Please can someone be frank gor and all

[beepbeepcat]

I really would like someone with similar weight and height to tell all. Yes it's been explained and I understand but like childbirth I really would like someone to be totally honest.
Because of my size do scares get infected?
How often do I need to be seen by follow up team?
Will people notice weight loss? Gossip.....
How often do you poo? Ok I said be frank :sigh::sigh:
if your following a good diet what's your poo like? Eg constipated
How unwell are you when you get home?
Anything I've forgotten let me know.....want it all!

 

[Butterfly_lady]

I really would like someone with similar weight and height to tell all. Yes it's been explained and I understand but like childbirth I really would like someone to be totally honest.

Because of my size do scares get infected? Mine were fine

How often do I need to be seen by follow up team? I've never been seen but I went private I just go to my gp for checks and tablets

Will people notice weight loss? Gossip..... People will always gossip let them get on with it, yes folk will notice as its so rapid

How often do you poo? Ok I said be frank :sigh::sigh: Every 2 -3 days but that was the same as before the op

if your following a good diet what's your poo like? Eg constipated My diet is much better now so its rare I'm constipated

How unwell are you when you get home? I was pretty well just tired but I had no pain at all and didn't take any pain killers
Anything I've forgotten let me know.....want it all!

I tried to answer you as best as I can, but just like childbirth you ask 10 different women you'll get 10 different answers :8855:

We are the same height and not too far off the same starting weight, I now weigh 10st 2 and wear size 8 jeans (Bypassed 21/11/13)

Anything you want to know or ask please feel free

 

[chrisa]

Hi There, I am 4 years post bypass 20/08/2015. I started this journey at just under 25stone. After many years of weight watchers, going to the gym and zumba and pilates my weight had ballooned. My only hope was a bypass.

I waited just under 2 yrs for my op. I was really excited because for once I was going to get some help. The morning I went into hospital I was reallay excited and usually I would be a bag of nerves over anything like this. The staff were really good. I was 1st down just before 9am and came back to ward just after 12. I was groggy and in pain after it. I slept it off, byt 4pm I was up at the loo with my drip stand, I greeted my visitors that evening. The next day the wind pains hit ooh do they hurt. Accept mint capsules they help and keep walking around as much as possible it helps. I did not go to the loo for a poop for about a week. It was excruciating. I could pee ok but the other oh my horrendhous. I rang the hospital at one point. I was so desparate. I knew I needed to go but just couldn't even now I have days where I need to self evacuate. Not nice but its not as bad as you think. The relief is immense. I always ate healthily just too much of it.

My new diet was very similar fruit n veg, meat for protein and milk as much water as I could sip. Peppermint tea is good and refreshing hot, warm and cold. I could not drink a full cup of tea for a long time. I was only 2 weeks post off when I went back to work but didn't have a heavy job. The scars healed really well I did lose over 10 st but I have put on just over 21/2st regain. My body has plateaud out so I am sitting at about 17 st. I got down to around 14 1/2st at my lowest but I looked very drawn and unwell. people do notice because eit does drop off quite quickly if you follow the plan. The best advice I can give is follow the diet plan given, never go back on sweet stuff steer clear old habits are easily re installed.

I do so wish I could have stayed lower but my body says not. I feel quite jealous that some can really get right down then I have seen some people my weight height but have been younger not exercised before or eaten very healthily have lost it all. I sometimes feel bit of a failure but I am a lot smaller than I used to be but still on large side.

WE can fix the body but the head is a different case. The journey really starts at 3 years when the loss stops well actually by the time of the 1st year anniversary the bulk of weight has gone but your head is still in a good mode.

I have had a long the way periods of bowel colic which was very painful. One day your body will let you eta something and one day it won't. Crampy pains and going to the loo. Not nice however I carry buscopan around with me to relax the muscles. Constipation affected me badly for the 1st 2 years its awful. I have dumped also its not nice palpatations, diahorrhea, shaking, sweating from every orifice and extreme tiredness. I found prune juice one of the best things for going to the toilet.

