BigBopper
Start Weight: 476.5 (03/05/2006 - not my heaviest)
Surgery Day: 433.5 (06/12/2006)
Current Weight: 347.0 (10/9/2006)
Goal Weight: 220.0 (smallest I've ever been as an adult)
The Beginning
03-05-2006
Hello, I am Ben. I have been considering wls for about 3 years. I only seriously began considering it this past fall when it became an economic option because I qualified for insurance.
I have finished all my pre-op tests. My insurance has the request and I have my second surgical consult scheduled.
04-02-2006
Had my second surgical consult. Still waiting on the insurance. Am reading everything I possibly can about the surgery and getting as much tips for success as possible.
The problem I can forsee is that Dr. Billy wants me to be on a liquid diet for 4 weeks. This is going to be tough. However, I want this surgery to go as smoothly as possible, so I'll do it.
04-13-2006
Got insurance approval today! Will get my date tomorrow. For some reason, I am now nervous. Now that the surgery is a reality, I am nervous. Oh well, it will pass.
04-14-2006
Surgery Date: June 12, 2006 :-)
04-26-2006
I go for my sleep study today. I've known I have apnea for a while now. I just sleep in a way that lets me breath freely, which is on my belly with about 15 pillows. However, I will not be able to sleep on my belly after the operation. So here I go. I hope they finish everything before the operation.
04-27-2006
The sleep study was not what I expected. I did manage to sleep a few hours which is pretty good considering the circumstances. I was connected with about 17 wires and told I had to sleep on my back or side (I always sleep on my stomach with about 15 pillows).
Halfway through the night, they woke me up and put the cpap on me. I can tell this is something I'm going to have to get used to.
05-22-2006
Well I am now into my second week of my "liquid diet." The first week went okay. Actually, I stuck to 1,200 calories, but I threw out the liquid diet stuff and made my own shakes and added, a low cal/ low fat meal. Although I was still intensely hungry, I stuck to it. Today, Monday, was bad. I went out to eat with my family, twice. Wow.
I didn't even enjoy the second meal because all I could think about was how badly I was messing up.
I asked my family to help me stay committed and no longer invite me out to eat.
So lets see how I do tomorrow.
05-29-2006
Wow! This 4 week liquid diet really isn't working for me. Last week, I got the flu and felt really weak. I tried to make good choices in food but I can't say I was entirely successful. Further, because I was sick I was unable to exercise.
I feel good enough to give it another shot this week. Wish me luck.
06-04-2006
Down to last week before surgery. I lost 10 pounds since last doctor visit. Doctor wants me to do full liquids for last week. Today is my first day and am doing well. I think I feel more of a push this week because I want to make sure my liver shrinks down. I don't want to have an open procedure. If my liver is too big and the doctor cannot do the surgery laprospically, then the surgery will be postponed. Can't have that happen.
06-05-2006
This diet is tough. Yesterday I did well. I did ok today but still managed to stay with the plan. My energy is down. I perk up after a meal but only for about 15 minutes. There simply aren't enough carbs in those shakes.
I've been approached by a writer for a local paper. She's doing a piece on WLS and would like to include my voyage as an example. Although I was uncomfortable with it at first, I agreed to do it after clearing some issues with the surgeon.
06-07-2006
This whole liquid diet is odd. In the morning I have a burst of energy and I hit the gym hard. Today especially, the treadmill I was on was smoking. I've never walked that fast for that long. Wow!
Then around noon I become lethargic and a little moody. I have another "gourmet" protien shake and even out.
I actually look forward to being able to eat "softies" in 14 days. I would love a soft boiled egg about now. But who knows, after this surgery, I may end up hating them.
06-12-2006 *****SURGERY: 7a.m.*****
06-29-2006
So much has happened since my surgery on 06-12-2006 that I haven't been able to keep up with my journal.
I'll start with the day before surgery. I spent the day with friends and family. We didn't do much and I didn't talk much. I was contemplative and a little nervous. Everyone had left by 10 P.M. so I was able to settle in and focus on the surgery. I took this time to reflect on the reasons I'm putting myself through this. I even took out a 3x5 card and wrote them down.
I knew it would be a while before I would have some water, so I drank up until the last possible second, 11:59 p.m..
At midnight, I turned off all the lights and started my sleep routine. I focused on nothing just so my mind would calm down and I could sleep.
Went to sleep around 12:30 and woke up around 2:45 a.m.. Could not go back to sleep.
I decided to go ahead and take my shower and brush my teeth. Started feeling a little more nervous. Stared at the mirror for a while and regained my composure. I went back into my room and read my card. I got dressed and watched T.V. until 5:00 a.m.. I then woke up my adult twin nephews, Lupe and Daniel, both 22, and told them that I am ready.
I have always been close to my boys. I have helped raise them from a young age. I have been more than an uncle. They have been the most perfect and loving nephews an uncle can ever have.
When it became time to schedule a surgery date I made sure I chose one at a time when they were not attending college. So June it was.
They quickly readied themselves while I took my bag to their car and waited for them.
It was a cool morning. The stars were shining bright. I remember looking up at them like I've done thousands of times before. Only this time I was trying to absorb them. Trying to focus on the beauty of them. I hoped this would not be the last time I would be able to see them.
I then started pacing, back and forth in a straight line for about 7 feet. I was trying to remain focused, not letting my mind wander too far off on the "what if's" of my surgery. Then I heard the car engine start. We were ready.
The drive to the hospital was uneventful. Only took about 5 minutes. The boys dropped me off and I signed in. There was one patient before me.
I stood there in that lobby and again began to pace. Only this time in a oblong circle.
My nephews came in and sat down and started talking with one another. Their presence was all I needed to remain focused. For they are part of the reason I am doing this. I want the chance to live long enough to see them graduate college, get married and have kids. I want to be there for them if they ever needed me again.
I asked them for my walkman. My little ipod shuffle that I've been using for the past three months for my workouts that was filled with music that inspired me to keep pushing toward a successful surgery. Everyone kept telling me to lose weight and exercise before surgery to impove my chances of few complications. I did just that.
I put on my ipod and pressed play. It was the soundtrack to Rocky. That music that pushed me hard. I was ready. Everything was in place. I did everything I could to be here and be healthy for this surgery. It was time.
Then I heard "Chavez, window 3."
To be continued...........
