11 Weeks Post OP

Hello there!!

As most of you now know, I had the gastric sleeve about 11 weeks ago (1st December 2021)

These are the main questions I have been asked - so I thought it would be easier to blog about it - and have it all in one space.

Q. Who performed your surgery?

Doctor Padovan this is his link Bariatric & Gastric Band Surgeon Perth | Emerge Surgical

You need to get a referral from your GP to see Dr Padovan - he is the nicest surgeon I have ever come across.

He is non-judgemental, and is kind and caring - I really do recommend you see him, especially if you have had bad experiences with other surgeons.

Q. Where did your surgery take place?

Doctor Padovan operated on me at "The Mount" this is the link Home :: Mount Private Hospital (mounthospital.com.au)

All the staff were incredible there - if I had to have another surgery, I would hope to go back there.

Q. How much was the surgery?

I went privately - so I had to pay, as my HBF cover didn't cover any of my surgery.

It was roughly $25'000, as I had three surgeries in one (due to other issues) - I think the majority of people pay around 21-22k?

This is in WESTERN AUSTRALIA - not sure about other states and countries :)

Q. How long were you wanting weight loss surgery?

I never really "WANTED" weight loss surgery - My mum used to tell me how fat I was/am ALL the time, and when I was younger, this really bothered me - but as I matured, I realised that being fat wasn't the worse thing I could be.

I have other health issues that started to play up due to my weight and needed other surgery done - so it was suggested to me that I should consider the sleeve, and do the surgery all at once - I do not regret it all.

Q. What was the most challenging part of making the decision to have the gastric sleeve?

I would say fear - surgery is scary.

Now that I have been through it, I do not know why I was so scared.

As I said, the hospital staff were incredible, and I had a great surgeon.

Q. How long did it take to recover?

I was really lucky (or unlucky) to have been made redundant just before my surgery - I was lucky, as we are financially stable - I had a month off to make sure I was all better.

A lot of people go back to work after 2 weeks.

Q. Was there anything unexpected about the recovery process?

There were a few things that the Facebook pages on VGS don't really tell you about.

When you are staying in hospital, they give you needles every few hours to make sure your blood doesn't clot - I had NO idea they did this.

The first one hurt, but the rest were fine.

When you wake up from surgery, they give you medicine cups to drink out of - the aim of the game is to try and SIP the fluids they give you in the amount of time they give you.

They give you goals - the first one is to drink 2 x 20mls of water from the medicine cup within the hour - the second one could be 3 x 20mls within the hour and so on - from memory, it went up to 6??

If you do not complete this within the hour, you are reset back, and you need to start that again - I hope that makes sense??

This is why some people are released the next day, and some people stay in for longer - you need to complete this.

Sweet baby Jesus... Pooping.... BUY A STOOL SOFTNER I bought this one, the smallest tablet Dulcolax: Designed for Predictable Relief of Constipation

My first real poop was like giving birth out of my ass... I sat there for an hour and cried, I am not even joking... I ripped things that should never be ripped.

Looking back now, it was funny - not so funny at the time... and the pain and blood - it was awful!

Basically, ALL diet things are sweet - this was a disaster for me, as my preference is savoury - so I chewed on things and spat them out to get salt (olives/pickles etc) I know you probably shouldn't, but it helped me from not vomiting every time I had to have sweet things.

I also did this when I missed chewing food for the first few weeks. I didn't consume the actual food, just the juices that came from it - and it was literally pickles and olives.

Q. How has eating changed since having the surgery?

It has changed A LOT.

The first few weeks, you are pretty much on soups (hence why you lose so much weight so fast) I missed the chewing stage - so the pickle and olives really saved me there.

I eat off small entree plates to make me feel like I'm eating a "normal" amount of food, as I am very visual - this helps me believe I am eating a "normal" amount of food.

I can eat anything - I do not have any issues with eating meat/vegies spicy food etc - there are some items of food that make me "dump" but it is to be expected.

When you go out for a meal, you really need to think about what you will eat - a few reasons - obviously, you want to still chose the "right" food, but because you can only eat a small amount, you want it to be "worth" it.

Say you order Salmon and potato - you would try and eat the salmon, as the carbs would fill you up too quickly.

I do not feel hungry as such - I now know when I feel "empty" I need to eat or drink - it is a strange feeling - PLEASE NOTE - you cannot eat and drink at the same time, it is NOT a good time.

Q. How many weeks has it been, and how much weight have you lost?

It has been 11 weeks and I have lost a total of 16 kg's at this stage.

I have stalled, but that is normal.

Q. Do you think this was the easy way out?

Maaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeee .... I can't even explain to you - this is NOT the easy way out...

Food is an addiction. I don't care what other people say, fat people are addicted to food.

I was lucky, as I was never addicted the "the wrong" food - more like good food in HUGE quantities.

Weight loss surgery is NOT an easy way out. It is a tool that helps you.

Q. Do you think weight loss surgery will make you more confident?

I hope not!!! HAHAHA!!

I am and always have been confident.

I think it may change the way others see me and may take a toll on my social media accounts - but I needed to put myself and my health first.

Q. What is your partner's reaction been to the surgery?

I am so so lucky - my husband, Barry, has only been supportive, loving and so caring throughout this process.

If your partner isn't - that is their issue, not yours.

It's generally only insecure partners that will have an issue with you bettering yourself, and making yourself healthy.

Q. Is there anything you can recommend to others who will be having the surgery? What to buy, products etc?

Yes - but please note - this is from MY experience - not from doctors etc.

I am also NOT a brand ambassador for these - so I do not have codes etc for these websites.

If you can't stomach the BN Chews they give you - you can buy Fit For Me Vitamins - Sleeve Gastrectomy & Gastric Banding – FitForMe you will need to stay on vitamin supplements for the rest of your life.

Protein powder - I buy mine from here:

This one I mix with coffee/tea - make sure you mix with COLD milk or water first, or it WILL curdle - Boomers Protein Whey Protein Isolate | Cost Price Supplements Australia

This one - I mix with EVERYTHING, it actually is tasteless Tasteless Protein Collagen Protein Water 500g | Feel Good Protein (costpricesupplements.com.au) - two scoops in juice/cordial/tea/coffee/soups/food - also - try and mix with cold, then add hot.

From losing weight - your skin will become saggy and wrinkly - if you are worried about this on your face, go see Kalli - she is INCREDIBLE!! (7) Rejuvenescence - Skin By Kalli | Facebook and has her own range of products to suit all skin types.

If there is anything else you want to know - please email/message!!

I am more than happy to be your "go-to" person.

My links are :

Website - https://www.Iamtunney.com.au

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IamTunney

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