Day 14

Sorry for the delay in posting but Cheryl and I have been in Maine for the past few days. There is not a tremendous amount of new information to report. I have had some successes and some unsuccessful meals, but overall things are going well.

I knew that having the surgery just before the Holidays was going to lead to some challenges. And overall I don't think it was too bad. Sure there were some holiday treats that I feel like I've missed but nothing too depressing. The hardest part for me now is introducing my brain to my new stomach. For example, my brain doesn't really get that I can't eat anywhere near as much food as I used to eat. So when it comes time to prepare, (or order) a meal, I feel like I need to order like I used to: a main attraction and a side or two.

Tonight, for example, we met up with some friends at one of my favorite restaurants. There was actually a lot of things I could eat on the menu. I debated between the shrimp cocktail, a few different fish entrees, the chili, but I decided on the turkey tips. It came with two sides, so I opted for baked beans, and chili. The waitress said that she could add the chili but it wouldn't count as a side and that I had a choice of rice, potato or vegetable for my other side. I went with mashed potatoes, which aren't really on my food list right now. I realized after she walked away that this was enough food for 3 meals for me. I probably could have gone with a cup of chili and called it a day.

Anyway, I have leftovers to last me tomorrow and then some. The truth is I wanted to eat all that food...I see now that while this surgery is certainly helping me, there is much work to be done on my relationship with food.

I put in an illustration of the surgery since many people have been asking exactly what was done. Hope this helps.

Day 10 (268 lbs, minus approx 30)

Hello and Merry Christmas. Today is Christmas Eve and I had my followup with Dr. Hutter, my surgeon (pictured). He is pleased with how everything looks and says that all is well. I guess if you told me I'd be at this weight so soon I would have thought you were crazy but here I am . I told him that I wasn't even sure I had surgery because I feel so normal...he pointed out that I probably wouldn't be 30 lbs lighter if he had given me the sham surgery.
Touche Doc.

Dr. Hutter is a great surgeon and a nice guy and I am very fortunate that I picked him. They had asked me who I wanted to perform the surgery and I said that I had no opinion. They did not want to pick for me. So I asked which were the two surgeons who spoke at the orientation I went to...they told me Dr. Hutter was one of them. I figured at very least my wife would appreciate Dr. H's hunkiness in the waiting room.

Seriously, Thanks Dr. Hutter.

I am now also on to certain soft foods...like...Eggs, Lean Meats, Beans, Cheeses, Fish, etc. No Veggies, No grains, etc. If you followed the blog so far you know that I am very excited about this, but I have to tell you-after making my first meal, I got two bites down before my stomach said ENOUGH!!! Wow. So weird.

Well you are up to date! Merry Christmas everyone.

Day 8

Well it's Monday. I've been out of the operating room for exactly one week and 8 minutes. Things are getting closer to normal every day. Yesterday I cleared off our SUV of snow and Cheryl and I went to the mall for about 90 mins. I will say that at the end of the mall journey, I was definitely ready to be done...but that could of just been watching Cheryl try on 20 winter coats. ;)

I'm still highly annoyed at being on a liquid diet this long. It's even more frustrating since I have felt almost normal for a few days now. I would really like to get to the next phase ASAP so I can start experimenting with purees and more flavors.

I'm a little concerned about my appetite. It seems unfazed by all this. I am as hungry as ever.
I had heard countless testimonial pre-surgery about how after surgery you no longer crave things that you use to; but at this point I crave the same stuff. Is this because I have not had the chance to try those old friends (burgers, fries, etc...) to realize they are no longer what I want? Or is this a bad sign that maybe I'm one of those rare folks who doesn't get the whole benefit of gastric bypass?

I'm getting way ahead of myself...it's Day 8 and how can I judge anything so early. Especially considering the slop I have to nourish myself with at this point. I guess I wasn't expecting to be so like myself so quickly.

Day 5 (278 lbs, minus approx. 20)

Friday 12/20 . So I am realizing that it will be simpler to just label my days as Day x, or Day y, rather than "2nd full day home...." Day 5 assumes my surgery was day 1. At this point, you can also see I provided a weight read out. I'm not getting overly excited or wrapped up in that at this point. I'll probably do it once a week for now. It might not always go down and has more to do with fluid fluctuations at this early point than actual weight loss. It should also be pointed out that I have not lost 20 lbs in 5 days. I started losing weight about a month before surgery to make the surgery go a little easier. Still, I was at 291 a few days before surgery. Much of this weight loss can be simply attributed to the hospital experience of course.

