Great Expectations (cont) - ThinnerTimes

Gwen · 10-08-2007, 08:45 AM

Hi Everyone

I had my Laparoscopic RNY on the 26th of September 2007, and I have found my place on the Losers Bench, thanks for keeping it warm for me Sheree!!!

With the greatest of respect to all those that have gone before me, especially those with complications and ongoing issues, and for those who are following in our footsteps, I am writing this “memoir”….

I am giving all the (boring) details, especially for the UK/Europe girls that have to travel to Brugge in Belgium for their opp, and hope you find this helpful.

You can read the story so far and all about how I ended up choosing Dr Bruno Dillemans to be my surgeon, in this Thread: Great Expectations.

The big day came quicker than I expected and I had to start making arrangements for my travel to, and stay in Brugge – in the information pack that Julie from SAIL sent to me they suggested that we stay at one of two hotels, as the nurses make post operative visits to those hotels to help with dressings and the Fraxiparine injections (more about that later) – and I chose The Best Western Hotel Acacia.

But before we travelled to Brugge there were a few things (like meals)

to take care of:

My “Before” Photos

I asked a work colleague, Ally, to take some before photos for me, to document, but also to remember my old body, which by-the-way, I LOVE VERY MUCH and which I suspect I will miss!!! The results had two effects, firstly it confirmed to me that I did not have a bad self image (even as an 18 stone/120kg woman) and secondly that I was doing this for the right reason: MY HEALTH!!!

If you ask nicely, and I feel comfortable that you won’t attempt to make money out of them

, I will let you have the link to view my photos – just PM me.

My Last Supper(s)

As my BMI was 39.9 and Dr D only requires patients with a BMI of 50 and over to follow a special pre-opp diet, I ate like a madwoman those last couple of weeks!!! I did, however, promise myself to get my lazy bum off the couch and Den and I went for walks in the evenings and even did a 5km (3 mile) hike through the beautiful forests and cliffs of Brixham (South Devon), the weekend before we went to Brugge. I managed to loose 2kg (4.4 pounds) in the month before I was due to get my new pouch, even though I ate anything and everything that came my way

One of my last memorable meals was when I invited 13 of my work colleagues to join me for a “Hog’s Breakfast” and we met, before work at 7:30, at a cosy restaurant called Puccino’s and we all enjoyed a lovely fry-up with loads of Mocchas!!!

Another "Farewell to the Old-Stomach-Supper” was with Dennis and Karen, at our favourite restaurant, Tummies, when I devoured a scrumptious lamb shank, slowly roasted in rosemary and garlic, with a mound of mouth watering buttered mash. That was the evening before we left England for Belgium.

Dr D also does not require a bowel prep and instructs you to enjoy your “Last Supper” the evening before the opp and, as Greek Food is our favourite, we decided on a quaint little restaurant called El Greco in Brugge. The waiter immediately earned his tip when I ordered a large Coke Cola and he brought out a beer jug full of Coke!!! He must have seen the look in my eyes? I love a good wine with good food but knew I had to get my last Coke Cola in

Travelling to Brugge

There are a couple of ways to get to Brugge (fly/rail/car) and as my boyfriend, Dennis, and best friend, Karen, were coming with me, we decided to take our own car and go through the Eurotunnel (which is something I’ve wanted to do, in anyway, since I arrived in the UK 9 years ago!!!) and it turned out to be the best decision for us. Dennis has a very good sense of direction and found his way around Brugge quite easily, and as he is Danish, driving on the “wrong” side of the road didn’t faze him at all. Brugge is a beautiful city and our decision to go over on the Sunday and have some time for ourselves, before the meeting with Dr D on Tuesday, left us with some time to explore and savour some of the delicious food and chocolates that the Belgiums have to offer. I found it quite ironic that I had to come all the way to the “Chocolate City” to have my life turned around…

Meeting Dr Dillemans (Tuesday 25th September 2007)

Marc van der Ryse is Dr D’s co-ordinator (personal assistant) for the self pay patients and I found him very helpful and as he is a former RNY patient of Dr D he could also share his own personal experience with us. My “pouch mates” were Mick (who opted for the gastric band), Kim, Anna and Claire (all going for the RNY) and we were asked whether we mind having a group consultation with Bruno, with the option of another private consultation afterwards, as it saved time and also answered questions which might be helpful to each other. We all opted in and couldn’t wait to meet our Surgeon! But first we had to meet the Nutritionist and have some blood tests done…. The Nutritionist weighed and measured our heights and I found out that I am 1cm shorter than I always thought I was ;-) – this is when I found out that I had lost 2kg from when I last weighed myself (mind you, the scales might just have been different ;-) ) but 119,5kg/263.45lb/18st 11.45lb is my official pre-opp weight.

