Crawford

Pre-op I managed to get down almost 20 pounds... but i was 18 pounds below my start weight on operation day. I had my surgery on the 16th of december ... and weight loss started off slow. I can honestly say my weight loss is on free fall this week. On operation day I was 380--one week ago today I was 368 and in the last 5 days I have lost TEN pounds. Its amazing but I am a full 42 pounds lighter than my initial weight 37 days ago.. I am losing over a pound a day..and some days two and three pounds. My Doctor said that I can eat any soft foods or pretty well what I am willing to try. So far.. I have been able to eat some cheese..scallops,shrimp,fish and lobster..pretty well any kind of seafood. Of course my portion size is extrmely small sometimes 2-3 oz of firmer food/// and sometimes 40z od softer foods. Textured foods are not comfortable and are hard to keep down. Chewing mmany times is the key to succesfully keeping the food down. It is difficult to re-learn everything you ever knew about drinking while you eat... which includes before and after eating.. its difficult thing to learn because I always washed my food down with water or a drink of some sort,, but I am learning. My rapid weight loss has helped me to stay encouraged and energetic behind my weight loss program. My energy levels have gone up ..as have my vitality and mood... all in all is a great thing.. I did have a really hard time with losing my old friend Grazing.. I was an emotional eater but I have come to grips with the fact that I will never be able to be that person again.. I look forward to the future and the promise of being an active dad with my young son.. football baseball.. hell who knows maybe even jogging some day.. God is Good and so far so good with my GAStric Sleeve.. I hope people reading this that are humming and hawing over wether or not they should have the surgery will take heart..and just go for it.. So far it is the best single thing I have ever done for myself and I can only say that it is the best single thing I ever did for myself...

It took me over five years to go from the "thinking about' Phase to execution. I had VSG surgery on Friday... and have thus far been able to return to work. Pre-Op weight loss was about 20 pounds..and over the last 4 days I have lost 3 more.. (Start 399 current 376) I have 180+ pds to go to get to my lifetime goal. I have had so many things to think about sionce having the surgery What will I look Like... how will my behavious change..will I be a completely differnt person Will it change some of the more positive facets of my personality.. Will I still walk and behave like a fat person? I have been fat since pre-puberty... how will this affect me psychologically? I know I am locked in for a wild ride.,. I am excited and on some levels.. nervous. Can anyone tell me about the biggest changes they noticed in their transition from overweight to average? It is hard for me to imagine what it will be like.. its like a splinter in my brain and I cant get it out I have initiated the physical change I want to become the type of person who has healthy addictions .. like excercise and hiking maybe even jogging.. How do I turn my mind and interests in that direction Psychologically how do I go from being a 400pd couch potatoe.. to a 190pd health enthusiast with a strict excercise routine? Thoughts? Input? \ I am interested in hearing about your story of transition

1st couple days they suggested protein shakes.. clear liquids and vegetable & chicken broth.. sugar free popsicles.. watre other clear liquids.. low fat yogurt.. skim milk.. soft foods after the 2nd week..

I am 3 days out with the new stomache (VSG) and clear sailing.. Pain and discomfort are way down.. I ma not only able to get the full ammount of Protein in me.. but havent had any of the dreaded, pains, twangs, spasms, and or other discomfort that many people report on. Is this unheard of? I took out the pain pump today.. and I have had no discomfort to speak of.. I am eating liquids..Jello.. Protein shakes .. and today I was able to eat some Microwaved egg whites with no issues.. I am drinking Soup broth etc.. thinking about holding at this level for a few days and if no issue will move onto soft foods.. anyone ever have these sort of results.. input -- feedback?

I have also tolerated my BP pill and PPI pill without isse.. as well as Vitamin D and Calium Chocalate dietary chews .. Jello... greek nonfat yogurt... with fruit in it... the only thing I had any issues with was "Muscle Milk".. My stomache instantly told me not to go any further when I drank some of that stuff... No vomiting.. no sweating no chills...no nausea...

Well for those that have struggled with their post op diet.. or other issues you may not wnat to read much further... I have to say that if there is a VSG success story.. I am the epitome of VSG success stories... I had surgery Friday.. I was home just a few hours later.. first night tender and sore and clear liquids only.. second day I had some serious discomfort related to the anesthesia.. something called "post=opeative-Muscle Myalgia"..apparently a response from the body to a muscle relaxant called succinylicholine or Scoline for short... thus far the muscle pain has been the worst thing... on the second day.. not only was I able to get down 80+ grams of Protein shakes and plenty enough Water.. I had Soup broth.. chicken broth and vegetable broth... Today is Monday and I had some microwaved egg whites for breakfast--- (3 tablespoons) they were delicious.. and the texture and chewing there-of was a life saver... if I couldnt chew for a month I think I would have gone nuts... So I have also been taking chewable gummi Vitamins and supplements without any discomfort... water although sipped slowly has not caused any discomfort... for that matter I have not had any real issues or discomforts.. I had an internal pain pump.. which I turned off and have disconnected this morning.. there is some internal tenderness but no real pain there inside... If I continue this way until late afternoon without pain I will remove the tube that goes to the incision sit on my stomache... all in all I have to say thepain and discomfort was minimal.. and I am surprised to say that I will be going back to work tomorrow.. (I only mossed two days Friday and Monday)... So far including my pre=op weight loss I am down 21 pds from the 1st of December.. Has anyone else out there found the transition this simple... I feel as though I could probably make the next step up to soft foods right away.. but fear of damaging somehting prevents me from pursuin that avenue... that and my wife is highly agitated at the steps I have already taken.... Input comments?

