azlorri
August 28th, 2007 Stomaphyx
I just heard about Stomaphyx and Dr Schlesinger. I had a RNY gastric bypass in Dec 2000 with Dr Juarez and it went great. I lost 115 pounds (just a 20 pounds short of my goal). I held that weight for 2 years before I got pregnant (which was the reason for the surgery in the first place). But, after 9 months of being told to eat more...I guess I got used to it since I've now gained 30 pounds in 3 years. :o)
I'm very interested in the Stomaphyx procedure and can't wait to learn more. I really hope that I'm a candidate for the procedure. I have an appointment tomorrow (Wednesday, August 29th) with Dr. Schlesinger.
August 30th, 2007
Well, I really like Dr. Schlesinger and his staff. Thanks to everyone for their ideas and opinions. I thought about it and decided that Stomaphyx is a good option for me. I scheduled for September 20th at 3:15pm with Dr Schlesinger. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well.
September 21st, 2007 - 1 day post-procedure
Well, everything went fine. It was generally uneventful (thankfully). I arrived at noon and did a bit of paperwork, briefly chatted with Dr Schlesinger (he is so nice) and Scott, the anesthesia nurse, then went into surgery. I was out about 90 minutes total. Woke up with some nausea and dry heaves but Danielle, the nurse, was ready with medication and it went away in less than 3 minutes. Other than that, I felt fine. But I was VERY tired. We got home at 4pm, and I fell asleep. Didn't wake up until about 5AM!!! But I'm fine now. Just a very very slight sore throat (I was expecting worse). I'm drinking water and that makes it feel much better!
I didn't get much of a briefing after the procedure with Dr Schlesinger (because I was still groggy and couldn't think of any questions)...but he did mention that my pouch was very large and he ended up putting in three rows of pleats instead of the typical two. So, hopefully, I will really notice the difference in the next few weeks. And when I see him on my followup, maybe I will be more ready with questions!
September 22nd, 2007 - 2 days post-procedure
I'm only 2 days out and I'm doing even better than I expected (and I'm an optimist so I wasn't expecting too much pain anyway). The only pain I've experienced at all is a large-ish gash all across my uvula. It's healing ok but it's tender. So far the only medication I've needed after the procedure is chewable children's tylenol. (And, with 6 tablets a dose...it's almost a meal!) I'm certainly not hungry....but I do wonder what to expect next.
To me the most pleasing part so far is after 4 days of liquids....I'm really not even particularly interested in food. And that's a BIG improvement. I'm more worried about the food this time over the RnY open surgery because back then I was single and living alone so just not having any extra food in the house was easy. Now with a husband and daughter, I find myself preparing meals anyway. And after swim practice we even made a trip to taco bell. Naturally I didn't eat anything....but my stomache didn't growl and insist that I was hungry either. I sure hope this keeps up because I'm determined to do everythng in my power not to push my new tiny tummy for a very long time!
September 27th, 2007 - 1 week post-procedure
It has been 1 week since my Stomaphyx procedure so I weighed myself. WAHOO, I'm down 7 pounds and under 200 again!!!! I can't really say that the Stomaphyx restriction made the difference....right now it's just the effects of a swollen stomache pouch from all the poking necessary to place the fasteners. But, no matter what, if I hadn't of had the procedure there is no way on Earth that I could have stuck to a liquid diet for 8 days. (And believe me, I've tried!!!)
I must admit that the first couple of days I was more bothered by head hunger than now. (Partially because I've settled into a comfortable routine now.) Naturally I haven't been full for more than a week....but I'm not REALLY hungry either. Just kinda neutral. I keep trying to remember how it was when I was on liquids after my original WLS in 2000. (Which I can't really remember)....but I think that it was easier because I'd had MAJOR surgery and I was still more uncomfortable all over so I wasn't even thinking about food. With my stomaphyx....I wasn't in any pain (except a minor sore throat) so I have no distractions from food! I figure this is just a good will power practice: I KNOW I can't eat anything but liquids. (On a normal diet, I would have given in a few times this past week, with this, I keep reminding myself that my body is still healing.)
Time will tell on the lasting benefits. But I'm delighted with the short term benefits!!!
