DreTheDog

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

I put up some nine-week post-op pics. I'm at 349 now and 72lbs down. I average about 5 lb's a week presently.

5 days after my sleeve got put in i went to buy a scale at blood, bath and beyond but they only did 400lbs. so i said screw it i'll wait. So i went back today for the halibut and was just going to grab one, but decided to try it out of curiousity. It actually projected 398.7lbs! I shed a tear and had a sh*t eating grin on my face the whole time I was in the store. Down 23lbs from day before surgery. I felt so accomplished and it gave me the extra boost I have now to strive for more and stick to the plan no matter what!

I had my VSG done by Dr. Alberto Aceves Dec 6th 2008. I went in there without any nervousness really even after I complained for months about being wicked freaked out about surgery. Got it done no prob. Woke up same day after a couple hours of rest I got right out of bed without assistance and got to walking. I was mostly annoyed by all the people in and out checking on me since I was still out of it at times because they couldn't put a spinal block on me so I was rather dreary from the anasthesia (sp?).

The hospital, room, Doctors, nurses at Hospital Almater were phenomenal!  My parents and I were really suprised at the quality of the place. I guess it's somewhat of a private hospital for people that have money around there.

I was doing so well I got out of the hospital a day early and my parents and I drove back up to San Diego and spent the night there at the Grand Hyatt (great hotel with an awesome view!). Next day I hoped a plane back home.

Been home since the 9th now and things are great so far. The gas pains still hit now and then, but I haven't been in enough discomfort to take the pain meds they gave me. One of the known side-effects of a VSG is heartburn and luckily I haven't had any of that either.

It's really wierd to think about it though. My stomack got sliced and stapled and i don't even feel it.

Clear liquds is quite boring. Especially with my friend at my house cooking fajitas, salsas and guacamole (bastard!). But it's good training for now. Can't wait till next tuesday to get some more variety other than beef/chicken broth (which doesn't have much for nutrients, but tastes great rather than vanilla, chocolate or fruit) and protien powders.

Thats all for now.

So I met with Dr. Stewart yesterday afternoon.  He gave me the rundown of all the different surgeries.  I mentioned at first wanting Band, then after researching more wanted R-N-Y.  He brought up another alternative that is still testing, but has background out to 4 years. Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.  This is basically the starting step for a Duadenal Switch (which I am definitely not interested in).  He showed me what it is and that is is purely restrictive, no dumping etc.  He's only done 15 of these so far.

I don't think i'm completely worried about the dumping syndrome now that I understand it's mostly due to sugars since I really don't eat sweets, cakes, donut's, candy etc.  I mean I do every so often, but not enough to were I can't totally live without it.

VSG  is seeming more and more interesting to me.  It's not reversable, but can be turned into a rny or ds. if needed.  I think as I loose more weight I'll be much more active and do more active stuff with my active friends therefore maintaining or loosing more weight.  I've got a couple weeks to come up with my final decision.  It will allow me to talk with some more people too.

This is the first of hopefully many blog postings on OH.  I've been referencing this site for a few months now for the many questions I've had deciding whether or not do this process that is scarring the hell out of me.  I've never had any kind of surgery before.  I think that is probably the most nervous thing I'm anticipating.

Other things,  I love food, the taste, the texture, the smells.  I love to cook and when I do I gobble down quite a bit.  This is going to be a huge change for me as most of you have been going through since you're surgeries.  I keep thinking if I didn't have taste-buds, would I be this size?

I've been fairly healthy my whole life.  Never been medically sick other than flu's, colds, etc.  Never had to spend a night in a hospital.  I've only ever really had physical problems.  I'm unsure if any of them besides my present foot problem was ever due to my weight.

I quit smoking in June and I've stayed non-smoking since other than every-so-often when I'm out with friends drinking.  I smoked for 22 years and I'm amazed that I can switch it off just like that now.  I'm hopeing it works as well after surgery.  After doing this I took a trip to the UK (Scotland and London).  Those places are VERY physical with walking and stairs everywhere.  All that physicalness and the uncomfortable plane ride got me starting to think more and more about lap-band surgery. 

For the next few months I was traveling all the time for work and flying everywhere in the US.  I was sick of being really uncomfortable on the planes.  This just made me really start looking into all the options of weight loss surgery.  As most of you, I've tried all the diets out there and they are just about worthless and I feel I'm to far gone over the top for most of it.  I finally decided I'm going to do it.

I was really mostly concidering only lap-band surgery.  A friend of mine had it done 2 years ago and she says it has been going well with her.  My biggest reasons for wanting to go lap-band was less invasive and less extra skin leftover.  I went to one of Dr. Stewarts seminars and it got me concidering R-N-Y a tad bit more.  So I just did a ton of research on outcomes, long term, etc. and I think now that that is the surgery I am going to go for.  I am meeting with Dr. Stewart for a consultation in 2 hours.  I have a pad full or reasons and questions for him.

My insurance will not pay for this so I am going to take out a loan.  I will work to pay it off as quick as possible as I do not like being in debt.  I just bought a car earlier this year and I'm closing on my first house in March.  That is about all the debt I really want.  I also expect that I will need to take out an additional loan after I reach my peak to get rid of any extra skin I may wind up with.  I just have the mentality "do what must be done, no matter the cost".  This is working well for me so far.

Well thats my start.