buttafly
Hello!
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10-14-06 I've been interested in WLS for over 2 yrs. but never seriously thought I'd ever do it. Gastric bypass is just too scary to me and the Lap-Band was more of an option but the constant upkeep of needing fills plus some of the other issues with it really just didn't make me a good candidate. But now since I've heard of the VSG (Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy) I know this is the one for me! I realize there are still some complications that could happen and though nervous about the idea of having surgery… feel the benefits far outweigh the potential risks. I am now on a quest to get this procedure done & reclaim my life back! BMI: 53.3 Weight Loss Goal: To lose at least 150 lbs 10-24-06 Today I got my surgery date confirmed!! It will be on 11-16-06 with Dr. Pleatman. I spoke with Jo the coordinator and will be flying there 11-14-06. My aunt will be coming with me and we'll have to stay there until 11-20-06 (a little longer than I thought). It's about a 2 hour (direct/non-stop) flight from where I live so I'm happy about that. I've arranged for my PCP & a Bariactric Surgeon Dr. Pohl to follow up with me when I get home. This all feels so surreal! I'm excited because I know this is going to change my life, but really...really nervous about all the unknowns. I know I have to be realistic about the potential complications, but trying really hard to stay positive. My family (the few that know) are there for me but still really wish I wouldn't go through with it. I'm self-pay and this surgery & trip will completely drain me financially....they're going on a couple of credit cards. And those around me think it's nuts for me to do this & I can see their point... But I look at it like this....when one goes off to college (usually with nothing) they may take out a loan in order to get the tools they needs to improve themselves in order to ultimately live a better life. I feel this is an investment in me and gives me the chance to improve my health & enhance my life. I think in the long run this will the best option. Hopefully in 6 months to a year from now I will come and look back at this entry and feel like this is one of the best decisions I could of made. I can't wait for that moment! 11-2-06 Today I start my 2 wk. (mostly) liquid diet. I'm also going to be making a veggie soup (cabbage, carrots, green beans, onion, & garlic) but it will mainly be broth. I wasn't instructed to do a liquid diet, just told to try to lose as much weight before surgery as I could...but feel protein shakes and soup/broth would be the best way to go in acheiving that. I am determined to stick with this knowing it will help make my surgery go easier by shrinking my liver & abdominal fat. It will also give me a jump on my weight loss. 11-8-06 Well, my self imposed 2 wk. (mostly) liquid diet has not gone as planned. By the 3rd day I was feeling bad....migraines, nausea, diarrhea mixed with constipation??? I couldn't seem to get down another protein drink & my focus level was out the window. Well of course my bad habits took front and center & I went off the liquids for a few days...arrhhhh!!!! I know how important this is for my surgery & I've already messed up. Well I have 8 days til surgery and I got to see this thing through. So here is my resolve again that I will do this.... 11-14-06 Flew out to Michigan today. I was nervous about the plane ride...like fitting in the seat, needing a seatbelt extension, would I still get that empty seat next to me that I had planned on? Well fortunately the ride went very well. I got to have an empty seat next to me and to my surprise the regular seatbelt fit...didn't need to ask for an extender!! Now just hanging out in the hotel. Still can't believe all this is really happening. 11-15-06 Today is the day before surgery and a clear liquids day. Met with Dr. Pleatman for the 1st time face-to-face. I brought my list of questions and we went through them. He did a quick ultrasound of my liver & gallbladder and saw that my liver was large and that it had pushed my gallbladder more front and center which made me nervous. I asked how this would affect surgery and he said “we’ll see once we get in there”… yikes!.... That wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear. He didn’t seem too anxious about it and did say these are the things that come along with obesity, so that helped. I was told my ideal weight would be around 150 lbs. but my target wgt for surgery would be about 210 lbs. But that surgery is a tool and how far I go depends on what I put into it. So I feel a good self goal is somewhere between the two which is 180, but I’m not locking myself into a specific number. I will do my best and let my mind & body tell me at what number feels most comfortable. I went through the diet & exercise info. with the dietician at this visit also. 11-16-06
11-17-06
1 day post-op. Later that morning the IV was taken out and I walked the corroders. I was given the bariatric breakfast which insisted of chicken broth, water/apple juice mix, SF jello, (2) SF popsicles, & decaf coffee. I was excited about being able to finally sip some liquids. I took a few small spoons of the warm broth, 2 sips of the water/juice mix, and 1 small taste of the jello and I was done. I couldn’t believe how little filled me up! Dr. Pleatman came in to see me & examined my (6) incisions. He told me the surgery had gone great the day before…very straight forward, easy and simple. I was so glad to hear that. He said it was up to me whether I’d like to be discharged. The hospital staff were all really nice but I wanted to get back to the hotel and recover there. 11-18-06
2 days post-op. At this time I wasn’t on any pain meds so my abdomen was in a lot of pain plus I was still coughing up bloody mucus. I had chicken both, water, & juice through out the day and was completely satisfied. Not hungry at all which is amazing to me because I’m one of those who were always hungry and could never feel full. I know there is alot of internal swelling which is giving me that full feeling but it still feels so weird not to have that insatiable appetite I’m used to having. By the end of the night I was still really quite uncomfortable and in some pain so decided to take oxycotin (ok’d by the dr.) which I regularly take for back pain to help. And now I’m feeling better.
