Stuart Langston
The pounds continue to melt away
Apr 02, 2007
I have begun to eat things that I really love, but am doing well at eating small amounts. I tried bar-b-que pork and pizza in the last week and did very well. Also ate mexican food (beef enchaladas without the tortilla) and did well on all of it. Working very hard to eat slowly and chew and so far, so good. I have not had any more food "revisits".
50 pounds gone since Feb 12 '07
Mar 25, 2007
I am 2 sizes down in my waist (54 to 50) and even the 50 waist is getting loose now. I am waiting a while before buying shirts...they'll just have to do. I have gone from a 4 XLT to a 2 XLT. Everyone who sees me says they can really tell the difference in my face.
I still have thoughts of regret, but they are becomming fewer and farther between now that my body is realizing real changes. I feel so much better than I did a month ago. I'm sure it only gets better from here.
March 21 314 pounds (47 pounds lost)
Mar 21, 2007
I am down 4 inches in my waist now, and my pants are looking very silly. I am shopping on E-bay for clothing now...tried the thrift stores but there was nothing in the size I need. Most everything was about 2 sizes too small. I'll try back in a few weeks when I'm that small.
Will post photos this weekend.
33 days...exactly 40 pounds gone!
Mar 17, 2007
Have heard from lots of family members who are reading this journal and I wanted to thank them all for their support and kind words. Will be posting some new photos this weekend.
Bring on the real food
Mar 13, 2007
4 Weeks out...what a difference!
Mar 12, 2007
Now it's time to begin the journey of real food. I now see what some of my post-op friends that did this before me mean about not enough protein...I can't eat enough. I'm sure it will come in time, but right now it is really frustrating. I can't decide what I want to try first now that I am at phase 3 of my diet and recovery. I really miss Mexican food, so that may be my first stop. My biggest fear is eating something and getting sick at the restaurant...oh well, can't live in fear.
More to come...hope you'll come back!
My early expeience
Mar 09, 2007
Exactly 2 weeks before my weight loss surgery. I mentioned on my radio show this past Friday that I was getting ready to have the surgery and received 2 very nice e-mails from listeners who had gone through it and both said what others I have talked to said…they would do it again in a heartbeat. One lady, Cindy, said that if she knew then how she would look and feel after surgery that she would have never had any hesitation about the surgery. I am still pretty nervous, but excited about the prospects.
I began what is supposed to be a 2 week prep diet that included 2 liquid protein meals per day (breakfast and lunch) and one high protein, real food, meal in the evening. I didn’t make it past lunch. My head hurt so bad, I had to find food. I went to a favorite bar b que place and had the pork plate. No fries (yea me!) but a lot of protein. Tonight I had 2 chicken breasts with Grey Poupon mustard. Feel pretty good, but a little frustrated that I couldn’t stick to the plan. I hope it’s much easier to fight off hunger with a smaller stomach!
Tomorrow is another day…bring on the protein shakes!
It’s the night before the surgery. I just had my last real meal before the change…a bowl of my wife’s delicious chili and saltines. The rest of the night will be liquids and the final liquid of the night, the bottle of bowel cleanser…yum, yum. The two week liquid and protein diet was almost a complete failure. I did use the protein shakes to skip regular meals, but I also had some meals that I will miss for a while…Mexican, Chinese, pizza. I don’t think I overdid it, but you never know. I will beat myself up if I wake up from surgery tomorrow night with a long scar down my middle and an “I told you so” look from Dr. Mailipur. At my first support group meeting, all the ladies there who were nurses said my size would not be a factor…they had seen many people larger than me have the lap surgery. Just my luck, I’ll be the “special” case.
Scared is the emotion I’m feeling right now. These past 2 weeks have crawled by, but today seemed like 2 hours. All of a sudden I’m thinking about what to pack for the hospital. Speaking of the hospital…
Day of surgery. I get a wake up call from the station…2 newer folks filling in on the morning show having some problems…no big deal. I hadn’t slept well all night, mainly waiting for the bowel cleanser to work. Well now that I’m up, here it comes. I make my way to the bathroom for what I expect will be a long process. Less that 10 minutes later, the phone rings again, but this time it’s the hospital saying that Dr. Mailipur wants me in at instead of . I try to explain I’m not really ready, but they don’t let up. I agree and begin to really re-think that last bowl of chili the night before. I hadn’t had the cleansing experience that I expected and feared the worst. I woke my wife with the news and begin to rally the troops for the unexpected surgery time change.
I don’t remember much about the ride to the hospital…I didn’t drive and that’s unusual for me. I called my friend Ken who was on the radio that morning to let him know about the surgery time change and he interviews me on the spot. What a professional! I arrive, take myself to the first floor surgery waiting room of
Have I made the right decision…that’s all I’m thinking as they move me onto the operating table. It’s very cold. A man with a surgical mask looks over and puts an oxygen mask over my mouth. I hear someone announce my name and what surgery is to be performed. Luckily they don’t say anything relating to amputation. Someone says that I will be going to sleep very soon and before I can say thank you, I’m out.
I wake up in recovery with no pain. I immediately ask the nurse there if they had to cut me open. She says no, the surgery was done lap. Thank God, I say. I lay there and drift off to sleep. I don’t remember moving to my room or even waking up. I remember getting up and walking the first night and being extremely thirsty. Nothing to drink until the leak test the next morning. The nurse offered glycerin swabs and they helped. My mom stays with me the first night.
My mouth is so dry. I can’t wait to get the leak test so I can have some water or ice. Dr. Mailipur comes by and says everything is looking good. A nurse comes and takes me down to radiology for my leak test. A really nice man named Roger tells me everything that will happen…I’ll get to drink this really disgusting orange flavored drink while they take pictures of it moving through my system.
