Signal Slimming

I have since the age of six and having my tonsils out gained weight. his in recent years due to bereavement and my job increased greatly. In May 2010 after feeling very ill I decided now was the time to sort myself out once and for all. You will have alread read my use of Hypnoband as a way to get me to NHS surgery.

Surgery is not an option to take lightly and takes a lot of work to be granted on the NHS. I have in the first eight months shed over seven stone with Hypnoband, eating correctly and regular excercise. I look at the need for surgery to accelerate my weightloss and provide a permanent solution to over eating. I have covered on the website the options avaialbe but this is how thing go, if you are looking for NHS treatment.

I first approached my doctor who put me in touch with the local PCT Weight Management team. You must see them for a minimum of six months and during that time show a steady weightloss with their help and guidance. When they are satisfied you have reached a level for surgery you are referred to the surgeon and his team. I have just started this process which gets underway with an appointment with a Psychiatric consultant who talks about your life from being a child to make sure you understand about the surgery and mentally are prepared for what's to come. Your second appointment then introduces you to the surgeons clinical team. This include a specialist nurse, doctor, dietician, sleep assesment team and the surgeon himself. This five hour appointment give them an idea of you and your requirements and provides them with which they feel the best surgical option is for you.

After having this appointment I have to now start a much stricter diet to lose a further two stone to make the surgery safer to perform, this includes a liver reduction diet (this should only be done with medical supervision). The liver must be reduced in size as they need to move it out of the way during bypass surgery. To do this it must be as small as possible, so there is now risk of splitting it. I also have to go for further sleep tests to reveal and irregular patterns which with cause problems.

I return to hosptial on 24th March and will then update you on the next step towards surgery.

On Monday 12th September I had my Gastric Bypass operation. It was done by Professor Basil Ammori one of the top bariatric surgeons in the UK.

I can’t tell you how nervous I was for the few days up to the operation and indeed I didn’t sleep the night before the operation due to my head totally doing cartwheels. So many thoughts …. Like ‘What if?’ and ‘I don’t want to die’. I suppose these are all natural? On the morning of my operation I went to the admissions unit and after a five hour wait, I finally put on the gown for the surgery and walked to the operating theatre. Once inside the anesthetist prepared me for the operation before finally putting me under. I don’t remember anything then until waking up in a ward surrounded by people asking if I was okay and continuing to monitor my progress.

The operation had taken two hours, in which time the new portion of my stomach was made, a biopsy taken and a small hernia (which I didn’t know I had) was also removed. I had five sets of stitches across my stomach varying in size from a quarter of an inch to around an inch maximum. I had liquid pain relief and a set of inflatable bands around my legs which massaged them to prevent blood clots.

After spending the night in hospital I was discharged less than 24 hours later and sent home to convalesce. I had medication to take and the anti blood clotting injections were done by a district nurse as I was too much of a coward to stick a needle in myself. My food intake for the first three weeks is nothing but liquid. Water, tea, coffee, clear soup and sugar free jelly make up my daily intake. But you know, I don’t feel hungry or indeed any cravings.

The first two weeks since the operation have gone well. I’ve lost just over a stone now taking my weight to 27 Stone 6 Pounds making a total loss of 11 Stones. The surgeon thinks initially I could lose up to two stone per month. I can’t help thinking now ….. Why was I worried? I put my faith in the NHS who meticulously carried out tests prior to surgery and the amazing skills of Professor Ammori and his team.

Now four months after the operation my weightloss post op is over 4 stone a total loss of fourteen stone. My eating is minimal and slow. Certain foods i'm really struggling with and others have bad effects. The good parts though certainly outweigh the bad. I'm still struggling to digest meats, however cheese and soft or wet foods is much better. The biggest problem I've found is telling my brain to eat like a bay again, you sometimes forget how small your portions need to be and because you can't digest them, you will be sick. The whole thing is a new mindset and it takes getting used to. You really have to concentrate at meal times to get it right, not have any distractions like conversatio or ther TV.

Things though are moving in the right direction and overall I've now dropped 5 clothes sizes. Keep checking back for more info.