40andFab
Am so happy!!!
Dec 20, 2008
As of today, I have lost a total of 105 pounds so am a member of the century club and I have reached my surgeon's goal. I have 12 pounds to lose to reach my goal and hopefully that will happen but am not in a rush. I am amazed at how well it has gone because despite my early disaster of having to have a second lot of surgery, I now seem to have quite a tolerant pouch and can eat most of the things I like just in small amounts. Cant get over the whole clothing thing and the amount of clothes I have gone through in a few months, but was shopping in the USA recently and bought a rather fetching size 6 skirt. Very nice, almost want to wear the label on the outside.
I have the noisiest stomach in the world but that is a small price to pay.
Anyway just thought I would share my good news, and send my best wishes to you all and Merry Christmas.
Dionne x
0 comments
I have the noisiest stomach in the world but that is a small price to pay.
Anyway just thought I would share my good news, and send my best wishes to you all and Merry Christmas.
Dionne x
Second lot of surgery at one month out
Jul 05, 2008
Hmmm well it started on Monday 23rd June when I was nearly one month out. I started having pain in my left side when walking. On Tuesday it got worse so I phoned the bariatric team and was told to go direct to hospital. They discharged me saying I had baddd constipation and that I should take some laxatives. I had asked the docs in casualty to inform the bariatric team that I was in but they refused. I gave up probably too easily. The next day I rang the bariatric team again to tell them what had happened. My consultant was furious that I had been sent home as he had wait for till mid evening the day before and hadn't been told I had arrived let alone, left. He asked me to go straight up the hospital again. When I got there he told me he wanted to do a number of tests and asked that I stay in overnight so he could have a chance to review the results. So a CT scan and a barium swallow test were done. The next morning my consultant rushed past me in the corridor telling me not to eat or drink anything as I was going to surgery. This was on my one month surgiversary date.
He said they were going to do a laparoscopy and have a look because it may be a hernia or something and if they found something they may have to fix it. It was all a bit scary but I trust my consultant so I went with the plan. My children came up to the hospital and I was taken to theatre at 4pm for what should have been a 1/2 hour op. My son came to the doors of the theatre to say goodbye which was helpful for me.
4 1/2 hours I was in surgery. The prognosis appears to be that I had a restriction in my intenstine where my second join had been made in the first op, along with there being some scarring and my bowel was collapsing as a result. They fixed it apparently!!!!
I was in hospital for a total of 6 days but it took a few days before my bowel started working again.
Anyway I have been recovering at home since this setback. Of course the op also meant a weight gain with all the IV fluids etc. Since being back home it has been difficult to get back to the good habits I was in with my vits and water and all but am working on it. Now I have a sore stomach with very loose bowels but I will take that over a colostomy bag which at one stage in hospital I thought was going to be the next step.
I have now lost the weight from the second op and some so today I stepped on the scales and found I had onederland. So a mini wow there to end my story for the day :-)
He said they were going to do a laparoscopy and have a look because it may be a hernia or something and if they found something they may have to fix it. It was all a bit scary but I trust my consultant so I went with the plan. My children came up to the hospital and I was taken to theatre at 4pm for what should have been a 1/2 hour op. My son came to the doors of the theatre to say goodbye which was helpful for me.
4 1/2 hours I was in surgery. The prognosis appears to be that I had a restriction in my intenstine where my second join had been made in the first op, along with there being some scarring and my bowel was collapsing as a result. They fixed it apparently!!!!
I was in hospital for a total of 6 days but it took a few days before my bowel started working again.
Anyway I have been recovering at home since this setback. Of course the op also meant a weight gain with all the IV fluids etc. Since being back home it has been difficult to get back to the good habits I was in with my vits and water and all but am working on it. Now I have a sore stomach with very loose bowels but I will take that over a colostomy bag which at one stage in hospital I thought was going to be the next step.
I have now lost the weight from the second op and some so today I stepped on the scales and found I had onederland. So a mini wow there to end my story for the day :-)
7 Days Post Op
Jun 04, 2008
Well here goes, I had the op last Thursday. It was touch and go because when I arrived at the hospital at 7am everything was going smoothly and I was informed I was first on the list YAY, but then the consultant came back and told me that they did not have a bed in intensive care so he would try and do the op in the afternoon. As this was 4 hours away, the nurses and I decided that I should come home again for a couple of hours. I was really despondent at this point because I was told that if the bed was not ready at 2 then it was going to be postponed. I actually prayed for God's intervention at that stage. Anyway got 10 mins down the road and received a phone call from the hospital saying that they wanted me in theatre now. Had to rush back, get changed quickly and walked through to the operating theatre feeling more than a little bit stressed.
