mike_nyc
4/04/05-intro:
I've been struggling with my weight since late childhood.
I first lost about 50lbs, back in 1984, using good ole Dexitrim! Of course, within a year, i was back where i started... but i continued taking the Dexitrim for several years, but it never worked the same way again.
Then, about 5 years later (around 1988/89), i started on the Cambridge Diet... a VLCD all liquid diet of 330 calories a day... i lost 70 lbs. However, since i couldn't live solely on a pure liquid diet, my doctor gave me Phentermine, to help with my appetite. I stayed at that weight for several years, with the help of various diet pills & exercise.
I then got up the courage to go design school... i did really, really well. I was talented, but i also felt a lot or peer pressure to stay thin while in school.
Eventually i graduated school, & i stopped taking the pills, & stopped working out. But, I never thought i'd put the weight back on... i really thought i had kicked the problem.
Then around 1993, i found myself back at 200+lbs. So, i started doing the same thing again... Cambridge, Phentermine, & exercise. It took a full year & half to loose 40lbs.
I decided to go back to school... and managed to loose 20 more lbs with a very busy school & work schedule in nyc. Again... i finally think i have the weight problem licked, once & for all.
I was wrong... in 2001, i found myself back at 200+lbs again. I was soooo beyond depressed. I started Atkins, & quickly lost 60 lbs. I stayed on Atkins, i never managed to go outside of the 20 grams of carbs. I found if i went above 20 grams of carbs, the weight quickly came back. It then became hard to keep weight off, staying below 20 carbs. So, i turned back to pills. A doctor put me on Bontril, & i used that for several months. I started noticing some heart or chest pains, but they came & went quickly, but i never mentioned it to the dr... i didn't want him to take my diet pills away!!
I then discovered "internet" pharmacys... where it was cheaper to buy the presciption diet pills, than going to the dr. I got some Phentermine, a few months later some Bontril, then some Tentuate. I lost a few more lbs... but the pills & diet just weren't working anymore.
The chest pains were getting worse, so i stopped taking all diet pills. Went to my pcp, & he sent me out for several heart tests & scans. Amazingly, everthing was more or less normal. They don't know what was causing the chest pains. I don't take diet pills anymore, but I still get chest pains from time to time.
So, now i'm looking into WLS. I don't know what else to do... i've been fighting this battle over 20 years, & i'm not winning. I'm getting a lot of back, shoulder, & hip pain... outta breath at the drop of a hat. I live on the 4th floor of a 4 floor walk-up, so, i feel like i'm dying till i get to my apartment!
My mom is having her WLS in May, & i started with Cori Centers in Manhattan in March 2004, & i'm hoping to have the surgery soon!
I'll keep everyone updated as i go!
4-25-05
Well, it's been almost 6 weeks & they've switched patient care reps with me now 3 times @ Cori Centers, & i don't even know who to contact anymore... no one seems to want to return my calls!
They (Cori Centers) claim they sent my paperwork to UHC several weeks ago, but everytime i call UHC they have no record of paperwork from them.
I decided to call UHC again today, & they still have no record of any paperwork for any surgery for me. She confirmed whenever they get the paperwork from my surgeons office, they log it into the system, & then UHC has 30 days to respond. However, there is no record of anything.
I called Cori back after speaking with UHC, & told them that UHC has no records of any paperwork being submitted to them for me. The phone operator, Melody, i think her name was, pulled my file & put in on Hannah's desk, so now i'm just waiting for another call back!
I know the place is busy, but it has been 6 weeks, & the insurance company still doesn't have the paperwork.
I would like switch to a new WLS center at this point, but i've done everything thru Cori: all my testing is done, my blood work, EKG, stress test, my psch eval, & my nutrition eval. Everything is hopefully done, & it all just needs to be submitted to UHC for review.........
May 6, 2005
Well, i've finally have been approved & my surgery date is scheduled for May 26th!
From my first seminar @ Cori Centers, NY, NY with my surgeon, James Sapala, back around March 18, I now finally have a confirmed surgery date for May 26th!! So, the whole process will have taken a little over 2 months, which isn't too bad! I'll be having an open, & the micro-pouch procedure.
I have to have a greenfield type filter put in to protect against blood clots ((Thank GOD!!)), & i'm having that surgery on May 10th! I'm really hoping i can keep this filter in for several months... since i've read that blood clots can still happen a few months out!
