POSTED UNDER Gastric Sleeve Surgery REVIEWS
I took control with a GS! - Salmiya, Kuwait
ORIGINAL POST
So i've booked in for a GS for October 1st. ...
AussieinKuwaitAugust 28, 2014
WORTH IT$11,000
So i've booked in for a GS for October 1st. Scared silly for all the lifestyle changes i'll need to make but so looking forward to being able to run around longer with my son, fit comfortably in an plane seat and shop for clothes in normal stores!
I'm a 35yr old mum of one (4 miscarriages since) I'm 163cm and 109kg. Our cost is high by western standards but it's an all inclusive cost that covers hospital stay for 2 nights and everything. The Middle East isn't cheap when it comes to private health care unfortunately!
I'm a 35yr old mum of one (4 miscarriages since) I'm 163cm and 109kg. Our cost is high by western standards but it's an all inclusive cost that covers hospital stay for 2 nights and everything. The Middle East isn't cheap when it comes to private health care unfortunately!
UPDATED FROM AussieinKuwait
24 days pre
3.5 weeks to go... think i'm scaring myself
AussieinKuwaitSeptember 6, 2014
So i've got just under 4 weeks til my surgery and I think all the reading is confusing myself on what to expect. I've heard some people are on pain pumps for two days, some nothing.
I've found a great looking product for protein post surgery (celebrate) that is specifically formulated for bariatric patients so i've ordered some online to be shipped to the middle east for me. Hoping that they taste as good as they sound. How much protein do they say we need after surgery? I'm also in the process of making chicken, beef and vegetable broths for the fortnight following surgery so i can have a nice warm drink
I've heard that people, when they do start eating, tend to throw up because they didn't know they were full - how many people after having gastric sleeves have experienced this. Xmas day is 3 months post surgery and I know it'll be totally different to previous xmas's but given i'm not telling anyone back home about the surgery the last thing i want is to throw up and have everything thinking i've lost the weight due to becoming someone who self harms...
Anyone experienced this.
I've found a great looking product for protein post surgery (celebrate) that is specifically formulated for bariatric patients so i've ordered some online to be shipped to the middle east for me. Hoping that they taste as good as they sound. How much protein do they say we need after surgery? I'm also in the process of making chicken, beef and vegetable broths for the fortnight following surgery so i can have a nice warm drink
I've heard that people, when they do start eating, tend to throw up because they didn't know they were full - how many people after having gastric sleeves have experienced this. Xmas day is 3 months post surgery and I know it'll be totally different to previous xmas's but given i'm not telling anyone back home about the surgery the last thing i want is to throw up and have everything thinking i've lost the weight due to becoming someone who self harms...
Anyone experienced this.
Replies (20)
September 6, 2014
I too have heard diff things post op.My surgeon doesn't even use pain pump.Not sure why.He said something but I cant remember,was too terrified the whole consultation.Pain pumps Ive used befre,u usually don't use as much as they allow.I think I used it for 24 hrs.I hear go real slow when eating,really slow.I eat so quick!! I cant imagine being thinner for xmas (my family xmas is nov 15).I cant cook broth,any great recipes?
September 7, 2014
Alison2 - I've heard go slow as well. I'm trying to start doing that now because i tend to eat quickly but finding it really hard to continue chewing after it already feels like puree (compared to normal eating habits). check out www.celebratevitamins.com - they cater specifically for bariatric patients and I've read some amazing reviews about taste etc. I haven't tried them yet but have just ordered the protein/multivitamin shake in vanilla cake batter flavour and the tomato and chicken soup protein meal replacement. One of those each a day (both have been specially formulated for immediately after surgery) and i'll already have consumed 50+g of protein! I've made a chicken and veggie broth - super, super easy and am freezing it in 1cup lots so i can just whip it out and heat it up. No protein but something with taste at least. If you want the recipe let me know.
I'd be super happy with being just full size smaller for xmas but secretly hoping (while not putting too much pressure on myself) to be nearly 2 sizes smaller...
September 7, 2014
ive tried to cut down eating (and chew more) as I'm being weighed on Friday by the exercise physio;i bought their replacement meals but haven't eaten one yet.Online says they taste disgusting apparently.Would really appreciate yr recipe.i think u will be way smaller by xmas ,as most pple lose heaps the 1st 3 months apparently ,then level off,lose more then after a year level off and put some back on.To be honest if I lose 10-20kgs I'll be thrilled as it would (hopefully) give me more energy and less back/knee pain.As xmas isn't that far away,it's hard to imagine being thinner, as I haven't been less than what I am now for so long at leat 20 yrs ,if not longer.And 30+ years till I was a size 16,which would be great! Mind u a 18-20 sounds good too! Do u do xmas over there?
