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I went in for my first fill today.  It has been 4 weeks since my surgery. 

At my appointment my doctor said he wanted to get me nice and tight.  He wanted to go for an initial 4cc to 5cc and see where my sweet spot would land.  He did not want to do flouro/xray fill for the initial load.

He numbed my port site and then hung out and talked for a few minutes.  Then out came the 'big' needle.  He got it right on the port on the first try.  He asked me to get into a crunch like position.  He then filled the band with the full 10cc.  He wanted to check the functioning of the band.  Next he asked me to stand up (with the needle in my port) and drink a cup of water.  He backed out the the fluid until the water flushed all the way through.  He really took his time and slowly backed the fluid out to find my optimal spot.

He got 3.5cc for my finitial fill.  I hung out for about 30mins just to make sure I was ok.  I drank some more water.  He said fluids only for 2 days followed by puree for another 2 days before resuming my regular diet.

I am pretty tight.  It took about 1 hour to drink a protein shake.  I did PB once and I am sliming a little.  But I think I am ok.  My doctor did say if I needed a 'tune up' to call and come by the office tomorrow.

-UG 

Yes - you heard it first (at least after striking naked through the house with the scale to show my wife!)!! I haven't been under 300lbs since Sep 2005.

I weighed in this morning at 298. I usually don't give much thaught to my daily weight because it fluctuates everyday. I am hopefull I can stay under 300lbs for my fill day on Thursday.

Also, I bought a new bike yestarday. It is a Giant Rincon mountain bike. I had them install a computer that will help track my speed, distance and cadence.

-UG

Well....actually I already did it!

I am 2 weeks post op today and weighed in at 304.5 lbs!   That is down 26.5 lbs from my 'season' high of 331 lbs.  I have to be honest with all of you....I haven't really been walking or working out like I should.  I want to wait until I am sub 300.  I am close - so I may shop for a new 'bike' this weekend.

Not too much pain to report.  I can touch my port and it sometimes touches me back.  Especially when I am working at a desk.  I also started having some back pain (mid-level) on the left side.  I am not sure what that is from but is aches.  I think maybe a massage or an adjustment is needed.

My trip to the Rose Bowl went well.  I had plenty to drink and eat.  A friend of mine made a terrific lobster bisque.  I was full watching the game and had plenty of cold water.  I snuck in a jello protein shot at halftime.

I have been having a love affair with Soup and Cottage Cheese since my doctor removed my liquid restriction.  No PBing, Sliming, or anthing.  My daily intake is the following:

Breakfast:   Protien Shake
Lunch:        Soup
Snack:        Protien Shake
Dinner:        Soup
Desert:       Cottage Cheese!!!!

Also, I will be 38 tomorrow!

-UG

I have been officially banded for 7 days now.

Today I had my first Post-Op appointment with Dr Naim.  I weighed in at 310.5 lbs.  I am down 20.5 lbs.  I am healing well.  No redness on the incisions.  No pain at the port site.  I can sleep 'somewhat' normal.  I still have to learn not to get out of the car too fast.  

He wants me to start an exercise program.  But I think I am going to hold off for a few.  At least until I am cleared to lift weights.  I am thinking about getting a bike.  

I was supposed to be on liquids for another week, but my doctor said I was doing great and should advance to the 'Pureed' phase.  

I immediatly had some mashed potatos!

-UG

I feel much better today.  I am at work, although siting upright at my desk puts a little too much preasure on my stomach.  Nevertheless, I am here and productive.

I brought lots of SF Jello, 2 protein shakes, 2 New Whey protien shots.  I am planning on getting some soup for lunch.

I did leave my Tylenol at home.  I was planning on leaving here about 3pm today for my post op appointment with Dr Niam.  I am hopefull I can make it till then.

-UG

I am not in a very good holiday mood.

My wife and kids went to visit relatives.  I stayed home and watched movies.  I did not want to explain my surgery or why I cannot eat to anyone.  Besides, I wanted to rest up and try to go back to work tomorrow.

I had some Cream of Mushroom soup with non-fat milk.  It was perfect!

Merry X-Mas!

-UG

OMG!  The gas won't quit.  My stomach, intestines and bowel are making lots of disturbing noises.  They are loud and can be heard by others even in a large room.

I have been taking GasX strips, which does help with preasure, but nevertheless, the gas is still there.

I also notice during the evening of Day 3 I started feeling hungry.  I am on a liquid diet unti 1/4/08 and really don't know how I am going to make it.  I am craving for chips and salsa.

The more I think about it, Shrimp Tacos sound good too!

I stopped the Lortab on Day 3.  I have been taking liquid Tylenol which is much better for me.

-UG

I was banded yesterday. Everything went real smooth. I woke up at 4am and scrubbed with Hebiclens Anti-bacterial soap. My mother-in-law arrived at 5am to watch the kids. By 530am, my wife and I were going through admissions. I was real hungry from being 'clear' the prior 24hours. By 630am we were in the pre-surgery room getting prepped, meeting with my Dr (Dr Naim), the assiting Dr (Dr Nassarian) and Anesthesiologist (Dr Jackson). Dr Naim told me he was going to try to place a 10cc AP band, however as we had discussed previously, men tend to have large fat pads at the placement location. If he could not get it to work he would opt for the 14cc AP band. By 730am I was moved the operating suite and on the table. I started inhaling the gas and then woke up in recovery. When I came to, it was 930am.

While I was on the table, admissions had my wife wait in my room where there was a monitor of my surgery. She watched the whole thing as it was happening.

Dr Naim was right by my side as I awoke. The first thing he said was he was able to fit to 10cc AP band. He also mentioned I might not even need a first adjustment - that my restriction may be good. He said I will stay the night at the hospital overnight to recover and have some tests the following day (today).

The hospital staff brought my wife down the surgical elevator so she could be by my side as I was taken back to my room. There was ice chips and jello waiting for me. I nibbled on some ice chips.

As far as the pain, coughing and trying to clear my throat hurts the worse. After surgery I had a deep pain below my chest plate. My back and shoulders hurt as well. My wife gave me a little massage which seemed to fix it. I was on Lortab immediately. But by 7pm to something stronger that they injected into my IV line.

The nursing staff when I arrived in my room was the WORSE. At one point I was yelling for a nurse to come (the never responded when I pushed the call button). After the shift change, the nursing staff was a 100% improvement.

Today I had my upper GI series. I swallowed some dye and they took an xray. I have very good restriction. On film it looked like the size of my IV line.

I have had no hunger sensation at all. Today, I noticed my stomach making lots of familiar hunger noise but no urge or sensation to eat. I have to remind myself to 'sip'. I am using a straw to help. Even a small cup of jello is taking me about 30mins to consume (it used to take me about 2 seconds before).

I am at home now and walking. I will be on liquids for 2 weeks before I start mushies.

-UG

I woke up this morning and started going 'clear'.  My surgery is less than 24 hours and I am getting excited.  I took the laxative my doctor prescribed and I am starting to get those knots in my stomach.

My wife then unloads and tells me that she is upset that I am getting WLS.  Because as a woman, she struggles with her weight and feels that I am taking an easy way out.  I reminded her that I am well over 100lbs overweight while she is only 25lbs over her normal weight.

Up until now she has been very supportive.  She even went with me to my pre-op appointment where my surgeon explained the procedure in detail.  She than asked if she could get 'banded' at her 25 bmi.

I am feeling crazy but very focused on the prize!

-UG

I got the call today!  My surgery is set for 12/20/2007.

I am excited, nervous, anxious and at a loss.  Being totally committed, I never thaught I would feel this way.  Perhaps because I am on the verge of a new chapter in my life!

-UG