rodw

My name is Rod.  I stumbled on BariatricPal while looking for information on what people are doing with running.  I have currently lost 107 pounds as of the time of this writing, about 6 months post-surgery.  
 
I had the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.  I was almost 350 pounds, I couldn't breathe, I could not walk without the assistance of ambulatory devices, I could barely climb the stairs and had to rest several times just going up the stairs to my apartment, I was starting to have hygiene issues, my joints hurt, I was depressed, and just generally miserable.  I had looked into the LapBand in 2009 but the program wasn't right for me.  
 
My bariatric physician is pleased but cautious with my progress.  He said I have been very aggressive with my weight loss and that typically people do not see my results until 12-18 months out.  The good thing is that I have steadily felt better everyday.  I'm finally at a point where I no longer hurt, I can breathe, I can move, I can run, I can see my toes (and other things), my mood is much better, and I don't feel like I have to eat all the time.  The bad parts are that I have a little trouble with exercise just because of the extra skin, the fact that I have a lot of extra skin, and it's hard to keep up with clothes, and then finding places to donate the old clothes.
 
I'm hoping to find an understanding community to learn from and maybe provide some insight to.  For those interested, I thought I would also share this information from my hospital discharge summary so that people who have not had surgery yet might know a little bit about what they can expect afterward:
 
 
Medications:
 
NO NSAIDS:  IBUPROFEN, ADVIL, MOTRIN, NAPROSYN, ALEVE, CELEBREX, etc. ONCE YOU ARE DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL - PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE FOR REFILLS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING MEDICATIONS   Activities Eating - Self Dressing - Self Bathing - May shower; No tub baths, hot tubs, swimming Cooking - Self Medication Administration - Self Cleaning/laundry - No lifting over 10 pounds Walking - Increase activity daily; No prolonged laying or sitting; Walk at least once an hour. Using stairs - Limit   Additional activity restrictions (lifting/driving/other): No driving while taking narcotic pain meds No driving if having abdominal / incisional pain No lifting over 10 pounds for 2 weeks    Diet Restrictions Gastric Bypass Pureed Protein / Protein Shakes - follow written instructions per dietician
  GOALS per day - 60 grams protein and 64 ounces fluids (2 quarts)
  3 - pureed baby meals a day - 2 to 6 tablespoons of food at each meal (1 to 3 medicine cups)
   eat slowly over 30 minutes
   do not drink for 30minutes before, during or for 30minutes after meal
  2 -3 Protein shakes a day - 60 grams of protein a day   VERY IMPORTANT Drink plenty 2 quarts of fluids a day - this includes protein shakes - SIP ALL DAY   Report the following WARNING SIGNS to your doctor: Abdominal pain and/or vomiting Fever over 101 Redness or drainage from incisions ANY new or worse symptoms     In an emergency - call 911     Dressing / Incision Care / Drain(s):   Keep incisions clean and dry. Continue your breathing exercises several times a day for 1 week     Educational material provided.