My Gastric Bypass Surgery

Time for an update. Baby bean is doing really well, I had the 12 week scan last week and all was good. Bean is growing and developing normally.

I've lost a bit more weight since my last post, I'm finding it very hard to maintain my weight and the morning sickness doesn't help. I'm taking reassurance from knowing that I'm eating as much as I physically can and that's all I can do.

I'm now 1lb off 9stone down since the op, and my BMI is 23.1.

Hi all,

Well after a little scare with some early spotting in the week, I ended up having another scan (number 3) last Wednesday. Baby bean is doing really well and has grown so much!

I have been struggling to maintain my weight, and have lost 10lb since the 1st April, which isn't great, it makes my BMI 23.9 so I still have some spare flab to keep us both going. The morning sickness is very bad, which is making it hard to eat, so hopefully when that eases off it will be easier to maintain and then gain some weight.

The heparin injections have started, am on Fragmin this time instead of Clexane, but its pretty much the same thing!

My consultant ob-gyn isn't very impressed with my bypass, but I'm her first post-bypass patient so she's learning all about it.

So all is well, if I'm quiet at the moment it's cos I'm exhausted!

Can you hear that sound?

lub-dub-lub-dub

Yes, its the sound of a tiny weeny heartbeat!

Scan today put me at 7 weeks, baby is doing great and has a good strong heartbeat.

Hi guys,

Sorry I went awol for a little while, I needed to sort my head out. A couple of weeks after my last blog (april 1st to be exact), I found out I was pregnant. It was the kick up the backside I needed to get back on track!

I'm pleased to report I am now eating very well, and working to maintain my weight during the first trimester.

Baby is doing ok, I'm 6 weeks gone at the moment, and waiting to have a second scan on Wednesday. I have a history of early miscarriage due to Lupus/Hughes and so this is quite a tense time! Had a scan 2 weeks ago but it was too early to see anything other than a gestational sac and a yolk sac. Fingers crossed, on Wednesday we should see a hearbeat!

Once we get the heartbeat, I'll be back on the daily heparin (clexane) injections like post op. Thats nothing to do with the bypass though.

My bariatric team know about the pregnancy, and are fine with it all. My dietician is keeping in close contact and there have been lots of discussions around safe use of multivitamins and B12 injections.

I have lovely morning sickness, and huge boobs, which are all good healthy pregnancy signs, so fingers crossed this baby is going to stay put.

Well today is the 4th day of the emotional issues with food. I've managed a slice of corned beef today, spread out over the afternoon. I tried to have some of the pasta I cooked for my hubby and son but had to spit it out as it was making me retch.

I think hubbys beginning to get suspicious. First thing he asked me when I got in from work at 12.30pm was have you had lunch? Then an hour later what did you have for lunch? Feels horrid lying to him. He's been out for an hour this evening and again first question when he got in was have you had dinner? He didn't ask what but it's not as if there are any dishes on the side to show I've had anything. I thought about creating some but that would be devious.

Writing yesterday made me really think, and I did end up forcing down a bowl of weight watchers soup for dinner last night.

Today, I went to Makro and Asda early on, and had a bit of a funny turn. My legs just went to jelly and I didn't have any energy to walk round Asda. I managed to get what I need and picked up a low fat wrap. Trying to eat it was horrid. I was baulking and wretching but managed to eat about 1/4 of it. It did help but I still feel quite wobbly now.

Hubby is back home, he's so used to me eating seperately that he hasn't noticed at all.

Hello readers,

I've been thinking long and hard about whether to write this post, and what to write. I've got to a point were emotionally I don't want to eat. I haven't eaten anything since Thursday, except 2 protein shakes. I'm not hungry, which makes it very easy. I'm still taking all my vitamins etc.

At the moment, I feel very fat and my stomach skin is affecting me so much. I know in my head that it's far better than how I looked before hand but my heart thinks differently.

I think that the start of it is arguing with hubby. I feel completely out of control in my marriage and extremely vulnerable.

