50 lbs Lost!

Surgery +5 Weeks

As of this morning, I have lost 50 lbs! It represents the 1/3 milestone to my goal of losing 150 lbs. 100 lbs to go!

Weigh-in (+5 Weeks)

Surgery +5 Weeks

Weight: 281.4 lbs (-4.3)
BMI: 38.1 (-0.6)
Fat: 43.1% (-1.2)
Neck: 20" (-0)
Bicep: 17" (-0)
Forearm: 13" (-0)
Chest: 53" (-0)
Waist: 52" (-1)
Hips: 43" (-0)
Thigh: 25" (-0)
Calf: 17" (-0)

Sinusitis

Surgery +4 Weeks

I have been suffering from a sinusitis flare-up for the last week-and-a-half. This is not uncommon for me and often includes my sinuses bleeding. In the past this has given me a sour stomach, but with my new small pouch it has made it difficult for me to tolerate eating and drinking.

The major problem has been hydration. Besides suffering from dehydration symptoms, I believe this has hampered my weight-loss. It is strange to be in a position where I am forcing myself to eat and drink.

I did find some sugar-free popsicles that have helped. They are approved by my doctor and easier to tolerate than flavored water.

My sinuses have finally been recovering and I hope to see better results next week.

Weigh-in (+4 Weeks)

Surgery +4 Weeks

Weight: 285.7 lbs (-3.4)
BMI: 38.7 (-0.5)
Fat: 44.3% (-2.4)
Neck: 20" (-0)
Bicep: 17" (-0)
Forearm: 13" (-0)
Chest: 53" (-1)
Waist: 53" (-1)
Hips: 43" (-1)
Thigh: 25" (-1)
Calf: 17" (-0)

The Surgery - Part Two

The next thing I remembered were small snapshots of the transpiring events. I saw a ceiling; you spend a lot of time looking at the ceiling in a hospital. Nurses were rushing past. I believe there were patients on both sides of me, but I never had the inclination to move my head enough to look. I was in a recovery room.

I remember having some discomfort in my abdomen and I must of made my pain known, because a nurse came and gave me some medication. I felt better and went back to sleep. Then someone's alarm went off! In addition to that, a nurse got into my face and told be to take a deep breath. I was breathing — why wouldn't they let me sleep. I took a few deep breaths and the alarm finally was turned off. It turns out that the alarm was an oxygen saturation warning. The pain medication had relaxed me enough that I wasn't taking in enough oxygen.

The cycle of medication, sleep, and alarm happened once more before an orderly was called to taxi me to my room. The elevator ride was embarrassing. I am sure you have heard of the challenge to face the rest of the riders instead of the doors. This felt like that, except that it didn't because it was completely worse. There were doctors, nurses, and orderly all the way around the gurney and I was the spectacle in the middle (in my mind).

I didn't make this realization until after my surgery, but I felt that I would wake up feeling like some kind of cyborg. What would happened when I sneezed? Would I still burp? How much would I feel that my insides had been re-piped; Roux en-Y Gastric Bypass. I actually felt normal; it was surprising.

After the orderly spun the gurney around, I was pushed into my room where my lovely wife was waiting for me. At this point I felt awake and coherent, however my wife has a photograph proving otherwise — don't ask; you can't see it.

Weigh-in (+19 Days)

Surgery +19 Days

Weight: 289.1 lbs (-8.2)
BMI: 39.2 (-1.1)
Fat: 46.7% (-0.2)
Neck: 20" (-0)
Bicep: 17" (-0)
Forearm: 13" (-0)
Chest: 54" (-0)
Waist: 54" (-0)
Hips: 44" (-0)
Thigh: 26" (-0)
Calf: 17" (-0)

Weigh-in (+13 Days)

Surgery +13 Days

Weight: 297.3 lbs (-13.4)
BMI: 40.3 (-1.8)
Fat: 46.9% (+1.6)
Neck: 20" (-0)
Bicep: 17" (+1)
Forearm: 13" (-0)
Chest: 54" (-2)
Waist: 54" (-2)
Hips: 44" (-0)
Thigh: 26" (-0)
Calf: 17" (-0.5)

Weigh-in (+5 Days)

