1 month after surgery

(Weight 262 lbs) It's been one month since my gastric bypass surgery and I'm feeling very good. I've lost 48 lbs since my first meeting at Tufts on Christmas Eve. I've gone from a 46 inch waistline to a loose 42. The hardest part is to just slow down. I eat my mini meals to fast, and have probably lifted to much weight at my job to fast. When I eat to fast my new stomach lets me know about it. I don't vomit, but feel like I have to. I get the cold sweats, my face gets flushed, and my wife gets nervous. After a little while it passes. Can you imagine taking 30 to 45 minutes to eat 1 cup of food, or 30 minutes to drink a slim fast. That's what I have to do, and I don't mind. I'd much rather be doing this and losing weight instead not having the surgery, loading up on junk food and gaining more weight. I've been walking 2 - 3 miles at a time at the gym or outside or I use the elliptical for 30 minutes at a time. A lot of people ask if I have any regrets. The short answer is no. I studied this procedure enough to know what I was in for, and I'm happy I did it. The long answer is yes. I'm sorry I couldn't keep my food addictions under control and let myself balloon up to 310 lbs again. But, that's all behind me now. The picture above was taken 4 days before my surgery. I can't wait to post a new one, but I'll wait for the 100 lb mark.

Please do not hesitate to ask any questions, and definitely don't hesitate to pass this blog on to anyone who may find comfort in knowing that there is hope. GT

My new menu

(275 lbs) Before my Gastric Bypass I normally ate 2000 to 3500 calories a day, probably more at times. Here is the diet that I have been on for the past week.

Stage 3 Meal plan

Meal Time Food

Fluids 7:00-7:30 8 oz water

Meal # 1 8:00-9:00 EAS Shake

Fluids 9:30-11:30 12 oz crystal light

Meal #2 12:00-1:00 1/2 cup cottage 8 oz Light Yogurt

Fluids 1:30-3:00 12 oz water

Meal #3 3:30-4:00 Sugar Free Jello

Fluids 4:3o-6:oo 20 oz Fruit20

Meal #4 6:30-7:3o Greek Yogurt 8 oz

Meal #5 9:00- 9:30 8 oz skim milk

Total: Calories: 470
Protein: 64 g
Fluids: 6o oz

Could you do it? I've done OK with it. I found on my first night home that I am very aware that my compulsive thinking / eating habits are still very much alive. I am so happy to be working hard on "Mindful Eating". I was so used to "Mindless Eating" like walking upstairs to the fridge anytime I wanted to. Can't do that anymore. My stomach is the size of a baby's. It takes me about 30 minutes to drink a slim-fast. Small sips, no gulps, I actually don't mind. I go for my first check-up tomorrow. My wounds are healing well. I will be going to Stage 4 food tomorrow. Soft and moist ground/pureed foods. All pureed in a blender. Got a bib? I also start taking chewable multivitamin and mineral supplements.

So would I suggest this to anyone? Not unless it was absolutely necessary to maintain your health. If you've been reading my prior posts you can probably tell that I had absolutely no will power, and found it impossible to get up off my butt and get to the gym. This is not the quick fix I thought it would be. My life as I know it is completely changed. I absolutely have to plan my menu for the day, and make time for exercise and "mindful eating" every day. So on we go. One day at a time! Good luck in your journey, I wish you well. I'll write again soon.

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 (295 lbs.) We got to the Tufts Medical Center surgery center at just about 6:00 AM. I was about 15th in line to check in. I got my stylish hospital gown and then waited for them to call me for my surgery time of 7:30 AM. It was like clockwork. At exactly 7:30 they called my name and walked Sarah and I towards the O.R.. Sarah could only go half way and she was told to wait in waiting room #6 where Dr. Kim would visit her after my procedure. They rolled me into the prep area where they get you IV'd up, sedated, and the anesthesiologist speaks to you. All of the other patients there were non-elective, whereas my surgery was elective. The non-elective candidates all went before me, and then there was an emergency surgery that held my team up for just a little while. The finally rolled me into the O.R., and I guess I had myself extremely relaxed because as I was looking around at all of the hi-tech equipment and Laparoscopic instruments I was given a face mask and then I was out like a lite. I don't even remember being asked to count backwards from one hundred. (WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS) If you look at the diagram above, the picture on the left shows my stomach before Gastric Bypass. Everything comes into your normal stomach, goes out through your large intestine, then your small intestine, through your bowels, and then off to the potty. The diagram on the right shows that Dr. Kim made a small 2 oz. pouch, attached my small intestine to it bypassing my large intestine, and taking a shortcut to the end of the digestive track. Simple wasn't it? I guess that part is for those of you who are considering GB. If you are just reading this just because you know me, sorry.

