Diabetes and sleep apnea was my main motivation for getting the surgery done. The pills and everything associated with it, just became too much and totally just took over my life. I wasn't getting any younger and dieting was showing any long-term success needed to be productive. I thought about it long and hard so VSG was my best option. I will say, that I am one of the most hard headed guys you will ever meet, so sticking to the clear liquid pre op diet was quite the challenge. I got through it, and if I can do it you can too. So surgery day has come, 9-11, how crazy is that. I'm relaxed and ready to get the show on the road. Went into the OR, Talked with the Docs for a few, then woke up. I wasn't sure if they completed the surgery or not, but looking down at my bloated stomach, oh yeah it was done. Cool! Doped up and feeling good, I was sure I could start drinking right away and be good to go. Wrong!! I did say I was hard headed right, Lets just say it didn't go well and I knew that I was in for a battle. But a battle I was ready for and plan to win. Now I did have a problem, I had bleeding and a huge hematoma on one of the incision sites. Dr Sherrod was great and took care of the issue, no problem, but I have a huge amount to bruising as you can see on the pictures. So Im a little tired now, but I will tell you of my first 5 days post op shortly. Take care and god bless!!
A little bit about myself I'm 26 years old 320ish lbs at 5' 9". I've always been on the heavier side of the weight scale, at least that's what I felt. I was a very athletic teenager I played several sport including but not limited to softball, track, basketball and volleyball. I grew up on a horse farm so I was always outside do some kind of chore or playing. With that being said I never had time to sit down, watch a bunch of tv and just simply be lazy. That was until I graduated high school and got a part time job while trying to go to college. At that time as well I was fresh in a relationship with before I never even had a boyfriend let alone anyone to pay attention to me. As most stories go I ended up not completing college, I was just to focusing on work and my boyfriend. Next thing I know I've gained about 50 to 60lbs in one year! Then it really started to roll downhill I tried to lose weight but I was always over doing it. Never eating enough food, exercising to hard and I had no results so I quit trying. Once I quit trying, the weight just piled on then I got depressed. After I moved from my home town I decided to give myself a fresh start. I started exercising again and eating healthy at that time I didn't know how much I weighed because I through the scale out. It was until about 3-4 months of doing this I decided to buy another one. When I stepped on that scale I was devastated I was almost 300lbs! I broke down and cried. How did this happen?? I didn't feel any different; my appearance didn't look that different to me. Why didn't my boyfriend of 7 years tell me that I was getting larger? When I brought this to his attention he responded, "It's my job to love you no matter what you look like." That was a good response. However, it still didn't change the situation I was in. At that point I decided to look in to having weight loss surgery. It's 2013, I was considered surgery I had insurance at the time and wasn't sure whether or not it would cover it. Instead of looking into it I just didn’t. Now it’s 2015, almost 2016, and I’m so ready for this. I’ve already met the requirement of the 6 month diet and I met the surgeon on August 21st. I want to get this surgery done soon as possible. I already did my psychological review. I wanted to do the EGD and sleep apnea test but I’m not sure whether or not I actually need to have it done. I certainly don’t want to go through any tests that I don’t have to. I don’t have sleep apnea. I don’t have any health problems other than being overweight. Hopefully, everything goes according to plan on Friday with the surgeon. Updated on 19 Aug 2015: I have an appointment on Friday to meet with my surgeon. I'm so nervous. I'm not sure if I'm nervous due to the fact that I'm actually doing this or that I will have a bunch of tests that I need to have done before I can even get a surgery date. I think I'm dreading the tests that I may have to have done. I know it's ridiculous but for some reason I feel like they are trying to prolong the process. I really just want to get this surgery done and over with. It's not the stress of the surgery that is bothering me it's my work. I have to fill out FMLA paperwork to get time off so I don't lose my job. I think the pressure of all the unforeseen steps are stressing me out. I wish there was just a step by step procedure so I can check off each thing. I'm not a procrastinator so all this waiting is driving me insane. Plus my patient advocate isn't returning any of my calls or keeping me informed on whether or not he has received my paperwork. Sorry for the venting. Updated on 20 Aug 2015: Wow talk about a difference. Not a good one either. I should of had the surgery then ugh Updated on 20 Aug 2015: This is my motivation I would LOVE to look like this again! Updated on 21 Aug 2015: I'm sitting here at the surgeons office waiting to meet him for the first time and man my nerves are going crazy! I wish my boyfriend could be here with me but I didn't give him enough time in advance to take off work. I thought I wouldn't be nervous but I am. Ugh well I'll just sit here and wait till be over soon. I'll updat you all on whether or not I get a surgery date. Updated on 21 Aug 2015: My appointment is now over and I had a mental break down. I went crying to my boyfriends work and he calmed me down. Any ways I have to have a EKG, Exercise Physiology, Nutritional Consultation, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Blood Count, Serum Iron and Serum Thiamine tests done. However I had a physical last month so the panel and blood count are done. Just need the others. I'm have difficulties with my patient adv. not getting my paperwork form PCP. I also need to lose 20 lbs. So starting tomorrow I'm on a liquid diet with boost protein shakes for breakfast and lunch. For dinner I can eat a very small portion. This was given to me by the nutritionist. I meet up with him on Sept 3. It's all starting! Updated on 24 Aug 2015: I briefly met with the nutritionist last Friday and as part of my surgeons requirements for surgery is that I need to lose 20 pounds. So he has me drinking Boost High Protein shakes. 1 1/2 for breakfast and 1 1/2 for lunch along with an actual meal for dinner, a small one. Hopefully I will lose the 20 pounds soon. I'm so lucky to have such a great boyfriend he is doing the diet with me. Today is going good so far just the stresses of work are driving me up the wall. I can't wait to have this surgery over so I can find a new job. I went to SeaWorld yesterday and walked about 6 miles so I'm a little sore today but it was well worth it. Doing things like this is what I call fun exercise you can't really tell that you are exercising until you're all done. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to get EKG and blood work done so that will be out of the way. I'll let you all know how that goes tomorrow. Updated on 25 Aug 2015: Today I have my EKG and blood work to get done. I'm also trying to find a psychologist to do my psych review because the bariatricpsychevaluation.com took my money but never sent over the paperwork. I've tried calling 5 times and emailing I get no response back. So now I need to have that done before the paperwork can be sent off to the insurance company for review. This is the second day on my liquid protein diet. It is much easier today than yesterday. I don't have any headaches or anger. :) However I'm still trying to figure out the best times to drink my shake so I'm not hungry in between or starving when I get home. I've been eating pickles to curve my hunger. Updated on 26 Aug 2015: I got my EKG and blood work done yesterday so that's only leaves my nutritionist appointment and my second psych evaluation left. I have my psych evaluation on Monday at 1:00pm and the nutritionist appointment next Thursday then everything is finished. I'm still trying to lose the 20 lbs. The liquid diet has gotten a LOT easier. However I'm not losing any weight.. I'm following the diet and at my appointment yesterday I actually gained 5 lbs! Ugh! I'm not worrying myself about that I know if I keep doing it the weight will eventually come off. I just wanted to have a huge chunk of it off by my nutritional appointment so we can move forward from there. I'll keep you all updated but that's all I have for now. Updated on 2 Sep 2015: My packet was submitted to the insurance company at 10am this morning and approved by 2pm this afternoon! I am on happy camper. Now I have my pre-op appointment on Sept 14th I should get my surgery date at that time. Also good news I got a new job! YEAH! However I'm trying to work around this surgery before starting my new job. I don't want to start my new job and then go to surgery. So we will see how this plays out. Updated on 15 Sep 2015: I got my surgery date yesterday! I'm scheduled for October 26th at 10am. Wow this journey has been definitely long but it flew by. Between starting my new job, which I start September 28th, and this surgery my life has been quite stressful. However, I'm glad that I headed in the right direction and it'll be over soon I will be on my way to a healthier me! Some other good news it that I've lost 8 lbs of the 20 lbs my surgeon wanted me to lose. He was very happy about that as well I. That means I'm down 11lbs from where I started! Yippy! My surgeon is really confident that this surgery is going to work for me and I'm not going to let him down. I'm striving to be his best patient. I know that's a stretch but it's a goal of mine. I will you all informed as things happen. Thank you so much for the support. You all are amazing! Updated on 17 Sep 2015: Well I had to use my lunch yesterday to go to the doctor's to drop off my FMLA forms. I'm hoping