I stand at the x-ray machine and sip the cup of liquid until it’s gone. They try to take the pictures, but it moves through so fast they don’t get all the pictures they need. Roger says that’s a good sign, but says I need to drink a little more so they can get a full look. I get more and sip it slower this time. Success. The taste in my mouth is the worst I had ever had (to that point) and the initial report that all looks good makes me want water even more.
I get wheeled back to my room and await the doctor’s approval that all is well. Dr. Mailipur comes in and gives me the go-ahead to begin my liquids. I begin by drinking water and later some chicken broth. Considering all that’s happened, I seem to be doing well. All the nurses say I’m doing really great, but I don’t have anyone to compare my progress with so I have to take their word.
I walk more and feel better than the day before.
More walking, more liquids. I am doing quite well and Dr. Mailipur asks if I think I could go home today. I think about it and ask if I can stay one more day. He says that’s fine. I do this thinking that I can get more rest in the hospital than at home with the kids, and that proves to be true. I had such a good nights sleep the night before I can’t wait to see how much better I feel tomorrow. Having trouble getting all the liquids and protein I need, but I’m trying very hard. Time to go home tomorrow.
What a terrible night. Could hardly sleep…really tired of being on my back all the time. I got up around and began watching TV between trips to the bathroom for gas and squirt. All gastric bypass patients are told how important relieving gas in the hospital is before you leave, but don’t think it’s all just gas. Take my advice and go to the restroom every time. Trust me on this one.
Around , I get the energy up to shave and begin getting ready to leave. I call my mom to come get me and then make one last walk around the hall. I try to make sure I speak to all the wonderful people who have worked with me to get me to this point. Some I don’t see, so I hope they read this and know how much their caring and hard work meant to me and my recovery. I can’t thank you all enough.
My mom calls and says she’s almost to the hospital entrance. Three nursing students come to my room to help me with my things ( I can’t lift more than 15 pounds for the first 2 weeks). They are all shocked that I want to walk to the exit instead of riding in a wheelchair. I head outside to get in the car…wow is it cold. In
I walk up and down my steps at home quite a few times, take a walk around my neighborhood and get my first shower in 4 days. Amazing how much a shower can make you feel better. I think I’m going to make it.
Better day today, but still hard to fit all the protein and liquids in. Walked a couple of times around the neighborhood and a lot up and down the stairs. The thing I am finding is that I don’t like sleeping on my back…only got about 5 hours in the bed and had to move to the chair in the living room. This sleep deprivation is like when you bring home a new baby. Hopefully the pain will subside and allow me to sleep on my side in a few days.
Had a rough night again of trying to sleep on my back…asleep at 10, awake at . I do the usual…move to a chair in the living room for a couple of hours, then downstairs to the recliner for another hour. This morning, though, I am really exhausted and decide to try the bed one more time. I get in and try rolling over on my left side. Success!!! I can finally sleep on my side without pain. (note: I have not taken, with the exception of Tylenol, any pain meds since Tuesday 2/20 at 4am…not bragging, just didn’t want you to think it was the drugs J ).
The rest of the day was ok. Got my car started and went out with my boys to my work to pick up my pay stub. Had strained egg drop soup for dinner and popsicles before bed. Sugar free Popsicle brand are my favorites.
I find that I am getting more and more hungry as the days go on, and I am having to really fight myself to remain on Phase 1 for the full 2 weeks. Only 8 more days to go. Don’t have a weight loss number yet…no good scales at my house. I hope to weigh in this week if possible.
Felt great all day…even went out and bought a new car. Still waiting to weigh in next Tuesday. Can’t wait to find out how I’m progressing.
First day back at work. Everyone was amazed that I came back so soon, but not me…I feel great. One problem…can’t seem to get my belt tight enough to hold my pants up. Still a little sore around the midsection. So every time I got up to walk, I’d have one hand holding up my pants. It’s really a good feeling. Still eating egg drop soup, drinking Atkins shakes and water. Really looking forward to phase 2 of the diet…only 4 days to go!
Two week post-op check up with Dr. Mailapur. I weight in at 340 pounds…down 21 pounds since surgery (15 days). Not only that, but I have been off my blood pressure medication since February 11 and today it is 137 over 74. Wow..what a difference 21 pounds makes. I met a young lady in the office who had her surgery in October of 2005 by a different doctor, but had chosen to come to Dr. Mailapur for better follow-up care. Good choice…I have only great things to say about Dr. Mailapur. Very caring and concerned about my progress and well-being. He reminded me that this surgery is just a tool and that I must make the sacrifices necessary to lose and maintain a healthy weight. He gives me details on my diet for the next 2 weeks and then for phase 3 and tells me he wants to see me back in 10 weeks. I am a little disappointed in the weight loss, but then think that if I hadn’t had this surgery, I would have probably gained that much. It is quite amazing, though.
An incredible allergy has hit me. Last Wednesday, I began to have some irritation in my left eye that grew worse on Thursday. Called the doctor on Friday thinking that I might have pink eye. Also, my nose had turned so red, you would think heavy drinker or too much sun…neither of which is the case. My primary care doctor concluded it was just a bad allergy and gave me a steroid booster shot and some eyedrops. Still today, I am plagued with the itchy eye and red nose. Good news…last night I slept without my C-Pap machine for the first time in over a year. No snoring!! Worked today at a remote broadcast and then hung curtains after the kids were in bed. Energy level is a little lower than I would like, but still not bad. I have got to purchase a scale to weigh in on. Only one more week to go on the phase 2 portion of my recovery diet…I can’t wait to really chew something…hope I can wait it out.