vsgman
BMI = 59.7 Surgery Weight
Post op was really not as bad as I was anticipating. For me, day one, you're kinda out of it and the pain was bearable. As soon as you wake up they give you morphine, but I was found to be allergic and switched to a different medicine, but it did not do much for the pain. Most uncomfortable part was the gas pressure in the body; they use air to blow you up for the surgery, only way it escapes is by walking and passing gas. It seems all I did while in the hospital was walking around, to remove the gas and to prevent blood clots. Also I had trouble sleeping, since I just could not get comfortable. I asked for a sleep med the second night and it made all of the difference.
First day post-surgery nothing to drink/eat to in preparation for the leak check imaging. Once you pass and no leaks, then it were I believe 1 oz of water an hour. Third day 2 oz of protein shake for breakfast, lunch and dinner with lots of water. I left the hospital on day three.
Once I was home the first week with no food, and six oz of protein shakes total for a day was challenging, since I felt I was not getting enough food. But I stuck with it and after the first week, I settled down and was ok. I drank tons of water during this period which helped and the water I was told helped me loose about 40 lbs in the two weeks after surgery. I did not notice the restriction once I was able to go to soft foods, and was worried the size of my stomach was too big. After about six weeks I could feel the restriction, which was surprising to me. Not sure if it was the density of the food or my stomach was healing. Once I started using more dense protein I could feel full, but it’s a different kind of full. Doesn't feel the same and I do not get a satisfied comforting warm feeling like I used too. Now when I approach fullness its just time to stop eating. Dr. Bell recently explained to me that I should not eat until I feel full, since the sensation may stop and cause me to overeat. The restriction should not really be used to stop you from eating, which is why you are supposed to measure your food.
What I have learned over the last three months, is the surgery is a tool (which is what I had heard but did not believe) and for me it’s about 30% of the work and the 70% is in my head controlling my eating habits. I think it was the mental finality/commitment of the surgery that got my eating under control to date, but I really think I could sabotage the surgery by eating either grazing all day or eating breads, sugar, etc. Also, I was very scared to have surgery, and there was nothing I could do to get comfortable with it. They wheeled me in the OR and about an hour and half I woke up and it was finally all over. The great care I received at Yale help tremendously and Dr. Bell stopped by each day to check on me and ask questions – he was great and I wouldn't change anything.
Almost 4 months later:
Down over 100 lbs., and could not be happier. Still have some head hunger which is challenging at times, and I eat sugar free popsicles to cure my sweet tooth. One thing that would help me better is planning food for the day, since I travel a lot in my car for work. I usually stop at a diner and get an egg white omelet and eat about half with no bread/potatoes. Breakfast, 1/3 of a shake of ensure or 1/4-1/2 cup of egg whites. Dinner some type of protein and a small amount of veggies. Two popsicles for desert. I truly believe I need to eat close this way for the rest of my life. I believe if I go back to some of my old habits I am convinced I will gain the weight back. What I found is everyone has been very supportive, especially picking places to eat, and happy about my progress. Exercise is about 2 or 3 days a week, with 45 minutes on the treadmill and everyother time I add a half hour of moderate weight lifting. I am still surprised how many people tell me that they were concerned for me about my weight, but didn’t know how to say something without hurting me.
Best wishes,
VSGMAN
