pygmy194
03/31/06
41 y/o married father of two crazy kids ages 7 and 5. Finally making the leap and starting the process. I have my first visit scheduled for 05/10/06. Embarassed to admit that I'm currently at 260 lbs. My wife had the surgery 1.5 yrs ago and has done great....I should have started when she did. She has been great and has not pushed me....more like guided me. Looking forward to getting more energy and building self esteem.
Later
05/10/06
I had my first appointment with the surgeon today. Was so excited to get this ball rolling that I left all of my paperwork at the kitchen table…glad my wife was home to get it to me. The staff at NWWL is great, very friendly. Today I met with the nutritionist, the psychologist, and the surgeon as well has the blood draw. It was a lot of time waiting but I did get to read through 3 Sports Illustrated magazines (fairly recent ones too). My next appointment is on June 2nd and I need to drop a few pounds to prove that I can be successful. The only other requirement for now it to attend another support group meeting. The one I need is tomorrow night and I don’t want to miss it or I’ll have to wait 2 months.
Later
07/01/06
Found out from my first meeting that I have diabetes, high Cholesterol and slightly high blood pressure. They would schedule me for surgery until I got the diabetes under control. I have been approved after getting on diabetes medication and get my levels under control. Even better news...I have a date Aug 28th. I was hoping for sooner but my surgeon is going on vacation for 3 weeks in Aug. It's been a while coming but now I have a date to works towards. I'm down ~15lbs. and would like to get another 15 off before the surgery. Anything to help the process along. Strange...I thought I would be more excited about getting a date...maybe as the date gets closer.
Later
08/25/06
Tick Tock....A couple of days to go before I'm on the other side. Had my pre-op testing this week and everything went fine. Figured I wouldn't tell anyone I was having the surgery...don't want people worrying needlessly. Did however tell my parents tonight...my wife was right...they would probably be mad at her if something happened.
Later
09/03/06
Finally on the other side...and I must say not what I expected. I had anticipated much pain and suffering. I had a little but not from what I thought. I had my surgery on 8/28. The staff at the hospital was great. I don't think that I could have asked for a better team. The nurses, assistants and interns did all they could to make me feel comfortable. I think that the most pain that I had was due to the headaches from not sleeping right...my neck was killing me. I was nauseous in the morning during my first get out of bed and walk episodes. They gave me something for it in my IV and then I roamed the halls doing laps. There were only two other times when the pain was unbearable…but ended quickly. Once when they removed the catheter….I think that they had it tied to a brick inside me…when it finally broke from the brick I only hard the barbed wire to deal with :). The second time was when they removed the drain tube. I was told that people had two experiences when the drain was removed…either a funny feeling (something moving inside you) or pain. I hoped for funny but got pain. The food was hard to take in the hospital but I sipped on water as much as I could.
I got out of the hospital on 8/31. I’ve been eating my pureed food fine and getting in as much fluids as I can. The gas pains I definitely could do without. I’ve been trying to keep mobile by walking the neighborhood. Actually exercising more then I expected. Also feel much better now that I finally had a BM…after almost a week I’m glad it finally happened.
So far….so good…
Later
09/09/06
Had my first follow-up and everything is going great. Here are my weight stats.
Highest Weight – 268
First Visit Weight – 264
Pre-Op Weight – 250
Post Ops Weight – 260 (lots-o-fluid)
First Follow-up Weight – 235 (-29)
Water and food are not an issue so far. I’m craving salt so I know that I need to increase my salt intake. I was OK’d to chew a few Saltines. Looking forward to food advancement….already bored with the pureed diet. My next appointment is on Aug 27th where they will discuss diet advancement. I have had some chili which is a change from pureed soup and broth that I have been eating. I’m not really craving anything else. My family has been eating some of my favorites lately but I could care less. No real desire to eat. I really thought that I would miss bread but OK so far. I’m getting lots of exercise in and when I go back to work I’ll need to find a way to balance the workhomeexercise routine.
Later
09/28/06
Had my one month post op follow-up and everything is going great. Here are my weight stats.
Highest Weight – 268
First Visit Weight – 264
Pre-Op Weight – 250
Post Ops Weight – 260 (lots-o-fluid)
First Follow-up Weight – 235 (-29)
One Month Post Op Weight – 225 (-39)
Still no problems with water and food so far. I’m still craving salt and now craving fat (oil) so I know that I need to increase that intake. Looking forward to food advancement and the 4 step process….I hate ALL PUREED FOOD. My next appointment is on Nov 29th (3 month follow-up). Definitely need to increase my exercise. Walking with the kids ain’t cutting it.
Later
11/29/06
Highest Weight – 268
First Visit Weight – 264
Pre-Op Weight – 250
Post Ops Weight – 260 (lots-o-fluid)
First Follow-up Weight – 235 (29)
One Month Post Op Weight – 225 (39)
Second Follow-up Weight (3 month) – 199 (-65)
Started having some problems…some food goes down great the first time but when I go to eat it the next day I feel nauseous. Starting to throw-up some…I hate throwing up. I need to slow down the eating and start getting more protein in…hair is falling out some. I haven’t got much exercise in as I’m getting over a respiratory problem. Water and fluids still go down fine. I’m no longer craving food and still have to force myself to eat at times. My surgeon is not totally happy that I’m losing as fast as I am.
Later
12/29/06
Highest Weight – 268
First Visit Weight – 264
Pre-Op Weight – 250
Post Ops Weight – 260 (lots-o-fluid)
First Follow-up Weight – 235 (29)
One Month Post Op Weight – 225 -39)
Second Follow-up Weight (3 month) – 199 (-65)
4 month - 191 - (73)
Slowed down my eating and stopped throwing up for the most part. Started drinking more protein shakes but still very limited on the exercise. I’m cleaning out the cellar to make room for exercise equipment.
Later