he fills them out quickly and gets them sent in. I know they aren't due till September 29th however if something is missing on them I need for them to be filled out sooner. Especially since I start my new position on September 25th in a different department. My home life has been very stressful recently. Not my personal life just my families life which I happen to be involved in. My brother and his girlfriend which he has two kids (2yo and 3yo) with are splitting up and they just so happen to be staying with me and my boyfriend in our 1 bedroom apartment. My emotions are running wild because I got away from all that. I was an emotional eater because of stuff like that. Now it's back and I'm having an extremely tough time trying to not eat emotionally. The only thing I have going for me is the fact that when I ordered some bad food it didn't taste good so I didn't eat much of it. However my mind and body are trying to cope with the stress. I keep telling myself I can do this! If I mess up a little bit it's alright just get back on track. Today I'm back on track and doing what I'm suppose to be doing. I feel better although I have a sore throat. I'm not sure if I'm getting sick or it's just my bodies way of handling it all. I start my two week diet on Oct 12th. I'm going to do a food funeral next weekend and start my diet Sept 28th. I'll let you know what the diet consists of I just don't have the paperwork with me it's at home. Until then I will continue to reply to everyone's comments!! ??? Updated on 15 Oct 2015: Sorry, I haven't updated in awhile. As of today I have 11 days until I'm sleeved. I started my 2 week pre-op diet on Monday which isn't to bad because I can eat I just can't eat a lot of carbs. Which is actually a bit harder than it sounds especially since carbs are my weakness. Love me some pizza. I feel like a bit of depression has hit me since I will no longer be able to enjoy the foods that I used to. I know it's for the better. My knees are starting to feel pain when I walk down stairs and my back is starting to hurt just from sitting. But not for to much longer. I have an appointment next Friday, October 23rd to see the anthologist and go through what surgery is going to be like. I will let you all know how is goes! Updated on 25 Oct 2015: Today is a very tough day clear liquids only! I'm drinking some chicken broth as type this. I have all my vitamins and I'm stocked up on food. I'm getting really excited. I can't lie though it is extremely tough to fight the addiction. There's food everywhere but I'm not the only one who lives here. My mom is here she'll be with me during my surgery. I feel like I didn't get to say goodbye to all the foods I like but it's not the end of the world. I am drinking some Isopure Protein Drink it is clear and high in protein. I would recommend getting some if you are going into surgery. I'm watching Walking Dead wishing I could eat popcorn. My mom and boyfriend got to enjoy coney dogs for dinner and I got to say I'm jealous. On a different hand I got a very interesting phone call on Friday. The voicemail stated that they were calling to verify my insurance so I called them back and comes to find out I'm going to have a balance of 2400.00 that needs to be paid. I was furious at no point in time through the last 8 months has anyone told me that there was going to be a balance due and I asked!! I told the lady I don't have that kind of money because I don't. I'm still pissed off from it. She tried to say that if I make a 600.00 payment I could setup a payment plan of 75.00 a month. I told her I don't have any money. I have rent due next week and I have to take two weeks off work unpaid. If someone would of told me I would of saved up money. UGH!!! Either way I told myself there's no need to stress out about this it's only money and I can setup a payment plan. It was just frustrating. I'm super excited about tomorrow I have to be at the hospital at 7:30 am. Does anyone have any advice on what they wish they would of done in surgery day? I know to dress comfortable and bring a pillow for the car. I keep looking at the bigger picture!! I can't wait! I'll keep you all updated tomorrow!! Updated on 26 Oct 2015: I was sleeved this morning and I'm home now. I don't have much gas pain. However I have the hardest time figuring out if I'm full or not. I've eaten several Popsicles and drinking water but I don't feel full. Is this normal? Updated on 27 Oct 2015: Today is a little better than yesterday. I keep burping which is a good thing cause that means the gas is leaving my body. I'm trying to stay away from the pain killers but I had to take some earlier the pain was getting a bit bad. I'm trying to drink water every chance I get. I didn't sleep well last night I was up every 2 hours. I walked a bunch and then I took some gasX and went back to bed. I'm a side sleeper but I can only sleep on my back which kills my back. Well I'll keep you all updated tomorrow! Updated on 27 Oct 2015: They are a bit tender as one would imagine. Updated on 28 Oct 2015: I got