Booklean

Good Morning Everyone, Good to hear from you all. I am also pleased with my progress although it seems a lot less than anyone else. I suppose it is important to learn from the very beginning that we are all different and will repond differently as to how we shed this weight. I am on day 13 but am calling it week 2 as I have decided to make Sunday my weekly weigh-in. The first week I lost 7 lbs, and last week I lost a further 4 lbs. My abdomen was initially very distended and I was unable to wear any of my normal clothes, but now I am back to approx normal. Despite having lost that 11 lbs I cannot notice where the weight has come off. I did not do a pre-op diet. I am making home made soups and supplementing them with unflavoured protein powder. I like those OK. I am also drinking flavoured protein shakes and beginning to detest them all. I love scrambled eggs mixed with cottage cheese, custard with pureed apple or indeed any fruit and also porridge supplemented with the protein powder. This week I intend to cook turkey and chicken and liquidise it with the soup instead of the protein powder. I am getting my 70 grams protein per day and also varying between 500 and 800 KCals per day. I love to drink tea and herbal teas to get my fluid as I sometimes find cold water hard to drink. I am still tired and like to have a nap during the day. This post is getting long so I will continue writing in another one. Booklean

Hi Roja, I am on pureed foods and enjoying my food well enough. I am also drinking protein shakes. I intend to weigh myself every Sunday morning only. I think 20 lbs is good....I know you think you have stalled, but I have never lost 20lbs in any month. My abdomen is still swollen and my trousers are still too tight. I am napping alot throughout the day. Otherwise I am good. booklean

Thanks for your replies. It is good to know that this swelling up is just par for the course! Booklean

I am 8 days post op and feeling OK. I also had my gallbladder removed. My abdomen is still swollen and none of my trousers fit...they are all too tight. Has anyone else had this problem? Booklean

Hello Everyone, I am hoping to have VSG in the coming months. I am in the process of my pre-op assessments and these all take time! They also follow very strict International Guidelines and are not willing to recommend surgery with a BMI under 40 unless there you have significant co-morbidities. I am just about borderline! I will be self-pay. I am interested in hearing from others who had starting BMI's in or around mine, and to hear how you are doing. In particular, I would like to know what results you are getting and whether or not you have any regrets? Look forward to hearing your stories, Thanks, Bookleen

Hello Everyone, It's me, back again. I am now 1 week post surgery! I had the sleeve done on 26th April. I also had stones and the gallbladder removed at the same time. I am doing well and very pleased to have started on this new way of life. Bookleen

Hi. I had my gallbladder removed at the same time I was sleeved. I had my surgery just 6 days ago. I had several stones in the gallbladder but was asymptomatic. I am doing well post-op. Wondering whether I will have a longer recovery time? Bookleen

Good Luck on Wednesday. I stayed in the Holiday Inn, which is miles and miles away from the hospital. The hotel is near Ghent/Gent which is a beautiful place and well worth a visit. There is a tram line just directly outside the hotel which is very useful indeed especially if you have someone travelling over with you. You will be treated like a queen, and back home before you know it. The Best of good luck to you and a successful weight loss too. Bookleen

Hello Everyone, I am home again after been sleeved on the 26th April. I stayed an extra night in Belgium which wasn't needed at all, but helped me to relax more before my flight home. I also had my gallbladder removed. I had stones, so this has worked out well for the future as I won't ever require another operation for that problem. 2 ops for the price of one! Not bad. Eh?:tongue_smilie: I am really happy to be home and on the road to weight loss. Bookleen

Hello Everyone and especially Lyn, Well I am home. I was sleeved on Monday 26th April in Belgium, and flew back home last night (30th April). I had a little holiday in Belgium in a lovely 4 star hotel. I opted to stay a little longer than necessary in case I ran into difficulties. Of course I didn't have any problems at all. I also had my gallbladder removed at the same time. It was full of stones, so I am very pleased to have got that done, which saved another operation later on. I really would recommend Dr Marc Focquet and Dr Toon Sonneville who were both present for my surgery and aftercare. I felt I was absolutely spoiled , I got such good attention! and lapped it all up! I was sleeved by "Surgical Obesity Solutions" in St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Zottegem, Belgium. Bookleen

Thanks to all who posted. It is good to hear how others are doing. Bookleen

Hello Hot Mamma, Just thinking of you and wondering how you are doing. I believe you had you surgery on 15th April? Hope all went well? Bookleen

Hello Everyone and Welcome Paul5678, Thanks for all the advise and useful tips. I will use this weekend to stock up on all those ideas.It looks like my flight will go ahead as planned. I see you are all doing very well and are a great encouragement to me before I start. Bye for now, Bookleen

