New guy here, you've GOT to read this!

[BigFrank 354]

I have really been going back and forth as whether to post here or not. I guess I am sort of a "forum person" in my hobbies and areas of interest, but I have to be honest, I have avoided posting on this site or even looking at it for a couple of reasons. I found this site only a few days before my surgery but when I found it I found more negativity and frightened people then I found inspiration. Actually, I have gone here and gotten the (bleep) scared out of me by a few posters, every time I see their posts I get knots in my stomach. The main poster that does that to me has a screen name that starts with the letter "i". Everybody is terrified of leaks and all the negatives of this surgery and I just haven't been able to relate to many of the topics. Below I will share some of the basics of my journey so far.

First off, I am a 35 year old male who is 6 feet 3 inches tall. I wasn't fat my whole life, I actually weighed 218 when I was 19 years old. That was pretty close to a "perfect" weight for me. I got into a business where the guys I worked with partied, ate, and drank to excess. Over the years I ballooned to 445 lbs which is where I have been for the past 2-3 years. In 2010 I was considering the lap band but chickened out. I was back on in 2011 but chickened out again. In 2012 I HAD to make a decision because I was put on Metformin for borderline diabetes and Lisinopril for borderline blood pressure as well. That was it. I started again with the nutritionist appointments and made an appt. to see my surgeon who is located downtown Chicago a few miles from my house. My first appt. with him was in early October 2012 and he suggested a VSG instead of the lap band because of the large amount of weight I wanted to lose. I left thinking about it and did the rest of my pre op requirements such as upper GI, psyche, EKG, etc. I saw my surgeon again on November 14th, 2012 and we decided on the VSG (which I really didn't know a lot about). We set surgery for December 21st, 2012.

Because I am a big fella, my surgeon put me on a 28 day pre op liquid only diet (to shrink my liver and loosen my skin) which I started on November 23rd, 2012 (the day after Thanksgiving). The first few days were tough but I have very strong will power and stuck to it, following the requirements to the letter. I didn't cheat even once. Again, not even once. After about 12 days it was smooth sailing and I just plugged away and kept up the exercise plan that I had been doing for over a year which was just walking 1.5 miles, three times per week at my local YMCA. I didn't weigh myself even once the entire plan and weighed myself the morning of surgery. To my astonishment I lost a staggering 49 lbs!!!!I I couldn't even believe it, to be honest with you I began to sob like a little girl! I went from 445 to 396. I was just so shocked. My surgeon told me that I broke his practice record which was previously 45 lbs for a pre op diet. Again, I LOST 49 LBS IN 28 DAYS!!!

On the morning of December 21st, 2012 I was ready for surgery at a major hospital downtown Chicago. I arrived, valet parked, checked in, and was laying on the table prepped for surgery within 1 hour just waiting for the anesthesiologist. I was in surgery about an hour and a half later and the surgery took 2 1/2 hours. I am going to cut the details of my hospital stay down so readers aren't sitting here all day reading. Any questions just ask me. I wanted to leave the hospital the next evening but my surgeon said that he wouldn't allow me to break two records and that I should stay another night. Quick recap, I was checked into my room after surgery at 6pm Friday night and was discharged from the hospital at 11am Sunday morning, less then 48 hours after entering my room.

Upon arriving home I checked my weight, expecting to have lost a few lbs, and actually gained back 2 lbs due to all the fluids that were pumped into me. I was back up to 398. My recovery went ok I think, I was in a lot of pain along my largest incision which is about 3+ inches wide. I was on Tramadol which sucks. It took me 9 days to finish the 25 pills that I was prescribed since I was skipping doses. I was home on Sunday morning and by Wednesday morning I was off to the YMCA where I walked only one lap around the track. I limped around and talked to my friends there before going home. I was back at the YMCA on Friday and actually walked 5 laps (a half mile). I finally weighed myself on Friday, one week after surgery, and I was down from 398 to 391. I weighed myself again on Sunday afternoon and I lost another 4 lbs from Friday to Sunday, 9 lbs in 9 days, ending up at 387 lbs, 58 lbs down in 38 days.

