gregg glader
Perspective from July 28....9 days post-surgery
Jul 28, 2010
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.
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About Me
geneva, IL
Location
54.4
BMI
Surgery
07/19/2010
Surgery Date
Jan 18, 2008
Member Since
