dstollery

Here are some pics from recent to pre-op.

GOOOD morning everyone! David here with an update i guess now over 2 years post op! ! Pretty exciting things have went on and continue to go on in my life and i really appologize for the delays in posting. Let me first start off by saying you are all too kind with you posts here. It's wonderfull to know that this post has at least helped a few people. Let me give a little update and brief recap for those of you wondering. I had RNY done in Bismarck ND with the only complication being some post op gas pain even after walking my legs off! 3 days after surgery i was home and realized a few things. 1. I am glad i know enough medically to realize that 5 weeks post op when i stood and felt like i was going to pass out it was likely my BP meds continuing to drop my BP when it was not needed anymore. Check my BP and sure enough i went from a 150's bp down to 90's without medication. A quick conversation with my PCP (primary care provider) and i dc'd my blood pressure meds. A word on reactive hypoglycemia now since I am one of the lucky individuals that has this wonderfull little side effect. My pancrease works really well, that being said when i eat high carb foods it releases plenty of insulin but the food moves thru so quickly that TADA my blood glucose drops. Lowest i have been so far is 38. I can tell you, not a fun experience. That being said go back to square one if you find yourself struggling with this. I re-evaluate my food choices and find EVERY TIME that i am eatting things i know better than to eat. Ok so here is the update.. Starting Weight : 330lbs Pre op weight : 299lbs RNY: 7/24/2012 10/13/12 : 233lbs 3/22/15 - 179 lbs I currently work as a Flight Paramedic (something that has always been a dream but always too large) I am almost done with my nursing progam and am pretty much just lovin life! I still love to cook and bake I just do so in moderation. I will post a few pictures in a few minutes so yall can see the changes. You can be successful. You can make positive changes and be the you that you need to be. Please know that this surgery is a tool that when used correctly can have life changing, mind blowing effects. I can run up and down stairs, i can get on the ground with my patients and get back up without hurting. If you have questions ask away i will be checking back for a few days to answer any questions you have. Nothings off limits ask away =-)

Jen u look amazing!! Your face looks so different!! We totally should have teamed up!! You go girl!! I'm soo proud I you. You have always been so positive and had great advice, I can't think of a more deserving person to reach your goal so soon! Congrats! Surgiversary 07/24/12 Sent from my iPhone.

Aye grats!! Won't be long and you won't even remember your hospital stay!! Stay strong and walk as much as you can! Surgiversary 07/24/12 Sent from my iPhone.

Congrats that's awsome!!! Keep up the strong work!! Surgiversary 07/24/12 Sent from my iPhone.

Cards are an option, if you are computer savvy try a computer game together. Take up an indoor hobby, wait, nm you said sex was out. . . . Jk!! We got the uncharted series for the play station and played that. Also u could always do relaxation stuff together. Put on some soft music, I live enya, and light some candles. Tell each other stories of what u imagine life being like ad you grow old. I know it sounds cheesy but start out like this: so we are in a house, it's a single story ranch with big bay windows, your driving that truck u want and I am playing in the yard with the kids. U come home with steaks from the store and Water balloons even though u know I hate balloon fights. Just a way to get closer without having to have sex. I know it's probably stupid, just something that would seem nice to me. Surgiversary 07/24/12 Sent from my iPhone.

I must say its incredibly humbling that people still find this helpful. I'm still around, trolling the forums and checking up on peeps. Life has been nuts but I would love to do another one of these with an update on what to expect as you get 7-8 months out. I'm so proud of how so many here do. Weather your just starting your journey, or been doing this a while keep up your dreams and goals of weight loss and together we will get there! Surgiversary 07/24/12 Sent from my iPhone.

Well I hit my goal weight. I am 175lbs now. Which is actually 5 lbs under my goal. I am not even a year post op and thought I would share my updated pic. First one is pre op and the other is obviously post op. thanks to all of you for all your help along the way!!! Ohh and that's me standing outside the helicopter that I could never have been able to be a flight medic in was it not for surgery and y'all's support. Love u guys and gals! Surgiversary 07/24/12 Sent from my iPhone.

