NeonRaven8919

18 months post op, RNY, and I drink sugar free soda daily, not that I should, but I do. And I don't have any issues with it. I can gulp Water if I have an empty stomach, can't gulp soda, but I can sip it like normal and I love it. I even drink it with a straw. Everyone's experience will be different. I waited at least 6 months before experimenting, and I would recommend going very slow, a sip or two at a time until you know what will happen.

ok...
first: DISCLAIMER...we are all different and will experience life and all its awesomeness in different ways. what *I* go through is in no way indicative of what YOU will go through.
with that said, I am closing in on 7 years post-op (sleeve) here is/was MY experience:
- i accidentally found out that i was able to GULP a whole bunch of liquid at around 3 weeks post op (i was super thirsty at the time), and have no problem doing it since.
- i was cleared for ALL food/drinks at 1 month post op (except alcohol..which was 6 months**).
- i started drinking carbonated drinks (i.e, Perrier or Soda Water) at about 1 month post op) and had no issues, and i could even GULP it! i did not drink sugary carbonated drinks much at this time...except for tonic Water, which i had with my GIN or VODKA. ** i drank maybe 4-5 partial gin/vodka tonics in the time before i reached GOAL at 7 months post op.
- since reaching goal (like 7 years ago!), i have regulary drank carbonated drinks (real sugar and artificially sweetened) almost every day. i also have some sort of alcohol every day, but that's a different story, ha!
- i have maintained BELOW my stated goal weight (127 lbs) since achieving it more than 6 years ago.
- i am currently 103 lbs, and eat admittedly not the healthiest, but i exercise like a m-f*cker so i think it all evens out.
Edited to add: for those that my think i'm like way underweight, i'm barely 5'2" so my current weight is actually "healthy" for my height (at least that's what BMI and my doctor says, ha!)

Sort of. I've always dressed a little more alternative/gothic, but considering most of those fashions don't come in plus sizes I've mostly just made do with black leggings and black tops. Now, I'm a size 14 (uk) so I can actually start buying and wearing all the clothes I've always wanted to wear!
I do think that I've gain more confidence since I lost weight and that means I've starting taking more time and put more effort into makeup and hair etc.

Sort of. I've always dressed a little more alternative/gothic, but considering most of those fashions don't come in plus sizes I've mostly just made do with black leggings and black tops. Now, I'm a size 14 (uk) so I can actually start buying and wearing all the clothes I've always wanted to wear!
I do think that I've gain more confidence since I lost weight and that means I've starting taking more time and put more effort into makeup and hair etc.

Sort of. I've always dressed a little more alternative/gothic, but considering most of those fashions don't come in plus sizes I've mostly just made do with black leggings and black tops. Now, I'm a size 14 (uk) so I can actually start buying and wearing all the clothes I've always wanted to wear!
I do think that I've gain more confidence since I lost weight and that means I've starting taking more time and put more effort into makeup and hair etc.

Sort of. I've always dressed a little more alternative/gothic, but considering most of those fashions don't come in plus sizes I've mostly just made do with black leggings and black tops. Now, I'm a size 14 (uk) so I can actually start buying and wearing all the clothes I've always wanted to wear!
I do think that I've gain more confidence since I lost weight and that means I've starting taking more time and put more effort into makeup and hair etc.

I for one feel like I am constantly changing my style, whether that is my hair colour, the kinds of clothes that I wear, my make up etc!
Anyone else feel like they are constantly playing dress up and having fun seeing what suits them after weight loss?
For reference - I have just dyed my hair pink & have included a picture of my birthday outfit from Saturday!

@Arabesque I feel that! It is weird to look back and think of how much effort I put into trying to hide/disguise/conceal my body via clothes when in reality, I don't think anyone but me really cared!
A wardrobe of timeless, statement pieces...now that sounds interesting & I'd be so curious to see what kind of statement pieces you have! Sounds fabulous!
Clothing addiction is definitely something I think a lot of us have now that we can wear more in different sizing's - you aren't alone haha!
Thank you! ❤️

Most definitely! Finding my new style when I lost weight was very exciting. I used to wear a lot of architectural/structural clothing with volume, panels, angles darts & folds to give interesting shapes so more avant garde. Partly so people would look at the clothing not my large body.
Became obvious pretty quickly that I didn’t have the body to support these designs (being short didn’t help either). I was drowning in the volume of fabric & being overwhelmed by the designs. I had so much fun going on shopping sprees to stores and boutiques to try on different styles just to explore and see what now suited & not always to buy.
Now I tend to go for sleeker more fitted clothing much like your body con pink birthday dress. I like some volume but have to balance it with a fitted top or fitted bottom or in the cut or fall of fabric. Still like things with a difference in fabric or cut & generally don’t follow fads or trends so have a wardrobe of timeless, statement pieces.
Some sadness though as some designers/labels I used to love wearing are too big now (in style &/or size) but am very happy to be able to wear designers I used to wear when was smaller in the past or coveted. (Yes, I have a clothing addiction and spend too much on clothing).
PS - Your new pink hair is very flattering on your skin tone. Perfect colour choice. ❤️ And happy birthday!

