Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!
$99 Yearly Supply Alert! 🎉 "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins

Blogs

mrsjiggles' Blog
 

Re-Newed

I have never had a blog or the desire for oen until now. I was banded in 2007 and started out very strong but after a divorce, a new baby, and becoming a single mom, my workouts and motivation just took a nose dive. A friend of mine wanted to lose soem weight and started this program through Team Beachbody. I watched as she posted stuff about her diet, challenges and victories all over facebook. I guess her before and after pictures are what affected me. I remebered seeing my before pictures and how excited I was to have made such a noticable change to my appearance and my health and I wanted that feeling back. So today is a new day. I have started the Turbofire program and to help me stay motivated I have decided to become a coach and help others as well. I'll never forget how important it was for me to be able to connect with other people going through the same things I was going through and what a help they were to me when I needed a kick in the butt. I'm going to pay it foward and again, make a choice to be the strongest healthiest me I can be for myself and the people that love and depend on me.  Today is a new day and I look foward to many more healthier happier days. A new fitness program that I can work with and a wonderful support group with team beachbody and lapband talk. I'm coming back and I'll be better than ever. I'm worth it.
mrsjiggles

mrsjiggles

2
JonnyB's Blog
 

Trip 2 To Regina

Trip 2 to Regina,   Sorry for the delay in my posting but I’ve been super busy. A few days ago I went back to Regina for my last consultation until the surgery date. I had 3 appointments with each of the specialists. I have come to the realization that I don’t overly like talking to psychologists, hahaha its nothing person against them I just don’t really care to tell person things to strangers, kind of ironic because I’m blogging the world. Anyhow although I didn’t like telling her things I did and you know what I feel like I actually understand a bit more about how my mind thinks of food and what triggers me to over eat. So overall it was pretty helpful.   I also met with the nutritionist, who went over my new dietary plan and then informed me about the 3 weeks of liquid dieting I have to do before surgery and the 3 weeks of liquid dieting I have to do after. She introduced me to OptiFast, I’m not sure how it’s going to taste but I sure a few of you will tell me hahaha. She also told me that some people mix other flavoring into the shakes to make them a little more enjoyable. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long 3 weeks, but as my wife would say “SUCK IT UP BUTTER CUP”. So starting Aug 6th I have to drink 4 shakes a day and I’m allowed to eat green veggies.   All and all my trip to Regina was very good again; I feel very good about my decision to have the lap band procedure at OMNI, I’m nervous and excited for this new adventure.
JonnyB

JonnyB

1
New Beginnings
 

Week Two

Hello all of my fellow sleevers!! Hope this post is finding you all feeling fantastic or at least better. I have had an amazing week personally although I have to say I'm feeling punky today. I started back to work on Monday and everyone at work was so happy to see me back and feeling so good. I'm very blessed to have a lot of supportive people in my life. Several people in my office have had some type of bypass or sleeve done and most of them were shocked I was back so soon and that I felt so good. I just tell them I have Frequent Surgery Miles and am tougher than a $2.00 steak!! lol I think I am just one of those lucky few who heal fairly easily and can handle the stress on my body.   So anyway, Tuesday was officially my two week mark and Wednesday my first check up. I was shocked, amazed, and ecstatic that not only was I feeling super great but I lost a whopping 32 lbs!!!! Oh yeah baby!!! I knew this was going to work but I guess I just really didnt expect such great results right away. Needless to say, I'm one happy camper!!   The eating thing has been hard because until yesterday, I didn't experience any hunger pains. I have been making myself "eat" drink and be merry! lol I am up to soft baby food consistency things (even baby food). Add a little seasoning and they aren't half bad. We did buy one of those individual cup mixer machines (dont know if brand names are allowed) so I'm going to try pureeing my own stuff probably next week.   I'm looking forward to watching my progress along with people on here. You all are amazing and courageous!! Its not for the weak of mind thats for sure!! Carry on with your journey and hold a song in your heart. The journey is only as worthwhile as you make it!! Hugs!!
Leslie Hudson-Couch

Leslie Hudson-Couch

1
New Beginnings
 

What A Difference A Week Makes!

