April 23rd, 2008 by Kevin Withnall
After about 15 years of being obese or morbidly obese, I’m finally just overweight. So far since surgery, I’ve lost 40kg and have gone through many sets of clothes.
Also, I always assumed that seeing your life partner in a group of people was always easy. This was some inate ability than when someone was so important to you that you had them imprinted on your head in such a way that you could always recognise them.
Well, as it turns out, I was wrong. Often now I’ll be looking for Libby in a shop or similar and will often look right past her. As it turns out, I think I was always able to see her just because of her size. Now however, after losing heaps of weight, I have to look more carefully for her. It still seems strange when I see photos of us together that we are not huge. I can also now not only put my arms around her and touch on the other side, I can touch my elbows on the other side. We have lost about 80kg between us and I think the key words are ‘between us’.
Life is good.
February 15th, 2008 by Kevin Withnall
I have been under some pressure from a number of people to update this section of the site. The problem is that nothing exciting has happened.
I’ve now lost 32kg and am going on with life with all the benefits of the vsg but there is really nothing that requires thought anymore. I just eat till I can’t eat any more (well, 99% of the time I know how much to get so I don’t feel so full i’m sick) and then go back to doing something else.
I’ts the easiest way to lose weight and its really just part of my life now. So, basically, unless someone asks, I don’t think about it. This will probably be the last post on the subject.
Please don’t mis-understand me to think that its not important. Its probably the best thing I have done for my health ever and I would do it again without question. Its just like any illness you may have. Once its fixed, you tend to go on with life and not dwell on it much longer.
I’m also very glad I saw Dr Talbot. From what I have read about other experiences people have shared on weight loss surgery forums, he’s by far the best at getting in and out with no pain or complications. If anyone is considering similar surgery, you really should see Dr Talbot.
November 23rd, 2007 by Kevin Withnall
Not much to add to the last update but I’m now eating normally, not drink any calories and losing weight at a reasonable rate (although I stalled last week for a while). I’m now 18.3kg down so its not so bad.
Anyway, theres no operation site pain at all, and only occasional nausea after food so it’s definately getting better.
I probably should, but havent yet, order a new set of work clothes in a smaller size but I’ll just cope with these for a while longer. I was told today that my work shirts are too baggy. This is strange as I couldn’t do these up when I started. I also don’t feel any different after losing the 18kgs and thought I would. Maybe its the lack of protein in my diet (its hard to get 30+ grams per day) or the lack of water (I should be drinking 1.5l per day but am only getting about 500ml)
Anyway, onwards we go and hopefully I’ll be better at eating the right stuff. I’m still able to resist bad foods so it’s helped my will power so far.
November 18th, 2007 by Kevin Withnall
I saw Dr Talbot last wednesday night and had the usual discussion about what I can eat etc. I thought I may get in trouble about moving on to real food so quickly but he said that thats fine as long as it didn’t hurt. I then proceeded to tell him about the sort of things I was eating and got introuble about ‘drinking’ too many calories.
In hospital, I had some fruit juice and cordial and thought that was ok to have. Aparently not. He proceeded to tell me that I can only have no calorie liquide from now on.
Since then, I have accellerated weight loss even more (its not that hard apart from breakfast where I habbitually have an up’n’go drink).
So, Now im at 108.8kg, and still seem to be losing at a decent rate. The lowest I’ve been in 20 years is 105 so it should be nice to be lower than that.
The ‘vomiting’ period last week (twice) has gone away so I think I’m back to normal now.
November 13th, 2007 by Kevin Withnall
Libby was out of surgery yesterday afternoon and was just like I was, in pain, sleepy and dozing on and off all afternoon. Also like me, she had the ‘vomit’ attempt but nothing comes up, and 5 holes with no drain.
My miracle recovery is now less than perfect. I was yet to vomit at all post hospital but the other day (while on the snowy ride ). I was really unsure as to weather or not to do it but decided to anyway. It was at a restaurant on the saturday night when I had an issue. I had a little bit of chicken, some red wine, about 4 chips and some pumpkin and it was either the wrong food or too much because one bite I was feeling fine, the next really needing to vomit. I sat there for a while and decided I needed to get rid of this feeling. I went to the toiler to see if I could throw up and on seeing the state of the toilets, it was no longer an if.
Then again this morning, I had a sip of ginger beer (I love ginger beer) that I had let go flat overnight. I hadn’t had anything at all so far today (apart from vitamins and Nexian) and it all came back up. I’ve done this before with no problems (only at night though) so its a little strange.
I hope this doesn’t start a new trend.
Anyway, I’ve now lost 15.7kg and am finding it quite easy to live with (unless I eat the wrong stuff)
I have an appointment for wednesday afternoon with the surgeon and will ask about the vomiting. He will probably just tell me its too soon and to slow down a bit.
I am also starting to not feel hungry (some people are a little slow, like me) so thats a good sign. Aparently the ghrelin can take a while to get out of your system.
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