Messinger's Diary - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

milwmarc · 03-30-2009, 08:46 PM

My Health History.

.
This Blog is being written as a way for me to work through my health related issued for the past 37 years. So I can learn from my history and share why I’ve made the choices I’ve made. Cliff notes version. I made bad choices starting in grade school for food, then in High School I started to work out more, but at 16 got very sick with the first case of Lymes Disease in Wisconsin, many experimental drugs, treatements and LOTs and lots of steroids to help with some things.

My background:
8th grade. 215 lbs. Roller-skated on roller hockey team. Biked 12 miles to practice 3 times a week.

9th and 10th grade, I biked and rollerskated a few times a week every week. Roller skating and roller hockey. No formal sports,

Age 16, First case in Wisconsin to be diagnosed with Lymes Disease (took 9 months to diagnose). Went from 255lbs to Over 340 lbs in very short order. I woke up on my 16th Bday and couldn’t hear at all. Very scary. Then a week later I lost my sight. At that time didn’t know what was wrong with me so they put me on massive doses of prednisone to help control a hearing loss associated with the lymes disease and a sight impairment. Experimental drugs for a few months, 21 spinal taps to help with brain fluid pressure and the check white cell counts. In and out of hospitals for 12 months Most of those months were spent in the hospital for long times. Longest time was 57 days straight. I have a picture in my albums of what I looked like at 16. Drivers License shows the damage large doses of steroids did to me for my health.

Age 17 proper diagnosis of lymes disease. Got health under control but still at 315 lbs. Started biking and swimming. Got down to 280lbs.

18. College. 4 years, biked, swam played on racquetball league 3 days week all 4 years of college, exercised and tried weight watchers. Lowest weight at

21 years of age lowest weight 250.
Started in workforce with less free time ballooned back up to 290 by age 22.

22-27 biked, swam and tried Atkins diet, Weight Watchers & Jenny Craig. Never lost more than 15 lbs.

28 1st son was born, Les free time tried to eat right ballooned to 310

29, Hired personal trainer for twice a week for 1 hour in my house did from age 29 to age 33. Tried proper diet again, started training for Triathlons.

30 280lb, exercised daily

31 270 lb exercised daily. **Very intense** 6 Sprint Triathlons this year” Lots of training..Started Atkins diet..did atkins for one year at age.

32 254lbs. Lowest Ever! Atkins diet, Extreme workout for triathlon training. Knees and shoulder started to hurt too much to do triathlons after this year. Pulled back on Exercise as 2nd child born. Went off Atkins to see if I could maintain weight as too hard to cook for a family of 4 Atkins style.

33. 270 lbs. Could not afford trainer any more. Back to the Gym Swimming at Gym, Trying to eat balanced meals

34 3rd child born, 280 lbs. swimming 30 minutes 3 days per week. at gym,. Went to Spin Class at Gym twice per week for 9 months for 1 hour. Consistently got Heart rate 145-165 for one hour. Went back on Weight Watchers. 1 year attended meetings weekly I gained weight! Winter play hockey 3 nights a week couple hours with our kids on our pond

35 Started research into Lap Band. Gained weight gave up on Weight Watchers, 290lbs. by end of year 295. Continue to try to eat balanced meals. My core food was Subway healthy menu, weight watchers, lean cuisine meals and, dinner with family, typically chicken or pork with vegetable. Busy year with 3 kids. Exercised twice a week maybe 20 minutes a day, all I had time for. Winter played hockey 4 times a week 2-3 hours a week with my 2 boys on our pond…intense. Still gaining weight and joints hurting more.

36 top over 300 again beginning of year. Started back to trying Atkins in January and February, couldn’t do with 3 kids, March Started exercising again 3 days per week. Swimming, biking and strength training. Waste still getting bigger, In May I tried “Every other day diet”, every other day ate only 500 calories, regular days 2,500 calories. Lost 6 lbs but then gained it back to largest size again at over 315 lbs.

In 2008 I sold my real estate company and took my first “regular job” working for a bank as a Reverse Mortgage specialist. MUCH less stressed. I exercised, Hockey few hours per week January, February, March. April & May started biking again, twice per week. June, July and August. Biked 20-30 miles per week, swim in our pool laps on static line 30 minutes 5 to 6 times per week. If not in pool 1-2 times per week do open water wave lake swimming long distance 45 minutes. Very instense swimming But I still gained weight. In August of 2008 I was at 317 lbs

What I learned about myself.
Having been so terribly ill at the age of 16 I quickly learned a lot about my body and new when I recovered from Lymes disease that diet and exercise were an important part of my health.

