mattyllew

Happy NY everyone, i'm sure its going to be a fab year for all of us:thumbup:. I was banded 2 weeks ago by dr chris and i just want to share some of my experience; Kanoo and Eurochange foreign exchange shops had better rates than M&S and the Post Office, and they were prepared to negotiate (the board rate was 1.07 but they gave me 1.10 as I was changing up 4K.) Book a hotel with high beds:smile: I was in the Holiday Inn Express and the beds are only a foot from the ground; I was on my own so it was impossible to get up without pain. I saw the Campanile hotel and it looked great and as long as the beds are ok I would stay there. Be prepared for the cost of taxis; 27 euros from airport to hospital, 20 euros airport to surgeons house. I'm not sure if i was ripped off but it was more expensive than I thought. Get to the hospital earlier and get a seat whilst waiting to register. Registration took 1.5 hrs to clear the queue. If you're male, be prepared!! lol Women have a much better tolerance of pain :thumbup: All the blogs I have read by the girls dont really mention the pain after the surgery, but as Dr Chris said to me, I had surgery on my stomach under general anaesthetic and I have to expect some pain. Make sure you ask the nurses for pain relief and anti nausea through the drip; once I did this I was fine but they weren't volunteering it. A few people I spoke to afterwards didnt ask for it and they felt really rough. You can certainly feel the air they pump into you during the op, but if was gone in a couple of days. On day 2 and 3 I couldnt manoevre myself in bed so I slept in an armchair. Days 4-6 the bruising comes out so its a little painful when you move in bed but bearable. Days 7-9 the wounds were driving me mad, but I found it was the sticky from the dressings causing a reaction. I spoke to the doctor and he said I could remove the dressings after 7 days anyway (the wounds had stopped weeping on day 6.) I changed the dressings 3 times in the week. Day 10 I had the stiches out and the only discomfort I feel now is around the port when I bend, but that will be expected for a few more weeks. Anyway, above all, it may seem like a lot of pain etc for a week or so, but it soon goes and you're back to normal pretty quickly. I went back to work on day 10, but could have been back on day 7 (if it hadnt been Boxing Day.) Day 1-2 = water. They tried to give me a meal to eat in hospital but I refused it. Perhaps you can eat the soup but the solid stuff? I would ask Dr Chris about that if you are having surgery soon... Day 3-5 = water, tea, jelly pots and boillion (tesco sell it in the stock section) Day 6-10= slim fast shakes for nutrition, clear yoghurt, cream of toato soups, petit filou, custard Day11 til now = organic baby food (started stage 1 now on stage 2) Tomorrow I'll start on my own pureed diet and I hope to be eating mashed potato by day 18 and taking small soft meals by day 21. I can definitely feel that I have a 'new' stomach and although there isnt much restriction yet I have to go really slowly with 'new' foods or I get instant trapped wind under the ribs and the stomach is churning. This should be avoided as the op area needs to repair. Other useful tips; get a 'picker upper,' one of those things you see street cleaners grabbing rubbish with. Dont worry about the injections you have to give yourself in the stomach; I hate needles but they are so fine you barely feel it Guys; shave your stomach and chest; you cant have any hair there at all for the op and I had a last minute panic with a dry razor! I felt some pain in taxis as they bounced along roads but I felt absolutely nothing whilst flying. Book your 1st and 2nd follow up appointment ASAP as slots run out quickly. They must have extended the 22 Jan schedule in Bristol as I managed to get 3.20pm, but I was told it was the last one. Don't be tempted to try and return on day 2; if you are not staying in Belgium after the op then Dr Chris wont operate. It doesnt matter what anyone else says; he will refuse. Fredrik comes round to check on you. I hope some of this is useful. I'm so pleased I had the op, Dr Chris and Fredrik and the hospital staff were great. I started at 18'7 and already I'm 17'4. Yes its mainly water but it still feels GREAT! Days 1-7 you will feel hungry and in some pain and you may sometimes think 'was it worth it.' But never doubt that it is worth it and that 2009 is going to be the best and healthiest year of our lives. :Yawn: