Thanks BigBugger. Its really nice to know there are others in the same situation i can talk to. Your weight loss is amazing!!! Congratulations. Merry Christmas!!

Wow Tina what a fantastic weight loss. You may not even need a bypass, fingers crossed! I live very happily with my op 18months on, and am loving life, loads more energy and feel fantastic. Keep us posted on your progress and have a look at mine and the others pictures that will keep you going!
take care and have a lovely Christmas, think how much thinner you will be this time next year! xxx

Hi all. My name is Tina and I am 45 yrs old and live in Durham, UK. I am married to Kev and have 2 children. I have suffered with my weight since the age of 21. I am now disabled and in a wheelchair due to the many illnesses that i have gathered due to my weight. It took me 5yrs of fighting to get the go ahead for a gastric bypass and on the 11th December I went to theatre. But they hit a problem. I have a stomach tumour 5 inches in diameter and an umbilical hernia so a bypass could not be done. I was in theatre for 5 hours and when i came round found i had a gastric sleeve. I am 2 weeks post-op now and have lost 2 stone. I have also been took off most of my tablets. This is amazing and I keep thinkin i am dreamin. I wont say its easy on this mush stuff but the results are fantastic. My surgeon says when i have lost half my excess weight they will sort out my tummy troubles and if i want it, i an then have my bypass. I am so pleased to have found this site and wish everyone thw best of luck!!!!

Wow and don't you look fantastic

Congratulations

hello you all! I have been very bad and not on this site for so long... I've missed it. I'm 15 months post op now. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me ever! I'm not there yet, a stone to go before I can be BMI 28 to ask for surgery to remove my excess skin. And it is taking me ages.... But I am in the gym, loving spin and step classes, and back playing rugby after 10 years! I gave up at 28, got even fatter, married then pregnant...now I am slim(ish) and feel a million dollars. I do eat a lot, little and often...which has been the secret to my non-operation weight loss mates! Im uploading a new pic, it is the most recent, I've lost the bleach! LOL parents still give us grief at 38! Well done to all of you! XXXXX

Hey Fatboyslim and welcome to the site.

It sounds as though you are doing brillaintly.

I too had a bit of the gas thing, but dont worry it does go away after a few days. As for the loo - have you tried lactulose, this is what I was given and its super fast acting. Its supposed to be taken three times a day but I only took it once and beleive me, that was enough lol.

Glad to hear your sleeping well, It took me about a week to be able to sleep on my side again, it was so wierd having to sleep on my back lol.

Anyway, you take care and good luck with your journey

All the best

see this thread about making a weightloss ticker....
http://www.gastricsleevesupport.com/site-navigation-and-issues-f23/create-a-signature-t230.htm

You are doing really well and can't wait to hear more of your progress as you go down in weight!

Hi friends

Just talking to you all has made me feel better - slept all night, last night (its morning here now) - feel so much better today when I realise that this is the norm. Spent 15 minutes in loo passing lots of wind (saving a fortune in toilet paper) but nothing else yet - am taking senokot at night as advised by GP.

How do I put one of those snazzy weight loss thingies from?

I am 45, starting weight 197kgs
I am married, my wife wants to shed 2 stone alongside me (I don't why - she's perfect to me!) but hey, everyone has different ideas about weight. We have been married for 3 years but have been soul mates for 17 years. She has stood by me at every hurdle and hard part, supported every fad diet with its ups and downs. I am so looking forward to just going on a walk and not having to stop and sit down every 15 minutes. We don't have children, we have cats - Sylvia age 17, Jazzmine aged 10, and 2 new kittens Dylan and Blodwen aged 4 months.

My surgeon was Professor Baxter who is a very nice , but straight talking chap. He was who I needed. I had to pay privately - I do qualify for health reasons for surgery, but here in good old Swansea bariatric surgery is rationed, so I might have waited 3-4 years for surgery. I say - if you pay for it yourself - you are more likely to value it! I had the surgery in Bridgend clinic, the nurses were great.

cheers
Fatboyslim
XXX

FBS..... The pain is often caused by the gas they inflate your abdomen with so they have a clear view of the operation site, it takes a few days to be absorbed by the body and the pain is caused by irritation to the diagphram, often it is felt as shoulder tip pain. Heat packs and paracetamol based pain tablets help.
Peppermint water or tablets do help if the gas is in the intestines, it's an oldie but a goodie.
I remember we used to make a conncoction for our post op hysterectomy ladies back in the 70's and it had peppermint water and asprin and something else. Now I wouldn't use asprin at all with surgery on the stomach because it assists bleeding but I would definately try peppermint.
Sipping through a straw is a way of making sure your not getting any extra air in with your sips and is a safe thing to use.
Be careful with the codeine as it can constipate.
Cheers,
Linda :)

Hi Slim (you won't need the "fatboy" bit for much longer)

The pain is probably being caused by the gas they use to expand the abdominal cavity for the surgery. It can take a while for it to work its way out of your system.