I was a very large child since age 10. My entire family is obese as are my relatives, most smoke and drink. Diabetes runs in my family on both sides touching my Grandfather and father. Mother and father BOTH have had their knees replaced. Mom has had 8 back surgeries as a result of poor health and weight. Dad is having epidurals now in back to help with pain from being overweight.

I never have been a drinker. I may have 6 beers in an entire year. I do not drink hard alcohol or wine as they both leave me feeling lousy for days. I don’t know if that is a symptom of being sick so young but it has kept me from ever drinking.
I have never smoked. I have seen the affects of it on other friends and family members.
I do not binge eat, nor have I ever.
For years I would count calories and weigh food with no success.
My downfalls would be sweets, Ex. I love chocolate milk and we have it around home with kids. Probably 2 glasses a week
Friday and Saturday I typically did not watch what I eat. However I do not overeat all day as my family and I are EXTREMELY active people. Indulgences are pizza and Friday fish fry. Sunday I try to eat healthy again.
I do not watch TV. I will watch usually one to sometimes 2 movies per week late at night.
I Own 2 franchise Sportclips and have a full time day job as a consultant for Wells Fargo I am probably in front of a computer screen anywhere from 6-to sometimes 11 hours per day.

My weight was now impacting my life, joints hurt, I just FEEL my weight everywhere on my body especially when in front of a computer, driving and when exercising or ESPECIALLY playing with my kids.

I became very concerned about my health. History has shown that diet and exercise alone have not helped my overall health. As I exercise more at my size I am more prone to stress injury, when that occurs I can exercise less. It is a cycle that I determined to break. I started my journey to Gastric Bypass back in August and got approved for it back in January.
March 26th I had my Roux – Y surgery. I plan on using my blog as a way to keep my diary for my own history and to learn from. The surgery went great, the last 3 days of recovery were definately not exactly what I expected.

milwmarc · 03-31-2009, 10:37 AM

The day before Surgery March 26th I weighed 309 lbs. I had planned on having some beautiful sit down meal the day before surgery, but like much of my life I had to work all day and then work for my Franchise business I own SportClips at night for a marketing event I couldn’t miss.

So I ended up ordering my favorite Salad- Palm Canyon Salad from a restaurant, Salad, Shrimp, walnuts, strawberries, shaved coconut in a awesome sweet honey vinaigrette dressing. I should have enjoyed it sitting in a restaurant with my wife. Instead because I had a full day and had to work all night at a Sport Clips Marketing event I ended up ordering it via the phone, picked it up and inhaled it in my car in 15 minutes before I had to get back to Sport Clips work at night. Another one of many meals eaten too fast, not enjoyed and going- I’m sure right to my waistline. Not exactly how I wanted to end my old life before my new one began.

Thursday the 27th. Wasn’t nervous for the surgery, It went without a hitch. They were extremely helpful at the hospital. The prepped me, sent me up to the area where they put an IV in me. Anesthesiologist was awesome and explaining what would happen and was very calming. Next thing I know I’m in recovery.

That’s where things got interesting. Having never had a surgery I didn’t know I would react SO bad to Morphine. I was in recovery for 4 hours! In and out of it and the nurse said I snored a lot, not making many other patients comfortable with me being so loud I guess. They wheeled me up to my room and from Thursday night through Friday at noon I progressively felt worse and worse. I felt like my skin was inside out and all I wanted to do was puke, I felt like I was going to puke all the time but couldn’t. I got almost no sleep but by 11:30 Thursday night I was up and walking. I guess I didn’t read enough about the surgery. I didn’t realize I would have a Catheter in my penis and the IV would still be in. I have never felt so much Gas pain in my life. I couldn’t FART!

