On Tuesday, I'll be having Gastric Bypass surgery at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix. The purpose of this surgery is to reduce the size of the stomach so as to only permit a small amount of food at a time - 2-4 ounces.

This type of surgery results in quick and dramatic weight loss when successful - which it is in the vast majority of cases. I was told yesterday in a pre-op meeting to expect to lose 30-40 pounds in the first 4 weeks. Eventually, probably 125 pounds in about a year.

The goal of the surgery is to lose weight so as to reduce incidence of specific health problems which can be brought on by obesity.

For those who can never get too much information, click here .

The operation typically takes 4-5 hours and in my case will be done laproscopically and robotically. The surgeon controls the instruments from outside the body, guiding them through a video image from a camera inserted into one of the 6 small incisions.

Typical health problems which can be 'cured' through weight loss brought on by gastic bypass include: Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea (when you stop breathing while sleeping.)

I should be released on Thursday and spend 4-5 days in bed "sleeping off the anesthetic."

I'm looking forward to this surgery and to the expected results.

Your prayers during this time will be appreciated.

John,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May God keep you safe in His care.

John & Mary

You'll be in our thoughts and prayers, John! Get well soon, the CF needs your presence and skills every day.

Lorna & Bob

Seems to be the week for surgeries, our prayers will be with you, John... how soon do we start calling you Saint Skinny?

JOhn,

Our prayers will be with you as you undergo surgery and recovery. We will be looking for a succesful surgery and a quick recovery. We need you John!

Bert & Sharon

Best of luck with the procedure John. Will certainly be thinking of you and wishing you well.
Be sure to take enough time off to recover fully. We want you healthy for many years to come. Think you yourself for a change. We will carry on in your absence and try not to get the CF in trouble!

John, we are all pulling for you! Hope everything will go well! In a month or two, we will need to see a picture of the "new you!" (LOL)

Our thoughts and prayers will be with you, John. This surgery will make that Wacko Badge even more important so that we will recognize you!

Dave

John, I will be praying for you and wishing you a fast and speedy recovery. I'm sure we will see less of you in the future.
Ruthie

John,
Jerry and I will be praying for you and your surgeon during the coming week. God bless you both, real good. We will look forward to you fully recovered and healthy.
Derith

My prayers are with you John.

Barb

Our thoughts and prayers will be with you John. Just imagine... a new you just around the corner!

Tim and Jackie Young

Our thoughts and prayers are for you also John.
Betty and Hal Dean

Good luck with your surgery John.

Donna and I have the same question about the after-affects of the surgery...what happens after you have lost all of the weight that you need to lose? Do you get you stomach re-enlarged? Or do you just need to eat more often to maintain?

John, my older sister had this procedure done several years ago. She lost a tremendous amount of weight and has kept it off. Just remember, SMALL amounts of food. This was a hard thing for my sister to remember in the begining especially when others around here were eating full meals. Also, if the suggest vitamin supplements, take them. My sister wasn't the biggest on the calcium supplements hence her bones became brittle. She stepped out of her SUV one day and broke her ankle in 3 spots. Also, she lost a bit of hair in the begining since her body was not used to the lack of protein. But, overall the surgery was a huge success. She lost over 200 pounds and is now a much more active person than she could ever have been before. And that helps with a young son around the house.
My thoughts will be with you during your surgery and recovery. I hope you have the great results my sister did with her trouble spots.

shirin

This is not a reversible procedure. There is an alternate procedure that puts a ring around a portion of the stomach. It is possible to inflate and deflate the ring externally. This allows the exit from the pouch above the ring to be made larger or smaller. This type of surgery is more common in Europe, but not in the USA.

In my case, over time, the stapled pouch that at first holds 2-3 ounces of food can double or triple in size so it's possible to eat larger portions. However, the 'no-no' foods remain the same. Those who've had this surgery say that you still have a 'full' feeling most of the time and that you need to remember to actually eat.

It is possible to defeat the purpose of the surgery and eat MORE food that one is supposed to eat and actually regain weight.

I'll need to get or give myself monthly B-12 shots and chew on Tums for Calcium. But I expect to greatly reduce the 17 pills a day I now take. Perhaps take none at all. Among the pills I now take is an 81MG aspirin. Aspirin and other pain relievers such as Advil and Alieve can't be taken. The only pain reliever I will be able to take will be Tylenol.

Thanks for all your good wishes and prayers.

John,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you for a speedy and healthy recovery. Take care and we'll see you soon.

John,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you here in Trenton also.

Dennis & Esther

John,

Best of luck to you. Be sure to keep us posted!

Linda

John,
My thoughts and prayers are with you,your surgeon and family.As a nurse I have seen many fantastic results post surgery for this procedure.
JoAnn

Hang in there John. You know we're pulling for you. And of course, I have a special interest. Keep us posted when you get back up and around.

Rich

Best of Luck to you John during your surgery and your healing time. Please hurry back to us - the forum will not be the same without you.

John, Best of luck in the surgery. Amy and I will keep you in our thoughts and prayers before, during and after surgery.

Rich

John,

Good luck with your surgery, and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Laproscopic surgery is a blessing; as you said, you'll be recovering from the anesthesia as much as the procedure itself! I guess the real challenge will be adjusting to the aftermath of the surgery, but it sounds like it will afford you a great improvement to your present and future health.