Oh, and remember that nasty gash in the back of my throat? It's still ugly and healing but there's no pain whatsoever. I've decided that EVERYONE should get a gash with the procedure. I feel great so it's hard to remember that I REALLY need to stay on liquids. Then I look in the mirror at the healing gash and think "Gee, that must be what my stomache looks like on a larger scale. I'd better take it easy on food." What a great and unexpected visual reminder (that isn't bothersome in any way)!
October 4th, 2007 - 2 weeks post-procedure
I'm down another 2 pounds this week. Yay! Everything seems to be going great. I don't feel hungry...but I don't feel exactly full either. Just kinda neutral. I've been getting in about 900 - 1000 calories a day (2 bottles of Isopure Zero Carb Drink (for 80 grams protein) sipped through out the day. I have a slimfast for breakfast (I've always liked the taste), soup for lunch and dinner. Sometimes I have a sugar free pudding in the afternoon or pistachios as a snack (ok, ok, they aren't liquids...but Dr Schlesinger agreed that if there were well chewed they would be fine). It doesn't seem like much but it is keeping me not hungry. I've just started working out again. Just a bit of cardo....and it's still ok but I think I will need to increase my calories a bit because I was a little hungry yesterday about 2 hours after working out. I'd like to work up to about 1200 calories a day.
I'd LOVE to know if I will have any restriction or not.....but, for as long as I'm satisfied with this....I'm not going to change. Because I know once I start solids again I won't cut back this much!
October 13th, 2007
It's been more than 3 weeks since my Stomaphyx procedure but today I'm certain that it was the perfect choice for me. Until now I wasn't sure if it was a success or not. Today I'm convinced it was right for me. I'm more than a little envious of those who had this procedure and lost 20 pounds the first month. I did not. I've lost 9 pounds so far. In fact I lost 7 pounds the first week (probably due to surgery and liquid diets) and I lost 2 pounds the second week. Since that day, I've lost absolutely nothing. I can't even claim that I'm gaining muscle because my clothes don't fit me any differently. I'm in exactly the same size jeans (16). Since the day after the procedure, I've walked for at least one hour on the treadmill and I've been eating between 1000 and 1100 calories a day. (I'm trying very hard to build that up to 1200 - 1400 a day but I refuse to eat when I'm not hungry for fear of getting back into bad habits.) I've taken all my vitamins and ensured that I get a minimum of 100 grams of protein daily. Right now, I'm a poster child for a healthy diet!
So, why am I happy when the results to date aren't anywhere near what I wished for (or what it was like the first month after WLS)?!? The answer is simple. 3 years ago I noticed that I was starting to gain back some weight. (I was up 10 pounds from my lowest post-WLS weight.) I immediately started dieting and exercising. And, let's face it, most of us with weight issues are EXPERT dieters and know exactly what to do to lose weight. The diet was a success for about 7 pounds in just a couple of weeks. Then my weight loss stalled. After about 2 weeks of staying the same weight, I'd got frustrated and gave up watching my calories and cut back on the extra exercise. Within a few months I'd gained back the 7 pounds and 3 more. Then I'd try again. With pretty much the same results. It's VERY HARD TO FAITHFULLY diet day after day and not be rewarded on the scale. Besides I was cranky from hunger and it just seemed easier to give up. So, after 20 pounds more gained, I decided to try Stomaphyx (which was an expensive out-of-pocket cost for me).
I have a great little program for my PDA that tracks calories and exercise and will tell you the rate of weight loss expected based on my daily activities. The rate I'm going says that I will lose 2 pounds a week. And I believe it. But it will take a bit of time for my body to "catch up" from the initial 9 pounds lost before I start losing again. I've always understood this principle even if it's ANNOYING! So, based on this, I shouldn't even expect another pound lost for another two weeks (or later...and knowing me, then I will drop 4 or 5 for no apparent reason). In the end, it all works out.