Hi!
Sorry to have found your post so late! There's not a lot of NHS patients on here as this is mostly an American website.
I had my surgery in October 2024 on the NHS. I remember the dietician appointment was a video call with other patients before any surgeries were finalised.
I will admit that I don't feel like I got much out of it. The main message is eat slowly and prioritise Protein first when eating a meal.
The session with the psychologist (a ten minute phone call) was probably the least helpful as she just said I need to practice mindfulness and learn others ways to cope with stress other than eating. (Gee, thanks! Where was that advice when I was a fat 8 year old? 🙄)
I had a higher BMI than you currently do and the privilege of living in London, so I think I was bumped up a few tiers and fast tracked (I don't know if this true in general, but London seems to get the lion's share of the funding so hospitals are less strict. My Gloucester based friend has a BMI of 44, but because she has no comorbidities, she can't get any weight loss referrals because her BMI isn't 50+)
But I digress.
Once I had the surgery, it was a year and a half from the initial referral, it's mostly been smooth sailing. I had the gastric sleeve and had no problems. So far, I've lost 39 kg and more fatty liver has improved significantly.
My mother had the gastric bypass (also on the NHS). She had a complication, St Anthony's private hospital did the surgery, but the NHS covered it but once they operated again, she had no problems. She never shared exactly how much she weighed with me, but she went from a size 28-30 to a 22 and reversed her diabetes. She passed away in 2023, but if she hadn't, she would be much smaller I'm sure.
I've had a great experience so far with my procedure and weight loss. I really do recommend going the NHS route if you are able to do so.
Well done on making this decision to change your life! You've got this. Sometimes, just making the decision to get help is the hardest part!

My group session was for the first initial information session and group psychology initially information session. but everything else was one on one or in person with a few team members.

I'm glad your moving forward! As I mentioned before, my friend who lives in Gloucestershire is trying to get surgery, but their NHS trust requires either comorbidities or a 50+ BMI which she doesn't have. It's really tricky when each NHS trust has so many differnt rules so any progress on the path as slow as it seems, is good.
You're on your way which is a good start! Keep us updated!

Hi, NeonRaven!
Thank you so much for your reply and sharing your experience! I find it so helpful to hear how other NHsers have experienced the process since it seems so much more elongated from the U.S. process. And you make such a good point about the London privilege - now it makes more sense why I’ve seen more internet presence and response from London NHSers. (And quite a few from the far north of England as well!)
About three or four years ago during my annual diabetic review, my nurse had suggested bariatric surgery and that gave me a lot of hope - she was able to refer me for Tier 3.
I had my dietitian appointment yesterday and it went really well! It was about 30 minutes and went over the Tier 3 lifestyle changes, continued lifestyle changes (balanced meals, regular exercise, blood sugar monitoring, weight maintenance, etc), medications, and then any questions I might have. She was very positive and said she would be recommending me to go forward for surgery when the MDT meeting happens 🥲 (once I meet with the next consultants - psychologist, anaesthetist, bariatric nurse, and surgeon - how soon? No one knows.)
Needless to say, I am so relieved, so happy, and so excited to be moving forward even if it’s one step.
I’ve found out that my hospital trust now does their “one-stop” clinic as separate virtual appointments, rather than in-person. (So, perhaps it will be quite some time before that MDT meeting?) And then the endoscopy and ECG will be done at the pre-op assessment once a surgery date is confirmed.
I am so glad to hear your NHS experience has been so good and positive. I am so sorry to hear about your mother's complication and her passing, but it is so hopeful to hear she was able to put her diabetes into remission (that’s one of my big hopes!)
Congratulations on your weight loss and wishing all the health and success! 💕
PS - funny enough, I have not had any group sessions whatsoever in this process. I am wondering if I’ll have a group session with the bariatric nurse?

That's a wonderful, but sad, story. It's also incredibly happy. You find your way through the darkness and that's incredible!

