1 Week after Surgery

Well it was a week ago today......  Everything has been going well and as expected.  I think the worst part has been the gas pain.  Otherwise I've been pain free since day 3 after surgery.  I've been out to the store several times since Sunday and each trip gets better.  Although they still wear me out.  I've taken the dogs for a walk around my apartment complex several times and boy does that wear you out completely. 
I'm eating mostly Greek yogurt, Popsicles and protein pudding.  I have no cravings for food nor am I hungry.  I can only tolerate about a half cup of food at a time and it takes me about 1 hour to eat it.  If you eat it faster you get more stomach gas and that is very unpleasant.  The biggest challenge is getting enough water in to keep yourself hydrated. You need to sip the water you can't just take a big drink so it takes longer and you must be careful not to drink more than 1 cup an hour or your stomach will get upset.

Day 3 after Surgery...

It's been 3 days since my surgery.  Everyday gets a little better.  I have had to break down and start crushing my pain pills. They really hurt when I swallowed them whole.  This is because of the swelling and irritation of the esophagus.  During the surgery they also do a scope down the esophagus and there is a lot of manipulation and this irritates everything.  Anyway the crushed pills go down much easier.
I was very happy yesterday I was able to keep down a tablespoon of Greek yogurt.  The first non popsicle item I have had.  This morning I was able to get 15 grams of protein with my crushed pills.
The wonder slim products are great as you can make a 1/2 cup pudding or a 1 cup of liquid shake.  I made the pudding and was able to get it all in.  I make sure to take small bites and eat it over an hour.  There will no longer be the fast meal.  You have to eat slowly so as not to upset your stomach.  I had to buy baby spoons and forks to eat with so that I get little bits.  Those work really well.

It's all done..

Surgery went well.  I have the hardest part behind me.  My new baby stomach is very angry as it did not like being cut up.  I've been keeping down clear liquids only.  This will go on for a few more days.   Thursday after surgery and Friday morning saw a lot pain related to the gas they use to blow up your abdomen with.  By Friday after noon all of that seemed to be gone.  The pain is not to bad.  I get sharp little pains when ever I put something in my stomach water or whatever.
I have also learned not to drink from a straw as that increases the amount gas bubbles you get.
I'm going to be trying chicken broth at some point today and hopefully that will be okay.

14 hours to Surgery

I can't believe that I have made it this far.  Tomorrow is surgery day and I'm very excited.  I have to admit 6 months ago i never thought I would make it this far.  2 weeks ago when I started the pre-surgery diet I was sure I would be starving and have fallen off the diet.  But I realized on Monday that I wasn't really hungry and I found myself forgetting to have my shake.
I had to set my clock to remind me to have a shake every four hours during the day.
I cleaned out the house and refrig this weekend and got rid of everything I could no longer eat and I have stocked up on items for the first two weeks.  Sugar free Popsicles, chicken broth with extra protein, new whey liquid protein and of course protein shakes.
I have lost 24 pounds since I started the pre surgery diet so I know I'm ready for surgery.

7 days to go

Well, 7 days to go.  I had my pre-operative appointment yesterday so am already for the day of surgery.  I'm very sick of the protein shakes but have finally gotten my shipment of Wonderslim puddings.  The chocolate marshmallow is great with only 60 cal and 12 gram of protein. Whats nice is that the calories are low enough that I can 2 of them and get 24 grams of protein. Just as good has a protein shake.
I've lost 19 pounds with the pre-surgery diet and have dropped a clothing size already. Good thing I only have 4 more days of work to go.  I didn't want to have by new work clothes until after surgery.
The most frustrating thing this week has been dealing with my medical leave paper work and the company that manages our leaves.  It used to be so much easier when it was just handled by our HR department.  So hopefully I won't be faxing and filling out forms on the day of surgery.

10 days to go.

