Leaking like the Titanic..

[angiemason]

i work at AXA household claims where do you work could do with a bit of a rest from all these flood claims though x well done with the gym i love swimming and use the rowing machine and treadmilland bike but can't do weights coz of my rheumatoid arthiritis

 

[girlygirl1]

Thank heavens! I am so relieved to see that things are miles better for you. Not one day has gone by in all these weeks that I haven't thought of you and even sent up a wee prayer.

Take it easy! Whoah, Nellie! I know you are raring to go, and that is fab, but don't try to do way too much, too soon. Your body and mind have been through a lot. You are on course now and you know you will get there. Just take your time.

I have to add that it was not your fault you put on so much weight. I truly believe that many who struggle with weight and body issues - countless obese and morbidly obese people in particular - have a food addiction. Pure and simple. They are addicted to carbs in particular, refined sugars and starches i.e. junk food.

A more clinical-sounding name for it might be Insulin Resistance. Either way it means that, just like alcoholism, heroin addiction, smoking, gambling, whatever.... there is a condition that is physical, emotional and mental that causes susceptible people to be unable to stop eating, even when they are desperate to lose weight.

We all have trigger foods, for example, that can fuel a night or even a week of bingeing. Once we get a taste of that particular food or more than one food, we are off and running. Yet we don't want to do this, we try to fight it with everything in us. And when we fail, we blame ourselves.

I don't, any more. I blame the carbohydrate addiction. It's no coincidence that post-op WLS patients are advised to cut back on carbohydrates, particularly sugars and starches, and to include protein shakes, etc to protect lean muscle tissue.

Please don't beat yourself up before or after surgery for having had, or for still having, a carbohydrate addiction. Modern food technology is a wonderful thing but it has also led to sugar being pumped into just about every convenience food imaginable, even the savoury stuff, and to the addition of special coatings and extra salt on savoury snacks and nuts. Why? To make us crave more and more. That's how the big food manufacturers make their money!

Be kind to yourself, Scooter - and everyone here. You had a problem and you took serious steps to help to deal with that problem. Had you been truly capable of just 'putting the fork (or the biscuit or chocolate bar) down', you surely would have. Your addiction wouldn't let you!

Good luck again Scooter, I am really happy for you x

 

[scooter81]

hi guys, a pic from a shin dig i went to this weekend
now weighing in at 12stone 13lbs

A more proffessional pic was taken, however not available for a couple of days, however when it is will upload.

I work for South Staffs water, back at work tomorrow havign bent sent home sick last week. Picked up gastroentiritis

girlygirl, thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Someone has truly looked after me and Im thankful. The gym is my playground when I have the energy and Im not planning on trying to do too much. Im content with a little bit a bit at a time. Thanks for your kind words x

 

[kellsbells]

You look amazing hun good luck with work xx

 

[scooter81]

Thank you x did u have surgery today kelsbels?

Went to work today stillnot 100% but near as can be. Still feel incredibly sick and taking antisickness. My doctor has given me another course of domperidone and i have to go back on Wednesday. If no change I will be given referal letter to go to hspital. I have spoken to the hospital today as all I ate in a week is half a weetabix and struggling to keep fluids down. Only success is tea. Main bariatric nurse has told me to keep yamming down the fluids and try pick at crackers etc.. will call me tomorrow morning to advise further after team meeting. will confirm whether i need to go in or not. thinks because of stomach bug which isnt quite gone im having probs, however having few stresses at this time too which dont help.

Have been advised that if i worsen Im immediately to go to A&E as per my doctors advice

 

[chrisa]

You take care Scooter, just when you were riding high xx

 

[kellsbells]

Yes Hun I had a band on sunday there's me cryin over a bit of pain after all you have been through! You put me to shame! I hope with all my heart it's nothing serious and your on the mend soon xx

 

[scooter81]

its a ***** now but youll be fine sweetheart x were all here for you & congratulations x

 

[kellsbells]

its a ***** now but youll be fine sweetheart x were all here for you & congratulations x

Thanks doll hope your ok xx

 

[Tracey12]

I hope and pray that things improve for you. Thats quite a horror story Scooter. Thanks for sharing.

