Hi! Just wanted to drop in and say that I had my pre-op consultation with Prof Drew last week and for anyone who may be interested, he is a really lovely man with a great bedside manner, who takes the time to answer your questions and is very respectful. I was terrified when I was called in but he and the nurse (Sarah) completely put me at ease and I 100% trust him and his team. I have a query myself, however: are you likely to gain weight after surgery, and do you have any aftercare tips?
Thanks for sharing experiences, I’m glad they sound positive!
You’ll be a little limited in what you can do following surgery, especially in terms of exercise, so you might find that you gain a little weight, but eating healthily should keep it to a minimum and is beneficial to your recovery too. It’s more important not to overdo it following surgery than worry excessively about gaining weight. You might also find that for a short while after surgery you have some bloating due to the anaesthetic and painkillers, this should pass within a week or two.
As for aftercare, the most important thing to do is to listen to your body and the advice of your surgeon. Don’t overdo it, but at the same time keep yourself moving, for example getting out for short walks each day so that you're not cooped up too much. Prepare as much as you can before surgery, for example making sure everything you'll need will be within reach (below shoulder height), food that you can easily make or someone to make for you (making and freezing food beforehand can be helpful), and that you have plenty to keep yourself occupied with. Having lots of pillows can help when it comes to getting comfortable at night when sleeping on your back.