I have now been officially following the pre-surgery diet for 1 week.  I have lost 17lbs.  Yes I'm starving.  I would have traded both of my Dachshunds today for a chocolate bar and a large pizza.  Instead I had a protein shake with some sugar free chocolate syrup.  I'm still eating every 3 hours as I get weak and dizzy.  I started making my protein shakes with Greek yogurt and that adds an additional 12 grams of protein. That has helped a lot.
I have also started using my baby fork and spoon to eat with.  Boy just doing that slows you way down.  Only small bites fit on the fork and that helps you take longer to eat.  I have also stopped drinking any liquids 30min before, during and 30 min after my real food meal.  That helps me fill up on the protein more than I would if I was also drinking an 8oz glass of water.

12 days to go

So I've been doing this one lean/green meal day and protein shakes for the other two meals and snacks pre-surgery diet since Monday. On Monday my weight was 349lbs yesterday I was down to 338Ib.  11 pounds in 5 days wow.
The protein shakes last about 3 hours and then I start getting shaky and weak feeling especially if I've been really busy at work running around.  I started adding New Whey Liquid protein to my water to give me a little extra protein so I wouldn't have that sudden drop every three hours.  That has worked well.

I came up with this idea of freezing my soy milk for the shakes instead of using ice cubes.  However that did not work out as well as it should have.  I found these great ice cube trays at the dollar store, yes I know.  Anyway the milk froze very nicely but I'm having a lot of trouble getting them out of the trays as the trays are just breaking.  I'll be buying regular heavy duty trays when I go to the store next.  Good thing I'm only out a dollar.

15 days to go...

I was told today that my surgery date is being moved up by a day.  I'm very excited..  I started the pre-surgery diet this week.  I started a few days early so I would be used to it.  I'm glad I started replacing breakfast with a protein shake last week it has been a much easier transitioning to replacing lunch with a shake also.
I have to admit I would love an extra large pizza right now.  But I'll be having some protein jello instead.
The purpose of the high protein, calorie restricted diet  prior to surgery is to decrease the size of the liver, which can shorten operating time. It also helps to reduce the amount of fat in the upper abdomen. Since this area is the specific surgical site, the reduction of this fat is beneficial to the safety of the procedure. Adopting a healthy, reduced calorie diet plan prior to bariatric surgery gets you into the habit of eating less, eating healthy and making the essential dietary changes that will be required after your bariatric surgery, and for the rest of your life.

Because of the close proximity of the liver to the stomach, having the liver slightly smaller than normal aids the physician in performing the surgery without interference and lowers the risk of complications.

21 days to surgery....Photos

I'm starting the 21 day count down to surgery day.  Just seven days until I start the 2 week pre-operation diet. The pre-operation diet is very simple and consists of a protein shake for breakfast and lunch and lean meat (chicken or fish) and green vegetables for dinner.  For snacks you get to have more protein shakes.
I decided to make it easier on myself and started having a protein shake for breakfast every day this week.  I will start adding the lunch shake as well on Monday.  This will be easier on me then just starting the full on diet next week.
My biggest challenge will be the sugar.  I love sweets and deserts.  To help myself with this I have ordered a high protein sugar free pudding (wonder slim product).  I have tried several of the high protein products and have found a few that I really like.  My favorites so far are all the wonder slim products. 
21 days and counting;
Weight: 348lbs
Size 28W pants, 30/32W top, and size 10 shoes.
The thing I hate the most: having my picture taken.

My choice of Procedure: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

How Does The Gastric Sleeve Work?

The vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive form of weight loss surgery in which approximately 85% of the stomach is removed leaving a cylindrical or sleeve shaped stomach with a capacity ranging from about 60 to 150 cc, depending upon the surgeon performing the procedure. Unlike many other forms of bariatric surgery, the outlet valve and the nerves to the stomach remain intact and, while the stomach is drastically reduced in size, its function is preserved. Again, unlike other forms of surgery such as the Roux en Y gastric bypass, the sleeve gastrectomy is not reversible.

