bigsteve2010

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Ok so its been 1 year since I went under the knife...My current weight is 235lbs and hovering...i eat almost anything, and have no problems whatsoever!  To date I have had no complications due to surgery...my labs are overdue but were good the last time I had them done. I feel spectacular and have no regrets whatsoever! Life is so much better, and im loving it! Since my highest weight I have lost 300lbs. Way, way more than I had expected, but Ill take it ....I'd like to lose maybe another 25lbs. but if I don't thats ok too. Im just happy to be me...I am able to enjoy the things that my weight had taken from me...I can't put to words the way I feel now...It's truly amazing. If I had it to do all over again, I would with no hesitation and no fear. If you are considering this type of proceedure and are severely overweight and unhappy with yourself, I would say go for it! You have so much to gain and so much you are missing out on...You only live once...might as well enjoy the ride!

Ok so I had a surgery date of July 15th 2011 well I chickened out the night before and bolted for home, and ya know even before I got home I had lots regrets ALREADY!!!....well that next monday I called Dr. Anthone and explained to him that I still wanted surgery and I made a big mistake, and how sorry I was. He said he understood and got me back on the schedule for friday July 22nd. which was very cool! ok so here it is July 28th I had my surgery on the 22nd which went perfectly (say Dr. A) And I'm sore a bit shaky and wondering if i will every feel normal again, but i will continue to push water/protein supplement thru my feeding tube as needed for life.....as far as eating in the last week i had a corner of a spoon of pudding (disgusting) and one of custard (also disgusting)...I am taking apple juice in very slow small quantities by mouth and applesauce stays down without too much effort...but I loathe puking and the farther I steer from that road the better! So whoever was wondering.....Yea I had the switch, and Yea I lived (sort of)...anyways just a lil update and thanks to all of those that supported me and gave me prayers and good vibes thru this thing...Im not leaving just gonna rest......blah

Ok been fighting to keep my weight in check after my panni surgery. Kinda a losing battle (i think so anyways) I swear im gaining but my friends say im not, so i guess ill just roll with it till surgery date gets closer.....O btw my DS surgery date is set for July 15th 2011...so I have some time....I am going to go on a crash diet a few weeks before surgery to get my weight  down as much as possible...I know someone is reading this thinking....why dont you diet now.....well its simple...if i diet now by the time my date is closer i will have fallen off the bandwagon hit my head on a rock , and will be comforting myself with food by then,and will end up gaining too much weight for surgery.....Dr. A wants me to lose 10 lbs. by my surgery date...so i just have to concentrate on maintaining my weight for now...well im done babbling

Ok been a bit since an update and I cant sleep so here goes.

          Had the panniculectomy done December 15th.....The estimates originally were 25-35lbs would be removed, but to my surprise, when I woke I found out they had removed 61lbs....that was a very nice surprise ....I was shocked.....so here it is Jan. 9th 2011...I'm hooked up to a wound-vac(the most annoying thing Ive ever had)....sore, and swollen....I have a huge suture line from hip to hip(which is intact and healing nicely), and 4 holes that were left open.....But no more belly!!!! It is totally gone, as are the infections and sweating and skin breakdown that went along with it.

           I guess the worst part now is the wound-vac, and the tightness I'm feeling....obviously still very swollen....wound-vac sucks because i have to have dressing changes 3X's per week-which include packing the wounds with foam(painful the first few times, but getting easier now)....As far as my hospital experience I have nothing but good things to say about the environment and staff at Methodist Hospital Omaha...they were very caring and attentive...they managed pain beautifully....room was clean....staff was very professional

          I only have 2 (real) negatives about the whole experience.

1. I started coming to still on the ventilator- terrifying experience.....usually they get you off it while you are still way out of it....so yea....I was in that place between awake and unconscious, and not being able to take a breath when I wanted to...the machine did it for me......I remember being restrained to the bed, having enough slack in the restraint to get a finger on the vent tube(if i turned my head slightly to the side) which i tried to remove, and subsequently couldn't breath AT ALL!! My arms flailed wildly....the next thing i remember is the tube quickly coming out and a nurse telling me to cough....that in itself was very uncomfortable.....so I coughed up a large amount of phlegm, and I could breath (thank God)...this was very very scary especially still shaking off the anesthesia.

