I'm going ahead with it. - Page 6 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Hychap2009 · 06-15-2009, 04:31 AM

I'd just like to say thank you all for your support. Now just the blood pressure to worry about. I'm not sure its under control yet. Hopefully thete is time enough to work on it.

Another dilema my best friend of 39 years will be celebrating her 50th on August 22nd. She is planning to go to a hotel where the restaurant puts on a caribbean night once a month. 3 courses, eat as much as you like. I've said to her I'm happy to come along but I probably wont be able to eat anything, she will need to check with the restaurant if that would be ok. I'm guessing that I might have my surgery towards the end of July, 2 weeks on fluids, and its likely I'll be on puree foods by the 22nd Aug. Does that sound about right to people. I would imagine I would be able to walk around and go out. Assuming I've had the surgery by the end of July. I really feel that I need to be there on this momentous occassion.

Any thoughts peeps.

Regards

Hyacinth

Vickichacha · 06-15-2009, 05:45 PM

Hello Hyacinth,
Before I go on I keep on forgetting to tell you how much I like your name.I have taught so many kids and thought that I had been through every name possible-old and new-BUT I have never taught a Hyacinth.

Now to your question.
I am 18 weeks post-op so have to strain my brain to think back to what I did at 4-6 weeks.
Everyone seems different and I can only give you info about my experiences-but after reading through these posts you already know everyone is different physically and mentally.Some people are also stricter than others and so are some doctors.
So in saying that I am not as good at rule keeping as I should be and my Dr is also not as strict with guidelines as the other drs that people talk about here.I am therefore one of the naughty ones.

As soon as I went home from hospital I became hyperactive-heaps of energy and NO pain.Between 4-6 weeks I started to need new clothes and shopped 'til I dropped.At about 7 weeks I started to get sleepy in the mid arvo-but keep in mind that I was so hyper that I was and had been only needing/having 4 hrs sleep at night.Even then I would only need 30 mins sleep to recover.Also at that stage I was so sick of purees and fluids.My eyes and brain still wanted the big plates of food.A bit like those little dogs that give cheek to big dogs.BUT when you try and eat it your tummy fills up fast and you can't eat very much.I imagine my tummy to be akin to a big skinny sausage from wherever it starts near my waistline to where it ends around my breastbone.I can only squeeze in half a cup of anything.Once it is full then I begin to feel like I have lots of acid above that level and I feel very uncomfortable-again no pain.The only way to get rid of it is for me to make myself sick-but is isn't like throwing up like when I had a tummy bug.Much less intense and I only feel like I am losing the bit that was lying around my breastbone or in other words the excess.I then feel OK.

If you look through my posts you will come across my birthday one.I was between 5-6 weeks then.I felt fantastic but eating was a bore.I really couldn't eat enough to warrant ordering at the restuarant.It was very frustrating.Sounds disappointing BUT I could have wine and dessert was excellent!!!In retrospect I should've had dessert when my hubby had the main meal!!!So consider doing something like that-dessert first.Soup is also good but it just seemed to be off the menu wherever I went.Maybe fill in the rest of the time dancing!!!!Believe me if you are like I was you will want to.

Some drs say no alcohol and I don't know why if it is because you get drunk quick or if there is another medical reason possibly replacing one addiction with another??My doctor said I could have wine on my birthday.I was scared I would be a cheap drunk and/or would get a bad hangover.After the op it takes ages to drink water/coffee/tea/juice.Even now my coffee is cold before I get through it and when I buy a hot chocolate I buy a small instead of a large.The same applies to wine for me.To get through 2 glasses of wine takes 2-3 hours at least.Add dessert to those 2 glasses and you will find it hard to find the time for anything more.Also my hangover didn't happen.Two glasses of wine over 2-3 hrs didn't effect me any different to pre-op days.I used to drink a bottle when with friends-we would have to sit there all day and night if I were to do that now.