It has now, officially, been one week since my surgery and, BOY!, what a difference a week makes! While I am still not 100% yet, I am feeling fantastic!! Yesterday, I actually felt human again and even shaved my legs!!     Okay, now that may not sound like such a big deal to most but for me it was huge! I may be a big girl but there are some things that I, admittedly, am very vain about. I like to look good and have my mani/pedi's etc so, yeah, huge!! I also fixed my hair, plucked my eyebrows (vanity!) and put me on some face paint! I even had my dear hubby take me out for a drive and we ventured into Wal-Mart! By the time we got home, I was pooped but in a good way.     I have had this huge amount of fluid just languishing in my body for almost two years now. This has caused great swelling in my hands and face and my left leg which has caused the dreaded cellulitis. It has also been like a ton of bricks on my chest which in turn has affected my breathing considerably. I am very happy to report that I can now see my left ankle, my cellulitis has cleared up and I am breathing much, much easier. I am still and always will be asthmatic but not having to gasp for every breath with every move I make is amazing! I almost forgot what it felt like. It's amazing to me that these changes have happened in only one week.     I still have a long way to go but after not feeling so good last week, this is a welcome change in mind and body. I am really looking forward to going back to work on Monday and seeing all my friends there who have been so supportive. Just to get back to my life in general will be wonderful.     I don't want to neglect my wonderful, supportive, loving and all around good guy, my husband, Mike. He and his family have all been so good to me ever since we got together almost four years ago. I could not ask for a better family to be apart of.     Guess that's it for today folks! Hope you all have a wonderful day and Hugs!!
Leslie Hudson-Couch

Leslie Hudson-Couch

4
New Beginnings
 

Day Four

I stayed in the hospital until yesterday and it's probably a good thing because I have breathing issues and I had a lot of pressure from the air they blow your stomach up with. Having never had a laparoscopic surgery, I did not appreciate just how much they put in there. You would think someone would come up with some ingenious idea to let the air out.     Another good reason for me to not have done this follow-up is that, apparently, I was drunk texting people, which is never a good thing. And, yes, my friends and family happily have been torturing me with these various text messages. So my public service message is; don't morphine and text!     My musings of the surgery is that it is not something to take on lightly. I did a lot of research prior to doing the gastric sleeve. I have had many surgeries due to hernias and intestinal strangulations so I did not just decide to do this. I can only speak for myself, but the actual surgery has not really caused me a great deal of pain, however, I have been quite uncomfortable. The pressure, for me, has been extreme and caused havoc with my breathing. The solution to relieve this is, yes folks, passing gas. Not pretty or very lady like but a necessary evil. Unfortunately, you have to get mobile to get the engine going and that is a problem for me so I'm still fairly uncomfortable but it is getting better.     I was shocked when I looked at my stomach for the first time. Part of the hospital procedure is to give the patient a blood thinner every 12 hours. It's interesting to see what this does. Every where I got a shot, I have a big bruise. They don't hurt but they look gnarly. My other incisions have no stitches but are instead super glued! They are mildly tender but really are of no consequence.     Probably my very worse experience was yesterday when they had to remove my drainage tube. I am really glad my husband was not in the room at the actual moment it was removed because he probably would have gone ballistic. There is a small balloon that keeps it in your body and cannot be deflated. It has to just be yanked out quickly. I will not sugar coat it... it hurts like a s.o.b.!!!! My husband and sister-in-law came in just after while I was still in my throes of pain. Not a pretty site I'm sure. I really felt bad for my sweet little nurse because she felt so guilty but it was a necessity.     I think I will go back to bed now and rest. Hugs to all!!    
Leslie Hudson-Couch

Leslie Hudson-Couch

0
New Beginnings
 

Pre-Surgery Rantings!

