Shrink&Grow

Ahh congratulations! Very weird time to be going into hospital for the first time, I was a bag of nervous energy for the 2 weeks before! I had RNY 4 weeks ago today, and it has been easier than I feared. I read and absorbed every horror story imaginable, and even walking down to theatre was thinking "am I mad.."! My main advice for pre-surgery is DEEP CLEAN YOUR HOUSE! If you live alone book visitors, and recruit them to do stuff like hang out a load of washing or take the recycling out or walk the dog.. move any soups, protein shakes etc to a place you can reach easily, you won't want to be stretching or scrabbling about in the back of a cupboard. If you're thinking about getting an online food shop in the first couple weeks, make sure someone is there to help you unpack it and put it away! Ask friends for film and telly recommendations to add to your Netflix/Amazon list so you can just stick stuff on and doze once your back home. Take some measurements if you've got a tape measure handy (I did my bra line, narrowest bit of waist, belly button line, widest part of hips, bicep and thigh). Post-surgery, my life is WALKING, FLUIDS, PROTEIN, PILLS. Those are your essentials from day one, at first it's slow and difficult but it gets a teeny bit better every day. Don't get obsessed with the scales!! Be kind to yourself, and when it all gets a bit overwhelming, remember 'this too shall pass' and then jump on here to find a whole world of people who've been through it. I liked that there's loads of people in America on here, because they're awake if you can't sleep with nerves/excitement/or anything else..

Ps: I told one person. This topic can really divide the community, but personally I needed to do this myself without judgement or questions. I told my boss and colleagues I was having a procedure, fit note from GP just said "post op". Told my family I was having a hiatus hernia repair (as I was at the same time so not total lie!) which helpfully also means you have to stick to a puree/soft diet for a few weeks so I could be open about that. It has come up in discussion with friends that I am doing a lot more walking and my meals are very protein focused, and I don't feel one bit that I have cheated because at the end of the day, bariatric surgery is a tool and I'm putting in a hell of a lot of work. Your body and your health is noone else's business, unless you choose to tell them! There can of course be power in sharing your story and distigmatising WLS, and you might have some very understanding and supportive people around you 🙂

I really enjoy My Level 10 Life on YouTube, Erin really helpfully answers loads of questions about surgery, diet etc and generally seems like she's been through a lot of **** and remains upbeat. Sugar free ice lollies/ice pops were really helpful that first couple weeks out. Good luck for Tuesday squidgy.

Hi Mel, have you heard any more about a September date? I've not heard of Phoenix before, don't think we have them in the North East! Good luck

*Headphones* for sure!! I also got an *eyemask* off Amazon that was sort of moulded so didn't touch my eyelashes like the regular fabric ones? Imagine a little face bra 🤣 it was fab for getting rest in the day. *Meditation app* really helped when I was nervous waiting to be taken down and when I woke in the night (I like Insight Timer, and listen to lots of Glenda Cedarleaf relaxation.. find someone's voice that works for you!) Also really glad I took my own *small pillow/cushion* from home in a super soft pillow case - nice to have an extra one, and was such a comfort to hold against my front on the car ride home. *Lip balm* helped a lot, and I was glad of a *second nightshirt* to feel a bit "fresher" the second day in hospital. Once home, I liked my *wedge cushion* for sitting up watching TV and dozing, and couldn't have survived those first couple weeks without a *blender* and a *pill cutter*. If you've got cash to splash, get yourself some nice *little bowls* and a *water bottle* that you enjoy drinking from! You'll be doing a lot of that.. depending what your hospital recommend, you might also want to have a look at *clear protein drinks* too. I made a box like a little christmas hamper with some of the first foods I could have, nail polish, nice hand cream, which sat on the kitchen side ready for me to come home so I didn't have to look for them! Good luck all of you July crowd!! I had an RNY on June 15th and am doing great. It can be nervewracking but this community is great for answering questions and offering support.

Aw I needed this today - was having a wobble about my newly wired body and having to wait between drinking and eating feels a full time job. After a few weeks of low pain, my fibromyalgia has flared up a little (weird weather pressure and lots of stormy rain in the UK this week) and I've got the grumps.. but really I have done SO MUCH WALKING this last week. So much. No wonder I'm a bit tired haha. Really appreciate your positive reminder 😊

Oh my goodness, that sounds really tough. I hope you're back on your meds now? Going through all that must be incredibly draining, thinking of you and hoping you feel better very soon. It seems a lot of people, even those who haven't had the tricky time that you have, feel sad or regretful in the first couple of weeks. I really believe a lot of the emotional crap does get better, every day sees a huge improvement! I'm looking into getting a therapist who understands this stuff, as it can be a really lonely and confusing time.

It was my first time having surgery too, I was so scared about going under general anesthesia I didn't sleep the night before.. but as soon as I met my surgeon in the morning I was totally at ease (and too knackered to run haha). Totally agree the gas pain was the worst, getting up and walking about helped loads, as did doing very light tapping on my upper chest with clenched fists. My first walk was to the door of my room, with a healthcare assistant, about 5 or 6 hours after I got back to my room, but they said I was pretty woozy still. They were great with providing pain relief, don't be afraid to ask. Staying mobile definitely helps the gas pain. I was really grateful for this site as I could report in or read others' stories when I didn't want to have to explain to friends and family what I was experiencing.

