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Capt Derel's Gastric Sleeve Surgery Journey



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Ok its almost been a year since surgery. 17 days shy. As of today I have officially broken my 180lb goal. I feel great look great according to everyone else. But heres my issues.

1. I dont feel skinny at all. When I look down I still see all the excess skin and it just makes me upset. Hopefully this year most of it will shrink back up so it dont look so bad.

2. I feel weak compared to presurgery. I just dont have the strenght that I use too.

3.memory retention was shot during this first year postop. Now my head is clearer but I have developed scatterbrain due to my energy level. I multitask so much it isnt funny.

4. My endurance level while working in the heat is limited to 4 hours/day. Anymore will probably send me to the hospital for dehydration.

But other than that I am 100% satisfied that I did this. On another note randomn women are more receptive when I speak to them. Kinda pisses me off though. Well with all that said this has been a journey that I should have done sooner but I didnt know about the godsend Jerusalem hospital in Tijuana, mexico. I ran across them by mere chance and it definitely was worth it.

BTW gall bladder issues cleared up all on its own. Doc said they have a few small ones but if they dont act up well leave it be but if they do we will pull it. Plus I drink an apple juice everyday. I have read on multiple natural remedy websites that this helps soften stones.

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Lol not mad at texans. I laugh with yall cause yall know what I am talking about. I use to work for Texas Crewboats out of Freeport and I swear every one of them spelled foil like this Fiol. I literally had to ask what it was cause I thought they forgot some letters or something. Cant knock texas cause yall got it going on.

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Lol I was just kidding :-) Some of these Texans really can't spell, read or write.

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Hey :P

lol

Actually that is very true

We speak well with other Texans but we sound like doh doh's to others.

:)

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Loved reading your weight loss story all in one spot. Congrats! Thanks for the incentive!

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Lol not mad at texans. I laugh with yall cause yall know what I am talking about. I use to work for Texas Crewboats out of Freeport and I swear every one of them spelled foil like this Fiol. I literally had to ask what it was cause I thought they forgot some letters or something. Cant knock texas cause yall got it going on.

Cracker head now thats texan.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using VST

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Capt Derel...you're energy levels sound really low and that can't be enjoyable. Are you eating really low carb? Or had your blood sugar checked lately...hypoglycemia maybe?

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Go for it. U won't be sorry! :)

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Capt Derel...you're energy levels sound really low and that can't be enjoyable. Are you eating really low carb? Or had your blood sugar checked lately...hypoglycemia maybe?

Sorry been offshore.

Low carb? Well it depends. I usually hit between 100-200grams per day just cause I am trying to STOP losing.

I have never been diabetic but I am going do my one year checkup pretty soon.

The way I feel at work has to be from depression cause being stuck out here SUCKS!!! Lol

At home I am different. I get up everyday at 6am and by 0730 I am out and about and stay busy till 2000hrs. Its like I cant stop.

One day I had my trucks interior stripped out next day building shadow boxes in my besroom then painting next I am building a speaker box and amp rack in my truck then gardening then working on my father in laws shop. Its kind of like I developed ADD at home. Out here theres no where to go.

It might just be cause I hate the cold weather and I like to hibernate. Winter time depression.

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Were you referring to the 4 hrs endurance while working?

Exercising to me isnt physical labor. Never has been. I judged this by digging a trench, shoveling gravels, post hole digging fence posts. Pre surgery I could do this all day. Now after 3-4 hrs I reach a point where I know I have to stop. I think its the dehydration kicking in cause I try and drink but I ultimately end up throwing up cause I cant drink enough in a 15 minute period to make a difference.

I know going back to framing is out of the question. And I am an excellent carpenter. I have built many million dollar homes.

I can barely drink 3 bottle of h2o daily. Thats a big problem to me. Its either drink or eat. Otherwise its a full time job just eating and drinking lol

The struggles of VSG lol

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Wow just read your journey, you look amazing!

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Were you referring to the 4 hrs endurance while working?

Exercising to me isnt physical labor. Never has been. I judged this by digging a trench, shoveling gravels, post hole digging fence posts. Pre surgery I could do this all day. Now after 3-4 hrs I reach a point where I know I have to stop. I think its the dehydration kicking in cause I try and drink but I ultimately end up throwing up cause I cant drink enough in a 15 minute period to make a difference.

I know going back to framing is out of the question. And I am an excellent carpenter. I have built many million dollar homes.

I can barely drink 3 bottle of h2o daily. Thats a big problem to me. Its either drink or eat. Otherwise its a full time job just eating and drinking lol

The struggles of VSG lol

The good news is, you will be able to get back to framing soon. It does pass and you will get stronger and stronger and able to endure more physical activities. :)

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    • LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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