BigDan

Hello everyone. My name is Daniel. I've been lurking around this site for months as a visitor. The information on the site helped me choose to have the "sleeve" instead of the lap band (the sleeve was just better for me). I wanted to officially join the site as a member now to let everyone know I had surgery on January 5, 2009. I couldn't have done it without you guys. You all are a wealth of knowledge and an inspiration when I need it. Since the surgery I have lost 60 pounds (initial weight-347) and am below 300 pounds for the first time since 1991 when I was 18 years old. I don't want to sound like I'm "tooting my own horn" but you all are a big part of my success. Thank you all. Daniel

Thank you all for your encouraging words. I appreciate all of your comments and questions. pf337-I didn't have a set presurgery diet. My doc just said try to eat low cal/fat free for a couple weeks leading up to the surgery. I had written guidelines and sample diets for each phase after surgery. As for now, the written material I have simply says to eat 3 ounces of lean meat/protein with a couple tablespoons of vegetables and a couple tablespoons of starch to be eaten in the order of meat/vegetable/starch until completed or full. I can't eat everything so starches are few and far between. My only problem is that at work it is tempting to "grab and go" just whatever I can, so fighting the urge to eat whatever junk that is lying around is a battle I still face every day. WasABubbleButt-No, I didn't have a spinal. It wasn't even offered. I wouldn't have taken it anyway. I was given a spinal for my knee surgery(rugby injury) and had difficulty urinating for about two weeks. I came out of recovery at about noon and was making laps on the floor at 1:30 pm. I would have been out of recovery sooner but the dilaudid kicked my butt! The nurse kept reminding me to breathe deep until my O2 sat stayed up on its own. I was discharged the next morning at 10 am. I'm thankful everything went as well as it did.

Oregondaisy, The surgery really was a breeze. The only problem I encountered was the gas pain. By morning they were gone. For two days I drank one ounce every 15 minutes from a medicine cup. I didn't feel like I needed anything else. I had a full sensation that never went away. I went to a hog roast on Saturday night after my surgery. I knew there would be food everywhere but I had to get out of the house. While everyone ate I sipped Gatorade, but I felt just as full and content as anyone else. I went back to work on day 9 (I'm a RN in the ER). I felt weak and it was tough. Each day was better that the day before. Pretty much no problems at all. Let me know and I will answer any other question you have. Good luck.