Here's where the Stomaphyx comes in to play. I'm just at the point that ordinarily I would quit. But honestly, I'm not especially hungry and I'm satisfied with the 150-200 calories meals I eat throughout the day. (I've been adding some solid food now and I feel somewhat FULL again....which hasn't happened in a very long time.) For the first time in 3 years, I don't feel like quitting. I don't want to eat more so it's easy for me to keep at the plan that I know will eventually produce the results I want (and probably, on average at the 2 pounds a week that I'm striving for). I still have 48 pounds to lose....but I'm convinced now that I've seen Stomaphyx work for me....I will be able to reach my goal, with a lot of effort...but not really any suffering or major hunger.
October 18, 2007 - four weeks post-procedure
Well, honestly, nothing too exciting to report. The scale did FINALLY move and I'm down two pounds. Only two more days until the end of my first month.
October 20, 2007 - 1 month out
I've settled into a very do-able routine: I've been happy on 1100 to 1200 calories a day split up in a lot (6 or 7) mini meals of 150-200 calories (which is the point at which I just start to feel satisfied). I just trusted that this was a tool to help me be satisified with a reasonable number of calories and ANY sound diet would work. Me, I'm a calorie counter. I make sure that my 1100-1200 calories includes a minimum of 100 g of protein, 25 g of fiber and not more than about 20 g of fat. Other than that, I've been eating ANY I want. I have had a mini powdered donut (60 calories) one day, grilled chicken EVERY day and a lot of fat free pudding and some air popped popcorn. All of which keep me satisfied for 2 or 3 hours. (At which point, I just eat again!) I've also made sure to excerise enough (just light walking on the treadmill) to offset the extra calories to meet my goal of under 150 by March 1st. So far, I'm on track.
Here's the numbers for the first month (after this, I will only be reporting by the calendar month since it's easier):
I've lost 11 pounds this month.
I ate a total of 28508 calories (920 calories/day average).
I exercised 22 hours and 13 minutes (averaging 43 minutes a day) during which I burned an extra 6315 calories (204/day).
Included in the above exercise, I walked 33 miles on the treadmill in 10 hours and 10 minutes (average 3.25 mph).
BMR -60665 calories
Exercise - 6315 calories
Food +28508 calories
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-38472 additional calories burned (than I needed to survive)
divided by 3500 calories / pound
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Mathematically, I should have lost 10.99 pounds. I actually lost 11 pounds
I GUESS THE MATH WORKS!
October 28, 2007
I was recently asked my thoughts about gaining back weight after WLS and StomaphyX. I'll share my answer here.
It's very easy to gain weight back after WLS because, for the first year or two, it feels like the problem is solved WITHOUT any real change on our part. Then, after time, the magic wears off. For many of us we don't realize it until there are a lot of pounds extra (20 or 30). And, dieting is especially hard after feeling "naturally thin" for several years. I certainly didn't change my eating habits until recently. I realize now that I will have to watch every calorie for the rest of my life if I want to get thin and stay thin. Which, I do.
As for the StomaphyX procedure...Dr. Schlesinger is great. I honestly believe that he is sincere in his desire to help those of us who want to change. But, like most surgeons, I don't think he realizes yet exactly what the StomaphyX results are. I am totally pleased with the procedure (despite spending a lot of money for something that technically I could do without surgery). I believe that most of the surgeons currently doing StomaphyX still think that this procedure puts you back to the magic period right after WLS. Honestly, it doesn't. There's been a lot of discussion on this board about the "failure" of StomaphyX....and there will be lots more. Anyone going into StomaphyX thinking that they will be able to eat the way they did after the orginal WLS surgery is setting themselves up for failure. I partially blame the surgeons who don't really stress that this procedure only makes subtle changes and the rest is up to the individual. (But, it would be hard to sell the procedure if they truly gave enough warnings to really explain the situation.) :o) And, it's an excellent tool despite it's limitations and I would hate not to have had it available just because it won't produce long-term results unless the person truly uses it to make lifestyle changes. This was absolutely the right decision for me.
