Susie's 2022 campaign

[snowbryneich]

The mini loops sounds better and I assume can be keyhole which would be better too -

Oh yes the whole nhs process is not quick but as soon as you ask they send you to the bariatric information session which seem to happen at least every month and they're really good - done by one of the surgeons and a specialist nurse and they normally have some people who've had the surgery done before for questions too so a really good way to get information. (And the hospital that does it up here is the Sunderland one so over your way!)

 

[ladyfelsham]

That's really good to know, thanks, and ues it's keyhole, sp definitely preferred.

Ok I've formed a plan of action - tomorrow, register with the GP. First appointment will take a few weeks, in the meantime I'll join SW again next week. Then see the GP and discuss the options and timings, hopefully get to the information session and then decide whether to wait or go o/s.

 

[Lottie12]

Hello Susie. Long long long time no speak !
Reading your recent posts broke my heart. I hate it that you are so sad.
You are so much more than your weight my love. You are brilliant at your job and one of the most employable people I know. You always get the jobs and do well at them. Many people in larger bodies have a fantastic bloke so I dont see why you cant date right now, They also walk in their bigger bodies. You could do that right now. Maybe not a hike but it is so possible for you to start with just a few steps and build on it. Read some HAES literature that will support you in this . You think yourself so unworthy andyet I see the exact opposite. xxx

 

[tipperary]

Thats a big decision Susie but definitely something worth looking into. I havent heard of the mini loop before but it sound like youve done some research into it.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Afternoon all

Lottie so lovely to hear from you and thanks for your such kind words. I’m absolutely fine now, just hit a bit of a low patch and was feeling sorry for myself, but sometimes that needs to happen to be the big kick up the behind to force me into action!

Really struggled at Ikea today, so out of breath all the itme, I had to keep stopping, but i did make it from one end and back again, so that's something. Will try and do a bit of a walk every day at work, even if it's just round the carpark. And finally got to meet the lovely Snowy - so fab to talk about food in person with someone who understands .

 

[Lottie12]

Aww thats nice that you met Snowy. Benefits of becoming a northener !! Would it not be nicer to walk along the seafront . Maybe at the weekend? Glad youre feeling brighter x

 

[snowbryneich]

It was lovely to meet up - and yes it's so nice to talk with someone who gets it. Thank you again so much for the goodies!

 

[tipperary]

Ikea is such a huge place im surprised they dont have rest stops built in. Its one of those placrs where if you pass a bathroom then use it as you dont know how long it is to the next one
How are your knees wifh the walking Susie?

 

[ladyfelsham]

How are your knees wifh the walking Susie?

Pretty painful TBH but I just kept going, didn't have a choice really, otherwise I'd have had to sleep there overnight . It was the breathlessness that really knocked me, though, my fitness levels are zero - so that's another thing to work on this year.

Lovely day here today, so just went and got my hair dyed and cut into a fab style at a hairdresser 2 mins walk from the new house - very happy with it and, oh my, compared to London, soooo cheap! So I'm all ready for work on Monday. I've just realised though that it's almost exactly the same haircut as the boss - oh well, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and all that . Ignore what looks like a lazy eye, I am such a shocker at selfies lol. It flicks out at the back and is quite curly, and I love it. And no greys! (first pic of me on Minis ever, so be kind ).

Been doing a lot of reading on bariatric surgery in Europe, really think it might be the answer, but will research more before I decide. Amazing how many people are having it done, hundreds every month! Most report feeling tired afterwards but no pain, with about a week off work - which is no problem for me, I have a good sick leave record. Many travelled on their own too and say they were looked after every step of the way, with lifetime support afterwards, which is encouraging. Liquids for the first month or so, then puree, then mash, and then more solid food, but the weight losses are staggering - a lot of people say they have lost 5-10 stone in the first 9 months to a year. Imagine what a difference that would make to my knees and breathing! I don't care about excess skin, I have no desire to look like I did when i was 20, this is completely about improving my health.

 

[ladyfelsham]

 

[tipperary]

Great to see you Susie

 

[ladyfelsham]

Thanks Tipp - getting my eyebrows done next week too .

 

[sarahbr]

Lovely cut Lady F, jealous of good prices too! Hair cuts and colour are so expensive!
Just as a thought, you are clearly motivated to do something quite huge to achieve your weight loss. Have you ever tried the shakes, like with Cambridge? I lost 5stone with cambridge (admittedly I have about 3.5 of those stones back) but if you have to have liquid / purée post op, maybe it’s worth a real go prior as well? Xx

 

[ladyfelsham]

Hi Sarah - thanks for the compliment and for the thoughts on Cambridge or similar. I tried VLCD in the past but didn't last long because of the hunger - was ready to knaw my own arm off!

This is why surgery appeals (well, not appeals, I'd really rather not have it done at all if I thought there was a better option) because you just can't physically eat much. I've been in the lose/gain cycle for 15 years now, and I've really tried every single plan there is. The best for me is SW, but even then who's to say I won't have a repeat of last time - lose 5.5 stone, then lose focus and back it all comes? And there's another year or two gone.

 

[sarahbr]

Hi Sarah - thanks for the compliment and for the thoughts on Cambridge or similar. I tried VLCD in the past but didn't last long because of the hunger - was ready to knaw my own arm off!

This is why surgery appeals (well, not appeals, I'd really rather not have it done at all if I thought there was a better option) because you just can't physically eat much. I've been in the lose/gain cycle for 15 years now, and I've really tried every single plan there is. The best for me is SW, but even then who's to say I won't have a repeat of last time - lose 5.5 stone, then lose focus and back it all comes? And there's another year or two gone.

