Andrea Gillespie



Hello, My name is Andrea, I’m 30 years old and I’m about to tell you a little bit about my life and how weight and weight loss has taken over my existence for the past 18 yrs. I am, however, pretty sure that this little tale will most probably reflect most of your own experiences.

At the age of 12 my mum put me on my first diet, my life was miserable I was bullied at school and I missed all the school dances and events because I was so ashamed of my appearance. From the day of my first diet I have battled with my body my mind and my ever flagging spirit.

So began the cycle of loose a bit put a bit more on, I tried every slimming club, diet and diet pill and nothing worked, not long term anyway.

Is any of this starting to sound familiar...Yes?

Well earlier this year I decided enough was enough, my confidence was at an all time low and I had practically become a recluse, refusing every socializing invite that came my way I had to do something about it.

April 2008

I started to research the idea of weight loss surgery. I looked at web site after web site, read articles and watched so many programmes on all the different weight loss procedures that I was a wealth of information!

I would like to say at this stage that it is really important to do your research this is a big decision and deciding which procedure to have is key and something that really needs a lot of thought. Anyway at this point I thought the only option I had was the gastric band as I have a medical condition which affects my small and large bowel this meant that the bypass was not plausible.

So I had decided on the band, the next step was to sort out my finances and find a company that I could rely on.

May 2008

With my finances sorted I made an appointment with a weight loss company in Manchester. The surgeon I spoke with was very honest and informed me he didn’t think the band would work that well for me and suggested a gastric sleeve. After all my research I thought I knew it all but I hadn’t heard of this! Unfortunately their company did not do the sleeve procedure so it was back to square one. I returned straight home and searched for information on the gastric sleeve. It sounded perfect!

June 2008

This was the month I found my weight loss saviors’ otherwise know as WLS Group. I had searched through many companies and found a lot of them did not offer the sleeve procedure and the ones that did were way out of my price range. The WLS Group were different.

The first person I spoke with was Michelle, I immediately warmed to her sunny inspiring personality. Michelle herself had battled with a weight problem before having weight loss surgery and she seemed to know instinctively what I was going through and how I was feeling, it really put me at ease.

Over the month of June we had several conversations and I was sent information through the post regarding the weight loss surgery package to Brugges this was in my price range (Yipee!).After a lot of talking with the WLS team I was given a date that was available, (20th June 2008). I spoke with Wendy the bariatric nurse and Colleen the nutritionist (who were both as sunny and inspiring as Michelle) about preparing myself for surgery and was given the pre op diet sheet. I must admit that before the pre op diet was due to begin I sort of went into a food panic with every night being the ‘last supper’ and subsequently I put on more weight. I felt so ashamed and confessed to Michelle but I was told not to worry about it now as I’d never have to worry about it again. All too soon it was time to start the pre op diet, no more last suppers for me! I now had to behave! I followed the liquid diet for 7 days it wasn’t easy and I had the odd slip of a chicken fillet when I was very hungry but I managed not to touch any high fat calorie foods. 

I was ecstatic; I was finally in control of my future.

June 18th 2008

I travelled to Manchester airport where I met with Wendy this was the first time I had met Wendy in the flesh and when she saw me she swept me up in a big welcoming hug. We boarded the plane and set off. This was it, no going back now……and I couldn’t have been happier.

We arrived in Brugge an hour later and met up with some of the other patients .Then we got our taxi (which was a little late) to the hotel. We all chatted excitedly in the taxi and shared our stories. I felt very much at ease. An hours journey later we arrived at the Hotel and I was not disappointed. The hotel had a traditional quiet and classy air about it I immediately felt comfortable in my surroundings.

We were given our room keys and Wendy suggested we all go to our rooms for a rest then meet up in the bar to go out for a low fat low carb low calorie high protein meal (Yum!) We were all actually very excited about the prospect of a solid meal after all we’d all been on liquids for 7 days so it was a treat!

Taking my room key I went to find my room which was on the 1st floor. It was beautiful, clean and tidy. I had a double bed, table and chairs tea making facilities a bathroom and toilet and most importantly a flat screen tv on the wall which had both ITV and BBC1 on it…yes both…haha!

So, I had a coffee and a little nap then made my way to the bar to meet with the others and off we went on the hunt for a nice little place to have a meal. The meal was lovely and the company even better.

19th June 2008

Today was the day we all met with Dr Dillemans and his assistant Mark. We arrived at the hospital early and had a group Q and A session. Dr Dillemans is a very charismatic and down to earth man and I think its safe to say we all took to him immediately. He went through the procedures separately explained in detail what would happen before during and after surgery and just generally put us all at ease.. I left the session feeling more informed and more confident about the decision that I had made and happy with my choice of surgeon.