Doc told me to change my calcium,b12, daily vitamin, probiotic and Vitamin D to chewables.. but Lisinopril and nexium are still in Pill form.. I took them mid morning today and havent had any issues... I am having some swelling in my belly and on the surface.. I assume that is normal due to th trauma of the surgery it hurts fairly bad.. and a lot of bruising... also I have a catheter or numbiung agent in through my belly onto my stomach.. internally the entire incision is being coated with 4ml of lidocain hourly..it must work .. because internally there isnt any pain or real discomfort... I asked the doctor if it was possible to hurt my self physically by getting started on textured foods or soft foods too early or by over eating he told me the chances were low due to the fact that I would be inable to swallow or take in much food... I am sticking to liquids..and shakes for as long as I can stand it.. Id really like to try a scrambled egg or maybe some jello.. or something.. not eating is making me batty.. it has been about 46 hours since I had a meal...

Dr.Thomas Umbach.. Henderson,Nevada. So is a PPI something other than Nexium? we talked a great deal about the use of Nexium Pre-Op.,, But I didnt hear the term PPI.. is it something additional I should be inquiring about right away>

My Post_Op diet is Clear Liquids first day.. and can move to "Bariatric Advantage" shakes on day two.. Clear broth, Low Fat Milk, Soy Milk, Yogurt, sugar free Popsicles.. etc... this is for the first two weeks... then in weeks 3-4 it says I can have textured foods-- but only ones that slip and slide on a plate or will go through a funnel with ease... some of the suggestions are fish ground meats low fat yogurt Jello well cooked veggies apple sauce scrambled eggs.. etc... It has been about 12 hours.. and I am sipping slowly onoo.. a shake right now... I am certain it is not the Acid Reflux pain as it is a solid and consistent pain much like a hunger pain... I have had bad acid reflux for 20 years or more and have been taking Nexium for 1oyrs... Currently the Reflux feeling is gone but that may have everything to do with the pain meds.. The Doc Who performed the surgery is pretty good.. the surgery was at a private surgical center in Henderson,Nevada.. Not only was the price right.. the nurses were great.. very helpful and attentive... they told me that My Doc performed anywhere from 2-5 of these procedures every week.. and the y spoke very highly of him... The anesthesiologist was pretty great .. I took some gas and a shot and dont remember a thing until i woke up with the GAs PAins.. now those were truly awful...I never want to feel that sort of agony again... pain meds didnt help.. I had them for 2-3 hours and they were hell... I am unsure if the "Gas-X" tablet I took when I came home or all the Begging God for mercy was what eventually did it.. maybe a combination of both...

I went in at 10am.. surgery AT 11:30 which took 90 minutes or so.. afterward they told me I was free to go at around 2:30.... Since I have been home Ive been taking the Vicoden Liquid... and feeling not too bad..... I have the Pain Pump also.. it is a round ball of numbing agent that is tubed into my stomache... it is supposed to provide up to 100hrs of numbing... so far so good.. I am unsure if it is stomache pain at the staple line ort if I am really famished like I think I feel.. I havent eaten anything more solid than a gummi vitamin for 30 hours.... I have managed to get 12 oz of water in me... and 6 oz of clear chicken broth.. and so far no problems..

I had my surgery today...Afterwards the Gas in my chest caity was unbelieveably painful... that cleared up as soon as I got home.. 3 hrs after the Op. I took a nap and woke up feeling much better.... So far I am pleased with the outcome.. im a little nervous about what I will or wont be able tto eat.. I am hunhryu as heck now... all I can get down is Protein Water and a few gummy Vitamins.. afraid to do anything else.... Anyone hace suggestions for the first week... something anything that it ios in the least bit satisfying... I could probably drink a shake.. but I have some fear of the unknown there.. not sure if I would do damage or cause my self some unnecesarry discomfort.. Suggestions?

Thanks thats what I needed to hear.. I would like to have the vitality to form a Positive addiction latre on.. like excercise or weight lifting.. something positive that I can share with my son or wife or both.. I will have to do some thinking on what type of support system I will get in place.. I realize I will need one...

My insurance company stated that VSG is not covered .. even out of medical necessity.. so I said Screw'em.. I will pay for it myself. I have been in need of a major change for more than 20 years.. and I am just going to go fo it. My surgery date is December 16th. I have done a lot of research.. and studied the subject quite a lot. My only apprehension is the liquid diet prior to surgery.. i have always had a weakness for eating.. i eat all the time.. since I have quit all manner of recreational drug.. drinking and smoking cigarettes.. my 'grazing' has gotten completely out of hand. so I am really looking forward to making this big change. But I am very apprehensive about the liquid diet.. I JUST dont know if I can do it!!.. What if i crack up and just fall off the liquid diet ?? If I cant stop constantly eating.. i cant even imagine what it will be like... and would love to hear from anyone else that experienced total fear of the liquid diet and related failuer words of encouragement.. tips on how 'not to fail' at it...

I am having surgery on the 16th of December. Through my reading and research I have heard that you have a "Clear liquid" diet after surgery for anywhere up to 3 weeks? Is that NOT the case? I am told I will be on a liquid diet from the 2nd pf Decmber through the 14th.. and then a clear liquid diet for two days before surgery... afterward.. I have heard it can be 3-10 weeks of liquid diet...