This is the final part of my 2 year journey. It started December 2006 when I decided enough was enough and after being obese all my life this was now the only solution to my lifetime problem.

The Internet played an important part of this journey I used it 3 times during the 2 years. Firstly I needed to search and find out about gastric bands. This led me to www.obeistycare.com and luckily for me I was put in touch with the finest surgeon with many years experience behind him. (He was on UK TV in January 2007) After consultation with the arranging company he said I was too large for a band operation (I was considered to be super obese – the first time in my life I was something super!!) and that a gastric by pass operation would be safer and have the best long term results. I decided that this was the only option available so went ahead December 2006 weighing in at approx 140 kilos.

The second Internet part was March 2008 when I decided that after losing approx 30 kilos that I wanted to learn something new and massage had always been of interest to me but of course I was always too large! I discovered Brandon Raynor Natural Therapies. I signed up for the next available course in London. During this course the practioniers worked on me and all the years of built up emotional stress, problems were released, which we all firmly believed made me hold on to all that fat for protection, it was like a great big bolder being removed from my middle! It was now safe for me to be thin!

The third Internet step was to find out about reconstructive surgery – to remove all that loose skin and stubborn fat (by now I had lost 60 kilos – approx 10 stone). I was staying in Turkey so wanted to ideally have the operation there. I discovered www.bodydesignerturkey.com - visited their office and met Louise and immediately decided this was the one for me. So here is the diary of my final step:

Sunday 21st December 2008.
Well today is the day – was collected by Louise from Bodydesignerturkey (BDT) and taken to the Anadolu Hospital in Antalya and shown to inception room which was well equipped and very clean. Dr Omer called to welcome me and take some more photos – he said playboy needed some more!

Monday 22nd December
Well today is the day of operation – had good sleep – showered and put on blue gown – and yes it did fasten at the back!
Dr Omer called to mark the relevant areas with marker pen and check I was OK and confirm what was going to happen that day. He left saying I will see you later downstairs.
Not long now – nearing the end of my life of obesity – can anyone really improve my body after 45 years of yo-yo dieting – loose skin hanging from stomach, legs and arms and stubborn areas of old fat!
Went to operating theatre in wheel chair (nice not to be on trolley). I cannot remember what happened for the next 6/7 hours – only remember waking up in my room snuggled in duvet and a few instruments attached to me. This was wonderful not to feel sickness and I had no sickness at all the following day – well done everyone – I am usually very sick after operations.
Dr Omer confirmed to Louise that everything had gone very well and Louise passed messages on to my family in UK.

Tuesday 23rd December
Dr Omer visited a.m, was very pleased with his handiwork and assured me that I now had the body of Cleopatra and lovely legs. I would have to wait and see as there was lots of padding and of course the corset! Mind you the legs did look good! Had drains in either side of trunk and also inflatable calf cuff. Blood pressure and temperature was taken at regular intervals throughout the day.
Given oxygen, antibiotics and pain killers. Dr was right the pain was well controlled it was of course uncomfortable when moving. Got up for the loo but did feel faint due to low blood sugar level – I had not eaten or drunk enough. Must drink more water!
Lorna from BDT visited this afternoon – lovely to have such a nice visitor and she thought I looked really well and could not believe that I had just undergone a major operation. Louise (BDT) kept in touch with me and the Dr and I also had messages from friends and family.
Louise also visited and bought some lovely magazines and flowers.
Food was good and well presented. The nurses were lovely and most spoke some English.

Wednesday 24th December
Today I wanted to be able to show Dr Omer how well I was doing – but yes you have guessed it just before he came round I needed to go to loo and fainted – the next I remember was lying on bed with Dr and nurses looking at my dressings! Anyway he was concerned that I was not eating enough and ordered a bag of Ayran to be sent for me to drink as extras, this did in fact do the trick as I did not faint again!! He also advised to get off bed from sitting position. He gave me 3 musts: drink more water – eat more and walk!
So off I went for a walk along the corridor, it was good to get out of the room and see what was going on. I did this several times a day and also went up and down the stairs. This was good – no pain!

Thursday 25th December (Christmas day in UK)
Today felt rather sleepy – so dozed a lot and it was even too much bother to read my book. Each day moving gets easier although it is all done rather slowly. Can now go to loo by myself.
On walk today met lady from Norway who had had a tummy tuck and asked her to join me for a walk.
I am a self motivated person which is very important when recovering from a major operation and also not having family with you.
TIP: when having dressings changed take really deep breaths.
Nurses gave excellent care – useful to know a few Turkish words and have a dictionary to hand. The cleaning ladies were also very friendly and did an excellent job.
Food was good (Turkish) once again excellent service, cheerful and friendly staff and they were so smart. You only get 1 hot drink a.m. but can order extra from nurses station – these are added to your bill and settled on leaving the hospital.
Had many phone calls and messages today and Dr was very pleased with my progress.