We look forward to seeing you back on the forums soon.

Bruce & Claudia

John, ditto to all that has been said from all the Schrader family. We will be praying for you!!

John, Best of luck with the surgery and the follow up maintence programs.

You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Mark & Michelle Wagner

All The Best, John. My prayers are with you.

TD

John, I'm praying right now.

By now John should be sleeping off the effects of the anesthetic. Now the recovery begins. By the next time we see him we won't know who he is unless he has his wacko badge on.

Get well soon John and we will keep you in our prayers.

Mary and Jeff

Suzie Chidester called and left a message that John came through his surgery just fine..

I wasn't home from work yet and my Sue was resting and didn't hear the phone ring, but that message is Great news!!!

Thank you for the update, Paul, on both Sue and John.

I'd like to send both a card but don't have addresses for the home. Can you help me get those, Paul?
Derith

John,

Good luck with this procedure. I have a friend that had this done in 1997 but with the added removal of part of the intestines. She lost well over 200 lbs that she had been carrying for over 25 years!

Just remember there are foods that are not going to be good for you anymore.

God bless you and heal you quickly.

MelJB

Am very glad to hear John is doing well...just the beginning of a new healthy life for you John. You can do it.
Ruthie

Thanks for all the good wishes. I got home today about an hour ago.

I was feeling miserable Tuesday afternooon and Wednesday, but my strength started coming back today. A few more days of rest is prescribed.

John

John,
Glad to hear you're home again and getting some rest. Definitely have been in my thoughts and prayers the last couple days although I've not gotten something onto this thread to express that. I hope that the outcome of the surgery is everything that you're hoping for.

Gary

Hey St. John,
It is great to see you typing and spreading the good news that you are doing well. Hopefully you will continue to get back to feeling great.
Derith

So glad your back John...just take it easy so you can mend...it won't be long till your back on the road.
Ruthie

Welcome home John! Other than a shoot-out at the OK Corral and the continuing saga of the Bobs' PC RR's we've managed to stay relatively calm during your absence.

Rest up and happy sipping!

Welcome back, John. Glad to hear that you are on the road to recovery. Keep us updated as to how things are going!

Welcome home John! It's good to see you posting again. You will continue to be in my prayers for a quick and total recovery.

Barb

Welcome home, John. I do believe that the doctor told you to REST, so that is what you should be doing! Glad to hear you are getting along and feeling better. I hope you were nice to the nurses while you were at the hospital.

Dave

John -

Since I was traveling, I didn't know about this. Glad to hear the surgery went well and you are recovering.

Suzanne

Good to have you back, John! I hope your recovery goes quickly.

Bob

Welcome back John, glad everything went well.
Bob

Good to have you back, John... before you know it you will be out there buying new clothes...

Get your rest!

Welcome back, John! Very happy to hear that allwent well. Rest up and then join in the fun again.

Bert

John,

We are glad you are back home again. Relax and rest and let the healing continue.

Take care.

Mary and Jeff

Hope you're doing well John.

Pam

Best wishes to you John.
I have known people (both personally and professionally) who have had this procedure done and they would not go back on their decision.
Although the enjoyment of food can be such a big part of our lives, it is easy to rule our lives as well. I know that you have the right kind of attitude to make this decision a success!
Good luck and keep us posted as you "disappear"!

chris g

Happy to here everything has turned out OK, John. I have been away from the Forums for awhile now, and have seemed to miss alot of important personal news here.

Looks like we'll have to eliminate you from the newbie Krispy Kreme mailing list now! Congrats. I hope this helps to alleviate some of the ills. Hang in there.

Definitely glad you're doing well John. Keep us posted on what's happening and how you're feeling. I have my consultation appointment in Fresno Nov 4th.

Rich

Thanks for the continued concerns and good wishes. Surgery + 4 days. There was a support group meeting at Mayo Hospital today with instructions on Pureeing foods (something to look foward to - still on liquids.)

My surgeon also showed the presentation he gives to other Docs on the various procedures -- and included a video of the laproscopic surgery.

He clarified the 'robotic' part for me. His camera is controlled by voice. He can make it zoom in and out and change angle by voice command. He has control of the instruments directly.

Feeling pretty good overall.

Got my first "have you lost weight or something?" comment today from my barber.



Don't think so, but if I'll I've done is drink liquids for the past 4 days, I guess it's possible.

JC, I`ve been very lax on reading these days.
Glad to read all went well and you`re already getting comments.

John,

Then maybe he was referring to the fact that your hair is getting lighter? Are you trying to catch up with Paul?

You probably better add some belts and suspenders to your wardrobe to help keep things decent as you lose weight and waist! Or work out a deal with a tailor to develope a line of clothes that can be downsized as needed.

Dave

LOL :rolleyes: :p

Glad to have you back John - hope your recovery continues it's speedy progress. Before you know it you'll be running up the Lighthouse steps in your new, slim clothes begging people to take pictures.

How about a before an after picture from the top of 'Fire Island and Montauk'? As you know I have the before.
Bob

You paying my way back to LI for the 'After' shots, Bob?

You post the before shots. I'll get a 'soon after' photo with Bill this Saturday or Sunday.

Guess I'll close this off. Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts sent my way during and after surgery.

I'll post some observations on the results of the surgery over in the "Nothing to do with anything..." Forum for those who want to keep track of the incredible shrinking John.