An English Sleever's Journey

[debs003 3]

Hi, I was sleeved on 19th Aug. best thing I did down 31 lbs. lots of change in what I can eat but adapting well. Embracing new me x

[rcc 13]

well done Natalie keep going and feeling positive ..wish i was you as i go in at 7-15 weds morning first hospital stay ever < ..i was also under the illusion of 1...2....days of rest and sleep !! maybe not ..

[marywithoutsound 148]

Thank you Richard! Your date is so close now, i'm excited for you . Hopefully you will manage to get some good rest - and if you don't in hospital you certainly will when you get home!!

I am really struggling to get all my liquid in. I have been told I need to try to drink 2litres a day and there's no way I can do it'. I can only tolerate a few sips at a time and then I have to wait a good half an hour before I can face any more.

I am a little worried about one of my incisions as well - it hurt more than the others in hospital and I could feel a lot of dried blood under the dressing. Had a shower today and some Water got under the 'waterproof' dressing and I think it's bleeding a little. I will keep an eye on it but I don't like the look of it!

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

Its the hole that they dragged your stomach out of. They also tether something to your stomach wall around that port, so it is always more sore than the other ones. It'll go in two weeks. Just hold it gently as you move about. A heat pad really helped me the first few days. As for the dressing - if Water got underneath it - have a wash, gently pat and reapply a fresh dressing. You don't want that one festering... Glad you're doing well, Nathalie. Don't worry too much about what you can consume. Just try your best to get the liquids and perhaps some natural yoghurt in x

[marywithoutsound 148]

Again, Madam R, thank you for taking the time to respond! Going to go to the walk-in clinic tomorrow to ask a nurse to put another dressing on for me.

Not feeling great now - it seems to get worse in the evenings.

How are you doing? I can't wait to stop feeling so queasy and gassy! Please tell me it stops soon

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

it does, honey, it does. Come day 5-7, you'll feel pretty chirpy - or chirpier. The Water goes down better, the panic cloud lifts, you'll be eating a bit of yoghurt and whatever else you can get down.. The evenings are bad, because that's when you do your healing and recuperating. Just sit back, take a painkiller or two and relax. You don't have to achieve anything other than getting better. I'm 19 days out now and still feel a bit tired.. But the food options are increasing! Yay!!!!! x

[marywithoutsound 148]

Even though I am struggling to get anywhere near as much Fluid down me as I need to, and the thought of actually eating anything makes me feel a bit queasy, I am seriously craving random tastes.

Today, I would sell my own mother for a bag of Quavers.

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

LOL... I hate to say it, but it gets worse.. Try licking a little bit of a stock cube. That sated my cravings for taste and salt for a while.. Hang in there! x

[marywithoutsound 148]

Well, about 2 minutes after I posted that, she came home with chips and gravy for her lunch! Not even going to sell her now, I will give her away for free! The upside was though that I dipped my finger in the gravy and my goodness it was glorious!! Good tip about the oxo cube - may make myself a mug of stock later on. X

[marywithoutsound 148]

One week post op so I jumped on the scales out of curiosity...from a high of around 238lb before I began my pre-op, I am down to 212lb today. I know a lot of that will be Water weigh and I am heading towards my three week stall, but I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself!

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

That's a pretty good result! Are you starting to 'feel' skinny? I know I am! It's weird!

[marywithoutsound 148]

That's a pretty good result! Are you starting to 'feel' skinny? I know I am! It's weird!

I am a little! I can feel my collar bones again and my jaw is looking much more defined. Have had to take a couple of links out of my watch too, so I'm feeling quite confident at the moment!

How are you doing? Is your heartburn any better today? (Noticed on another thread - stalker alert haha!)

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

Hehe, it's okay. I think I'm just learning what I can and can't do and what I should and should not be doing. Got 10 hours sleep last night with no reflux - so what I did yesterday clearly worked. Fingers crossed it continues and this is just a 3 week transition issue. I am genuinely scared of the alternative. It's not pleasant, I'll say that.

Glad you're seeing the tangible results.. I'm 2.6 kilo's off being 100 kilos. I think I may have a mini party when I hit that mark! Sad, but true!

[ReDbEaN 654]

Oh how I have enjoyed reading this!! (Except for poor Natalie's heartbreak). I am glad you are doing well post-op Natalie:) and Madam - here's to hoping your reflux is on it's way out! I feel so terrible for you:( i have a friend who put wood blocks under the head of their bed because of reflux...it may help you to try that. I can't remember the mans name who has been posting (sorry), but I hope pray you are doing well.

[marywithoutsound 148]

Glad you managed to have a full night's sleep Madam R. I will keep my fingers crossed it carries on getting better - I think sometimes when we feel so well in other ways, it's easy to forget that our bodies have gone through major surgery and it's going to take a while for things to get back to some semblance of normality - I know I have been guilty of this in the past few days!

Thanks redbean! Luckily I am not feeling too heartbroken now - I'm 23 and went from university to working full time and living with him. I have 6 months lease left on the apartment and I am planning, as I will be much more confident and active by then (fingers crossed!) to have a bit of an adventure while I still can and have no real responsibilities. My plan is to hopefully secure a working visa to spend a year in Canada - a winter in Whistler sounds good to me at this point!