gregg glader

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Very exciting to be reminded, today is the 2 yr anniverasry of my gastric bypass surgery at CDH hospital by Dr Van Vallina.
As anyone reads who is contemplating surgery or struggling through the various stages, please know that the life improvements can be better than you could ever imagine. I pictured better health, longer life, less pain, maybe even to play tennis again, to fly in 1 seat instaed of 2 again, to breathe better and relieve anxiety attacks that came from time to time, to sleep better and get rid of my cpap machine.
All of those have happened plus doing better at my job, happier on a daily basis, far more ability to participate in any activities that I choose, actually went to tennis camp and pushed myself pretty hard, new girlfriend that is amazing to me with new dreams of marriage, family and home and forever things.
So much more reward than I even imagined before deciding.
Truthfully, there are still times when my stomach troubles me with a need to eat something or a need to slow down and relax a bit, so it is not a perfect thing, but tjhe benefits outweigh the struggles by so much that there is no comparison, and then the benefits go farther to exceed hopes and wishes.
If you are at the point where you cannot do it through willpower, and have so much weight to lose that you can't do the exercise needed (as I was), then know that in one man's opinion, this surgery was a life saver, a life enhancer, and a dream revitalizer.
Thank you Dr Vallina!!!

At my last Dr visit, I found that I had become lactose intolerant as a result of surgery. Did n't know it.....didn't even know it was something to consider. So, while I've been home from the hospital for 11 weeks, each and every day I've had 1 or 2 protien shakes made with skim milk.
Breakfast: protien shake
Mid morning: snack bar
Lunch: Aching stomach (I thought was just intense hunger),  Easier to drink to "satisfy that hunger" than to eat due to constriction. So, another protien shake w/skim milk
Mid afternoon: protien bar or two
Driving home from work, more "intense hunger" / churning and aching stomach
Dinner
Conclusion at the time..."Gotta get used to this new routine, find new foods to try, etc
Correct conclusion.....no more milk and now it's bearable hunger that I can live with
Only wish I'd found out several weeks ago!!
Worst...434 (2009)       Jan 2010....410       Surgery 7/19......380      Today......312      Goal......240-250
Overall loss.......122 lbs!!      2010 loss.......98 lbs!!   WoooooooooooHooooooooooooo!!

I seem to have good days and bad days still. Seems every 3 hrs or so, I NEED to find something to quell the hunger pains, so I'm trying to remember to pack some protien bars, lots of bottled water, and something to snack on like meat or cheese sticks. Probably not as good as a true regular scheduled meal at midday, but I just don't want the aching to become so overwhelming. ***IS THIS EXTREME HUNGER PART OF ADAPTING FOR EVERYONE??***.
I do recognize though, if I get my protien and supplements started first thing in the morning and then properly space my eating (including meat protien) so I stay more "stable".......I find that I feel so much better than I have in at least 10yrs.  So, while I am struggling with controlling my routines and finding the foods that my body will tolerate easiest....I am so encouraged because in the good moments, I can almost feel like I did when I was at my best physically. Just wanted to keep tracking....
WORST WEIGHT (2009) 435lbs
START OF CURRENT EFFORT (Jan 2010) 410lbs
SURGERY DATE (7/19/2010) 380lbs
first post-op (8/3/2010) 360lbs
second post-op (8/17/2010) 349lbs
Today (10/5/2010) 323lbs
Lost 57lbs since surgery........87lbs this year.........112lbs LOST OVERALL!!                    (wooohooo!!< Yeah!!)

Wow, this IS a bit of a "roller coaster ride". At my 10 week post-op point and can feel how great it will be. Still, every day holds a few moments of "out of control" hunger when my schedule doesn't allow me to be as consistent with my eating/exercise as I should be, but overall I can recognize how much lighter I am on my feet and (at least occasionally) can feel what it will be like to get this process under control and be able to feel great more and more of each day. Haven't gotten back on a tennis court yet, but planning that for this next month. Reached a goal of (overall) 113lbs lost this morning!! WOOO HOOO!! To reward myself, I'm going to Vegas for a weekend of sportsbook/football/world series and basic relaxation, and part of that will be a little time each day on the court. Interesting that I do feel very excited thinking about getting closer to that goal, but also just a little apprehensive........do I still have some expectations there?-I certainly shouldn't after almost 10yrs of not playing-I know I'll be worse than "bad" at first.....but still excited for it.
Seems like this journey has been easier to get through than I feared, but the daily "lifestyle" is harder to adapt than I expected. Each week seems a little better than the previous in the way my body/pouch tolerates my food. Trying always to keep the protien up, water/liquids up, exercise/walking up.  Feeling some new pains here and there as the weight disappears......knee seems better than a couple of weeks ago, but now a little stiffness in the back (maybe from using a few new machines at the health club).
Really anxious for my next appt w/Dr Vallina. This one is 3rd post-op appt and should include all of the bloodwork tests. Anxious to see if my blood sugar, LDL, protien level and all vitamin/mineral levels are good. Sometimes I've just forgotten to take my supplements twice daily. Had a day on Saturday where I forgot my morning supplements and got out doing errands. Didn't keep an eye on the clock and missed lunchtime & snacktime before I could get home for a protien shake. Seems like when the hunger starts to ache and cramp, food is hard to eat, but the shake is smoother and soothes the pain and hunger. After that, then I can eat some meat and after a bit will feel fine again............but, I am getting tired of feeling so controlled by the routine. I know that sounds silly (even to me)-- I have to get better at consistently living the routine.  I can do it. I guess, once we start to see the "tip of the iceburg", then we want it all to come fast.....it won't...........but, I can feel it starting, it may not come as fast as I like, but it is improving and WILL get done!!