Hi em, such an exciting time! What guidelines have Ramsay Health given you? I had my bypass on 15th June, did a 10 day pre-op diet. Spire Healthcare gave me 2 options, one was loads of milk, yogurt, fruit and a serving of home made vegetable soup and the other was more food based. I mostly stuck to the milk one, but had a bit of fish with veg instead of the soup some days.. I think the constant chugging of milk stopped me feeling hungry, protein is pretty fab for that. Have you met with your dietitian to discuss it? I kept myself busy and distracted during that time doing a deep clean of the house and getting everything ready for when I would be feeling delicate after surgery, and I am so glad I did!

Thank you Aliyah - I need to update my profile! Enjoyed your video, I look forward to seeing your progress.

Good luck!!😊

Glad to hear you're getting on okay, I know what you mean about feeling like you're constantly eating or drinking! I haven't quite got my head around the baritastic app yet - what main functions do you use it for? I think my phone blocks the reminders (really helpful!). I am 2 weeks out today, gone from HW 246 SW 235 to CW 226. Have settled on 3 meals a day now with protein water in between, am hit and miss with my water goal (MUST IMPROVE!!) but doing well with protein.

Thanks again for this advice. After your message I haven't touched the stuff again and so far have been feeling ok! 2 weeks out tomorrow, down 7.5lbs from morning of surgery, 18.5lbs since beginning of June. Why is it I still feel frustrated when this is a HUGE amount of weight to lose in 4 weeks, got to keep reminding myself that. Tried taking the dog for a walk by myself tonight and I think it was a bit soon. Just so excited to move my body.

So so much better today, thank you ☺️ Guess it's all part of the experimenting stage, little spoons is the key! I think I'm going to have to watch out for any sneaky fats, and remember I'm not even a week out so need to be patient and keep things simple!

My hospital had me eating a yogurt within 30 hours of surgery and was then sent home with instructions to eat pureed food for 4 weeks - no clear liquid stage. First few days I tolerated things well but today I am feeling quite poorly after, think I've started eating too quickly/too much. Starting to question the lack of liquid stage but like you, I trust my experienced surgeon knows what he's doing!

That's a really good point moodwise - thank you. Think I will try and stick with just paracetamol tomorrow if need be.

Sounds like you've done absolutely amazing so far, but can imagine you're feeling pretty frustrated. I'm recovering ok, just got a touch of the blues tonight. Hope a bit of oramorph and a good night's sleep will sort me out!

Yes the prescription certificate is great value! Do you get the dissolvable forceval or regular tablets?

Hello, I don't know if they exist, the boots website says advance in the text even though the bottle doesn't. I was told not to take gummies but I would much rather it!

Hello CLC I had mine this week just down the road at Washington, most of the staff also work on the Sunderland service. Have you spoken to the dietitian about your stall? (Or better still, broken it?!)

That's a shame i have only shared with one person why I was going into hospital, a few others knew I was in for surgery but I live alone and it can feel a very lonely time - especially isolating beforehand! I distracted myself by doing lots of little jobs round the house I knew I wouldn't be able to do for a while, and rearranged some of the kitchen cupboards so I could definitely reach the tins and packets I can eat in the first few weeks out. I prepared a nice box on the kitchen counter with all my little things I could have in the first few days (protein water, skimmed milk powder, my vitamins, nice moisturiser, nail varnish) felt like I was making a Christmas hamper lol. I then packed a bag with comfy clothes that I could leave downstairs incase I needed in the first few days out. I tried to see all these things as a treat for myself, and that going through this whole process and operation is like my BIG DAY and I should get to celebrate getting to spend the rest of my life with myself!

I got home about 9.30 last night (day after surgery), and slept happily in my own bed, just been having liquid paracetamol (I think you call it Tylenol). This morning I had: 6.15 water, 7am protein water, 8am oatibix (about 1/3 softened in milk), 9am multivitamin drink. Going to try and eat something again at 10. Walked for 2.5 mins on my treadmill and have retreated back to the sofa to cuddle the dog!

Hello everyone! Had my surgery this morning, was back in my room 11.50, now 22.15 (UK time). First few hours were very sore but I followed advice and started taking teeny tiny sips, and got up with the Healthcare assistant when I could, to move some of the pressure. Just a little wander round the room! The staff so far have been great. This evening I've got a peppermint tea which I'm just periodically sipping (so small a sip I'm basically letting it wet my lips). Thank god for all the people on here recommending to bring lipbalm, headphones and your own pilow! I've been listening to Glenda Cedarleaf sleep meditations, and feel quite chill despite the chaos going on outside my door. Only pain now is in my back and shoulders.

I've had a wobble today.. been down a deep YouTube rabbit hole. Need to get back into the excited place I was last week!