LadyLumps's WLS Journey!

[LadyLumps]

Hi, all!

So I've been on here a little while and have started a few different threads etc. to ask for advice/discuss stuff.

Now that I've started my Tier 3 seminars it's all feeling a bit realer and I thought it would be a good time to start the thread that'll see me through my whole journey.

To Recap:

My details:
Age: 31
Location: Gloucestershire
History: Compulsive over-eating for years, which eventually became binge eating disorder, now treated.
Goal: A healthy weight via a VSG (I'm about 80% decided that this will be my chosen surgery type).

Timeline:
May 2015: Saw GP and asked for a referral to Tier 3 (which is called Specialist Weight Management Services in my NHS locality, or SWMS).

June - August 2015: Have had several one-to-one sessions with my clinician (who is a psychologist) and one with a dietician.

September 2015: Started the series of 8 fortnightly seminars to help get the ball rolling with the weightloss and paving the way for surgery.

December: Expecting to be referred to the surgeon, as long as weight loss is good (target is losing 5% body weight between June and December). From then, I understand it's a 9ish month wait for surgery, so hoping for a date September 2016.

Update:
I'm feeling good so far and am glad things are progressing. I very much like the ethos of the seminar group, and the fellow 'students' are all very nice. The first session was pretty familiar to me, but that's to be expected really, as I've done work on similar things before. I'm feeling really positive.

And have lost 15 pounds so far. Need to lose 18 before December, so that feels manageable.

So yes. Hi again to those I've 'met' so far and Hi to those who haven't a clue who I am

 

[los in it]

Well done on the weight loss things are going good for you , just keep on keeping on !

 

[Butterfly_lady]

Good loss so far xx

 

[LadyLumps]

Thanks both! I'll be sure to keep you posted. It won't get really interesting for a bit, I know, but hopefully it'll be enjoyed by someone out there, and it helps me reflect on stuff... so yeah

 

[LadyLumps]

Went to the second seminar a few days ago. I'm finding it's really helping my motivation and the other ladies are so lovely.

After the seminar I'd booked a catch-up with my clinician and she is very happy with how things are going and is going to put my name forward for the pre-surgery group, which is 3 sessions, probably beginning in December. At that time I'll also have a one-off meeting with the dietician I've seen once before, but this time with a surgery frame of mind, to look at what I'll need to change post-surgery.

I've also just reached my 5% weight loss target so hooray to that! I asked my clinician whether the surgeons would set me a new target once I'd been referred to them, but apparently not. They're not going to kick me out for losing more but there won't be pressure to lose another percentage or anything. So that's quite nice to know, although I intend to keep on dropping a few pounds if I can!

So it's just seminars now until December, and keeping the weight off or losing more. And getting my head around the (hopefully) upcoming changes.

If anyone is reading this waiting for the seminars etc., I just want to say once you start it REALLY DOES pass so quickly. I know I've got a while to go until I'm under the knife but so far, so fast .

That's it for now. Thanks for reading!

 

[sundown]

It sounds like it's going great for you there LL

 

[LadyLumps]

Thanks sundown! Fingers crossed I'll get to where I want to be.

Not long now for you! How are you doing? xx

 

[sundown]

Thanks sundown! Fingers crossed I'll get to where I want to be.

Not long now for you! How are you doing? xx

Doing great here thanks LL! I'm still in the novelty period of the pre-op diet at the moment - no doubt in a week's time I'll be sick to bloody death of it. I've been reading and re-reading my post-op food plan too - the provider I'm with sent me a pretty comprehensive plan including menus which is really helpful!

It's just waiting now and pinging from anticipation to outright terror lol

 

[LadyLumps]

Woohooo! I'd imagine pre-op isn't the funnest thing you've done in life but hopefully your excitement will carry you through smoothly

That's so good that you've got a comprehensive guide to eating afterwards - and that you've got it now. Sounds really promising and I'm so pleased for you.

If I don't 'see' you beforehand, GOOD LUCK with the op and see you on the other side xxx

 

[LadyLumps]

So I don't know if I'm stupid or organised.

As of this morning I'm trying a LSD because I need to know I can do it. I still have 11 months to go before surgery and no one has asked me to do it but I have decided to do it.

This is because:
1. Food is very often on my mind
2. Pre-surgery involves not eating normally
3. Popst-surgery involves not eating normally
4. Long-term post-surgery involves not eating normally.

So I think I have to get my head around the idea of me 'not doing food' as such.

And it's sooooo hard already. But I'm heartened by what I've read on here about it getting easier after the first day or two.

I want to do it for at least a week, maybe longer. Never realised how often a food idea pops into my head and then I plan to eat that thing almost immediately. For instance, macaroni cheese... idea popped into my head, planned to buy and eat it tonight... then I realised that I couldn't if I wanted to keep on doing the LSD. My brain won't let up though!

So I'm going to update this thread daily to keep myself accountable and so I'll have a record that I can refer back to when I'm doing my pre-op diet.

 

[LadyLumps]

Change of plan! Looking after myself for now in the usual way for now. I'm well aware that when the 'real' time comes I won't have a choice, but hey ho. Now just isn't the right time. Ah well.

 

[clairemp]

It's so hard to do the pre op diet when you don't HAVE to do the pre op diet

I know because I tried many times myself..

But you know what..? I wish I bloody well had..!

I'm on my second day of the pre op diet now and it's true that there is a honeymoon period but I can assure that I won't be smiling in a few days.

I'm kicking myself at not trying harder for it so if you think you can train yourself to eat the pre op diet way then give it a go. Even if you did a week every 6 weeks for example. I bet there wouldn't be that many trial runs rondo before the real thing..!

Claire x

 

[sundown]

I found that the utter terror of complications that could arise from not having shrunk the liver down kept me on the straight and narrow for my 2 week pre-op diet. Prior to that, you just don't have that very real fear that straying from the path could result in no surgery or complications during surgery.

 

[clairemp]

I found that the utter terror of complications that could arise from not having shrunk the liver down kept me on the straight and narrow for my 2 week pre-op diet. Prior to that, you just don't have that very real fear that straying from the path could result in no surgery or complications during surgery.

I agree with you. It's fear that has got me through this morning, but it is only my first day.

I think that the good thing about the milk diet is that I don't feel hungry so far. When I've tried Slimfast I was hungry all the time.

I'd really love to hear from someone who did have surgery cancelled because of liver size, just to know how it all managed to get resolved.