Marc van der Ryse - Dr D's Assistant in Brugge

When we were all done Dr Dillemans breezed into the room and within a few minutes any nervousness that any of us might have had completely disappeared. He is a very humble man, considering that his department has done in excess of 8000 of these procedures, and from what I could understand, he generates the lion’s share of income for the AZ St Jans Hospital. I felt very reassured and happy that my journey led me to Brugge rather than South Africa. Our partners, friends, parents, whoever were there to support us, were all allowed to join in the group session and I think that if you were unsure whether this was the way for you to go forward then you might even be allowed to take part in such a session without having booked the opp – it was very informative and tremendously calming to know that this amazing Surgeon was going to use his knowledge and wonderful hands to change my life!

Dr Bruno Dillemans and with Danish patient

Dr Bruno Dillemans’ first area of speciality (as I understand from Marc’s introduction) is the Laparoscopic (keyhole) Technique to operate on the abdomen and then the various gastric operations (RNY, gastric band, McLean, etc) and I will explain later why, in my humble opinion, I think this factor is so important…

I understand from Vim that Dr D performs the Capella version of the RNY which equals "a slightly larger pouch but shorter limb than the Americans, in order that we virtually eliminate the side-effects the US encounter with vomiting and/or diarrhoea. The result is the same: larger consumption of food, but greater malabsorption. His patients have reported fewer cases of constipation as a result." (thanks Vim)

Surgery (26th September 2007)

I went into surgery at approximately 11:30 and charmed everyone with my Afrikaans (very close to Flemish), so that by the time the anaesthetist’s assistant got hold of me we were conversing in “Hoogs Hollands” (High Dutch from the 17th century) ;-)

When I woke up in the recovery room it was almost 15:00 and this was the only time that I felt “shite” – I had a massive headache and was in some pain and the first thought that rushed through my head was: “Why did you have to resort to THIS, allowing a surgeon to create a smaller stomach for you and rearrange your intestines, just because you couldn’t get your fat arse off the couch and into a gym????”…… a nurse came past and gave me something for the pain and then I was pushed up to my room where I dosed off until Dennis and Karen came to visit.

By the time the pain meds kicked in all “buyer's remorse thoughts” disappeared and all I felt was a slight discomfort in the area where the drain was protruding (I only found out later that that was what was going on there).

Four Days (Three Nights) in Hospital

On the day of surgery (Wednesday) we were not allowed anything, not even something to help with the terrible dryness in our mouths, and although you are not allowed to eat anything since midnight the previous evening, I did not feel any hunger. I was fortunate in that I’ve had other surgeries before, and I knew the terrible thirst that would follow anaesthesia, so I water loaded (1.5 litres) the previous evening and didn’t feel too bad – just the usual dryness in the mouth…. I suffered from some dry heaving and a bit of phlegm, which once I got rid of, I felt much better!

Unlike our sisters across the waters, we were not chased out of our beds at the earliest opportunity and were told that we would spend a good couple of days in bed…… They are, however, very cautious of bloodclots forming and we all went into surgery with those designer Vivienne Westwood white stockings, which we were asked to keep on at all times, and keep on wearing for another 9 days post surgery. We were also given a daily (in the mornings) shot of Fraxiparine to help prevent bloodclots. I did not have a catheter and by 3am, that first morning after surgery, I was on a mission to get up and I told the nurse that I wanted to use the commode, rather than the pan, to take a piddle – she too must have recognised the look in my eyes and before you could say “RNY” I was sitting on the commode….. I would have walked to the en-suite bathroom but our drips were not mobile, they were attached to the bed and I didn’t want to make a fuss, for now the mere luxury of getting out of bed was enough for me. That was the worst thing really; the discomfort of lying on my back and my shoulders hurt the most. (I’ve read on the Forum that the pain in your shoulders is caused by the air that they fill you up with, to make the surgery possible, but I didn’t have any other after effects (like burping or farting) other than the painful shoulders.)