September 7, 2014
We are heading home for xmas but no they don't traditionally celebrate xmas in Kuwait. `some shops stock decorations for the expat community but you won't find santa or a tree in any of the malls.
September 7, 2014
Zen Lady - hopping so! We are only 3 weeks apart so we'll have to make sure we update each other on our progress!!
September 7, 2014
AussieinKuwait, and hopping we will be on our Aussie Xmas day, because we will look and feel brilliant, I just know these things!
September 7, 2014
AussieinKuwait, I've even been on line today picking out a couple of Lorna Jane exercise outfits in an L size, how's that for optimism?....
September 7, 2014
2 sizes in 6 weeks? sounds great!,sm looking for old photos to se e how I looked 35,25,15 yrs ago to motivate me (after they depress me)
September 7, 2014
Alison2, oh I haven't a hope in hell of fitting them now! It's motivational tools!
September 7, 2014
great idea,i c an exercise physio this week,no idea what she'll say! walking is about it for me!
September 7, 2014
At 61, I certainly don't do much else myself! Pinned large picture of me now, but photoshopped to look slimmer, on fridge.
September 7, 2014
I wish I could do photoshop, as I don't want a real pic of me up anywhere ATM.surgeon keeps stressing exercise but cant imagine how,unless I lose heaps quickly. am looking thru old pix soon,when I had un grey hair and was 4-5 sizes slimmer.
September 7, 2014
Alison, I've also booked 3 sequential weekly 30 minute neck and shoulder massages, that start 2 weeks post surgery, as well as a manicure and pedicure week 3 and a style and colour week 4, I'm trying to reward me in more appropriate ways than the food I use now.
September 7, 2014
Lorna jane is one of my goals... if mum asks what to get me for xmas i will say a voucher... it'll be my dream end to 2014!!!
September 7, 2014
Great idea.... one of my jobs to do tomorrow - pre-book beauty treatments!
September 7, 2014
sounds wonderful,i love getting a pedi and any massage I can get (sometimes the hairdresser used to use her finger tips for a head one).Im more worried about eating the wrong stuff ,post op,(luckily hubby said that he'll try to lose weight by walking,knocking off the junk food)
September 7, 2014
whats lorna jane,never heard of it?If it's exercise wear then I would never ever heard of it!
UPDATED FROM AussieinKuwait
14 days pre
2 weeks pre-op and getting excited.... took a lot to post photos
AussieinKuwaitSeptember 16, 2014
Today i had my 2 week pre-op appointment. Everything is great, bloods came back good, ultrasound good and all my questions answered! I'm so nervous for the outcome and the complete lifestyle change but i'm ready for it.
My main concern is not waking up which sounds silly to some others. My point is that i have an only child who is 6, and given my procedure is elective i hate the idea of something happening and him having to live his life knowing the surgery was my choice. I haven't been recommended to have it for medical reasons (i.e. diabetes etc). I've even gone as far as writing him a letter 'just in case' - a little dramatic i realise.
Im also having a huge problem physically imagining myself 1, 2 or even 3 sizes smaller. i have been so big for so long that i can't remember what it feels like to fit into a size 14 (aussie - size 12 USA). but i am very much looking forward to being there. i haven't even thought about buying new clothes a size or two smaller for xmas because i'm loving the fact that after 4-6 weeks i can wear my 'fat' clothe and they actually look good on me rather than having to stretch them over the spare tire i've been carrying around for the last 10/15yrs!
I've attached a 4 week pre-op photos. it was soooo hard for me to take them and even harder for me to actually upload them but i know if 2-4-6 months i'll be able to look back and think that god i made that decision!
My main concern is not waking up which sounds silly to some others. My point is that i have an only child who is 6, and given my procedure is elective i hate the idea of something happening and him having to live his life knowing the surgery was my choice. I haven't been recommended to have it for medical reasons (i.e. diabetes etc). I've even gone as far as writing him a letter 'just in case' - a little dramatic i realise.
