dcannan

Hello,
I just got home from my evaluation appointment today and am now waiting to hear back about my pre-op. It was the first time in a long time that I didn't feel like a freak after leaving the doctors office. I am scared and nervous, but I know this is something I must do.
My journey down this road started in 1995. That is when I got my first hernia. It was small and appeared 6 months after I had my gall bladder removed. I didn't even know what it was but it hurt very badly and when I went to the ER they rushed me in to operate on it. I thought that was the end of it, little did I know it was only the beginning. 6 months later I had to have another emergency surgery to repair a hernia, 18 months later, another and 2 years after that I had my 4th hernia repair surgery when they removed my belly button!. I was able to make it almost 3 years before my 5th operation. Then 2 months after that I fell and broke my foot which put me in a wheel chair for 6 months and at that point, my minor dealings with my weight became a major problem as I went from 185 pounds to 270.
So I knew at that point I was going to have some major problems, my doctor said my belly looked like Swiss cheese and that any mesh they put in was just going to tear another hole. I just started to live with it and accept that I would have hernias. In the meantime I moved to NC and met another doctor who said he could fix me. So 2 operations later (7 hernia in total) I had 3 large hernias, weighed 290 pounds and had given upon getting them fixed or every being able to lose this extra weight. I accepted that I was beyond fixing and would just learn to live with this.
In December 2013 I had another major issue to deal with as I was admitted for emergency surgery to deal with a blocked intestine. I was in a week, home a week and readmitted for complications. I actually traveled out of the country in February and thought once again this was behind me. But on June 21 2014, I was once again rushed to the hospital and admitted for emergency surgery for a small bowel obstruction. I got home the day before my 50th birthday, was home a week, and readmitted with a severe infection and major complications. After a 2 and a half week stay I was allowed to go home. My 3rd time dealing with this, in February 2014, was enough, my 3rd bowel obstruction surgery in 14 months. The doctor who had done these last 3 operations told me that my abdomen was "complicated" and beyond the ability of my local hospital to deal with so he referred me to UNC to be checked by a hernia specialist there.
My wife and I had talked about me getting some type of operation to help with my weight, but after 11 operations on my belly in 20 years I figured no one would even consider the idea. But the doctor who saw me told me that I needed to lose at least 50 pounds before he could attempt to fix my hernias and suggested I get the sleeve surgery. Then I started researching, and praying and talking to my wife and my daughter and my parents, wanting to make the decision that would end this cycle and give me my life back.
I am tired, I am tired of the endless cycle of hospital stays, I am tired of feeling this way, I am tired of seeing the stress I am putting my family under, I am tired of being scared, I am tired of looking this way.
I want my life to be good again, I know that there is a chance that even if I lose the weight the hernia doctor will tell me there is nothing he can do. But I will have a better chance of getting my weight under control and at least be able to wear binders that fit to hold my hernias in.
So now I wait, they told me it will take about 1-2 weeks for my insurance to approve everything and they will get me back in to meet the surgeon and complete my pre-op and I should have the operation about a week after that. For the first time in about 10 years I feel like I am in control again, I feel like this is going to work, I feel positive that this will give me control of my life again.
I am ready, but I am scared. I guess some people would think that I have had enough operations that they should be 2nd nature to me and I guess that is part of the reason I am scared, I have had a total of 15 operations in the last 22 years. I know how hard they are and I know how bad it can get. But even knowing that, I know this is something I have to do.
So I start on this journey with my family, it is not only a change for me, but for them as well. I am blessed to have a very supportive family who is going to be with me every step of the way.
But I appreciate your support as well, the best advice is from people who have been down the path I am embarking on and I thank you in advance for any advice and feedback I get.
Sorry for such a long post, but this is the first time I have talked about all of this in quite a while.
Thanks

This journey we travel on has so many stops and starts. Long layovers and a few bad airplane meals( make mine purée please mama) but as we reach our destination we as much excitement as a 5year old going to Disney along the way we realize we are on a full flight and the passengers are all warm and friendly. The hope is that during the journey everyone loses more than weight and gains more than a slimmer body. I hope you all make peace with what ever was driving you to try and eat away the problem. My dr suggested I Read Eat Move sleep by Tom Rath. A good quick read to begin reshaping your mind. Everyone keep up the good work and make this journey a successful one.