 

[angiemason]

Hi Scooter that pic is beautiful xx i hope you do get sorted out eventually , you really are a pocket miracle good luck back at work i presume you will be on return to work hours and just building back up (i hope so anyway) take care xx

 

[scooter81]

Hi guys I got the pics from the weekend uploaded. here u go..

My buddy Rachie aka "Tinkerboom" on here

Its been one of those weeks in general! Seemed to have upset everybody and being battling WW3 because of a difference of opinion and in my opinion selfishness. Maybe Im wrong? Who knows..

Back at work still, working regular shifts and have had trouble eating all week. I think this is due to stress as I was ill last week, had an argument with a friend the weekend and multiple differences of opinion. Ive learned no matter what, people believe what the heck they want despite the truth belting them round the head.

Washed my hands of said "people" and walked away from stress and hey presto! Ive started picking and being able to get more than a weetabix down my neck in a day.

Feeling alot better today, just thankful its Friday in 20 mins more and I finish work at 4pm tomorrow and have the weekend to recouperate and have fun.

My niece is 5 and staying over at my house, second time since everything went wrong and were both dead excited. Looks like a weekend at the park, shopping and fun at the Wacky Warehouse ballpit thing hope whatever u guys doing, ur all well and having fun!

 

[kellsbells]

Pics are fab hun! Enjoy your weekend xx

 

[girlygirl1]

Things do seem much better hun however you still have problems eating more than a tiny amount on any given day and that needs to be sorted out.

A lot of us, women especially, tend to suffer in silence or near silence because we don't want to make a fuss, nor be 'a nuisance' to doctors/providers/the world in general... But you have been through major abdominal surgery and from Day One you've experienced problems that were not of your own making! So you need extra care,extra consideration and extra vigilance.

Being able to eat and drink is, quite simply, essential for life - and moreso, for healthy recovery after any major op. I am glad to hear that you are becoming more assertive! Make sure you transfer this added strength to all dealings with your WLS provider, the dietician, etc.

You know you are eating and drinking almost nothing, and that this is dangerous. It's all very well advising you to dash to A & E if need be, but you are entitled to help NOW from your Team. Don't wait for something bad to happen, nag the hell out of them, now. You need adequate nutrition to continue to heal and recover. They have a duty to help you with your eating difficulties. I am still pretty astonished at the way you continue to be, in my opinion, neglected. If you can't eat after all this time then you need practical help, right away. In your shoes I would take them at their word, show up at A & E complaining of suspected malnutrition and dehydration, and TELL Reception AND the doctors on duty that your WLS provider ADVISED you to go to A & E if you felt poorly! You work, you pay national insurance, you pay tax, you are 100% entitled to emergency care. From what you say NHS emergency care might turn out to be far better and more helpful than the kind of so-called care you've experienced to date.

Please hassle them, hassle someone! Being unable to eat/drink classes as an emergency by any standards. You will just get weaker and weaker if this goes on. A few people here have mentioned the PALS team at various hospitals, saying things get DONE when you formally approach the team. You honestly cannot go on like this for much longer.

I pray you will get the right help, very very soon. Don't just soldier on in the hope that things will get better all by themselves. Make a fuss. If the medical peeps don't already realise that you are in a bad way, make them very much aware of this - your problems are a direct result of your WLS surgery. That is a fact. They OWE you further care, and fast!

By the way - your pix are gorgeous!

Good luck hun and please keep posting xx

 

[scooter81]

Hi, been back to hospital. I blacked out/fell asleep or whatever the hell it was at my desk at work. I was in deep conversation regarding a customer account, then a minute or two later Im being shaken awake. I open my eyes and get the sarcastic "keeping u awake are we?!" then the off the floor conversations in private that go along the lines of "if u cant do your job.." "too many late nights?!"