Surgery +5 Days

Weight: 310.7 lbs (-5.9)
BMI: 42.1 (-0.8)
Fat: 45.3% (-2.3)
Neck: 20" (-1)
Bicep: 16" (-0)
Forearm: 13" (-0)
Chest: 56" (-0.5)
Waist: 56" (-0)
Hips: 44" (-1)
Thigh: 26" (-1)
Calf: 17.5" (-0.5)

The Surgery - Part One

Annette (my wife) and I were 5 minutes early for my check-in time of 7:45 AM at LDS Hospital this last Wednesday, April 25th. After signing a few forms and being "tagged," we were called back by a nurse a little after eight. She asked a number of questions including my name and birth date. I learned through "much" repetition that my name and birth date were being used as a security check at each step. I wasn't sure what to think when they asked whether I knew my name and birth date — this was before any anesthesia.

We were led to a prep room. Here I was given my hospital formal wear, shaved (not my face), had blood drawn, given my first of four heparin shots (sting!), and attached to an IV drip. Around 9:30 AM, I was escorted to a waiting gurney. I was wheeled down the hall until we reached a waiting room door, where Annette was asked — of all things — to wait.

I got a quick glimpse of the surgery board as I was rolled by; and yes, it did look just like the one on Scrubs. It appeared that I was the third surgery for Dr. Smith this morning. I point this out because I know I was the first to signup for surgery on this day. I was told at the same time that this didn't guarantee me the first open spot and that a number of "medical" factors would determine the order. Sesh! So much for that early bird.

My gurney was stopped below a yellow sign that designated the area as the operating room parking zone. I was left to my own thoughts for a short period. It was at this point that the immensity of the situation began to hit. I was going to be put to sleep, have my abdomen cut open, and my guts rearranged. And, just in case you were wondering, from a reclined position, you can't see the exit signs.

I do feel I was very blessed in the hospital. I felt the thoughts and prayers of my family and friends; and I knew I wasn't alone.

One blessing came in the form of one of the operating room nurses. During some of the wait time, she told me that she had the same surgery, by the same surgeon, just seven months earlier. Now I know that Dr. Smith had performed this surgery hundreds, if not thousands, of times. However, knowing that one of my nurses had just gone through what I was going through — it brought me some comfort.

All quiet quickly disappeared as I was interviewed by another nurse, the anesthesiologist, and the surgeon. A little after 10 AM, it was time to be moved into the surgery room. The anesthesiologist stopped the gurney in the surgery room doors to give me my first dose of medication.

I was moved from the gurney onto a very narrow operating table. The nurses secured my arms to my side in foam. I think I was also belted to the table. I was given another dose of medication. The surgery room had some five monitors around the table. It appeared that a number of them were for the laparoscopic cameras and others for displaying vitals. It was about this time that I thought I heard something about a third dose of medication.

* * *

Around 11:30 AM Annette was called into a consultation room. A few minutes later Dr. Smith joined her and let her know that the procedure went smoothly. They didn't need to remove my gallbladder, even though it is very common to do so. He mentioned that he wished every patient was built so well for this surgery — I am not exactly sure what this means, but it sounds good.

Weigh-in (-2 Days)

Surgery -2 Days

Weight: 316.6 lbs (-13.1)
BMI: 42.9 (-1.8)
Fat: 47.0% (+0.6)
Neck: 21" (-0.5)
Bicep: 16" (-0.5)
Forearm: 13" (-0.5)
Chest: 56.5" (-1.5)
Waist: 56" (-2)
Hips: 45" (-2)
Thigh: 27" (-0)
Calf: 18" (-1.0)

Radiology Orders

Surgery -8 Days

This morning started with an ultrasound of my gallbladder and an upper GI series. The results were normal, which means fewer possible complications during surgery.

Here are some pictures from my tests for my 9-year-old daughter; she loves medical images (her medical knowledge is a little scary sometimes).

gallbladder

esophagus

Weigh-in (-9 Days)

Surgery -9 Days

This seems like a good time for my first weigh-in with photos — not for the faint of heart!

Weight: 329.7 lbs
BMI: 44.7
Fat: 46.4%
Neck: 21.5"
Bicep: 16.5"
Forearm: 13.5"
Chest: 58"
Waist: 58"
Hips: 47"
Thigh: 27"
Calf: 19"