Aside from losing weight I hope to learn how to eat correctly. So food types/priorities, Portion Control, and listening to my body are goals that I have.

3 weeks out and my biggest obstacle is realizing my food isn't going to run away from me when I'm eating. It's not going anywhere and I can take my time. I also need to learn that I'm unable to eat near the amount I used to before. These changes are scary but so helpful.
Who is with me?!

@@dcannan
i "hoped"/expected to be successful
guess what
22 lbs down!!!
keep up the great job
good luck
kathy
congrats

I expect to get out of it as much as I put in.

Hey everyone I just had my gastric sleeve surgery on Monday am still in the hospital. Surgery was scheduled for 1 PM however I walked into the operating room at 4:15 and was in recovery by 5:25 cording to the doctor and my family. after waking up in recovery the only pain I had was back pain from all the gas used in my body. On a pain scale 1 to 10 my pain level was a 8-9????, they quickly gave me something and I dozed back off????. I spend the next few hrs in recovery waiting on a empty room. I was in my room by 9:30pm and by then was in no pain at all. As a matter of fact I felt so good that I started walking at 10pm for about 20 mins Monday night doctors and nurse was very surprise that I felt so good. I also had no appetite even though last time I ate was Saturday night. On Tuesday I spend the day going for tests and started drinking drinking liquids for the first time. My first slip of Water made me very noshes however I did not throw up or anything. After that I switch to a different drink and feel better. Because my my stomach was still swollen I felt extremely extremely full like I just went to a all you can eat buffet twice in the same day. I felt very miserable most of the day ????and could not drink more than approximately 20 ounces of liquid. Doctors told me once I'm able to drink 64 ounces or close to 64 ounces I will be released from the hospital which should be sometime today.
Currently I am no longer nauseous my pain level is very minimum I am already taking crush medication instead of through the IV.
On a pain scale 1 to 10 I feel like a 3. ????

I am 5'0" (60 inches). I was taking my measurements and my hips were 60" and I thought "oh my God I'm square." Decided I would go on one last weight loss journey.

This journey we travel on has so many stops and starts. Long layovers and a few bad airplane meals( make mine purée please mama) but as we reach our destination we as much excitement as a 5year old going to Disney along the way we realize we are on a full flight and the passengers are all warm and friendly. The hope is that during the journey everyone loses more than weight and gains more than a slimmer body. I hope you all make peace with what ever was driving you to try and eat away the problem. My dr suggested I Read Eat Move sleep by Tom Rath. A good quick read to begin reshaping your mind. Everyone keep up the good work and make this journey a successful one.

This journey we travel on has so many stops and starts. Long layovers and a few bad airplane meals( make mine purée please mama) but as we reach our destination we as much excitement as a 5year old going to Disney along the way we realize we are on a full flight and the passengers are all warm and friendly. The hope is that during the journey everyone loses more than weight and gains more than a slimmer body. I hope you all make peace with what ever was driving you to try and eat away the problem. My dr suggested I Read Eat Move sleep by Tom Rath. A good quick read to begin reshaping your mind. Everyone keep up the good work and make this journey a successful one.

I didn't think you were supposed to have Pasta and rice.

This journey we travel on has so many stops and starts. Long layovers and a few bad airplane meals( make mine purée please mama) but as we reach our destination we as much excitement as a 5year old going to Disney along the way we realize we are on a full flight and the passengers are all warm and friendly. The hope is that during the journey everyone loses more than weight and gains more than a slimmer body. I hope you all make peace with what ever was driving you to try and eat away the problem. My dr suggested I Read Eat Move sleep by Tom Rath. A good quick read to begin reshaping your mind. Everyone keep up the good work and make this journey a successful one.

This journey we travel on has so many stops and starts. Long layovers and a few bad airplane meals( make mine purée please mama) but as we reach our destination we as much excitement as a 5year old going to Disney along the way we realize we are on a full flight and the passengers are all warm and friendly. The hope is that during the journey everyone loses more than weight and gains more than a slimmer body. I hope you all make peace with what ever was driving you to try and eat away the problem. My dr suggested I Read Eat Move sleep by Tom Rath. A good quick read to begin reshaping your mind. Everyone keep up the good work and make this journey a successful one.