Definitely a win in my eyes, or more accurately, a near win
I walk passed a charity shop every day on my way to work and they've had a dress in there that I've loved for awhile (Light grey stripes with neon yellow stripes). I never bought it because it's a size S and I'm not a size S. Still sometimes never think I could be. But still, I admired it from afar.
For months, I've seen it in there next to the neon yellow hot pants (I love neon, but I will never be a hot pants person as I don't like the wedgie feeling)
I handed in my resignation a month ago and am moving on to new neon green pastures. So I told myself, if that dress is still there on the last day of work and it's the last time I will walk by that charity shop, it must be fate.
So I bought the dress. As my mother would say "just because it goes around you, doesn't mean it fits". She was right. It doesn't fit. Yet. But the fact I can even get a size S to go around me is a victory. Something I would never have dreamed.
But it WILL fit me. Not just because I believe in fate, not just because no one else wanted this grey and neon yellow eye sore, but because I've quite literally worked my arse off.

Definitely a win in my eyes, or more accurately, a near win
I walk passed a charity shop every day on my way to work and they've had a dress in there that I've loved for awhile (Light grey stripes with neon yellow stripes). I never bought it because it's a size S and I'm not a size S. Still sometimes never think I could be. But still, I admired it from afar.
For months, I've seen it in there next to the neon yellow hot pants (I love neon, but I will never be a hot pants person as I don't like the wedgie feeling)
I handed in my resignation a month ago and am moving on to new neon green pastures. So I told myself, if that dress is still there on the last day of work and it's the last time I will walk by that charity shop, it must be fate.
So I bought the dress. As my mother would say "just because it goes around you, doesn't mean it fits". She was right. It doesn't fit. Yet. But the fact I can even get a size S to go around me is a victory. Something I would never have dreamed.
But it WILL fit me. Not just because I believe in fate, not just because no one else wanted this grey and neon yellow eye sore, but because I've quite literally worked my arse off.

Size UK16/US12! So proud! Also, these are actual jeans not pull on stretch pants!

Yes, but I have to buy new clothes and some of my favourite outfits look like tents. I just have to learn how to sew and alter things.

I'm a London, UK based NHS patient. I've only just found your post, but I've added some hopefully helpful waffle to your original post.
I don't have experience of Portsmouth hospitals (only their seaside touristy spots) but in general, I've had only good experiences with the NHS treatment I got.
The psychologist visit is usually just a formality because I don't think a ten minute phone call is a really good gauge of someone's preparedness for a life altering surgery. If they NHS has already gotten you past the referral stage, I would imagine, you'll just need to wait until they can find a surgery slot.
I was approved in July of 2024 and told that "unless the moons and planets all align, you will likely get your surgery Spring 2025" I guess the moons aligned because two weeks later, they called to tell me it was time to start the 12 week milk pre-op diet and I was scheduled for October 2024. You will probably not have a 12 week pre-op diet. I was told this was a test group trial for University College London Hospital and because I had NAFLD.
Don't be too nervous (easier said than done, I'm sure) and congratulations! You've made it this far! You can do this!
We're all here to support you!

I'm a London, UK based NHS patient. I've only just found your post, but I've added some hopefully helpful waffle to your original post.
I don't have experience of Portsmouth hospitals (only their seaside touristy spots) but in general, I've had only good experiences with the NHS treatment I got.
The psychologist visit is usually just a formality because I don't think a ten minute phone call is a really good gauge of someone's preparedness for a life altering surgery. If they NHS has already gotten you past the referral stage, I would imagine, you'll just need to wait until they can find a surgery slot.
I was approved in July of 2024 and told that "unless the moons and planets all align, you will likely get your surgery Spring 2025" I guess the moons aligned because two weeks later, they called to tell me it was time to start the 12 week milk pre-op diet and I was scheduled for October 2024. You will probably not have a 12 week pre-op diet. I was told this was a test group trial for University College London Hospital and because I had NAFLD.
Don't be too nervous (easier said than done, I'm sure) and congratulations! You've made it this far! You can do this!
We're all here to support you!

Definitely a win in my eyes, or more accurately, a near win
I walk passed a charity shop every day on my way to work and they've had a dress in there that I've loved for awhile (Light grey stripes with neon yellow stripes). I never bought it because it's a size S and I'm not a size S. Still sometimes never think I could be. But still, I admired it from afar.
For months, I've seen it in there next to the neon yellow hot pants (I love neon, but I will never be a hot pants person as I don't like the wedgie feeling)
I handed in my resignation a month ago and am moving on to new neon green pastures. So I told myself, if that dress is still there on the last day of work and it's the last time I will walk by that charity shop, it must be fate.
So I bought the dress. As my mother would say "just because it goes around you, doesn't mean it fits". She was right. It doesn't fit. Yet. But the fact I can even get a size S to go around me is a victory. Something I would never have dreamed.
But it WILL fit me. Not just because I believe in fate, not just because no one else wanted this grey and neon yellow eye sore, but because I've quite literally worked my arse off.