Friday Morning I walked the halls 5 times before 6 am hoping to get rid of the gas and the feeling that my skin was crawling and my body was inside out. I didn’t realize it wasn’t the surgery making me feel like that, it was the morphine. So every hour I would ask for more morphine and that made it even worse. My nurse didn’t know what to do with me during Friday morning. I couldn’t talk much and I was in so much pain, they sent me for an Upper GI to drink that liquid. The first time they came for me I told the transport I didn’t think I could make it down before throwing up. The transport went and got my nurse and then left. The Nurse called in people, including a doctor, I don’t remember most of it. All I know is my nurse said it was probably the Morphine making me feel so lousy not the surgery. She said I HAD to get down for the Upper GI before I could make progress. They came and got me, the whole wheelchair ride down I felt like I was going to puke all my guts, but I couldn’t, I was sweating so badly and couldn’t’ see well. It must be what an addict feels like when going in to withdrawal. I was left in the hallway shaking like a vagrant bum, while they went and got the Xray tech. They wheeled me in and I had no clue what they were telling me. All I know is a doctor came in, told me to stand in front of a machine and warned me the Barium I would have to drink would be horrible. It wasn’t that bad. But I just wanted to tear my skin off. They sent me to a waiting room in my wheelchair for a transport and I shook, sweated and dry puked for 45 minutes waiting for my transport to take me back to my room.

From 10 A.M Friday through 10 A.M Saturday I took No more pain killers to get the morphine out of my system. I didn’t feel pukey by 2 Saturday, but Then I realized how BAD the gas pains were. I walked every hour from Saturday at noon until the time I left the hospital. I could NOT get the gas out! I tried it all, walking, coughing, sleeping, meditating, I spent lot o time on the toilet trying to rock it out.. All with no success. Jesus why wouldn’t the GAS come out!!!!

By the time I was released Sunday I still hadn’t gotten the Gas out! UGHHHH when would it end? I was released Sunday at 1:30. My wife came and got me, we walked down together and since I had driven myself there on Sunday we had 2 cars. Don’t tell my doctor, I drove myself home, but I had no painkillers in me and we had no way of getting me home.

***I made a conscious decision to not tell most people of my surgery. My day job keeps me very busy as a consultant and if I don’t perform I don’t have a job at the bank. I didn’t think they needed to know my personal business. Owning 2 Sport Clips Franchises, having over 40 employees, mostly stylist working for me I didn’t feel the need to share with them of my surgery either. They rely on me for a paycheck and I didn’t want them thinking I did this surgery for Vanity…which it was NOT. We decided NOT to tell my 3 children age 5,6 and 9 as they wouldn’t understand a decision like this. My 9 year old has some of his own body issues at 9, although we make sure he is much more active then I was at a young age. I thought it would be best to show through my success of managing what I eat and my exercise that I can lose weight for my family. My Parent, sister and family we decided as they have their own weight issues and 2 of my relatives have had a similar surgery with NO success (because of their decisions to not follow the plan) to not tell them either. I have covered my few days off by stating I had a hernia surgery. I plan on returning to work Monday after surgery. Fortunately being a bank consultant I can work from home the next week or 2 for most of the day between appointments. It’s hard to balance, work, a business franchise, a marriage and raising 3 little kids with all their events and find more then a few days to take off work.

It will be very important to log all that I do and not make mistakes in time managing, eating properly, resting, drinking enough and making the most of my surgery. It’s a new me! A New Birthday.

How do I ad picutures to the post? I have them on my blog and on an album..but learning how to use this still.

milwmarc · 03-31-2009, 10:42 AM

Tried to eat this morning with little luck. Drank 10 oz's of Milk at 11 with some roundy's chocolate milk mix. At 1 ate 2 oz's. Lots O water. Went to the gym and power walked FAST for 50 minutes. God I was tired after that..over did it! Went home, took first pain medication in 2 days, 7.5 grams of Liquid Oxycodone. Laid down.

Woke up at 5:30 Set up my thinner times blogs.

Ate 2 oz's of Turkey and Egg Puree at 8 P.M. Boring day. Was perfect!

Still NO GAS out of the tummy!!!! Even after all the walking done the past 2 days. When will the gas come out?

Got on scale said 302.9. Not drinking enough said hydration was 45%. Think supposed to be at 55%? I feel soooooo bloated! I feel bigger then I did a week ago. God the GAS!!!!

*****************************
I attached a picture I couldn't put on my first post of what I looked like when I was 16 and had Lymes Disease and Spinal Meningitis. The road that started me down the obesity I have struggled with for 26 years. I was 350lbs not the 260 I stated on my drivers license. All from massive doses of Predinisone to help keep me alive at the time

milwmarc · 03-31-2009, 10:46 AM

Well its the 4th day after surgery. I tried to work today. Boy, it's 9 at night and my but is dragging. Owning a Franchise doesn't give me much time off. I realized I worked 4 hours Sunday on Sport Clips sitting at a desk, pretty tired, but did it. Today I put in 2.5 hours this morning and 2.5 hours this afternoon. In between I walked 30 minutes outside in the morning and afternoon. Sitting down I realize how absolutely tired I am.