This is from a blog I have on WordPress. I started this on July 16, 2012. I'm just trying to bring you up to speed with my journey.....     07/16/2012     So I did not think I would be writing anything this soon... I figured tomorrow evening at the earliest but probably not until Wed or Thurs. However, the surgery devils had other plans!     First you need to know that, while I am a very easy going, even tempered kinda lady, I am also very anal and like to know which row my ducks are in!! Having said that, I went last week to make sure all my ducks were quacking in harmony. Talked to everyone you are supposed to talk with and had all my testing done. So, knowing I have really good insurance and that I asked all the right questions, I thought nothing more about that part of it....until today.     I get a call from a very pleasant woman about 1:30/2:00 telling me I have to pay a hellatious amount of money BEFORE I can have my surgery in the morning. I now know what it feels like to be hit with a ton of bricks. She also, very graciously, asks me if my finances were okay. I decided (somewhere in the fog) that it would be prudent of me to call her back, especially since I could no longer breath.     Now I know that there are a select few people who may have an extra bundle laying around but that is not my case. While my husband and I are not in the poor house, we can see it down the road so, no, my finances are not okay for this kind of unexpected onslaught. So as I sit there, in shock, crying and hyperventilating (okay so maybe I'm stretching it just a bit for dramatic value), I am texting and calling anyone I can think of, as is my dear husband. My sister-in-law, very sanely, tells me to call them back and set up a payment plan.... duhhhh....oh wait, they won't because, although its going to save my life, it is considered an elective surgery. I had to chuckle at that one. Obviously, whoever makes these rules has never been in my situation but I digress.     After a couple of back and forth conversations, my wonderful, could not ask for better, in-laws said that they would pay for me. Of course, I am paying them back but I can NEVER express to them how eternally grateful I am to them and to my wonderful husband who got that ball rolling. I love them all so much that words just really do not do it justice. I have been so blessed by this family that I thank God every day for them.     So I can, once again, breath (well as good as I ever do) and can enjoy my evening with my husband and sister-in-law. Thank you to all who have expressed their well wishes and sent prayers.... love and hugs to you all!!!
Leslie Hudson-Couch

Leslie Hudson-Couch

2
Lets keep trying
 

Good Food Day, Bad Mom Day

SO today was a pretty good day food wise. I bypassed the shake for breakfast and had eggs instead, which was a good choice. Then for lunch I had 3 peices of crab, 2 pieces of lunch meat, and some cheetos. The only thing that stunk was my afternoon. I did hit the candy drawer and had another 1.5oz of chips late afternoon because I was hungry.I havent decided if I was actually hungry or not, but it wasnt bad calories wise. However, when I got home from work it was a different story. My stepson decided that at daycare he would try to cut a piece of his own hair off and blame another kid. Not cool. My husband decided he wanted to wait until I got home to "have a family discussion" about what to do about him. This also means that he was waiting for me to come home and do something. Needless to say Ive been the evil stepmom today and I dished out the punishment. Life will be ruined for our son without the TV and his bike. Hopefully he will learn.
ape087

ape087

0
SpecialK1960's Funny Funny Blog
 

Another Thing Made Me Laugh Today

In keeping with my juvenile and silly sense of humor, I have to share this. I saw something today that made me laugh out loud.   What surprises me is that I had read it before and did not think for a minute it was all that funny. But when I read it today I bust out laughing. Here goes.   On one of the forums someone wanted to encourage another member to take charge of a particular aspect of her diet. She used the saying "time to put on your big girl panties."   "Big girl panties?" On a weight loss website? That is a level of irony that is just hilarious. Completely unintended. But funny. Now if we could get someone to work in a "lunch lady brasserie" joke, we would have the perfect website.
SpecialK1960

SpecialK1960

2
I'll make my own luck
 

The Journey (Post 2)

