Transition to Normal Food⟫ Ongoing
Well the day finally arrived for my first dietetics appointment. We booked our taxi ahead of time because we needed one that would hold my wheelchair and it was there, which was excellent. It was a good thing that we decided to bring my wheelchair because when we arrived at the hospital, there wasn’t a single wheelchair in sight. Finding the place we needed to go wasn’t too bad, but we did have to go through a building, then back outside, walk up a hill, then down a small hill to get there. I pushed the wheelchair and walked behind it up the hill and I definitely feel like I did my cardio for the day.
When we arrived, we were told that I would be weighed then have bloods taken, which we were pleased with as it meant we wouldn’t have to wait after the group meeting for that. I weighed in wearing my boots (she took off 2kg for them) and their scales said the same as mine did this morning which was nice. After that, we joined the queue of people waiting for bloods and realised that they must be there for the same thing as me. It was weird because I was pretty sure I was the biggest person there but Stripes said that I wasn’t. I dunno – it felt weird knowing these people were in a group with me who had had their surgery around the same time. Like knowing what they were going through without actually knowing them.
Then I went in to the group meeting. Immediately I stood out because I was the only one with a bottle of water and the only one taking notes. I felt like the class swot. There was a woman there who had had her surgery back in October but had missed two appointments so this was the first meeting she was attending. I must admit, I found her a bit irritating – she just kept going on and on about how much she missed eating whatever she wanted, then was chatting to people whilst the dietician Gary was trying to talk. Next on my bingo card was a gentleman who talked – a lot. Unfortunately, I couldn’t follow his accent very well so a lot of what he said I didn’t understand. I think he was either Scottish or Irish, but his accent was strong. One thing he said that resonated with me was how he lost a chunk of weight straight after the operation, then nothing for about two weeks, then dropped another 5 lbs then nothing since. His loss was on a par with mine so I didn’t feel like such an epic failure.
Gary said that it was perfectly normal, that some people had a linear weight loss whilst others had regular stalls and plateaus and not to worry about it. Basically, he said to aim for a minimum of 60g of protein per day and 2 l of low calories liquids. As we get accustomed to the sleeve, our calories should automatically rise until we’re between 800 and 1600 per day. I asked him if my calories were too low (they average between 400 – 600) and he said that they are a little low and to try to increase them gradually but make sure I ‘listen’ to my body and take it slowly, so that was reassuring.
I’m allowed to begin light exercise like walking, stretching yoga and the resistance bands, but again to listen to my body. No heavy lifting until at least 8 weeks after surgery. If I feel any pain or major discomfort, then stop and wait a few days before trying again. I need to check whether or not I have been taking the ADCAL D3 which I believe is a lifelong thing for vitamin D and if I’m not taking that, then I need to start. A letter will go to us and our GPs outlining the meds were should be taking and the schedule for the intramuscular B12 injections that we are meant to get every three months.
From now on, our appointments will be 1-1 with a dietician and they can take place over the telephone as they are aware what a pain it is to get to the hospital as parking is atrocious. After that, it was over and Stripes and I made our way back to the main entrance and ordered our taxi. This is where things went wrong. We went through the same company that we had booked in the morning and ordered the cab at 15.46. At 16.16, I tried calling to find out if there was a problem but we were left on hold for so long, I hung up. We contemplated ordering an Uber but weren’t sure if they would send one that would hold my wheelchair, so called the company again. Got through this time and they told us it would be another 30 minutes wait. So over an hour.
We were not best pleased but didn’t really have a choice. So it cost me £60 in taxi fees today and over an hour of waiting. I really hope we don’t have any more appointments at that hospital because I don’t think I could cope.
I’m home, writing this up and then I’m calling it a day. This blog is going to have to count as my writing day as I feel completely wiped out. Stripes is pretty exhausted too – I wouldn’t have coped with today without her. Book_grim is going out to play Music Bingo at Barb’s with the new man-friend, Luke, and (hopefully) her friend Dani and her partner. So a nice peaceful evening is planned and I will probably have an early night. Maybe watch some NCIS or 1000 lbs Sisters as we’re on the last season so have caught up with them.
I think I am reassured regarding the weight loss – obviously it would be lovely to be dropping 20 lbs every other week, but it doesn’t look like my body agrees so I’m just going to take it slow and steady.
I had some non-scale victories today. My stripes boxers that I ordered in a size 5 xl that were more than a little snug now fit nicely; the bra that was a little tight just before the operation I had to go in one on the hooks and eyes and could quite easily have moved in another notch; leggings fit with wrinkles as there was so much space in them. Also, the chocolate brown coat from SimplyBe felt huge and too hot, but once we were outside it was absolutely heavenly! I felt toasty warm apart from my hands (I ordered gloves from Home Bargains so hopefully that will deal with that!) and it was definitely a good buy.
Back to going solo and taking it one meal at a time!
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