The British Way

Not being able to eat , so far as my weight is concerned, isn't a problem at the moment, my target is 42 pounds away, but I'd be happy to lose another 70.  It's coping with mood swings - I'd eat when happy to celebrate, eat when miserable to lift my spirits.  Eat when bored, eat when studying....  Janice and I always remember holidays by the special or suprising meals that we've eaten.  Alex is beginning to be the same, so it's good that this will have to change, but it's HARD!!!  I'm never hungry at the moment, which is great, but not eating is almost as bad as a bereavement, believe me.

If I eat too much I throw up, and I am a quick learner to try to reduce this!  It's a bit of a double whammy for me as I can get in all my liquids or, and it's a very big 'or', my protein needs.  It's a good job I'm seeing my consultant next Tuesday so I should be able to get advice.

My longest stall is nearly a month.  My weight remains the same, but I drop a medication or inches.  I've stalled for the last 2 weeks but my insulin requirement went down to 60 units.  My highest was 480 units!!!  I can now wear my only pair of 42 inch trousers, the Rohan bags that I've waited nearly 20 years to wear are too big!  Soon I will have to buy some new trousers, my first new shirt for many years will arrive for Father's Day - from M&S!  I've always bought pants and socks from M&S, but nothing else for soooo many years.

So you used to be an accountant, Janice is an Internal Auditor and may be seeking an accountant qualification soon to increase her employability if there are big cuts in the Civil Service.

No need to feel ashamed, if weight loss was easy no one would be overweight!  You are to be congratulated on your courage in having the op, as are your family.  Big hugs.

306 at op, 250 at 14 weeks, target 206.  Life is good.

Hey all! Thought I would make this my first post on this board...I'm not a native, but have been living in the UK for 2 years, and will be here at least another 3...so here goes


Surgery type      RNY
Date of op           3 Dec 09
Starting weight  295
Current position   189.3...about 40-50ish pounds from goal
NHS or private?   Private
Hospital   Princess Grace Hospital, London with Mr. Patel
Hospital experience Very good! I liked that they actually kept me in a couple days...back home they practically throw you out before you're even fully awake lol And nurses kept coming to talk to me cause they liked my accent lol 
Recovery  Worse then I thought it was going to be, but not horrible. Took no pain meds cause they made me sick to my stomach...might have been easier with the happy pills, I imagine
Cost   Somewhere around 30,000 to 35,000 pounds (not sure how to do the little pound symbol on my comp lol)
The journey itself Going well. Not as much follow up as I would've gotten at home, but OH has helped a lot.
Problems  None so far. Have not thrown up once, have no food intolerences, and have not had one stall yet...knock on wood
Benefits  Pretty much everything!
Who knows about it?  Just about everyone. I was not shy in telling the world what I did, nor am I shy about shouting my weight out lol When I see people I'm like "Holy crap guess what I weigh? Can you believe that?"


About me  31, married to a USAF SSgt, stationed here originally for 3 years, but we like it here so we extended. No kids yet...my weight was causing those issues before, so hoping after another year or two we can get pregnant. I've lived all over the US, Spain and Costa Rica...hoping to do lots of traveling while I'm here

Welcome - I actually just welcomed you in a PM and just realise I put welcome to the Grads Board! Sorry - it''s been a long day! I meant welcome to the UK board!!!

Kate

lol yeah I just read that message and was a little confused... :-)

You are doing amazing - but I've probably told you that already, you have every reaon to shout it out.  Oh and btw, welcome and thanks for joining us.
X

Thanx for pointing the board out to me! I appreciate it!

Surgery type      VSG (Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy)
Date of op           20th Nov 2009
Starting weight  295lbs
Current position   208lbs
NHS or private?   Private. I got put on NHS waiting list for a band whilst living in Edinburgh but told as so young and no co-morbidities it would take years probably. I waited 1 year and then due to my partner getting a job back in England I went private. The Surgeon actually thought VSG was a better solution and after long discussions on pros and cons I agreed and I am SOOOO glad I did!
Hospital   Spire Roding, Nr London - Mr Mannur
Hospital experience Fab. Only complaint was after a day I got told I wasnt eating/drinking enough. I pointed out no one had told me how much to have and I was worried about overdoing it. Ended up on saline for longer than normal. No pain at all. Still have a full box of painkillers!
Recovery  Good. Gas thing was horrible and slept sitting up for first 5 nights but this does die down.
Cost   £7,300 whi*****ludes everything for 1 year including dietician access to Nurse and 3 monthly appointments. The Nurse, Dietician and Surgeon are all lovely and accessible. I got a "home improvements" loan from my bank
The journey itself WEIRD!!!! I live a fair distance from my friends and family so I sometimes go 2-3 months without seeing them so whenever we do I look different. I have no hunger at all and actually groan when my partner tells me to eat. Unlike others I am a bit naughty. I dont want to lose crazy fast as cant afford plastics so some days I purposely up my calories some days tho they still dont even reach a normal amount. I need to drink more fluids so constantly getting prompted to eat or drink!
Problems  Clothes and money Losing so much so fast means 90% of my wardrobe is dead now (including some shoes as my feet have shrunk 1/2 a size) and paying installments for surgery so dont have loads to spend but hey I can live with it and this is what I have a sewing machine for!
I do experience constipation and have been advised to take daily Fibregel to get things more regular until about 1 year out. I have had really bad pain recently and was worried it was gallstones. After a call to my Surgeon and a check up with my GP it turns out its bad acid. I dont feel acid at all... but there you go. So back on Lansoprazole for another month.
Benefits  EVERYTHING!!! I was a dress size 22-24. I am now 14 top and 16 bottom and I even bought a 12.......A 12!!!! I have been a 18-20 since 12 years old!!! I once got to a large 16 didnt stay there for long.
I am starting to feel more confident and actually am starting to believe people when they compliment me.
Pre-op I had IBS style symptoms and got constant pain and diarrhoea, this is gone completely. I also have planter fasciaiitis in both feet and since losing so much I havent experienced it at all so hopefully they're finally able to heal.
Who knows about it?  All friends, family and co-workers. I am open about it when people want me to go for lunch or have a few pints. I explain and everyone so far has been real supportive. Work have been supportive (which is amazing as only on a temp contract) and my co-worker prompts me to eat and drink

