The last week post banding surgery.

Wow can't believe it was all a week ago, how time flies (when you're having fun?)!

Well to fill in from last post woke up after operation in the recovery ward quite sore, very dazed from the painkilling injections, with oxygen tubes up both nostrils but feeling happy and relieved I was still alive (always that slight niggle in the back of your mind, anaesthetic + obese person = not too good).  Stayed in recovery for quite a while I think, although I just dosed in and out of sleep.  I was eventually wheeled back up to the ward around 4pm.  I then had constant checks done every few hours, temperature, blood pressure, wound checks, did I need the toilet?, did I need more painkillers? and this continued all night.  Must admit it was quite uncomfortable during in the night, although the great thing about the hospital beds in Brussels is that you can adjust them at the touch of a button (just like the ones you see on TV where you can raise the head or foot area either seperatly or at the same time) which made things more bareable.

In the morning got up to get washed and changed which did leave me feeling slightly light headed so quickly took to my bed again for another rest until it was my turn to go down for my x-ray to make sure the band was working as it should be.  Dr Chris then came to see me to explain that the operation had gone successfully, that my x-ray was fine and that I could have a light lunch before checking out of the hospital at 1.30pm.

So there we have it.  I had my stitches taken out today, 10 days post surgery and am going back to work tomorrow.  I am still on a liquid diet but when I weighed myself this morning I am 19lbs lighter than what I was when I started the low fat diet 3 weeks ago, yippee.  So far so good and long may it continue. 

Friday, 25 February 2011, Day of Op

Well the morning finally arrived with a rude awakening (my friend forgot to set the alarm) the hotel room phones ringing, we had slept in!  We both jumped out of bed threw on clothes, I threw all my things I needed in my hospital bag and off we ran down stairs to the taxi.  Well this was just the beginning.  The taxi driver didn't know where the hospital was, just aswell I had the address with me so he could put it in his sat nav and even then he dropped us off at the wrong door.  Eventually after 10 mins and much panicking we found our way in.  Once inside you take a ticket from a machine just like you do at a deli counter in Britain and sit and wait your turn.  You then go and complete all the paperwork and sign your life away (not literally, hopefully).  I was then taken up to the ward for the real beginning of my journey.

I was in bed No1 in a three bed ward with 2 other lovely ladies both being operated on by Dr Chris.  Once changed into my lovely hospital gown (you know the ones that fasten at the back but actually don't so your bum hangs out for all to see) and even more attractive hospital surgical stockings I was ready for the fun to begin.

The next 3 hours waiting were punctuated with visits from Dr Chris (explaining everything that was about to happen) and nurses taking blood pressure, temperature, blood samples and putting in my IV, oh and taking off my nail varnish as I had forgoten to do it!

Without any notice at 11.40am two nurses came into our room said my name and told me it was my turn to head to theatre.  So I was wheeled along the corridor to wait in the pre-theatre area for my banding operation which was to be at midday.   Dr Chris came out to see me to make sure I was happy with everything and ready to proceed, eh yes totally, bring it on. 

So finally it has arrived midday Friday, 25 February 2011 the start of my new banded life.

Thursday 24 Feb, day before op.

Travelled to Vilvoorde in Brussels and checked into the Camponile Hotel.  Did a few touristy things before being back at my hotel for my consultation at 7.30pm.  Met Chris who is Dr De Bruynes clinical manager, a delightful gentleman, who gave me all the information I needed answered all my questions and completely put my mind at rest.  Parted with my money to pay for the operation (had been carrying 4000 Euros with me all day) so that was a relief being able to relinquish the tight grip I had on my bag all day!  Chris's parting shot before he left at 8pm was go and eat whatever you like tonight, well up until the fasting begins at midnight anyway!!  Oh my goodness how excited was I, it was indeed my last supper.  Now Vilvoorde is a lovely little town (infact I mean tiny) and there is not much there so to anyone else having surgery here take heed, get on a train to Brussels for your last pig out.  My friend and I walked round the whole town looking for somewhere to sit and eat, this consisted of 1 Chinese, 1 Thai, 1 Greek.  I love greek food but my friend doesn't so even though it was my last meal we ended up in the Chinese which was ok at best but didn't do any puddings, so my last meal was soup and salmon with rice, boring.  Made up for it slightly by having a couple of baileys at the hotel before off to bed at midnight ready for my early start in the morning, to be at hospital by 7am!!

Background Information

The pre op diet is going quite well, have had a couple of small lapses (maltesers-the lighter way to enjoy chocolate, apparently) but all in all not too bad.  I am kind of fighting with myself at the moment, thinking this is the last week I shall "properly eat" for a long time and  I'm spending it on a low fat diet!  I have in fact spent the last few months pigging out knowing I was going to get the band done but still  I feel robbed.  I think my brain now automatically thinks - not anothoer diet and I instantly feel down, but this time I just keep telling myself it is for my op and I feel much more positive about it.

I have spent the last 24 years on and off diets, you name it I have done it.  I have been all sizes, infact I keep my wardrobe sized and it has varied between a size 8 to a size 24.  At the moment I still have a couple of size 10 items in it but I am wearing a size 20 at the moment so not at my heaviest.  I remember the very first time I joined a slimming club I had 15lbs to lose and I thought it was the end of the world.  Now if I was to lose 8 stone that would bring me down to that first joining weight!!!  So after 24 years of yo-yo dieting I am praying the gastric band will finally help me conquer my weight problem.

Pre Op Diet

Well today is the day I finally start the pre op diet.  As with every other diet I have ever been on (and there have been many) it was a case of I'll start tomorrow.  I should of started 5 days ago but well better late than never.  It is supposed to be a low fat diet to shrink my liver to make the operation easier - obviously easier for the surgeon as if diets were easy for me I wouldn't need the bloody operation in the first place.  But that said I am looking forward to the operation, I am travelling to Belgium to have a gastric band with Dr Chris De Bruyne on the 25th February 2011.  I type the date in full as I believe it will be a very significant date in my life, the beginning of my banded life.  I spent many months (much to the annoyance of my husband) researching all the options for weight loss surgery.  My darling hubby said it was taking over my life and you know what it had.  My weight has been such an issue for me for so many years that just the thought of finally finding a way to help me control the weight did become all consuming.  I felt I could not wait the 2-3 years on the NHS waiting list so ploughed on with finding the right procedure for me (Gastric Band) then looked into which surgeon I wanted to do the operation and whalah here we are finally starting the pre op diet in preparation for my banding in Brussels on the 25th.