Calling all Brugge Babes (Dr Dillemans' patients) - ThinnerTimes

Gwen · 10-09-2007, 08:21 AM

Hi there

Just returned from Brugge, a week or so ago, and have a request from the lovely Dr Dillemans.

He would love to hear from all his old patients - good and bad experiences and with some before and after photos if possible.

His e-mail address is: bruno.dillemans@azbrugge.be

Kind regards

trinket · 10-09-2007, 01:26 PM

Hi there Gwen (and all)

Thanks for the PM Gwen and I think it is a brill idea for us all to keep in contact - I for one am really gonna need y'all!

I am recovering quickly and eating well too. In fact I have been worried that the op might not have worked on me for some reason (but I did harbour this worry a bit before the op feeling - as I have done for years - that nothing would ever shift my stubborn weight/metabolism).

Anyway, I definitely have restriction in eating but don't seem to have any problem with any food types so far. I am sticking to the pouch rules and not mixing water with food and defo not eating any crap - but I feel as if I could eat all types of food if I wanted...eek! (Sorry, time for my mantra - WILL NOT EAT CRAP - WILL NOT EAT CRAP - WILL NOT EAT CRAP - EVER, EVER, NEVER!). I still get hunger pangs like before op but am consciously refraining from feeding these i.e. I feel as if I am 'dieting'. This scares me because all my previous diets have failed - hence the RNY!!

On the flipside, perhaps this is what it is supposed to be like and why the 'bypass' is referred to as adding the double whammy and helping to keep the weight off?

Either way, no probs I'm going with it and giving it my all - but I'd be grateful to know how everyone else is feeling?
I weighed myself once 6 days post op on Sunday and I was 8lbs down. However, this would be expected after the op and time in hospital etc. I have made a pact to only weigh once a week on Sundays - so as not to get obsessed. However, I do not feel as if I've lost any more since Sunday - but will keep you all posted on weekly progress.

Sorry for long post. I know it's only 8 days post op but am a wee bit anxious - I really wanna be that slim person in my head and not fail again!

I was hoping, perhaps wrongly, that I would have much more restricition and not feel as if I was dieting....Anyway, it is early days....)

In the meantime, I hope you are all doing well.

Cheers!
Trinket

Lap RNY - 1st October 2007

Age-41
height-5ft 5"
Surgery/Current/Goal
243lbs/ 235lbs /140lbs - dare I?!!?

shereeks · 10-09-2007, 03:02 PM

Thanks Gwen - I've just emailed Dr Dillemans so hopefully he will get it this time. I've been trying for ages but it just kept bouncing back in the past.

And for Trinket - honestly don't worry yourself. I really felt like I could eat quite a lot at the start and lots of different things as well. And here I am a year later and 156lbs lighter!

My best tip would be avoid all carbs and sugars - seems to have worked for me so far.

You are doing brilliantly, weighing in once a week is a great idea - try not to worry too much about the scale - we all get to the same place in the end if we follow those pouch rules. Oh, and I would say definitely follow the 1/2 hour before and after rule - I still do now and it keeps me in check.

Glad to hear it all went well for you as it did for Gwen - Dr Dillemans is truly a miracle worker!

trinket · 10-09-2007, 04:03 PM

Many thanks Shereeks - you are the cool calming voice of reason and, of course, experience.

I am glad you reassured about avoiding carbs and sugar - this is one thing I am sticking to no matter what (interject mantra.....) and any cravings for such foods are also keeping at bay. Now, that has to be a good thing..

Phew, must remember to concentrate on all the positive things....always feels so good.

trinket · 10-10-2007, 02:31 AM

Oh yeah Shereeks, sorry but forgot to mention (probably because it was apprx 1am UK time when I posted last night and I had a newbie 'one-minded' panic yesterday

) but....

WOWZA BRUGGE BABE!!

You have done so amazingly well on this - 156lbs gone forever and in just a year. Just wanted you to know that you are truly inspirational to us newbies - for both losing the weight in the first place and then maintaining it thereafter! I realise that this is a day-to-day struggle for us ALL. Thanks for helping us along our journey.

