ADJUSTING TO ‘FOOD’ AFTER GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY

ON FEBRUARY 6, THIS WRITER TOOK A BIG STEP IN HIS ONGOING BATTLE TO LOSE WEIGHT BY UNDERGOING GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY. WE CHECK IN ON HIS PROGRESS.

As I write this second column I am eating my first “food” for the first time in about nine days since I took the huge step to undertake gastric sleeve surgery.

I say “food” but it’s really a cross between baby food and chunky soup as I have to puree all meals until my new stapled stomach is able to digest “proper food”.

I am on phase three of the sleeve surgery campaign, which began on February 6.

The latest phase lasts about three weeks before I can move on to the final stage and with it the rest of my life.

My new stomach is three-quarters the size it was – about the size of a big banana.

To get it like that, Dr Ian Baxter carried out the life-changing surgery.

I have been asked numerous times by supportive family and friends how the operation went and I have told them all that it went remarkably well.

Through five holes in my abdomen, Dr Baxter removed part of the stomach and stapled it back together.

Looking at my healing scars now I am still amazed how any of it happened.

I did have some trepidation lying on the bed waiting for the surgery, but I needn’t have worried as an hour later I was in recovery and chatting up the nurses.

The first day was a breeze as I was full of drugs.

But as I was warned, day two was not quite so easy, with nausea and chronic stomach cramps taking over.

I didn’t think I would be going home as the medical staff suggested on day three, but just as quickly as the nausea and cramps set in, they eased and I was on my way.

Protein shakes and plenty of liquid was my food of “choice” for the next seven days before the progression.

Dr Baxter checked me over this week and was happy with how things are going.

Surprisingly, as a glass half empty bloke, so am I.

It’s early days but so far so good on my new journey … and I have now lost 15kg.

We’ll follow Phil’s progress over the next year. Read Fat Boy Slim every fortnight in Weekend.