Typical Story, I've always been big

[TexCntryBoy 34]

I've always been big - a jock. Played football and my weight never kept me from doing anything I wanted to do. At 55 I suddenly developed Type II diabetes and started taking insulin. That changed my whole life for the worse. Although the insulin kept my sugar under control I started gaining weight - a pound or two a month. Over 7 years that added up to 150 pounds. I developed diabetic ulcers on my calves which the doctors said were not caused by my sugar levels but by the Water I was retaining. My legs actually dripped Water on the floor. They proceeded to wrap my legs like a race horse and they are still that way 18 months later. Slightly painful but tremendously inconvenient - to shower, change wraps, etc. Anything longer than two days and they smell. The wound doctor said the only thing I could do was try to maintain status quo until I could lose weight - a lot of weight. The surgeon said he could do a laser surgery on my legs to improve vein flow but the odds of reoccurring was tremendous if I weighed over 300#s. I became a slave to my chair, developed trouble walking and then my breathing got harder. I realized I was going to die if I didn't do something. Going on diets allowed me to lose 30 - 40#s but I always gained it back plus more.

I finally decided I needed some sort of bariatric surgery. After much research I decided the sleeve was best for me. Then began a battle with insurance companies which included changing jobs so I could get coverage for the majority of the expenses. April 8th, 2015 I went in for my final pre-op consultation. I weighed 502, my lifetime maximum and had to stop and rest walking in from the parking lot. On April 10th I started the clear liquid diet. On April 24 I went in for surgery and was already down 43#s (mostly water I'm sure). One week after surgery I was down 50#s. Two weeks after surgery I'm down 66#s and feel much better. My legs are starting to dry up. My breathing is easier and I can get around a lot better. Its not the "easy pill" we all would like. I sure would like to eat a big, greasy burger about now but I can honestly say that by day 3 or 4 of the liquid diet most of the hunger was gone (except for the mental cravings).

Dr. Jayseeling from Dallas was my surgeon. I had a great experience so far. No real pain, no nausea, no reflux, no vomiting which I have been led to believe is rare. I'm a school teacher and I only missed 4 school days. I get out of school the end of May. I can't wait to see how I will look and feel by the time school starts again.Right now I am losing about 1 1/2#s per day. I know that will slow down. I know there will be stalls but 66#s in a month is way better than I hoped for.

Next major goal 399. Its been years since I was on the shady side of 400.

[MrsSugarbabe 727]

You are on the right track!!! Keep that positive outlook and keep doing what your surgeon and NUT tell you to do. This is for LIFE!!! Literally and figuratively

[wascott 395]

Congratulations on your progress so far. And thanks for sharing your story. I'm looking forward to being in the post-op phase. I'm currently doing well on my pre-op diet so that burger sure does sound good to me right now!

[Gladys62 64]

I am so happy for you. A GOOD surgeon is the key. I wasn't lucky there but my family doctor has sent me to local specialists who have me on the right track. My surgeon is ARROGANT AND APATHETIC! He is one of the few people I almost feel hate for. So a good surgeon is the key!!

I am MUCH better now thanks to an AMAZING local GI doc and can tell you that it gets better. I'm down from 248 to 190 (most of that was first two months which has my skin looking gross) but now that I can EAT I'm improving and my energy is way up.

Take care of yourself and stick to what your doctor says! Watch for "weird" things and ask on here. These folks on here have probably saved my life by telling me things my surgeon SHOULD have told me!! Like: vomiting foam means too much acid! My surgeon said "you're eating too fast". Someone on here told me acid and I immediately went to my family doc who got me to the GI who "fixed" me. I had severe "acid burns" by the time he got me but I'm up from 150-250 calories a day to 1,000-1,200 a day!!!

Sorry so long. Moral: a good doctor and this group makes a difference! You are going to be glad!!

[My3lovies 25]

Good job! Wishing you all the best! We are all here to support each other.

[phatfatgirl 100]

Great job and thank you for sharing your story!

[patcherac 0]

I felt the need to reply to your story because it sounds so much like what happened to my brother. He was always kind of big but after he lost his job he gained quite a bit of weight. Along with that came severe sleep apnea. He ended up with the same kind of symptoms you had. Severe Water retention, so bad he had blisters all over his legs too. He did have a stomach bypass and lost quite a bit of weight, but soon gained it all back. He ended up having to have a trachestomy so he could breathe when he was sleeping. He couldn't use a cpap machine because he is clostraphobic. That trachestomy saved his life, but now here it is almost ten years later and he still has it. Doctors said the only way he will ever get rid of the sleep apnea is to lose weight. He is on disability for years now, can't work, is hooked on pain pills and rarely leaves his home. He has so many aches and pains, and his heart is damaged from all of this. I just wanted to recommend that you be tested for sleep apnea, if you havent already. I'm sure your doctor knows what to do, but I just felt I should tell you this just in case it's something you have not looked into. I would hate for you to end up like my brother. Take care.

[TexCntryBoy 34]

Patcherac, the sleep apnea was one of the first symptoms/problems. I've been on a CPAP since 1993. Since the surgery I have been able to drop all meds but I'm still using my CPAP. Thanks for the insight and concern.

[Nursejlcox 29]

Hey there!!! Dr. Jay is doing my surgery in June...and I'm a school nurse. I'm so happy for you and look forward to hearing how ell you are doing! Maybe I'll run into you in his waiting room some day! Where do you teach school?

