Hello there,
There are soooo many questions in your message and I will try to answer them the best I can (obv only my view!)
I am from Sunderland and was bypassed on March 31st 2014, you can see my results below. I think everyone feels the same and has the same questions so dont worry, you are feeling quite normal! I had the full bypass (not the mini) ande I have never looked back. I had all of the same issues you did and honestly, I can pout my hand on heart and say it is the best decision /I ever made. I thought I was going to 'miss food etc but I dont. I can eat anything still just ALOT less of it. So here goes trying to answer your questions
Recovery time: I am in a similar situation with three children (sense mine may be a little older than yours though) - I work full time too. I can honestly say I would have gone back to work after a week/fortnight but had a reaction to the gastro tablets they give you so if you feel at all unwell when you leave hossie, give them a call, it may be the tablets. I felt like vomitting all the time and had a sickly feeling constantly. However, if I hadnt taken the tablets, I was truly bouncing! You probs wont be qble to lift but yu will have to judge yourself when you feel you can. Remember, your stomach has no pain receptors so there is no pain inside from the op and this is why you have to be careful.
Talking I am more than happy to meet up for support and I can honestly say I do not regret having the op. In my opinion, yes the pros outweigh the cons. Thats not to say some people may regret it, this is just my thought.
Eating pain I felt no pain at all, recovery, eating or any other time. Yes I had wind pain, mainly in left shoulder! but you need to move, walk it off and you are given mintec tablets to take to help. To be honest though, moving is the best. It aint too bad either, not crippling...... This easede off after two to three weeks with me and remember this time is going to go by sooooo fast, promise. With the cramps I didnt suffer but just listen to your pouch, and STOP eating when you feel full. The biggest thing to get your head around is that, when do I feel full? ITs a learning curve and although you can literally eat a few spoons (in puree staqe) it does increase as swelling goes down. By this point you will be so used to eating the couple of spoons you then start worrying about overeating lol. You arent though, just keep in mind how much you used to eat!
Alcohol Sunderland recommend 12 weeks without. I followed that rule and have had no issues at all. ?You will be a cheap date because it will probs take less to get you drunk now. I used to be a cider drinker, I can manage one half but it takes me all night cos it so gassy. I now drink shorts or wine (with ease!) but two or three and i am wobbling lol. You get used to it and its cheaper, think of the money you will save! Like you having children I dont get out much but enjoy it more now cos I feel great and look better too. So dont worry you will drink again
Chocolate Well, I stated, I am not a dumper so I am going to be honest, I have tried chocolate - was scared at first thinking is this going to make me dump....... no it doesnt. I have only had it a couple of times but now I am seeing the results of the surgery I dont want to eat it. My tastes have changed a bit and I never used to like chocolate before that much but now I have4 gained a sweet tooth and it is hard on the days where all you wanna do is eat sweet stuff. This is the battle I face but then I look at old photos and new ones and realise I dont wanna go back there. That soon diverts the craving...... lol.
Loose skin I am starting to get a little loose skin now but I walk walk walk all the time. Remember you are goin to be able to exercise much better when you have lost weight. this surgery is a tool, you still have to do all the work to make it a success. It is not an easy option. I actually enjoy walking and exercising now. I am never going to be in the olympics but I do what I can manage and I dont sweat as much anymore or get out of breath....... all positives for me. Loose skin is the least of my worries, only me n hubby will see it and if all esle fails, I get the bugger cut off even if i have to save for it!
Eating Yes, in a word, you will have a mental battle but isnt that what you are doing now but hating yourself afterwards for eating what you are? Believe me, you can eat the same things just healthier options, and again remember, you are goin to eat much much less. The hardest thing I find Is not what to eat its the amount. I still out too much on my plate and leave most of it! I am still early days too so need to work on that. however, once i got my head round the whole thing, i have found it easy (had no real issues) You mental state is the one you battle with, not food and not eating etc. It is yourself........ the 'I got myself into this, I got to get myself out if it' battle goes on all the time but it does get easier, especially when the weight starts shifting. ?You will start to feel great, promise.
Dumping Wait and see, you may not be a dumper, not everyone is and you will soon learn what you can and cant eat. Your tastes may change and you may not want to eat the things you do now anyway. Only after the op will you learn this. there is always lots of help and advice on here if you need it after. Even if you do dump it is only 20-30 minutes to get over it so i would suggest if you are trying something new, try at home first as if you do have an episode you are goin to need to be close to a toilet!
Loose skin You may not have loads of loose skin, and if y9ou do, this is what you need to take into consideration. How would you rather be, slim healthy, there for you kids and happy and living or unhappy, fat and a potentially shorter lifespan? I know what I would choose. I know that may seem harsh but this is the question at the end of the day and only you can answer that question chick. Are you thinking 'I could live the rest of my life like this, I aint that bad' or are you thinking ' I have health issues, I need to this for my family and myself?' this is what you need to be asking and if you feel the you could live like the way you are, dont go through the op. you should have no major doubts goin through this. Yes there will always be doubts they are normal but major can i do this, live like this doubts I would be questioning if this is the right decision. You will not be malnourished, why would you be, you will be eaqting healthily and taking your supplements, you will be fine. Remember, you are not feeding the body you have now, you will have shrunk and wont need all the food you are consuming now.
OPeration You will make it through the op, have faith. They are the best in the country. On my op day I went down to surgery and cried in the waiting area...... the girl said to me if you arent sure about the op say now. I told her it wasnt the op, i was 100% certain i needed it doing, I was afraid of not waking up and my family etc etc. She said dont worry, that is what we are here for to look after you, you will wake up! She was lovely and hey presto here I am , woke up!
These are not silly questions honest and I felt exactly the same. I have tried to answer them from my perspective and sorry about the mistakes (i got these stupid nails on and I cant type properly lol!) Have you a partner to support you and there is a group in the hospital that meets the last thursday of every month.
Good luck with your journey and if you need anything, just ask
x
