Hurray I'm home.

Surgery took 6 hours - longer than anticipated as my stomach was stuck to my spleen so there was some bleeding.  Also my gall stone was large - the size of a gobstopper !

Am home and resting, will post probably more tomorrow - feeling ok - uncomfortable if I walk around but painfree if I don't and I'm not on any meds at all.

Take Care
Debbie

Well - today is my surgery day - it's currently 12.30 am and I have to be up and leaving for the hospital at 5 am - admission is at 6 am and my surgery is at 8 am - how slick is that. 

Still not finally packed - will do that next.

Had a lovely dinner out tonight watching the Dubai Fountains - from above (63rd floor bar) and at ground level, no alcohol and that's it on the water front for me until after the op.

Will post when I am out - probably Friday/Saturday.

Good Luck to everyone waiting for their surgery this week.

Take care all of you - and looking forward to moving onto the loser bench !!!

Debbie

Hi all, just to let you know that it's my surgery tomorrow - YAY !!

So I'll be off the board for a few days but will be back posting soon.

Hope everyone is OK and Take Care

Debbie

Hi all - well I am now getting excited that my surgery is only 1 day away !

Have just cleared out my kitchen drawers and cupboards to make room for my protein shakes, broth and kool aid etc and also found space for my small kitchen blender and storage pots - I remember back to when I had my hysterectomy and it was so much nice to have every thing around me when I got home.

Just been to the pharmacy and stocked up on waterproof plasters, chewable calcium.

When hubbie gets home tonight I will get him to take my measurements and also to take some pics - think I will be brave and do some in underwear and some in clothes so I get a good idea of my progress later - won't be great having the pics done but I want to use this as inspirtation so that I never go back to how I am now again.

Went out for dinner on the creek last night - was really lovely - an all you can eat buffet - and I didn't go mad - just one plateful and a few small desserts.  We are having a BBQ tonight on our balcony - we are on the 31st floor so have great views over Dubai, the marina and the sea so that will be lovely - have decided tonight is my last night on alcohol before my op so will make the most of it as I really love a chilled glass of white wine.

Busy day tomorrow - out for lunch with my sister in law then out for a last night dinner with Andy's parents as the fly home Tuesday am.

So will pack either later or tomorrow and before I know it I'll be done and out the other side.

Wish me luck !

Debbie

Husband, MIL and FIL gone out for the afternoon and evening leaving me at home - I said I wanted some space to myself - I know that sounds selfish but I've had them here for almost 2 weeks and had my sister and her family out the week before.  MIL and FIL don't go home until the morning of the surgery so I wanted some time to myself, to sort out my bag and do all the usual prep to go in - defluff legs etc.

Spent the day on the beach yesterday so am now sporting some unusual sun tan lines as the wind seems to have whipped away the sun cream - just hope it fades as I look like a red/white zebra with white spots at the moment !!

Had a lovely protein drink whilst out - don't think it will be on the menu post surgery as it seemed to contain real chocolate and ice-cream - I knew it was too good to be true !!

That's it - off to try and pack a minimal size bag for hospital ......

Take Care
Debbie

Had my pre-op yesterday. 

All fine - BP - 120/70, had an ECG which was fine and provides a base-line figure if there are any problems.

Saw the anaethetist and was reassured as he was very thorough, also met a patient co-ordinator who took me through what to expect - all as expected except that he didn't think I would need much pain control after surgery - will see - maybe it's different because I'm comparing it against my hysterectomy which was open surgery not key hole.

The anaethatist wants me to remove my contact lenses for surgery (never had to remove them before as I wear them for 30 days then change them including sleeping in them) - this will be fun (NOT) - I am blind as a bat without them and have not used my glasses for at least 5 years so will probably be very disorientated without my lenses in !

My surgery involves my gall bladder removal too, so the sleeve will only be done if there are no problems with the gall bladder removal - I'm not anticipating any problems but guess I should be prepared just in case they wake me up and say that they have not been able to do both surgeries.  I think the chances are very low - and I will be extremely disappointed, but guess I have to leave it to the surgeon to do the right thing.

My surgery is at 8 am so I have to be at the hospital at 6 am - no food and drink after midnight which is fine. Will be in hospital between 1 -4 nights depending on which surgery I have (1 for gall bladder) up to 4 for the sleeve and gall bladder.

Andy is getting worried about my surgery and instead of talking about it is keeping it bottled up as I guess most men to - it doesn't make it any easier as he is now snappy.  At least his parents are here still - they fly home on the morning of my op so we have plenty to do to keep us busy before then - although I may duck out one day and have a day to myself relaxing - maybe get a facial or something.

Had my roots touched up last night too as I don't want to have that lovely white/silver stripey look after surgery - vain I know !

Off to the beach today and then to the new Meydan horse racing stadium tonight which will be different.

That's it for now

Take Care
Debbie

Trying desperately to meet my goal of not gaining weight prior to my surgery - I should get there - but with guests staying with us it's a bit difficult as we are eating out more than usual and I also cooked a fab full english breakfast yesterday which was lovely.

We will get back on track today with a selection of fresh fruit and yogurt for breakfast plus croissants for those who want them !

Each day a new parcel arrives either from the UK or the US - I have been busy getting in things for after my surgery including a few books about life after surgery, a bullet type food blender, mini storage pots, camelback drink cups etc.

I've done all my food shopping now so have in lots of broths, Koolaid and protein shakes etc.