Getting in food has been a challenge today. Couldn't eat this morning. Tired but couldn't keep it down. At lunch I tried to puree chicken in a can. As soon as I got it pureed and opend up the food processor and smelled it I wanted to puke. I had to throw it right out.

I find my stomach tonight is still very gassy. When I walked I got some of it out..but it seems like it keeps building. I wonder if it has anythign to do with the one glass of milk a day I'm drinking?????? But how else can I get my 60 grams of protien in?

I find that I still WANT food. But the stomach just can't handle it. Saturday night driving home from the hospital I passed a McDonalds and thought to myself Boy I could go for a Shamrock shake. Then, "oh yea, I'd puke if I had that!" sigh, drive on.

I walk in the house from the hospital, open the fridge to get some water and there in front of me is a home made pizza and a container from Chili's the night before. "God! that looks great!" oh yea. can't have it.

Sunday. I worked in my office in the morning, came out of my office to the smell of brownies and that pizza cooking for lunch. OHHHHHHHHHH. Drewl. Well my brain still works. Walk in the kitchen looking at it, I WANTED it, I had the kitchen scene from American Pie in my head and what I could do to that pizza and brownies. I thought "Kids, look the other way, pay no attention to what dad is doing to the brownies!" But oh yea. I'll puke. "Can I have my 1 oz of pureed turkey please?"

I'm assuming I'm learning new habits, new lifestyle and old habits don't die easily.

My stomach still feels filled with 1000 lbs of gas. Could it be the one glas a day of 10 oz's of Milk I'm having? Lets hope it dissapears soon! Well it's 9:10 and I need to eat my last 2 oz's of Pureed turkey and tilapia. cheers!

milwmarc · 03-31-2009, 04:06 PM

So, I'm supposed to get in 60 grams o proteind a day after surgery, finding it mighty difficult. I tried to ad powdred milk to skim milk, mixed it and let it sit over night. Took a cup this afternoon and added some roundy's flavoring from it as it smelled like spoiled milk.

I took a sip..not bad. took another sip, still not bad, 3rd sip put me over the edge. Right now Just can't handle it without feeling nauseaus and think its adding to the gas in my stomach.

I used to do Atkins shakes, is that a good alternative to get my protein in form of liquid formula while in the Puree diet for the first 2 weeks of Roux-Y. Need some help.

I'm afraid that yogurt may do the same think. Took a container of Light n Fit and blended in 1.5 cups of powdered milk. Haven't tried it yet..wondering if that also might ad to upset stomach...I think I"m going to call the new 2 oz baby called my stomach "Niblet" In honor of Aviator and nick name for his stomach. It certainly feels like an alien in my body right now. I'm growing fond of the name "niblet". like "no thanks, for some of that pizza children! Niblet would prefer some pureed turkey!"

Thanks

milwmarc · 04-01-2009, 05:45 PM

Well Surgery was last Thursday, Home hospital Saturday night. Worked Monday, Tuesday from home. Wednesday, drove to 2 appointments this morning, was done by 1 and heading home. I could have feel asleep in the car. Got back home, checked up on business emails and then phone started ringing. Boy by that time I was one cranky guy. sent a couple emails I probably shouldn't have to some higher ups at the bank basically stating.

I can't do any more for you! I just had surgery! Took walk, tried to take a nap, 40 minutes later realized..boy maybe I shouldn't send emails when I'm tired, cranky and just got done with a surgery.

Talked to nurse today, I told her about my intolerance to dairy, she said to try it again in a few days. I told her could I try Atkins shakes..? "NOPE!"

How about can I have a 35 calorie Fudgescicle, it has 2 grams of protein? "NOPE!, Marc, we don't want you snacking...your setting yourself up for failure" So back to 3 meals a day of 2 ice cube sizes of pureed protein. Boy that will get old fast.

Going to try to take another walk, puree up some scallops tonight in a wee bit o olive oil and see how that does.

But I think the past few days I've done way more then I should have. My whole body hurts. all I want to do is go in my hot tub, but doc said no hot tub for 6 weeks! God even my most basic of pleasures, the hot tub have been taken away. I'm glad I had the surgery, but I just want to be able to at least soak in a hot tub outside.....sigh. Boring old shower to relax me will have to do again tonight I guess.