to drink a protein shake today! Talk about delicious! I'm still drinking my water and eating Popsicles so far I think I'm doing well. I got out of the house today and went to Walmart walked around there for awhile. I will say that my sense of smell is just crazy that place stunk to high heaven! I can't believe that it's only been 2 days. I feel much better today I only needed to take pain killers once. Updated on 29 Oct 2015: The numbing injections that they out in your stomach while under is starting to wear off so I'm starting to feel some pain from some of the incisions. I'm able to drink cream soups today I haven't indulged in any yet. I just drank a 8oz protein shake. I'm starting to get some cravings but they go away with time. I'm still super tired at times and need to take a couple of naps a day. I do have one question if any women can help. We're you able to wear a bra? I have an incision right where my underwire sits. I don't have small breasts. When were you able to wear one? I don't really want to go out in public without one... Updated on 30 Oct 2015: Today I feel so much better almost normal. Lol I had some broccoli and cheddar soup for lunch which went fine no problems eating it but it didn't taste very good. I vacuumed and did dishes today which made me feel better. I was getting depressed not doing anything and watching tv with all the commercials of delicious foods I can't have. I had cream of potato soup last night omg it was so good!! My incisions don't hurt I can barely tell they are there. I am keeping in mind that I'm still healing and need to take it slow. It's a bit difficult when you're so bored and can't go outside because it's flooding. Oh by the way I weighed myself this morning and I'm down 9 pounds! Yippy. I'll update tomorrow to let you all know how it's going! Updated on 31 Oct 2015: Well it's true each day gets better and better. I feel normal. The only time I need to take any pain medicine is at night for some reason some of the incision sites start to burn and hurt. It's not a really bad pain just uncomfortable. What I can say is that you don't really realize how much food has an impact on your life till you can't have it. I'm so freaking bored at home and watching tv is just becoming stale. I have went to the grocery store a couple of times. Which was an experience all in itself. So much food that you can't have... It's still difficult watching people eat and commercials with food. I just need to find some hobbies. I'm still sleeping in a recliner. I've been sleeping in one since the surgery. I've tried to sleep in my bed but it hurts my back so bad. I can't sleep on my side or tummy and I hate sleeping on my back. Unfortunately you have to sleep on your back I've found it to be easier to sleep in the recliner. On a different note when you go in for surgery they give you Emend which makes your birth control ineffective. I understood that you'd have to you some other sort of protection for a month. I didn't understand that your body literally acts like you aren't taking it. Before I took the Emend pill I only had my period once every 3 months and I had my last on October 2nd. I have started again!! Ugh!!! Anyways, I have been taking my BC and anti acid reducer since surgery and just started taking B12 drops yesterday. I'll let you all know how tomorrow goes! Updated on 1 Nov 2015: I had a bit of an accident today. I was shopping at Target and the floor was wet with no sign. I slipped and fell. It hurt like a mother! All my stomach muscles clinched. Ugh it was painful. I tried to sleep in my bed last night which was great until the pain medicine wore off and I woke up in pain. I'm not going to try to sleep in my bed until I can bend over or do a sit-up without pain. It'll be a little while. I also put on a sports bra today it was a tad bit uncomfortable from the pressure from everything getting squeezed together. Other than that it wasn't to bad. On the eating side of things I had an emotional breakdown. My brother and boyfriend were hungry while out shopping with me trying to find proyo, so they stopped at five guys burgers and fries. As you can imagine it smelled so good!!! But I couldn't have any which was really hard to accept. That and I couldnt find any Proyo. So when I got home I cried my eyes out to my boyfriend second guessing the choice I made. He calmed me down by talking to me and explaining to me it's only temporary. He said I know I can't understand the pain but I'm trying. He asked me if there was anything he could do. I said no I just need to get over this. He said your strong you can do it. Then I made some soup which by the way I'm so sick of soup lol Until tomorrow then.. Updated on 2 Nov 2015: I got to take my sterile strips off today. I've got to say they are healing quite nicely. I went to Walmart today to get some mircoderma to put on my scars. I have to wait to get it I didn't realize how expensive it was and with me not working I can't afford it right now. Honestly I'm not even sure if it'll work but why not give it a shot. I also