Once in there I spoke to a couple of people and was a little tearful I think. Probably a bit of apprehension but was also the saying goodbye to my daughter and seeing her a little upset. But still no second thoughts. Apart from being surprised to find that my surgeon was doing the anaesthetic cos the anaesthetist was called to a baby's operation, I don't really remember too much else until I woke up.
So the first night was spent in Intensive care, which is just what they do in the UK as I understand it. After the op I spent a bit of time wondering if they had actually done the op because I was not feeling any different, certainly not in significant pain as I was expecting. Yes I had 6 plasters on my abdomen but still....
The next day I was moved to an ordinary ward and was again amazed that I could get in and out of bed on my own so frequent trips to the toilet was my achievement for that day. I was having some issues with my pouch so they took me down and scanned the abdomen to check for leaks in the pouch. No leaks YAY again.
The next day I was up and showering again unaided. Developed diarrhoea which was a bit disconcerting. But at least the bowels were moving and it wasn't hurting me too much. The ward as it turns out did not seem geared up to provide the right stuff for people who have the surgery. I had to have clear soups but they kept giving me soups with bits in which I knew I was not supposed to be having. I was virtually on water for the majority of my time in hospital and when somone did bring me carton of soup, the hospital would not heat it for health and safety reasons. Was not happy. But did get some milk so not the end of the world and then visitors cottoned on to the problem and brought me heated soups and a strainer :) Thanks to my friends
I slept a significant amount whilst I was in hospital because of the medication but also just really glad of the rest.
A freaky thing happened to my weight whilst I was in hosptial....on the morning of the op I was weighed in at 101kg. The day after the op, they weighed me on a bed and I was 115kg, (it did cross my mind that that was not supposed to have happened lol) On the second day they weighed me again and I was down to 106kg. Still not happy but do remember the thing about with all the fluids being put in and the swelling and stuff can impact and also I was being weighed on different types of machines....so I held my nerve.
Then I convinced them to discharge me on the Monday because although there was not going to be anyone at home with me for the first week, Daughter had left for Barbados, I was able to demonstrate that I could walk up two flights of stairs unaided. And given that I was able to get up out of bed and walk around the ward and do things for myself, I was reasonably confident in being able to manage.
So Monday I got home about 6 in the evening and did not stay up for too long before I took myself off to bed again. I did of course take time to weigh myself again, and was back to my weight on the morning of the surgery. Bit dissapointed given that I had been on mainly water for 4 days with a little bit of soup and milk, and two days of chronic diarrhoea there was not some loss but hey ho.
Tuesday I stayed in but had 3 lots of visitors so that kept me busy for the day and moving around was fine albeit a bit slower than usual.
Wednesday I got a shower and removed the dressings (not the steri strips holding me together) and noticed that the main incision was weeping a bit, I was on my way to the docs anyway as I had to pick up a prescription for pain medication so when I got there and explained about the wound, they got a nurse to have a look. She agreed it was slightly infected, so she removed the steri strips on that incision as she said they could not close it whilst there was some infection. The area was cleaned and a dressing put on. Not infected enough to warrant antibiotics which was good and am going back tomorrow to have it checked again.
After the docs, I went to the supermarket (quickly and avoiding the food aisles) and the chemist, and then went home . Did some hoovering, ironing, washing up and had another visitor followed by another in the evening. Stayed up till about 11 and was still wide awake at 1am watching telly in bed.
Got up today, another visitor coming.....so good to have friends.... I weighed myself and am down 5 pounds since Monday, so guess things are starting to happen. Am also making a concerted effort to give up smoking which can impact on weight but I guess this is the best time to do it. Drove the car round the block today as I needed to get it washed...damn birds. No probs with the driving. Also reducing my pain medication today as most of the pain, which was never that great but could be a bit sharp occassionally, has now gone....as thankfully has the gas inside of me which did cause probs.