I'm on my 6th day on this puree'd diet. I hope my brain, just gives in and goe's with the flow soon. Brain seems to want to fight me. God how I want a piece of Pizza!

Friday night (one week out from surgery) I have my first true test. I have to go to a good friends suprise 50th bday party at a bar. I don't drink really, so that is no issue, but fried food I"m sure will be surrounding me. I plan on bringing a pitcher of cyrstal light in the car and just go back out for refils and come back in. The food though. Man, Might have to ask my wife to offer some incentive after the party, so I can think of other things to look forward to soon after I leave so I can get through it.

scoman187 · 04-03-2009, 01:29 AM

Milk made me gassy up until about a month ago...Im goin on 5 months out. There are a slew of protein drinks and mixes out there. shop around on this forum for ideas.

Sco

milwmarc · 04-04-2009, 12:57 PM

1 week and a day out. I'm down 14 lbs. Haven't seen the scale below 300 for almost year and a half! Down to 294. Feel HORRIBLE though, more to do with the fact all 3 of my kids gave me their colds. Tired, sore everywhere, coughing up a storm. Going to lay down in middle of a Saturday afternoon. Sigh, what a waste of a perfectly good day off.

I did WAY too much the first week after surgery. Worked every day. Going to try to take it easier next week. maybe only work 4 hours per day.

I had to go to my oldest's hockey game this morning. Ate my 2 oz's of Pureed chicken on the way their and even though I'm sick everyy fast food joint we passed looked good (and I never ate fast food before my surgery) After the game driving home I sooo craved a pizza. gonna be a battle to get rid of that food bug in my brain.

But down 14 lbs in 8 days! Woo Hoo. Ok time for a nappy nap to get over the cold.

Tonight will be a test. Kathryn and I have to go to our friends 50th bday party at a bar that has great food. Alchohol never been a big deal for me, so that will be no problem..just brining my crystal light. The problem will be being surrounded by some good food I can't eat. Wish me luck!

I haven't filled my new 2 ounce stomach I don't think yet. I eat my 2 oz's 3 times a day, but never had it back up on me into my throat like doc said could occur. I also have not gotten that full feeling yet. But still have pain in the stomach..Gas? So I'm waiting to feel that full feeling. would make it easier after I'm done eating 2 oz's o food to feel satiated.

Off for a nap.

milwmarc · 04-05-2009, 06:37 PM

So, my 3 kids gave me a cold, they have one, I have one, wife has one. All sick. Feel like crap, surgery was 9 day ago, I should be feeling bettter now, but now ad the cold on top of it and I'm just miserable. Here in Wisconsin its 18 degrees overcast and snowing ice pellets. Just need the light to show itself, get rid of the cold and feel normal again.

Ok, enough bitching. Other problem. FOOD! How long does it take for my brain to get rewired! This morning, woke up hungry, I had 2 oz's pureed Chicken. Still felt hungry afterwards...was it all in my brain.

Went to the gym with the kids today. On the way their had a atkins shake against my doctors orders. Easier to drink then skim milk, higher in protein and only 150 calories and it filled my hunger. So why doesn't the doc want me to have it? Walked at the gym, then wife and I took the kids to subway. I had a Light n Fit yogurt, first time I ate without measuring. A yogurt is 6 oz's I felt naturually full after eating about 2 oz's, BUT the kids and wife DELIECOUS looking subs. AHHHh my brain.

For dinner, they made home made paninni's. God once again I wanted to have sex with it! Sitting around with the wife and kids, Ham, and Turkey and bubbling cheese and a wee bit o sauce covered in a flat bread sprinkled with home made parmesan. I had to sit there and eat my 2oz's of pureed chicken wand watch them eat this delicous succulent sandwich. So will that part of my brain shut off? Or someday soon will I be allowed to eat just a wee bit of that?

The overall recording I can't get off in my head. Pizza, Pizza, Pizza, Pizza, Pizza, Pizza, Pizza.

jenn75 · 04-05-2009, 06:53 PM

You're one funny guy! And yes, Pizza was on my mind 24/7 at first. It does subside, but I still get cravings for it rather strongly.

I have to say I cannot believe how much you were working/doing stuff right after surgery. Your doc "let" you?

Anyway, very interesting about your Lymes Disease diagnosis. That sounds so terrible to go through when you're just trying to be a teenager.