11-19-06
3 days post-op. Feeling alot better today. Getting around well & still not hungry …yeah!
11-20-06
4 days post-op. Today I saw Dr. Pleatmean at his office for a follow-up before flying back home. Since surgery day I’ve lost 7.5 lbs & when added to the 8 lbs lost pre-op that a total of 15.5 lbs lost so far. I will from here on out subtract # pounds lost from my starting weight… Since it is incorporated in the surgery process AND I would have just gained it back if surgery wasn’t done immediately after.
11-23-06
1 wk post-op. Today makes 7 days since surgery & I’m feeling great! I’ve lost 12 lbs. since surgery day & 20 lbs. overall. The two things I need improving on is my protein & water intake-- I’m not hitting my goals. So I’ll have to try a different supplement I think I saw Jane talking about that had over 40g in 3 oz. Plus I got my first glimmer of slight hunger yesterday. Nothing major, but yesterday I only got in about 15g of protein (poor planning on my part) and I know that had something to do with it. So today and from here on out I’m really going to have plan my day & eating schedule.
....Late night update....not hungry....Did I mention that I love this surgery!!!
12-7-06 3 wks post-op. This past week hasn’t gone too well. I’ve been dealing with migraines plus ended up in the ER because of extreme back and low abdominal pain, nausea, & vomiting. CAT scan showed things looked normal so I think it was just a bad case of back spasms & gas (along with side effects of migraine pain…ie nausea/vomiting). On top of that I’ve only lost 1 lb. this week. In learning about how the body works I understand why yet don’t at the same time. All I can say is it’s soooo frustrating. My body just doesn’t seem to want to let go of this weight. I hope this ain’t the start of a stall & hopefully next week I’ll lose more lbs. On the upside, my BMI is now 49.3 & I did lose 1 inch off my waist this week… which makes 2 ½ inches lost there in 3 weeks (waist size from 53" to 50.5"). So I’m happy about that. 12-16-06 1 month post-op. The past couple of weeks I haven't lost as much as I thought I would. I was expecting more since I started at such I high weight. Some think I'm expecting too much, but when I compare myself to others on this board it seems slow to me. 1-2 pounds a week is what I thought my weight loss would be much further out not at the beginning? Well, at least I'm losing...that more than I can say was happening before surgery. I guess I might be a slow loser or my body is just adjusting right now?? Something I'm now contending with is my appetite & head hunger. The head hunger part I'm trying to sort out...sometimes it just in my head, other times I think it's really thirst. Though, I definitely feel more hungry (& more often) now & am able to eat quite a bit more than I used to so I'll have to keep an eye on that now. However, one thing that I know is hindering me is the fact I've been unable to exercise because of chronic back pain. But I'm getting a treadmill soon so hopefully I'll be able to walk on it ...spaced out throughtout the day & get my metabolism going. I'm actully excited to add exercise to my life for the first time! I feel like I have pent up energy I need to release. There's a mini-wow moment! Lets hope by next month's update I still feel that way... 12-19-06 --The lightbulb 2-19-07
I'm 3 months post-op now, how time flies. Well my weight loss is still slower than most. So I'm just trying to stay in my own little world & focus on the positive things that are happening to me instead of trying to "keep up with jone's"---so to speak. So far I've lost a total of 44 lbs (296...I'm finally under 300 lbs...yeahhh!!!). I've lost 5 inches in my waist (from 53" to 48") & BMI is now 46.3. And more importantly I'm starting to feel better physically & mentally about myself.
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332 / 8 lbs. lost pre-op -- SURGERY DAY! --
came on today-- 
