Toya L.

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Hello all,

I'm back with a brief update of my progress this year. I'm doing well and loving my VSG.

I got the VSG revision from the LAPBand on 10/10/2011 (STW 309) and so far I've lost over 85lbs. My immediate weight loss goal is too loose 100LBS by New Years day 2013. I give all my weight loss success credit to God and I appreciate His mercy and grace in my life regarding my emotional, spiritual, and physical health. I've struggled with my weight for majority of my life, my addictive overeating habits was the major contributing factor to my obesity. Now, I can still eat small portions, my restriction is great, I would do it all over again. However, I do have to stop every so often to re-evaluate my eating habits, like cutting out carbs and making healthy food choices to continue to be successful in this journey. I cannot drink at all while I eat, or my food will come up. Also, I've had time to focus on how food makes me feel, instead of being burdened down with fear of eating the wrong things which use to lead to several binging for days-weeks-or months, and ultimately weight regain. Now, I have the ability to eat a healthy diet without starvation pangs nipping at my heels. I workout and I have more energy to work fulltime and take care of my family fulltime. My relationship with my husband has improved because I am no longer exhausted when I get home from work. So, look forward to year two with my VSG.

Blessings to all:-)

 

I am doing well, and still loving my VSG.

My current weight is: 248.4 which makes me down 60.4lbs since my surgery on 10/10/2011.....Yea ME!!!

I feel normal, something I did not feel in my past dieting years. While I am still learning on my VSG journey, I am physically and spiritually separating myself from the strongholds of overeating. Also, I am confident that the weight I've lost will stay off and won’t creep back up on me as it did in the past, I can take a breath even if I did not eat perfectly on a certain day. I thank God for the help, as the struggles of overeating and yo-yo dieting was stealing me from me, and robbing my family of the person God intended for me to be.

My diet consists of most foods; however, the volume of food I can take in remains minimal. My hunger cravings are normal; however, they are positively counteracted because my food intake is limited and I've learned to accept it. Pre-Opt hunger cravings were a beast for me, too many blood sugar spikes going off around the clock, and I can’t forget about the constant fatigue. Now I've grown to accept my new eating habits and I love them. I must say that the VSG really does control my old habits, and no overeating is allowed at all, it’s not an option, as one too many bites will have me running to throw-up and that gets tiring after while and embarrassing in public. I am still learning to eyeball my foods based on the density and consistency to avoid getting foamies and wasting a good meal.

Loving the VSG:) It is so worth it, and I would do it all over again if I had too….. *Don’t hesitate if you are considering it!!! *Do it and move on with your wonderful life!!!!

I’m 7 weeks post-op, and still loving my sleeve. I’m down 39 lbs in 49 days…yea!! I am still learning how to maneuver with the VSG. I have some minor challenges that are overshadowed by many successes. I have not started a consistent workout plan because of foot and ankle problems I am seeing a podiatrist about. I do walk as often as I can and use my elliptical machine at home a couple times a week. Food wise, I am still working diligently to meet my nutritional requirements such as protein. I only have a certain amount of room in my sleeve, I take in protein first, and this leaves little to no room for anything else. Typically, I have no desire for breakfast and tend to have a protein shake about 11am or 12 noon. I eat tuna or chicken for lunch (2PM to 3PM), and dinner (6pm-7pm) consists of any meat protein I can get in. I stay away from carbs because they go down fine and do not contribute to my protein requirements. My hunger is still limited. …..I love my sleeve…..   Also, for those of you who are considering converting from the sleeve to the VSG, do it. The restrictions are very different from the band, and I am more confident with this weight loss surgery tool (VSG) than I was with the band.     HW 309 …. SW 309…. CW 270….GW 170

Overall I’m doing well, and I would do it all again…  

I’ve lost 32lbs on 35 days, yea!!

My clothes are the biggest indicator of reduced caloric intake. I have muscles working without me putting a lot of effort in-I like this. I definitely have more energy during the day, and I walk for 30 minutes daily with ease.  

I’m excited to have the buffer of the VSG which convinced me that the weight I’ve lost will not sneak back up on me like pre-VSG. Also, I am confident that I will reach my goal weight of 170 within a year from today.  

Food is still enjoyable for the first few spoonfuls, then enough is enough…or else, the pain will come…and I don’t like the pain. So, I’m learning to listen to my body, and use past VSG eating experiences as markers.  


I’m still working on:

-Physical and mental fatigue from trying to eat all that is required to get in the 60+ protein a day…sometimes my tummy is just too tired.