picked up a 64 oz water bottle hopefully I'll be able to keep track. I've had a bit of a difficult time keeping track I just drink as much as I can. I also forget to include my Popsicles and soup. I honestly can say it's getting easier. I also can't wait to sleep in my bed. Other than that things are great at the homestead! Updated on 14 Nov 2015: Sorry I have been super busy with work, birthdays and the holidays coming. I have a few questions for sleeved people. I'm now almost 3 weeks post op. Thursday was my first day back to work. With the weight loss I've been reading and they say the first month is when you lose the most. Well it seems like I've already stalled I weighed myself on Monday and I was 288.4 I weighed myself on Wednesday and today. I'm exactly the same! I'm still on the puréed stage so I've been eating what I've been told; yogurt, mashed potatoes and apple sauce. I don't understand what's going on. I'm walking 30 minutes a day doctors orders. Also why is protein so important? Any answer would be great! Thanks Updated on 19 Nov 2015: I'm having a tough time losing weight. I haven't lost any weight in the last 2 weeks and I'm only 4 weeks post op. I lost quite a bit in the first week then after that it pretty much stopped. I'm doing everything I'm supposed to do. Taking my vitamins, drinking water, getting in my protein and walking. I also haven't thrown up not once! I hate throwing up so when I feel full I stop but it seems like I can eat more than others. I'm not sure whether that's due to my tolerance or maybe my sleeve is to large. I'm just starting to feel like maybe this wasn't worth it. I've been looking up reviews on other websites and it seems like I'm not the only one who is having this problem. Only problem is the reviews a old like from 2012 and they never post back on whether or not things picked up. I still weigh 285.8. Has anyone else had this problem? Does it get better? I'm going to join a gym tomorrow. I just feel so discouraged. I went to the doctor for my 2 week post op to find out I have H. Pylori and now I'm taking medicine to get rid of it. I wonder if it's the medicine stalling my weight loss. Any and All Help Is Appreciated! Updated on 3 Dec 2015: I know it's been a little bit since I've posted. I've been busy with work, home and the holidays. I now weigh 278 lbs I've been at that weight for about a week or so now. I'm not weighing myself everyday, I weigh myself about once a week. I walk about an hour everyday and I'm going to get a gym membership so I can do more. I'm still having some issues with not snacking, and knowing when I'm full. I haven't thrown up, not even once since the surgery but there have been times where I was close. I've also learned that I no longer like eggs or coffee. I've been able to eat pretty much what I have wanted. I just have to remember to chew my food thoroughly. I have to remember to eat as well. I often forget to eat throughout the day and when I get home I'm quite famished. If I drink water to quickly that makes me want to be sick but it passes with time. Remember sip, sip, sip. I will admit I'm absolutely terrible at keeping track of everything. Meaning I don't count how much water I drink or how much protein I get in. I know I really need to. It's something I need to make an effort towards. I do make sure pretty much everything I take in is either sugar free or low sugar. My number one priority is protein. Before I eat something I see how much protein is in it. I'm trying to come up with a meal plan but I don't really have enough information as to what the best plan would be. I don't like protein shakes. I used to be able to tolerate them, now I despise them. I eat a protein bar for breakfast, lunch I usually have something small like SF pudding, mashed potatoes, and for dinner I have chicken, or salmon and a steamed vegetable. I never really eat the vegetables I'm usually full on the protein. That's about everything. I'll post some pictures here soon. Updated on 6 Dec 2015: As you can see I've definitely lost some weight! Updated on 10 Feb 2016: I had my 3 month check up yesterday. My surgeon was very happy with me. I've lost 70 lbs in 3 months. I went from 320 lbs to 250 lbs. I need to work on not snacking in between meals and no drinking during meals also my vitamin D levels were a little bit low. I can definitely tell a huge difference and people are starting to notice the loss. I'm losing all my weight from my belly. My boobs aren't getting any smaller and the doctor noticed that as well. He said that it's a really good thing that I'm losing from my belly. However I will have excess there. :( Which I didn't want to hear. My weight loss has definitely slowed down. I hope to be in the "onderland" by 8 months post op. I exercise every other day. I'm drinking a premier protein shake for breakfast daily, a protein yogurt for lunch, and chicken or salmon for dinner. I have, sadly, discovered my slider foods. I just have to keep reminding myself that this a journey and it doesn't happen overnight. Until next time.
