About VSG

Sleeve Gastrectomy is a surgical weight loss tool in which the stomach is reduced to about 25% of its original size, by surgical removal of a large portion of the stomach, following the major curve. The open edges are then attached together (often with surgical staples, glue and possibly cauterization) to form a sleeve or tube with a banana shape. The procedure permanently reduces the size of the stomach and is performed laparoscopically and is not reversible.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/about_vertical_sleeve_gastrectomy.html

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Saturday, July 9, 2011

Weight Wise Module 2

I went to my 2nd module on Thursday night.  It's been a little busy and I haven't been able to blog about it until now but I am super excited!!

The module was about nutrtition and the guy teaching it was a nurse for the program.  He mentioned some really interesting stuff that I needed to ask him about when we finished for the evening.  I told him about my struggles with weight loss over the years and the most recent gain (after a 70 lb loss) that led me to my choice of the VSG surgery.  He was talking about a test that can measure your BMR.  A test they do that ACCURATELY measures it!  It takes an hour or so to do the test but at the end you will know how much your own body can burn in a day which can help greatly with weight loss.  He said they don't do this test for just anyone... you need to show a marked interest and compliance with journalling your food and such before they would do it. 

Anyway, I told him I had the surgery.  He asked where and when I told him he was impressed!  He said he had seen the images of the Jerusalem Clinic and even knew Dr Almanza's name!  He asked who my followup care was being provided by and I told him that I hadn't even told my PCP yet that I'd had the surgery and that I was hoping the Weight Wise program's dieticians etc would be able to be my followup care.  He told me that they are for pre-op care and would be unable to help me as a post-op.  For a moment I was bummed... and then he said... what you need is ME!  Wahoo!  He's agreed to be my post op nurse for my followup.  I told him about my focus, fatigue etc and he wants me to get my bloodwork done.  I already had an appt for this coming Tues to tell my PCP about my surgery and have her order my bloodwork.  He said he would even talk to my PCP about my surgery and help me out there.

Thursday night was a good night!! 

A wee bit o' nervousity

In a week and a half, I have to go out of town (on the road to northern BC) for 4 days.  I'm a little concerned as to how I'm going to get my meals in me and not be in pain, nauseous, or simply just not eating for a few days.  It's a work trip so I'm at a cross roads... no one in the group going knows I've had this surgery.  I'm not really sure how to handle it.

Of those that read my blog and travel with others that don't know... I'd really appreciate some coping skills here...

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Dehydration

Water is still a problem for me.  I'm trying but I've never been good at getting my water in... even pre-op.  Unless I could guzzle a bottle or 2, I didn't get in my water for the day.  Anytime I try to get my water in, I'm met with nausea so it makes me loathe to try.

Well its been my undoing the last few days.  I KNOW my water intake lately has been very poor, especially over the last few days.  Bad enough that I've managed to get myself a decent migraine and I've been in bed for 2 days laying in the dark.  No sound, no light... and no sleep either because of the pain.  I've been so bored.  Even the light from my cell phone to check on my facebook has been too much for me to handle.

I've increased my water intake alot today and its making a difference where even a percocet didn't help. 

My bad.  ok ok, I know.... I will try harder to get my water in!

Frustration

Sometimes I need to stay away from the bulletin boards.  It frustrates me to see when people are posting about pain or some complication they might have asking for what they should do to a bunch of people online instead of calling their doctor.

I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV.  Nor, does anyone else on these multitude of BB's out there!  I might piss some people off so I try to not respond to those threads because they get my blood up.  I'm not immune to questions of experiences of others going through the journey but come on, if you have PAIN -  CALL YOUR DOCTOR!!!! Don't wait for someone in a faceless land of the internetz determine your physical health!

argh. I think I need a time-out