one week pre-op and counting!!

Hi, I am 41 a mother of 3 and this time next week I will hopefully be recovering after my surgery. I am excited as well as anxious but am looking forward to this operation as being an important tool in helping me get a healthy lifestyle on track. I am 120 kgs now and hope to be around 100kgs by Christmas. Any advice from anyone having the procedure or have had success from it would be really appreciated. Thanks Jennifer

Hi Jennifer, I am also 1 week out from my op, mine is on the 16th October. I live in Auckland. I too am just sooooo excited about it. Cant wait to be able to buy clothes from the size 12 rack, fit into an airline seat without too much discomfort.I am starting out at 101kgs, I am 162cm tall / short and I am 54 years old. I will be ahppy at 70kgs and ecstatic at 65kgs. You will definetly be at 100kgs by xmas or even less. Are you having the sleeve or the band? anne

hi there am in the process of having the sleeve done hopefully not to far away how did things go for you regards jodi

Hi Jodi,I am now just 4 days op and from my experience I would have to say that you have nothing to be worried about. There was no pain after the op and I did not have anything for that except paracetemol.Where are you at now in the process? I had about a 4 month build up and was keen to get it done asap but I had complications with overseas travel planned and the surgeon was not keen to operate within 2 weeks of a longhaul flight. That was so frustrating for me but the time did pass quickly and here I am now , all done.I have taken a week off work and hope to be ok to return in 4 days time. It will only be some tiredness that will hold me back I think. Im having a wee nana nap in the afternoons and apart from that, I am feeling great!. Now I am just sitting back waiting for the fat to fall off me.Please feel free to ask any questions. anne

Hi Jodie, I am now 10 days post-op and have lost 9kgs. The op went well except for some problems with my breathing when I came out of the anaesthetic. That took about an hour to settle down, and they put it down to the pressure the gas they put inside you to do the op pressing on my diaphram. Anyway after that the pain was very minimal but there is spasms when you begin to drink your fluids which is uncomfortable when it is going into your stomach, but it only lasts a few seconds so is not so bad. Apart from that the gas which makes you want to burp every time you have a drink is annoying but also bearable and that has really been my biggest issue but is easing every day. I am now able to eat three small meals a day about half to one cup each time and after that do not feel hungry at all. My meals are things like mashed vegies, shaved turkey breast in gravy which is easily mashed with a fork, porridge, apple puree and custard, grated or soft cheese, macadamia nuts which can be chewed up to the right consistency and are a great protein snack, also I drink that vitamize drink from jalna which is drinking yoghurt and is high in protein low in fat, mashed banana and smoothies. It has not been hard at all for this soft stage, only trying to drink the fluids at least 2 litres as well as time your meals to fit it in, as you can't eat and drink together has tested me at times. I hope this info helps Jodie I have tried to tell you as much as I can, I would do it again tomorrow if I had to so if I made it sound bad it is not so that I wouldn't do it over. Good luck with yours and keep in touch. Jennifer

oh wow! im close to getting my op done aswell! im next thursday on the 25th of oct! i wish you heaps of luck with it! where abouts are you getting it done and who is doing it if you dont mind me asking. ?

Hi Sinead, I am in Brisbane Dr Phil Lockie is my surgeon. I am now 4 days post op and doing better each day. I must admit coming out of the anaesthetic was a little more than I had bargained for as I had some breathing problems and couldn't quite seem to catch my breath, but once some drugs were administered into the drip I calmed down. That was my biggest issue and as there were 5 of us had it done on Friday and I was the only one with that problem I don't want you to stress over it. The others did have some post anaesthetic nausea which I did not have but I put that down to me being the only one who fasted the day before surgery which I think really helped. After the surgery when you actually come too I did have one of those automatic pethidine pumps which I didn't really use much at all. There really isn't a lot of pain actually associated with the surgery and your incisions. But and sorry there is a but when you start to take your first sips of water as they like you to do straight away there is an unusual spasm and contracting feeling when it hits your tummy which is uncomfortable for around 6 seconds. This also disturbs built up gas in your tummy which trys to come up sometimes as the water is going down, so expect to burp quite a bit over the week after as we have alot of gas left to make its way out of our body in various ways. Anyway Sinead I hope yours goes well , and I hope some of this has helped you and keep a positive attitude as well . Just wanted to mention I haven't had any problems with the diet so far, I have eaten some pureed avocado and salsa yesterday about 5 teaspoons slowly and I was full and have also tolerated small amounts of custard and apple puree and a protein shake (half cup), have managed to eat twice on Sunday and Monday as well as keep up the 2 + litres of fluid- water-tea and juice. It is a challenge though to keep up the fluids but you really must to stay feeling hydrated. The great thing is the hunger pains are not a problem at all. Have to go now ask any questions you like I am happy to help and best of luck for the 25th. Cheers Jenny

Hi, I am now 4 days post op and have been blown away by how easy it has been.Yes coming out of an anesthetic does present some challenges but they pass very quickly.I remember that soon after waking,I think maybe 4 hours after, I needed to go to the toilet.Rang the bell for assistance and initially I struggled to get up off the bed. I dont want to blow that out of proportion because it was only a slight dizzy feeling for a few minutes.Off I trotted to the toilet and from that point on I had no problems at all. Onwards and upwards from there on.I did not have any nausea at all, I did not have ant pain at all either. I was not on any pain killer except for paracetemol. The incisions just felt like a small bit of bruising.The mouth was very dry and I could have drunk a litre of water but of course that was not possible.I was abit sared of taking a drink so initially I just swirled some water in my mouth and spat it out and that did the trick.When I did take a drink which I guess was within 12 hours of the op I did feel it go down and that was only just a tiny sip. At that point I was beginning to grasp just how critical small sips were going to be.Fortunately the volume does get better and each sip passes without feeling now.Actually the anaethestist did xplain to me that the stomach is even more smaller at that time due to some swelling so that gave me some confidence that things would be easier soon.Basically from that time onwards, I ahve been able to sip my way through cups of coffee and protein shakes with no problems.Day 3 post op did produce some diaroreah and that passed within 24 hurs. All in all it has been an absolute breeze.I have not taken any pain killers since being at home and I am in no discomfort at all. Now I am just waiting to fade away. cant wait!! anne

I see your op was yesterday, I hope all went well for you. Where are you and which op did you decide on if you don't mind me asking. Who was your surgeon and at which hospital?

Hi Jennifer, Just wondering how you are feeling and coping with the new reduced stomach capacity.Looking at some of the messages on the forum it looks like you Australians have been given a slightly different list of rules for post op.I have been told that I can only "eat" anything that will go up a straw for the first 2 weeks. The next 2 weeks are progressed onto thicker liquid like yoghurt, thick soups.From there on its just an experimental process to find what suits us individually.Most "sleeves" seem to struggle with rice, pasta, potatoes ,bread and meat. Mmmmmmm doesnt sound like theres alot left to choose from. But I am assured that there is light at the end of the tunnel. One of the "sleeves" I know is 6 months post op and she can eat everything now , just in moderation, another lady who is just 6 weeks post op is eating 2 poached eggs on toast for breakfast so that is very encouraging. The most amazing thing is I am not hungry. Thats an unfamiliar feeling. I basically have not eaten anything for a week now and I am not in he slightest bit hungry. How has it been for you? What instructions have you been given regarding the do's and don'ts? Hop you are feeling s great as I am. It has been such a breeze for me and I am really surprised by how really good I feel. anne