Definitely a win in my eyes, or more accurately, a near win
I walk passed a charity shop every day on my way to work and they've had a dress in there that I've loved for awhile (Light grey stripes with neon yellow stripes). I never bought it because it's a size S and I'm not a size S. Still sometimes never think I could be. But still, I admired it from afar.
For months, I've seen it in there next to the neon yellow hot pants (I love neon, but I will never be a hot pants person as I don't like the wedgie feeling)
I handed in my resignation a month ago and am moving on to new neon green pastures. So I told myself, if that dress is still there on the last day of work and it's the last time I will walk by that charity shop, it must be fate.
So I bought the dress. As my mother would say "just because it goes around you, doesn't mean it fits". She was right. It doesn't fit. Yet. But the fact I can even get a size S to go around me is a victory. Something I would never have dreamed.
But it WILL fit me. Not just because I believe in fate, not just because no one else wanted this grey and neon yellow eye sore, but because I've quite literally worked my arse off.

That's a wonderful, but sad, story. It's also incredibly happy. You find your way through the darkness and that's incredible!

That's a wonderful, but sad, story. It's also incredibly happy. You find your way through the darkness and that's incredible!

Anyone who has ever flown commercial has seen the safety briefing, right ?
"In the case of cabin pressure drop....an air mask will lower itself in front of each passenger.....put your own in place before helping those beside you"
Took me quite a while to realize that our own personal health condition is no different.


The WLS provided a wild ride for about three years. Surgery yield excellent weight loss results. Faster than I was ready for. I didn't make the best of decisions and never missed the opportunity to go have fun.

One day....I woke up from the hubris and took inventory. My marriage had somehow survived...as it had survived tough times well prior. I was a dad to an insanely gifted son. I had a good job surrounded by great people. Mostly, though....my wife was there at my side and patiently waiting for me to get my head extracted from my arse.
I did.
We then had what can only be described as the best years of our marriage....like we were dating again. I was blessed and the first to acknowledge such.
She had some health issues arise and we discovered it was worse than we were expecting. Diagnosis was cancer....treatment began right away but it was a terminal diagnosis. She fought hard...superhuman efforts. Her pain tolerance was Simply Beyond my compression. Cancer took her in April of 2021.
I maintained my promise to her to keep on with the sobriety.
I failed in most other ways. I had zero desire to cook as it was too painful. Anytime I'd try the sense of loss would be overpowering. We had so many fun times in and around the kitchen....I'd cook and she'd help me clean up my mess. Music always on....every day together was alike a date night.
I remain so very grateful to have been given those recent great years together....but I chickened out when it involved anything we'd once do together. No cooking of anything other than maybe a quick breakfast.....no music....no movies or shows we once enjoyed, no gym, no maintaining of friendships......just went to work each day and came home....existing off fast food and vending machine garbage at work.
Three and a half years went on like that.
As the fourth anniversary of her death loomed, I once again took inventory. What I acknowledged was ugly. The mirror sucked, the way most of my clothes fit sucked, my annual checkups with our primary care doc sucked....and I owned every single bit of it. I owned all that suck.
I also knew that she would kick my ass for letting myself give up like I had. I've never quit anything in my life....yet there I was....quitting on pretty much everything. I pissed myself off so badly.
I made the decision to crawl outa that hole and do what she would have me do if she was here to push & pull on me to get my shyt together. She fought so hard to live....and there I was... giving up...no fight, no attempt, just giving up like a punk.
So things began to improve greatly when I started jumping on what I could gain control of. My health was a perfect place to start.....

And so it has been going the last few months. Daily macros are improving more each day. Essentially Keto but am supplementing with fish oil, Fiber, turmeric, powdered greens, multi-vitamins.....trying to shore up every aspect of daily good stuff taken in. I flipped the collective bird to all the fast food restaurants and their drive thru windows. Screw 'em all.

Found the stereo again....whether in the truck or at the house. There is music.
Took over the yardwork....and there is a pile of it needed.
Joined a gym. Bought some new ear buds and gym clothes....and a heap more new music.

In short.....I acknowledged that throwing my own health away was what had been selfish......taking control of it was imperative.

The loss is still there....but my response to it is now different.
Now I am doing much more to honor her by living as she wanted me to. She wanted me to live....all aspects of living.
Health first, foremost and always.......and the other aspects of living are becoming more clear each day.
Life is a gift. Squandering that gift is a crime.

Longwinded answer.

@NeonRaven8919 I love that for you you will definitely be able to fit in that dress soon enough show us some pictures once it does! @Dub your winning. @NeonRaven8919As far as the scale goes, I'm a year and two months postop. I've never owned a scale. I still don't own a scale. It's not good for my poor mental health and as a woman we have too many hormonal changes, bloating, cycles, menopause, perimenopause, Water retention it's just not a good indicator of your progress. Your metabolic wellness is your best indicator of the progress that you're making.