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The Joy of going through the process
- Thread starter Suffolk Joy
- Start date
Suffolk Joy
Active Member
Over on the other side. I was 1st on list thankfully so walked into theatre at 8.45 am and wheeled out of recovery at 5 pm. Had the band removed which I was told was a mass of adhesions and embedded into stomach. Stomach was inadvertently cut during op so that was repaired. Taking painkillers as prescribed but everything is aching - haunches, tummy, shoulders, arms, so I am relaxing in bed but getting up this evening.
I have had soup, protein drink, milk and water today so doing okay.
SJ xx
I have had soup, protein drink, milk and water today so doing okay.
SJ xx
vicky jenkins
Well-Known Member
Aww glad you are ok. Follow hospital advise and you will be as right as rain in no time x
Bling Babe
Well-Known Member
Lovely to hear from you, the beginning of the rest of your new healthy life hope the pain begins to ease really soon, perhaps try some peppermint cordial for wind pain and try to have little walks throughout the day, you were certainly a long while but I guess adhesions along with the stomach being cut (ouch) didn't help, I imagine that happened when he was trying to remove the band, rest up my lovely big hugs XxXx
Lottiewishes
Well-Known Member
Hey hunny good to hear from you. Look after yourself. xxxx
Bling Babe
Well-Known Member
Hi SJ I've missed a few of your post so I'm following you now so hopefully won't miss any more. How are you feeling now hunni and how's the "eating" going x
Suffolk Joy
Active Member
Hi Bling Babe
1st week has flown by and I can say I feel so much better now than I did this time just week. I have not been sick, kept all fluids/soups down although I am having to adjust to smaller mouthful than before the op. I have always been a plug-bucket and can down a pint I'd milk in a minute but I have to be more lady-like now with wee small sips. I had a soggy finger rich tea this morning with my cuppa but no other solids.
I have had lots of visitors over the past 5 days so today I am bobbing on my own catching up with recorded TV - the whole season of Line of Duty to gorge on. The left side of my tummy where I assume the slicing and dicing was done is very sore today and I have upped the pain killers to help. The patch I had is now defunct so I rolled it off my shoulder this morning in shower. Sexy stockings are on each morning until I go back to bed and I am now doing 2 walks round the block each day with the OH. My son says we look like a dodery old couple!
I am going to have a blended curried lentil soup this evening - a bit thicker than I have had before and BOLD flavour. Excited about that!!
How are things with you?
SJ xx
Bling Babe
Well-Known Member
It great to hear you sounding so positive and managing so well with the fluids and the walking, I'm ok thank you, been stable for past few weeks so still need to gain 2kg before I go back in June, however I made lots of really bad food choices over the bank holiday weekend so I have probably gained that plus more ! I don't know why but whenever it's a bank holiday or I'm on annual leave from work my head keeps saying "go on, enjoy it, it's a holiday" and I go and listen to it, consequently I'm dreading getting on the scales on Friday. Other than that I'm fine, I just wish I was a little closer to my surgery, still patience is a virtue, or so they say. Keep up the good work Hun, do you mind me asking which part of Suffolk you live in ? Xx
Suffolk Joy
Active Member
Thicker blended soup was a mistake. My system didn't like it and I was in pain late yesterday evening and overnight. I have gone back to plain yogurt, milk and the basics to give my tubes a rest. I always view a BH as a holiday. No alarm, do something special which for most of us includes a foody treat - a cooked breakfast, lunch out, a takeaway or some chocolates in the evening. My head is still there although I have shifted on to buying stuff knowing I can't eat it but it will be nice for the family and visitors. I have ordered items from Betty's, Kennedy's Chocolates and Macaroons from Harrods. Unnecessary, expensive and an over indulgence. I will take some away on holiday with me for OH and my girl friends but some will loiter in the cupboards. I even have Easter chocolates which I am offering to people who come to see me and most of the first box has gone.
I live near Sudbury, South Suffolk. When I met the other post-op patients 2 came from Bedford but 1 came from Happisburgh which was a coincidence as one of my closest friends moved up there 3 years ago. I asked her why she had chosen Luton versus UCL or Homerton? I'd me she decided travelling and parking were big considerations as travel for all appointments etc would be very costly and clinical outcomes are equitable and Luton has a lower cancellation rate. However from Suffolk or Norfolk where ever you choose is a trek.
SJ xx
Bling Babe
Well-Known Member
Aw bless you, I guess there is a lot of trail and error involved in this journey, I hope your feeling better now, yes it is a trek and I do worry about what would happen if there is some sort of emergency following surgery but I tell myself that should such thing happen an ambulance would blue light it in no time I live near to Fritton in Norfolk about 6 miles out of (not so) Great Yarmouth. I know someone who lives in Happisburgh too by the name of Gina. Take care lovely, I'm of to google Kennedy's chocolate and Betty's as I've never heard of them ! Xx
Suffolk Joy
Active Member
Oh dear! Have you drooled over the sites yet??? Mother-in-law and sister-in-law lived in Gunton so we were frequent visitors to the South Beach, the Airshow and other attractions especially when the kids were small.
