a apple finely and mix it into the cheese. Works well with pineapple or kiwi too. Cheddar cheese and a crisp apple does wonders for me.

I can eat all fruits but still struggle with skins. Grape skins especially give me the foamies. I also peel apples, tomatoes and peaches/nectarines. TBH skin really scares me, I have had so many vomiting episodes. The first fruits I tried were raspberries and watermelon and are still my most favourites. I eat fruit with my yogurt in a morning and as an afternoon snack, watermelon or a low cal berry. Some evenings I have a peeled and cored apple with cheese.

I think your surgeon must be a male with a woman behind him who does all the home stuff. Clueless. Listen to your body, take naps when you can. I was super ill after my surgery and couldn't have worked for 3 months, never mind having to look after 4 children as well. If you ever see this surgeon again please see that he gets our input to update his views

Congratulations you look beautiful.

Hi @ indianlight, I had Gastric sleeve in a private hospital two and a half years ago and it cost £11600 with all the pre appointments. Gastric bypass was £2000 more at the time. I really wished I had gone the bypass route because I have wicked reflux but that boat has sailed and I have to deal with it. I have never heard of people getting a second operation on the NHS but why not try and keep on trying different doctors. Sometimes persistence does work. I have Fibromyalgia too and the surgeon told me that the surgery would not change this, it didn't. Have you tried Aquafit, it really helps. Its low impact and you can go at your own speed. I hope you get your help