My Gastric Sleeve Experience right from the beginning

Hello!!

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

I have had a huge response to my last blog - people wanting to know the steps before - what you should and shouldn't eat and all of the rest of the fun things - So I will try and answer them from MY experience and what I did.

**PLEASE NOTE - I am talking about MY experience and what I did personally **

The first step you need to do is to see your doctor for a referral to the surgeon you want to see.

My surgeon was recommended to me by my GP (Doctor Padovan this is his link Bariatric & Gastric Band Surgeon Perth | Emerge Surgical) - make sure you do your research.

Different people like different styles of surgeons/doctors.

There are ones that are out there that are blunt and have no compassion whatsoever, and then you have the complete opposite.

In Perth, you can get it done FREE from Joondalup hospital, but I believe the wait times are up to 2-3 years due to the number of people wanting to get the surgery done.

Once you get a booking to see the surgeon, they will go through everything with you, and tell you the pros and cons of getting the surgery and also the risks.

I went private so I was able to talk to my surgeon, and book a date straight away - I had other issues that I needed to be sorted at the same time during surgery, so had 3 operations done in one.

I was extremely lucky, as my surgeon didn't make me do the liquid diet beforehand.

This can range between 2-4 weeks prior to surgery where you basically go on optifast and follow that diet.

Go on the Gastric sleeve Facebook pages, and you will see almost EVERYONE complain about it - IT WOULD BE SO HARD!!! The diet can be found here - Intensive Level | Find Your Plan|OPTIFAST

I met my Anesthesiologist about a week before my surgery - he advised me what I could and couldn't take the day of my surgery (medication wise) and explained what he would be doing on the day.

I also met up with the dietitian, and she gave me some booklets to tell me what I can and can't eat etc.

Foods Without Nutritional Value: These are empty-calorie foods. Think pretzels, popcorn, chips, and sweets. They may fill you up and satisfy a craving, but they don’t aid your health in any manner.

• Simple Carbohydrates: White bread, white rice, and regular pasta are examples of simple carbs. Look for whole-grain options instead.

• Excess Fat: Healthy fats are better than saturated fat, but you still need to cut down on these. Definitely steer clear of unhealthy fat sources, like bacon, processed meats, sausages, and whole milk.

• Nutritionless Drinks: Save for water, any drinks you consume should offer nutritional value. Additionally, avoid anything sugary or carbonated.

Now, I am definitely not a Nazi with this EXCEPT for the carbonated beverages - I haven't, and I won't have one ever again, as it stretches your pouch - I didn't spend over 25k to do that!!

I went and bought a CRAP load of things I really didn't need - all these protein waters/shakes/soups/up and go protein drinks (yuck).

Everyone on the Facebook pages tells you not to do it - but I think we all do - JUST INCASE haha!!!

If you are going public, I believe everything is paid for by Medicare (I could be wrong there)

If you are going private, everything needs to be paid for at least a week before surgery.

I paid it outright - but you can borrow funds from your superannuation link here - Early access on compassionate grounds | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au)

or Cosmetic, Dental & Medical Payment Plans | MediPay | Apply in 5 Minutes

I have read if you borrow from your superannuation, you need to pay tax on it - and also, it can take a few weeks to process - so once you get your date for surgery, it would be smart to apply for it straight away.

Personally, I had my "Last Supper" 2 days before surgery - you should only have soups the day before so your tummy is completely clear from anything.

Like all surgeries, I had to fast the night before, with only a bit of water in the morning.

The day of my surgery, I was shit scared - my husband had no idea that I was frightened. All that was going on in my mind was

"What if I don't wake up?"

"What if I am one of those people have all the complications?"

"How much pain am I going to be in?"

My hubby was allowed to come up to my room, and we sat there and chatted about random things, and then the nurse came in and gave me my gown, and I was told I was the first person to be operated on.

I put on my sexy green outfit, sent my best friend Christy a gorgeous selfie (below) -and waited to be whisked away to surgery by two lovely male nurses (who had to listen to me babble absolute shite as I was nervous - poor darlings)

I was put in the waiting section while there was a lot of hustle and bustle - my Surgeon and Anesthesiologist came out, and had a little joke and laugh - then I was wheeled into surgery.

It all went really quickly - but me (in my true form) HAD to be different, and I made literally all the staff look at the undies I had chosen to wear to my surgery.

I was so excited to show them off - I know they loved it - it was great HAHA!!

Picture below - bought from It's my time Briefs – Fluro Sugar

I literally showed EVERYONE on the ward

I then was transferred onto a bed that I BARLEY fit on width-wise, my left arm was taken, and I barely felt anything go in - All I said was "Thank you - that didn't hurt" - the Anesthesiologist said, "your welcome" and that's all I remember.

