Life at 382 days post-op/Introduction (long)

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

My name is Monte. I am a 36 year old male and had LAP RNY w/gall

bladder removal on 1/30/02. My starting weight was 660 lbs.

This has been an amazing journey so far, a journey that started in

early September of 2001. At that point, I had really lost all hope of

winning my war with obesity. I was in constant pain, had no

endurance, and at times, just could not leave my house to face the

constant jibes and mockery I experienced when out in public. I was

literally planning my suicide. One night I was talking on the phone

to my best friend of 17 years, and something I said set off an alarm

in his head. He drove over to my house at 11 PM to confront me about

whether I was considering suicide or not. When I admitted I was, he

called 911. A police officer showed up and told me I had a

choice… I could go willingly to the hospital, or he would take me

in

by force. I went willingly, and during my intake at the hospital, my

intake nurse asked me if I had considered WLS. At the time, I really

didn't know much about it, having really only heard the horror

stories about the procedures of the 70's. She told me that there

had

been many advances in the field, and I really should look into it. In

fact, it was the hospital psychiatrist who referred me to

Commonwealth Surgeons. The info packet they sent to me included a

video that described the RNY and had several patients who described

the changes in their lives since their surgery. While watching that

tape, I began to see just the faintest glimmer of light at the end of

the tunnel. I had my initial consultation with Dr. Harrington in the

middle of Oct 01, and instantly felt that I would be safe in his

hands.

As for food, I did have a problem at about 4-5 months out where I

wasn't able to keep solid food down. At first, I thought it was

allergies (peak of the hay fever), and it didn't really bother me

because I really had no appetite anyway. It lasted about three weeks,

and then I went in for an endoscopy. The doctor found nothing wrong

and said it must be psychological. I doubted him at the time, but he

must have been right, because I haven't had a problem since then.

I've thrown up just twice since then.

I still (serious knocking on wood here lol) rarely get hungry. I make

sure I get in my protein (mostly from shakes), vitamins, and water,

and eat a little here and there to keep things rolling. Don't get me

wrong, occasionally I think about how nice it would be to really chow

down on a footlong sub from Jersey Mikes (that I could rarely finish

even when I was pre-op) or a bacon double cheeseburger with fries,

but when I weigh those with more weight loss (and the freedom it

entails), I can dismiss those thoughts pretty easily. Most of the

time, food is like an ex-girlfriend... when we see each other, I

remember the good times, but then I think about how destructive the

relationship was, and I look forward to going on about my business.

Perhaps that 3 weeks I mentioned above was just a messy divorce lol.

As a pre-op, I was living for the next meal or binge of sugar, but

now I can look forward to life.

These days, I rarely have trouble with food disagreeing with me. I

stay away from fried foods, other than a bite or two here and there,

as they tend to upset my pouch. I eat protein with a few bites of

veggies, and avoid the carbs (bread, pasta, rice, etc.). I have no

idea how much my pouch will hold, because I really don't push it to

see how many forkfuls I can fit in. I can pretty much eyeball how

much food I want for my meal, and either throw away or box the rest.

95% or more of what I drink, other than protein shakes (made with

water and powder only) is water. I have had 7-8 sips of diet soda in

the last year. As a pre-op, I would go to 7-11 in the morning, fill

up a Double Gulp (64 oz) with Dr. Pepper, sip on that all day, then

stop in for a refill on my way home (and usually had a 2 liter in the

fridge in case that wasn't enough).

As far as sugar, I tend to avoid it. I probably have a bite or two

about every two weeks (usually on a holiday, birthday, etc.). Before

surgery, I averaged over a half pound of chocolate a day, not to

mention doughnuts, other candy, and any other sweets I could get my

hands on. Nowadays, I enjoy walking out of 7-11 with a bottle of

water or a bag of beef jerky. I have no idea if I dump or not, and I

really don't want to know.

My biggest vice (and we're still talking about food here, right?) is

potato chips. But now a bag of chips lasts me 2-3 weeks instead of

one sitting. So I don't feel guilty when I have a few.

As a pre-op, I didn't stand up unless I had a plan for where I was

going to sit down again. Now, I can walk around Wal-Mart (always

wondered just what the fuss was about... now I know lol) without a

problem. I even have hope for romance and maybe even a family some

day, something I never really felt I deserved until now.

Anyway, that's the unabridged version of my journey so far. Thanks

for having me,

Monte in VA

LAP RNY 1/30/02

Dr. Harrington/ Commonwealth Surgeons

Pre-Surg. Wt. - 660

2/11/03 Wt. - 345 (-315)

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

My name is Monte. I am a 36 year old male and had LAP RNY w/gall

bladder removal on 1/30/02. My starting weight was 660 lbs.