I used peppermint water to help with the gas pain problems post op. It really does work. Used it when I was first banded, then again after de-banding and again after my sleeve. You just need to sip slowly on it. You should be able to get it from your local pharmacy or at Boots. Also using a heat pack may help give you some relief.

Straws are good as well when drinking your liquids as they help limit the amount you can taken in.

Keep your chin up, it will get better soon.

Cheers
Gail

Hello

Fatboyslim in South Wales here - Had sleeve op 5 days ago. worried about pain when eating drinking, sleeping - kind of full pain, like indigestion only REALLY painful - Taking codeine regularly and following liquid diet to a tee. Clinic said it was the gas, but a bit worried as can't find any references to what I am experiencing.

I need some reassurance from those of you who have gone before me please and any tips.

Are straws good or bad?
Is peppermint good or bad?

I am losing weight which is fantastic, am mobilising though feel weak.

fatboyslim

XX

Slimfast is really sweet Piglet. The protein powder from the health food shop was flavoured and the only plain one was in a container the size of a 2ltr tin of paint!! I only wanted a little tin to try it in case it was revolting. I never got a protein drink list from my dr or dietician? I am living on soup, flavoured water, fruit juice, iced cofee and the really sweet slimfast. A ready made slipfast lasts me twice. I am still feeling good, obviously still on a high and still in week one of my liquids.

Ask anything piglet, everyone will help.

Moolie
xx

Thanks for the welcome Deb.

Everyone seems really friendly on this site. If I meet people in the hospital, I will have to tell them about it, its great for lots of info and idea's or even if you just want to chat away.

Im just trying to get as clued up as possible before I get my op, so Il have fewer surprises. Its just a waiting game now until I get a date but Im positive it will all be ok. Fingers crossed! : )

Thanks Moolie, I was thinking Slimfast was the best option after surgery too, that and the protein powder from the health food shops I guess!
Did you get a list of different protein shakes to try from your doctor? Some of them dont sound too bad. There was one with skimmed milk powder added to skimmed milk with cocoa powder. I guess its a little cheaper but it depends if you can be bothered with all the blending! The bottles will be so handing, just taking them into work though.
Who know, Ive got all that to look forward to lol.

Hi Piglet, welcome to the site. Best of luck with everything leading up to the op. Good on you for trying to be as healthy as you can in the meantime.

Well Piglet I was in for 3 nights. They wanted to put me home after 2 because I was so mobile but I wanted to stay to get my meds sorted. They would not let me swallow my capsules but the consultant sorted that out on Sunday and explained that I have a normal functioning stomach so my capsules will NOT stick and WILL be absorbed. So I was home in the morning and was daft enough to go into town in the afternoon (lift in, lift home) to get some slimfast, juice, etc. I had no drains and I have 8 ports. I feel a bit full of wind at times and when I get pain it seems to be because I need to drink something. I am having a Costa Caffe Latte just now and its great! Feel free to ask anything, I am newly done but I researched it and got lots of advice from this site (its the best!) before finally deciding to go ahead. As you know the Scots don't part with their money easily LOL

Take care
xx

Glad to hear your doing well Moolie.

I hope you dont mind me asking but how long were you in hospital for?

I hade a quick look at Bigbuggers pictures, its amazing and inspiring to see how well she and the others have done.

I hope you feel better soon.

Take care

Piglet

Welcome Piglet

I am 4 days post op and doing well. I am sure the sleeve is the right thing for me but as I was the first in our hospital the nursing staff were unsure as to how to handle the meds I was on when I came in. So get that sorted before you go in.

The op was not as bad as I had imagined and I feel really well (apart from the kicked by a horse feeling and the trapped wind). It's great to have someone else from the UK. Look at Bigbuggers diary and pictures to see how well it can work.

Message soon

Moolie
xx

I just wanted to say hi to everyone.

Im so glad Ive found other people in the Uk. Ive searched high and low for a forum in my area or at least in Europe and seem to always come back to this sight. I have to say the people seem so friendly, open and brutally honest, which is refreshing.

My personal journey has not started yet..... Im at the stage where after allot of thought and research that Ive have decided to have the sleeve done and also had the ok from the doctors. Im now waiting on a date and Ive been told it could be October / November or later but its a start. Im now just taking my time to read research as much as possible.

Im still trying to eat healthy.....ish in the mean time. I currently go to a slimming club, which although the weightloss is slow, its all going in the right direction, which is mainly down : )
Any way Il stop nattering now

Hi Bear

I am in Scotland and 10 days off having the Sleeve. I know a few people who have had the band and the bypass done and often the banders have their op trasfered to a bypass for various reasons. You have done fantastic to loose this weight with the balloon keep going. The op used to be done on the national health here but they stopped that surgery last year deeming it not to be a necessity!! The only way to get done now is to pay privately and I am the first one in Aberdeen to have a sleeve! I came to this decision as I fully researched the sleeve and the bypass and was not sure if I could live with the bypass due to the high risk of malabsorption, risk of ostioperosis and the dumping. I want to be able to still have the odd junk food item without having to lie down for 2 hours or have the squits and having paid a lot of money for it!!