With the original WLS, I was physically UNABLE to eat after a certain point. After StomaphyX, I stop feeling hungry after a reasonable meal (150-200 calories) but there is NO PHYSICAL issue stopping me from eating. (Well, there MIGHT be at some point....but I'm not willing to eat enough to find out for sure.) Unlike after the original WLS surgery, I'm certain today that I could easily eat 4000 calories if I chose to. And I could easily gain weight. However, there is truly a bit of restriction and I'm not hungry as often as before so I'm making this work. It's been six weeks for me. I haven't been FULL in that time. (I like to eat until I'm feeling (probably uncomfortably) full.) Previously, as soon as the feeling of fullness diminished a bit, I assumed that I was hungry and wanted to eat again. So I always felt hungry. Even when I practiced my best dieting this past year, I didn't really stand a chance because I was hungry too often. Now, I wake up, drink some protein drink and eat about 100 calories and STOP EATING. Because of the StomaphyX, when I stop to think about it, I don't feel hungry after the meal (BUT I DON'T FEEL FULL EITHER AND COULD EASILY EAT MORE). I've then been noting the time and telling myself that I won't eat again for 90 minutes. While I do still think about food some....I realize that I still don't really feel hungry so I'm ok. After 90 minutes I think about whether I feel hungry or not. If I don't feel hungry, I wait another 30 minutes and decide again. If I'm hungry (even a bit) I eat another meal of 100-200 calories and start the 90 minutes over again. :o)
So I'm finally aware of my hunger level (which I should have been all my life but wasn't) and I'm using this to my best advantage. I think that I feel satisfied longer because my stomache is smaller and food doesn't empty out of my stomache as fast as I fill it! That being said....I'm really only losing weight because I AM DIETING AND EXERCISING right. I'm tracking everything and I'm working very hard to be aware so that I will be able to maintain this forever. These are probably the changes I should had made right after WLS....and I believe it's these changes that make the most successful WLS people keep the weight off. StomaphyX is giving me another chance to learn this stuff....but I'm certain that the window of oportunity is fairly small with the procedure so I'm working quickly to get control while I do feel the restriction. I know I will succeed this time and I believe you will too.....as long as you realize that StomaphyX is NOT a cure.....just a chance to take control with a bit of help.
Yes, I do worry that I won't be able to do this forever. And I know that it would be exceedingly easy for me to gain 10 pounds a year (every year) like I've done all my life, and a decade from now be back to 288 (my all time high) or higher. I keep reminding myself that it's my choice and all up to me. I like myself either way so it's really just down to what I want. I want to be in control of my eating. And I keeping reminding myself of it.
You CAN do this. It's not that hard. Mainly it's just about accepting that this is a FOREVER change and your main goal is to enjoy yourself as much as possible and not feel deprived. You will naturally figure out what works for you. It just takes time to find what is best for your lifestyle.
November 1, 2007 - 6 weeks post procedure
Here's the numbers for OCTOBER:
I lost 10 pounds this month.
I ate a total of 34309 calories (1107 calories/day average).
I exercised 30 hours and 42 minutes (averaging 59 minutes a day) during which I burned an extra 8580 calories (277/day).
Included in the above exercise, I walked 45.38 miles on the treadmill in 13 hours and 47 minutes (average 3.29 mph).
BMR - 60050 calories
Exercise - 8580 calories
Food +34309 calories
---------------------------------------
-34321 additional calories burned (than I needed to survive)
divided by 3500 calories / pound
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Mathematically, I should have lost 9.81 pounds. I actually lost 10 pounds
ISN'T MATH GREAT?!?
November 3, 2007
Well, I just had to share. I work up this morning OVERWEIGHT (down from OBESE). 188 is a fairly magically number for me....it marks a BMI of under 30, it's exactly 100 pounds from my pre-WLS (in 2000) and 20 pounds lost in the past 7 weeks.
WAHOO!!!
Next mini-goal 172 (my lowest post-surgery weight) then my ultimate goal of under 150 so I can proceed with plastic surgery. (I promised myself years ago that I personally wouldn't have plastic surgery until I go under 150....as an incentive. Well, I didn't get there the first time....but I expect to be under 150 by February!) Yippee!