This lead to me now being told that I need to reevaluate a few things in such a way..
1) do i still want my job?
2) do I want to switch my job?
3) do i need to reduce duties?
4) i have until a week today to decide what to do.

Great! I spent wednesday on the phone/at the hospital to be told theres nothign wrong with me. Go home. the only thing they can put it down to is something I ate. One of the girls birthdays at work, I had a half of a shortcake biscuit and then half hour later my narcoleptic incident.

Surgeon tells me my bloods are fine. My bp is fine. glucose levels fine. Did I have chest pains? no. Did I feel dizzy? no. Had it happened before? No. But I did wake up in the hallway the other morning, dont know how i got there??

i discussed the minimal amount I eat and am told everybody is different. My stomach was resized when they went back in to correct procedure and smaller than standard sleeve. Kinda makes sense compared to why I cant eat same sizes as other sleeve friends I have. I took my food diaries with me, saw dieticien. shes happy with the amount of food Im eating and variety.

I was sent home, and told that if it happens again I am to go to A&E immediately. If I feel unwell to see my GP.

I get home, open the post and lo and behold! a letter from the hospital that reads as follows...

"thank you for attending clinic recently at ******* Hospital.

I now have your blood test results available. They show that your Vitamin B12 level is below the minimal level. I have forwarded the results to your GP.

I would be grateful if you would attend your GP's surgery at your earliest convenience, to commence Vitamin B12 Supplementation"

Dated 18/10/12. Yet on 23.10.12 I was told by my surgeon and nurse who have my file in their paws that theres nothing wrong with me. How?! Ive called today and spoken to the author of the letter who has verified this over the phone. Im frustrated. Surgeon says Im ok, head consultant chemical pathologist says im not.

Ive been to the doctors today to attend and appointment with my letter and been told to return Tuesday where I will receive B12 injections.

Thankyou for your concern, its appreciated. I assure you Im playing everything that crops up with caution. im keeping all kinds of diaries for foods, fluids, episodes of dumping etc.. to try best help and support me bc i dont seem to be getting the help I need.

All that leaves me left to do is to take copy of this letter to work tomorrow with details of B12 lacking and see if work will get off my case. I know I got to see the patronising condascending occ health nurse again. But its kind of the case of monkey see, monkey do!

Felt a million $$$$$$ in those pics.

In other news, havnt been about much as Im currently out and about with "my man" ha ha! never thought Id be saying that life is pretty good right now and I cant wait to see what tomorrow brings. Hope your all well, thinking of you all and sending big hugs x

 

[shelleymarie]

Blimey, what sort of place do you work at? black out at your desk and get asked if you still want your job? talk about supportive! Sorry you've still having struggles, I guess after everything you've been through it's going to take longer to get things completely normal but so glad to hear that somethings are going really well. Hopefully everything else will settle more as time goes on. Do you have a union at work? they are handy if you do x

 

[chrisa]

Work places these days want every pound of flesh don't know whats happening. Just do what you think is right, speak to other staff or like Shelley says union advice never comes in wrong. You should get someone to go in with you when you have to decide as well, even just to take notes, cause we get that wound up we forget everything. Lovely to hear you have been out and about with your new fella hiope its all going well well done you xx

 

[angiemason]

hope it went ok at work today xx i know your company is a large one like mine so they will definitely have procedures to follow regarding sacking etc x they wouldn't dare sack you due to health reasons imagine the uproar , you will also have an occupational health dept speak to them you will have to be honest about what you've had done and problems eating blood tests etc but they will have to send recommendation letter to your team leader stating all the facts and that they are aware of your problems and then tell them what they recommend for you at work, extra rest times etc good luck honey take care and happy times with your fella you deserve it x

 

[highspirit]

u look wonderful !!!!!!!!

 

[Tracey12]

Stunning Picture Angie. Unrecognisable!