That evening we went out for the ‘last supper’ Dr D had said we could eat and drink whatever we wanted so it was game on! We found a nice little establishment in the square and ate and drank till our hearts content. It was a fantastic evening we had all bonded so much and I remember just laughing all night. At this point I still wasn’t feeling nervous but then nor did any of it feel real to me.

20th June 2008

Today was THE day.

Arriving early at the hospital we all waited in the reception area to book ourselves in. Once that was done we made our way up to our allocated ward. I waited for the head nurse to take my information and check my file then I was shown to my room. I was sharing with another WLS patient so I felt very comfortable and at ease. I couldn’t have been sat in my room for more than a half an hour when I was told I was being taken down to surgery.

So off I was wheeled downstairs.

I was then left in a side room for around half an hour while the nursing staff got ready to take me to administer my anesthetic ….I was still feeling pretty calm….that is until they were ready for me…and then I got a little shakey!  I remember being introduced to my anesthetist, Bart, he spoke really good English and was funny and calming. He hooked me up to what he called my ‘gin and tonic’ and then Dr Dillemans face appeared above me. Dr Dillemans said I was in safe hands and he would look after me….that’s the last thing I remember until I woke up.

Waking up in the recovery room the first thing that hit me was…no not pain…..just a huge pressure in my bladder….I needed to pee bad! I hadn’t been catheterized as I was told they only really did that for patients with real mobility issues. So I was handed a lovely bed pan yey!...Anyway after about 40 minutes of sitting on an uncomfortable bed pan and having a massive bed pan shaped dint on my bottom I admitted defeat. Sometimes because of all the paralyzing medication you are given no matter how much you need to go….you just can’t. Thankfully when they wheeled me back to my room they did catheterize me and I felt a lot better, and the dent on my bottom soon disappeared!

I slept pretty soundly that night, I had a little pain and discomfort but nothing to really shout about.

21st June 2008

I woke this morning feeling pretty good, apart from some pain around the area of my drain which was pretty sore if I moved around too much. At this point I was on a drip as I was told I could not drink anything as it could cause vomiting.

This is something I actually want to point out to you guys, you can’t drink anything for two days, the day of the op and the day after and I must admit I found this tough. My mouth was so dry and my breath smelt terrible. You are given a water spray to squirt into your mouth every so often but you’re told not to use it too much. To be honest I didn’t use the spray because it had an odd taste. Instead I washed out my mouth out and kept brushing my teeth.

I slept a lot the day after the op and felt quite content, I started to feel really chuffed with myself because after thinking about weight loss surgery for so long I’d finally done it!

22nd June 2008

Not much to report for today. I felt really good and snoozy and again pretty mush slept all day. Oh I did get a yogurt and some water I wanted the water but was not fussed about the yogurt at all…result.

23rd June 2008

Today I went back to the hotel.  My drain was removed and it felt like  bliss!. Before I’m allowed to go home I have to eat something. I’m given 2 melba toasts with jam and I just about manage 1 and a half although I feel totally stuffed. Then at dinner time I’m given a dish of pureed spinach, mash and what I think may have been corned beef. I ate a spoonful of each and give in to my complaining tummy. This is brilliant I can barely eat and I’m just not feeling hunger. I’m so pleased I did this.

After being discharged from hospital we all get back to the hotel and have a little walk to the supermarket to buy a few yogurt/water supplies. The supermarket is only a 5 minute walk but I must admit I feel like an 80 yr old woman when I get back!

The hotel put on soup for all us WLS patients so we all meet that evening in the restaurant area. I struggled with about 3 mouthfuls’ of soup then for the rest of the evening I rest and recoup in my room.

24th June 2008

Spend most of the day popping in to other patients rooms to have a natter. Having a little trouble standing up straight due to my tummy feeling uncomfortable and I can’t yawn or cough or breathe in deeply without discomfort. Everyone else is walking huntched over like me so I know it’s the norm, we all have a giggle about how silly we look.

25th June 2008

Today I can yawn and breathe deeply yey!....coughing still hurts a little, but on the whole I feel pretty terrific!

26th June 2008

I get up at 04:30am to catch my taxi to the airport (Yawn) I’m really excited to be going home. Although the hotel was lovely and I’ve had a fantastic time but now I’m ready to get back to my own bed!

My little adventure however is not over. This is the start of a whole new chapter for me. I’m finally looking forward to the future and its just too difficult to describe how happy I actually feel.

Of course as soon as I return home I jump on the scales and….. I’m 10lbs lighter!

01st July 2008

Ok so it’s the present day and I’m writing this up in the hope it will help to show anyone who’s considering surgery just how simple it can actually be. If you’re like me and have battled with your weight all your life I say go for it. Research it until you can’t research it anymore and pick what feels right for you. Try not to let money be a factor in your choice the less expensive option may not be right for you. I hope my story has been informative for you and I’d like to wish you all good luck in the future with whatever weight loss option you choose.

Thanks
Andrea