Alia
New Member
I'm on day 8 post op from my gastric bypass and wanted to share my experience.
My battle with my weight has been a life time battle, I've never been slim, I was morbidly obese as child and as the years went past my weight was matching my age so at 18 I was 18 stone and up it went.
My mission for surgery started ten years ago, at that time I can say now was not the right time for me to have surgery but to me it was the answer to everything and in 1999 I had what was called in those days stomached stapling.
From start to finish it was a horrible experience. In the hospital the staff lacked empathy for me and obviously thought I did not have the right to complain about pain etc as I had got myself there and there was no one to blame but myself. As a result of this I discharged myself from hospital (Chelsea and west minister) after 5 days and got my husband to drive me home to Suffolk where we were living at that time. My experience in the hospital had really made me nervous of the whole experience and from the day I left the hospital I never saw any one regarding my surgery.
As the years went past I'd lose a few stone then gain it back plus a few more pounds. I did have restriction in what I could eat. Chocolate, Ice-cream, Full Fat Coke, Cheese Puffs, all the things I loved still slipped down like a dream and I could eat these in huge amounts. All the stuff that was good for me, Rice, Meats, Chicken, Vegetables, Fruits, all ended up with me being in severe pain and throwing up. It was clear something was not right and after 9 years I visited my doctor and told him how miserable I was and I was also in severe pain, taking huge cocktails of pain killers every day just to get me though the day. His advice was to refer me to the specialist in our local hospital, St James in Leeds and to see what he advised.
I had my appointment with him in February last year (2007) and he decided initially that he needed to see what was going on with the surgery that I had had and arranged for me to have a barium meal from which he hoped to be able to see what was going on. Unfortunately the results where that he could not see anything at all, certainly nothing that resembled any kind of stapling. He said that he felt the best option for me was to have a gastric Bypass but he could not guarantee what he would until he went in and saw what had actually been done. I was nervous about it due to my past experience but was also happy as it might be the answer to everything I was going through.
I had another appointment arranged for April 2007 to finalise everything for the surgery but days before that appointment I discovered I was pregnant so all bets were off until 6 months after I delivered.
My baby boy was born in November 2007 and I started to count down the 6 months till I could get my appointment with my surgeon.
I had that appointment in May this year and it was arranged that I would have surgery but that I had to see the dietician and if she was in agreement then put my case to the panel to see if they would fund my surgery. I saw her in the august and at first she refused to give a yes to the surgery as she felt my diet was not suitable at that time.. I was very a grazer. Over the next month I made changes and on the next visit I had lost a few kilos and she was happy to put my case to panel who agreed to fund my surgery.
My last visit to my surgeon was September the 1st and during that appointment my surgeon set the date for my surgery which was to be November the 19th... I remember thinking at that time that it seemed so far away. I was given a diet that I needed to follow 10 days prior to surgery that was aimed at shrinking my liver which apparently was even more necessary as I had had previous surgery and it was very likely that my stomached would be stuck to my liver and by following this diet it would shrink it and would help reduce bleeding.
Time passed and suddenly the operation was a month away and our lives were turned upside down as our baby became very ill and spent a week in hospital and we had weeks of hell as we fought to find out what was wrong with him and before I knew it there was 10 days to surgery and I was not even sure I would be having the operation due to my son’s illness. He was in a bad way, feeling very unsecure due to our separation and I was concerned how he would cope if I was to leave him again to go into hospital. All my friends and family told me how important it was for me to have the surgery and reminded me that these chances don’t come around easily and that my son was going to be perfectly ok with his dad and family and that I’d only be away for 5 days. Almost reluctantly I agree... all the while still nervous of my previous experience.
The day of surgery arrived and I was called to be admitted for 4 o’clock.
As soon as I arrived on the ward I was amazed at how much of a difference I felt in my treatment. I was treated with respect and the nurses were wonderful at helping me with all my needs and dealing with all my medications. Not once did I feel uncomfortable or experienced any negativity from the staff. They were kind to me from start to finish.
As I was wheeled down to surgery in my two gowns, one front and one back I remember thinking that already I was so hopeful that this would be the resolution to my life time of weight problems and my heart suddenly did not feel so heavy. I was very nervous, thinking was I going to be the one of the few that has problems during surgery, what was he actually going to do and more importantly what was he going to find. Kissing my husband and baby boy goodbye was very hard, there were tears but this was the beginning of a new life.
On waking up after surgery I was not in pain, was actually more bothered by the tubes for the drains and the tube coming out of my nose. I had my morphine pump which I could press as I needed more painkillers but I was surprised at how good I felt. I was confined to my bed for the rest of the night. Early the next morning the consultant came to visit me and explained what had happened and what he was able to do. He had found that there was a band in my stomached from the previous surgery that should have been around the top of my stomach but that it was actually around the bottom which explained why I was in so much pain after eating meat etc as I was able to eat it but it had difficulties getting out of the stomach. This made it clear all the pain I had felt for 10 years where I would suffer even 5 or 6 hours after eating something as it was having difficulties getting out of the stomach and I would end up vomiting for hours and hours. He also found that I had two huge hernias the size of grapefruits as well as up to 30 tiny ones. He had repaired the two big ones and told me with time and plenty of exercise to strengthen my muscles they should sort themselves out… I had no idea what so ever that I had a hernia never mind as many as I did have. He then explained that I had basically now got a brand new gastric bypass but that he had to reroute the bowel even further down due to the state of my stomach and that I would need to take extra supplements as I would absorb even less of my food than the average bypass.
