from the uk

[debbiebarr]

hi everyone im debbie from oldham grt manchester i had my gastric sleeve operation on 31st october 2011
im looking to chat to anyone from the uk who has had the same operation just to compare how we are doing

[shazbiz]

Hi

I had my sleeve on 7th Jan and am from the UK in Kent. Not exactly near Oldham but am free to chat and compare although, I'm obviously a few months behind you.

[grammargirl0309]

Welcome! Tell us what success you've had.

[Sharonimo]

Hi Debbie and Shazbiz,

I am from the UK (south east London) and have not had my op yet. The date on the left hand side in my info is a "provisional" guess I have been told to expect the confirmed date in writing shortly and it should be within the next 6 - 8 weeks.

[aneleh]

Hello Debbie and welcome. I have my six month anniversary next week. 5 stone down and fighting fit........

[shazbiz]

Hi Debbie and Shazbiz,

I am from the UK (south east London) and have not had my op yet. The date on the left hand side in my info is a "provisional" guess I have been told to expect the confirmed date in writing shortly and it should be within the next 6 - 8 weeks.

Hi Sharonimo,

Where in South East London are you, I'm in the south east but kent rather than London. What hospital are you having your op at? It's really good to see more people from the UK on here. No offense to all of the very helpful American people on here but it's good to know there's more people in the UK having this op. Was beginning to feel a bit alone.

[Lea]

welcome and congrats....I am married to a brit and will travel over to scotland with him for the first time after i lose my weight and feel comfortable flying on a plane!@!

[Sharonimo]

Hi Shazbiz,

I live in Woolwich, south east London but am having my op at the Whittington Hospital in north London with the surgeon Mr Pratik Sufi (on the NHS).

Where is your surgeon Mr Botha based?

Best wishes,
Sharon

P.S. I found out last night I cannot post on this forum at home. Don't know why but this forum does not let me log in at home, perhaps because of the insecure (dongle) ISP i have, whereas at work I am on the internet via a very secure verified ISP.

[Freedom36]

Hiya UK peeps! I'm an American living near Cambridge and had my surgery in London on August 21st of 2011. It was the best decision I've ever made!

[shazbiz]

Hi Freedom36,

You've done so well with your weight-loss! I hope to be able to say the same thing in a couple of months. Do you find you eat a lot more now you're a few months down the line or do you still have really good restriction? I'm only just nearly two weeks out so it's very early days for me as I'm only on pureed food but I do find that pureed food is filling me up really well with only eating a very small amount. Hope it stays that way.

[shazbiz]

Hi Sharon,

You're really close to me as I'm only in Bexley. I should have had my surgery done at St Thomas' but the waiting list got so long that they referred some patients to a private hospital for the surgeries to be done on a Saturday. I had my surgery done at the London Clinic but it was performed by the same surgeon that would have done it at St Thomas', they just used the private hospitals resources.

I'm going back to work next week and doubt I'll be able to access this forum from there. They have really strict internet rules there and they block most chat rooms and forums. We'll see..........

Got the all clear from my doctor today and was advised that they think I'm doing really well. Let's hope it stays that way. Will see how good I feel after being at work all week next week. It's much easier to feel good when all you've been doing is sitting around at home for two weeks. I have been going out walking every day but it's still not the same as having to concentrate on work. Wish me luck!

[Sharonimo]

I''m going back to work next week and doubt I'll be able to access this forum from there. They have really strict internet rules there and they block most chat rooms and forums. We'll see.......... Will see how good I feel after being at work all week next week. Wish me luck!

I do wish you luck for returning to work after only 2 weeks off -- have you taken this as sick leave or annual leave?

I am currently planning to take 3 weeks' annual leave ...... to me the idea of being 100% sure I would be fit for work after just 2 weeks is a bit daunting (altho my job is only sedentary -- office admin / secretarial).

Please do let me know how you get on -- on this thread if possible, as I am subscribed to this thread (LOL!) and I might have to go looking for your updates otherwise (!!!).

It's weird that I can only post on this thread while at work, and not at home. I can *view* at home, but each time I have tried to log in to reply it don't like it on my home laptop / dongle / ISP.

Best wishes for your return to work + let me know how you get on and if UR pain free etc.

[shazbiz]

I have to go back after only two weeks really as I'm not getting paid. I was made redundant last year and my current job is as a contractor. (I work in banking) it's a sedentary job but very busy. I've only been working for this bank for four months and have recently trained on a new job. I have to use my brain a lot and I think it's that that'll tire me out next week. If I was getting paid I would probably have had three weeks off. I do feel really good but would have liked to have one more week to enable me to walk a lot more and feel really great. Also, I've only been on puréed food for a few days and am going to have to work out what to do about what I eat next week. Is a lot easier when you're at home.

I'll let you know how I get on!

[Sharonimo]

I have to go back after only two weeks really as I'm not getting paid. ...... my current job is as a contractor. ..... Also, I've only been on puréed food for a few days and am going to have to work out what to do about what I eat next week. Is a lot easier when you're at home.

You are thinking like I am thinking. For me, altho I do have a salaried job which pays annual leave and sick pay, because my sickness record is poor (I have diabetes and am very prone to infection) I had lots of sick leave last year ..... so if I can do the op with no complications and just take 3 weeks' annual leave, I am hoping not to mess up my sick leave record again this year. The plan is if the sleeve op leads to good weight loss and remission of Type 2 Diabetes, hopefully I will become more healthy and have less sick leave this year and next year etc.

I have also been wondering what I will be able to eat if I return to work after 3 weeks as I am unlikely to be back on "normal" food by that time .... and I won't be able to carry heavy weights (as we know) so I won't want to be carrying in to work lots of tins of soup and crockery and can openers etc (!) ..... I have had a look in my nearest Boots at work and they do do a *small* selection of baby food (!) and there is one cafe which serves scrambled eggs (usually with other items but I may become the only person to go in and ask for scrambled eggs on their own !!!).

[shazbiz]

I bought a magic bullet and would totally recommend it. It can do smoothies, purée food and all sorts of other things. It comes with some mugs with screw on lids so it's really portable. I've got a microwave at work and may try and take soup in or maybe a slim fast. The portable cups are great as then you only have to take in what you're going to need. I will also try and take my breakfast in as I don't think I'll have time to eat it before I leave.

I'm sure once you've had the surgery your sickness record will greatly improve! I don't get paid any sick pay at all so it really makes me question whether to be off or not, plus I don't want to lose the job and was worried enough telling work that I'd need to be off for two weeks. Thankfully they've actually been really good. Think they're relieved I'm going back as I think even they expected me to be off for longer.