This has been an amazing journey so far, a journey that started in

early September of 2001. At that point, I had really lost all hope of

winning my war with obesity. I was in constant pain, had no

endurance, and at times, just could not leave my house to face the

constant jibes and mockery I experienced when out in public. I was

literally planning my suicide. One night I was talking on the phone

to my best friend of 17 years, and something I said set off an alarm

in his head. He drove over to my house at 11 PM to confront me about

whether I was considering suicide or not. When I admitted I was, he

called 911. A police officer showed up and told me I had a

choice… I could go willingly to the hospital, or he would take me

in

by force. I went willingly, and during my intake at the hospital, my

intake nurse asked me if I had considered WLS. At the time, I really

didn't know much about it, having really only heard the horror

stories about the procedures of the 70's. She told me that there

had

been many advances in the field, and I really should look into it. In

fact, it was the hospital psychiatrist who referred me to

Commonwealth Surgeons. The info packet they sent to me included a

video that described the RNY and had several patients who described

the changes in their lives since their surgery. While watching that

tape, I began to see just the faintest glimmer of light at the end of

the tunnel. I had my initial consultation with Dr. Harrington in the

middle of Oct 01, and instantly felt that I would be safe in his

hands.

As for food, I did have a problem at about 4-5 months out where I

wasn't able to keep solid food down. At first, I thought it was

allergies (peak of the hay fever), and it didn't really bother me

because I really had no appetite anyway. It lasted about three weeks,

and then I went in for an endoscopy. The doctor found nothing wrong

and said it must be psychological. I doubted him at the time, but he

must have been right, because I haven't had a problem since then.

I've thrown up just twice since then.

I still (serious knocking on wood here lol) rarely get hungry. I make

sure I get in my protein (mostly from shakes), vitamins, and water,

and eat a little here and there to keep things rolling. Don't get me

wrong, occasionally I think about how nice it would be to really chow

down on a footlong sub from Jersey Mikes (that I could rarely finish

even when I was pre-op) or a bacon double cheeseburger with fries,

but when I weigh those with more weight loss (and the freedom it

entails), I can dismiss those thoughts pretty easily. Most of the

time, food is like an ex-girlfriend... when we see each other, I

remember the good times, but then I think about how destructive the

relationship was, and I look forward to going on about my business.

Perhaps that 3 weeks I mentioned above was just a messy divorce lol.

As a pre-op, I was living for the next meal or binge of sugar, but

now I can look forward to life.

These days, I rarely have trouble with food disagreeing with me. I

stay away from fried foods, other than a bite or two here and there,

as they tend to upset my pouch. I eat protein with a few bites of

veggies, and avoid the carbs (bread, pasta, rice, etc.). I have no

idea how much my pouch will hold, because I really don't push it to

see how many forkfuls I can fit in. I can pretty much eyeball how

much food I want for my meal, and either throw away or box the rest.

95% or more of what I drink, other than protein shakes (made with

water and powder only) is water. I have had 7-8 sips of diet soda in

the last year. As a pre-op, I would go to 7-11 in the morning, fill

up a Double Gulp (64 oz) with Dr. Pepper, sip on that all day, then

stop in for a refill on my way home (and usually had a 2 liter in the

fridge in case that wasn't enough).

As far as sugar, I tend to avoid it. I probably have a bite or two

about every two weeks (usually on a holiday, birthday, etc.). Before

surgery, I averaged over a half pound of chocolate a day, not to

mention doughnuts, other candy, and any other sweets I could get my

hands on. Nowadays, I enjoy walking out of 7-11 with a bottle of

water or a bag of beef jerky. I have no idea if I dump or not, and I

really don't want to know.

My biggest vice (and we're still talking about food here, right?) is

potato chips. But now a bag of chips lasts me 2-3 weeks instead of

one sitting. So I don't feel guilty when I have a few.

As a pre-op, I didn't stand up unless I had a plan for where I was

going to sit down again. Now, I can walk around Wal-Mart (always

wondered just what the fuss was about... now I know lol) without a

problem. I even have hope for romance and maybe even a family some

day, something I never really felt I deserved until now.

Anyway, that's the unabridged version of my journey so far. Thanks

for having me,

Monte in VA

LAP RNY 1/30/02

Dr. Harrington/ Commonwealth Surgeons

Pre-Surg. Wt. - 660

2/11/03 Wt. - 345 (-315)