Later that morning I had my nose tube removed and the bigger of the two drains that I had removed also and I felt so much better. I got out of bed, had a nice wash and hardly felt like I had had such major surgery at all. I did not feel hungry but I did feel thirsty and made big use of the sponges they gave me with ice cold water to wet my mouth with and copious amounts of lipsol which were so needed as everything was totally dry. I had a steady stream of visitors through out the day which I found surprisingly tiring but was so happy to see my little boy even though he was very confused as to why I could not hold him and cuddle him as he has known all his life. I had a brilliant night, slept through out apart from the times when the nurses came to do their regular checks through the night. Still having this positive experience that I had felt since I walked through the ward doors the day before my surgery.
I had my barium meal the next afternoon and after it was confirmed I had no leaks I was allowed my first sips of water and was never so grateful for a ice cold bottle of Evian that my husband had so considerately had in the freezer fro me. I felt nervous drinking it but did not experience any problems at all and after eating half a soggy weetabix the next morning I was allowed home.
So here I am 8 days after my surgery and I have nothing negative to tell you. I’m sleeping well, taking things easy, still spending a lot of time lying down in bed and resting, not pushing myself in anyway. I’m eating my pureed food but because I have to, not because I want to as till now I have not felt hungry even once yet. This is a huge achievement for me as prior to surgery I used to think about food every day and if I was not eating it I was preparing what I was going to eat or shopping for huge supplies of chocolate and cakes and coke.
I’ve had the most amazing support from my wonderful friend Nina who is a member here. She has given up her days to come and sit with me and my little boy while my husband is at work so she can help with everything I need and everything my son needs. She’s cooked for our whole family and done things far and beyond I could ever have imagined. She has taught me not to be ashamed of my weight and to be open about my problems. I’ve talked more openly to her about my issues than to any one and will never forget the support she has shown me. I no longer feel ashamed of my size but am so looking forward to this next stage in my life. I have a dream, a picture in my mind of my one year old son running around the park and me being able to chase. That used to an unrealistic dream, now I can see it becoming a reality. I’m on the way to finally having a life.
Oh and of course the best side effect of this surgery is that 8 days post surgery and I’m down a stone already!! No words can explain how that feels.
My battle with my weight has been a life time battle, I've never been slim, I was morbidly obese as child and as the years went past my weight was matching my age so at 18 I was 18 stone and up it went.
My mission for surgery started ten years ago, at that time I can say now was not the right time for me to have surgery but to me it was the answer to everything and in 1999 I had what was called in those days stomached stapling.
From start to finish it was a horrible experience. In the hospital the staff lacked empathy for me and obviously thought I did not have the right to complain about pain etc as I had got myself there and there was no one to blame but myself. As a result of this I discharged myself from hospital (Chelsea and west minister) after 5 days and got my husband to drive me home to Suffolk where we were living at that time. My experience in the hospital had really made me nervous of the whole experience and from the day I left the hospital I never saw any one regarding my surgery.
As the years went past I'd lose a few stone then gain it back plus a few more pounds. I did have restriction in what I could eat. Chocolate, Ice-cream, Full Fat Coke, Cheese Puffs, all the things I loved still slipped down like a dream and I could eat these in huge amounts. All the stuff that was good for me, Rice, Meats, Chicken, Vegetables, Fruits, all ended up with me being in severe pain and throwing up. It was clear something was not right and after 9 years I visited my doctor and told him how miserable I was and I was also in severe pain, taking huge cocktails of pain killers every day just to get me though the day. His advice was to refer me to the specialist in our local hospital, St James in Leeds and to see what he advised.
I had my appointment with him in February last year (2007) and he decided initially that he needed to see what was going on with the surgery that I had had and arranged for me to have a barium meal from which he hoped to be able to see what was going on. Unfortunately the results where that he could not see anything at all, certainly nothing that resembled any kind of stapling. He said that he felt the best option for me was to have a gastric Bypass but he could not guarantee what he would until he went in and saw what had actually been done. I was nervous about it due to my past experience but was also happy as it might be the answer to everything I was going through.
I had another appointment arranged for April 2007 to finalise everything for the surgery but days before that appointment I discovered I was pregnant so all bets were off until 6 months after I delivered.
My baby boy was born in November 2007 and I started to count down the 6 months till I could get my appointment with my surgeon.
I had that appointment in May this year and it was arranged that I would have surgery but that I had to see the dietician and if she was in agreement then put my case to the panel to see if they would fund my surgery. I saw her in the august and at first she refused to give a yes to the surgery as she felt my diet was not suitable at that time.. I was very a grazer. Over the next month I made changes and on the next visit I had lost a few kilos and she was happy to put my case to panel who agreed to fund my surgery.
