Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Ten Pounds Down
I've been on a medically supervised pre-op diet of 800 calories a day. DANG! Tough. However, I am down 10 lbs before surgery.
All pre-op appointments are complete and I am to be at the hospital at 9am Monday morning. Let's do this thing!
Wednesday, January 06, 2016
Pre-op #1
Today was my first pre-op visit. Several things took place. First was the nutrition class - lots of protein, limited carbs, limited fats. This difference for the go around is that everyone does a medically supervised very low-calorie diet. 800 calories a day...started today. It isn't all liquid. There are some options that allow you to chew, that's good.
Second, I had all of the fluid removed from my band. Large needle through the port underneath my sternum and all of the 10 oz or so removed. I've had issues with my banded pouch dilating, enlarging, and creating a stomach on top of my stomach. It is one of the reasons I am having it removed. I had to have the fluid removed so that if there is any dilation it could correct itself before the surgery - hopefully aiding in a successful revision to the sleeve.
Third, I had my labs drawn today. Five viles of blood sent off to be tested, centrifuged, coagulated, etc. (I don't really know what they do with it, I just know I had to have it done). I'm not as easy to stick as I used to be. Veins hide and roll...stubborn little things.
Tomorrow is a baby shower at work with all the pot-luck goodness associated with it. I will be strong, I will be strong, I will be strong.
Second, I had all of the fluid removed from my band. Large needle through the port underneath my sternum and all of the 10 oz or so removed. I've had issues with my banded pouch dilating, enlarging, and creating a stomach on top of my stomach. It is one of the reasons I am having it removed. I had to have the fluid removed so that if there is any dilation it could correct itself before the surgery - hopefully aiding in a successful revision to the sleeve.
Third, I had my labs drawn today. Five viles of blood sent off to be tested, centrifuged, coagulated, etc. (I don't really know what they do with it, I just know I had to have it done). I'm not as easy to stick as I used to be. Veins hide and roll...stubborn little things.
Tomorrow is a baby shower at work with all the pot-luck goodness associated with it. I will be strong, I will be strong, I will be strong.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Sleep Apnea
Before my first surgery I had severe sleep apnea. Those who use cpap have a love hate relationship with it. It is annoying, cumbersome, and awkward. It also provides quality sleep and basically saves your life regularly. I used it like I was supposed to.
As I lost weight the need for the cpap decreased. about two years after my first surgery I had another sleep study. You can imagine how overjoyed I was that my apnea had resolved and I didn't need the cpap any more.
Now the converse has happened. I gained weight and the home study indicated that I, once again, have severe sleep apnea. I stopped breathing 55 times in an hour and my oxygen saturation levels were dangerously low throughout the night. No wonder I am always tired, have trouble focusing, and lack motivation during the day...I am sleep deprived.
I got my new cpap machine yesterday. It has a lot more bells and whistles than the last one did. It auto adjusts the pressure I need and wirelessly sends my data to my doctor so that adjustments can be made as needed (and so that they can measure my compliance for insurance purposes).
I slept with it for the first time last night. It is going to take some getting used to for sure. I am usually a stomach sleeper...not possible with a cpap.
I'll hang in there. It is the right thing to do in preparation for surgery and for daily health.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Revision
It has been 9 years and 9 months since I had lap-band surgery. It was a life saving surgery. Yet somehow, I know how, I'm nearly back where I started. 5' 10", 305 lbs, BMI of 43, severe sleep apnea, way out of shape...generally a human slug. Within a few years after lap-band, I started making bad food choices. I figured out how to cheat my band and eat what I wanted. I've learned that I have a very destructive rebellious streak when it comes to food. It isn't healthy. I've also had some complications with my band. I've also learned that the band is simply a restrictive procedure that doesn't increase satiation or have any of the hormonal benefits of other bariatric procedures. You just don't feel full like you should, with the band. There is point when you know to stop eating, but the feeling of fullness is very different than without the band.
There is a lot of shame getting to the place where I am. Why would I regain health and then purposely eat it all away? It makes no sense and the shame is real.
So...I'm having a revision surgery on January 18, 2016 from the band to the gastric sleeve. I am 100% aware that this will not fix my emotional addiction to food. It will, however, get the problematic band out of me and offer a fresh start with a different procedure. The fresh start will involve: counseling, exercise, different choices, and an effort to forgive myself.
It's all complicated...emotionally complicated.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Back on Track
I haven't posted in a very long time. It has been a very crazy six months. I am very glad it is over.
In June of this past summer my Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He died on December 11, 2007. We were close. I miss him terribly. I fell off the wagon and gained 20 lbs. I've given myself a little grace am trying to to beat myself up too bad.
I had my 10th adjustment on this past Monday. I am tight as a tick; just the way I like it. I'm up and running again and hopefully the excess lbs will begin coming off soon.
Workin' it,
Marc
In June of this past summer my Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He died on December 11, 2007. We were close. I miss him terribly. I fell off the wagon and gained 20 lbs. I've given myself a little grace am trying to to beat myself up too bad.
I had my 10th adjustment on this past Monday. I am tight as a tick; just the way I like it. I'm up and running again and hopefully the excess lbs will begin coming off soon.