On day two (Thursday) we were given a can of Evian® Brumisateur Mineral Water Spray and that was fantastic – we almost felt human again! We were asked whether we need help washing ourselves and both Anna, my roommate, and I washed ourselves. We slept a lot and entertained our visitors when they arrived. As we were on 6 hourly pain med drips neither of us were in any pain, slight discomfort at times, but no real pain. Still no hunger but some thirst – I would have killed for a cup of tea!!!

On the third day (Friday) we were each given a large bottle of water (1.5 litres) and were told to start slowly, with small sips and some interval between each sip, and see how much we could drink – the first couple of sips were with great anticipation but both Anna and I finished about half of the bottle by that evening and felt very pleased with ourselves.

Hallelujah, our drips came out and Anna also got rid of her catheter at some point during that day (it might even have been the previous day?). It was also on this morning that they stopped our 6 hourly pain meds and it was with some anticipation that we waited for the pain to kick in…….. but it never came!!! and none of us (Kim, Anna or I - I haven’t spoken to Mick or Claire yet) have had any pain at all!!! This is why I think having a surgeon that is firstly specialised in Laparoscopic surgeries and secondly very experienced in GBS is sooooooo important: I could have been as positive and as mentally prepared for this surgery as I wished, but not having to deal with any post operative pain, has been a great factor in my recovery and I thank Dr Dillemans for that!

It was also on the third day that Kim came to visit – she was on the same floor but in the other wing and it was only the next day, when Anna and I went to visit her, that we realised just how far she had walked that day.

That evening we were given a small natural yogurt (Kim got sugarfree custard!) and for me it was heaven – could only finish half of it but it felt great!

Still no hunger but both Anna and I were looking forward to chewing something the next day…….

Anna got rid of her drain on this day but mine had to stay in a little longer.

On the fourth day (Saturday) they brought us two slices of small white toast (!!!) with some butter and sugar free jam (Kim got spreadable cheese with hers!!). After all I read on the Forum and also reading up on other surgeons’ post operative diets, I couldn’t believe my eyes, and I had to phone Sheree to get some counselling! In the end I trusted the doc and went with it and won’t you know it: because it is extremely dry it melted in your mouth and it sat very nicely in my new pouch – I couldn’t finish both slices, had about 1 ½ but felt very happy that my pouch was not rioting!

At 11am or so we had some tea (heaven!!!) and then came lunch at about 1pm: minced chicken in a lovely gravy, very tasty mash and mashed carrots – it all went down very well, I could only finish half of what they put on the plate, but my pouch was HAPPY!

Discharged (Saturday)

My drain was removed at about 3pm and I was finally discharged – last of the lot, but got there in the end.

I felt that they (the hospital and Dr D's team) were very organised and helpful in the discharge process. We were given the following:

1. Enough dressings (waterproof) for at least two changes;
2. 10 Fraxiparine pre assembled injections*;
3. Omeprazole capsules (can't remember how many);
4. Discharge Letter addressed to your GP;
5. Declaration of temporary inability to work letter for your employer.

I couldn't wait to get back to the hotel to have a proper shower and wash my hair, as, since Wednesday, we only hand washed ourselves and my curly hair, which hadn't seen a brush since then, had a very distinctive start-of-a-Rastafarian-dreadlock at the back of my head ;-)

*The Fraxiparine injections are not painful at all - Karen and Dennis helped me with mine and it is given in the layer of fat around the stomach area.

First Meals

We were travelling back to the UK the next day so I wanted to make the most of my last day in Brugge and after I had a long shower (the showers are one of the best things about the Acacia Hotel) I was ready to face the World in my black kaftan (to hide the drain) and white VW stockings with black trainers to finish the look...... I am sorry that I didn't take a photo!!! Den and Ka must love me very much to be seen out in the posh Brugge with me looking like that? As I was walking in the cobbled streets, looking like a patient that has escaped from some institution, I felt like the whole city must surely know what a courageous thing I have just done, as I was not trying to hide it, and I felt elated - I did it and I felt GREAT!!!