My last visit to my surgeon was September the 1st and during that appointment my surgeon set the date for my surgery which was to be November the 19th... I remember thinking at that time that it seemed so far away. I was given a diet that I needed to follow 10 days prior to surgery that was aimed at shrinking my liver which apparently was even more necessary as I had had previous surgery and it was very likely that my stomached would be stuck to my liver and by following this diet it would shrink it and would help reduce bleeding.
Time passed and suddenly the operation was a month away and our lives were turned upside down as our baby became very ill and spent a week in hospital and we had weeks of hell as we fought to find out what was wrong with him and before I knew it there was 10 days to surgery and I was not even sure I would be having the operation due to my son’s illness. He was in a bad way, feeling very unsecure due to our separation and I was concerned how he would cope if I was to leave him again to go into hospital. All my friends and family told me how important it was for me to have the surgery and reminded me that these chances don’t come around easily and that my son was going to be perfectly ok with his dad and family and that I’d only be away for 5 days. Almost reluctantly I agree... all the while still nervous of my previous experience.
The day of surgery arrived and I was called to be admitted for 4 o’clock.
As soon as I arrived on the ward I was amazed at how much of a difference I felt in my treatment. I was treated with respect and the nurses were wonderful at helping me with all my needs and dealing with all my medications. Not once did I feel uncomfortable or experienced any negativity from the staff. They were kind to me from start to finish.
As I was wheeled down to surgery in my two gowns, one front and one back I remember thinking that already I was so hopeful that this would be the resolution to my life time of weight problems and my heart suddenly did not feel so heavy. I was very nervous, thinking was I going to be the one of the few that has problems during surgery, what was he actually going to do and more importantly what was he going to find. Kissing my husband and baby boy goodbye was very hard, there were tears but this was the beginning of a new life.
On waking up after surgery I was not in pain, was actually more bothered by the tubes for the drains and the tube coming out of my nose. I had my morphine pump which I could press as I needed more painkillers but I was surprised at how good I felt. I was confined to my bed for the rest of the night. Early the next morning the consultant came to visit me and explained what had happened and what he was able to do. He had found that there was a band in my stomached from the previous surgery that should have been around the top of my stomach but that it was actually around the bottom which explained why I was in so much pain after eating meat etc as I was able to eat it but it had difficulties getting out of the stomach. This made it clear all the pain I had felt for 10 years where I would suffer even 5 or 6 hours after eating something as it was having difficulties getting out of the stomach and I would end up vomiting for hours and hours. He also found that I had two huge hernias the size of grapefruits as well as up to 30 tiny ones. He had repaired the two big ones and told me with time and plenty of exercise to strengthen my muscles they should sort themselves out… I had no idea what so ever that I had a hernia never mind as many as I did have. He then explained that I had basically now got a brand new gastric bypass but that he had to reroute the bowel even further down due to the state of my stomach and that I would need to take extra supplements as I would absorb even less of my food than the average bypass.
Later that morning I had my nose tube removed and the bigger of the two drains that I had removed also and I felt so much better. I got out of bed, had a nice wash and hardly felt like I had had such major surgery at all. I did not feel hungry but I did feel thirsty and made big use of the sponges they gave me with ice cold water to wet my mouth with and copious amounts of lipsol which were so needed as everything was totally dry. I had a steady stream of visitors through out the day which I found surprisingly tiring but was so happy to see my little boy even though he was very confused as to why I could not hold him and cuddle him as he has known all his life. I had a brilliant night, slept through out apart from the times when the nurses came to do their regular checks through the night. Still having this positive experience that I had felt since I walked through the ward doors the day before my surgery.
I had my barium meal the next afternoon and after it was confirmed I had no leaks I was allowed my first sips of water and was never so grateful for a ice cold bottle of Evian that my husband had so considerately had in the freezer fro me. I felt nervous drinking it but did not experience any problems at all and after eating half a soggy weetabix the next morning I was allowed home.
So here I am 8 days after my surgery and I have nothing negative to tell you. I’m sleeping well, taking things easy, still spending a lot of time lying down in bed and resting, not pushing myself in anyway. I’m eating my pureed food but because I have to, not because I want to as till now I have not felt hungry even once yet. This is a huge achievement for me as prior to surgery I used to think about food every day and if I was not eating it I was preparing what I was going to eat or shopping for huge supplies of chocolate and cakes and coke.
I’ve had the most amazing support from my wonderful friend Nina who is a member here. She has given up her days to come and sit with me and my little boy while my husband is at work so she can help with everything I need and everything my son needs. She’s cooked for our whole family and done things far and beyond I could ever have imagined. She has taught me not to be ashamed of my weight and to be open about my problems. I’ve talked more openly to her about my issues than to any one and will never forget the support she has shown me. I no longer feel ashamed of my size but am so looking forward to this next stage in my life. I have a dream, a picture in my mind of my one year old son running around the park and me being able to chase. That used to an unrealistic dream, now I can see it becoming a reality. I’m on the way to finally having a life.
Oh and of course the best side effect of this surgery is that 8 days post surgery and I’m down a stone already!! No words can explain how that feels.
but the final outcome is what matters!