Im also having a huge problem physically imagining myself 1, 2 or even 3 sizes smaller. i have been so big for so long that i can't remember what it feels like to fit into a size 14 (aussie - size 12 USA). but i am very much looking forward to being there. i haven't even thought about buying new clothes a size or two smaller for xmas because i'm loving the fact that after 4-6 weeks i can wear my 'fat' clothe and they actually look good on me rather than having to stretch them over the spare tire i've been carrying around for the last 10/15yrs!
I've attached a 4 week pre-op photos. it was soooo hard for me to take them and even harder for me to actually upload them but i know if 2-4-6 months i'll be able to look back and think that god i made that decision!
Replies (31)
September 16, 2014
I understand yr letter and feeelings.I too hav written themand my kids are 26,30! however they both have autism and it weighs on my mind,them being alone altho' their dad's here (he's autistic too).I can imagine as it's been 20 yrs since I was a 22,25 since a 20and 40 since a size 18.My smallest was a 16,at 16 yrs old........Im 57.Can take selfies yet either ,will take but not upload.the shame,embarrassment. have bought no new clothes,just intend to pull elastic in on some skirts and take in seams? pants fall down?? what a great,happy embarrassment!! sleeve date 30/9, or 9/30 for USA. my start weight 107kgs,get weighed tmrw,..........
September 17, 2014
Alison2, I took my neck down pictures and posted them here so I can have a record, I can't face my face. I'm starting just 9 kilos less than you (or 20 lb) and you'll have lost that be the time I start.
September 17, 2014
yes,i looked,i hope to take some but hate looking at myself and am too ashamed to ask husband altho he's supportive,do want a record though.............
September 17, 2014
My procedure is also 30th september... starting weight an embarrassing 115. The doctor was talking about getting down to 65 within 6 months... my mind just can't comprehend being able to get where i want in 6 months after spending so many years slogging it out to get there myself.
September 17, 2014
65? I actually don't want to be that skinny as i'll be wrinkly and have loads of loose skin,i don't bounce back skin-tone ,much at all.really,i'd be happy with 80,i was 10.5 stone at 16 ,whatever that is in kgs. was never thin.always solid ,am 5'3' unless I've shrunk!
September 17, 2014
A moving post, and you certainly have a fabulous future for you and your family. I didn't realise a 14 -Aussie is a USA- 12, in clothes sizing, I'm going to buy all my clothes in USA if I get to have a smaller size on them! I've been cutting the size 18 + label off all my clothes in case it flicks out and everyone knows, silly me, as if my size doesn't say it all. You have youth and beauty of your side already!
September 17, 2014
if I had the op done a t 35,or 45 things may have been different but as I hope to have 30 yrs of life left,i don't want to leave it any longer!
September 17, 2014
Alison, I'm 61 so I'd like a good 25+ myself and I'd like them to be easier walking, running, climbing stairs, breathing, and looking at my reflection!
September 17, 2014
Alison, I'm not sure - let's put it out there to our group, I think I read posts from someone who is 65 years young.....
September 18, 2014
ok,how do we put it to the group? just like this ...ie here? I assume after 65,you may be a risk or put up with the weight? a pre -op weigh- in and exercise assessment tmrw,more shame.......why now that I'm doing sthing about my weight do I feel worse about it,than ever before?? Also at my last lunch today,my girlfreinds (all size 8-12) talked about weight........they never usually do!!
September 18, 2014
i think it's like being pregnant... when you want to be pregnant you see so many pregnant ladies and when you aren't you don't. I've noticed more conversations about appearance, weight etc since making the decision about surgery. Probably didn't notice it before because i shut my ears down at the mention of scales, weight or clothes shopping...
September 18, 2014
great comment,makes sense to me......also I am looking at other's body shapes ...trying to imagine me at that size or that size.............which is also new to me.Anyone dreaming about food?
September 18, 2014
not dreaming about food but i'm falling victim to eating this or that 'for the last time' - i keep having to remind myself its not the food that's being consumed for the last time just the qty!
September 18, 2014
i went to a party and resisted seconds,thirds,something I would rarely have done before.even ate more salad! I will so miss chocolate..........until smaller quantities!
September 19, 2014
have come down 4kgs or 8.8lbs in 3 weeks,so many more to go! im going to hate liquids after the next 4 weeks!
