marcusbm
Well-Known Member
Hiya
I'm Marcus, 39 from Ipswich.
I have my surgery scheduled for 16 July in Bruges, Belgium.
As I'm going private I haven't been referred to the local (Ipswich area) support group and, from what I can work out, they don't promote themselves online. I opted for private after being advised that I wasn't eligible for NHS treatment due to East of England CCG policy, however could move elsewhere in the country, find a new GP prepared to refer me to tier-3 services, get treatment for up to a year before being referred for tier-4 and IF approved would get the surgery within another year.
I found this a bit impractical as it also meant resigning from my (part time) work and finding a new job, a new place to live etc... and it's difficult enough getting an interview just to have that 'look' when you know they won't consider me.
Ultimately calling in favours and borrowing money from relatives has funded my conversion surgery (I already sold my house to pay for a gastric band that, seemingly (with Barium meal image evidence), has opened up and is now totally useless following about 10 days of tightness after the operation. Still - best not to be bitter. Onwards and upwards!
Sorry if you only use Imperial measurements!
Height: 179cm
Current weight: 161kg
Peak weight: 163.3kg
BMI: 50.2
Target weight: 95kg
Ideal weight: 85kg
Lowest I'll be happy with: 99.99999999kg (I think you get the point!)
My pre-op diet starts next week. I've been told I must eat three Slim-Fast milkshakes every day and unsweetened drinks (with allowance of small amounts of skimmed milk for tea/coffee). Essentially this is a 'three week fast to soften my liver'.
I'm interested in finding out how people cope with the three week restrictive diet - while I accept it's a test of commitment as much as it's reduces weight, softens the liver and hardens fat - it's also a tough call. For sure the next few days I'm cleaning out my cupboards of foods I can't have after surgery (curry more than anything) and having some of my favourite meals I won't be able to enjoy for at least a couple of months (I'm lucky sushi is one of my favourite foods [but I think I'll have to break my liking of wasabi]!).
Anyway, my motivation for the initial surgery (that hasn't really changed) is that I tend to eat more due to almost never feeling full even after a meal more than a psychological eating condition. While I did a lot of comfort eating during a 'dark period' of my life in my teens and early 20s where I lived such a high risk lifestyle, it isn't something that defines me although it certainly set up an environment of bad habits. I have self-isolated for much of the last year but that has been largely sure to financial limitations where leading an active social life would have brought on additional debts.
From this site I'm hoping to build up some new contacts, find people in a similar situation - especially those interested in buddying and have a similar date for surgery, find out more about online support options (I'm already active on a number of Facebook groups) and, perhaps, make some new friends.
I'll stop now or it will need to be in paperback.
I'm Marcus, 39 from Ipswich.
I have my surgery scheduled for 16 July in Bruges, Belgium.
As I'm going private I haven't been referred to the local (Ipswich area) support group and, from what I can work out, they don't promote themselves online. I opted for private after being advised that I wasn't eligible for NHS treatment due to East of England CCG policy, however could move elsewhere in the country, find a new GP prepared to refer me to tier-3 services, get treatment for up to a year before being referred for tier-4 and IF approved would get the surgery within another year.
I found this a bit impractical as it also meant resigning from my (part time) work and finding a new job, a new place to live etc... and it's difficult enough getting an interview just to have that 'look' when you know they won't consider me.
Ultimately calling in favours and borrowing money from relatives has funded my conversion surgery (I already sold my house to pay for a gastric band that, seemingly (with Barium meal image evidence), has opened up and is now totally useless following about 10 days of tightness after the operation. Still - best not to be bitter. Onwards and upwards!
Sorry if you only use Imperial measurements!
Height: 179cm
Current weight: 161kg
Peak weight: 163.3kg
BMI: 50.2
Target weight: 95kg
Ideal weight: 85kg
Lowest I'll be happy with: 99.99999999kg (I think you get the point!)
My pre-op diet starts next week. I've been told I must eat three Slim-Fast milkshakes every day and unsweetened drinks (with allowance of small amounts of skimmed milk for tea/coffee). Essentially this is a 'three week fast to soften my liver'.
I'm interested in finding out how people cope with the three week restrictive diet - while I accept it's a test of commitment as much as it's reduces weight, softens the liver and hardens fat - it's also a tough call. For sure the next few days I'm cleaning out my cupboards of foods I can't have after surgery (curry more than anything) and having some of my favourite meals I won't be able to enjoy for at least a couple of months (I'm lucky sushi is one of my favourite foods [but I think I'll have to break my liking of wasabi]!).
Anyway, my motivation for the initial surgery (that hasn't really changed) is that I tend to eat more due to almost never feeling full even after a meal more than a psychological eating condition. While I did a lot of comfort eating during a 'dark period' of my life in my teens and early 20s where I lived such a high risk lifestyle, it isn't something that defines me although it certainly set up an environment of bad habits. I have self-isolated for much of the last year but that has been largely sure to financial limitations where leading an active social life would have brought on additional debts.
From this site I'm hoping to build up some new contacts, find people in a similar situation - especially those interested in buddying and have a similar date for surgery, find out more about online support options (I'm already active on a number of Facebook groups) and, perhaps, make some new friends.
I'll stop now or it will need to be in paperback.