We walked towards the market square and looked at all the menus, displayed on the front of the restaurants, to see whether there would be something that I would be able to eat, and decided on a small restaurant called (I think?) Die Eetestablishmente (Eating Establishment). I chose the tomato soup with meatballs from the kiddies menu and asked the chef to puree the meatballs in the blender (I did get a funny look from the owner, who took our order, but Karen quickly explained that I have a medical condition which requires my food to be pureed and he obliged). It went down amazingly and I managed to finish approximately 1/3 of the bowl - my pouch was still HAPPY!!!

First Poop

Apologies for the details but I know these things weigh heavily on the mind and often comes up in the pre and post opp questions from Newbies on the Forum.....

It happened on Sunday morning - 5 days since the last one - and what a relief - not much in volume but what a good colour and a good consistency also and not smelly like some others have reported - pre opp mine was atrocious (colour &consistency) especially since I developed perianal abscesses and subsequent fistulas in the mid 90s and now they are almost back to "normal".

First Week

I, and those around me, could not believe how well I felt and looked shortly after the surgery.

On the Monday (5 days post opp) I went and said hallo to my GP (with the excuse that I would like her to have a look at my wounds and to get my repeat prescription for the ongoing Omeprazole (as prescribed by Dr D) and Ursofalk (to help prevent gallstones and self prescribed) but really to show off and to show her the result in choosing a good surgeon, albeit abroad, as she has been quite indifferent about me having WLS.

My friend Karen then drove me to where I work and I said hallo to all my colleagues who couldn't believe that I was well enough to be gallivanting like that ;-0 They invited me to an office picnic on the Friday and I gladly accepted.

I have been able to carry out normal household chores, like loading and unloading the washing machine and dishwasher and making the bed (I haven't tried to turn our mattress though ;-) ) and I was able to get in and out of bed and up from the couch (both which are quite low) easily.

On Tuesday (6 days post opp) Karen and I walked to Asda (about a mile there and a mile back) and as she is a nurse it was not a stroll but rather something more like a trot - well, at least for me it was ;-P - and I felt amazing! I did not get out of breath or even tired but must admit that for the first time since the opp did I catch an afternoon nap to recover from the morning's exertion ;-)

Wednesday (7 days post opp) - Karen and I went for some "lady of leisure" time, at the local beauty salon, and each had a pedicure and some other treatments to spoil ourselves.

First Nookie

Again apologies for the details but this is also something I've seen crop up on the Forum every now and again...... For me it was possible 9 days post opp - carefully though...... ;-)

My Support Network (very important)

As I've said before, I tell everyone that stand still long enough about my decision to have WLS and so far it has paid off. Dennis, Karen, my family and my colleagues have all been so amazing and supportive. I could not have asked for a better group of people around me. My colleagues presented me with a card and a gift box at the Hog's Breakfast, the Friday before surgery, and it contained magazines, body lotions, lip balm and a beautiful hand made leather bound journal to keep my diary in. When I went through a wobbly in week 4 and 5 my colleagues kept me going and Karen and Dennis have been there all along to listen to my rants and raves - THANKS GUYS!!!

And then, of course, there is Thinner Times, my very own Shereeks and all the beautiful people on here - you have made my journey so much easier and I love you for that - keep posting!!!

Hugs and kisses

XXX

Zenomia · 10-08-2007, 09:04 AM

Congrats...Looks like your Journey is now in full swing!! I look forward to reading more about it. Congrats on making the losing team!! (I can't say "bench" anymore because most of us on this side rarely sit down!!!

loulou · 10-23-2007, 01:24 PM

hey hun!!! i love your post as i am going to be going thro the same thing in 2 weeks! luckily i have mum (brugge babe kim) to help me thro it!
cant wait for the next installment

rgbmom1 · 10-23-2007, 04:52 PM

Wow i needed a pick me up and your post did it. I feel great too and almost was taking it for granted. I 'd like to see the before and afters and will share mine with you too. Now rememeber slow and steady wins the race.

Gwen · 11-20-2007, 07:01 AM

Managed to finish this at last!!!

jojozo · 11-28-2007, 01:54 PM

hi Gwen
just read your post , what a great post it is i wish i had done a step by step account of my journey .
i to went to belgium for my band self funded and i would never turn the clock back well yes i would only to have done this sooner .

Joanne xx