My blood pressure is still great after the op.Terrible before.The biggest hurdles you will have at the party is feeling left out of the food binge when it is eating time and people trying to get you to eat(really annoying-it is not as if I would've faded away overnight)The up side is that at 4+ weeks you are still going to be on a post-op high and will be so pleased with yourself and life in general that you will feel like dancing your feet off.

I had a wedding at about 2 months out and again I felt a bit sour that i couldn't eat all my meal and felt like I was missing out and also guilty that my meal had cost the host so much.I discussed this with the host but she said not to worry.I still would've felt better if they had of not paid for me and I just sat with the paid guests-esp as some paid guests were no-shows.
As I said recently you do get used to the new routine and you certainly don't miss out on the yummies.The Mars Bar I had for dinner the other night was great-I said I was naughty-hope it had some protein in it.

My advice to you right now is to forget about worrying whether you will feel physically well enough to do things at this stage.You will be surprised at how well you feel immediately post-op (only the drowsiness of the anaesthetic to contend with).The rest compared to other things you will have been through will be easy.I would rate it easier than going to the dentist for a check-up!!!Easier than a mammogram!!!Less annoying and painful as a sprained ankle!!Lastly not anything as painful as having a caeser-can't be compared and three of mine were a breeze to recover from-still no comparison!!
Must go.
Vicki

Hychap2009 · 06-15-2009, 06:36 PM

Vicki, thank you so much. I spoke with my friend today, pressing her to contact the restuarant to see whether I go come along without ordering from the menu. No can do, they say, so it looks like I will have to go along and pay the £37.00 for a meal I wont be eating. Never mind, she's worth it. I should say the evening includes entertainment covered by the cost. She checked the menu and there will be soup on the menu also ice cream. Maybe i'll find a few things to dabble in just be sociable. I'm hoping they will do cocktails non alcoholic as I don't drink. Anyway with my luck I could be jumping ahead of myself.

Thanks for the comment about my name. My mother named me after one of her cousins in Jamaica. I've always loved the name, growing up I did'nt meet another Hyacinth until I went to secondary school (aged 11) and there was one other. My name always felt special. It is however, a very common name in the caribbean particularly Jamaica. In some of the other west indian countries the name is even unisex, yeah weird. I met a man at a party once with my name. lol Hyacinth is the name of a beautiful flower that comes in many colours.

Vicki a special thanks for the insight into the after affects of the surgery. That does worry me some what. I guess it can be different for everyone. Still I not really heard anyone complaning about the after effects immediately after surgery.

Thanks again.

Regards

Hyacinth

Aviator · 06-16-2009, 06:27 PM

I have to second what Vicki said.

#1 I love the name too, but Ive already told you that early on.

#2 About the quick recovery. I felt good enough to go back to work 4 days post op. And Im no spring chicken.... (well metally I am a complete adolescent!)

#3 About the nervous energy. I had the jitters for about a month post op.

You'll be fine sweetie! Just before surgery go back and read my log book at the beginning and up to about 2 months post op. I know you've read it before, but I think you'll find it reassuring to get my emotional frame of mind during that period. Im so exscited for you!

BTW, I'll be in London in late July, staying at Le Meridien Picadilly. If you want to come by and meet Bones and me, I'll buy you a jar of baby food and a bottle of water! You should be on Puree by then.

Josephine · 06-18-2009, 02:19 AM

I love the name Hyacinth! So cool that it's your real name!!

jangels · 06-23-2009, 07:13 PM

Hi There! Good Luck! I am going for my appointment in July. If all goes well my surgery will be in August. It felt good to make the decision. I will be thinking of you!

Hychap2009 · 06-24-2009, 03:14 PM

Thanking you guys for your support thus far. Getting closer to the date - hoping all goes well. Since yesterday I have been suffering with tooth ache - actually its more my gums. Got an emergency appointment at the dentist - been given some antibiotics and gobbling up paracetal (pain killers). My teeth feel so sensitive at the moment.