So, this morning on my drive to work, I got to thinking about "being on a journey". I've always found the whole "this is a journey" thing a little cheeseball, but now that I'm ON IT, I realize it's a completely accurate description. The trick will be staying on it! I started envisioning this process as a road trip (my favorite) and it struck me that I'm still in my driveway, and I'm not getting on the road today! I got the referral to the nutritionist in the mail yesterday but when I called, the scheduling office was already closed. This morning I left the dang paper at home so I couldn't call at work. By the time I got home, it was too late to call again!! Better luck tomorrow, I already put it in my purse for tomorrow, I did make SOME progress today. I called my insurance to verify that WLS is a covered benefit on my ***. She said it is "as long as your PCP says it's medically necessary" but I already know there are other prerequisites. The woman on the phone just kept referring me back to my PCP - she didn't even know what a vertical sleeve gastrectomy was!! Fortunately, I used to work for the company that I'm currently insured through, so I knew how to locate their medical policy online to get the requirements myself. I was surprised to find they haven't changed much in the last 5 years since I worked for them! LOL! AND! VSG IS COVERED! yay!!   Eligibility: be at least 18 years of age. CHECK! Be BMI 40+. (less enthusiastically) Check. **the rest I still need to do: Documentation from the surgeon that I have completed: - a nutrition program, which may include a VLC diet or recognized commercial diet based weight loss program AND - Behavior modifications or behavioral health interventions AND - Counseling and instruction on exercise and increased physical activity AND - Ongoing support for lifestyle changes to make and maintain appropriate choices that will reduce health risk factors and improve overall health AND - psych eval w/i 12 mo AND - absence of psychological comorbidity that could contribute to weight management and/or an eating disorder AND - patient willingness to comply with preoperative and postoperative treatment instructions.   Seems like a lot, but really it's what? Nutritionist consult (working on scheduling that), a psych eval (need to ask about that), and going to the seminar the hospital does should cover the rest. Right? Or am I way off?   I'm getting worried about how much this is going to cost. Despite being on an ***, i have a LOT of out of pocket expenses. I have a $500/day copay for the hospital stay. Plus it's $40 copay every time I see the PCP and goes up to $60 for specialists (including the nutritionist I have to see (at least 4 visits, per my referral slip), the psych eval and visits to the bariatric Dr. too!!). I can just see this being a real financial hardship. I know it will be worth it, and it's NOT a deterrent for me, but I'm just realistically trying to see how I can squeeze this money out of my budget right now and the outlook is not good!! I was trying to realistically think about how much time I could AFFORD to take off work when I have surgery and I started getting a little panicky! How am I going to afford this? WHY does my insurance suck so bad (I WORK FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY - I WOULD THINK I'D GET THE BEST!!! WRONG!)??? And then thinking about long term expenses like how am I going to afford all the new clothes I'm gonna need? And the vitamins and protein shakes, and gym membership and yadda yadda yadda -   and then I realized that that's why it's a journey. And why it's especially like a road trip. All this hardship and work and everything is like a long, sweaty ride to The Grand Canyon. The one where you're in a car with a bunch of people and the air went out, and you're all crabby and you've been on the road for a couple of days and starting to stink and you're delayed because the car broke down and then... you get to The Grand Canyon. And it's amazing. It changes your life. You'll always remember the moment you saw it, and chances are, you'll recall the trip as a lot more fun than the reality. It's the destination that's important and makes everything else worthwhile. But the getting there is a real pain in the you-know-what.   *sigh* So yeah, I'm already starting to get overwhelmed, but I know that all the sacrifice will pay off. I'm keeping my eye on the prize, but there's a lot I need to work out. IF my timeline for this that's in my mind (based on my various research and talking to my dr.), I could be eligible for surgery as soon as December. And if that's the case, everyone I know is gonna just have to DEAL with not getting a present from me this Christmas!! lol!!   In the meantime, I'm just going to have to keep my mind on my money and my money on my mind for a while... and STAY POSITIVE!
makemyownluck

makemyownluck

0
AJDuke's Blog
 

Insurance Needs To Do A Better Job!