-Catching myself in situations where I will be presented with a large plate of food, that I can’t eat (like a $100 plate dinner event-that was free. I was so embarrassed)

-Keeping myself constructively busy during the times I use to eat (Pre VSG)   Most importantly, my hunger cravings are still at a great minimum, and the cravings are satisfied with a spoonful or two of that desired item…..

I love this sleeve.

I'm doing well.

I still have some abdominal pain through out the day, mostly where my lab-band port use to be. I’m still consuming liquids/protein shakes/ and some runny puree. The liquid diet is not so bad since my hunger pangs have been greatly reduced....THANK GOD :)  I feel like a normal human being compared to pre-surgery, no more slaving to the sights-smells-and thoughts of food...yea!!!!   Pre-surgery, I was consumed with the obesity battle; however, now I am confident in winning this battle.

Current Weight 285   My clothes fit so much better :)

 

Hello OH friends,

I want to add quick updates: Post OP Day 5-8:  

My weight: Pre-Opt: 309  Current weight today: 293       

Minimal hunger pangs, awesome!!!!!!  
I feel great overall, I have newfound energy.  
I love the fact that I am able to interact (cook/shop for family) with food without losing control, or getting really pissed off because I have to follow a post opt-liquid diet.  

Still sticking the prescribed full liquid (everything strained) diet. I’ve become a professional at blending and straining homemade and store bought soups; however, I can’t wait until I can move to semi-liquids in about 8 days.  

The powdered proteins are not my friends because of the gunk that settles at the bottom of the cup-GROSS. I cannot pretend that that gunk is not settling in my body the way it builds up in the bottom of the cup. Therefore, I plan to consume the premixed protein shakes; I purchased a large amount from my surgeon’s office, and I freeze them prior to drinking them, they taste better that way.    

I no longer take the prescribed pain meds, any pains I have can be resolved with Tylenol.  

I love the sleeve, so far.

Day 2- In bed most of the day with a lot of pain, mostly from area where the lap band port was. 
Walked several times a day, took morphine, pepcid, bowel movement meds, breathing treatments, blood thinner.-nothing my mouth, no hunger just dry mouth.
           
Day 3- Completed a successful barium swallow at 8am, which made me eligible for ice-chips and a
clear liquid diet for  the rest of my hospital stay.
In bed half of the day, sat in a chair, watched TV, read some magazines, chatted with friends, 
Walked a lot  to get the post surgery gas moving, pain mostly  from area where the lap band port was. 
Urinated, took morphine, pepcid, bowel movement meds, blood thinner, breathing treatments. No hunger.
        

Day 4- Discharge day.  Walked a lot, released large amounts of gas, urinated a lot, clear liquid diet. Drainage tube and IV removed later in the day, medication switched to take home meds liquid Roxiecte, Pepcid, and Lovenox. I consulted with the nutritionist, surgery assistant, discharge classes, and final consult with Dr. Ben-Meir.

Day 4-At home.  Walked a lot, drank lemon water, took required meds, and went to sleep. My own bed was more comfortable than at the hospital, I am happy to be home.

Day 5-Post Op  
Walked around house, took required meds, drank lemon water 50 oz, blended Campbell's soup (strained) and I added clear Unjury protein supplement to the soup and it was fine.  I feel good today despite abdominal pain around the incisions; I take the liquid pain meds for that.

My surgeon, his team, and the hospital staff was amazing the entire time.

I was relaxed when I woke up, I prayed to my Lord for continued strength and humbleness. I arrived at the hospital at 6am and the wonderful staff at St Vincent Charity Hospital took over from there.  My surgeon Dr Aviv Ben-Meir greeted me in the surgery pre-op room, and he provided me with encouragement and a smile, as he does always.

Once in the operating room, I look left and then right, and I was sleep before I could look around again.

The surgery took five hours due to the removal of the band and conversion to the sleeve.

I was in the recovery room for 4 hours sleeping.

Once awake, I was transported to my hospital room, the struggle began---the pain.  It was expected, but not welcomed. However, the great hospital staff keep me medicated with a morphine pump that I used as needed. The gas in my belly was challenging, yet it a necessary part of the surgery. I walked today, I did not urinate, and nothing was allowed by mouth-not even water. I laid in the bed on my journey to recovery.

Dr Ben-Meir can in to see me, he was pleasant as usual, and encouraged me that the procedure went well.

I felt like a little kid waiting for Christmas day. I could not absorb enough information about revision's from Lap-band to VSG. However, the night before, I prayed myself to sleep.