I totally understand what you are saying, but just worth remembering that we aren’t always eating because we are hungry. In my case - I’m rarely hungry. But I’m always eating xx

 

[ladyfelsham]

I totally understand what you are saying, but just worth remembering that we aren’t always eating because we are hungry. In my case - I’m rarely hungry. But I’m always eating xx

Very good point you make there, missus . Overeating and portion size are definitely challenging areas for me. I guess I thought that if there just wasn't room for any more, and you vom if you force it (and other yucky side effects), that might help me get it under control?

I was chatting about it at the hairdresser's and had to laugh - it's only a small salon so everyone joined in the surgery conversation, and one woman said her cousin did it, then as soon as she could eat, promptly ate chocolate and biscuits! Silly moo. It's a life changing surgery that has to be taken seriously, so why would you go through it all and then do something like that? Unless she has a serious sugar addiction, but she would have been eating non sugary stuff for weeks before that.

By the way, |I really appreciate everyone's comments about this - please don't hold back with horror stories (or good ones too lol). I know there are lots of things to consider, I haven't definitely made up my mind about it, and I certainly don't see it as a magic pill - but the more I read, the more I do think it might be right for me, having tried everything else?

 

[tipperary]

Ive heard about people from here who travel to Birmingham to have it done. I dont know why Birmingham and dont know anyone qho has had it done.
Whats thw difference between the mini loop and the regular one.

 

[snowbryneich]

Love the haircut Suzi! it really suits you.

Ive heard about people from here who travel to Birmingham to have it done. I dont know why Birmingham and dont know anyone qho has had it done.
Whats thw difference between the mini loop and the regular one.

It might be where the bariatric surgery is based for that region- I know for the north east there is only one unit at Sunderland (as I mentioned I've been) and I'm not really that far from sunderland (though it can feel it by public transport) but there were people there from Teeside and a lady from Cumbria - so it looks like they don't have many of them. When I was there they said this is actually because they adapt a lot of the equipment etc for dealing with bigger people - bigger wheelchairs and beds with a higher weight rating etc, I remember when I went it was odd sitting in even the chairs for the talk because they were noticably bigger - like I'm not used to having room on either side of me in that kind of chair and I suppose they have to consider it for health and safety reasons. (It made me feel vaguely guilty for never in my life having an office chair that is rated for my weight even though health and safety have sometimes asked about it but I've never broken one and I'm not telling them what I weigh.

Overeating and portion size are definitely challenging areas for me. I guess I thought that if there just wasn't room for any more, and you vom if you force it (and other yucky side effects), that might help me get it under control?

It's worth noting that for most surgerys if you don't have the dumping with sweets, people can get round this with lots of small portions which I was always kind of concerned that I would do as stupid as it is. I mean it's part of my history of not really being sensible with food if you see what I mean?

 

[ladyfelsham]

Good morning all Team Fab - I am just loving all your support, it means a great deal to me, so a big thank you! xxx

Whats the difference between the mini loop and the regular one.

The mini bypass (called it the wrong name, sorry lol) involves keyhole surgery with lots less internal cutting and stitches, the full one they divide the stomach into tw, people are prone to infections and it isn't reversible. The mini is less re-routing, it's reversible, less complications, less surgery time, etc. There's other procedures as well - a sleeve, etc, not sure exactly what they are - but the mini is the shortest time on the table and quickest recovery.

It's worth noting that for most surgerys if you don't have the dumping with sweets, people can get round this with lots of small portions which I was always kind of concerned that I would do as stupid as it is. I mean it's part of my history of not really being sensible with food if you see what I mean?

Absolutely get that, hun! I'm sure though you'd be much more sensible than one woman on the WLS FB group who said she was going to eat whatever she liked, she wasn't spending £6K just to be on a diet - OMG how stupid can you get, this is a lifetime diet! What a dufus - and she'll find the weight piling all back on again, and will no doubt then blame the op for not working!

Have you ever tried the shakes, like with Cambridge? I lost 5stone with cambridge (admittedly I have about 3.5 of those stones back) but if you have to have liquid / purée post op, maybe it’s worth a real go prior as well? Xx

Oh my goodness Sarah your comments were like a lightbulb going off in my head, that makes complete and utter sense to me - why rush into the op when I can try the post op food now and see how I get on?

One of the pluses, I guess, about not sleeping well is that I have lots of time in the night to mull over all the weight loss options - because it's constantly on my mind, as I'm sure it is for many of us here. I did do a VCLD years ago but only managed a couple of days, I was soooo hungry all the time, and felt freezng cold, I just couldn't hack it - but I've since discovered wonderful filler upper things like shiritake noodles and glucomannan pills which both swell up in your tum and make you feel full.

Soooo hold onto your hats, we're on to Plan D. I remembered last night that I had a discount code for meal replacement products from New You, so i had a good rummage round their website and testimonials, etc, and I've ordered a week's worth of shakes, soups and meals. I've also ordered shiritake penne and Slimfast glucomannan, and am going to stick to it for a week, adding low cal veg to the meals. Everything arrives by Thursday, so Friday is start date and in the meantime I'll try and just do SW-friendly meals. Not much bad stuff left in the cupboards, and things like jam, pasta and peanut butter can go on the top shelf, to make room for the New You stuff.

I've never been a big fan of the shakes and so on, always thought I could make healthier versions at home, but this will do to kickstart me. Thank you again for all your thoughts and encouragement! xxxx

 

[tipperary]

Wow, another plan. But yes it makes sense to try to post op menu now. But remember you will have normal hunger and stomach capacity now but post op you might want to eat but wont be able.
Best of luck whatever you decide