I was woken up very gently, my husband was there when I woke.

I didn't feel any pain when I woke up, I was just SO out of it.

The nurse said to start walking around as soon as you can - and of course, I decide that I can do it straight away - Note to self - I am NOT super human - just a stubborn woman haha!

I was basically in and out of it ALL day - I just felt so sleepy.

I wasn't able to play Pokemon go or my switch, watch Netflix or do social media - I was just so exhausted.

The items I recommend bringing to the hospital are :

• Phone

• Phone Charger - long cord

• Headphones in case your in a room with another person, and you want to watch Netflix on your phone

• Lip Balm

• Tooth Paste / Tooth Brush

• Dressing gown (when you walk the wards, your butt hangs out - I was ok with this, as my panties were all themed haha!)

• Spare panties / Jocks

• All your medication you need to take

• Any other toiletries you need - facewash/cream blah blah

Pain wise it wasn't TOO bad - there was a pain though.

They give you pain medication every 2 hours from memory, just take it!!

I kept saying no to it, and I did regret it a few times.

Something I didn't realise is there is a drain attached to you for the first day and night - that was mainly where my pain was.

It was like it was out in on a weird angle ?? That's the only way I can describe it.

They also come around and give you a needle every 5 hours ( from memory) to make sure you don't clot.

You need to walk the halls as soon as you can, so you can walk off the gas.

I was extremely lucky and had no issues with gas, but the poor love next to me really suffered from it.

I sat up most of the time - even when I slept, just to make sure I didn't get gas pain.

Like I said in my last blog, 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 - I found my picture I took!!!

They give you goals - the first one is to drink 4 x 30mls of water from the medicine cup within the hour - the second one could be 4 x 60mls within the hour and so on 4 x 120mls

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.

I stayed up ALL night to complete this, as I wanted to be released ASAP, I like my own bed.

The surgeon did his rounds, and I was told that my surgery was a success, though it was touch and go due to my other issues.

After you complete all your goals, you are then given "meth blue" (please note - this is not the meth you are thinking of hahaha!!!!)

They put this solution in to see if you have any leaks in your drain.

If there are no leaks, they take the drain out (what a strange feeling - one I cannot even describe!!!)

I felt so much better when the drain was taken out, as it was making me uncomfortable in the end.

I was discharged the next day with 3 months' worth of Somac / pain medication / anti-nausea medication and BN multivitamins.

If you don't like fat bellies with wounds - don't look haha!

But for those who want to see what your belly looks like after.

Something I also wasn't aware of, after surgery, I got my period pretty soon after - that is pretty common for females from the anaesthetic apparently.

Now - to the diet - this is BASICALLY what my dietitian told me - but yours could be different.

Post-surgery - Clear Fluids - day 1-3 looked like this

Breakfast - 100mls of juice - Sip over an hour

Snack - 100mls of juice - Sip over an hour

Lunch - 100mls CLEAR soup - Sip over an hour

Snack - 100mls juice - Sip over an hour

Dinner - 100mls CLEAR soup - Sip over an hour

Supper - 100mls juice - Sip over an hour

Aim for 500mls water sipped in between meals

The clear soup includes Miso soup/bone broth/chicken and veg broth - you can also have zooper doopers and sorbet!!

Nourishing fluids day 4 - 3 weeks

This is basically the same as above, instead of clear fluid, you can now have runny yoghurt/protein drinks/packet/canned or any fresh soups/smoothies/liquid custard - BUT this must be blended so there are NO lumps.

This stage was hard for me, as I missed chewing - so I bought olives and pickles, chewed them, and spat them out (Yes, disgusting, I know - but was a lifesaver for this savoury queen)

You NEED to start adding protein powder to EVERYTHING - your dietitian will tell you how much you need.

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.

You also need to take multivitamins for the rest of your life, as you cannot get all the nutrients you require from your everyday diet - If you can't stomach the BN Chews they give you - you can buy Fit For Me Vitamins - Sleeve Gastrectomy & Gastric Banding – FitForMe

I AM NOT ENDORSED BY THESE COMPANIES - SO I DO NOT GET A KICKBACK - THIS IS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

Puree Phase - week 3 - 4

This is the stage where you can have scrambled eggs!!!!! WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Everything needs to be chewed/blended well, and really moist - yes I said it... Moist moist MOIST!!!!

Your portion size is around 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup per meal (eating up to 6 "meals" a day)

Soft Moist stage - week 5

You can start introducing lasagna/shepherd pie/salmon/risotto - still must be moist, but your variety broadens.

Your portion size is around 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup per meal (eating up to 6 "meals" a day)

You will start to introduce normal foods back into your life - some may make you "dump" others you will be fine with.

I think that is everything - BUT if you have a question, PLEASE feel free to contact me!!

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

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