NJDad74

Well I'm just about 1 month out and feeling great. The main thing that I've learned so far, is that no matter how much you read up on VSG, your own journey is the only way you truly know. And there has been a few surprises for me. First of all, the surgery was great and the recovery went well. I'm down more than 40 lbs already, and even ran my first 5K in a long time (with my doctor's consent). So that was my first surprise - how quickly I was able to get back at it. I am following my doctor's orders - even getting back into the gym tonight with a personal trainer. I am also back on "real" food now, leading to the second surprise: which is how little my stomach can hold. I was told before hand, and I read and read and read about it. But wow!! It's an adjustment actually SEEING how little food you put on your plate. It took some time but I now realize how much I had been over eating in the past. The last surprise is protein. Well, actually how much I am able to get on much reduced portion sizes. I have read the troubles of many regarding consuming enough, but I seem to be doing ok with the following meals: Breakfast: Protein shake made with 8 oz of unsweetened almond milk, powdered vitamins and a scoop of Barleans Superfruit Greens (22 grams of protein) Morning Snack: 1 12 oz Decaf Coffee, Black 1 20 oz Vitamin Water Zero Lunch: Lean meat (2 small slices of steak) a small piece of cheese and some guacamole. Afternoon Snacks 1 Quest Protein Bar (20 grams of protein) 1 20 oz Bottle of IsoPure Clear Protein drink (40 grams of protein) Dinner: Few ounces of lean meat and some veggies. Evening Snacks: A few Popped Chips A small protein shake (11 grams of protein). Hope this helps. Interested in hearing from others.

I go for my sleeve in two days, Wednesday, April 1, 2015. I have to say, this has been one of the hardest decisions and processes in my life. And I have been through many mentally and physically demanding events. It's not the "right" thing to do, it's the NECESSARY thing to do. I know that. I'm an intelligent man who has had numerous, frank conversations with his doctors. That's what keeps me marching forward, through all the doctors visits / tests and the wonderful liquid diet. But the fear, anxiety and the unknown weighs heavy at times. Up until a few days ago, I could watch myself take this emotional roller coaster ride. One that I was unable to stop and get off. I'm sure a lot of that had to do with the diet, which I now have become accustomed to. But I have now become sanguine over the pending surgery with the hope that 1 year from now, I'll be able to look back and say, "This was the best decision of my life."

I had my sleeve on Wed, April 1 and have been progressing very well (knock on wood). I think this has been a combination of good luck, a good surgeon and following the instructions to the "T". My liquid diet started 10 days prior, the first 5 of which were miserable. The lack of calories is really a shock to your system. But by about the 6th day in, I began to get used to it. The surgery went fine. A lot of waiting around and paperwork. Right before the procedure, I was given some "happy juice" and wheeled into the O.R. where the whole team was assembled. I recall transferring to the operating table and an oxygen mask going on and then...out!!! The next thing I recalled was waking up in the recovery area. Not sure of the pain medicine I was given, but I was in very little pain. After a few hours there waiting for a hospital bed to open up, I was encouraged to walk (with assistance from the nurse) to the men's room to try to urinate. And it felt OK walking. Once up to the room I was hooked to to wheeled IV / heart monitor and also encouraged to take laps around the floor. The was to release aim of the gas from the surgery. I took laps almost every 2 hrs through the night. I had some gas pain but not too much. Since getting home, I have been following my liquid diet again, as instructed. Moving to Soups tomorrow!!! I have been also walking the neighborhood for at least 45 minutes each day. I still have some random gas pains but manageable. I will keep following the diet as my stomach is in the healing process.

I'm scheduled for April 1.