September 19, 2014
Alison2 - that' fantastic! my surgery is in 11 sleeps... i'm dreading the liquid and I'm worried because the day i come out of hospital it's school holidays. We will be out and about but thankfully i'll be busy so hoping that helps keep my mind off food
September 19, 2014
mine's in 10 sleeps,im dreading the liquid but before the op (I believe u aren't that hungry after the op)and we are on hols from tomorrow.THe liquids are hard cause im still so hungry.liquid brekky tmrw : ( I haven't thought about after coming home,jst want it to be over! how long are u in hospital there?
September 19, 2014
Alison2 - I'm in hospital for two nights. I only have to fast for 24hrs there's no liquid diet before the surgery, that's the way they do it here. i'm not given my official post-op diet until the day because they avoid people getting worried about what they are in for. It has worked well because at the moment i'm not worried about the post-op diet... but i've got 10 days to start that stress LOL
September 19, 2014
2 nights here too,im swapping 2 liquid weeks for 24 liquid hors,how lucky,post op diets basically as now all liquids for 3 weeks,thats how u lose weight! then puree for 3 wks,then little little baby bites............in time for xmas as someone pointed out,to me,too far to think......one day at a time...........9 more sleeps or sleepless...........
September 20, 2014
Alison, yes, Christmas is less than a 100 days away, and one day at a time is important of course (still planning to buy a great size 14 outfit for 12/25) whoohooo just 9 sleeps for you!!!
September 20, 2014
size 14? what are u now (only if u want to say?) .Im a 22 top,24 dress and sigh-26 bottoms.Have never been a size 14. I was a 16 when I was 16,in 1977!! xmas... hmmm who can I freak out??
September 20, 2014
At my pre-op my dr said i'd be eating egg by week 3/4. Here they do 10 days liquid, 10 days puree then soft baby foods (mashed etc) then by week 5 normal foods. can't believe the same operation has such different post-op advice based on which country you are in!!!
September 20, 2014
Alison, I'm happy to say, I'm a very tight 18 or XL, right now, because I stubbornly refuse to buy 20's when I'm this close to my op. Now, at 5' 8", or 173 cm, that only means my overweight body spreads that weight across this bigger/taller area, never the less, I am now about 65 lb, or about 30 kilos above my healthy, and only 30 lb less than my pre-band weight (it's been removed) and I'm well aware, if I don't intervene now, it's only a couple of months at most, before I'm writing I've 95 lb to lose. It's about breaking the path to the inevitable for me. I'm sure if I had 200 lbs or more to lose, it would be the same, I'm saving my health, my emotional sanity and my self worth. I'm luckier than some with 65 lb to lose, but think those that struggle with their weight with less to lose are just as entitled to this op as me, and those with more. It's about all of us having a chance to be healthy and happy! I was a 14 at 14, and a 16 at 16 too, but the latter was in 1969, and yoyo's ever since! Thats soon over!
September 20, 2014
5 ft 8! you will be a model when u r skinny! im 5 ft 3",but no idea in centimetres.Im ??kgs over healthy (musst be 40 or so).How did the band go? At least u r less than yr pre- band weight.I remember them/bands being the best, best thing in the 1990s/2000s.What happened? No one ever says.I only found out that bands weren't working when I looked at getting a VSG ,do I read about them slipping/biting into the stomach etc.Some must be working I assume. Yo yos must be depressing....
September 20, 2014
Alison, band got me slim (12/14) but because I vomited 95% of what I ate! that is! until I found the food I could eat without vomiting! These included soft cheeses, ice cream, full cream yogurts, cheesecake (not base), thick shakes, creamy coffee drinks (hot and cold), and obviously I went all out in bulk and with a year of reaching slim vomiting, I was back up. I didn't gave the option to eat healthy, salads, fruits, grains and meat fell into vomiting outcome. I had it removed so I could once again eat healthy and I did, and went down again eating the healthy variety I'd missed out on and 2 hour daily exercising, but of course, I could only maintain slim again for a year, before I gave up the ridiculous exercise commitment and grew and grew! I choose the sleeve because the food type restrictions are few (after initial healing period) and it's just the volume that is restricted, so it seems a far better option. I just don't want to give up and grow more, so I'll try this hopefully last yoyo swing!
September 22, 2014
Alison! Smack your hand! No shame to have an illness at all, and I think overheating is an illness as do many, the shame is in not taking whatever treatment you can to help manage it so you have NO shame!
Replies (22)