It's been awhile since writing here. Now that I've passed the 2 week and 4 week post op appointments, Dr Vallina released me to work and exercise back at the health club, and also moved me to the "small chopped" stage of the diet. I was so excited when they told me that. Then when I went home and had a little bit of chicken, chopped small and chewed well...it made me feel like I was going to vomit...kept it down, but had some yogurt and a protien shake to quell my hunger. Next day, tried a little sliced turkey at lunchtime with similar results.....ate a small bit but needed the protien shake to complete my meal. Also have not been sleeping well at all. Sometimes get to sleep ok, only to wake at 2 or 2:30 and be wide awake for a couple hours...other nights, it takes until 1:30 or 2 to get to sleep and still wake at 6. After not much sleep last week, and not much real nourishment from food, I was exhausted and really needed to lay low for a couple of days. Slept away Saturday off and on between shakes and meds and baseball games on tv. Felt better on Sunday and did get out to church and a couple of errands. Meant to get to visit at mom's or sister's but didn't make it there. Went home at 6 and had a couple slices of turkey breast and it stayed more "stable" in my stomach than it was last week. Today I'm feeling better though not really strong at all. Seems like I'm still healing and recovering a bit, so I do want to get the exercise and food going but not going to push too hard. May try the bariatric water exercise tonight or the Tues nite exercise class tomorrow. Also feeling a sharp pain in my right thigh recently. Thigh was numbing due possibly to losing fat around the discs in my back and affecting nerves to the thigh. However, it's now developing into more of a localized sharp pain than a general numbness, so I think there may be something wrong. Fearing that it may be an infection like the cellulaitis that I had in January, I don't want to let it go long. If it still hurts tomorrow, I think I may call or see Dr Vallina and get his opinion. I don't even know if my body can take something like amoxocillin, if it is an infection starting. Oh well, enough rambling for now. Just to keep tracking for myself......
worst weight (2009).............435
current effort (Jan 2010)....410
surgery date (July 19, 2010)...380
today's weight..............................341
(69 lbs this year!!........within 6lbs of losing 100 since my worst)

Still just figuring this out. Last 2 days have been focused on more protien shakes rather than "purees" and I think that I'm getting more protien and feeling better. Have taken longer walks the past couple of days....good exercise, twinges of pain but nothing severe. Also trying to rest/lay down several times through the day even if just for 15 minutes. Feeling a bit stronger, but still have the one area (slightly left of center--pouch location? maybe) where it seriously hurts if I bump it or stretch or reach and it expsoses that area. Probably normal to hurt for a while in the area of the surgery....although I am anxious for my 1st follow up (Tues 8/3) to know if what I am feeling is 100%normal or on track. Weighed in today at 357.0 (77lbs from worst; 52lbs from Jan 2010; 22lbs since pre-surgery). Trying also to get in all of the vitamin supplements and water too, but seems like it's pretty tough to get it all in...with a egg size pouch as the max volume. Just an update....looking forward to 3 months....6 months....1 year.....to read how this all appeared at this time, with a "looking back" perspective.

Just a short update for my own tracking (and anyone else interested). More protien shakes, less food today....no pain meds since last night before bed......longer walk today (felt uneasy with some minor pain/abdominal stretching) overall good day, rested body more but also got good exercise. Gotta remember that this is just 1 week home post surgery. Making good prgress and not disappointed at all, but still want to "push it" just a little bit to reach each new level of "healing". Today weighed at 358.4 (75.6 from worst; 50.6 from Jan 2010; 16.6 since going in for surgery 10 days ago). Looking at winter vacation to reward myself, maybe Vegas, maybe Caribbean. New goal to attend Tennis & Life Camp next spring at Gustavus Adolphus. Respect the approach, always have respected Steve Wilkinson, saw on their website about Karen Gibbs scholorship. Wanting to regain some tennis abilities, relive some Minnesota tennis memories, and to see what happened in Karen's later years....she obviously was a great example for many. So much for the short update