I've always been big - a jock. Played football and my weight never kept me from doing anything I wanted to do. At 55 I suddenly developed Type II diabetes and started taking insulin. That changed my whole life for the worse. Although the insulin kept my sugar under control I started gaining weight - a pound or two a month. Over 7 years that added up to 150 pounds. I developed diabetic ulcers on my calves which the doctors said were not caused by my sugar levels but by the Water I was retaining. My legs actually dripped Water on the floor. They proceeded to wrap my legs like a race horse and they are still that way 18 months later. Slightly painful but tremendously inconvenient - to shower, change wraps, etc. Anything longer than two days and they smell. The wound doctor said the only thing I could do was try to maintain status quo until I could lose weight - a lot of weight. The surgeon said he could do a laser surgery on my legs to improve vein flow but the odds of reoccurring was tremendous if I weighed over 300#s. I became a slave to my chair, developed trouble walking and then my breathing got harder. I realized I was going to die if I didn't do something. Going on diets allowed me to lose 30 - 40#s but I always gained it back plus more.

I finally decided I needed some sort of bariatric surgery. After much research I decided the sleeve was best for me. Then began a battle with insurance companies which included changing jobs so I could get coverage for the majority of the expenses. April 8th, 2015 I went in for my final pre-op consultation. I weighed 502, my lifetime maximum and had to stop and rest walking in from the parking lot. On April 10th I started the clear liquid diet. On April 24 I went in for surgery and was already down 43#s (mostly water I'm sure). One week after surgery I was down 50#s. Two weeks after surgery I'm down 66#s and feel much better. My legs are starting to dry up. My breathing is easier and I can get around a lot better. Its not the "easy pill" we all would like. I sure would like to eat a big, greasy burger about now but I can honestly say that by day 3 or 4 of the liquid diet most of the hunger was gone (except for the mental cravings).

Dr. Jayseeling from Dallas was my surgeon. I had a great experience so far. No real pain, no nausea, no reflux, no vomiting which I have been led to believe is rare. I'm a school teacher and I only missed 4 school days. I get out of school the end of May. I can't wait to see how I will look and feel by the time school starts again.Right now I am losing about 1 1/2#s per day. I know that will slow down. I know there will be stalls but 66#s in a month is way better than I hoped for.

Next major goal 399. Its been years since I was on the shady side of 400.

[TexCntryBoy 34]

Going back for my 3 week post op tomorrow I've lost 73#s. That's exciting enough but tomorrow I get to start eating soft foods. I teach at Hillsboro.

[Nursejlcox 29]

That's so amazing!!! I was afraid to go for it before school was out for summer but you did it! Way to go!

[Paulina Green 39]

I've always been big - a jock. Played football and my weight never kept me from doing anything I wanted to do. At 55 I suddenly developed Type II diabetes and started taking insulin. That changed my whole life for the worse. Although the insulin kept my sugar under control I started gaining weight - a pound or two a month. Over 7 years that added up to 150 pounds. I developed diabetic ulcers on my calves which the doctors said were not caused by my sugar levels but by the Water I was retaining. My legs actually dripped Water on the floor. They proceeded to wrap my legs like a race horse and they are still that way 18 months later. Slightly painful but tremendously inconvenient - to shower, change wraps, etc. Anything longer than two days and they smell. The wound doctor said the only thing I could do was try to maintain status quo until I could lose weight - a lot of weight. The surgeon said he could do a laser surgery on my legs to improve vein flow but the odds of reoccurring was tremendous if I weighed over 300#s. I became a slave to my chair, developed trouble walking and then my breathing got harder. I realized I was going to die if I didn't do something. Going on diets allowed me to lose 30 - 40#s but I always gained it back plus more.

I finally decided I needed some sort of bariatric surgery. After much research I decided the sleeve was best for me. Then began a battle with insurance companies which included changing jobs so I could get coverage for the majority of the expenses. April 8th, 2015 I went in for my final pre-op consultation. I weighed 502, my lifetime maximum and had to stop and rest walking in from the parking lot. On April 10th I started the clear liquid diet. On April 24 I went in for surgery and was already down 43#s (mostly water I'm sure). One week after surgery I was down 50#s. Two weeks after surgery I'm down 66#s and feel much better. My legs are starting to dry up. My breathing is easier and I can get around a lot better. Its not the "easy pill" we all would like. I sure would like to eat a big, greasy burger about now but I can honestly say that by day 3 or 4 of the liquid diet most of the hunger was gone (except for the mental cravings).

Dr. Jayseeling from Dallas was my surgeon. I had a great experience so far. No real pain, no nausea, no reflux, no vomiting which I have been led to believe is rare. I'm a school teacher and I only missed 4 school days. I get out of school the end of May. I can't wait to see how I will look and feel by the time school starts again.Right now I am losing about 1 1/2#s per day. I know that will slow down. I know there will be stalls but 66#s in a month is way better than I hoped for.

Next major goal 399. Its been years since I was on the shady side of 400.

That's great, the worse enemy you are going to have is your self, you decided to make a change in your life for good, Im sure you wanna be around for many many years and become a healthier person, just remember everything you've been through and stay focus on your goals....keep up the good work.

[RaginCajun 177]

Hey Tex -

So great to hear your story. Most of the folk here are of the female persuasion, but do know that there are a lot of guys out here with you.

I am 56, and at 385 lbs, required full knee replacements (already had back surgery). Use CPAP and have been on BP meds for ever.

Finally realized there was no way to do this on my own, especially with the knee/back limitations. As soon as I found out about the Sleeve, I had the surgery 6 weeks later (fast track).

My rate of loss is similar to yours, just had 1 month post-op and was on target at 20% of EBW gone (Excess Body Weight). BMI now in 40's (albeit top of 40s, but 40s none the less).

PS I used to live in Mesquite back in 70s (another life ago).

Cheers!

-RC-