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MacSleever

Gastric Sleeve Patients
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Blog Entries posted by MacSleever

  1. MacSleever
    My Gastric Sleeve surgery was on August 1, 2012. The procedure was performed by Dr. Robin Blackstone at Scottsdale Health Center in Arizona. Since the procedure, I have had 1 post-op office visit. That session dealt with what I can eat and how I need to eat.
     
    When I first decided to get this procedure, I weighed 297 lbs and I am 5'1". I know. I called myself the "Snow Beast" because it made me laugh and I think it helped put others at ease around me. I have no illusions of what I looked like. In fact, I got really good at avoiding looking at my body in the mirror. I would focus on my hair and face.
     
    Thanks to my sister-in-law being brave enough to have the procedure in January 2012 and losing weight quickly, that was the main push I needed to do this. I talked with her at length about her experience and it seemed less scary to me. Bravery is not an attribute I posses and hospitals scare me to death. So for me to do this was HUGE!
     
    I even talked to a close friend who struggles with her weight and we both decided to have the Sleeve done at the same time. My husband was also very supportive and really helped me over that final hurdle to mentally agree to have the Sleeve.
     
    Like most heavy people, I have tried countless diets and exercise routines only to wind up putting on more weight. I was growing very frustrated with myself and did not know what else to do. My health was horrible; Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, borderline high cholesterol. I was on several medications and used a C-Pap machine (which I love).
     
    I felt like I looked - terrible. I was worried my husband would leave me (I know, it was all imagined in my head but it felt real); I was afraid I would die young like my parents (60s and 70s); I was scared I would not live long enough to celebrate being married 50 years to my best friend (already been 9 1/2); I was unhappy with what I looked like; I felt to fat and ugly to have a healthy intimate relationship with my husband. How's that for being honest?
     
    So that's my brief background. Maybe you will read something here that strikes a chord in your own life. I didn't start this blog because I have the answers, I did it because I needed an outlet to vent about my bad days and good days. I wanted to chart my experience so if you have any advice for me, I want to hear from you.
  2. MacSleever
    I know we are supposed to weigh ourselves every day at the same time. Well, that's not my style. I prefer to weigh myself once a week. That way, I am surprised with the results.
     
    Original Weight: 297 lbs (June 7, 2012)
    Surgery Day Weight: 283 lbs (August 1, 2012)
    Today's Weight: 272 lbs (August 13, 2012)
     
    I was told most people lose 20 lbs in the first month. So counting from surgery date, in 12 days, I am 11 lbs lighter.
     
    The food options for the next 2 months are scarce. I was planning on eating deli sliced chicken and turkey, but was informed that they are dry meats and I could end up vomiting them up. Since I am not a fan of puking, I'll stick to safer foods.
     
    Here is my eating schedule:
     
    Breakfast: Greek yogurt (vanilla). I rarely eat more then 3 ounces (half the container). I know I am supposed to eat an hour after I wake up and I tried that for a week, but it's not me. I was never a breakfast person so to force myself to eat something was not going over well. Now I wait until about 8:30 or 9:00. I wake up at 5:30.
     
    Lunch: Fat-free refried beans or low fat refried black beans and cut green beans from a can. I love Mexican food so eating the refried beans is no big deal. I took a can and portioned it out into 1 cup plastic containers. I measure out about 1/2 a cup into each container. One can fills 4 containers. I did the same with the green beans. I never finish the green beans, so I always have leftovers.
     
    Dinner: Same as lunch.
     
    I was told to eat 30-20-30. Stop water intake 30 minutes prior to eating. Don't drink for 20 minutes while eating. Don't drink water for 30 minutes after I eat. Eat meals in dime sized bites.
     
    My issue so far is eating slowly. I have always been a fast eater and when I don't eat slow enough, my stomach gets very bubbly and I can feel it churning. After 30 minutes, it stops.
     
    I can eat the dime sized bites because I bought infant spoons at Target. That is the perfect size. I feel ridiculous, but it works.
     
    I did experience severe pain in my right thigh at 2am on Saturday. It felt like someone was stabbing my thigh. I got up and walked around then got back in bed and moved my leg for a few minutes. Not sure what that was. My husband thinks it is due to vitamin deficiency, but I am drinking the required vitamins daily like clockwork.
     
    Not sure I will call my doctor about this incident. I'll see if it happens again. I'm not a fan of doctors because I don't think they take the time to treat patients. They always seem to be in a hurry and never really listen. My opinion, perhaps I am jaded?

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