At the pre-op they give guidance saying if the serious things happen - breathlessness, pain, rising temp you 999 to local hospital where local Drs advised to call L&D on call team who may advise either transfer under blue light to Luton or guide treatment at I assume for you, James Paget. They have it covered thankfully!!
SJ xx
Suffolk Joy
Active Member
I do believe I am starting to get over the initial post-op phase. I have had a few days of pain on the left of my tummy. When I looked at operation discharge sheet it says they crossroads amount of fat, tissue and muscle that was stuck together around my defunct band so I assume the puckered area on my tum 's where they had a really good rummage. I am drinking more because I have had a thirst for the last couple of days and enjoying a small glass of fruit juice as well. Enjoying soups (steering clear of lentil for now) and adding some parmesan for protein.
I am very gradually increasing the length of my daily walks but still displaying a squeezed ankle in TED stockings! I may even lose a tad of weight when I step on the scales on Monday.
SJ
I am very gradually increasing the length of my daily walks but still displaying a squeezed ankle in TED stockings! I may even lose a tad of weight when I step on the scales on Monday.
SJ
Suffolk Joy
Active Member
Hi Ian
Well they said 23.5 hrs per day (allowing for a shower). but not for how many days. I only have 4 more days of injections so I will then wear only during the day for another week after that and then just when I fly to and from on holiday. I have to admit I like this bench - even more so when the weight starts to shift!
How are things with you?
M xx
Ian2Big
Well-Known Member
Yes thinks are fine. Will be going to Scotland end of July, Edinburgh for friends significant wedding anniversary ( I was there best man). Then going up to see stepmum in nearly 5 years. So that is my holiday for the year. Hopefully , no important hospital dates in that period.
Weight loss , on my own at the moment as last dietician appoint was friday, seeing hospital GP in a couple of weeks , if all okay will be going forward for surgery sometimes in the next 6-8 months.
Weight loss , on my own at the moment as last dietician appoint was friday, seeing hospital GP in a couple of weeks , if all okay will be going forward for surgery sometimes in the next 6-8 months.
Suffolk Joy
Active Member
That's good news re surgery dates - it all goes so slowly doesn't it?
Hope the weather is kind to you up in Jolly Scotland and the midges keep their distance. As previous best man - do you have to repeat the speech experience??
SJx
Ian2Big
Well-Known Member
Speech- hope not, have not been asked nor have I mentioned it.
Lottiewishes
Well-Known Member
Hope your doing ok hunny? Xxx
Suffolk Joy
Active Member
Hi Lottie
Good to hear from you. I certainly have a spring in my step today as I am now just over 2 weeks post op and feeling good. The op was challenging, 4 hours in theatre but the recovery fortunately has been textbook and I am now progressing onto pureed diet. It is nice to be eating tasty food after 6 weeks milk diet and 2 weeks liquid.
The gastric band (fitted 11 years ago) was really embedded into fat, tissue and stomach and whilst they worked to remove it the inadvertently cut the stomach so that was repaired as well. When I got back to the ward at 5 pm I started to take sips of water which continued overnight. In the morning they took my drip out and I showered and dressed then rested back on the bed. The painkillers were very effective as was the patch that lasted for 7 days and really helped. The drain was taken out just before I went home. The drugs bag was quite large to come home with but it was all sorted by 3 pm the next day so I left. The worse bit of the whole post-op period has been the 2 hour journey home. You certainly feel every damn bump, drain cover and speedy bend so it was a relief to sit still.
I followed the diet - progressed on to thicker soups but 1 I didn't blitz enough and caused some pain. I started doing a walk every day around day 7 and have continued to do that and am now doing more light housework - whilst avoiding heavy lifting, hoovering etc. I am still wearing the rather fabulously sexy TED stockings. The first 2 weeks you give yourself an injection to thin your blood and are advised to wear your stockings 23.5 hrs a day - allowing for a shower. Now I am into week 3 I am only wearing them during the day and its bliss not to have them on in bed!
Week 1 I didn't loose weight and felt quite despondent about it but it is starting to shift now and I record it weekly but pop on the scales every other morning just to see what is happening.
I was so nervous before the op. When I was dressed for theatre and sitting in the waiting room I had the internal discussion with myself " you don't have to go through with this. You could just get a grip and loose weight, eat less, exercise, join a club etc etc." All of which I have done endlessly since i was 13. I think many have these last thoughts but I knew in my heart of hearts this was my only option and now I am so glad I sat there and waited to be escorted into theatre and had it done.
I am sure there are challenges a head but I feel positive about it all now.
How are you? Have you heard when your next appointment is?
SJ xx
