Post Op

Well firstly, can I just say that when I weighed myself at the weekend, and I have lost at least a whole 4 1/2 lbs since this strange journey began! I say at least, as rather stupidly on my part, I didn't think to actually weigh myself before my first session, waiting instead until last weekend, as I had noticed that a pair of my previously snug jeans, now require a belt to avoid me taking on the 'yoof' trend of acres of pants sowing above the waist band. Not sure my favourite Bridget Jones will cut the mustard anyway!

So I have started off this week in fine fettle topped off with a Monday off work to recuperate from my 'operation'.

The whole surgery procedure started a week ago with me having a 'pre-op' where, under hypnosis, I got to 'meet' my surgeon and anaesthetist. Then last night from 9pm I wasn't allowed to eat anything, just like a real op. As soon as Hypno-Lady told me I would have to go a full half a day with no food, a ripple of panic spread through my body. How the hell was I going to do that? In reality though, that was my old way of thinking, since I have been having the hypnotherapy, I am thinking of food less and less. When it came to it, at 9pm last night, I wasn't in the slightest bit worried, and when I got up this morning and didn't have breakfast - it didn't bother me.....weird eh?

I arrived at Hypno-lady's house feeling a little apprehensive, as once I had the 'op', that's it, I am committed! Quite a scary feeling when you have pretended that you eat fairly healthily for years, and have only recently admitted to yourself, through completing diary sheets, that you did in fact, eat like pig.

So I got myself comfortable, listened to Hypno-Lady's dulcet tones, and drifted off into a hypnotic state. Hypno-Lady had explained that there would be an accompanying soundtrack, not all strings and big drums like a films, but instead the general hustle and bustle of a busy operating theatre including the beep beep of a heart monitor.

Hypno-Lady started off asking me whether I had stopped eating for the last 12 hours; I had and if I was prepared to make the changes necessary to lose weight - absolutely - when I said yes, I sounded very gruff though! I then walked into the reception of the hospital where I promptly imagined that I was posh, and was in Droitwich private hospital, as I had only been there last week visiting, and could draw on the images easily. She took me into my room, and had a nurse come to prep me for the op.

Quite soon after I was being wheeled down to surgery, complete with rattly trolley sounds, and had the anaesthetic then the 'operation' commenced - to be completely honest, the rest of the procedure is a bit of a blur, although Hypno-Lady was explaining the whole scenario, I must've been so deep under. The only thing I did recall is that I felt like I had pins and needles from my neck to my waist- strange huh? The next thing I knew I was being counted back into the room, and I really felt like I was walking through treacle to get back to reality. It was hard work!

So, the gastric band is now 'fitted', my body should now react as if I actually do have one. The small pouch of stomach above the band is golf ball sized, and as such I can only consume enough to fill it, although obviously it does pass down into the main part of the stomach, albeit at a slower rate, which helps the 'sensors' in your stomach react to the food eaten, and realise sooner that you are full up.

I have been issued with guidelines, the same ones that they give to people who have had the actual operation. Things like not drinking with meals, because it helps to wash the food through quickly, trying to eat more chunky foods, as things like soup and ice-cream pass through more easily, bypassing the pouch and it's 'sensors'.

I drove home, and recuperated for the morning, chilling out watching day time tv with the pooch, and then decided that a new start should be more than just the 'op'. So, I cleared out the fridge of all the old crap, planned my lunches and evening meals for the next week, and then hit the supermarket. My shopping bill was half my normal weekly amount, bonus, and my fridge is stocked with healthy but full fat items - Hypno Lady recommends not to eat low fat due to the high levels of sugar.

I made a cottage pie for tea (much to Neil's amazement) which made 6 human and one dog sized portion, I froze two of them for future use and put two others in tubs for lunch tomorrow. I then wrote our evening meals on my kitchen blackboard, with strict instructions to Neil not to deviate from them. That bit of control, knowing what I am having each day helps me to not think about food!

So my instructions now are, to listen to a Hypno cd every day for the next few weeks and follow the post op guidelines.

I have to go back for a final 'adjustment' in a few weeks, this is where in a real op, the surgeon would inject water, or remove it through the port just under your skin, to inflate or deflate the ring, and control the size of the hole the food passes through. Hypno-lady will then continue to stay in contact every six weeks or so, to see the progression.

I finally feel like I have taken control, and that I am the one who controls how much food goes into my mouth, not my stomach!

Fingers crossed xx