2. My second bad experience (which is kinda part of the whole deal).....was when they prepped me for the wound-vac....First of all I gotta say....when I was in surgery they packed the areas left open with gauze.....then put a towel over that....then an abdominal binder over that...after 2 days they removed the binder and proceeded to remove the gauze ummm....OUCH!!!! But she took her time and stopped several times (I'm a baby when it comes to pain)....I couldn't believe it hurt so much even thru the pain meds they were giving me (but like I said-part of the process)....It hurt....it felt like the gauze had wrapped around my innards and dried sticking to them, and she was pulling my intestines out with the gauze.....so yea It goes in my negative folder filed under OUCH!

But all in all, I think I'd do it again. Where else can you lose 61lbs in a few hours (minus the after effects of course).

          So I spent 5 days in the hospital was wheeled out 50 some lbs lighter (swelling and fluid retention counting for some), hooked up to this retched wound-vac.....Yes I have issues with wound-vac's....they are a great device...if you can get past the smell....leaking problems....and frequent dressing changes

 The title says it all....im gettin filleted on Dec. 15th @1:30pm in Omaha......yeah im a little nervous, and yet very excited at the same time!!!.....all pre-op labs are done and look good......so on Dec. 14th I wash down with stinky soap, then again in the morning....@  midnite i go NPO (nothing by mouth) and try to sleep....then i begin a 5 hr. drive (ride...im not driving :P) to Omaha NE...not eating or drinking ANYTHING ....NOTHING!!! WTF....I have a general problem with the timing here....i mean really, this is kinda cruel to ask an overindulgent, food addicted, fat man to go all that time without ANYTHING!!....Grrr.  But if thats what they want, then they will get a starved, grumpy fat guy!

Ok....Had my first appointment, and Dr. A wants to do a panniculectomy first.....which Im ok with....it will be for the best and i will get instant gratification from it....Dr. A estimates my panni weighs about 40 lbs.....so hey thats 40 lbs. in a few hrs....That is faster than any Duodenal switch going...so yea Im kinda excited about that, plus I am utterly tired of kicking this huge belly around....so now to get into a doc and get all the pre-op tests done!!!!

Ok set me a new date for my initial consult with Dr. Antone...July 27th imma find out what he can do for me...to me whatever....ill keep everyone posted as to whats up...when that time comes around

Ok so I had to cancel my appointment (piss me off!)....damn truck broke down...such is life (i guess..Grrrr)...anyhow the lady was very nice and said there was no problem and for me to call and reschedule as soon as i get transportation worked out....

Ok so i finally got my first appointment with Dr. Antone in Omaha. It is scheduled for Tues. June 8th. I cant wait to officially start my WLS journey....At this point im having a lot of doubts and am apprehensive all mixed in with anxiety, I am kinda torn by this fear of the unknown and this feeling of "hurry up and get this done already" ....Fear of the unknown, thats kinda funny because its the "KNOWN" that im loathing and so badly wanting to change. I guess im at the point in my life to where i'd rather die on the table than live the rest of my days (however long that would be) like this. I have daydreams of being able to fit into the clothes i see on other people, and in the few places I dare grace with my presence...Is that weird? This is the beginning of a journey to normalcy....to blending in and not standing out unless I want to stand out.

 March 12th 2010

Ok called Dr. Antone in Omaha, Ne the other day (Thats Nebraska for all who didn't know...Im in Missouri for crying out loud) So I guess if i want the DS I get to take a 5 hour trek to Nebraska to get it...turns out there isn't a surgeon that performs the DS in the whole state or Missouri-or so i've found-
 
Well the nice lady on the phone (secretary?) scheduled a telephone conference with me for March 24th....From what I been told Dr. Antone does some of the process over the phone....which is cool cuz I would hate to have to go all the way there several times if it really isnt necessary.