Well it's official, I've lost 100lbs! That's 7 stone 2 lbs in total. Not bad for 7 months!

Everythings going great. I'm in a good place in my head with this, I'm eating well, following the rules, and even though I've unable to exercise at the moment due to an ankle injury I'm still losing weight.

My BMI is now 26.5 so I'll be arranging to see my GP this week to have that documented and this will be the start of my 2 year wait before applying for tummy tuck funding.

I'm now a size 12-14, although mostly 14 lol. I had a surreal moment trying on a posh frock in a size 12 to see how far off it was, and it fitted! So I bought it in a size 10 for a wedding in the summer. Never thought I'd be buying a size 10 dress! I have a couple of size 12 dresses that fit me nicely now.

This whole journey has to be just the best thing I have ever done.

So here is the changes... Firstly before -

And then after!

Well yesterday was my 6 month surgeversary

There have been a few reply comments asking about excess skin, so instead of replying individually, I though it best to address is with a post.

I have excess skin on my upper arms, upper thighs, and an apron on my stomach. However, it's not that bad. My arms are liveable, my thighs are only uncomfortable if I lie down in a certain position, when I'm standing, it's not noticable at all.

My tummy hangs just below my symphis pubis. It's no way near as bad as others I've seen. The skin fold does tend to get a little red, but with care and good hygeine it's been ok. It affects my trousers, as it's hard to get them to fit around my waist and the apron. Still a good belt soon sorts that out!

I've looked into NHS abdominoplasty. My PCT requires that I maintain a healthy BMI for 2 years before I can be considered, so that's what I'll have to do, as I can't afford to go private. My BMI is currently 28, so as soon as I hit 26.5 I'll go and see my GP so that it can be documented in my medical records. They ask for a BMI of 26, but they will take into account the weight of the skin to be removed.

I don't like the apron, but compared to my tummy 6 months ago it's nothing. I lie in bed at night feeling all the bones around my hips, ribs, and collarbone. It's such a novel feeling to be able to feel and even see some of them! So right now I'm embracing my excess skin, it shows the journey I have been on and just how far I've come.

Whoops I got side tracked with shrinking and forgot to update!

So now its 5 1/2 months post op, and I have lost a grand total of *drumroll please* 6 stone

I have gone from a squeezed size 24 to a comfortable size 16, and just bought a new coat in a size 14.

My kidneys have stopped exceting protein and blood, for the first time since I was 13.

I can eat anything, so long as I chew well. Obviously I have to be careful with sugars, as I seem to dump quite easily, and fats can affect my bowels but my tolerance for fats seems higher. I'm fine with bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, all meats and fish etc.

I feel AMAZING. My self esteem is gradually rebuilding, my relationship with my husband is at it's best as I am far less needy and actually consider myself worthy of his love and affection.

At the beginning of December, my BMI went under 30, taking me into the overweight catagory. Its currently 28.8, so that magic under 25 normal range isn't far off. Just about 2 stone more should do it!

I've been having my B12 injections, had the first one at 3 months, and the second is due next week. They are easy and practically painless. Managing all of my daily vitamins and minerals most days without any problems now too. I started on selenium and zinc as I noticed hair thinning at about 3 1/2 months post op, although in all honesty it's been a good thing as I had soooo much hair to start off with it was unmanageable!

My mobility is still improving. I have a new problem with my ankle which I went for an MRI over last night, but hopefully that will be fixable. Even with that I can do more and experience far less pain than previously. I'm not so tired any more and feel mucch more healthy.

I've lost 71% of my excess weight (to get me to BMI 24) in less than 6 months, and am still losing 10-16lbs per month.

My husband and I joined a gym back in November and go 3 times per week together, for an hour each time. That had to stop during December as I took on an extra job over Christmas and didn't have any spare time left with working 61hours per week and being a mum. That jobs now finished so we start again on New Year's Day.

So that's about it I think. This far on it is still one of the best things I have ever done, and my only regret is not doing it sooner.