DadTo2

Hey Little Bits! I hope that rocky start has come around to that smooth ride! I'm doing well, and the pounds seem to literally be melting off! I dropped 6 pounds since yesterday! I'm down 365 to 327.4 (with 25 of those pre op) so far and ready to lose more. I've lost at least one to two inches on all of my measurements and so far so good on that. The one thing I am though is bored! I am so ready to move on to full liquids from clear! Healing has been great. I haven't taken anything for pain since I came home from the hospital and I am moving around wonderfully. Keep us in the loop and I am looking forward to your next vlog entry! Eric

Wanted to give a shout out to those entering their new lives tomorrow! Good Luck, God Speed and have a safe, healthy, rapid and easy recovery! We'll be waiting for you on the Loser's Bench! June 25, 2012 Looking Ahead Ready Rudy Artichokes -- Dr. Lautz Brigham & Women’s in Boston Jubjub07 -- Dr. Aceves anais02 -- Dr. Garcia Skane10 -- Dr. Garcia Janedeaux3 Lose4good2012 -- Dr. Billy (may use spider surgical tool) aled carolinagirlz 136HereICome- Lawerance hospital in NY ChristianMomma7 CRichard1107 SMP1126 Eric

Going by what my surgeon told me in the one on one consultation, drinking a 12 ounce can of soda was the same as placing 48 ounces of carbonation into your stomach. If you continue to do this over a period of time the pouch will eventually begin to stretch out. This is from the website Hypertextbook.com (http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2000/SeemaMeraj.shtml) That is a lot of pressure in those 12 ounce cans. I don't claim to be a physicists, and I don't play one on TV, but when my surgeon, who has done thousands of these surgeries successfully talks, I tend to listen. And when I am told no carbonation, then I cut it out of my life and did so a month before I had my surgery. I don't want to take any chances!

Mina you're right on the money with the strips and the strength of them. Right now I am taking two at once. I may go to three later on. Almost all of the pain in my shoulders are gone, thank God! As far as work, I just have this need to try and keep my mind busy. I can sit here and watch TV mindlessly (and there are times I do that, like with the Texas Ranger on), but I am very creative and being a software engineer, I get to create really cool things. This way I stay active and don't get too bored. Speaking of work, yeah the flowers were great. I'm in touch with that other side of me to say that is really cool, and cute as well, but that is how the company I work for treats all of it's people. The one thing I didn't show in a picture was the two laptops I have open on my side of the bed (I'm in between our bed and the wall). I tend to be a geek when it comes to my electronics. Now what I am missing is the ability to ride my bike!!! I can't wait to get more miles under by belt. Eric

Here's what I would like to say. Yes it does get better, but in my opinion and experience, this is the hardest part for you. Once you have the surgery, you will not feel hungry and more than likely you'll have to force yourself in remembering to drink liquids! I know if it wasn't for my wife getting on to me about it (she was sleeved a little over a month ago) I probably would not realize I need to drink anything. I know seven days is a ways off to be on a liquid diet (with your surgery date of the 28th), but those things we want, those things we know we need comes with hard work and dedication. Your hard work and dedication with this diet will pay off for you in so many ways! Stick with it. I know you can do this! Eric

Hey all, Mina is right on the money saying this. Everyone's journey in this new life of healthy living at a healthy weight is a very individual journey. My wife has dropped almost 40 pounds so far and she's been sleeved a little over a month now. I'm not sure where I'll be in a month, but I know that whatever weight I drop is what was needed to drop. Again, take Mina's advice. Don't be discouraged at your weight loss by comparing it to other people's weight loss. Great job to all who have checked in so far! Keep it up! Eric

Trust me when I say that it's only natural to feel the way you're feeling. I just had my sleeve done this Tuesday (19th) and my main concern was my liver. I wondered if it would be small enough, healthy enough, etc...and it was. In the words of my surgeon to my wife it was disgustingly healthy! If you're following your pre-op diet plan then you should be fine. I would make sure to throw in some exercise as well. I dropped nearly 25 pounds before my surgery and it was a big help. If you are on MyFitnessPal.com, look up the members of this site that are on there. You'll find enough encouragement to make your head swim. Like I said, it's okay to be nervous, but if it's making you to the point of being sick, then find a way to your happy and peaceful place. For me that is prayer and meditation. For others it may be a walk in the woods. Whatever makes you peaceful, brings you peace, do it. You won't regret it. I look forward to hearing about your successful surgery! Eric

