Day of Operation

Saturday, 23rd August 2014

Weight loss: 19st 10lbs

I had trouble sleeping which I suppose is normal before surgery and ended up running a little late.

After showering and getting ready, we left at 06:20am and I was worried we would be late, but there was no traffic and we arrived at the hospital on time.

There were other people in the foyer of the hospital reception and they all had their partners with them, so I asked John to stay.

I was called into a side room where I signed some papers and then the lady dealing with me, picked up a flower arrangement and gave it to me, welcoming me to the hospital.

She took us up to the ward which has individual rooms with en suite bathrooms.  I had a good look around while John fiddled with the freeview tv and showed me how to find the channels etc.

Then it was time for him to go and I was asked to change into a gown and some surgical stockings.

I had a blood test and was weighed.  My total weight loss on the liver diet was 13lb - not bad for two weeks!

I then saw a nurse who took my obs and told me I was number two on the list, although there was a chance I would be bumped down.

Shortly after, I saw the anesthetist and then the surgeon.  Mr Wan told me that if my adhesions from previous surgery were too severe and they took more than an hour to seperate, he would have to abandon the surgery and instead, insert a balloon into my stomach to help me loose weight.  I would then be called back for a second surgery.

This was not the outcome I was hoping for and I called John, who immediately stated that my safety was the most important thing and to be hopeful.

While I was on the phone, the nurse came in to tell me I'd been bumped down to number three.  I was feeling quite tired by this time, so decided to climb into bed and catch some zzz's.

I was eventually called at just after 12:30pm and I quickly texted John before walking to the operating room.

I had to climb onto the theatre table and the nurses put pumps onto my legs to prevent clots, then I had a line put in and the anasthetic.

The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the recovery room, in quite a bit of pain which the nurses took care of immediately by giving me morphine and they told me the surgery had gone as planned and I was now the owner of a gastric sleeve.

The pain killer kicked in quickly and I was taken back to my room where the pumps were removed and I was allowed to get up and go for a much needed wee!

I had a look at my stomach and found five wounds where the ports had gone in.  I also had a drain in the largest wound.

I was allowed a glass of water later on in the day and sipped it slowly.  I felt quite allert and was bored and missing John and the animals.  I went to sleep and even managed to lay on my stomach because although it was painful, it was bearable.