The last time I got up to Runyon Canyon, with much huffing and puffing. This photo tells it all. It's time to get rid of this extra weight !! 310 pounds, 42" waist.
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After over a year of research and talking to many people who have had the surgery, and now that I finally have Medicare, and a good supplement policy, I am having a Sleeve Gastrectomy. The reasons are best stated on the USC Keck Medicine website:
Obesity is a serious disease with symptoms that build slowly over an extended period of time. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) define morbid obesity as:
- Being 100 pounds or more above your ideal body weight
- Or, having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater
- Or, having a BMI of 35 or greater and one or more co-morbid condition
The disease of morbid obesity interferes with basic physical functions such as breathing or walking. Long-term implications of the disease include shorter life expectancy, serious health consequences in the form of weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and a lower quality of life with fewer economic and social opportunities.
I meet all of the above criteria. And my left knee is bone on bone on one side, so walking is both difficult and painful.
One of the major benefits of the surgery is that in most cases, the Type 2 diabetes goes away instantly.
For any of you who love to eat, we often quip that our stomach "has a mind of it's own." It turns out that is probably true. Apparently there are nerve endings in the stomach that regulate energy, blood sugar, appetite, etc. By removing most of the stomach, all of those things change.
Here is the website for the hospital: http://weightloss.keckmedicine.org
Here is information about the surgery and an animation about how it is performed:
http://www.surgery.usc.edu/uppergi-general/bariatric-glossary-sleevegastrectomy.html
This is NOT a "By-Pass" surgery. No tubes are cut and reconnected (as in traditional by-passes).
This surgery has fewer complications than Gall Bladder surgery.
My brother Gene is coming out to be with me for the event. I am looking forward to seeing him and having time together.
Please keep me in your prayers, good thoughts, etc.
Here are some photos of me in earlier years when my body weight was around 200 pounds. Ironically, due to low self esteem, I felt "fat and ugly" even when I wasn't.
Thinnest I ever have been (as an adult) 185 pounds. Note the very bony wrists, waist was 34"
Age 27
Around 200 pounds, 36" waist, age 31
Age 29, around 205 pounds, 36" waist.
Please celebrate with me as I begin this chapter of my journey and reclaim my health.
Thanks, Edward George Garren
Before, 42" pants, 300 #
2 months later, 38" pants, 260# My weight is stable here so far, will have to push to lose more.
September 2019
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September 2019 After some ups and downs, I decided to make a "push" to lose more weight. The surgery is postured as a "tool" and it is a very powerful tool that no amount of "willpower" can match. It remains one of the best gifts I have ever given myself and I recommend anyone who has serious weight issues consider having it.
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December 2019 UPDATE:I hit a plateau at 260# that would not budge, mostly because I would get "triggered" by food and it was difficult to resist cutting back to less than 2,000 calories a day, which is necessary for me to lose weight. I had a work up at the weight loss clinic at USC in Pasadena and the doctor suggested I try a relatively new medication, "Contrave" which is a combination of Naltrexone HCI and Bupropion HCI. Each is used to curb drug cravings for addicts. Food IS an addiction, and so far, the medication IS working. I've been able to cut my food intake significantly, and I've lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks. In my youth, I was around 200 pounds, so that is my new goal weight, which is in line with the weight charts.Losing the next 50 pounds should eliminate any need for blood pressure medicine, reduce or eliminate my chronic edema (swelling in my lower legs and feet), eliminate most of my joint pain, and increase my energy levels (even more). I take a LOT of vitamins to compensate for not eating much. "Gummy" adult vitamins are best, as they digest and absorb very easily. |
I was too exhausted to write much yesterday when I got home from the hospital.
ReplyDeleteSurgery went well, if not very well. I got to see my new stomach when they leak tested me yesterday. That included watching the liquid flow in from my esophagus and out into my small intestine. The flow is good, no obstructions.
I am sore in my stomach (no surprises) so movement that requires abdominal contractions (lifting legs to get out of bed) is painful, but not awful.
My G.I. has been waking up from surgery. This A.M I felt some “hunger” (very slight) and I can hear my intestines contracting (normally). I finally “broke wind” last night.
I’m just resting a lot as this was an ordeal.