Future: Ive always been the fat one in the group so it feels weird Im now getting slimmer. I know there isnt a size 10 girl under here but if I can average out as a 14 on the bottom which I can buy in any store Id be chuffed! Im going to do my first professional singing gig next week for the first time in almost 10 years! I bought a dress 2 months ago which was too small and now it fits like a dream.

About me  31, engaged to be married next Oct. Live near Leeds with partner and 2 cats.

Sounds like it is all going amazing for you - I bet you look spectacular, all that young skin just bouncing back into place - and I'm guessing from your starting weight and clothes size that you're pretty tall too (I started at roughly the same weight but wore a 28/30)

Do you have any restrictions on what you can eat - does everything agree with you.  You'll be in the 100's before the end of the month, how exciting. What goals do you have.

I have several - dream goal 9st 7lbs, main goal 10st 10lbs , weight at which I would be happy to maintain at  12st, maximum weight that would have made this worth it 13st 7lbs. ............ LOL, I realise I'm kinda bonkers

Hi Binty

It is definately like a dream. But no the skin has bounced quite back yet but getting there (pics on my profile to see general size change) I am 5'8" so I am fairly tall. I'd be over the moon with an allover UK 14 and 13 stone would  be fine with me. Im no longer morbidly obese so YAY!

I do have major restriction still. I try and keep my protein up which is incredibly hard. I feel like I eat a diet of meat meat and meat with some meat on the side please. I buy the chinese ribs from M&S and can eat 3 small ones which is half a pack but it still works out quite a lot of protein. To think I would have eaten them all with fries and fizzy drink and then still have room for desert is mental! I tend to eat off a side plate and my friends still overfill it if Im round theirs for dinner. They say "want any fries" and I might ask for 2 and they are like "2 fries!!!!" But I just want a taste or some different texture from meat. Im not uber strict but my surgeon is very relaxed and hasnt even set goals. Im 7lbs off losing a 1/3 of my body weight which seems imense! My partner makes me put back anything low fat as I struggle to get to in 800-1000 cals if im lucky a day, I used to know exactly how many calories were in things and picked the lowest fat spread, food, drink, spray oil etc. Now its the opposite. I miss fizzy drinks and bread I guess but I dont get any hunger. I have had my first booze. I let some coke go flat in the fridge over 4 days and added a shot of sailor jerry rum and lime. It was so nice and I felt wasted (I was doing a show) but I dont really miss alcohol.

Only major downside is Im having major bouts of a winded feeling over the last 2 weeks to the point when Ive been on the floor and phoning my surgeon. turns out its probably bad acid!!!!! Bizarre!!!! So Im back on Lansoprazole and eating earlier in the evening and avoiding high acid things before bed. Im gonna get an ultrasound just to check its not gallstones so fingers crossed.

 omg do i ever know what you mean by  "meat meat and meat with some meat on the side please", I haven't really denied myself anything totally, so I'm not really missing much, and whenever I go for those things not only are they not as great as I thought but it also means I can't get that damned protein in.  LOL, the other day I was out and about and just wanted a simple cheese and tomato sandwich, I used sliced roast turkey instead of the bread, and had the cheese and tomato in the middle LOL, it kinda worked and from a distance didn't look too stupid 

Isn't it mad now actively making sure the meals are a bit high cal - I've been living off curry and the like, and been adding coconut milk or creme freche to up the calories cos they've been like 100 calories for a meal otherwise!!!

Yesterday I hit half of my excess weight lost  it was a happy happy day, and still only 4 and a bit months in - amazing, I love my wls.  I just gotta post some piccies now.