I'm a year out with VSG, down 98 from HW and 2 to goal. I can say my sex life has dramatically improved...like 1000%. It's such a new experience being a sexual being. And I love it. So does my partner.
I'm a year out with VSG, down 98 from HW and 2 to goal. I can say my sex life has dramatically improved...like 1000%. It's such a new experience being a sexual being. And I love it. So does my partner.
@@familyguy Thank you for this awesome update. I am very encouraged and motivated by what you wrote. I had my VSG exactly one year after you, and today is day 3 post-op. I'm excited. Clear fluids are going well, I have no lingering pain, taking plenty of walks.
What you wrote really reinforced for me that the VSG is an assistant reminding you to do the right things. You wrote you can still overeat with chips and ice cream and such, but your assistant reminds you to start with Protein first.
How is exercise going for you?
I'm also encouraged because our stats are so close: I'm also 5'11" and my highest was 280, dropped to 250 pre-op and am shooting for 175 as my goal. It seems within reach.
What did you do when people asked you why/how you're losing weight? I don't want to lie to people and some know that I had some unknown surgery, but then there's so much judgment about that I don't want to wear a "I had VSG" nametag around the workplace.
November 25th is one year post opp for me and I wanted to share my observations for the year. Here you go....
Unwarranted Pre Opp Fears:
I was super worried about complications and recovery and felt like I was seriously risking my life. In reality, surgery was a breeze. I had 2 or 3 uncomfortable days and then was quickly back on my feet.
I dreaded pre and post opp diets. The pre-opp diet was harder for me, because I knew that my food days were coming to an end and I sort of had to mourn all the things I loved to eat. The post opp diet wasn't fun, but since I really couldn't eat anything (nor did I have any desire to), it wasn't all that difficult. Now that period is just sort of a distant memory.
Standing out for eating like a mouse / not being able to dine socially -- I have a job that entails a lot of entertaining, business lunches and dinners and was really worried about this. In reality, it's been no big deal. After a while, I got used to ordering the right stuff and just picking away at my plate. When I'm done, I just put the silverware on the plate and the waiter whisks it away. This is actually what most people without eating issues do! It turns out the big eaters and the table are really focused on their plates and not yours. Every now and again, people will make a comment like "you barely ate" or "was the food not good", but they're very easy to dismiss away.
Pleasant Surprises:
I started the process at 255 (275 highest ever) and was hoping to get down to about 200. That goal seemed like a big stretch because the best I ever did on my own was 225 and that was by starving myself for months and working out like dog and I was only at that weight for about 5 minutes. About 9 months after surgery, I bottoming out at 175 and currently hover between 178 and 182. I didn't think my current weight was even possible, but it turns out I feel and look great at this weight. I wear a medium shirt and have a 33" waist, down from xxl and a 42" waist. This is just shocking to me.
Everything is easier. sleeping, tying my shoes, clipping my toe nails, sitting in airplane seats, shopping for clothes, exercising, playing sports, etc.
My joints feel better and my frequent head aches have gone away.
I was pre diabetic, had high cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure. All gone.
Not having food monkey on my back. I still think a lot about what and how much I'm eating and have some bad habits (see below) but the monkey is gone! For as long as I could remember prior to surgery, I woke up every morning hoping that I wouldn't overeat that day and went to bed every night feeling guilty about all the eating. Food just doesn't occupy my mind like it used to.
Annoyances:
Every once it a while, it would be fun to man down a big meal. I recently went to an amazing new BBQ joint in town and it would have been a great time to wolf down a huge plate of smoked meats and sides and wash it down with a few beers. That's just not possible. I had a glass of wine before the food came and ate about 20% of the plate of food I ordered and was absolutely stuffed.
It would be nice to eat and drink at the same time. Breakfast with coffee, lunch with Iced Tea, dinner with Wine -- I've been doing this for 40 years but again, that just doesn't work with VSG. Sometimes I eat and sip (small sips) but that's about it.
I was prescribed omeprazole (prilosec) right after surgery to control heart burn. If I take it everyday, I have zero heart burn. If I stop taking it, I have a little (not horrible) heartburn. I was kind of hopping to not have to take a pill for ever, but I think that might be the case.
Bad Habits / Struggles / Watch Areas:
Slidder foods -- chips, ice cream, candy, etc. I can pretty much eat these foods in the same quantities as pre opp and will munch away if I'm not watching it. I've found that the best strategy is to eat the good stuff (proteins) first and then there's really no room for junk. Starting with the junk first is a bad idea.
Alcohol -- I liked to drink pre opp and that hasn't gone away post opp. In fact, since food is much more effort, drinking sort of becomes easier. I now see why people caution about the dangers of substituting.
Eating too quickly or too much. Food still tastes good and if I'm not concentrating, I can still eat too much and really regret it. This happens less and less now that I'm 12 months out, but it's still something I'm always watching for.
In sum, VSG was the best decision I ever made. If I could go back in time, I would have done it 10 years sooner. Comments or personal messages / questions welcome.
None.. However the first week after surgery I did have a moment of realization that my relationship with food will changeforever. I had a little melt down for one day. Just wanted to cry. I never looked back that day. Now ..no regrets at all. Food is def not my focus in life like it was preop,
My nurse told me it takes a couple of days after surgery before your bowels wake up. Mine woke up with a vengeance. I had diarrhea for two days than nothing for two days until I drank my first cup of coffee. Then I was clean as a whistle!
Mark Dietrich got a reaction from dmedic72 in Sex... Oh My God... Sex!
Mark Dietrich got a reaction from becweaves in Where are the November Sleevers?
Mark Dietrich got a reaction from familyguy in One Year Post Opp Update