Dear Jane_j, Cherrydrop, Yorkshire pudding and Everyone else reading this! Many Thanks for your lovely long and detailed replies. I intend to re-read and refer to them many times over the coming weeks. I am booked for surgery in Belgium for next Monday, 26th April. I will be travelling over on Sunday morning, having surgery on Monday and flying home on Friday. Of course this might all change with the volcanic ash and flight disruptions! I opted to stay an extra night in Belgium just to increase my confidence. I am going with S.O.S.which is a U.K. company. I had very little advice from them yet but I believe I will come home with a little booklet with all the details in it. At least I hope I will. I am taking 2 weeks holiday leave from work and hope to be able to return then without the need to have certified sick leave. Perhaps, this might be a bit ambitious? Regarding pain medication, I would like to bring some over myself in case I don't get enough there. I may not use it , but I would feel more secure with a little stashed away in reserve. What pain killer could I use in the early days that won't damage my poor little stomach? I am very sorry to hear that you, Yorkshire Pudding had such a difficult time. I hope it will be plain sailing for you from now on. I take your point about poor concentration. It's great to have some plans already made and not to have to think and work things out when you are not feeling good or in pain or discomfort of any sort. That is why I intend to buy a selection of Protein drinks to have ready when I come home. I was wondering if anyone has tried those Very Low Calorie Diet sachets that are all inclusive e.g. Celebrity Slim, Lipotrim, Target Slim or Slim Fast? Would any of those be suitable? Wishing you all a very successful weight loss and looking forward to staying in touch. Regards, Bookleen

Hello Everyone, It is a week pre-op for me and I am trying to get myself prepared. With all this volcanic ash flight disruption I may not be going anywhere! Looking for advise on what steps I need to take to prepare for my post-op homecoming? In particular what do I need to buy in to have ready? All tips and suggestions welcome. Bookleen

Hi Everyone, I am back on your board again! Although I am not from the UK, I also identify with you all, and would like to join you here? I am still pre-op and have been reading this forum and trying to get myself ready for surgery. I like to know what to expect and believe I can handle things better when there are no big surprises! Since most of the posts are from the US, their brand names and often food choices are different from ours. I am particularly interested in hearing what post-op medication you are all taking. I believe it is important to take an antacid and also something to prevent gallstones. What are the trade names of your medication? Also, would you advise any shopping or special preparations I need to make or do to ensure my post-op homecoming runs smoothly? Would love to hear from you all. Regards, Bookleen

Hello KZol, Good luck on your journey. I hope it all works out for you. Bookleen

Hi Lyn, I am pleased to "meet" you. I will be going to the same surgeon as you, but a week earlier so I can give you an idea of what to expect. I don't know of anyone else who has gone there. Do You? I decided to book an extra night in the hotel, it helps to make me more confident. Probably not needed but I feel better about it. Regards, Bookleen

Hello tiaras, I am delighted to hear from you and I have replied to your invite to be a friend. I hope I did it right as I am not too familar with these type of forums. I looked up your Hospital and I would have to agree with you that you have landed on your feet! It sounds absolutely fantastic! I am also impressed with your weight loss since your surgery late february. Well Done! I have already booked mine. The date is fixed for 26th April and I am travelling to Belgium to have it done. That news only came today. Would love to keep in touch throughout the coming months. Regards, Bookleen

Hi HotMamma, Best of Good Luck to you on 15th and longterm success. Bookleen

Hi , It's me again. As you can see i got no replies to my last post. Just wondering if anyone went to Belgium for surgery? Bookleen

Hi FireFly, I totally relate to everything you are saying! My question now is how are you doing with the 30 lbs gone but still only eating 6-800 Cals a day? Have you got any energy to walk with your friends with such a small amount of food? I am particularly sedentary at the moment and from reading these boards it appears to me that everyone is making a great effort to keep moving once they have had their surgery. This must be difficult? Regards, Bookleen

Congratulations on losing 130 lbs. That is certainly a great achievement. Well Done! Perhaps, you will continue to lose some more. It's great that you feel good. Hopefully you will continue to feel well and not regain any of it. Does your surgeon expect you to lose any more? Strangely enough I don't feel well at a BMI of 36. I feel tired all the time and very restrained in movement. I don't have the confidence to start another diet....and fail yet again. Regards, Bookleen

Hello FabBy50, Thanks for your reply. I live in Ireland and the sleeve is so new here. There are a number of foreign companies offering pre-op and post-op care here in Ireland with the surgery abroad. I know they will accept me and they are cheaper. However, I am attending an Irish company that use local dieticians, psychologists and surgeon. The actual surgery is going to be abroad, but I would be very happy to have their support and blessing. I would also like to get a sick cert for work too! Regards, Bookleen

Hello, I totally relate to being addicted to food. I think I could "kill" to eat. I am wondering what do you do instead of eating? You are only 6 weeks or so since surgery and seem to be doing so well. Regards, Bookleen