BIG BUTT BE GONE

I've realised that the only way to " bounce back" ( see last post) is to accept the past and make way for the future. Last October I underwent a procedure called a sleeve gastrectomy. This is a weight loss procedure not to be undertaken lightly.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PROCEDURE?
Two thirds of your stomach is removed leaving you with a little baby stomach and very little hunger hormone.

ARE YOU CRAZY?
Looking back now...quite possibly. Just joking, I'm sure I wasn't crazy at the time. People who know me personally feel free to comment.

WHY THEN?
I got very frustrated with doctors brushing off my health issues with " just lose weight and you'll be fine ". I had two close calls of the c nature, in the last few years and the lack of understanding shown to me ( a person with a rare disease) was astounding.Deciding to have the surgery was hard but made easier by the surgeon telling me that with my medical history, I had no chance of losing the weight through diet and exercise alone. That was a slap in the face.

WHAT HAPPENED?
The operation was a disaster. Somehow the procedure resulted in a gastric leak - a bloody big hole in my stomach which took an eternity to fix. I spent six weeks in hospital and a portion of this time in intensive care. I developed many complications. It was awful.

WHAT COULD YOU EAT DURING THIS TIME?
For weeks all I could have was ice and water sips. Surprisingly I didn't miss food till about week 3. About week 4 I was allowed some other fluids - broth and juice. This was a blessing but for someone used to combatting stress with food, and now not being able to do so, was hard.

About week 6 I was allowed milky drinks, soup and ice cream. As I am lactose intolerant here began my 4 week soupathon. Thank God it's summer because if I never see soup again, it will be too soon.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO FINALLY EAT FOOD?
For six weeks in hospital I dreamed of scrambled eggs. My first food was therefore scrambled eggs. I managed four tastes before being overwhelmed by an unusual " blocked" feeling. An hour later up it came. Not the experience I expected. The husband got all worried and rang the doctor who put me back on soup. Could not believe it!

ARE YOU HEALED?
Physically I'm healed- the hole is closed up. Mentally I'm still challenged. I can't get my head around the fact that yet again I had to go through a medical drama. There are still many unanswered questions which as part of my " bouncing back" mantra, I am seeking answers for. I feel stressed beyond stressed when I think how close I came to dying and how close my husband and children came to not having a wife or mother. And all because some doctors brush me off! That's a bitter pill to swallow and yes at midnight when I can't sleep, I go through all six weeks in detail. It's hard.

HOW ARE THINGS GOING WITH FOOD?
Food and I have ceased to be friends. Finding things my stomach tolerates is hard work and although I know it's early days, I'm over it. At the moment I'm on holiday in South Australia. My husband refused to take me out of the country until I patch up my relationship with food. And I have to admit he was right.It's got to the stage that I'm eating anything ( nutritious or not) in the hope it stays down. The grand total of food  for today is 6/7 chips, some nuts and 2 protein bars. Everything else...vom.

DO PEOPLE TREAT YOU DIFFERENTLY NOW YOU'VE LOST WEIGHT?
Not that I've noticed, but I've been somewhat occupied elsewhere.

DO YOU FEEL DIFFERENT NOW YOU'VE LOST WEIGHT?
To be honest no but that's possibly because of the food issues and an ongoing problem with low blood pressure. It's good to get into smaller sizes of clothing, but it doesn't make me any happier. I need to move on from feeling miserable because of yet another medical nightmare. It's hard but I'm trying.

ARE THERE ANY GOOD BITS TO THE SAGA?
I'm alive.
I know how much my husband, children, family and friends love me.
I made a couple of new friends; ladies who had the same surgery.
Big butt is gone!

WHAT NOW?
It's a new year. I am attempting to deal with the fallout from this procedure as best I can but I'm determined to bounce back sooner rather than later and get on with my life.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE PROCEDURE?
Apparently a gastric leak is 1% chance of happening. (And it had to be me). You need to decide for yourself. I'm a walking disaster area and not qualified to give advice.

WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN?
Hard one - not sure. Ask me when food loves me again.

How would you have dealt with my situation?

Till next time...xxx