My nutritionist was as dr house would say "an idiot." I taught more about malabsorption surgery to the group than she knew. I am eatting fairly frequently and have increased my caloric intake. I even eat a few garbage items because I need the calories. /shrug little frustrating to swing the other way Surgiversary 07/24/12 Sent from my iPhone.

I know weird subject title but I was 330 lb at start and now 7 months ish post op I need to stop losing weight. I am down to 170 and starting to get a gaunt appearance. I just need some help with ways to level off. I am eatting as regularly as I can. As a flight medic I can't always eat every few hours but it still seems to be melting away. If anyone else has had this problem please let me know what u did to level off. I know this is a difficult subject to post since most people here, me included wanted nothing more than to lose weight but my concern of losing too much is quickly being realized. I have tried I decrease my workouts focusing more on weights and less on cardio. I am getting 90g-100g Protein per day. Anyway thanks for any advice. Surgiversary 07/24/12 Sent from my iPhone.

gotta be really carefull with the sugar content of some of that stuff. I found that allot of yogurt isn't that great for you. Gotta be super picky =) If your like me though, just the fact that you ate 1 is a plus =)

been there done that =(. Its all good though. We all make the mistakes and some have made a mistake and after vomiting or dumping don't make the mistake again for a long time because of the risk but just get back on track. Remember that part of the reason to avoid excess or types in the beginning is so that you don't STRETCH your pouch as well as give your pouch time to heal and adjust =). Everyone makes mistakes or cheats, and eventually you will view cheating as something totally different than you used to. Like now, cheating for me is getting a grilled chicken sandwich with no bun and sneaking a couple French fries. A couple French fries...cheating...not 2 large order of fry's, like 6 or 7 fries....cheating....ROFLMAO. I laugh when I think about it but the mindset will change. You will see. Just get back on track and be carefull! =)

WOOOOT!!!! GRATS!!!! that my dear is AWSOME!!!! keep up the great work!

ohh my i remember what you are going thru =). So my advice is this, take a deep breath. This is going to be hard, this part sucks and at the same time, its the most amazing time. You are ALMOST there!! that being said your ability to stick to this will cement for you, the ability to stick to your WLS dieting goals. Dont go anywhere without water. You will need to use it to help with some of the hunger issues your going to experience. Allot of people swear they got thru this by drinking lots of water. Next, well dont plan on doing allot of physical activity. Remember that your reducing your caloric intake and that means reduced energy. Try to relax and enjoy the journey you have already started. I know, this is all great and fine except your nervous as all get out right? Well, you are about to be on the losing side (WINNING) of things. Just remember your goal, keep yourself busy so you dont think about it much and soon, you will be all done with this part and your biggest concern will be getting enough fluids =)

31 and a guy so yeah sex is always on the mind! as far as side effects, i would agree i can see it now which is good LOL. i can pound like crazy now because i dont feel like i'm going to go into cardiac arrest afterwords and size, well without all that padding in the way i would say i can definatly get a "deeper" appreciation for things.

what surprised me the most, how affraid i would be to take a swallow. How when they did my swallow study i was so affraid to take a swallow that the radiologist had to ask me 5 times to take a BIG swallow. I had it so engrained that i had to sip sip sip sip sip that i was really sipping tooo small. A small swallow is a good sip but i was sipping like a little kid on a cup of hot cocoa and that was not enough to stay hydrated.

I worry less about the rest and more about just getting enough protein and nutrients. I really like the nature valley protein bars and they do have 190 calories but 10g of protein and they taste great and are low carb/sugar. protein bars are a great portable way to stay on the eatting frequently track and if you put one in a plastic baggy you can just nibble on it off and on and it doesnt get all hard and gross.

ohh the coupon books are great!! The other thing to remember is that as you lose, your cost for clothing is going to plumet!!! You remember all that crud on sale that you couldnt buy before? guess what? you will start fitting into that stuff!!!!!!! WINNING!!