My mom just had her lap-rny surgery Monday morning (May 2,2005), at Hershey Medical Center, in PA. She was just released today, & so far, so good! I'm hoping & praying that she continues to do well!!
May 10, 2005
Well I had the Greenfield type filter put in thru my groin area today! I say Greenfield type because it's not exactly a Greenfield filter... they did say the name of it, but i forgot, anyway, it's a modern version of that filter genre. I was expecting it to be placed in my neck as Dr Sapala mentioned, but Dr Bernik placed in thru my groin area, i guess this had something to do with insurance?? Anyway, there is some minor discomfort with it, & i swear i can feel that thing inside there, but i think that is my over-active imagination!
I also spoke with my companies disablity provider today... i'm planning on taking 6 weeks off, since i'm having an open procedure. She kept asking what i was having done, i finally told her, but i expressly told her not to inform my employer or my boss, what exact procedure i'm having done. I figure that's my personal business, not there's... also, i don't want to have to deal with all the personal questions (have you tried this, have you tried that, type of stuff). I figure i've been dealing with my weight problem on & off since 1984... it's now 2005 & i'm still not winning the battle of the bulge, so i've made this all important decision by myself.
So, everything looks like a the 26th will be the day!
May 31st, 2005
Well, i finally made it home on sunday, & am just now feeling semi-upto checking email & so fourth.
I'm basically doing pretty good, & i just had my first real shower today! I never thought taking a shower would be an accomplishment, but after just being opened up, it is!! Surgery went rather smoothly, on 5/26/05. I had a few issuses while in the hospital, developed a high fever, & had to have a chest xray & they found fluid started collecting in my lungs, then... my IV site got infected, my veins collasped & it took hours to find a new vein to start a new IV.... sadly, i was w/o pain meds that entire time. Then someone came in a removed that tape covering my incision, & i nearly passed out at the site of it, not to mention it's size!! I felt horrible... & regretting ever doing this. I started getting a lot of gas pains... those are the worst!
Then i got discharged on sunday, took a taxi home to queens (that bumpy ride didn't help my gas pains!) Then around 6:00, i started digging for my heparin (lovenox type) injections.... i had the perscription filled about 2 weeks ago, & i thought i was ready to go! Well, injections are pre-filled with needles, but there was no plunger for the needles, so there was no way to get the medicine out!!!!! I had my roomate, Irfan, take then back to walgreens to get the problem fixed, & they had no clue! I called the hospital, & they couldn't really help me since i was dis-charged, & suggested the emergency room. Then i called the surgeons office (closed, of course) & they page a back-up doctor & he told me not to worry about it, that the injections weren't really needed! Now, my mom had a stroke, caused by a blood clot, & i wasn't about to take any chances..... neither was my roomate (he's a doctor, but not in this country). So, Irfan called his friend, Atif, who is a practicing doctor, & they decided my best best, at this late hour on a sunday nite/holiday weekend, was to get some diabetic needles, & retrive the medicine from the filled needles. So, he called in a script for some needles to a 24hr pharmacy, & irfan went out & got them... he never made it back till 11:30!! Finally, thanks to no help from any of my actual doctors, i was able to get the injections! I have no idea what i would have done from sunday till tuesday w/o those needles... 2 days is plently of time for a blood clot to form! Make sure your blood thinner script is filled correctly, & take your's to the hospital so the nurse can show you how to use it, & discover if anything is missing, as in my case!
Right now, i would not recommend this surgery.... i'm still a little pissed at everything that went wrong,(even though "minor") that shouldn't have. Plus, i would now never recommend an "open" rny... my incision looks like i had a C section, & measures 14", & that i wasn't expecting!
Hopefully, once everything heals, i won't be so bitter.... & of course, loosing some weight will help to! I'm sure thing will get better...... Mike
June 2, 2005
Well, i had my 1 week check up today. My starting weight with th Dr was 230, & today i weighed 223, so i officially down 7lbs in a week. Actually, when i came home i weighed 242, from the fluids they pump in you, but my real loss is just 7lbs, which is good!
They removed my JP tube, & 1/2 the staples... too much fun to be had!
June 10, 2005
Well, i had the balance of the staples removed today... pinched a little, but not bad. I have a small part of my incision (about 1/4") near my bellybutton, is slightly opened, & i have to treat it with some anti-bacterial gel, & keep it bandaged. Dr ins't really concerened, & says it'll take about a week longer to heal, & not to worry with it, just keep it clean & changed.
