Getting enough protein: try putting unflavored Protein Powder into your cooked cereals, creamed Soups, as well as getting Protein in shakes. Also, I found that as soon as I was able, I preferred to have a lightly poached egg, rather than scrambled. When the egg was too cooked, it seemed difficult to get down. (That was really early on) No trouble now at 5 months after surgery. tuna and cottage cheese with some capers or olives to give me the salt flavor, and dill, was a favorite in the pureed stage. I was able to tolerate canned chicken before whole chicken.
At almost 6 months, I can pretty much eat anything now, just amount and volume is still very small, which is the whole idea, right? I still try to have protein between meals.
For me the liquid diet was not bad and I lost weight on it! Found a good tasting Protein Drink and I am still using it. My surgery went well they say. I have had very little pain and have had no nausea.
My primary care MD told me five years ago that, in his opinion, I needed bariatric surgery. I was 6-1, and 325 pounds, and had just been diagnosed with Type II diabetes.. The trouble was, my insurance would not pay for the surgery, and being a home builder at the time (remember, this was during the Great Recession), I could not afford to self pay.
At that time, I started looking at alternatives: Mexico, India, medical studies (plication), et al. None of them worked for me for one reason or another, however there was one solution -- if I were willing to wait a little while -- Medicare! I was 60 when I stared looking, and in just a short five years would be eligible for Medicare, which covers bariatric surgery in my state.
Well, that time has passed rather quickly, and in just one month I will be 65! I attended the requisite "seminar" earlier this year, where I was pretty much told that vertical sleeve gastrectomy was most likely the most effective choice for me. I have already purchased a Medigap supplemental policy, and in just nine days have my first surgical consult with my Surgeon. I think we are shooting for surgery sometime around the end of January or the first of February -- AND I CAN'T WAIT!
The last five years has been costly to me in terms of my physical heath. My diabetes is well controlled, however my sleep apnea has progressed to a point where I get almost no sleep at night. I have developed osteoarthritis in my knees, and it has progressed to the point that I am close to being totally incapacitated, only being able to walk about 50 feet before my knees give out. I need two new knees, but my orthopedist claimed that, at my current weight, it would be a waste of time and money. My back hurts all the time; my neck hurts all the time; my feet hurt all the time; and I just plain feel like, well, you know!
BTW, I now weigh 355 pounds, which puts my BMI at 46-plus!
We tried other weight loss programs through my primary care doctor, (Medifast, three different medications) that all failed. In fact, one of them sent me to the hospital ER when my blood pressure crashed. I am convinced that the sleeve is my last/best solution!
I look forward to sharing each step of my journey on these pages, and, hopefully will soon have some positive results to share, however, I would be interested in hearing from folks in my age group who had the surgery later in life and what special challenges I am likely to face as a result of my age.
Here's Hoping!
