Well I did it. Yesterday they did the gastric sleeve operation at 7:30am.

When I arrived for checking they did some paperwork that allowed the hospital to bill my insurance, then they took me back to pre-op. In pre-op they had me strip down and put on a gown. I didn't have any valuables with me but that is when they would have taken them and put them in the safe. A gentleman came in and started the IV. Another nurse came in and was asking me about what I had to eat and drink prior to the surgery date. Then I met the nurses that would be assisting the surgeon. They gave me a shot of blood thinner to protect from blood clots. I met the anesthesia person, he asked about if I'd ever been under or if any family members had issues with anesthesia. The surgeon came in and asked if I had any questions before we got started.

They then wheeled me off to the operating room. In the OR there were several people work on getting everything ready, they hooked up to my IV, set up the heart monitor. Then anesthesia gave me something to relax. He then came over with a mask that covered my mom and nose and said he was going to give me some oxygen. Next thing I remember is waking up in recovery.

For me this was the worst part, not feeling good coming out of the anesthesia and being in pain. There was one nurse to every two people. Unfortunately the other person that my nurse was watching was being combative so he the attention of a lot of staff members. Once things started to clear up for me a bit they adjusted my pain medication to something a bit stronger. After about an hour of being awake in recovery they wheeled me off to my room.

On the way up to my room we stopped and got my family from the waiting room and they followed me up. I was pretty out of it from all the drugs they had been giving me. So I don't remember much about the day of surgery once I made it up to my room. It was mostly keeping me comfortable. They got me to the room around noon, and had me take a short walk at about 6pm. I was able to urinate for them so no need for a catheter. Yay!!! They gave me some more pain medicine and let me rest. Throughout the night someone came in about every two hours to check on me and my vitals and checking my blood sugar.

The next morning they came in and gave me another shot of blood thinner, I had been sipping Water this entire time. I got up and went for a couple walks around the floor. Had to prove I could still urinate. Then the surgeon came in and talked about the surgery and answered more questions. He gave the okay for me to be released.

I've made it home. Still in a bit of pain from one of the incisions but not the others. So far no real issues with nausea or vomiting. I feel this was the right decision for me and am excited to start this new chapter in my life. So far I'm doing good, as far as the pain, it sucks but I know each day it will get better and better. Just focusing on getting in my water and walking as much as I can.

I'm just now laying down for the night, sure will be nice to sleep in my own bed.

You guys are all so supportive!

So I had my own version of a "food funeral" a couple days ago. I had purchased a new rifle and was headed out to the mountains to sight it in. On the way out there I stopped to get fuel and decided to get a bottle of Water. While in the gas station I noticed the Coke-a-cola cooler and thought about how much of that I used to drink. Sometimes I'd have up to three cans of it at a meal. So I thought why not have a little symbolism of not letting those things have any grip on me anymore. So I bought a 20oz coke. Then I pulled into McDonalds and bought a bigmac. Once I made it up to the mountains I sighted in the new rifle and set out the soda and the bigmac. I also set up my GoPro. Stood back and took a shot at the soda, it literally exploded. Same thing when I shot the Big Mac. It actually looked like it was raining Big Mac for a few seconds. Felt pretty good to get some kind of closure, to actually say, "no, I am not going to give into this drug called "junk food" anymore!" It is so much like a drug, I think these foods are engineered to make you want them more and more. Then I went up to my GoPro and hadn't pressed record. Bummer, I was looking forward to sharing my "food funeral" video with you all.

This morning I weighed in at 50lbs down. That's a nice mile stone to hit! Many more to go! This was also my first day back at work. Not like a real work day as I headed out of town for a business trip. Now I'm several hours from home staying in a hotel. Brought a cooler full of foods that are okay for my stage of the post op diet. Still one of my coworkers wanted to go out to dinner, heck employer is footing the bill so why not. Went to a nice seafood restaurant, I got a cup of clam chowder and only had about a 1/4 cup of the broth before I felt full. Not the best food selection as chowder is a bit high in fat content, but it was a decision I can live with. No ill effects. I'm on the purée stage so it was something that was on my list from the nutritionist that I could have as long as I steered clear of the chunks which I did.

