Michael B.
Three Months Since Surgery
Jun 29, 2007
I don't really feel to stressed about the pace of weight loss. I have come to accept that as the nutritionist Patrick from our clinic says "I am a drop and stopper." I can take comfort in the knowledge that even though I seem to be hitting plateau after plateau the next big drop is always right around the corner. Doctors want to see an average weight loss of ten pounds per month for RNY patients and that is exactly what I have been doing since the initial big drop during the liquid stage.
Earlier this month I realized that our post-op patient manual stated that we were to transition off of the soft foods restictions at 10-12 weeks. I realized that my three month follow-up visit is actually 15 weeks after surgery so I called out nutritionist and pointed that out hoping he would give me the go ahead to transition now, rather than wait until the meeting with him at the three month appointment. He did, only adding that at this stage to remind myself and try to refocus on chewing very thoroughly and always meeting my protein portions first. The transition has been completely uneventful, the only struggle I have had is with some increased hunger between meals which seems to have improved since I reminded myself of the nutrionist's advice to focus on protein since one of it's benefits is that it keeps you feeling fuller longer.
On the complications front, I am still dealing with the hesitancy with urination, and over the last few days it has been very difficult to start urinating despite the urge that I need to. I have a cystoscopy (visual inspection with a tiny camera) of my urethra and bladder scheduled for July 18. The doctor gave me a prescription to take a valium beforehand and I am not too nervous about it - at this point I just want to get the stricture looked at so we can figure out how to take care of it.
This month I hope to continue losing and to work out even more. It has gotten a little hard lately since my pain specialist switched me back to a heavy long acting narcotic analgesic because the non-narcotic ones we had tried were ineffective at controlling my pain. I will see him again this week and talk to him about possibly switching to something else that doesn't leave me drowsy the entire day.
2 months out...
Jun 06, 2007
Well it is been 2 months now, actually ten weeks this Thursday to be exact. In the past month the weight loss has slowed down somewhat, but it seems to be pretty steady at 1-4 pounds per week, so I'm satisfied. I've lost 59 lbs. since I started exercising in January in preparation for the surgery. Another 2 pounds and I will be halfway home to my goal! There are days when I wish the weight would come off faster, but if I think about it; it really is coming off so fast.
I went back to Raleigh this past weekend and some neighbors that I hadn't seen since the surgery couldn't believe how much I have lost so far. It felt great for them to notice, because I have had trouble seeing it visually. Using Photoshop to compare a current picture of myself to the pre-op picture I took was a great exercise because this is the first time I have really been able to see the difference, and it is certainly motivating.
Healthwise, I am doing pretty well. Ralph (my pouch) has been tolerating everything I have offered him in the past month. I think he is pretty well healed up now. I have had a few episodes of mild to moderate dumping. Last night as a matter of fact was the worst one I have had yet: I drank a can of Ensure High Protein that I had left over from the hospital stay. I didn't bother to read the label because I figured if they gave it to me to drink in the hospital the day after the surgery it would be fine. Well, I dumped. I looked at the label and found there was 16 grams of sugar in it! I guess they figured it was OK because in the hospital at only one day out it would have taken me four hours to drink that 8 ounce can, yesterday I drank it fifteen minutes. I guess it was just too much sugar too quick....The problems I have had with my urinary tract are getting better. I saw the urologist this month again and he said it is a stricture caused by trauma when the catheter was placed. There is still some trace amounts of blood showing up in my urine which means it is still healing. It doesn't hurt anymore, just causes some occasional difficulty when urinating (hesitancy). So for now, we will wait another month, if after another month it still hasn't healed he will do a cytoscopy (insert a tiny camera) to assess the situation and we will go from there. I’m really hoping we don’t get that far. Just the thought of something being forced up there makes me queasy.
I have been exercising regularly, although I would like to be a little more consistent. I restarted weights this month and was horrified at how much strength I have lost. I'm now trying to increase my protein intake to below the minimum levels so that I don't lose anymore muscle mass.
I've been getting hungry again, and I have also seen an increase in my appetite. Both are somewhat alarming of course because I know that in the past I couldn't control them. I'm more motivated right now though, and on the few occasions that the appetite has gotten the better of me, the pouch did it's job and I felt stuffed before doing any real damage overeating. I don't want to have to rely on the pouch though. So I'm trying to pay attention to my hunger cues. I noticed myself eating until I feel stuffed rather than no longer hungry. My new thing now, which I was supposed to be doing all along, is pre-portioning my meals so that I don't overeat. This never worked for me before surgery because I still felt hungry, but that is no longer the case. Just a few bites and I'm no longer hungry, a few more and I'm feeling satisfied, that is where I need to stop. My mind wants more, and my pouch may take more, but I just need to stop there....Keeping up on all of the trials and triumphs of the men on the OH Men’s Board has been very helpful and I’m really thankful that the forum is available and that so many great guys take advantage of it…. that's it for now.
Plateau Busted
May 08, 2007
The scale has moved! I'm down six pounds since last thursday, I'm calling this plateau over...Heard from the urologist, no infection. He thinks it is a urethral stricture, if it doesn't take care of itself by next week when I have a follow-up appointment with him then he will have to "take a look at it" Ouch!! sounds painful, I hope it gets better before then, but I am not that optimistic it has been six weeks and I haven't had much improvement. Cleared to start weight-lifting starting today. Got my gym orientation last night, so I will hit it tonight.
Five Weeks Out
May 03, 2007
It's been two weeks since transitioning to soft foods. Haven't lost any weight since then...stuck at 258...This morning I got on the scale at 255.6 so maybe the plateu might be ending....Went to the urologist this week because of painful urination and blood in my urine since surgery. He thinks I have a scab in there somewhere most likely caused by the catheter. He said it was likely inflated while in the wrong position (possibly the baloon was inflated in my urethra or bladder) I knew something wasn't right when I had to use my morphine for the pain down there more than for the pain for the surgery. Anyway he checked me out thoroughly, (umm, way too thoroughly) and ruled out stones. Put me on ten days of Cipro XR antibiotic and pyrdium which turned my pee bright orange but helps with the discomfort. I'll see him again in two weeks and will hopefully be better then...I feel pretty good, I'm up to three miles on the treadmill now, can't hardly believe it