I thought that I had done all my homework in May on the subject of insurance and what they expected of me. I thought wrong!!! When I called insurance company in May they told me that the VSG was covered, I needed a psyc evaluation, a nutrition appointment, a normal pap, some blood work, an upper gi and a recomendation from my pcp. My surgeon's office also called to make sure that I have everything in place that I need, and were informed of the same things as myself. Today I called the insurance company to see if I had been approved for surgery, to my surprise I had not! I have not been on a supervised diet for 6 months. I do not find this surprising, because I lots of insuance companies require it, but I was not informed of it the first 3 times that I called to make sure of coverage. When I asked about it today, it is the doctor that is reviewing my case for the insurance company who reccomends the supervised diet. My surgeon has set up a conference call to speak with the Insuance company and their doctor reviewing my case. Please say a little prayer that this gets taken care of. On the bright side I have been on a supervised diet for 2 months and lost 13lbs.! YAY ME! Those two months will be part of my 6 month diet if I have to do it.
AJDuke

AJDuke

1
DivaK's Blog
 

One Month Officially Today

Well today is officially one month! I was sleeved on July 2nd and today is August 2nd. I can't believe how time has passed me by. I am happy about my progress. I have even placed a pair of jeans that are officially too big in the "to be given away pile". I have not gone back to my doctor for my official one month follow up but according to my scale I am down 18 pounds which is incredible. I am still working on not eating too much. Last ***ht I ate some string cheese and I must have ate it too fast because in my sleep it decided it wanted to come back up. This has only happened to me once before so now I know not to eat after 7 pm. Overall, I feel pretty good. I have to remember to take my Vitamin D and Calcium tablets because the I only remember the B12 in the morning and by late afternoon Im too tired. I have been excercising but have fallen off the wagon, so I need to get back on it.   Well that is all of my thoughts for now...please let me know how my fellow sleevers are doing!   Thanks for reading!!!
DivaK

DivaK

2
desertmom's Blog
 

O Sh&@!

i just read the scariest thread on OH.   A lady,4 years and 8 months out and gaining rapidly.Feeling lost and having no idea how to get out of the mud.She is back to not really knowing how she will lose the weight again.   This scares me senseless! What if what I think is mindful changes is just a matter of not being able to eat a lot?What if the WANT to outeat the sleeve starts in me too?How am I going to do this in the long term?I dont want to be on diet for the rest of my life.   I can do what I am doing now for the rest of my life,IF ONLY IT WORKS!   The problem does seem to be eating around the sleeve.Eating constantly,eating junk like crisps and a lot of carbs and sugar.But what if the changes I feel,like not depriving but not over indulging,keeping a good balance,saying no to myself to bad stuff most of the time,isnt real?   What if I am not learning to eat like a normal skinny person?   How do we know what will work for the FOREVER we need?   I am really freaked out by this as I saw a therapist for a year.In that year she aimed to teach me what normal was.I lost 70 pounds in 6 months and then went on holiday to the family.My brother and me had an argument and he seriously hurt my feelings.It was 4 days before I was to come home.I GAVE MYSELF PERMISSION to eat emosionally just for those 4 days until I could get away from them and I LOST NORMAL in those 4 days.I never could get back on track and it took me about 3 months to regain all 70 pounds again.This was 2 years ago.   What if this happens again.Of course I have the resolve to not let it.Maybe that is another reason to have all the plastics done.Arms,legs,tummy,boobs.If I gain a 100 pounds then I will surely explode and that will just be the end of that!   Now I have to try and calm down to sleep!
desertmom