Friday 26th December
This morning was up early for my walking also today I encouraged the lady from Norway to walk up and down the stairs (she had been in hospital 2 weeks longer than me) – she was very pleased I helped her and she said she could now look forward to going home next week.
Dr Omer did his rounds and said I could go home today if I wanted but the drains would have to go with me. I really felt ready to leave now. Dr Omer’ s Angels(he calls them this) changed dressings and washed my hair and got dressed ready to go.
TIP: Although you may have had skin cut away and liposuction (I had 5 litres of fat sucked away) you do not look smaller or weigh less due to fluid retention, so take some roomy clothes to travel home in. Remember you are also very bruised.
Final instructions were given and prescription for pain relief, antibiotics and dressing cream and something to help you sleep at home.
TIP: you will need money to buy medicines and copy of passport (for sleeping tablets) at chemist. (Louise will be able to help)
Completed the quality control sheet and signed the visitor book.
Louise and driver collected me – good drive back to Side – missing the bumps in road.
Lovely to be back at apartment and to make a good cup of English tea!
Looked in mirror – is that really me!

Saturday 27th December
Woke up at 6 a.m. and watched film on TV – it was rather a sad film which had me crying (normal reaction) Did have rather a restless night dreaming I was strapped up to several cartons of orange juice.
I decided to rub almond oil with lavender into the bruises not covered with dressings, this really felt good.
Moving about much easier today. Although getting in and out of bed was difficult without the help of hospital bed.
Louise collected me at 10 am for the drains to be emptied at the local hospital. We walked home as it was a beautiful sunny day. The mountains looked lovely it was good to be alive and feel much better.
Must remember to rest!
TIP: I found taking arnica before and after helped with the bruising. The pain was OK – I called it more discomfort than real pain and I stopped taking the mid day pain killer.

Sunday 28th December
Still have drains following me and cannot have a shower until they are taken out.
The runny nose has dried up and the bruises are not so uncomfortable – the oils seem to be helping.
Today dressed in figure hugging top (for support of course) – oh gosh where has my middle gone? Still very swollen but each day I look better.
TIP: Get dressed and put on some make up and look at how lovely you are. Your visitors will be amazed.
Wish I could do a poo - the laxatives did not work. Due to gastric bypass I do not eat very much so I think it takes longer for the system to get back to normal.
TIP: bring your favourite laxatives from UK. Just in case

Monday 29th December
Well it was a week ago that I had the operation where has this week gone.
Movement much easier – bruising fading. Lovely sunny day so went for a walk and tied up the drains under my skirt. Nice to get out and about.
Went for a meal with Louise tonight – nice to eat well again.

Tuesday 30th December
Today is the day for drains and dressings to be removed, so put on lovely black bra and pants – looked in mirror and started to cry at the difference in me now – phoned my Daughter in UK.
Washed hair and dressed in beige skirt, green jumper, beads, boots, fur jacket and of course the drains all neatly tied up - I felt great.
Taken to hospital – met Lorna who was really surprised how well and good I looked.
Then Dr Omer can and escorted me to treatment room. He said it was pleasing to see me looking so good. I was of course pleased to see him – who would not be pleased to see the man who had transformed your ugly body!
The drains and dressings were removed – no pain. He said there may be slight leakage and gave some dressings for home. But this did not happen.
He gave me prescription for laxative and more antibiotics. Then upstairs to visit the lady from Norway and to have a shower!!
On way home called at Nike shop to buy a supportive vest/corset

Wednesday 31st December
The last day of 2008 – what a year this has been for me – what will 2009 hold in store?
How lovely to have no drains trailing after me!
Main conversation with visitors is what can I eat to get things moving to do a poo!
So took laxative – figs – grape juice - coffee (I do not usually drink coffee) etc.
Walked to gym to just say hello to the boys! – bought lots of contours, paid credit card bill, Louise took me to Bims to stock up on shopping. Home for a rest as I was going out tonight!
Got ready at 10pm – it was lovely to get dressed and show off my new shape! Oh what a tart – I am beginning to enjoying choosing what to wear and looking in the mirror and welcoming attention from people, after 45 years of hiding under loose clothes.
I had a lovely evening talking with Dutch man and dancing with a Turkish man – danced more than perhaps I should have and got home at 2.30am. The Dutchman disappeared like Cinderella but left no shoe!

Thursday 1st January 2009
Got up at 1pm – must rest today and not go out. Made and received lots of New Year phone calls from friends and family.
Guess what happened today – yes all the food and laxatives worked – all the crap gone for 2008!!
Tidied up and removed Christmas cards and then had a shower and check wounds. Shower was lovely. It was rather a strange experience as there was no hanging lumps of skin to move to wash underneath!
My abdomen and tops of legs feel very solid due to swelling so that was strange, put cream on wounds.
TIP: Use unperfumed/antibacterial shower gel and I used the hand cleaning gel before applying cream to wounds.
TIP: make sure you allow yourself plenty of time for your first shower on your own and make sure you can sit down if needed.
Then have a nice cup of tea!
It is now three weeks since operation and everyday I have had a call or visit from Louise, had my apartment cleaned and taken shopping when required. The back up service is great especially for someone like myself who lives on their own.
The numbness is getting less but it is still uncomfortable. There is no visible bruising but you must remember that there is so much healing to be done inside.
I go for a walk everyday and often get taxi home if I feel tired.