chris1142

Okay--I'll try again. Still haven't quite figured out how to work this thing. I want to thank you for your words of support and encouragement. I've been following all three of you for quite a while and you've give me many a smile and many an encouragement. Also one thing I forgot. When I woke up after surgery it was the first time in my life I remember not being hungry. And I still haven't felt any hunger and am disinterested in food for the most part. And this from the woman who gained 18 pounds during chemo when all about her were talking about forcing themselves to eat, etc. Although I was glad I wasn't in that position either.

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I thought I'd write about my journey for the older folks out there considering this surgery. Last Nov I turned 71 and after regaining 50 pounds I had lost two years ago (the story of my life) I could see that if I didn't do something drastic I would spend my remaining years in a wheel chair. So off to a bariatric seminar I went. I was encouraged by all that I saw there and decided to take the plunge. I survived the two week starvation diet with out murdering my husband or eating the furniture and had my surgery on Feb. 4th. I started my journey at 298.5. The surgery was interesting I guess. As they put in the gas to blow me up, the gas hit my vagus nerve and my body slowed way down. 40 heartbeats a minute. They backed off the gas and did chest compressions to get me stabilized. Then contacted the cardiologist who told them to go for it so they compleated the surgery and then sent me to the cath lab for a heart cath. That came back normal. Surgeon said I gave them quite a scare. I wouldn't know as I woke up in the ICU and don't remember a thing about even going to the OR. Let me tell you, I used Tennova at Turkey Creek as my hospital and the care was outstanding both in the ICU and the bariatric wing. I couldn't have asked for better. Woke up only to walk far enough to get them to take the catheter out. My surgeon checks for leaks during surgery so I would drink as soon as I woke up. Yayyyyy. I could drink easily and like the very cold the best. I had no nausea or pain when still. When I tried to get up that was another story. Seems like when they blew me up they also disturbed the scar tissue from my mastectomies of 9 years ago and that gave me fits for about a week. The actual surgery part was a breeze. I have had no problem meeting my carb, Protein and Fluid goals daily. I can drink normally but not as much as fast. I'm on liquids for 4 weeks on then on to purees. I am so looking forward to some refried beans!!! So for you older folks considering this--go for it. I'm a two time cancer surviver and figured I had nothing but fat to lose and everything to gain. I'd do this again in a heartbeat. Oh, and I'm down 23 lbs. from the start of my pre op so that part is going well, too. Chris

Feb. 4 Dr. Boyce Knoxville

I'm February 4. Just finished week one of the starvation diet. We are allowed six Protein supplements a day for a total of 800 calories. Wasn't as bad as I had it built up in my mind to be. Lost 10# in the week. That's more than I've ever lost before. So I like that I'm getting a head start. Good luck to all of us and here's wishing everyone a smooth recovery.

What great kiddo you have raised. That kind of support will make your journey a lot easier Chris

Thanks super. I've been reading a lot on here and not writing much but I need to start participating in the conversation. Although I hate keying on this phone. I think I can do just about anything for two weeks, so yeah the pre op won't be much fun but will be doable.

Tomorrow is my pre op nutrition class. 4 hours worth. Monday is pre op with PA, blood tests and hospital pre registration. Surgery 7:30 am on Feb. 4. Monday is also the start of pre op starvation diet. We get 6 protein supplements a day. Not too excited about that part. Looking forward to the surgery and a chance at finally winning the food wars.

HelloI am 71 and scheduled to be sleeved on Feb. 4. Glad to see I'm not the only old fart wanting to get healthier!

I do love my coffee! I've been a coffee drinker since I was a kid. I like the Salted Caramel better than the plain Caramel. I've never had a Caramel Latte from Dunkin Donuts. I do like a Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks though...(insert evil laugh here). Here's how I make it... I make some strong coffee. I heat up 3 tablespoons of So Delicious Coconut Creamer (it tastes just like fat free 1/2 and 1/2 - no coconut flavor at all - you could use fat free 1/2 and 1/2 or soy creamer) and 3 tablespoons of milk (I use 1%) in the microwave (45 seconds on high) and stir in about 8 ounces of the strong coffee. Then I add about a teaspoon of the sugar free vanilla and a teaspoon of sugar free salted caramel. OMG - yum in a cup!!!!!!

I'm 71 and scheduled to be sleeved on Feb 4. My docs have all been supportive and say that the risks of the surgery are only incrementally larger for me than for a younger person I am looking forward to the surgery and am optimistic about the results.

Thanks for the support folks

Butterthebean said: This surgery is no more the easy way out than chemotherapy for cancer patients. As a 2 time cancer surviver (double mastectomy and aggresive chemo) and a 50+ year fighter of the food wars I would like to say that, for me, although the cancer was scarier, the battle with food has been harder and more demoralizing. It' hard to keep fighting the battle when you "know" in the deep recesses of your mind that you don't have a snowball's chance of winning. That's why I am having this surgery at 71 years old. I'm scheduled for Feb. 3 and for the first time I really think I can win this battle. I've been reading here for two months and the excitement of the newbies is catching. But the inspiration comes from the people who are further out and winning the war. Thank you all for being here

Happy anniversary Jane. You are one of my role models. I'll be sleeved feb. 1 and have been following your journey since a few days before your plastics Thanks for taking the time to share your journey here. It helps me, and I'm sure many more, understand what must be done to have success with this surgery. Way to go girl????

As someone who is pre op I was so happy to see this post. People like you help me see myself clearer and help keep me honest with what I put in my mouth. Thanks for that.

Thanks RJ and Jane. I've been following you and some others for a couple of months and I thank you for teaching me how to make this surgery be an effective tool for me. Chris

I'm an old newbie. I've been lurking here for a couple of months, but now that I've got a definate go for the surgery on Feb. 3 I thought I'd like to get my feet wet. I'm 71 years old and have been fighting the battle for 55 years. I am not tired of the fight but I am sooooo tired of losing. I think this may be a solution for me. I've been thinking about why I eat and for me I think at my age it doesn't so much matter any more. I know I am a food addict, and that I am a binge eater and large portion eater. I have spent 5 years in pretty intensive therapy and lots of time contemplating the "why" of it and could never figure it out. I did however work out a lot of issues that left me pretty happy with my circumstances. My story is pretty much your story. Different circumstances but same results. I lost large amounts of weight several times over the years, but the only thing that really worked for me was OA. I lost 180 pounds and kept it off for tive years but it required a minimum of a meeting a day and immersing myself in the program. When I found that I wanted to live life, too and backed off and branched out the weight gradually crept back on. I don't want to spend my remaining years in a wheel chair and miserable because of my obesity. This is my last best effort at losing it and I think it can work for me. I am planning on using this site as my support group because I am an hour and a time zone away from the nearest support group and don't want to be driving the highway in the dark. I already feel like I know some of you and admire all of you for your courage and perseverence. Chris