Ali's Gastric Sleeve Diary!!

Hello lovely ones!

So for a little while I have been reading through this forum and gaining valuable advice from thread to thread and I have loved it so much. I decided to create an account and enjoy this community as much as I know you all do.

My name is Ali and I am 25years old. I have a BMI of 40 and I am 5 foot 1/4 of an inch (the 1/4 inch is important haha). I started in this journey through the hospital's advice. Like many, I've had acid reflux and sickness after eating for a long time (started around the age of 11) and I have gone through all sorts of medication that was unsuccessful, sickness settled down a bit and I got discharged from the hospital with them saying they couldn't do anymore because of my ?age. I have gained approx 6 stone over the past, I'd say 5 years, (struggled with over eating and settling down in a relationship including take always and date nights - he is now my husband) and I went back the GP and got the appropriate referral to the hospital, had several tests done (barium swallows, endoscopy, acid testing) and they discovered I have a hiatus hernia, I also informed them that I now have stress incontinence, joint pain which is affecting my day to day working in district nursing, low libido, hair loss and struggle to breath during, tmi...sex at times. Consultant said he will refer me to Derby hospital for assessment for gastric sleeve surgery and in the mean time he wanted me to see a dietitian. Went along to the dietitian appointment, she went through my diet and told me things we all know about portion control etc (I have no control, woman!!) then said "I have no idea why you have been referred for bariatric surgery, you wouldn't get accepted and anyway East Midlands bariatric funding budget is very low at the moment! Even if you did get accepted it could take around 3 years until surgery" I was so shocked and disgusted with this woman!

I thought 'f*** you I'm going to do my own research!' I decided that if it is a 3 year program/wait until surgery if I got accepted, then health wise I just can't wait that long at all. I spoke to my husband and we decided I will self fund and pay for surgery myself. Lots and lots of research later and I am booked to have gastric sleeve surgery in less than 2 weeks time- 26/06/2015 in Czech Republic! Very very excited! Husband is coming with me for support, in fact my family, husband and work colleagues have been sooooo supportive.

Oh by the way,I still haven't heard from Derby Hospital for a first initial assessment!

I've bought all the things I need to take with me from advice from this forum (suitcase out and partially packed lol). Although my provider doesn't need me to do a pre-op diet I have decided to start one tomorrow of a low cal sort to help my liver (worried I will wake up and they haven't been able to do the surgery). I've also bought a few fantastic books, my favourite one being 'ultimate gastric sleeve success' by Dr Duc Vuong which I am now reading for the second time. I've done so much research and I believe my mindset is in the right place and prepared for the future.

I'd like to say thank you to everyone on here for writing your journeys for us pre-oppers to enjoy and learn from, I know I have found them so valuable, especially when I don't have anyone around me that has been through wls and who knows the ins and outs.
Sorry this post has been so long looking forward to reading more of your posts and threads!

Best wishes to everyone reading this
Ali x x

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Not long to go at all Ali - good luck to you on your weight loss journey!

Aud xx

Wish you all the best Ali. Keep us updated.

Thank you I will do x

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Not tgat many skeeps for you, very good luck

good luck hunni and welcome aboard x x x

Good luck Ali, you are same height and BMI as me, and I am also a nurse. Not long now xx

Thank you for your support finish work next Tuesday for 3 weeks. Thought that should be long enough for recovery after a sleeve from what others have written.

Xx

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All the best Ali - you will do great x

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violetangel said:

All the best Ali - you will do great x Sent from my iPhone using WLSurgery

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Thank you lovely!
Excited to hear your journey and how you get on
Xx

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Gd luck hun lookin forward to reading about your journey xx

Good luck ali! Cant wait to read your progress!!

Sm


Xx

4 days left of work then I have one day to finalise the suitcase hah. Still remain super super excited. Started taking multivitamins about a week ago so my body gets used to them. Suppose also so I get used to remembering to take them too

Did post oppers start taking multivitamins straight after surgery or did you wait until your stomach settled down a bit?

Xx

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Good luck Ali!
The best vitamin to start with is centriums chewable as they dissolve in your mouth. Let you stomach settle down first..you will know when you are ready!
I had 3 wks off work with leave and then had 3 weeks light duties in the office. Take it easy after the op and stick with the rules.

Hello Kar, thank you for the advice I've bought some centrum chewables ready for post op but yes I understand I have to let my stomach calm a little then feel when I'm ready to start introducing vitamins etc. I imagine future wise I will have to test out taking tablet form medication and see how my stomach reacts....gently does it!

Diet already showing alterations from what it previously was. Think that automatically improved with my mindset and positivity towards my future, goals and WLS. Less than a week to go! x Sent from my iPhone using WLSurgery

Hello again,

So I sat on the loser's bench last Friday 26th June, woke up (around 2pm) rather distressed from the sore throat, in shock and cold shaking, also stomach wound pain. I was linked up to a syringe driver to calm me down and to administer opiate pain relief- slept for the rest of the day on and off. Struggled with getting up to go to the toilet due to the wound pain. Also had a drip administering anti sickness, fluids and liquid omeprazole over the following few days. Each time I tried to get off the syringe driver (wanted to feel normal and not groggy) I struggled with the pain but got there after a couple of days.

Yesterday (Monday) I had my canular removed and I began taking my medication in tablet form which is working quite well. I've had none stop loose BM throughout the nights and days (which my husband has been excellent assisting me first with the dreaded bed pan then toileting) so I've been on medication to assist with this. Also yesterday I had my barium swallow X-ray which came back with no leakage and the stomach looks very good. Found out that I'm getting a disc with my X-ray and video operation on it, which being a nurse, I find fascinating.

I've been feeling better with each day and feel 95% myself apart from being very cautious about not putting pressure on my tummy or knocking it. Very happy with this otherwise!

One question I wanted to ask post-sleevers: each time I sip fluids I get gas bubbling and then burp.....is this okay and normal at early stages of post op sleeve?

Thank you for your help and advice lovelies.

Ali x

good to hear you are on recovery. The first days sipping is a challenge. the stomach is much smaller, and the opening too so bubbles and strange feelings are normal. I could only take tiniest of sips on the first few days. I also found hot drinks went down better than water/squash combination.
best wishes

Thank you Tules, was a little concerned but at ease now. Suppose I will get some rumbles and bubbling as its all new and so much smaller - will see how it goes. Excited for the future Ali

Hi Ali

So pleased to have read your recovery post. Well done Ali - you must be so pleased and relived that it's all over and you're doing great!!

Be kind to yourself and let your body go through the healing process. I am so proud of you

My turn soon and I'm so nervous!!!

Keeeep posting!!



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Hello I'm an Ali too I'm looking in to having the sleeve, about 90% convinced it's the route to go down. Hope your recovery is going well and am here to sub x