The next thing I remember was Sarah telling me it was time to wake up. (Apparently the nurses couldn't wake me up). I remember looking up and seeing her, but most of all I remember feeling OK. I was aware of the mild pain in my stomach, but that was being taken care of by that wonderful drip coming from the I.V. bottle. I was so happy to see Sarah, and although she wasn't able to stay for long we both knew the surgery was over, and I was on the road to recovery and a new life. Next: My New Menu.

The day before surgery

(299 lbs.) It's 2:38 AM and I'm in my home office trying to tie up some loose ends before my surgery tomorrow. I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't a little anxious. Even though I've done all the prep work and read all of the material, my mind is still racing with questions. I had my pre-surgical appointments last Friday morning. I am totally impressed with Tufts NMC. I met with the surgeons assistant, had some blood work done, got an EKG, a chest x-ray, and met with the anesthesiologist. They answered all my questions and told me what to expect when i go in tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM. Wow, I can't believe it's almost here. I had a geat lunch meeting w/ my DJ friends today at TGI Friday's. I've been calling it my "Full Portion Farewell Tour". I had a steak w/ mash potatoes. I did my Monday night "It's Trivia Time" show earlier tonight at The Piccadilly Pub in Foxboro. My mom, sister Wendy, Sarah and the kids came. It was a lot of fun. I've put together three weeks worth of trivia material for my replacements. I hope to be back on the job doing "lite duty" by March 2nd. Sarah will be coming with me to a few jobs till I can start lifting again. I've been telling everyone about my Gastric Bypass procedure. Everyone has been very supportive. I've always been very open about my weight loss and weight gain. The way I explain it now is "I'm just shrinking my gas tank". Later today I'm getting a haircut, putting my overnight bag together, taking a few "before pictures", and eating very lite. God I hope I sleep Tuesday night.

I've got a date with a surgeon

(14 days and counting) Life has been on hold for the last few months. Since fall of 2008 I have been planning everything around a date for my Gastric Bypass Surgery. I had three available holes in my DJ schedule that would give me enough time to recuperate and be ready for my next gig. The first available hole Jan 1 - Jan 31st passed. I had just begun the process with Tufts NE Medical Center. I had explained my availability to them and they were very accommodating, but I still had to finish the required process which I have explained in an earlier blog. My next hole was Feb 16 - Mar 6th, followed by Apr 6th - Apr 25th. As it got closer to my second hole I started to get frustrated. It had been more than a month since I met w/ my Surgeon and was approved for surgery and I was just waiting for the phone to ring w/ a date. I was on a mission this past Monday to get a date. I was going to call Tufts or even go in there if I had to. I made the phone call. I spoke to Tania, the surgeon's assistant. She was great. I got my date. Wednesday February 18th, 2009 at 7:30 AM. My original surgeon Dr. Shah will be on maternity leave so I requested the first available. It turned out to be Dr. Kim the surgeon who did my sisters GB. Tania called me on Tuesday afternoon to confirm. We set up appointments to meet Dr. Kim, and my anesthesiologist on the Friday before surgery. Once I hung up the phone it finally hit me. in two weeks I am having a Gastric Bypass. Wow!

My wife Sarah has been just amazing through the whole planning phase. We tend to take our marriage on as a series of projects. Although I know Sarah is very concerned about The GB, she knows that it will have many health benefits in the long run. Because Sarah works at a school she will be on February school vacation. She also arranged to take the following Monday and Tuesday off to take care of "The Old Man". My mother and sister live right across the street if I need some company after Sarah goes back to work. I really appreciate the family support circle. It's important. Next on my agenda, before pictures. I also need to finish gathering all of my "new food" for my post GB diet, and set up a comfortable recovery camp in the house. I'll keep you posted.