Now after a week at home, time for perspective. I'm surprised the pain hasn't gone down more based on first days' progress. Been trying to get all the protien, water, supplements done each day. getting all the water in is harder than I expected. It all seems to be based on the fact that the pouch can only hold a few oz at a time whether it's protien food, soothing food (yogurt/pudding), water or whatever. With a few meds continued after surgery, a regular (though reduced) pain med, xanax to help with sleep, vitamin supplements 4-6x/day, etc........and with needing to take time (20minutes) between injesting, it's simply hard to get it all in. Great revelation for me (if I'm right) has been the effect of "overeating"......I'm in pureed phase, but when I've had too much protien shake or other pureed food or even some oz of water, I don't feel "full" or even "over-full".....I feel more pain than over-full. First couple of days, I wondered if something was "wrong" inside, but now I think it may just be the result of too much. Obviously, reducing food intake by so much, seems impossible to hurt from that, but I think that's what I'm feeling. I read about "dumping syndrome" but don't feel fevered or nauscous or have vomit reflex, just pain in the stomach area........that goes away after an hour or so. Is this getting myself educated to just how extremely little I can take in??
Trying to focus on getting 30g protien shake, other meds (crushed), and 2 vitamin supplements in, as well as the Lovenox shot as my first order of business each day. Been specifically trying to ween off the pain med syrup the past couple of days, so it's just 1 less thing to injest, and I can make almost the entire day without the pain med if I'm cautious with my other needs and don't overdo the exercise. Might be partly due to 85+ temps outside, but a little bit of walking and a little more resting seems to let my body heal a bit more for now. Day by day, I try to learn more about what to do and when, but it'll sure be nice when the "healing stage" has somewhat passed and I can focus on simply eating small portions of "normal" foods again. Just wanting to keep track for myself of early progress.....started this journey at 435lbs Jan 2009.....minor self discipline got me to 410lbs Jan 2010.....serious self discipline, more exercise, smarter eating got me to 379 on July 19 (day of surgery).....not overly focused on the numbers right now, but 1 week post-surgery 7/26 was at 364.....and today 7/28 the scale reads 361. So, I can claim 74lbs lost since worst point; 49lbs since first of this year; and even 15lbs since surgery just 10 days ago.  All the results seem good, but right now I do still wonder about the long term lifestyle sacrifice (only because, so far, I don't really know the new lifestyle that I'll establish); and I do still hurt; and until my first couple of follow-up doc appts, I'll have a little concern about leakages, infections, physical failures. Feelin good and excited for the long term, but right now I still have to live in the short term. Any who may read while considering your options.....I am at a "normal" time of uncertainty (like you), but in my heart I know that it will AT LEAST give me the CHANCE to form a newer more active lifestyle. Greatly worth it!! and I'd gladly recommend Dr Vallina and Cent DuPage Hospital as huge parts of my success so far.....skilled, compassionate, responsive and caring through every step of the way.

I made it!! Had my surgery on Mon 7/19. Was walking within 2 hrs after being moved to my room and several times the next day. Ice chips Mon nite and Tues morning, then clear liquid diet Tues and Tues nite. Pureed scrambled eggs for Wed BFast, Lite yogurt and 1% cottage cheese for Wed lunch. Tues am test of upper GI showed everything sealed and working well. Lived on "the botton" pain med on Mon nite and Tues, but tolerated the oral pain med on Wed 3 times starting with early am. Doctor Vallina visited on Tues afternoon and checked everything and was very happy with my progress. Dr Delessio came Wed at 4pm and checked everything again. All looked good and he checked the drainage tube and it had very little there, so he removed the tube and discharged me. Now, it's Thursday and I'm home. Feeling really good about my progress. Excited of course for the long run life gain. But right now, still in abdominal pain. So, for now, my mind is enjoying the big decision and the positive changes it will allow for my life......but the body does hurt. Just want to leave my little record here for posterity. I'd recommend Dr Vallina and Central DuPage Hospital more than words can express. He was exceptional and made me feel comfortable and confident. The nursing and patient care people at CDH were far beyond excellent and not just a couple of them, but 100% of them were responsive, compassionate, understanding and tried to do absolutely anything to make me comfortable as possible. Whata great experience!! Now, I am anxious for the next 2 weeks to heal and lose the abdominal pain, then for the support groups, exercise, learning how to eat properly and dropping these "chains" (both physical and psychological) that I've been enduring for most of 56 years. Wow. Hope someone else can also get encouragement from my experience and even from knowing what great help and care is available through CDH and Dr Vallina. CHEERS! to a new life. God is great!!

On Tues 6/29 (day after original suregry date) I had my appt with the cardiologist. He does another ekg, then looks at the 2 previous ones (with "discrepency" that caused postponement).......he says, no problem all is normal. When I asked about the "discrepency", I find out that the technician who did the prior one transposed "right" from "left". So the ONLY discrepency and the ONLY cause for a 3 week postponement of surgery was due to a tech who didn't know right from left!! Initial reaction is pretty easy to guess...but, since surgery date was already cancelled and rescheduled, and since I'm already convinced that I'll change primary doc as soon as this is over, and since the only one who I could be mad at now is a technician (and see no gain in that)....I will take it as an opportunity to have had a "practice run" at the 2 week pre-surgery diet, and an opportunity to be better prepared for new surgery date of July 19. This has been a really frustrating episode, but looking back at it from 10 years in the future, I'll only recall it as a small bump in the road on my way to a happier and healthier life. Now, today I have to start back on the 2 week pre-op diet of protien shakes and bars. Not happy bout that, but I'll make it through.