November 22, 2007
Hmmm...it's been a very strange two weeks. Last week we went on a wonderful 5 day cruise and 2 days at Disneyland. I had a blast and managed to only gain two pounds. But I'm a bit concerned about the StomaphyX effects. Up until vacation, I stopped eating when I was just barely full (or not too hungry) and I kept telling myself that while I didn't notice any real restriction, I'm sure that I would if I ate a few bites more. Well, on vacation, I ate more than a few bites more. (I'm a bread fan and at several meals I had two or three dinner rolls along with my protein.) Never once did I feel like I physically couldn't eat more (which I always felt after the original RNY surgery years ago.) I was very frustrated but I decided to wait a few days before posting because I wasn't really sure what I thought of the whole deal. I was chatting with a great person who works with both Dr Schlesinger and the plastic surgeon that I intend to use next spring to tidy up the extra skin. She is planning a StomaphyX next month so naturally she was especially interested in my experience. When I told her of my frustration with the lack to restriction...she asked a very interesting question. She asked if I remained full longer than before the StomaphyX. And, after some thought I realize that I do. While I ate much larger meals than I planned on vacation....I really only ate 3 meals a day with almost no snacking. And I wasn't hungry the entire trip. So, I think that I still got a lot of benefit from the StomaphyX even if it isn't magic like the original honeymoon period after gastric bypass.
I was very concerned would I be able to get back on a fairly structured diet like I had followed the seven weeks before knowing that I COULD eat more. But, that first day I returned, Monday, I set my mind to following my diet to the "T". I still wasn't especially hungry and managed a respectable 1200 calories plus an hour in the gym. So, whether to credit StomaphyX or shear determination, I know that I'm going to make it to my weight goals. And I was rewarded yesterday and I'm down 3 pounds. Yippee.
I also set my dates and paid my deposits for plastic surgery. (At this point, that's my biggest motivating factor to continue weight loss.) I still want to lose a minimum of 35 pounds before March 31. I think I can do it.
So, on March 31, 2008 I'm scheduled with Dr. Gitt of North Valley Plastic Surgery for the first of probably 3 rounds of plastic surgery. This one will include a circumferential body lipectomy (lower body lift - LBL) with fleur de lis. [I might as well....my initial gastic bypass was "open" and I already have a scar running midline from my breast to my bellybutton.] This will also include a pubic plasty (mons lift) which was probably included in the LBL anyway....but I made certain that it was listed on the estimate (and, fortunately, at no additional cost). Dr Gitt will also do a hernia repair and liposuction on my thighs in preparation for medial thigh lift in June or July.
Then on April 28, 2008 I will go back for brachioplasty (arm lift) and mastopexy (breast lift) in preparation for implants at the same time as the thigh lift in June or July. It's a fairly aggressive schedule (at my request to work with my job schedule) but Dr Gitt thought that I was in fine health and could handle it. Of course, ANY complications from the initial surgery will delay the second one. I'm planing a total of seven weeks off for the first two surgeries then an additional 3 or 4 weeks for the thighs, any revisions and breast implants. I really like Dr. Gitt. He seems amazingly skilled in post-baratric plastic surgery. He is easy to work with and was totally willing to listen to my scheduling desires and work with them AFTER HE CONSIDERED THEM MEDICALLY SAFE. Which is a far bigger goal to me than fitting in my work schedule. Still, it's a plus to get everything to fall into place nicely.
So, I'm right on target and very pleased with the plan. I have a lot to do in the meantime....but I'm certain that it will all work out well.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks
Lorri
Recent Weight History (I'm 5' 6.5")
08/27/07 208.5 33.1 BMI
09/20/07 205.0 32.6 BMI Day of StomaphyX procedure
09/27/07 198.0 31.5 BMI 7 days out - 7 pounds lost!!!
10/04/07 196.0 31.2 BMI 2 weeks - 9 pounds lost!!!
10/11/07 196.0 31.2 BMI 3 weeks - still 9 pounds lost
10/18/07 194.0 30.8 BMI 4 weeks out - 11 pounds lost!
10/25/07 191.0 30.4 BMI 5 weeks out - 14 pounds lost!
11/01/07 189.0 30.0 BMI 6 weeks out - 16 pounds lost!
11/08/07 187.0 29.7 BMI 7 weeks out - 18 pounds lost!
11/22/07 184.0 29.3 BMI 9 weeks out - 21 pounds lost