Anything more specific just ask. lol

 

[sundown]

Great thread

Interesting what you said Crisa. I do think the body has a natural 'set point' it's happiest at. My consultant reckoned that given I've been overweight from year dot, he felt I could expect to settle around 30 BMI, so still a bit outside the ideal range. My motivation is to do much more hiking and walk national trails (plus I'd like to do things like scuba diving, paddle boarding and other activities I'm just too big for now) so I'm hoping that being able to do more of the outdoorsy things will help me keep fit and perhaps get a bit more off.

 

[beepbeepcat]

What's self evacuation?

 

[chrisa]

I have to help my self go to the toilet. Its not the nicest and I only do it when necessary. At times my bowel fills up and instead of coming out at toilet it seems to turn and go back round into itself so there is no end fro it to come out if that makes sense. I have to use my finger to guide it out sounds awful I know but ladies someof us can get or have rectocils-that is when the bowel becomes stretched and it protrudes into the vaginal wall. I know when this happens because I know I need to go but cannot pass anything if I press on back of vaginal wall with my thumb I can feel it waiting to come out. WE are all different and hope you don't get this side of things. This is the easiest way for me when I cannot go. I did use prune juice early on to help regulate myself. Good luck with everything. xxx

 

[beepbeepcat]

Wow ok.

 

[Debs!]

Because of my size do scars get infected?

- I had 5 scars from the key hole surgery. The top one was right under the band of my bra. This started to get uncomfortable. I kept this dressed with a dressing and wore no bra unless needed. On one of my scars the stitch popped out - like a candle wick of string. The doctor snipped it and it went ok.


How often do I need to be seen by follow up team?
- I was seen after 8 weeks and then every 3 months. I did see my GP almost weekly for the first 4-6 weeks. Nothing outrageous just some anti sickness meds, changing my tables, checking sugar and BP and taking me of all of those pre op meds.


Will people notice weight loss?
Yes your weight loss will be apparent! How you chose to deal with the story is a matter for you. I told my closest friends I had surgery. Mixed reactions. I've not announced it as such and have not made it the theme of my Facebook account. I did not need anyone telling me if someone who was poorly or someone who had that op and ended up fatter etc. I did my research. I knew the risks. I also knew that 60% have some sort of regain. I still need to try this and work at being in the group which enjoy success.

How often do you poo?
- I pooped about 5 hours after leaving recovery whilst on the ward (in the loo as opposed to an accident - lol!!!). I waddled to the loo with my drip and even I was amazed that I managed a poop! And since then, I have been every day since my operation. Taken ducalax on one day and one day only and it's a unremarkable part of me post op.


How unwell are you when you get home?
- I was blooming knackered when I got home. Like a drunk who just wanted to sleep! I was given water dissolvable paracetamol and they tasted so awful I just could not consume them. But the pain was quite ok. Yes, uncomfortable - obviously - but very ok in my case. My op was on a Wednesday. Came home on the Thursday. Did Morrison's on Saturday. Driving on day 6 with doctors permission. No sick note from GO who said I was fine after 7 days for light work so I and worked after 2 weeks - I am self employed so only light stuff - I did a classroom based teaching day for adults at day 10.


I had uncontrolled emotional weeping post op. Like everything was OTT. I was crying at adverts, pictures on Facebook. Anything set me of! The first few weeks food is a challenge. I had 4 weeks of liquids and was so excited about purée. Then that stage came and I thought it was like eating slabs. It's hard when food has been the 'make you feel better' drug as you have to relearn your relationship with food. I am learning all the time and won't say '4 stones gone for ever'. I am an obese person in remission. I know I will have to monitor my relationship with food for life.

I had a sleeve on the NHS on June 10th 2015. I was 18 stone 13. I was 17 7 on day of my op and now I am 14 6. My weight loss is 2.2lbs a week so I am certainly not a runaway fast loser! Good luck xx

 

[potter]

Hi there. I was similar weight to you when I had bypass surgery, I was about 23 stones before starting the liver shrink diet (6 weeks later I'm 19st 10lbs but that's another story!)

Everyone will have different experiences, but to answer your questions from my point of view...

My scars are absolutely fine. I've got 5 incision sites in all and they are all healing really well. I kept plasters on for about 4 days after the op and since then have just showered as normal and put a tiny bit of germolene on each one. The incisions vary in size from 1-2cm but they give me no bother at all.