So that's basically that. It's been over 10 days now since surgery and I am feeling like a million bucks. Here are the "scary" parts. I am using the term scary because after reading this site I would have thought I was going to die from this surgery. I HAVE NOT been nauseous even for one second since surgery. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOT thrown up, or even gagged for that matter, not even once. I AM ABLE to drink 60ozs of Fluid per day. I just started puree on Saturday, 8 days out, and it's been perfect. I had 4 ozs of low fat cottage cheese (which I LOVE) today as well as only one Protein Shake, a bowl of Tomato Soup, and plenty of Water. I AM NOT hungry, EVER. I just eat to live, that's it. Today I feel the best that I have felt since surgery. Every day gets better. My goal is to lose 220 lbs, 100 in three months from the start of my pre op diet on November 23rd. I WILL do it.

I know I left out a bunch so fire away (or ask any questions that you want).

[No game 14,436]

Bravo Frank!! And I feel the same way about some people here

[O.T.R. sleever 3,386]

Hey Frank,

Thanks for sharing, glad to hear your surgery was so uneventful. Unfortunately those of us that had no problems just don't say it enough. But honestly most surguries go quite well. It might be time to revive the "good recovery" thread.

[AMannCPhT 7]

AWESOME!!! What a great story! Keep up the great work!

[KatinGPW 7]

Great job Frank! I've not had any complications and my recovery was unevetful. I want to lose 110 pounds. Was sleeved on Nov 5 and am down 30 pounds. Oh....I had my lap and taken out when I was sleeved. I feel great. My weight loss is a little slower than I would like but I am so happy. Like you, I am not hungry and forget to eat. I'm still drinking shakes and eating one or two yogurts a day. I just don't feel like eating. Anyway, glad to hear of your success. I love reading the good, the bad and the ugly here. Everyone has a story to tell! Happy New Year!

[Sab964 10]

Thank you for sharing! I plan to be sleeved in February and its a breath of fresh air to hear such a positive story!

[BigFrank 354]

Thanks guys! You're right O.T.R., I think that the people that have had good experiences just don't say enough. They are happy, so there is no reason to ask a bunch of questions on the internet. The problem is that there are a few people here that had VERY VERY bad experiences that respond to every thread and scare the heck out of everybody. Question: My toe hurts, what could it be? Answer: YOU HAVE A LEAK!!!! Run to the E.R. right now in the middle of the night! HURRY!

Holy cow, I swear to God, I had a thermometer in my hand for a week after my surgery checking my temp every hour to see if i had a fever. My wife got so mad at me that she told me to NEVER visit this site again! I talked her down, and I just checked back today. I told her that there was some useful info here.

[O.T.R. sleever 3,386]

Here's a few more good experiences.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/47767-anyone-have-a-relatively-easy-recovery-story/

Also if you've had a good experience, please add yourself to that thread. Never hurts to keep it growing.

[kortolano 100]

Thanks for sharing! I am getting sleeved Feb 8th.

[haleyj134 1]

I agree the recovery has been pretty easy. I never took a pain pill after leaving the hospital I didn't need them. The gas they fill you up with was the worst part. 2 weeks out started purees still on them for another week. No nausea or vomiting here either. I only had to do one week of liquid pre-op started at 275 I'm currently 250. Pretty happy with the weight loss so far.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using VST

[iggychic 1,405]

Frank, I believe that toe pain is only a symptom if it's on the right side

And maybe you should chat with Liz, who I also worried...she did have a leak and reacted quickly because I'm such a horror. She's just now home from hospital and doing better thank god. I'm sorry you were so worried...and yet not at all sorry that Liz was given she got help quickly.

For the record, I've told people many times that their symptoms are NOT likely signs of a leak.

I'm very glad that your recovery has been exemplary and you haven't had any issues at all. I wish 100% of these surgeries was like that. I honestly do.

[fletcherette 203]

I'm glad someone finally said what I've been thinking. I have learned to avoid any posts by the negative certain people. I agree, there isn't enough inspiration on these forums, I understand the risks and have enough fear and worry on my own without the constant postings to remind me. Thanks for posting your story its encouraging to read stories like yours!

[outrigger42 58]

OMG I can't thank you enough! I cancelled my surgery after joining this site. Most posts are negative and ready to call in the lawyers. After your post I will reconsider.

[babypuff 44]

Congrats and keep up the great job

[No game 14,436]

OMG I can't thank you enough! I cancelled my surgery after joining this site. Most posts are negative and ready to call in the lawyers. After your post I will reconsider.

that makes me sad!

There are a lot of here that are doing great.

I had my sleeve on 11-13-12 and besides fighting occasional head hunger. It been a great experience!