Brand New- Why is it so hard to find UK based info?

[Vicksta 1]

Hi guys and girls! I'm brand new to both bariatric surgery and forums so please be nice I have literally just been referred to a consultant at PRUH in Kent, first appointment on Monday. I've been looking for any information on what to expect, questions to ask, length of the whole process but it seems quite difficult to find anything related to the UK and the NHS process especially. Any insight or wisdom you can all share would be great!!

Thank you!! V

[catalina_uk 62]

Hi!I had my procedure at St. George's hospital in London on the 14.05.16. The whole process took just over one year but that is because I had to rebook couple of my appointments. Ur Monday appt is it with a dietitian or with the surgeon?

[Vicksta 1]

Hi!I had my procedure at St. George's hospital in London on the 14.05.16. The whole process took just over one year but that is because I had to rebook couple of my appointments. Ur Monday appt is it with a dietitian or with the surgeon?

Hi Catalina,

I think with the surgeon, the letter said him or a member of his team. Haven't seen a dietician at all yet.

Edited July 8, 2016 by Vicksta

[catalina_uk 62]

Some trusts do that. As soon you'll see the dietician the ball will start rolling...

[UK Cathy 977]

You won't find much UK info on this site as people are mainly based in USA. You are in the right forum though to make contact with people from UK. Sleeve isn't that well known yet .

The info people have post op applies mainly in that Protein first and do not eat and drink together. Stalls happen whichever side of the pond you are on. It gets a bit frustrating sometimes when they are talking about food products we cannot get.

[Vicksta 1]

Catalina- oh that's good, hopefully I'll find out some more about that on Monday

Cathy- I've watched a lot on YouTube and I agree that it's very annoying to see products etc and then find you can't get them over here off to the states at the end of the year though so if the process is going well maybe I'll stock up lol

[madadams 130]

Hi. I had the sleeve in February. I live near Manchester. I had loads of info from my bariatric team. I paid for my surgery so can't help with the NHS process but if you Google st George's health care gastric sleeve they have a really good detailed post op eating plan you can download. I used this along with my own info and it was invaluable. Just stick to your post op eating plan to the letter and you'll be fine. I haven't done any Protein shakes etc as my team didn't agree with them. They prefer to get your Protein from Milk/meat etc and eat from all the food groups. I'm 19 weeks post op and 5 stone down ????

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Edited July 8, 2016 by madadams

[Vicksta 1]

Madadams- wow, congratulations on your weight loss! Yeah the whole Protein shakes/ Meal Replacement thing doesn't sit too well with me either. I am at a bit of a disadvantage because I'm lactose intolerant so can't rely too much on milk or yoghurt for my protein there are some good lactose free options about now though so maybe I'll give them a try. I'm hoping the bariatric team will have loads of info for me because my GP had no clue! They even did my referral wrong the first time so seems like I've been waiting ages now just to get to this point. Ah well, fingers crossed!

[catalina_uk 62]

Vicksta, you will find that in the uk the doctors will want you to rely more on natural food and not shakes or other Vitamins. They use a different approach, in my opinion a healthier one. I had the bypass 8 weeks ago and I am almost 3 stones down.

[GinaCampbell 434]

I am in Doncaster and my surgery has been a nightmare. Several of my NHS group are also in and out of hospital with dreadful complications. I wonder if I had gone private would things have been different. Six weeks out, I am dreadfully ill and facing more surgery and more time in hospital.

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[Vicksta 1]

Catalina- congratulations on your losses! Do you still have Protein goals set like in the states? I worry that without shakes and powder it would be hard to hit these. It seems that in all the US videos I've watched Protein is some sort of holy grail that leads to all your weight loss

Gina- I have thought about the probate route. Although even if I went abroad it would probably take me at least 3 years to save up the money. And I hate to think about the sort of health complications I'd develop in the meantime due to my weight. I hope you start feeling much better and they sort everything out for you!

[madadams 130]

Vicksta....I could have had it on the NHS but I didn't want to wait almost 2 years to get it done. I was lucky that I had the money in savings. It cost me £7500. I figure the money I save on food, take aways, eating out etc I will have it paid back in 2 years. Then I'll take it out again for my skin surgery!! Lol.

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[catalina_uk 62]

I don't have any set goals for anything, this is not a race is a lifetime journey. Whatever my stomac is telling me this is what I do. I can't eat that much Protein a day or at least not yet. I eat what I am comfortable with, what doesn't hurt me. Tolerance varies from day to day. When I saw my specialist nurse two weeks ago she's asked me if I can eat 8 table spoons of food in one sit. I can't, I can do 6 and she said is fine. Everything takes time.

[madadams 130]

Absolutely. I have been struggling to get my calories in too. I've just been shopping and found some low fat, high Protein cheese and skyre yoghurts which are also low fat/ high Protein to try and shake things up a bit.

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[UK Cathy 977]

An easy way to get Protein in is to add Protein Powder to Greek yoghurt. When you first add it you think it is drying out but just keep on stirring and it goes back to yoghurt consistency . I like Fage Greek yoghurt as it has a high protein content but I have recently had Greek yoghurt from Aldi and it was so creamy (and cheaper).