familyguy

Paul -- Thanks for checking in on me! Surgery was actually on Monday November 25th and went off without a hitch. Monday (day zero) was kind of a blur -- definitely felt some pain but morphine helped. Tuesday I felt OK enough to go home from hospital (still with a little pain). Wed was much better and by the evening I stopped taking the Narcotic meds. I was off Tylenol by Friday and completely out of pain. Back to work (office job) the following Monday with no problems. My energy level is really high and I'm already feeling better head to toe. Believe it or not, I sometimes forget that I had the surgery, except when it comes time for eating. Seriously, my capacity is low -- 3 - 4oz's of Protein shake and I'm stuffed as if I just had a big steak dinner. That's strange. I'm on 600 - 700 calories a day and never (not once since surgery) have felt hungry. I've been to and even hosted a party at my house. I drink Isopure (red flavor) on the rocks with a slice of lime and everyone thinks it's a vodka / cranberry. No one even notices. Oh and I'm down to 231 from a pre op of 250. Looking forward to getting off Protein shakes and onto regular food -- not hunger, just boredom. Paul -- good luck with your surgery!

I'm with you. Someone said to me "Whats the liklihood of you getting down to a healthy weight and staying there for the rest of your life on your owm". For me the answer was very low. So, the choice became "do i want to deal with this surgury or do i want to be obese and unhealthy the rest of my life? I chose the surgury. Im 12 days post op and honestly am in no pain with a ton of energy. You cant hardly eat anything, but thats sort of the idea. Good luck with your journy.

Gentlemen, I'm a 39 male weighing 250 with a BMI of 35. I've struggled with weight pretty much my whole life absent a few years from late high school through college. Over the last few years, the weight has become harder to deal with. I can't participate in all the activities I'd like to, my cholesterol is high, blood sugar is getting elevated, clothing is harder to find, etc. Past diets -- adkins, calorie count, etc. work until they don't. I've been approved for the surgery but am having some second thoughts -- is this too drastic? Will I become a social outcast for only eating two bites of food at lunches and dinners (I have a busy social life)? What about all the complications? Was wondering if any of you other guys had similar situations -- weight wasn't life threatening (but definitely and issue) and decided to go ahead with the surgery?

<p>You will totally get used to not eating much, and after about 6-9 months your sleeve will relax (ie swelling will go down) and you will be able to consume more. I'm 3+ years post-op and usually my meals consist of 3-4 oz of Protein and 1-2 ounces of other (veggie, whole grains, fruit, etc.) Congrats on your sleeve, sounds like you are feeling great!</p> Thanks for the support. I guess everyone goes through this and I'm glad to hear it's going to get more normal over time!

I was sleeved on Nov 25 putting me at 10 days out. Surgery was smooth. Definitely some pain in the hospital but meds helped a lot. Day 2 I was home. Day three I started walking on the treadmill and was off the narcotics. Day 5 I was off Tylenol because all pain was gone. Back to work day 7 with no problems. The only thing that reminds me that I had surgery is when it comes time to eat -- really the quantity I can consume before feeling very full is laughably small -- but that's the idea right? I started the pre opp diet at 258, day before surgery I was 246 and 10 days later I'm 232. No hunger whatsoever, but it's really strange not eating anything.

Congratulations! Just had Surgery on Monday so that makes me 4 days post opp. You and I had the same starting weight of 255. I don't have a lot of suggestions other than to just do what they say. Surgery for me was straightforward. First two days sucked -- felt like I swallowed a box of nails. By day three I was off heavy pain meds and down to tylenol. Today I woke up feeling well enough to walk 2 miles on the treadmill, which is shocking. Biggest surprise is having no hunger even after effectively not eating for a week. Pre surgery, I would have been clawing at the walls.

I'm in the same neighborhood as you guys. I'm 5'11'' and at my highest was 275. Even at that weight, I didn't consider myself that obese (until I looked at the charts). I'd walk, even play racquet sports and remained reasonably active. For me, what pushed me over was that fact that my weight kept creeping up year after year and, when I really thought about it, things were getting harder. Airline seats were shrinking, I was watching more tv rather than getting out and stuff that I used to do like skiing was plain off the table. It seemed like 39 was way too young to throw in the towel. I wanted to loose weight for good, not just go through another diet and gain cycle. So there you have it. I was sleeved YESTERDAY. I'm alive but in a little pain. Looking forward to getting through the next few days and onto the good stuff.

I'm 5'11 and weighed 258 when I started the pre-opp diet. When I graduated high school, I weighed 180 and when I graduated college, I weighed 200. For my goal weight, I'd like to be somewhere in between. BTW, I was sleeved yesterday!

Over the fence now -- I was sleeved yesterday. Doctor said it went well and that I was a relatively easy case. Definitely experienced some pain last night and today. Meds are helping. Trying to get Water and a little Protein shake in, but it's easier said than done. I'm looking forward to getting past the first few days...

We're in pretty similar situations. I weigh about 250 with a bmi of 35. I've been as high as 275 and when really focused on a diet for a few months can get down to 225. Loosing weight is a huge struggle for me and it's really depressing when it starts coming back on. I'm turning 40 next year and decided that I don't want to be doing the same routine for the next 20 years. Also, the weight is starting to be tougher to deal with as the years pass -- my blood pressure was creeping up, colesterol is now high and treated with meds, etc. I'm not going to lie, this surgery process doesn't seem easy, but neither is walking around everyday with a 75 pound weight tied to your back. My surgery date is this Monday, I'll let you know how it goes.

The-Russ, so glad your surgery went well. I'm really hoping for a smooth recovery. I'm similar to you in that I've always "worn my weight" pretty well and people would be genuinely surprised if I told them what I really weighed (260). But I'm turning 40 this year and it's really starting to catch up with me -- cholesterol is getting high, blood pressure is creeping up, etc. I've stopped doing stuff that I used to do like skiing or hiking because it's just too hard slamming my knees with 260 lbs. Lastly, I'm pretty much topped out of shopping at regular clothing stores -- my waist is 42 and a lot of places stop at 40 or even 38. So, even though I don't outwardly look like it need a weight intervention, I know that something needs to change and I don't want to waste another 10 years thinking about it.

I had my final pre op checking yesterday. I Met directly with the surgeon and drilled him with every question in the book. Liked all his answers. I'm "a go" for Nov 25 and am currently on the preop diet, which is basically hardcore Adkins until the day before which is clear liquids. Seems pretty easy.

I can completely relate -- I've always been the funny fat guy too. People love to have me go out eating and drinking with them. I'm sort of worried about losing who I am as well. But on the other hand, I figure I'll just be the same guy eating and drinking a lot less. And we both know, that behind the scenes, the cost of being the fat guy (especially as the years pass) is pretty high. My surgery's scheduled for the 25th and I go in for my final consent signing tomorrow....

When it comes to virtually all health issues, thinner is better. I'm sure your heart will be happier pumping blood through a body with a 100 pounds less mass. Good luck with the thyroid surgery and the a-fib treatment!

4theluvof -- Really liked what you wrote. This is way I'm thinking about the surgery -- it's sort of a preemptive strike on a lot of future health issues and will enable me to participate in a lot of activities that I can't today. While surgery is drastic, so is spending the rest of my life with 60 or 70 pounds of excess weight.

Guys, this perspective is super helpful. As I read your responses, it's sort of eye opening to me that my biggest concern is that people will think I'm eating too little. That's probably a topic for the shrink. My date's been set for November 25, so I'm just making sure I'm not crazy. Did you guys experience any complications post opp? Any negative / positive surprises so far?