/blush thank you slowtogo =) Cog man keep up the great work!!! Trust me, anything is possible with the new you!! Just pursue the crud out of it! Make it yours. You didnt sit on the couch and whine about being overwheight right? Heck no man you did something about it and now its your turn. Take the rest of your life by the freaking horns and OWN THIS #$%^$ !!! If there is one thing i am passionate about (other than a romantic dinner with a smokin hot chic like many of you ladies i am seeing i am seeing on here! ) ok, got that out of my system ROFL. anyway one thing i am passionate about is pushing for what you want. The hardest part is over man, you owned this surgery already and now, now you can own whatever you want! Just push for it!

thanks allot worm, now i am gonna be itching all day!! SERIOUSLY!!! I actually never did the thrift store shopping thing. I found that walmart was actually my best option for clothes as i lost weight. though it should be remebered that i am a guy which means that 2 pairs of jeans and 3 shirts constitutes an entire wardrobe for me. (not true since losing weight =).) Usually the prices are so comprable that i would jsut rather not worry about it. here is a great article from lemon drop.com that keeps me shopping at discount stores rather than thrift =/ Moderate Risk: Clothing Bedbugs can find their way into the pockets, inseams, cuffs and more of clothing. They love settling into dark, humid places, like the hood of a fur jacket or the lining of a wool sweater. Before buying, give your thrift store find a 360-degree look to determine bedbug risk. Stretch knitting between your fingers to expose any resting critters, and look along the inner lining of a winter jacket. If it seems suspicious, pass it over. Lower Your Risk: Keep thrift store buys tied tight in a plastic bag until you can wash and dry all contents on high heat. The sooner you do this, the better; a high-heat wash and dry will kill all bugs and eggs from articles of clothing.

so i think its important for everyone (i was guilty of freaking out about my stall as well =(. ) to remember that stalls really are part of WLS and they are a required thing. I think its easy to think of it like this: Lets say your running a marathon, after running (or in my case crawling) for 10 miles or so your not doing nearly the speed you were when you started right? You maybe stop, take a breather and rest up a moment. Then your recharged and ready to take on another 10. Your body needs the same break as your metabolism catches up to the new weight and requirements your body has. Think about the changes that are going on inside your body. You are not just losing weight. Your losing body mass. This is great however it also means that everything is changing. your Fluid volume needs are less now, your preload and afterload (forces your heart pumps against) are different. Heck even the hormone levels in your body have to be adjusted. These stalls happen and are a GOOD thing. So lets look at what happens when you have stalled for 2 weeks and your ready to jump back on the losing bandwagon. Switch it up. Lets say you have been walking 1 mile 3 times a week or maybe you have gotten complacent and are not walking much at all. Guess what? nows the time to start. Pick up your shoes and start walking. Increase your caloric burn and while your add it adjust your diet. Are you eatting enough Protein? If not your not doing yourself any favors. Same with adjusting how often you eat. BOOST your metabolism!!! Grab a yogurt in the morning, walk in your favorite mall and grab a new pair of shoes because you deserve it. Holy crud you just did 10 laps in the mall and you found a TO DIE FOR shirt on sale at JCPenny's!! Now hit up the house and grab a high protein snack! mix up your routine to "trick" your body into getting back on the losing track. Remember that stepping on the scale every day is not a good thing for you! Stay off it for a few days (like 7) and then give it a shot. Also remember to weight yourself at the same time. I do it after my morning shower while i am /cough naked /cough and usually around the same time. This way i have a more accurate assessment of how i am doing. Last but not least, celebrate where you are. You have come so far, and you will continue to go farther. Love who you are and the friendships you have developed.

=) glad we could help withour silence LOL.

i fly daily and only 6 months post op and have been flying for the past few months. Of course nothing replaces the advice of your physician, most pt's fly without issues within a few weeks of surgery.

I agree with what worm said. The best thing to do is attend a seminar which will get the ol grey matter a turnin. Then start writting down all the questions you have about WLS and the risk vs reward. This forum is a wealth of knowledge but nothing can take the place of your physician. Make sure you write down what you want to ask. many peope dont and thus forget or get nervous. If you have the list in front of you its easy to just go down the line. I am guessing by the star of life that your in EMS. Use your knowledge to your benefit. It may throw off a nurse or dr when you start asking about things like risk for DVT or what kind of anti platelet agregrate are you going to have me on or do you have a problem not using succinocolyn because i dont want the added risk of malignant hyperthermia. Use your knowledge to better advocate for yourself!