I lost another 8 pounds... for a total of 15 pounds in 2 weeks. Not too bad. I guess i'll loose weight a bit slower since i only started at 230.
I get about 65 grams of protein a day, & about a quart & half of water... they want me to slowly try to increase that, but it's a good starting foundation!
I'm feeling better each day. The overall pain factor is minimal, even though i had an open. More discomfort & gas pains, than actual pain-pain.
June 22, 2005
Well, i had my 4 week check-up, everything looks good! I'm only down a few more pounds though.... weighed in at 211! I wish i'd lost more, but it's still good!
July 15th, 2005
I went back to work on July 11th... my 6 week honeymoon is over, time to get real again! First week went well, no problems.... not a lot of energy, but it went well!
I'm down to 200lbs now. I guess i'm gonna be a slow looser, yuck! I was hoping to loose more by now. Hopefully by next week i'll loose a few more pounds, i'd like to loose at least 15 pounds this month!
Sadly, i can eat about everything.... i don't get a "full" feeling. I have to stop myself from eating. It sucks, because i thought with this micro-pouch thing, i'd eat less! I think the stomach is so small, that it just easily empties to the intestines. Thankfully, i'm not really hungry. It will suck though when i actually have hunger, & i have a stupid pouch that doesn't get full!!! I guess i'll have to deal with measuring portions the rest of my life or something.
9-15-05
Went for my 3 month check-up (a few weeks late, LOL!). I'm down to 175, so i've lost 55lbs!!!!! I happy about that!
I think i can eat alot, so i have to monitor that manually... no help from my pouch there.
I can eat anything, including stuff i shouldn't. Cake, cookies, ice cream.... nothing makes me dump, so again, i just have to watch it manually. I can eat a piece of cake or have some cookies, i just include that into my daily calories. As long as i know the calorie content & i have the calories to spare, i don't worry about it. I rarely go over 1000 calories a day.... most days are around 700-800 calories a day, & around 75 grams of protein, & an average of about 40 carbs (depends though).
I would do the surgery again if i had to, but i'm pretty sure i'd stay AWAY from Cori's micro-pouch, & just go with a standard RNY. I find i can eat too much with the micro-pouch.... & i wanted that to CONTROL my eating!
Basically, i think i'll have a problem keeping this weight off, since the pouch doesn't get full, & i don't get sick from eating things. You don't know how lucky you are if you dump.... at least you have a pouch that forces you to do the right thing. I don't have that with the micro-pouch, i can actually eat more than people who haven't had the surgery!!
2-10-2006
SORRY! It's been a long time since i updated. I'm little over 9 months out (i can NOT believe so much time has passed already~ i can still remember WANTING & dreaming of having surgery!)
Anyway, i'm down 85lbs, which is about average, since i was a light-weight! I want to lose about 15-20 more, which shouldn't be a problem.
I don't get a full feeling, as i have posted many time before, so i count calories. I average about 1000 calories a day during the week, & 1500 on the weekends.
I do choose healthy or protein type snacks.... & as well a BAD ones. I still LOVE cake & ice cream~ i don't dump, but i do count calories. Bottom line, whatever you've done to loose the weight, you'll have to count calories to maintain!
2-28-06
Well, went to the Dr today.
The good news, down 90lbs!!
The bad... i have a hernia, & bowel obstruction~ surgery next week! Better to be safe than sorry!
Things have been pretty good, except for the bad pains i was having (thought it was just gas).
5-4-06
Quick update... surgeries went fine, & i'm now down to 133 pounds, so i've lost 97 so far! Hoping to make the century mark by May 26!
10-18-06
WOW, where does the time go! I'm still maintaining at around 130. Goes up or down a pound or two. I have to watch it though, as i can out eat a horse! No, i'm not kidding! I see all these stupid post on here about "oh, i can only eat a 1/2 ounce of food, or I burst" Gimme a freakin break! Some people on here need to get a REAL grip on reality, you can eat more than 1/2 ounce of food, who do you think you are fooling?????
I'm 18 months out, i can easily eat 2 taco bell taco, or a full slice of pizza, or 2 pieces of chicken, or a small burger. I do count my calories & protein. My calories average 1800 a day, & my protein around 80 grams. I don't really exercise, although i will. I don't think it makes any sense to exercise during your honeymoon period.... you will loose weight without exercise during that period. Save the exercise for AFTER your honeymoon, when you have to WORK to keep the weight off!