Tomorrow I'm going to try and hunt down some scrambled eggs for Breakfast and will probably work on a Protein shake for lunch. Then I'll have to decide if I stay in for dinner or go out again.

Edited September 20, 20169 yr by #BirdDog

Thanks BirdDog! I have been enjoying your posts and can't wait to share my own experience soon. Your food funeral... LOL!!! I got such a vivid pic in my head. It's the ultimate anti-ad for Mickey D ????

You are doing great, keep up the good work and hug your supportive wife for me!

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Today went well. Scrambled eggs for breakfast with a little salsa. Couldn't eat anything they were serving for lunch so I walked across the street to the hotel where I had brought a cooler full of things I could have. Had a couple bites of cottage cheese grabbed a Protein shake and headed back. For dinner we went as a group out to another seafood restaurant. This time I had a cup of clam chowder but didn't eat much of it, I also ordered an appetizer of shrimp cocktail to share with a coworker. They were bay shrimp so they are tiny. Didn't have but the equivalent to maybe four forks full of the shrimp and 1/3rd cup of the clam chowder. I feel absolutely stuffed. If I had it to do over I would probably forgo one or the other. Tracking all of my food and exercise in myfitnesspal. Did a two mile walk just before dinner so I'm feeling pretty confident in my food choices. Tomorrow is when I'm supposed to officially switch to "mechanically soft" foods. So some more options will open up for me.

Wish I was at home, I feel like I have better control when I'm home. Soon enough, just a day and a half left.

Morning not so good. The conference I'm at provided breakfast burritos this morning. I thought no problem, I'll just eat some of the insides and I'll be good. It had egg, melted cheese, some potatoes which I was avoiding, and as I shortly found out some sausage. (Should have explored it better before taking a bite). About two small bites into it I knew something wasn't going quite right. Felt like I was going to vomit. I stopped eating it and managed to keep it down. Once my stomach settled and some time had gone by I ran to my hotel and grabbed a Protein shake from my cooler. I think I'm going to stick to liquids until dinner time today. Bringing that little cooler with my allowed foods has been a life saver on this business trip.

It's been a few days of not weighing and getting in some new foods and a lot of walking. I'm really curious how my weight is going to be when I get back.

Edited September 21, 20169 yr by #BirdDog

@@#BirdDog I almost peed my pants reading about the coke & big mac funeral!!! That's awesome! I so wish you had it recorded! Sounds like you are well prepared while on a business trip and are doing great!! That can't be easy! You've got this!!!

Morning not so good. The conference I'm at provided breakfast burritos this morning. I thought no problem, I'll just eat some of the insides and I'll be good. It had egg, melted cheese, some potatoes which I was avoiding, and as I shortly found out some sausage. (Should have explored it better before taking a bite). About two small bites into it I knew something wasn't going quite right. Felt like I was going to vomit. I stopped eating it and managed to keep it down. Once my stomach settled and some time had gone by I ran to my hotel and grabbed a Protein shake from my cooler. I think I'm going to stick to liquids until dinner time today. Bringing that little cooler with my allowed foods has been a life saver on this business trip.

It's been a few days of not weighing and getting in some new foods and a lot of walking. I'm really curious how my weight is going to be when I get back.

I love your food funeral. That's great!!!! Maybe I'll do the same, I like to say more of a "see you later" knowing I'll replace a big mac with something like a tiny turkey burger. Still trying to figure out what to replace buffalo wings with ... my nemesis

Hope the rest of the trip goes well!

