Just recently, I was asked a couple of questions that I'd like to address. I certainly welcome anything that people are wondering about and want to ask. Bring it on.
Someone asked: If you are losing weight on a liquid diet, why have the surgery? Good question, but I don't want to drink for the rest of my life. I'd like to have something to chew again. Chewing food is good and natural. If I were to lose all the weight I want on a liquid diet, most likely when I started eating solid food again, I would start to gain again. Part of the reason for the surgery is to help you learn to eat small portions of food and feel satisfied while doing it. As I mentioned in my first post, I have dieted my entire life. I have lost a lot of weight in those years only to gain it back, and more. The person who asked this question did not say this, but I would be willing to bet that there are some people who would say, "It's only a matter of willpower. Just do it!" Anyone who would asked this has obviously not had a problem with their weight or ever dieted. It's hard. It's only natural to want to eat and be a part of "the social world". Eating is a part of everything we do. Go on a date: go out to dinner. Get together with friends: meet at a restaurant. Go to a party: sit down dinner or lots of snacking. Go to the movies: eat snacks. Fellowship at church: eating dinner on the grounds. Even after a funeral, what do you do? You take food to the family and get together for a meal. It's everywhere! Also, being a certain body type is part of heredity. Certain, you can change your own path, but it's in your genes. It's also what you are learned as a child. You grow up eating a certain way and it sticks with you. Not to say again, you can't change the way you were raised - and I certainly have, but it's still a challenge. People eat for a lot of reasons: boredom, anxiety, happiness, sadness. I'd sure I've done them all. Let's face it. Life if hard and eating is sometimes a panacea for out pain. This surgery is a tool, not a cure for obesity. I can still eat whatever I want and as much as I want. My mouth is not being sewn shut. But, because of the size of my new stomach, it will make me very uncomfortable and even get sick if I eat too much - or the wrong kind of food. The way my body metabolizes food, especially sugars, will change. Again, it's a tool to keep me on track. So, that is some of the reasons why I will have the surgery. I'm sure I've forgotten to mention it all. If this answer sounds harsh, I don't mean it to. I just know I need all the help I can get, and this surgery is a way help me achieve my goal of a healthy way of eating.
The other question asked was: If the surgeon is making you a new smaller stomach by portioning off a part of your stomach, what happens to the rest of your original stomach? Do they take it out during the surgery, or why would they just leave it in your body? Good question. You would think it would be something usless in your body. Why not just take it out. But, it's not. The remainder of your "old" stomach still works. It continues to make enzymes to digest your food. Yes, you have a new smaller stomach and your small intestines are re-routed to the new stomach, but you still need those enzymes from the "old" stomach. Your old stomach still empties those good enzymes back into your intestines and it all is reconnected on down the line of your small intestines. This is where I need a model of our "innerds" to show you what I mean. It certainly helped me understand it better. Maybe that explaination will help you understand.
Like I said before, I am not offended by questions you might have. Believe me, I have probably thought the same questions myself. Ask me. I don't need you to understand, but I want you to.
I'm another day closer. The liquid diet has gotten easier. I'm not as hungry as I was to begin with, or as nauseated. It's all part of the plan to make me healthier before surgery. I think I did mention that the reason they have you go on a liquid diet is to reduce the size of your liver. Our liver is a big organ and is right in the way of where the surgery is performed. Making it smaller, helps the surgeon get to the area they need. Also, taking in much smaller portions gives you good practice for when you start to drink, and then eat again. My new stomach will only hold 2-3 ounces at a time.
More to say later I'm sure. For now, stay tuned.
Woof, meow and xoxox from Bonnie
1 comment:
Love you Bonnie. I know you will do well. I have a friend at the Winn Dixie who works in the bakery of all departments, She had the surgery and said almost all the same things you have and she said it was a little rough at first but gets easier as you go. She has lost about 100 pounds if not more and doing well. Thats saying alot especially since she works in the bakery. You work in the health care network, you see the worst side of health, I'm sure thats a great motivator, besides you are a great Motivator for all of us mere mortals. Keep up the good work.
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