So this day brought about some improvements and some challenges. My surgical pain is getting less noticeable, and I only used one dose of the Percocet-which was more out of boredom I think. So it's nice to be feeling better.

But this lack of pain has allowed some more familiar problems to appear. Hunger. I could really go for a frickin' burger! After 5 days of liquid diet (including the day before surgery) I am sick to my new little stomach with it. I know eating something solid at this point would probably cause damage and I would not do that to myself. But Wednesday (the day I see the surgeon and nutritionist for followup) is seeming very far off at this point. Tonight I started to go a little insane and I swear my whole mouth is covered in a nutri-sweet film. I don't know if I'll be able to down another artificially sweetened bite. Instant pudding, lite yogurt (blended), jell-o, CIB, etc...it all seems revolting at this point. I wonder if the US tried this as an interrogation technique...all sugar free liquid diet...I bet Geneva would not allow that to happen.

To be honest, I didn't really anticipate this being such an issue. I mean these are all things that I can eat nomally. I mean I drank so much Diet Coke in my life that I thought there was no way I had an abhorence to artificial sweetners.

So here is the question, do I call them to ask about this problem? I'm torn.
A. My 24/7 number to reach them was obviously for physical problems or questions like "I haven't gone #2 yet, should I worry?" (btw, no problem there)
B. I think I might just feel more desperate if they tell me to suck it up and wait till Wednesday.
C. On the other hand, I have 4 full days just like yesterday to get through w/out dehydrating, so it might be worth it to ask them for some suggestions. Afterall, I think my teeth are turning numb from the Aspartame.

I'm not even quite sure what I'll be allowed to eat on wednesday, but I am told it's puree'd versions of some regular food. I would pay $50 for a plate of Egg-Beaters at this point. But don't anyone worry, I'm not going to go against the instructions...this is too important. Even if I have to stick to Milk and Water (with my vitamins of course).

Talk soon.

Full day home

So this was an eventful full day home. I initially woke up at 4:00 a.m. I don't seem to be sleeping in long stretches of time. I was hoping this was just a hospital anomaly, but I still seem to be waking up often in my own bed. But this morning I decided to take advantage of this. Since I have no desire to really drink anything and I have approx. 60 ozs of liquid to sip down every day, I thought I'd get a jump on it.
I made myself a Carnation Instant Breakfast (herein known as CIB) and Billy and I cuddled on our chair to watch a movie. Brighton Beach Memoirs is a classic and I encourage everyone to put it on their list of movies to watch when sick. After two hours of Neil Simon humor Billy and I went back to Bed for another 2 hours or so before starting our day for reals. I'm attaching a picture cheryl took of Billy taking over my spot on the bed while i was gone...Billy and I know he was keeping it warm.

home from hospital

Well I am home now. I am in more pain than I hoped, but it's not terrible. Tomorrow I start Stage II diet (which is mostly liquid, jello, lite yogurt, etc.) My Dog seems thrilled to have me home and we have taken a nice long nap together. Mom is here for this week and I'll hopefully be able to fend for myself by the time she goes.
MGH's Nursing Staff at White Building 7th floor was so good to me. They are very talented and sweet people. My only complaint about MGH is their lack of ESPN--What's up with that?

pictured is some of the food i can have during "Stage II"

The Day Before

So things are in full swing now. I'm currently 2 doses in on a 6 dose laxative regiment. Gross. Today I am drinking Fruit 2'0, and water with the laxative, I've also had a couple cops of Chicken Broth. Thank you Campbells.

Cheryl, Mom, Dad, and I have to be up very early tomorrow for a 6 a.m. arrival at MGH. I am due for surgery at 7:45 or so. It will be a much longer day for my family than it will be for me.

I am still hoping that I will be awake to watch the Eagles on Monday Night Football from the hospital room tomorrow night...of course if the Eagles lose I have a morphine drip button to help with that...

Pre-surgery

So I am having gastric bypass on 12/15/2008. Today is the Saturday before.

After a long process of medical opinions and research I am completely ready mentally for this journey. I am excited to get going.

My parents have just crossed the MA border and will be here shortly. We will then have what will be my last solid meal for a little while. Starting tonight I am going on a clear diet and will do a bough clean-out with laxatives.

Monday is surgery day and there will be nothing to eat or drink that day. After surgery, on Tuesday, I'll take a swallow test with barium stuff and if all goes well...the water sipping will commence.

Gastric Diet liquids to start my first full day home. I should be back at the house on wednesday if all goes well. More to come.