This journey we travel on has so many stops and starts. Long layovers and a few bad airplane meals( make mine purée please mama) but as we reach our destination we as much excitement as a 5year old going to Disney along the way we realize we are on a full flight and the passengers are all warm and friendly. The hope is that during the journey everyone loses more than weight and gains more than a slimmer body. I hope you all make peace with what ever was driving you to try and eat away the problem. My dr suggested I Read Eat Move sleep by Tom Rath. A good quick read to begin reshaping your mind. Everyone keep up the good work and make this journey a successful one.

This journey we travel on has so many stops and starts. Long layovers and a few bad airplane meals( make mine purée please mama) but as we reach our destination we as much excitement as a 5year old going to Disney along the way we realize we are on a full flight and the passengers are all warm and friendly. The hope is that during the journey everyone loses more than weight and gains more than a slimmer body. I hope you all make peace with what ever was driving you to try and eat away the problem. My dr suggested I Read Eat Move sleep by Tom Rath. A good quick read to begin reshaping your mind. Everyone keep up the good work and make this journey a successful one.

Ditch the special K shakes. They are complete trash. cheap low quality Protein that is barely there and lots of sugar. Get a proper Protein Shake, like Premier or something with 20-30 grams of protein.

LMAO! Ha, ok that totally made me laugh. I feel like that all the time. People are like...what is your secret? I reply...oh I just workout more and eat less, when I'm really thinking, well I cut out 80% of my stomach because I couldn't manage to eat like a normal person.
It's ok, we can be big fat phony failure liars together, I'm good with that, lol.

You have to get in at least 60 gr Protein a day. I use Unjury. It taste great. Mixed with skim milk and you get your carbs for energy. This is per my dr and nutritionist orders. My weight loss is good 16 lbs in 11 days. Plus 32 oz of Water that is hard.

It's not a new baby stomach. It's just been cut. You don't want to do anything that's going to irritate the lining of your stomach. If you had issues before surgery with spicy foods, you'll have it after. If you could stomach anything before surgery, more than likely you can stomach it now. It's not like they went in and replaced your stomach, they just cut most of it out. The reason people do baby good is because it's already soft and puréed. It's easy. I had a super easy time with good and was eating all kinds of spicy Soups and stuff even during clear liquids phase.

My doctor had me take Magnesium Citrate the day before surgery. Worked like a charm! The cherry flavor tasted great - just be sure and chill it. I took it at 2:00 pm the day before. It will clean you out within a few hours. Good luck!

hi fellow sleeversi'
my name is kathy. i am happily married 58 yr. young grandmother of the 3 cutest grandkids. I am not being biased, just stating the truth i have one married daughter and a great son-in-law.
I took an early retirement at 53, due to the fact that i had broken my femur and 2 knee replacements within a very short time.
I was born in Budapest, Hungary - and came to the U.S. during the '56 revolution with my 4 yr. old sister, and my parents. I have 3 sisters, and 1 brother,
I am also a proud breast cancer survivor going on 12 years.
kathy

Well I'm gonna be the first man to ad their story to this topic. I'm a 53 year old man named Roy, hence the RoyBoy name. married to a 53 year old wonderful woman named Jean for 11 years now. We are the brady bunch as I had 3 girls and one boy, she had two boys for the perfect six! The family just melted together into one big happy family. All of our kids are grown with the littlest being 20, she's going back to college next semester, so she says but all the other kids have good jobs, nice homes and a wonderful family life. They have given us 12 grandchildren with two kids of our kids to go. Our number two son is getting married this winter in Riviera Maya Mexico for a warm needed vacation from cold Wisconsin and our number 3 son is doing the same next winter in Brazil! I love food and thats how I got to the place that brought me here! But love to hunt and fish with a passion and now I feel better every day so I fish even harder than I used too. LoL I've run and sold 2 companies and currently own a small trucking company with my wife working for a private college.
I'm a very thankful man for what God has given us and remember that every single day of my life!