Advice

Thanks to everyone who has replied to me it's so good to hear that you've got through the op and things do improve as time goes on . I,ve two weeks to go before my op and I,m at the stage where I just want it done and over with I keep busy but then I suddenly remember and it feels like a dream I feel so well in myself I,ve put weight on and I,m eating loads at the moment . Thanks for all the wonderful tips it's a great help reading them and helps me a lot x

[Hidden]

It sounds to me as though you’re in great shape for the op. So good luck, yes it’s a relief when it’s actually done.x

[liz_crisp]

Well done putting weight on and getting fit is the best thing you can do before the op.

You will be in great shape for it. I was the fittest I had been for years just before my op, and I was eating cream cakes, chocolate, cheese and and ice cream to my hearts content.

Good luck xx

[Hidden in reply to liz_crisp]

Hi yes I.m doing exactly the same i.m eating anything and everything at the moment cos it's all going down great x I to feel really well it's a strange feeling when you know your facing major surgery but feel absolutely fine x thanks for replying x

[sallym]

Best of luck for your op. sounds like you're doing everything to help the outcome. Never did I ever think that I would get another twenty five years when the hope was only to give me another three years. It has been a roller coaster journey at times over those years but travel with hope and it does get better. Thinking of you as you set out on the journey and wishing you well sally

[Hidden in reply to sallym]

Thanks that's amazing to hear you went through the op 25 years ago when it was probably very new so glad things have been manageable for you over the years x it's great to hear from you thanks x

[sallym]

Chemotherapy was not available then, so given a chance of this almost unheard of operation what had I got to loose, nothing but now I had hope. So support was totally unbelievable as folks watched me start the journey. I did what you have done and got as fit as possible, ditched the extra stress levels and set off, with no extra baggage to hold me back. I must confess that at one stage I did look at a teaspoon of mince and wonder if it was ever going to go down but all worked out well in the end. I'm looking back now at all the years I never expected to see sally

[Hidden in reply to sallym]

Your story is amazing things would have been so different 25 years ago how old were you when you had it done x

[sallym]

I was 58 when it first started, the surgeon was one of only a few who could do the operation and he operated in our local hospital at Bedford. Lack of intensive care beds meant waiting six months, in desperation going to my MP he made them fund another bed and agency nurse. Every five years since then I send a thank you card to my surgeon and GP to let them know I am still alive and how successful they have been in giving me back my life. How do you celebrate all these years of survival !! In a moment of madness I got them to take me flying up Bodyflight wind tunnel. ( the most difficult thing was trying to get the zip of my suit done up over middle age spread). Yes as you can guess I have kept a sense of humour over the difficult bits which helps me cope when things go wrong it really has helped. sally