Year surgeriversary

Sep 25, 2009

It’s hard to believe it has been a year since I had surgery. My wife was going thru some old pictures and found the one that I took the day before surgery, when I weighed 295. She looked at the picture, then looked at me, and asked me if it was me in the picture.

The good – weight loss. This morning I weight 176 pounds. The highest weight I know of, in August 2008, was 318. I am pretty sure I weighed more but it is hard to tell because I only weighed when I went to the doctor. On the day of surgery I weight 295. So since August 2008 I have lost 142 pounds and since surgery I have lost 119 pounds. This time last year I was taking the max amount of glypizide I could take for diabetes. That wasn’t working and I was looking at starting insulin because my blood sugars were out of control. Since surgery – no meds and normal blood sugars. I was taking two different types of blood pressure medication – since surgery I am taking the lowest of dose of Lisinopril that can be taken and will probably be taken off that soon. I have not had to use a CPAP since surgery. I have more energy and have been able to have a great summer – by the way, I have big plans for next summer. I have cirrhosis and hoped it would improve but it hasn’t gotten worse, so that is a good thing. I stopped throwing up a few months ago – that is a really good thing that I am thankful for – my pouch was really grumpy at times and seems to be much happier.

The bad – I can’t eat chicken (not really all that bad) or eggs. I can’t eat rice but I don’t like rice anyway. Fresh, uncooked veggies give me trouble. Fresh fruit gives me trouble. It seems I am one of the people who can consume as much sugar as I want without dumping. If I don’t eat right I will have a hypoglycemic reaction.  

The ugly - I have terrible gas all the time. I alternate between extremely loose stool and constipation. My stomach gurgles and makes sounds all the time – loud sounds at times. Off topic (hey, this is my story)

Depression – I was kind of hoping that it would improve, I guess by magic. I guess it is a generational thing or maybe something I learned from my Dad but I just can’t seem to talk about it with anyone (this is actually the most I have every talked about). I have never talked to my doctor or anyone else about being depressed but some days it is like a millstone hanging around my neck. I get down and just stay down. I think it is odd but it doesn’t seem that people notice – maybe because I am quiet and don’t talk much. Oh well, maybe someday I will group up and talk to a doctor. Maybe it is my kids leaving home. I know some people like when the children leave home, but I have to say while I am proud of them I miss the days when they thought I was the greatest. My oldest daughter graduates from college this year, my middle daughter began college this year, and my youngest is a HS senior who will be gone next year. I think I am having a harder time with this than my wife is.

So – was it worth it? Oh, yeah. I wish I hadn’t waited as long as I did. The bad stuff I talked about is nothing compared to where I was heading with diabetes and its complications. I realize that the diabetes will come back if I don’t take care of myself but it is a second chance I am going to take advantage of.

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