SpecialK1960

I had my surgery on June 14th. The best decision I have made in 20 years. I wish I had done it 5 years ago. So conrats on making the call and starting your journey to a new you!!!!! People here are real nice and helpful. Just reach out with questions and you'll get tons of helpful suggestions and encouragement.

I ride, but I have a D%$# needle valve that is stuck in one of my carbs so I have an occasional gas leak...right into my block - wipes out 50$ worth of oil. Have not ridden since surgery, but looking to maybe trade up in the next 2 weeks. I am a crotch rocket guy. No offense, but a nice smooth 4 cyclinder would be a lot easier on the shaking and bumping... I am sure you are now going to run out and trade your Harley for a rice burner....LOL Hope you get back on the bike soon. It is summer and time to ride.

You know you are getting too big when you look in a full length mirror and can see your butt without turning around. It is nice to see so much more of Mr. Winky. It seems like a good 3/4 of an inch has been added thanks to so much less belly protruding. Momma says she is VERY happy. As for morning issues, no change here, but after work, I could hunt with it.

My wife is going out of town for the weekend. Before she left this morning she said, "Now don't go crazy and get a girlfriend while I'm gone just because you are getting all skinny." We laughed. But is it so flattering to know that not only does she appreciate that I am beginning to look better. But that another woman might also see me differently than they would have 5 weeks ago. I am not looking for another woman, however, to know that I might be attractive to one is AWESOME. It has been a long time. So I am going to absolutely love every minute of her additional attention. I do not think for one minute that she loved me less when I was bigger. But she is more open about my appearance and it is so encouraging. Besides thinking about why a loved one treated us different when we were bigger is focusing on the past. All that new attention - that is the future and it is sooo bright. (and sorry for butting in on the "ladies page," but you are so much more interesting then the men)

Just started running again and have lots of upbeat stuff. But for the first time Pink's You are F'n Perfect (uncensored version) has a whole new meaning for me. Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel Like you're less than ___ perfect Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel Like you're nothing, you're ___ perfect to me You're so mean when you talk About yourself. You were wrong. Change the voices in your head Make them like you instead. So complicated, Look happy, You'll make it! Filled with so much hatred Such a tired game I've seen you do the same The words are so encouraging. It gets me going again more than any other song. I am far from perfect, but just to have that little "Hottie / Tart" say that I am is encourgaing. Because I know she is singing just about me...LOL

So you brush a bit more ... no biggie and it is not permanent. Besides I only notice it once in a while. Others may be passing out, but heck that is their problem! I looked into the hair issue pretty in-depth. I used to say, "I may be fat but I still got great hair." Which at 50+ is something. If you eat right it should not be a problem. I was really worried about this. I think as you feel less attractive because of your weight you develop new vainities - like my fabulous full head of hair. LOL And remember a lady whose pants fall off... Well, that can be a real concersation starter depending on the circumstances. Great at a party, not so good in church!!

At 50 I had a testosterone level of about 100, it should be 450 for my age or even higher. I started the shots and really did feel better and lost weight. Both because I felt better and was more active and because I think my metabolism was simply working at a higher pace. After a few months I had a huge spike in my PSA and had to go to the urologist "just to be safe." Well, that did not work out as planned. I had early Prostate cancer. That meant stopping the shots as they can be an antagonist for PC. I started gaining weight even faster. That is when I decided to check into the sleeve. You have to give the T shots a chance. They really did do a noticibale improvement for me, before I had to stop. I was on shots 1x every 2 weeks for about 3 months. I noticed the difference and so did my wife. Testosterone seems to affect many life functions and body systems. It really made a positive impact for me.

The old dog breath. Pretty nasty. I think combined with the three weeks of pureed and soft foods (ie: proving that man can live on Beans alone!!) that I am the perfect companion for a long car trip... in a small car... with lots of people... and a wet dog .... and broken power windows .... Vegas anyone?????

Decided I had to do something. I went to meet with Dr. Kuhn in Dallas on May 31, 2012 and pushed them and my insurance to get this done fast. I had work issues and if I did not get it done quickly I would have to put it off for 4-6 months. Since I had made up my mind I was going to do it, I was not going to let the insurance company or anyone else slow it down. I got the doctor's scheduler to put me down for the 14th (although she said we will never get approval in time...). Pushed my insurance hard. United Health Care - only fair to name them because they came through. I had my approval by the 7th (a world record I am told). I started my liquid diet on the 8th, a Thursday. I suppose it is appropriate that I admit that on Tuesday I killed so many chickens at Buffalo Wild Wings that I am pretty sure it was a felony. Then on Wednesday in order to say a fond fairwell to food I had a fine filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, a nice wedge salad, and this humongus peach bread pudding with Jack Daniel's sauce. I say that so you will understand why I was able to lose 10 pounds before surgery. All those goodies are a long way from that yummy pre-surgery liquid diet. And I will admit during that last week I did have a cool malt beverage or two (hey, beer is a clear liquid!!). Before surgery I drank a good amount of beer. I have not had one now for 25 days and I will admit I do miss it, but no where near as much as I had feared. I might be able to have one, but I am using my surgery to explain why I ust have tea at BWW now. Eventually I will have beer again, but for right now I have a very convenient excuse and I am using it. So far so good - three+ weeks out and feeling pretty good. My biggest fear was not being able to drink while eating and that is a problem. I used to drink 32-48 ounces of liquid with every meal. If not, I'd get the hiccups. So now it is really hard. When I take even small sips with food it doesn't go down all that well. But it is getting better. I had a hiatal hernia fixed at the same time, so that is likely part of it. I am a bit disappointed in my pounds lost, only because I lost so much at first, that when it slowed to a safe and normal rate, I was (and am) wanting more. I have lost about 8 inches from my belly already and that just rocks. But I figure with beer and all I was eating about 3000 to 3500 calories a day and sometimes way way more than that. Now it is 600-1000 per day. My expectations were/are a bit unreal - I know that - at the rate I was losing I would have dissappeared about August 12th. But when you make the change, and I have made huge changes (no beer, back to jogging, eating so carefully) I wanted instant results - which is likely why diets did not work well for me. I have not eaten one piece of anything bad at all in 25 days. And, in all honesty I would run over a nun for a few french fries, but I am so motivated that I really do not want the calories right now. With the sleeve I will have plenty of time to eat what I want down the road. For now I have to get my lifestyle changes a bit more ingrained. Did everyone get to enjoy the gardenhose down the nostril until it hits the balls of your feet and then swallow 10 gulps of Galveston Bay salt Water? Boy that was fun. All kidding aside, my urologist doesn't scare me that much. That was as yucky and experience as I can remember. But it did locate the hernia pre-surgery and that was good. I was out of the hospital the next morning and really felt pretty good. I had a drain and that was a drag. No pain involved, it was just a dangling clear turkey baster of yuck right there all the time. I think only doctors should see stuff that is supposed to be on the inside. I do not need a little tube with me draining out into a little looking glass. I was grossing myself out. So that is a bit about me and my start. Thanks for listening.