The Waiting

(Weight in picture from 1985, 180 lbs. Weight today, 294 lbs.) I had my last required group meeting at The OCC at Tufts N.E. Medical Center. I also had my second of two required meetings with my Nutritionist Meghan Ariagno, RD, LDN. I was also hoping to get a surgery date yesterday, but did not. (Ho-hum.) I know the surgery will happen in the not to distant future but (I hear a song coming) the waiting is the hardest part. After checking with the OCC office manager Lorraine (I hope that's her name. God she is so funny, and a big Mike Lowell fan) I met with my Nutritionist. Meghan weighed me. I was happy to see that I had lost 15 pounds since the program began five weeks ago. (I have been following the basic South Beach diet.) The required weight loss of 5 - 10 % of your body weight isn't only to show them that you are a dedicated member of the program, but also to lose the fat around your liver and make it easier for the surgeons to operate laparoscopically rather than making a large incision. Meghan and I then discussed my post surgery diet starting from the day of my surgery. Stage 1 - My diet will consist of 1 oz. or water per hour. Stage 2- Clear liquids. 3 oz. of sugar free gelatin and or bouillon consumed 3 times per day, with sips of water or flat diet ginger ale between meals. Stage 3 - 5 meals per day. About 600 calories, 70 grams of protein, and 64+ oz. of fluids. This is the diet I will be discharged from the hospital with. 64+ Oz. of fluids. 60 to 70 grams of liquid protein, skim milk, light yogurts, cottage cheese, egg beaters, and low-fat cream soups. Go back and take a look at the 2nd entry of my blog. Quite a difference compared to the diet I had been following. If you are reading this blog to decide if Gastric Bypass is for you please remember that the diet is just one part of the program. Changing my relationship with food is the outcome that I am aiming for. GB is not a magic bullet, it's one of many tools that I will be using for the rest of my life. At this moment I am very focused. I have begun to give up MINDLESS eating and am beginning MINDFUL eating. I have gone form bags and boxes to single servings. I am going from un-healthy choices to healthy choices. I love not feeling full all the time. I love not feeling guilty and ashamed all the time. I absolutely know that even after the surgery I will still gain weight if I go back to my old habits. My new mantra, "Never Again". Wish me luck.

Planning my Gastric Bypass

I've been preparing for this since the end of last summer (2008). My wife and I agreed that I am a good candidate for GB. After 51 years I know how to lose weight. It's simple. Less input, and more output. It's keeping it off that's been the hard part for me. At 5'9" and nearly 300 lbs I qualify because I'm more than 100 lbs. overweight and I have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 44. I've always carried my weight fairly well. The biggest comment I get from people when discussing this is "300 lbs. No way". I began by talking with friends and relatives who have had a GB. I asked them about the sudden and drastic change in their eating habits. I asked them how they felt during recovery, and I asked them about their new eating habits. If you think that a GB is the end-all to your weight problems, think again. GB only reduces the size if your stomach. It does not change your bad eating habits. That is something I will be working on as well. My plan is to be a model patient. Go by the book, follow the diet, lose my weight, and get on with my life. God, how many times have I said that before. That's where the GB gives me an advantage. Basically what will happen is the doctor's will reduce the size of my stomach from the size of a football to the size of my thumb. I've watched the procedure , and I've chosen Tufts New England Medical Center to do my surgery. They have been great. It all started with a phone call to the Obesity Consultation Center (OCC) at Tufts. They asked me a few questions, pre-registered me, and then scheduled me for a consultation. So after months of thought I had my first meeting at the OCC on 12/15/08. I didn't sleep the night before because of my anticipation so my 9:00 AM appointment came way too early for this night owl. Never the less I got up, grabbed a cup of coffee, and got there 40 minutes early. I checked in and took a wall seat in the waiting area expecting to take a catnap, but before I knew it they called my name at 8:45. (Dr. Lowney please take note...They took me early.) I met with Dr. Stiles the manager of the OCC. Dr. Stiles spoke with me about my choice of surgery, the Gastric Bypass. She weighed me (310 lbs.), and took a measurement of my chest (56"), and my neck (20"). She took my blood pressure, felt my abdomen and immediately told me that I would have to lose some weight before the surgery to decrease the fat around my liver. That would make it easier for the surgeons to work laparoscopically. She asked me a long list of questions about my medical history. Dr. Stiles went over the pre-qualifications list with me. (I have to lose 5 - 10% of my body weight prior to my surgery date. I have to complete 2 medical visits, meet with my dietitian Meghan Ariagno 1-2 times, meet with my Psychologist Dr. Izzy Greenberg 2 times, meet with my surgeon Dr. Sajani Shah, and complete a new patient orientation called Immersion Day.) I was then sent to the lab for blood work and an EKG. I was done within an hour and sent on my way. I was very excited and full of information.