I have had my operation!

Well my op was on Wednesday and today is Friday. I SURVIVED! And now it's time to THRIVE on healthy food and exercise.

I had a couple of complications with the op:

1. My BP went through the roof (hardly surprising considering my weight and how badly I have abused my poor body.
2. My diet controlled type II diabetes went bananas also. So I have been on an insulin infusion but swapped to jabs today.

Apart from that it has been easy peasy! So I used my PCA (patient controlled analgesia) in recovery and a couple of times the first night but not since. I have been on panadol through my drip until today when I swapped to capsules. Some of the people on the "Gastric Sleeve Support" site (an ozzy forum) suggest baby panadol and panadol rapid which are dissolvable.

Honestly, I got up out of bed the next day and have tried to move a little more with time. I think its really important to keep moving because it gets the bowels going (I know too much overshare, but I am a nurse LOL) and that stops a lot of trouble.

Sipped water & apple juice the first day. Onto free fluids today - yes! Pureed soup, low fat icecream, etc.

I found the jelly way to sweet, which is funny really, because I have always had a really sweet tooth.

I am eating a quarter to a half a teaspoonful at a time. Resting between mouthfuls. It's funny when you have had too much water or whatever it just comes straight back into your mouth. No gastric reflux or anything, just the water or tea or whatever LOL.

I don't feel hungry. My tummy is bruised but not bad. ONly a bit sore when I roll over in bed.

The headaches are the worst. So I have kept the panadol up.

But honestly, I have had a dream run. I am so glad I have done it. I have not yet had a moment of hunger.

The downfall is the burping. I am sure they can hear me all around the hospital LOL.

So excited. I will have my op on Wednesday this week! I have bought myself a lovely overnight bag in purple and just about everything is ready. I have read everything from the doctor.

I feel like my entire life is on hold waiting for the moment the sleeve gastrectomy changes my life.

I have been trying to reduce my intake and exercise more. I have lost around 3kgs so that would be about 6.6lbs. So it's been shakes for brekky and much smaller meals. Went for a great 40 minute walk this morning with one of my daughters. It was such a beautiful day for it.

While I was still trying to diet (and failing all the time of course) I did up a motivation board. I have attached a photo of it.

It was my birthday last week and my lovely daughters gave me a gift voucher for Indooroopilly Shopping Town. My husband and I went there today and bought me a great pair of joggers. Asics Kayanos - the shop assistant was so helpful when I said I had weak ankles and needed really supportive shoes.

So I am all set for walking, walking, walking. Hope I can cope with all the changes the operation brings with it, especially psychologically. I think that might be the hardest part. No longer relying of food to soothe me. I am very easygoing, however, I am worried I will become a screaming banshee and upset everyone.

Well I suppose I will cope with whatever happens one day at a time.

Saz [RS bleep]

So excited. Met Dr Justin Greenslade in person today. He is such a nice man. He gave me a very good run down on the differences between sleeve gastrectomy and lap band. I must say that the sleeve came out on top!

My op is booked for 10th July. So excited that I can get it done so soon.

While filling out all the info for the op one client arrived and went in for a consult. When he came out he asked me what I was getting done and I told him. He has lost 25kgs on the lap band and had a sleeve gastrectomy a month ago and feels great. Then another person arrived and the receptionist said "Do I know you? OMG is that you Matt!

We started talking and he was saying he had a gastric bypass and has loss 120kgs so I think that is well over 200lbs! We had such a good talk. He was saying he still thinks he is a big person in his head. And he said stopping the food is relatively easy. It's just the "head stuff" that is hard.

To top it off the receptionist told me she had a gastric sleeve 2.5 years ago and lost 40kg! She showed me a before photo and I couldn't believe it!

So I am very excited and looking forward to the op and the changes it will bring :)