My op was on the NHS in Stoke-on-Trent. I have a follow up appointment with the surgeon after 8 weeks and I don't know how often I'll be seen after that. The dietician said they'll be seeing me for 2 years post-op but I don't know how often.

I felt really well after I got home following the op. I was in hospital for two nights and had a bit of pain the first night, but it wasn't too bad and was relieved by pain killers. Since then I've had no pain at all. I was very sleepy for about a week but I'd booked time off work so just lazed around in my jammies. It was heaven.

I was discharged with Lactulose and Movicol for constipation. The Movicol tasted vile so I stopped taking it and just had the Lactulose. Big mistake! After about 2 weeks of things backing up I had the weekend from hell, giving birth was less bother. Mega doses of Movicol solved the problem after about 2 days. Since then I've had one lot of Movicol a day and this seems to keep things moving along nicely.

I was worried before the op as I like to plan everything and I just couldn't imagine how I'd feel. I'd say physically for me it's been great, most of the time I even forget I've had a bypass apart from the obvious sign of not feeling hunger. Any more questions please ask, and good luck!

Potter x

 

[Bella's mum]

Great thread Interesting what you said Crisa. I do think the body has a natural 'set point' it's happiest at. My consultant reckoned that given I've been overweight from year dot, he felt I could expect to settle around 30 BMI, so still a bit outside the ideal range. My motivation is to do much more hiking and walk national trails (plus I'd like to do things like scuba diving, paddle boarding and other activities I'm just too big for now) so I'm hoping that being able to do more of the outdoorsy things will help me keep fit and perhaps get a bit more off.

Hi Sundown

Scuba diving. I learnt how to scuba dive seven years ago when I was 20 stone! Yes it is more difficult when you are getting ready on land/boat and I had to have a wetsuit made, but once you are in the water it is great and weight wasn't a problem. We scuba dived in the Red Sea. Summer time was the best as I didn't have to wear a wet suit as the sea is really warm even 20 Meters down.

I haven't scuba dived for 3 years now as I put on five stone and worried I wasn't healthy enough anymore ?. No one told be I couldn't.
Once I have lost more weight I will go and have a dive medical with a specialist doctor at St Johns Wood hospital in London and see what he had to say. I don't know how having a sleeve will affect diving, or should I say how the pressure the body experiences when diving might affect the sleeve!

 

[HelenAngelfish]

Because of my size do scares get infected?

I have 5 key hole scares (about 1cm each) some have disappeared and some are a light pink colour of baby soft skin. Barely noticeable and perfectly fine. No issues.

When I had my gall bladder out in 2009 though, the surgeon went through my very deep belly button and the scare in that one did become infected (harder to keep clean in a deep belly button)


How often do I need to be seen by follow up team?

First follow up was 10 days after, then 12 weeks after, then at 6 months, then at 12 months and my next one is on the 2 year mark.


Will people notice weight loss? Gossip.....

People didn't notice mine until I lost around 6/7 stone. Then when I hit 8/9 stone loss everyone seemed to notice.

Yes. People gossip and say 'she must have had this done' but I just tell them to F off and laugh as it's usually people who struggle with there weight themselves and don't like that fact I'm now smaller than them!

How often do you poo?

About 2 times a week now. I used to go every day. But I don't think this effects me. I don't feel bloated or anything.

Ok I said be frank :sigh::sigh: if your following a good diet what's your poo like?

Normal or slightly runny - odd I know

Eg constipated

Honestly about 3 times in the last 18 months have I took or needed a laxative. And that was more from being put to sleep during the operation (common after being put to sleep)

How unwell are you when you get home?

I wasn't unwell at all! Just felt tired/sleepy. I was only sick after drinking apple juice but I still can't drink that now.

I may have been very lucky. But no pain (felt like no operation)

Anything I've forgotten let me know..... I want it all

THE UGLY SIDE -

HAIR LOSS IS A VERY REAL SIDE EFFECT OF WEIGHT LOSS!!! Do not ignore your protein intake and vitamins!! THAT IS THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE!

My hair has not only thinned, but broken and shredded!! I have less hair than a toddler or 90yr old man!!!

If I didn't have hair extensions I would honestly wear a hijab!!