by Me | Sep 20, 2018 | Surgery
Today is the day of my operation
The First Day of the Rest of My (hopefully extended) Life !!!
I’ve been out this morning to my regular weekly Business Networking Meeting/Breakfast. I saw no point in sitting around at home doing nothing but waiting…. although because I was unable to actually eat or even drink anything the “breakfast” was a bit light on. Great to get encouragement and support from the team though 🙂
Update: I didn’t make the networking event as the surgery time was brought forward a couple of hours form that originally planned so timing would have been a but tight.
I had a final “shower” using antibacterial soap provided by hospital, dried with a fresh clean towel and dressed in fresh clean clothes.
I have my bag packed and am pretty much ready to go… here is what I am taking with me to hospital :
Laptop and charger (I HATE blogging from a phone)- Phone and charger (need to be able to communicate)
- Tablet and charger (want something to read)
- 360° Camera and charger (never know when it will come in handy)
- Slippers
- Couple of changes of clothes
- Basic Toiletries (toothbrush, shaver, deoderant)
- Diabetes Medications
… and that’s about it… I only expect to be in for a couple of nights, so should be out Saturday.
by Me | Sep 20, 2018 | Surgery
Today is finally the day of my operation – The First Day of the Rest of My (hopefully extended) Life !!!
I have a busy day of posting planned for today. But because for much of the day I will be “otherwise occupied”… many of these will initially be automatic scheduled posts (although I will come back and update the details later). Here is what I am planning :
by Me | Sep 18, 2018 | Surgery
Specifics will vary from hospital to hospital, and surgeon to surgeon, but here are some suggestions as to things that you are likely to experience on the day of surgery :
As part of the pre-admission process you will advised how to prepare for your day of surgery day. This may include :
- Pre-op Wash Instructions (for evening before and morning of your operation)
- Pre-op “fasting” recommendations
- Pre-op changes to any medications
- You will be admitted to the hospital on the morning of your surgery. You may be in the operating room for two or three hours, but the actual procedure typically takes about 1-2 hours depending on the type of your operation. Then you will spend a few hours in the recovery room.
- Once the anesthesia has worn off, you may feel some pain or discomfort, which can usually be treated with ordinary pain relieve medication. The hospital staff will help you get out of bed and start moving as soon as possible to help prevent blood clots and respiratory problems.
by Me | Sep 18, 2018 | Weight Loss Surgery Research
A British Journal of Surgery study ( indicates that weight-loss surgery is cost-effective over 10 years and can save healthcare systems money over a lifetime.
The April 2018 study found that Weight-loss surgery was associated with reduced average costs to the UK National Health Service by €2742 (£1944), and a gain of 0.8 life-years and 4.0 quality-adjusted life years over a lifetime compared with usual care. It also had the potential to reduce the lifetime risks of obesity-related cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
“Despite increased rates of obesity in the UK, England has one of the lowest utilization rates of bariatric operations in Europe and issues with limitations in patient access to surgery,” said co-author Vasily Lukyanov, of Synergus AB, in Sweden. “The findings of the study justify non-limited access to surgery to all eligible categories of obese patients in England.”
Borisenko, V. Lukyanov, A. R. Ahmed. Cost-utility analysis of bariatric surgery. British Journal of Surgery, 2018; DOI: 10.1002/bjs.10857
by Me | Sep 17, 2018 | Food & Diet, Post-Surgery
Just a few more days now until my Surgery… time now to start thinking about (and planning for) what I will need to “eat (and I do use the term loosely) when I get out of hospital.
The aim for the first month or so post-surgery is wound repair and recovery and the focus of diet is protein and fluid.
Liquid Diet
A fully liquid diet will allow for healing without placing stress on my newly formed stomach…. I will need to stay on fluids for 2-3 weeks following surgery. The consistency of the fluids I can drink should be about the consistency of milk.
Hydration and Protein
I will need to focus on keeping up hydration and obtaining enough protein to help with wound repair and recovery. For the first few days I will only be able to tolerate small amounts (20-30ml) at a time although this will gradually increase as I start to heal. After 2 weeks I may be able to slowly drink a whole cup (250ml) at a time (oh Joy:))
I will need to take a high protein drink (60-80g of protein) each day as well as a soluble multivitaim supplement.
I can contuinue to have OptiFast Shakes and Soups, for “meals” and have been recommended to try Protein Perfection Protein Water (who knew suxh a thing existed ???) and also take 2 x BN Multi Chewable Multivatimins each day.
Allowed & Not Allowed
Here are some examples of the types of liquids I can and can’t have :
Allowed
|
NOT Allowed
|
| Skim milk, soy milk, lactose free milk |
Porridge, Semolina, Weetbix |
Fruit Smoothies (strained), Fruit Juice,
Vegatable Juice (such as V8) |
Thickshakes, ice cream, custard, jelly |
| Up and Go, Sustagen |
Cheese, Cream Cheese |
| Optifast Shakes & Soups, Protein water |
|
| Thin smooth soups (e.g. pumpkin soup) |
Thock soups (thicker than milk) |
| Hydralyte, Powerade Zero, Diet Cordial |
Soft drinks |
| Tea, Coffee, Herbal Tyea, instant soup (strained) |
|