Overall I am amazed by how easily I have got over what is a major surgery and feeling very glad to be through it. I am missing food textures as the diet of soup, milk, water and liquid vitamins is not very inspiring. I understand the concept of food porn now but have another week of liquids so I may as well just get over it. However next week I will be having mash, scrambled egg and beans and I am so excited at the prospect of chewing my mush food again, I will probably cook it the night before the I allowed to have it, just so it is there ready.
All in all yes I am glad I have done it, just looking forward to seeing some results :-)
Anyway I think that is enough for now D x
Once in there I spoke to a couple of people and was a little tearful I think. Probably a bit of apprehension but was also the saying goodbye to my daughter and seeing her a little upset. But still no second thoughts. Apart from being surprised to find that my surgeon was doing the anaesthetic cos the anaesthetist was called to a baby's operation, I don't really remember too much else until I woke up.
So the first night was spent in Intensive care, which is just what they do in the UK as I understand it. After the op I spent a bit of time wondering if they had actually done the op because I was not feeling any different, certainly not in significant pain as I was expecting. Yes I had 6 plasters on my abdomen but still....
The next day I was moved to an ordinary ward and was again amazed that I could get in and out of bed on my own so frequent trips to the toilet was my achievement for that day. I was having some issues with my pouch so they took me down and scanned the abdomen to check for leaks in the pouch. No leaks YAY again.
The next day I was up and showering again unaided. Developed diarrhoea which was a bit disconcerting. But at least the bowels were moving and it wasn't hurting me too much. The ward as it turns out did not seem geared up to provide the right stuff for people who have the surgery. I had to have clear soups but they kept giving me soups with bits in which I knew I was not supposed to be having. I was virtually on water for the majority of my time in hospital and when somone did bring me carton of soup, the hospital would not heat it for health and safety reasons. Was not happy. But did get some milk so not the end of the world and then visitors cottoned on to the problem and brought me heated soups and a strainer :) Thanks to my friends
I slept a significant amount whilst I was in hospital because of the medication but also just really glad of the rest.
A freaky thing happened to my weight whilst I was in hosptial....on the morning of the op I was weighed in at 101kg. The day after the op, they weighed me on a bed and I was 115kg, (it did cross my mind that that was not supposed to have happened lol) On the second day they weighed me again and I was down to 106kg. Still not happy but do remember the thing about with all the fluids being put in and the swelling and stuff can impact and also I was being weighed on different types of machines....so I held my nerve.
Then I convinced them to discharge me on the Monday because although there was not going to be anyone at home with me for the first week, Daughter had left for Barbados, I was able to demonstrate that I could walk up two flights of stairs unaided. And given that I was able to get up out of bed and walk around the ward and do things for myself, I was reasonably confident in being able to manage.
So Monday I got home about 6 in the evening and did not stay up for too long before I took myself off to bed again. I did of course take time to weigh myself again, and was back to my weight on the morning of the surgery. Bit dissapointed given that I had been on mainly water for 4 days with a little bit of soup and milk, and two days of chronic diarrhoea there was not some loss but hey ho.
Tuesday I stayed in but had 3 lots of visitors so that kept me busy for the day and moving around was fine albeit a bit slower than usual.
Wednesday I got a shower and removed the dressings (not the steri strips holding me together) and noticed that the main incision was weeping a bit, I was on my way to the docs anyway as I had to pick up a prescription for pain medication so when I got there and explained about the wound, they got a nurse to have a look. She agreed it was slightly infected, so she removed the steri strips on that incision as she said they could not close it whilst there was some infection. The area was cleaned and a dressing put on. Not infected enough to warrant antibiotics which was good and am going back tomorrow to have it checked again.
After the docs, I went to the supermarket (quickly and avoiding the food aisles) and the chemist, and then went home . Did some hoovering, ironing, washing up and had another visitor followed by another in the evening. Stayed up till about 11 and was still wide awake at 1am watching telly in bed.
Got up today, another visitor coming.....so good to have friends.... I weighed myself and am down 5 pounds since Monday, so guess things are starting to happen. Am also making a concerted effort to give up smoking which can impact on weight but I guess this is the best time to do it. Drove the car round the block today as I needed to get it washed...damn birds. No probs with the driving. Also reducing my pain medication today as most of the pain, which was never that great but could be a bit sharp occassionally, has now gone....as thankfully has the gas inside of me which did cause probs.
