Carano has weight-reduction surgery

The state legislator expects to lose 100 pounds.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- People will see a lot less of state Rep. Kenneth A. Carano.
Carano, of Austintown, D-59th, underwent gastric bypass surgery last week, and has already lost 15 pounds. Carano, who weighed more than 300 pounds, said the surgery will allow him to lose more than 100 pounds during the next year.
The procedure was done April 27 at St. Vincent's Charity Hospital in Cleveland by Dr. I.M. Sonpal, and Carano was released Friday.
"I've got suits waiting to be worn for the first time in years," Carano said. "I'm looking to be a lean, mean political machine."
Carano is running for re-election in November against Boardman Trustee Kathy Miller, a Republican.
Gastric bypass surgery is the most common and successful surgery for those considered severely obese, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
What's involved
A small stomach pouch is created to restrict food intake. A Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the lower stomach, and the first and second segments of the small intestines, according to the institute. The bypass reduces the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs.
Carano, who had an incision from his navel to his groin, said the surgery is expected to help with his other medical problems: diabetes, sleep apnea and arthritis. Carano said he is already sleeping better just days after the surgery.
"I like activity; I like to dance," he said. "But with my metabolism, I couldn't lose weight and I didn't have energy. I didn't do this for fun and games."
Carano said that for the first 10 days after surgery, all he can eat is about 1,000 calories of liquid a day; then for the next 18 days, he can eat the same amount of pur & eacute;ed foods as long as he doesn't eat a lot of sugar. After that, Carano said, he will be able to eat about 1.5 to 2 cups of food at each meal of any type of food.
Expected weight loss
"My anticipation is I'll lose 100 pounds-plus in a year, but I'll lose like crazy, about 60 pounds, during the first couple of months," he said. "The whole idea is I will feel full after I eat 1.5 cups of food. I'll have no appetite. You just fill up the pouch. I couldn't be more pleased with the results."
Carano estimated his daily calorie intake at 5,500 to 6,000 before the surgery, and it will be down to 1,000 to 1,200 now.
Carano is already up and around, attending his grandson's first Holy Communion on Sunday, but he skipped the lunch afterward.
"People are coming out of the woodwork from Columbus to Youngstown wishing me the best," he said. "Come June 1, I'm going to dance at night and golf during the day."
skolnick@vindy.com