luckylimey

1 week from surgery, lost 10lbs on my pre-op diet.  Found that I like powdered peanut butter in my chocolate shake.  Also found that I like frozen blueberries in my vanilla shake.  

Can't wait - want this done, so I can get on with the rest of my life.

3 Days post op - doing well, Pain level is low - I got the OnQ pump for abdominal pain - and its been great.  Taking Hydrocodone if it gets too much.

Tolerating clear liquids well - overall feeling pretty good...

One month away from my one year anniversary - started at 343 - down to 239 - 19lbs from my goal of 220 - Flabby skin - ready to start talking plastics - any recommendations for great plastic surgeons in the Tampa area?

Post op visit today.  Got the all clear to swim and go diving. Yeah....

SW: 320

OP: 314

CW: 284

Feeling good.

So I did make a tasty creation this week.

Ingredients:

1 can of cooked chicken (drained)

1/2 onion

2 cloves garlic

1 can Rotel

1 can of black beans (drained)

grated cheese (dealers choice)

cook the onion and garlic.  Deglaze the pan with a little cooking wine, add in the chicken, Rotel, Black Beans, simmer and reduce the sauce until nearly gone.  Makes (way to many servings)  ladle out, sprinkle with a little grated cheese and enjoy...    Yum.

So it's been a while since I posted - but progress has been amazing.

My VSG was 5/1/17.  I dropped to 220lbs and stayed there for some time.  This was a huge win for me - so I decided to take the next step and I met with an amazing plastic surgeon who helped me with the next step - excess skin removal.  There were three things that needed to be addressed 1) abdominal hernia's 2) panniculectomy and a 3) abdominoplasty.

First, talk to your plastic surgeon - I spoke with several, and these are expensive procedures - but I finally found a surgeon that advised me that the panniculectomy could be covered by health insurance - and it was - saving me nearly $5000.  Overall I still paid $7k out of pocket - but way better than the $12 - $14k that I had been quoted by others.

I had my reconstructive surgery 1 month ago - the surgeon removed 14lbs of skin and fat - and I dropped a few more pounds - and am now weighing in at 195.  My highest weight was 445lbs.  I way less than when I started high school - and I feel amazing - I am still recovering from the surgery because it is fairly invasive - so pics to follow - but what an amazing journey - I never thought I would get here. 

My journey has been almost 14 years - a failed lap band, massive complications from that, weight gain and then struggling to gain the nerve to try again with the VSG - but my care team has been amazing - and I cannot thank them for giving me my life back.  At 52 I am the healthiest I have been since I was 14.  

Please remember, the journey can be tough, the struggles are real, the pain is there - but it's your life you are fighting for - and there is nothing more important than that.

So just had abdominal Hernia surgery 2 weeks ago - MAN THAT SUCKED - it hurt more than my VSG.

On the good news weight loss started again about 8 weeks ago - and I am down to 216lbs - so I just changed my goal weight from 200 to 180 - i think I can do it.  I have not weighed 216lbs since I was a sophomore in high-school - feeling great.

Anyone who is considering the surgery, who is still on the fence - I am 51 years old and in the best shape of my life.  Healthier than I have ever been...

So Stuck

I am having a horrible time.  I had my surgery on 5/1 - and I am stuck - more than the 3-week plateau.  I just cannot seem to loose.  I am walking 3 miles 4 x per week, I am watching what I eat.

The last time I saw the surgeon they did one of those body analyzer scale tests that said I am swapping fat for muscle - but overall the scale is just not moving down - anyone else having the same issue?

VSG on 5/1 - I am down 38.3 lbs since surgery date.  I started walking 5 days after surgery but then developed gout in my right ankle.  This was 10x more painful than anything from the surgery.  

I had my post op visit on the 17th and got cleared for everything, work, exercise, swimming and scuba diving (yeah).  The gout has started to clear up so I started walking again yesterday - trying to get in at least 2 miles each day...  

I need to remind myself that this is not a sprint - its a slow journey (I want it to be faster)  

Food wise, I am tolerating more and more.  Since I was a previous bander, I had already trained myself how to chew food to oblivion, so I am taking on more solid's but the key is chew, chew, then chew some more, then chew again.  I really believe in putting the knife and fork down between every mouthful.  You eat slower, you don't risk hurting yourself and you get full quicker.  I can eat 3 chicken nuggets in the time the family eats their entire meal, and I am good with that.

PS - Love reading all the success stories people are having - can't wait to post here in a year that I am <200- won't have been there since 9th grade...

Gout flare-up is ebbing today, hopefully, cleared up by tomorrow - feeling very good in myself other than that.  So over the liquids, bring on the mush....I must admit that I have nibbled on a few things, and have tolerated them well.  But not going to push it hard - want to make sure I am healed...

I think my last update was early July and I was stuck on a long plateau.  Well since then things have been interesting.  I spent a week in the hospital with an acute Pancreatitis attack, followed by something going horribly wrong with my chemistry causing my ankle to balloon (it was not gout).  I have been on steroids for the last week and in a huge walking boot.  Makes work very very difficult.  That being said - the plateau broke - and I am down to 259 - nine pounds from goal 1....  What a rollercoaster ride it has been.

I woke up early this morning, 5:45am.  I felt great, tons of energy, no hunger, no pain.  So it was time to go for a walk.  Grabbed my iPhone and headphones and headed out.  Not a long walk, just about 1.5miles, back home in 30 minutes, and paid for it the rest of the day.  Totally exhausted, stomach gurgling, gas pains, nasty headache, just felt like $hit.  The only advice I can give anyone from this - is don't be like and don't be stupid.  Going to take it a little easier tomorrow - will still try for a walk, but not as long and not as quick.

So  I had a really slow period of weight loss - almost a week and not an ounce lost.  However, it seems to have started again over the past 2 days.  Now if only the runs would stop.  Constant...  

So mostly water yesterday, and some watered down white grape juice for flavor.  I also had about 2 teaspoons of jello - just not hungry.  All liquids were tolerated very well.  Today is full liquids day - so looking forward to trying some of this.  Not sure the difference but when I had my lap-band installed in 2005 - the GAS pains were horrific, the pain in my shoulder from the Gas was agonizing and it lasted for weeks upon end.  With this surgery, very little gas pain, very little pain at all.   Love this thing called the OnQ Pump - it should be given to everyone - works like a charm...  Anyway on to some full liquids...

Considering the Sleeve

Considering the Sleeve