Also treated myself to some new Nightware - a mixture of Nightdresses and PJ's so I have plenty of choice in hospital plus recovery.  I had a hysterectomy 1 1/2 years ago and remember spending a lot of my spare time in my PJ's afterwards because they were nice and comfortable for lounging in at home so will get lots of wear out of them.

It's beginning to get hotter here - it was 99 F yesterday in the day, followed by an awesome thunder and lightening storm in the evening - followed then by major flooding during our drive home from dinner - at least I know my 4x4 can swim now !!

We were close to the Burj Khalifa (tallest tower in the world) and it always gets hit by lightening - didn't see it get struck last night but there are some great photos of it being struck on the internet.

Anyway off to prepare the fruit and see what sites the day takes us to today.

Take Care
Debbie

I found this on the OH website, and have put in my data - I sincerely hope to be able to beat this chart and reach 100% of my weight loss not the 65% the site models on.  Time will tell.

Watch this space.....


http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/information/planner+results.php

Your BMI and Goal Weight

Your weight is 286 pounds; your ideal weight is 147 pounds. Thus, your “excess” weight is about 139 pounds. Bariatric surgery might help you lose 65% of this excess weight, meaning you might lose 90 pounds. If you lost 90 pounds, then you would end up weighing 196 pounds. 196 pounds would thus be your “goal weight” for bariatric surgery. Typically bariatric surgery patients lose this amount over the course of 12 to 15 months, with slight fluctuations and possibly slight regain after that. Below is a graph of how your weight might change after surgery. Your current BMI is 44.8. Click here to find out what that means. Warning: The figures below represent just one possible typical outcome. Your loss could vary greatly.

Key: possible loss of 90 lbs after surgery excess weight you might keep is 49 lbs your ideal weight is 147 lbs Possible Weight Loss	286	268	250	241	236	232	227	223	219	214	209	205	201	198	196	198	196	197	196
Month	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
Wt. Loss	0	18	36	45	50	54	59	63	67	72	77	81	85	88	90	88	90	89	90
BMI	44.8	42.0	39.2	37.7	37.0	36.3	35.6	34.9	34.3	33.5	32.7	32.1	31.5	31.0	30.7	31.0	30.7	30.9	30.7

So here's the email I sent my family to update them about my surgery :

Hi - well my latest update is that I am having surgery on 9th March to have my gall bladder removed.

I have also made a major decision to have weight loss surgery on the same day (assuming my gall bladder surgery is ok) so will be following in mum's footsteps after she has shown such a great example of how to change her life.  

I've been thinking about this for some time, and it seems sensible to have the two procedures done at the same time so I'm only on the operating table once particularly as I won't be working for the next couple of months so will have time to get fully recovered and to kick start my journey to get slimmer.

I don't see this as the easy option, the easy option would be to do nothing, pretend all is well and continue on the lose weight/gain weight merry-go-round that I have been on for a long time - and am sure we've all been there !

I want to do this as a way of getting healthier so that I don't face any health issues in the future as a result of my weight which you all know I have struggled to keep under control since I have been about 14.   It's also about putting myself first - which will be new for me as I've often put my work/career first and me second.

If loosing weight was an olympic event I should get a gold medal - but as for keeping it off - then I'm unranked and have not been successful in doing this.  

Apart from the gall stones I am fit and healthy with normal blood pressure and no sighs of diabetes but don't want to keep challenging my body by carrying the extra weight and feel that it's the right time to make a change for the good.

So I'll be in hospital for about 4 days - the surgery will be done laproscopically so it should be much easier to recover from than my hysterectomy and the prognosis of weight loss is good - just look at mum to see what I mean.

Wish me luck !

Well this time in 2 weeks, I will be at the hospital and waiting for my surgery - don't yet know what time surgery will be but I have to be at the hospital for 8 am.  That will work out well, Andy's parents arrive tonight at midnight and then leave for the UK on the 9th - the morning of my surgery - they have to be at the airport at 6 am so we can drop them and then drive straight to the hospital.  In the meantime, I will play Dubai host/tour guide so we will be keeping busy - the challenge is not to eat too much as I have a goal of going to surgery at 286lbs and this is what I am now.  I don't have to do a pre-surgery diet but think that I will go onto a high protein one anyway, that way I can enjoy eating out which I think we will do a lot and hopefully maintain my weight or even drop a few pounds.

My mum had this surgery a year ago and she went into a bit of an eating frenzy - having to eat the last of just about everything and she ended up gaining weight (a lot) before her op.  I have to admit I don't feel that way, it's a bit like feeling at peace and just being able to make good choices anyway.  It's amazing how we all act differently.

Mum rang me yesterday and we have arranged for her to come out the week after my surgery to stay with us for a week - it will be good to see her and she can spend some time looking after me plus it will get her out of the uk and into the sun.  I saw her out here in November but hardly for any time as she stayed with my brother, his wife and children.

She's lost 7 stone since her op so has done well, but think that she has some bad habits creeping back in - so maybe seeing me start the journey might kick start hers again too - the prize for her is that if she loses some more weight she will be able to get her knees replaced as she has really bad arthritis.

Met up with a new pal I have made on this forum who lives in Dubai a few days ago, it was great to meet up and share experiences etc.  She has a band and wants revision to a sleeve and is seeing my consultant to discuss if that's possible.

Hooked up with another pal from here briefly on Facebook last night too so we can catch up more.

I had a hysterectomy a year and a half ago and used a similar forum to this then and am still in contact with about a dozen of my hystersisters - we shared our experiences then through thick and thin and all found the support excellent.

Lots to do today, shopping, UK Consultate, Airport etc

Bye for Now