Mike George
May 31st
May 31, 2008
Just a few days shy of 1 month post op and I am feeling good. I have lost 46 lbs so far and approx 3 inches off my waist. I have been eating regular foods for about two weeks now. Eggs with cheese, cotage cheese, potatos, macaroni, vegatables, lots of beans. Last nite I even has some Bar-b-q. Everything has gone down with no problem. Macaroni is difficult I have found if it is not really soft. I made homemade chili with beans only and that gives tones of protein. On Tuesday I go back to the doctor and should start eating fish and chicken and so forth. Time flies. Hard to believe it has beena month so far.
Two Weeks Post Op
May 20, 2008
322 this morning. Feeling good. Still a little tender but I would not say I'm in pain. Exercising daily and sleeping great.
Tomorrow I get some real food!
Tomorrow I get some real food!
Wednesday - May 14th
May 13, 2008
Feeling increasingly better. Down to 331 lbs. Nothing new. I am managing to get in 102 g of Protein daily and 60 - 80 oz of H2O with minimal effort. I get real food in a week. (all be it mushy real food)
Almost Forgot...
May 12, 2008
Do you ever feel like all you do is sip, sip, sip and walk, walk, walk? I do
3/12/08 - 6 days post op
May 12, 2008
Did you think I fell off the face of the earth? For some reason I just did not feel like sitting in front of the computer. Thanks to all for your words of encouragement.
Some random rambellings...
- I am down to 336 this morning...that's 23 lbs since I started the 2 week pre-op diet. Also might I mention I have not weighed 336 in about 5 years.
- Surgery went well. When I got to the hospital they got me all prepped and ready. I was a little on edge so they gave me some happy juice and that was great.
- I had an epidural prior to going in...never felt it thanks to the happy juice. I would not want to go through that surgery without the epi...what a life saver. With the exception of the time my epidural machine shut down for about 30 minutes...my pain never exceeded a 2 or 3 on a 10 scale. As for that 30 minutes...well...I might have said a few bad words.
- Nothing hurt like I though it would. The Catheter coming out was no big deal. The main line IV in the neck was no big deal (they stitched that one in). The Epidural coming out was no big deal either. All the things I thought would hurt didn't. I did not think about getting out of bed though. That was a little painful.
- My doctor does several xtra things in the surgery. He cuts the Vegas Nerve to prevent any Acid Reflux. He does a kidney biopsy. He adds an "O" ring on top of the new stomach with a cnetimeter opening to prevent you from ever swallowing too big a bite. He also takes out the Gall Bladder. It was a good thing because he said mine was super diseased. He saved me a surgery. Thanks Doc!
- They sent me home Late Thursday nite(3 days after surgery) with some Loritabs for pain. (they offered me Percocet first to go home and I lobbied for something stronger. Percocet is worthless to me)
- I really have not had trouble sleeping. I only take the pain medicine before bed to help me relax. 4 days post op I really did not need it.
- On Friday I realized I was NOW Lactose intolerant. Tough way to find out...4 days after they cut a 5 inch gash in your abdomen. That is the worst. So I switch to BOOST Diabetic which is Lactose free but the taste leaves something to be desired. What does it tast like you ask? Take an 8 oz cup...add one large piece of sidewalk chalk....water...Splenda...10 year old chocolate powder...some rubber off your tennis shoe...and baby diaper lining. Stir it up real well and then torture yourself for 1 hour with 100 sips of misery. Repeat 4X daily as each batch has only 16grams of protein and we all know we need at lease 60. The best alternative came from lovely neighbor Joe Green. He gave me this Whey Protein mixture you mix with Lactaid Skim Milk. Thin like water so it goes down easy. and packs 34 grams of protein in each 8 oz serving. So now instead of 4 I only need 2...AND I can get them down in about 30 minutes each. FOr extra kick I also add in 1 protein liquid (you can get them at the Vitamin Store). They are only 2.9oz and pack 25 proteins!
Enough for now...
Some random rambellings...
- I am down to 336 this morning...that's 23 lbs since I started the 2 week pre-op diet. Also might I mention I have not weighed 336 in about 5 years.
- Surgery went well. When I got to the hospital they got me all prepped and ready. I was a little on edge so they gave me some happy juice and that was great.
- I had an epidural prior to going in...never felt it thanks to the happy juice. I would not want to go through that surgery without the epi...what a life saver. With the exception of the time my epidural machine shut down for about 30 minutes...my pain never exceeded a 2 or 3 on a 10 scale. As for that 30 minutes...well...I might have said a few bad words.
- Nothing hurt like I though it would. The Catheter coming out was no big deal. The main line IV in the neck was no big deal (they stitched that one in). The Epidural coming out was no big deal either. All the things I thought would hurt didn't. I did not think about getting out of bed though. That was a little painful.
- My doctor does several xtra things in the surgery. He cuts the Vegas Nerve to prevent any Acid Reflux. He does a kidney biopsy. He adds an "O" ring on top of the new stomach with a cnetimeter opening to prevent you from ever swallowing too big a bite. He also takes out the Gall Bladder. It was a good thing because he said mine was super diseased. He saved me a surgery. Thanks Doc!
- They sent me home Late Thursday nite(3 days after surgery) with some Loritabs for pain. (they offered me Percocet first to go home and I lobbied for something stronger. Percocet is worthless to me)
- I really have not had trouble sleeping. I only take the pain medicine before bed to help me relax. 4 days post op I really did not need it.
- On Friday I realized I was NOW Lactose intolerant. Tough way to find out...4 days after they cut a 5 inch gash in your abdomen. That is the worst. So I switch to BOOST Diabetic which is Lactose free but the taste leaves something to be desired. What does it tast like you ask? Take an 8 oz cup...add one large piece of sidewalk chalk....water...Splenda...10 year old chocolate powder...some rubber off your tennis shoe...and baby diaper lining. Stir it up real well and then torture yourself for 1 hour with 100 sips of misery. Repeat 4X daily as each batch has only 16grams of protein and we all know we need at lease 60. The best alternative came from lovely neighbor Joe Green. He gave me this Whey Protein mixture you mix with Lactaid Skim Milk. Thin like water so it goes down easy. and packs 34 grams of protein in each 8 oz serving. So now instead of 4 I only need 2...AND I can get them down in about 30 minutes each. FOr extra kick I also add in 1 protein liquid (you can get them at the Vitamin Store). They are only 2.9oz and pack 25 proteins!
Enough for now...
5 Days Until The Big Day
May 01, 2008
I went to the doctor today and I am down 12 lbs on the liquid diet! Dr. Hutcher met with my wife and I and answered any question we could think of and then answered some we never would have thought of. He is very thourough. I am more comfortable now for Tuesday.
First Post
Apr 28, 2008
Hello All! Tomorrow I will be exactly one week away from surgery. I am scheduled for May 6, 2008 at 7:30am. My surgeon is Dr. Neil Hutcher at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, VA. I am having the open RNY...(I call it the Hutcher special)
I am one week into the liquid diet...not bad...first couple days were rough. I have settled in now! I go back to the doctor this Thursday for my final pre-op visit.
I am one week into the liquid diet...not bad...first couple days were rough. I have settled in now! I go back to the doctor this Thursday for my final pre-op visit.