The hospital was excellent, all of the staff very smart, talented and attentive. Dr. Sandhu led the team of surgeons (residents) who did the surgery. I met all of them too. Keck USC hospital is VERY good. It is now my hospital of choice for all my medical needs.
A new chapter begins, and it is good.
Ed
It's Tuesday May 5th, three weeks after my surgery. I had lost about 15 pounds before the surgery, and have lost another 15 since. I am down to 270, I am noticeably thinner, all over. My face is leaner, my neck is emerging, my pants are falling off, the swelling in my legs and feet is GONE, blood pressure has dropped, it's all so wonderful. And I have more energy and my joints don't hurt much anymore. I still have another 40 or more pounds to lose. I'm SO looking forward to living without all this extra weight.
ReplyDeleteSurgery update. Tomorrow is 4 weeks, seeing Dr. Sandhu for my first follow up. The scale continues to creep down, high 260's this morning. Yesterday, I went to Costco and bought smaller "briefs" (size 36-38) They fit perfectly. I've always had small hips (like my mother). I also got some size 38" jeans. To my surprise and delight, I got them on. They were snug, and my gut hangs over (it will be the last thing to go, LOL). But it means that my first weight loss has been in my butt and hips, which is why the size 42 jeans now slide off.
ReplyDeleteWeek four update.
ReplyDeleteI saw the surgeon yesterday, Kulmeet Sandhu, M.D. a young, very smart, very personable doctor. She is at Keck USC and Glendale Memorial (I think). We are all very pleased with my recovery. My incisions are healing nicely. She said the primary one will be "sore" up to six months because it was the largest and they had to insert the "tool" and remove the parts of the stomach they cut off through the (very small) opening.
Then I saw my regular doctor today, did basic vitals. My blood pressure was 116/62 so he told me to stop taking one blood pressure pill. My sugar was 81 (and I had a bowl of raisin bran 3 hours prior) so I'm off the Metformin. I have gone from 300 # to 266# as of today. The swelling in my legs & feet has been gone for three weeks and my veins are clearing up. I still have more weight to lose, but already the difference is noteworthy. He is very proud of me, and pleased with the outcome. My body temperature has dropped from a usual 98.6 to 97.1. This appears to be common. I am more sensitive to cold than I've ever been, and others have reported the same situation. The actual metabolic shift from removing 80% of my stomach has been very interesting.
And my left knee, which had been constant pain, is now pain free.
4 plus month update. My weight has stabilized (for now) at 260. I cary a lot of muscle, and have thick bones, so if I'm going to lose more, I'll have to really push, which I am trying to do, but it's hard. That's the "not so good" news."
ReplyDeleteEverything else is GREAT. My last A1C (long term blood sugar) was 5.5, which is not even pre-diabetes anymore. (6.0 is pre-diabetes, my last A1C was 7). My blood pressure is 115/65. Virtually all of my pain in my left knee is gone, as is my foot pain. My pants are now 38" waist.
In terms of health related issues, I have significantly eliminated the two issues that caused me most concern, the Type 2 diabetes and blood pressure. Since I am no longer taking medication for either, my "plumbing" is working much better, not like in my youth, but with a little Cialis or Viagra things work very well.
I've had NO complications. I am blessed with a body that heals very quickly, even more so now that my blood sugar is under control.
I can eat anything I want, just less. If I go out to eat, I bring home about half of the food for another meal the next day. Basically, the surgery prevents me from indulging in eating too much food, and that is the whole idea of having it.
I HIGHLY recommend this procedure. My quality of life is much better, and I expect my length of life will also improve because I made this decision. I would suggest a teaching hospital, mostly because at Keck USC there was a whole team of doctors, many eyes, and all of the major procedures were recorded, which means they were done "by the book." That is my principle advice on that issue.
I have Medicare and an AARP supplement (Plan L which is a mid range supplemental policy). After both paid off everyone, I was left with a bill of around $500.
I have no health prescriptions now. I threw away the blood pressure meds and the Metformin (diabetes) pills.
This is great news, Ed. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteYou look so much different (so much healthier) on your "After" photo.
Losing some more pounds will do you good, I am sure.
But the best news is is that the pain in your knees and feet have practically gone.
Love, Adri.