Workin' it,
Marc
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Gelato Tour of Italy
I have recently returned from a 10 day tour of Italy. I was fast and furious. We visited Verona, Venice, Pisa, Florence, Lucca, Montalcino, & Rome. I can best describe the trip as reading the table of contents of a REALLY good book. Hopefully I'll get to go back someday and visit more thoroughly.
I ate much of what I wanted throughout Italy. Especially the gelato. It is amazing. My favorite flavors are pistachio and tiara misu (?). Believe it or not though, I lost 2 lbs. in Italy. I'm sure it was the endless walking. I'll take it however I can get it.
Marc
I ate much of what I wanted throughout Italy. Especially the gelato. It is amazing. My favorite flavors are pistachio and tiara misu (?). Believe it or not though, I lost 2 lbs. in Italy. I'm sure it was the endless walking. I'll take it however I can get it.
Marc
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
One Great Year
Today is the one year anniversary of my lap-band surgery. It has been a great year. I cannot believe how quickly it has flown by. Let's get the basics out of the way. My highest weight was 371 lbs. My pre surgery weight was 351 lbs. The day of surgery was 341 lbs. Today I weight 232 lbs. For a total loss of, 150, 130, or 120 lbs. depending on where you start subtracting from. It depends on how much motivation I need as to which numbers I use.
On the whole the process has been amazing. I have had no physical complications at all. I have had seven adjustments in a year. I believe I have around 8.3 cc's in my 10 cc band. The first six months were really a breeze. I did what the doctor said and the weight literally melted off. After six months I began to test the waters a bit and the weight loss slowed down. Then the holidays hit and I jumped off the wagon, willingly I guess. I did not lose any weight from December through January. After that every lost pound has come off much more slowly and with more concentrated effort. I do not make good choices all of the time. I battle everyday with making good food choices. I crave ice cream and chocolate everyday. Too often, I give in. The band allows me to eat less and has helped my finally understand what fullness feels like physically, but it has done nothing to curb the cravings and feelings of hunger that exist in my head. I am making progress however, I find that after surgery and up until recently most every thought I had was about food, when and what I would eat next, did I eat too much, was it a good choice, etc. Now I find that it doesn't consume me quite as much. I can go a day and eat when necessary and just enjoy whatever it is that I am doing. I do find that I am sometimes sad about food. It used to be that eating was an activity that I enjoyed very much. I guess I just don't enjoy it as much now, there is a sense of loss associated with meals. I am often depressed that I can't eat the big meal. I know that sounds crazy, but it is real.
On the upside, I feel better than I have in years. I have much more energy. The commorbidities I had pre-surgery have almost all been resolved. What a blessing it is not to have to sleep with a c-pap machine. I can but clothes in most any store. I'm not the heaviest person in the room anymore. People don't look at me with the, "is he going to keel over and die?" look anymore. I exercise regularly and enjoy it. I don't loath yard work anymore. Over and over people have asked me it I would do it again, and in immediately I tell them, "in a heart beat". Having lap-band surgery is one of the best decision I have ever made for myself.
Now, I'm in the process of having a tattoo done to capture this journey I have been on. It is of a phoenix rising from the fire. I've had the outline and shading work done. The color goes on next week. I'll post pics when it is done.
Blessing to you all,
Marc
On the whole the process has been amazing. I have had no physical complications at all. I have had seven adjustments in a year. I believe I have around 8.3 cc's in my 10 cc band. The first six months were really a breeze. I did what the doctor said and the weight literally melted off. After six months I began to test the waters a bit and the weight loss slowed down. Then the holidays hit and I jumped off the wagon, willingly I guess. I did not lose any weight from December through January. After that every lost pound has come off much more slowly and with more concentrated effort. I do not make good choices all of the time. I battle everyday with making good food choices. I crave ice cream and chocolate everyday. Too often, I give in. The band allows me to eat less and has helped my finally understand what fullness feels like physically, but it has done nothing to curb the cravings and feelings of hunger that exist in my head. I am making progress however, I find that after surgery and up until recently most every thought I had was about food, when and what I would eat next, did I eat too much, was it a good choice, etc. Now I find that it doesn't consume me quite as much. I can go a day and eat when necessary and just enjoy whatever it is that I am doing. I do find that I am sometimes sad about food. It used to be that eating was an activity that I enjoyed very much. I guess I just don't enjoy it as much now, there is a sense of loss associated with meals. I am often depressed that I can't eat the big meal. I know that sounds crazy, but it is real.
On the upside, I feel better than I have in years. I have much more energy. The commorbidities I had pre-surgery have almost all been resolved. What a blessing it is not to have to sleep with a c-pap machine. I can but clothes in most any store. I'm not the heaviest person in the room anymore. People don't look at me with the, "is he going to keel over and die?" look anymore. I exercise regularly and enjoy it. I don't loath yard work anymore. Over and over people have asked me it I would do it again, and in immediately I tell them, "in a heart beat". Having lap-band surgery is one of the best decision I have ever made for myself.
Now, I'm in the process of having a tattoo done to capture this journey I have been on. It is of a phoenix rising from the fire. I've had the outline and shading work done. The color goes on next week. I'll post pics when it is done.
Blessing to you all,
Marc
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