Thinking ahead about the new me, I've been looking into having facial laser hair removal (squasher of confidence), it's time I address this issue as it has been a major issue for me for a great number of years, this is a direct result of my PCOS. As I age some of the hairs are now greying on my face. If I don't deal with it now, then I may be faced with another problem, as grey hair can not be removed by laser. Trying to arrange a consultation.

Hyacinth

Hychap2009 · 07-02-2009, 06:29 PM

Its 1.25 in the morning, and i've followed all the instructions, no metformin for 3 days, 24 hour insulin taken day before assessment - before 9am. and last insulin before 7pm today. No food after midnight. I could sure do with a cup of tea and a toasted cheese sandwich right now, just because I can't.

9am in the morning is the begining of ..........lets hope so. I've been told I will need to bring a snack and a book. Pray that my blood pressure has improved.

Will keep you guys updated.

Regards

Hyacinth

Vickichacha · 07-03-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hychap2009

Thanking you guys for your support thus far. Getting closer to the date - hoping all goes well. Since yesterday I have been suffering with tooth ache - actually its more my gums. Got an emergency appointment at the dentist - been given some antibiotics and gobbling up paracetal (pain killers). My teeth feel so sensitive at the moment.

Thinking ahead about the new me, I've been looking into having facial laser hair removal (squasher of confidence), it's time I address this issue as it has been a major issue for me for a great number of years, this is a direct result of my PCOS. As I age some of the hairs are now greying on my face. If I don't deal with it now, then I may be faced with another problem, as grey hair can not be removed by laser. Trying to arrange a consultation.

Hyacinth

I am so excited for you!!!
The one thing I have noticed and odds on you do the same journey,is that I am looking at doing beautiful things for myself eg waxings,facials etc. much more often.My Dr even commented on how I should consider Botox now.I think he too would've even have mentioned it to me pre-op.
I am only halfway there but I feel very satisfied with how I am now and I also know that every kilo now lost will be bliss.
It is winter here and I bought 2 pairs of boots.One with heels and cowboy look straps.My husband was MOST impressed.
Yesterday I was in a plus size clothes shop and one of their new styles is a shirt-dress that closely resembles a nurses outfit.I am usually such a prude and age puts me way past the dress-up stage BUT I feel sorely tempted to buy one to wear around the house with those cowboy boots!!!Six months ago I wouldn't have even had those mischievious thoughts in my head.The only thing is that I need to buy one now before I lose more weight and the smallest size is TOO baggy!!!
My only problem now is that I am not eating properly.I hope this improves once winter has passed.I have realised that I have to stop eating biscuits/cookies.Today I am going to start recording my proteins again and make more effort with my own meal preparation.I am cooking for my fussy family but don't want their meals.I cook 3 different meals most nights.I am even cooking the yummiest casseroles for my dogs in the slow-cooker.It seems easier to grab a sweet biscuit than bother with something I need to chew.
Not good!
Am thinking of you.You will be so pleased with yourself.
Vicki
PS: You will notice that the February sleevers replies to threads are tapering off.I think that like myself the level of support they now need has diminished.Life is fairly back to normal at this stage and like myself the biggest problems come from what you choose to eat -rather than op problems and shopping for NEW clothes does take a lot of time!!!!

Hychap2009 · 07-03-2009, 05:49 PM

Hi Vicki

I attended my pre-assessment yesterday (Friday) so have overcome another hurdle. My BP was not great still quite high, however, after a little rest the second reading had gone down a little. Lots of prodding and probing but hey, everything is everything.

Still unable to confirm a date but have been assured it is very close. Surgeon still has a back log, so could be August, but I'm in the priority list and potentially I could go for surgery late this month. Just have to wait and see. I was suggested that I should wait till after the surgery before embarking on the laser treatment. I may just take that advice. Right now I'm in need of clothes for the summer - it's well hot here in the UK at the moment, I don't want to spend money that I don't really have for clothes that may not fit me in a couple of months time. Do I have a choice? Not really.