Gwen · 10-10-2007, 04:10 AM

Hi Girls!!!

All I can say to your post Trinket is: "DITTO" - I too can eat almost anything, but in much smaller quantities

- I too follow the pouch rules - I too have only lost 8lb in the first week after surgery and am now only another 4.5 lb down (exactly two weeks after the opp) = 12.5 lb compared to the 1st 5lb which some of my podmates (which I spoke to yesterday) have lost and just as it was starting to play with my head I read the gorgeous Sheree's reply to your post and I know - we WILL all get there!!!

Sheree is my beacon in the wavey ocean that I know we will swim this coming year and if we can keep the beacon in sight then the goal will kreep up on us without warning - I've met Sheree and I know it's true and waiting for us - just keep on swimming!!!

PS: Trinket - I am sure as soon as we can get our bums in the gym we will catch up (at least in our minds) and remember..... two good things come from loosing slower (at least that's what I keep on telling myself): skin gets a chance to catch up and energy levels should be better than those shedding stones at a time

If I remember correctly one of the other long time members Lynda (Lyndasroom) is also a slow loser and she is doing fine and looking fantastic!

Keep in touch

Big Hugs

xxx

shereeks · 10-10-2007, 04:08 PM

Now you two - behave yourselves! 12.5lbs - that is awesome! When else in your life have you lost 12.5lbs in two weeks?!!!

I definitely think it's better not to loose too fast - like the ever knowledgeable Gwen says - it gives your skin a chance to catch up and you're less likely to get run down and burnt out.

Thanks for the compliments Trinket - as Gwen knows from meeting me - I absolutely thrive on them - you've made my day - bizarre to think I could be an inspiration!

You are both going to do absolutely brilliantly. As long as you don't end up like the guy I just watched on TV about an hour ago - he had GBS, weighed 405lbs at the start and within two weeks of his surgery was eating a Mars bar and drinking normal Coke. OMG!!!!!!!!! Seriously why would you put yourself through that to still carrying on eating that crap - some people just truly amaze me for all the wrong reasons! Sure he may be losing weight now but give it a year and it will all be back I'm sure.

Gwen - we're gonna have to catch up soon - I gotta see the new slimline you! Maybe a nice GBS friendly lunch sometime?

Hey Trinket - just a thought - where in London do you live?

trinket · 10-10-2007, 04:22 PM

Hi Gwen and Shereeks

Great to hear from you Gwen and to know that you are doing well. Hey girl, now that you say it out loud, 12lbs in 2 weeks sounds great, really, and it's gonna stay off! I'm beginning to believe we'll be ok for real but I think I am still reeling a bit from the whole experience - the decision, the expectation, the waiting & the waiting, the hours of research, and the sheer enormity of actually having gone through with it.

It's that old 'all or nothing' determination kicking in through and through - and I hope that this will see me through to the end.

Aha! and you said the dreaded word...... 'gym'! Hee hee, last time I went a bloke had to come over and turn my treadmill off as I couldn't figure it out and was trying to jump off - don't ask

totally laughable despite the humiliation lol! Am building up the courage to attend again (diff gym tho!). Plus - what I absolutely pine for is to go swimming with the kids - I haven't put a costume on for about 5 years and I just can't wait - I am going to swim, swim, swim like a happy little fishy!

Hey, Shereeks - I am an Eastender (cue the drum roll...hee, hee!)

Thanks for your all the support and will defo keep in touch. Here's to good progress all round! xxXxx

claire25 · 10-12-2007, 04:00 PM

hiya gwen....

its claire....

hope u remember me.....

i was in brugge with u for the gastric bypass....

how r u??

how is dennis???

hope all is well....

ive lost 1 st n 10 pds since surgery but still feel discomfort now and again....

loads of love....

clairexxxxxxx

shereeks · 10-13-2007, 02:42 PM

Welcome Claire! You are doing just amazing!

How are you feeling now - ready to take on the world?