Although there is very little long term research for the results of the sleeve I know that some people who have had the bypass have put their wieght back on. It is all just a tool you have to be careful not to abuse it. Don't know if this will help but after finding this support group I decided that the sleeve was the right thing for me.

Good luck
Moolie

I've updated my blog for anyone who is interested

Http://anexcellentperspective.wordpress.com

In summary in the first 3 months, I've lost 5.5st (35.3kg) !!

The only issue now is that with a clean ECG, no diabetes and the significant weight loss, my surgeon and I are now going to revisit the decision to have the sleeve in Sept and are thinking about a Gastric Bypass as an alternative - could any of you guys help me understand the pros/cons ?

Thanks again for all your support

Steve

Weighed in yesterday (21/5/09) - good news again

I'm now 247.5kg ... thats 22.5Kg loss in 8 weeks since the balloon (14.8 Kg in the last 5 weeks).

More as usual on my blog

http://anexcellentperspective.wordpress.com

keep up the great work

Great weight loss in such a short period of time Bear!
Enjoy Stockholm. Hope to hear more from you soon.

Weighed in on 16th April - 23 days post balloon and have lost 21lbs / 9.7kg

I'm now in Stockholm - longer story but still doing the blog on how things are going etc.

anexcellentperspective.wordpress.com

Looks like 5 months to the Sleeve now !!

Any comments gratefully received

Steve

Had my balloon last Tuesday

Feel alright now although its been a bit rough (see http://anexcellentperspective.wordpress.com)

Looking forward to weighing in - 3 weeks after op on 16th April

Should be about 5 months now until the Sleeve

I'll be fine just frustrated ...

I had built up towards today, was feeling like it was the first step on the journey and then with 16 hrs to go ....

hey left you a message on your page, don't be disheartened, though it is easy for me to say! you are doing the right thing and you are so going to love your new life!
BB

As I posted in the other area - everyone on here seems quite small compared to me !!

I'm about to have a Gastric Balloon on Tuesday 17th, followed by a Sleeve gastrectomy in about 5 months.

I'm 272 Kg (nearly 600lbs) and cant wait to start the journey ....

I've set up a blog detailing my thoughts and the progress, be great if you could comment or give me feedback.

http://anexcellentperspective.wordpress.com

Steve

Hi Roker Lass,
I'm not sure what part of Ireland you are in and wether or not you have the NHS but I just thought I would let you know that I had my sleeve done last week on the NHS and they were fantastic. From GPs appointment to surgery date was 7 months.
Perhaps you could look into it.....
Good Luck!

and again! LOL Happy St Davids Day

Love the new photo Bigbugger. Glad you finally changed it!

Thanks a mill for that - I am living for the op as the changes I have seen in the updates and how positive people are on this site is just amazing - I'll try the profiles and the site you suggest and will keep checking in here as it's fab - I even told my surgeon to check this site out.

Hello! what a bummer! I can't help you in this issue, maybe someone else can, why dont you look through member profiles and see if anyone is from ireland and contact them. I have not updated the map for some months, but I don't think there are any irish on there. Try buddypower.net also there may be someone on there. I hope that the issue resolves itself soon because this operation really is a marvellous thing.
Take care
BB

Hello,

It seems that life is not only simpler in Australia with regards to sugery but also the have a funny object called the sun, any of us in Ireland / UK can vaguely remember it....

However on to more serious things:

I was initially geared up for my sleeve on November 14th though a hospital in Dublin and my health insurance VHI, on the day before my op it was cancelled as the surgeon and the VHI had to finalise exactly what was covered by my policy and what I would be liable for...needless to say I was gutted (or rather I wasn't) when the op was cancelled. The op was rescheduled for December and I had to cancel it as I caught Pneumonia.

Now I am in a situation where the VHI and the surgeon are still arguing the toss, at the moment the VHI are possibly going to fund banding and bypass (my BMI is too high for either) and are refusing point blank to consider the sleeve.

Is there anyone else using this wonderful site considering the op in Ireland that would like to get together to fight with the VHI, strength in numbers or anyone in the UK who can suggest an alternative.

I have got myself to a point where I am hanging together for this op and from reading the experince of other users really want my life back.....

I am on here from time to time or if anyone has any thoughts as to how to get the VHI on side I can be contacted at rokerlass@gmail.com.

Thanks a mill

Just seen our area of the Forum, how very cool and kind of Hayley! So anyone up here can get in touch, write whatever! etc.. I have found that there are differences between us and the rest of the world! LOL. I'm sure we can use this area to help us all! Bienvenue, benvenuti, benvenido, erm, croseo, welcome!