Well, where to start?
I am very grateful to my best friend for driving me up to Taunton and to be my rock whilst going to see the consultant, nurse, dietitian and anesthetist.
This week, I have been thinking over what type of surgery I may go for if I am given the chance. I was under the impression, following the educational session last week, that the mortality odds were 1 in 1000 for all the bariatric surgery, but in the leaflet I was given it stated that the bypass only offered odds of 1 in 200, which I couldn't take that risk, so I changed my mind and decided to ask if it was possible for me to have a gastric band instead. Also, my husband is not happy with the odds and didn't want to loose me and would prefer me to have the band if I had to have surgery at all.
Firstly, I saw the dietitian and was explained a little more about the pre-op liver shrinking diet, and the post op diets etc, and she discussed what surgery I was hoping to go for etc, and she was happy that I go for the band.
Secondly, I went off to have a load of blood taken to do various tests.
Thirdly, I saw the nurse who explained a little more to me about the band operation etc, and also explained more about the odds, which had now gone up as Mr Mahon (my consultant) is actually building a database on the odds so that it is all up-to-date. The band has a 1 in 1000 rate and the bypass has a 2 in 1000 rate. This did make me think more but I am still convinced that I will be doing the right thing if I go for the gastric band.
Next I went to have an ECG to assess whether my heart is up for the surgery, which it was absolutely fine and also an MRSA swab.
Next I had to see the anesthetist, who was very nice and congratulated me on my weight loss to date. He discussed all the things that would be happening on the day of surgery and the chance that I may go to HDU following surgery - unlikely but a possibility.
Last but not least I saw Mr Mahon. What a lovely man! He prodded me around a bit to check if my body was up for the surgery - and he was also happy for me to go for the band as I was worried about the stats which were in the leaflet. He did say that he and his team have done just over 1000 bypass ops in Taunton hospital and have only lost 1 person who was severely overweight to the point that they were not mobile at all, and also had type 2 diabeties, and other health problems, but that he knew that in other hospitals the mortality rate is 2 in 1000, but as I stated earlier I am still going to go for the band.
They reckon we will probably be looking at March time for the op so going to knuckle down and try to lose more weight before then as:
a) it will be easier for them to do the op
b) it will be better for me when they do the op
Just have to keep my fingers crossed that I get a date earlier than that :)
For anyone who doesn't know here is a few images of, hopefully, what I will be getting:
I am very grateful to my best friend for driving me up to Taunton and to be my rock whilst going to see the consultant, nurse, dietitian and anesthetist.
This week, I have been thinking over what type of surgery I may go for if I am given the chance. I was under the impression, following the educational session last week, that the mortality odds were 1 in 1000 for all the bariatric surgery, but in the leaflet I was given it stated that the bypass only offered odds of 1 in 200, which I couldn't take that risk, so I changed my mind and decided to ask if it was possible for me to have a gastric band instead. Also, my husband is not happy with the odds and didn't want to loose me and would prefer me to have the band if I had to have surgery at all.
Firstly, I saw the dietitian and was explained a little more about the pre-op liver shrinking diet, and the post op diets etc, and she discussed what surgery I was hoping to go for etc, and she was happy that I go for the band.
Secondly, I went off to have a load of blood taken to do various tests.
Thirdly, I saw the nurse who explained a little more to me about the band operation etc, and also explained more about the odds, which had now gone up as Mr Mahon (my consultant) is actually building a database on the odds so that it is all up-to-date. The band has a 1 in 1000 rate and the bypass has a 2 in 1000 rate. This did make me think more but I am still convinced that I will be doing the right thing if I go for the gastric band.
Next I went to have an ECG to assess whether my heart is up for the surgery, which it was absolutely fine and also an MRSA swab.
Next I had to see the anesthetist, who was very nice and congratulated me on my weight loss to date. He discussed all the things that would be happening on the day of surgery and the chance that I may go to HDU following surgery - unlikely but a possibility.
Last but not least I saw Mr Mahon. What a lovely man! He prodded me around a bit to check if my body was up for the surgery - and he was also happy for me to go for the band as I was worried about the stats which were in the leaflet. He did say that he and his team have done just over 1000 bypass ops in Taunton hospital and have only lost 1 person who was severely overweight to the point that they were not mobile at all, and also had type 2 diabeties, and other health problems, but that he knew that in other hospitals the mortality rate is 2 in 1000, but as I stated earlier I am still going to go for the band.
They reckon we will probably be looking at March time for the op so going to knuckle down and try to lose more weight before then as:
a) it will be easier for them to do the op
b) it will be better for me when they do the op
Just have to keep my fingers crossed that I get a date earlier than that :)
For anyone who doesn't know here is a few images of, hopefully, what I will be getting:
Once again, a lovely blog!
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased that this is heading the right way for you!
Fingers crossed you get a slot before March!
What will the recovery period be like? How long will you have to stay in hospital? I hope you don't end up on HDU, and the more weight you lose the less and less likely that is ;)
Keep going, your doing great hun x
Stay in hospital in just overnight as it is keyhole surgery - just 5 small holes and a slightly bigger hole just under my bra line where the port will be. Recovery time is 1-2 weeks off work. Total loss so far is 21.4kg / 46.5lbs and am hoping that i can lose at least another 3-4 kg before op :)
ReplyDeleteWhen you first have the op the band is deflated and when you go back fir your post op check up at 6 weeks you have your first fill of saline and then have to keep going back until the band is filled to the correct amount where it is working best for you.