Because the new stomach continues to function normally there are far fewer restrictions on the foods which patients can consume after surgery, albeit that the quantity of food eaten will be considerably reduced. This is seen by many patients as being one of the great advantages of the sleeve gastrectomy, as is the fact that the removal of the majority of the stomach also results in the virtual elimination of hormones produced within the stomach which stimulate hunger.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of the gastric sleeve lies in the fact that it does not involve any bypass of the intestinal tract and patients do not therefore suffer the complications of intestinal bypass such as intestinal obstruction, anemia, osteoporosis, vitamin deficiency and protein deficiency. It also makes it a suitable form of surgery for patients who are already suffering from anemia, Crohn's disease and a variety of other conditions that would place them at high risk for surgery involving intestinal bypass.

Facts about the gastric sleeve or sleeve gastrectomy:

Alternative names: vertical sleeve gastrectomy, sleeve gastrectomy, greater curvature gastrectomy, parietal gastrectomy, gastric reduction and vertical gastroplasty.

Surgery for high BMI patients. For patients with a particularly high body mass index (typically 50+) many forms of weight loss surgery are either difficult to perform or present increased risk. As a result, a vertical sleeve gastrectomy (or increasingly a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy) is sometimes performed as the first of a two-part weight loss solution to provide an initial drop in weight which then makes other bariatric follow up possible at a reduced level of risk.

Surgery for low BMI patients. For obese patients with a relatively low body mass index the vertical sleeve gastrectomy can also prove a good choice, especially where existing conditions (such as anemia or Crohn's disease) prevent them from having other forms of bariatric surgery. In addition, patients may choose this form of surgery if they are concerned about the long-term affects of bypass surgery or object to having a 'foreign' body implanted into their body, as is the case with lap band surgery.

Who Should Consider Gastric Sleeve Surgery

• This kind of surgery is best for any person who is unable to have regular follow up visits that the gastric banding procedures need such as the Realize Band surgery and the Lap Band surgery.
• A person scared of the long-term effects of intestinal bypass such as: anemia, intestinal obstruction and protein deficiency.
• People who don’t want foreign objects in their stomach like you see with the Lap Band surgery.
• People who are unable to do conventional weight loss surgery because of a serious medical condition like anemia and Chrohn’s disease, or a person who has had a number of surgeries.
• People who are using anti-inflammatory medicines and most avoid the gastric bypass surgery. 
• Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery
  During sleeve gastrectomy, the surgeon will remove the larger, rounded part of the stomach.
  • The remaining stomach looks like a sleeve (or hose or tube) and holds about 15 percent as much food as the original stomach.
  • The surgeon will remove the larger, rounded part of the stomach from the body. (This is the only gastric surgery in which part of the  stomach is taken out of the body.)
  • Unlike gastric bypass, which changes stomach openings, sleeve gastrectomy leaves the openings intact.
  • It may be a safer and more effective option than gastric bypass for patients with very high BMI, those with medical problems like anemia, Crohn’s disease, osteoporosis, extensive prior surgeries and other complex medical conditions.
  Advantages of The Gastric Sleeve Procedure
  • Sleeve gastrectomy may be safer than gastric bypass for patients who have a number of health risks.
  • It lowers the risk of ulcers compared to gastric bypass.
  • The surgery cuts away the part of the stomach that produces grehlin, a stomach hormone that stimulates hunger.
  • Though the stomach is smaller, the openings are left intact, so digestion can go on as normal.
  • The body is free of foreign objects like the Lap Band®.
  Gastric Sleeve Surgery Risks
  • Anytime you have anesthesia or surgery, there is a risk of blood clots, other complications or death.
  • Do not smoke. Smoking would put you at high risk for infection, blood clots, slow healing and other life-threatening complications.
  • Complications can occur with the stapling, such as leaks or bleeding.
  • You may need malabsorptive surgery – intestinal bypass or duodenal switch – in addition to your sleeve gastrectomy in order to lose all the weight you need and want to lose.
  • The smaller portion of the stomach may stretch.
  • Foods that you eat now may cause discomfort, nausea or vomiting after your surgery.
  • Gastric surgery puts you at higher than normal risk of developing gallstones and gallbladder disease.
  • You will not lose weight or maintain your weight loss unless you eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. This is the reason they stress long-term follow-up with your doctor.