HensleyDL

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Sorry that It's been so long since my last post.  Things are still going well, although my weight loss has "stalled".  Still I'm not complaining that much.  I'm enjoying being able to do things that I forgot how much I enjoyed doing.  I'm now "hiking" the stairs at my work.  I walk up 5 floors, then walk the 5th floor and then walk back down to the basement again.  I try to do this 2 times a day (Before, I was out of breath even walking up 1 floor!).  I'll try to post more often.  Even though I haven't lost as much weight as I'd like to by now, I still wouldn't change a thing about surgery.  Well, the journey continues...

Well, It's been about a month since I've last posted.  I have to say that I'm doing extremely well.  I've lost a total of 77lbs. so far!  It's funny to see some of the comments that were made to me about my weight loss.  A lady at church (in the choir) came up to me and asked if I'd been loosing weight (I thought everybody at church knew).  I said yes, and she said that she noticed it during church from the choir loft.  She said that she noticed my face.  I thought "MY FACE??? I'm trying to loose everywhere else, and you notice MY FACE???"  Sure enough, when I got home, I pulled out my drivers license and held it up to the mirror, and sure enough, my face was a lot thinner.  I'm just used to looking at my mug in the mirror everyday that I haven't even noticed. 
I get a lot of questions like "how do you feel?" and stuff like that.  I tell them that when you're carrying around 70 less pounds everywhere, you feel terriffic!  My latest FART (Wow for you ladies) is that I'm now able to wear size 48 pants   When I started this journey, I was wearing a size 56!  It's hard to imagine that I've come this far.  When I look at myself, I think "so-so", but then when it comes to clothes, it finally hits me as to how far I've come.  The journey continues...

Well, It's been about a month and a half since surgery.  Personally, I'm noticing a little difference.  However, I'm starting to get compliments from other people who don't see me that often.  The other night, we went to the movies and a parent of my youngest girl came up to us and said that she couldn't believe how much weight we'd lost.  She asked if we were on a diet.  We told her what we had done and she was greatly impressed (It's great to get a complement from out of the blue).  I think I'm going to half to go out and get me some suspenders.  I got a new pair of pants, and when I put them on and my belt (as I usually do), I found the belt just "drooping" there.  I had to take off the belt because it wasn't doing any good (I guess I'll have to add holes).  The weight is steadily comming off, I've lost 69lbs so far.

The journey continues...

Well, I went for my one month post-op visit with my surgeon and I had my first FART (that's a WOW for you ladies).  I weighed in at 365 on my final pre-op visit before surgery, I weighed in at 333 this morning  I had dropped 32 pounds in my first month since surgery.  Things are going fantastic!  One problem that I'm working on is that my head still thinks that it can eat a whole lot more than my new stomach can hold.  There has been many a time that I put more on my plate than I could possibly eat.  My exercise is going better and better.  Last night, I walked for 45min on the treadmill and did over 2 miles!  My energy levels have increased greatly.  I'm really looking forward to what the summer holds.  The journey continues...

Well, It's been a little over a week since surgery.  I'll have to admit that it's been a surprisingly easy week (no pain, etc.)  The only problem has been... you guessed it FOOD!!  While I'm not hungry, my mind keeps on trying to get me to revert to my old ways.  This was especially true during my first week when I was on clear liquids.  Every time I'd open the fridge, I'd see all of those foods that I enjoy.  I'd keep telling myself that I'm not going to mess it up.  One time I did try a little sugar free ice cream (my stomach told me that it didn't like it, so I know not to try it again for a while).  Now that I'm on puddings and stuff, I've started experimenting a little.  I've had mashed potatoes, refried beans (mushy), and chicken noodle soup with no problems.  I just make sure to chew very well and eat slowly.  Being able to eat some normal foods makes me feel a lot better.  By the way, I lost 18 lbs in my first week since surgery!!  The journey continues...

Well, I had my surgery Wednesday, and came home from the hospital Friday   However, I did have one "little" surprise.  I went in expecting to have an RNY done, and came out with a VSG .  While I'm not upset at the least, it was just kind of unexpected.  While I was on the table, the surgeon got in touch with my wife and told her that they couldn't complete the RNY because my small intestines would not reach my pouch.  He consulted her and she made the right decision.  The only problem was I had not anticipated this option and had not read up on this procedure.  I've heard that the VSG is somewhere between the Lap Band and the RNY.  I'm doing extremely well. My blood sugars are down (no shots for over 24 hrs) And no pain pills yet.  I'm anxious to see how my journey continues.  It was well worth it!!

Well, time's getting short and it's all starting to sink in.  I have been a lot more open in discussing it at church and with my co-workers.  It's funny but there's a lot of people out there who know people who have had WLS, and 99% say good things about it!  I guess that's one way that the good Lord is confirming my decision to go through with this.  You know the Good Lord doesn't always "slap you up the side of the head" when he wants you to do something.  It seems that with this, it's been the "still small voice" approach.  in the last 6 months, I have bumped into so many people that have had WLS experiences that I seem to think that it was the Lord nudging me towards the surgery.  I'm not 100% sure of the outcome, but I have a strange comfort about this.  That's not to say that I'm not nervous about it, anything this radical and "foreign" to what your are used to makes you feel jittery.  But still, I feel that everything's going to work out.  I'll try to post as soon as I can after surgery and let you know how it goes.

Well, it's been a long time since I've posted, but here's what's happened.  My wife had some issues that were discovered with her GI series.  Because of this, the doctors decided that it would be better for her to have a Lap Band instead of the RNY.  Because of this, her surgery date was changed to 05/07.  This also changed my date so that I'm taking her slot on 04/23.  That means less time to mentally prepare.  My wife had her IVC filter installed on Monday.  They had problems going in the vein on her leg, so they had to go through her neck .  I'm gettin mine in on Friday and hope that mine goes in easier.  Then it's surgery on next Wednesday .  I won't have much time to recover from the IVC filter to start worrying much about the surgery (at least it's happening fast).  I'm looking forward to joining the "loosers bench" and this is one time it'll feel good to be a "looser".

Well I have to tell you that WE HAVE A DATE  (that is, my wife got a date of 4/27/08)  She was hoping for a little sooner, but the Doc was going to be out of town.  ON THE OTHER HAND... I FINALLY GOT MY INSURANCE APPROVAL   It came through this morning and I should receive my date sometime next week.  We're trying to get our dates about 2 weeks apart.  I'll keep you posted...

Well, Things are progressing along nicely, My wife just got a call monday saying she would be approved, however the doctor's office submitted both my claim and my wife's at the same time with the same "dummy" date   Because of that, Insurance called and wanted to know if we had child care set up since both of us would be out at the same time.  We told them that we were planning on having our surgeries at least a couple of weeks apart.  Outside of that, we meet with the NUT tomorrow and attand our support group meeting next week.  That should complete all of our hoops except for insurance.  More later...