Overall I am amazed by how easily I have got over what is a major surgery and feeling very glad to be through it. I am missing food textures as the diet of soup, milk, water and liquid vitamins is not very inspiring. I understand the concept of food porn now but have another week of liquids so I may as well just get over it. However next week I will be having mash, scrambled egg and beans and I am so excited at the prospect of chewing my mush food again, I will probably cook it the night before the I allowed to have it, just so it is there ready.
All in all yes I am glad I have done it, just looking forward to seeing some results :-)
Anyway I think that is enough for now D x
Well it ain't sunny today - 1 day left till surgery
May 28, 2008
Tomorrow is my date for surgery. I have had all sorts of different feelings over the past few weeks, ranging from nervousness, excitement, questioning do I really want to do this, then thinking of course I want to do this. It's a bit of a roller coaster, not that I've have shared that with my dearest and nearest. I have been reading a lot of posts on this here website and that has kept me going for the last month or so, although the ones were people are saying they are not losing are a bit worrying!! But I am staying positive and hope to be far healthier and happier soon 
Just been to visit someone at my old workplace and it was nice to see a lot of people I have known for many years, and lots of people were commenting about how good I looked since I left. Shows what two stone off can do. Oh and a bit of lipstick.
Well for the rest if today I am going to go to the gym, change my curtains so my bedroom is nice for when I get out and then off to the pictures. I have to be in the hospital for 7 am and hopefully wont have to wait too long before I go off to theatre. Hard to believe that this time tomorrow, all things going to plan, I shall be in recovery and joining the losers bench good and proper.
For my progress I thought I would put my measurements on today so I can watch for inch reduction in the future so here goes...deep breath...tape measure at the ready...
Bust 46 1/2"
Waist 41"
Hips 48"
Left Arm 13"
Right Arm 14"
Right Thigh 26 1/2"
Left Thigh 27"
Left Calf 15 1/2"
Right Calf 15 1/2"
Well that's all for now so till I am on the other side.........
Just been to visit someone at my old workplace and it was nice to see a lot of people I have known for many years, and lots of people were commenting about how good I looked since I left. Shows what two stone off can do. Oh and a bit of lipstick.
Well for the rest if today I am going to go to the gym, change my curtains so my bedroom is nice for when I get out and then off to the pictures. I have to be in the hospital for 7 am and hopefully wont have to wait too long before I go off to theatre. Hard to believe that this time tomorrow, all things going to plan, I shall be in recovery and joining the losers bench good and proper.
For my progress I thought I would put my measurements on today so I can watch for inch reduction in the future so here goes...deep breath...tape measure at the ready...
Bust 46 1/2"
Waist 41"
Hips 48"
Left Arm 13"
Right Arm 14"
Right Thigh 26 1/2"
Left Thigh 27"
Left Calf 15 1/2"
Right Calf 15 1/2"
Well that's all for now so till I am on the other side.........
It's a sunny Sunday Morning in London and only 12 days left til
May 17, 2008
Well I have had a funny weekend so far! Friday was my close friend's birthday, so we went out for the day, which saw me having to go to lots of pubs and a restaurant and then I had to go on to another friend's leaving do which saw me in a nightclub till 2am. I drank nothing but water and 1 fruit juice all day....so was very pleased with that accomplishment. Then had to drive everyone home, which meant I did not get home till 4 am which was not so good and I was very tired as a result.
My son was home from Uni for the night on Friday but returned yesterday and that was a bit sad as I wont see him again until some time after the surgery. Add that to being a bit hormonal and being v.tired, I was a bit low yesterday so had an early night. Was asleep before 9.30 and had a night of weird dreams, but woke early today b4 6 and on a Sunday as well!
Decided to get up and drive my daughter to work which made her happy...and today I feel much happier. I hope the next 12 days go quickly cos I really want the day of surgery to come and then pass uneventfully!!!! And then I can get on with the next stage of my journey. So for today I plan to go to the gym, which will be good as it is the first time I have been able to contemplate it since starting the pre-op diet, which made me lethargic and caused headaches (apparently due to the heavily restricted carbs).
Going to work on giving up smoking on Thursday to give my lungs a chance to improve a bit before the surgery then going to clean my bedroom of all the smoky things and change my nets and clean my windows maybe so my bedroom is a nicer place when I am recuperating, not that I will be there all the time cos I know the importance of getting up and walking lol
Anyway better get on with things whilst I am in this positive frame of mind
Dionne
About Me
London,
Location
24.5
BMI
Apr 29, 2008
Member Since