Everyone I have the second part of my post-op so far on my blog if anyone is interested. The synopsis is I am doing really well, but going a little stir crazy! Here's the link: Officially-On-Losers-Bench-part-2 I am glad to hear how everyone is doing. Please keep posting as each post by those who have been sleeved, will provide inspiration to those wanting to be sleeved in that they will know what to expect! Eric

Karen, Glad to hear you're doing well! To attach a pic to your post click on the more options button located in the lower right hand corner. This brings up a larger reply screen for you. In the lower left hand corner you'll see an Attach Files option with a Choose Files button. Click that. A box will open up that will allow you to choose a picture to upload to your post. Once it's uploaded, you'll see a small image of your picture and to the right of that you'll see the words Add to Post. Click on that and then you will see in your post code for your picture. You won't see the picture until you click on the Add Reply button on the top. Click on that button when you're done. Hope that helps. Eric

I couldn't have said it better on the drain. Mine was the same, while it was inside me I was fine with it, but the moment they started pulling it out...I can take a lot of pain, but the pulling it out had me in tears and shortness of breath. I litterally begged the nurse to stop for a moment so I could breath normally. I have never had that kind of hurt before, period.

Mina, Thanks for asking! I am at home doing pretty well. Liquids are not a problem, pain is not much of a problem, and I am resting well. Since I tend to be very wordy and like picture, I am blogging this on my blog, for anyone who is interested. The current post is part one (the surgery/recovery portion) of my transition over to the loser's bench. Part two will be how I am doing at home. Here is the address to go to: Officially-On-The-Losers-Bench-Part-1 Have a great evening! Eric

Glad to hear that Little Bits!

Morning everyone. Thought I'd check in. Surgery went very well. Dr. told my wife that my liver was disgustingly healthy, with no issues at all there. I slept almost the entire day on Tuesday after the surgery, with the necessary wake ups. The pain was and is manageable. My biggest problem was nausea. I took three shot of Morphine with each sending waves of nausea over me which necessitated shots of nausea medicine. After that I only had two doses of hydrocodine and haven't had anything else, including here at my house. My biggest issue so far is trying to sip drinks. I tend to gulp and guzzle liquids so that has been challenging for me. I think I may have it down now though. EDIT -- I wanted to edit this post to say one thing about the pain. The only time I felt pain that I could not manage was when the nurse was pulling out the drain tube. That is the only time I cried during this whole ordeal. I actually asked her to stop pulling so I could catch my breath. I felt I was to the point of almost hyperventilating. I could have lived without the drain. I also wanted to relate the other doctor who came in to check on my. I don't think he understood that I was a bariactric patient. I am glad that when he did check on me I was asleep. My wife told me he came in and started poking and prodding my stomach, apparently looking for obstructions. He had no idea I had the drain in until he saw it, and then asked my wife if I had been in for a hernia repair. She explained what had happened to me and he left. Yeah, I'm glad I was asleep on that one. END EDIT-- I've gained almost 10 pounds after the surgery, which is normal, and I know it will go away, but it's still slightly depressing. I'm walking well, and getting up and down out of the recliner in the bedroom really well. I think I have surprised my wife at how I'm doing so far. Now if I can just start getting more liquids in! Eric

Thinking of the sleevers getting the surgery done today and tomorrow! Good Luck, God speed, and here's to a happy, healthy, speedy recovery!

Well, I'm here and playing the waiting game. The hardest part so far is not having anything to drink. I'm sure that will change.

Almost there!

Thanks!

The best thing about failures is that you learn from them. Don't beat yourself up too much over this. Ask yourself what happened to cause this one time for you. Look at the trigger(s) that set it off if there are any. The best way to not let something happen is to learn from it and not repeat. I'm sure you'll be fine! Eric

I promise to. Besides, if I'm a bad boy and overdo it while in recovery, my wife will take away my toys!

Okay all, I have been told that I probably won't be up to using the laptop tomorrow, maybe the iPad, but then again, I have been told by my wife that the pain meds will be my best friend so I may not be able to post at all...hmmmm. So... For those of you up on Wednesday: June 20, 2012 Ready! Set! Brandy Riggen nmg4unj5 JRoybal jonamarie2012 Same thing as I said above. Get your rest, Get to that happy quiet place you like to be in and get ready for the ride of your new lives! Good luck, God speed! I wish you all a speedy, healthy, and quick recovery and look forward to hearing from all of you on here. Eric

Giselle, Mina, Thank you both. I appreciate it very much. Hey June 19th sleevers! Get some rest! Say your prayers, get to your happy place and get ready for that ride of your new life! Special shout out to Lehg and Littlebits! I look forward to hearing from you both.

Check in tomorrow morning at 6 AM. Eleven hours away. Yep. it's real.