Morning not so good. The conference I'm at provided breakfast burritos this morning. I thought no problem, I'll just eat some of the insides and I'll be good. It had egg, melted cheese, some potatoes which I was avoiding, and as I shortly found out some sausage. (Should have explored it better before taking a bite). About two small bites into it I knew something wasn't going quite right. Felt like I was going to vomit. I stopped eating it and managed to keep it down. Once my stomach settled and some time had gone by I ran to my hotel and grabbed a Protein shake from my cooler. I think I'm going to stick to liquids until dinner time today. Bringing that little cooler with my allowed foods has been a life saver on this business trip.

It's been a few days of not weighing and getting in some new foods and a lot of walking. I'm really curious how my weight is going to be when I get back.

I love your food funeral. That's great!!!! Maybe I'll do the same, I like to say more of a "see you later" knowing I'll replace a big mac with something like a tiny turkey burger. Still trying to figure out what to replace buffalo wings with ... my nemesis

Hope the rest of the trip goes well!

@@rolosmom7 baked chicken wings with buffalo sauce - that'll be okay to have at some point! I love chicken wings too!

Morning not so good. The conference I'm at provided breakfast burritos this morning. I thought no problem, I'll just eat some of the insides and I'll be good. It had egg, melted cheese, some potatoes which I was avoiding, and as I shortly found out some sausage. (Should have explored it better before taking a bite). About two small bites into it I knew something wasn't going quite right. Felt like I was going to vomit. I stopped eating it and managed to keep it down. Once my stomach settled and some time had gone by I ran to my hotel and grabbed a Protein shake from my cooler. I think I'm going to stick to liquids until dinner time today. Bringing that little cooler with my allowed foods has been a life saver on this business trip.

It's been a few days of not weighing and getting in some new foods and a lot of walking. I'm really curious how my weight is going to be when I get back.

I love your food funeral. That's great!!!! Maybe I'll do the same, I like to say more of a "see you later" knowing I'll replace a big mac with something like a tiny turkey burger. Still trying to figure out what to replace buffalo wings with ... my nemesis

Hope the rest of the trip goes well!

@@rolosmom7 baked chicken wings with buffalo sauce - that'll be okay to have at some point! I love chicken wings too!

Now for some fat free ranch! Haha. ☺☺

Pinterest is my best friend now, I've found a TON of recipes that I am looking forward to making. Just search bariatric recipes. Bet you could find some really creative recipes to get you the favors you like while sticking to the requirements for your sleeve.

My wife and i have spent hours on pinterest looking at recipes, there is some stuff on there that looks great and i cant wait to try

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Finally back home!!! My wife wanted to have pizza for dinner. I'm game for that. She made herself a cheese pizza. I on the other hand took two slices of ham, put three tablespoons of marinara on it, a light covering of mozzarella and tossed it in the microwave to melt the cheese. Then I put three chunks of pineapple on it. She had her pizza, I have my sleeve friendly pizza. It was pretty good. Haven't weighed in a few days so I'm a little nervous what the scale is going to have to say about my meal choices this week.

Put together the same ham with marinara mozzarella and a chunk of pineapple. I think I was eating too fast. Made it about half way through and wasn't feeling so good. Bit of pain. Burped, felt like it was going to come back up. It sure did. First time I've vomited since the surgery. Really bummed me out. Felt irresponsible and upset that I let myself eat so fast. We were headed out to a movie and I was excited to get going. Bad habits are hard to break.

Put together the same ham with marinara mozzarella and a chunk of pineapple. I think I was eating too fast. Made it about half way through and wasn't feeling so good. Bit of pain. Burped, felt like it was going to come back up. It sure did. First time I've vomited since the surgery. Really bummed me out. Felt irresponsible and upset that I let myself eat so fast. We were headed out to a movie and I was excited to get going. Bad habits are hard to break.

Pineapple too acidic maybe?

I think this is going to be a problem for me as I eat so fast normally.......but I'm already in training for my sleeve in December. Keep going BirdDog

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Pineapple too acidic maybe?

Could be, i hadn't even really thought about that. I have some baked ricotta in the oven now. Didn't put any pineapple on them. Maybe I'll leave that off and see how my sleeve handles it without the pineapple.