desertmom

1
froma2toa1's Blog
 

Just Starting Out

This is probably my 100th attempt at starting a blog of any sort...I am never good at keeping up with it. However, even if no one ever reads this at least its a personal diary of sorts for me.   I have the same story as most if not all out here - tried everything under the sun to diet. I went to a weight loss seminar and a light bulb finally went off in my head and I was aware that I had found people that understood my struggles and knew how to help me.   I am currently working on getting all of my required items before I can submit the request to insurance. Fingers crossed everything can be submitted by mid-August and surgery for sometime in October or November.   I am positive and hopeful that this will work.
froma2toa1

froma2toa1

1
Lyra's Canto
 

Warning: Female Stuff

I cried today.   To be honest, I'm still kinda shocked about the above statement. I can count on one hand the number of times I've cried in the last decade. I've personally never thought tears fixed anything and am a 'going in guns blazing' instead of 'delicate weeping beauty' sort of lady. Steel southern magnolia, anyone?   So there I was, looking forward to my day off and realized that something had happened that hasn't in a number of years. Ever since I gained that last big amount of weight I developed pcos and my period stopped. I never told anyone, but I felt so cut off from my sexuality and from being a woman when that happened. I also worried that maybe my uterus was broken and I would never be able to have kids. I think I submerged those feelings of inadequacy/guilt/anger/despair so deeply that it wasn't until I dropped 65 pounds and get my period back that they just overtook me. It definitely rocked my world and I can't believe how happy I am with bloating, back pains, and food cravings again. *shakes head*   It's been several weeks since I've updated and I apologize, yet again. So much is going on and life is good, if confusing. My weight loss has been slow and steady and I'm 14.4 pounds away from Onderland. I sometimes get caught up in the mental belief that I am still 280 and then I realize that I can mostly shop in the regular clothes section now. My grandparents saw me for the first time in 3 months (since surgery) and my grandpa got all chocked up and teary eyed. They've been so worried about me. People keep telling me how pretty I am and I hope that I can soon start to believe them without doing the automatic 'big girl humor' to laugh off something that I don't believe. It's nice to not feel like people are looking at me and judging me all the time. I actually flirted with a guy the other day and didn't feel like said guy was only being polite back. I don't feel as invisible anymore and it's taking time to get used to that.   Another thing that has surprised me is the change in my personality. I've always been somewhat hyper and 'artistic' (read: eccentric) and people have said that while I am still funny that I've calmed down a lot. I think I subconsciously felt like I had to be overly amusing to overcome my weight. As if I somehow had to justify my existence in a group of prettier/skinnier people. Which is a load of crap, but apparently my subconscious is an idiot.   So many changes and every day I thank god that I did this surgery. I sometimes feel whistful about what my life would have been like if I had been skinny from the beginning, but you can't change the past. You can't change the hand that life has dealt you....although you can definitely throw in a couple of cards and pull new from the deck! Life changes so quickly, and I must say that I will deeply enjoy what is to come as I continue to lose more weight and find out who I really am.   Well, I'll enjoy everything except the hair loss. I've resigned myself to shedding more than Chewbacca the Wookie, but damn, it sucks. If anybody is looking for an amazing hair gel that helps give curl, definition, and body to whatever hair you have left look up Herbal Essences Curl Control Gel. It's new and worth every single penny!
Lyra

Lyra

5
bigbyrd's Blog
 

Help?! I Have So Many Questions

Ok so I have diabetes, and hyperension, and I weigh over 300lbs. I have been to 3 different information sessions and I have finally decided to get weight loss surgery. I think I am going with the gastric sleeve and Dr. Macik, but I am not sure. Has anyone used Dr. Macik? If so what were your thoughts and experiences?   My other concern is that United Healthcare will not want to pay for the surgery. Has anyone had to deal with United if so what was your experience?   I have my 1st appoointment on 8/27/12 and I am excited!!! I just hope my insurance does not make this a difficult fight for me and that I can get it done!   Ohhh one more thing...excess skin?! I know I am going to have alot...does excercise help it or will I need cosmetic surgery?   I appreciate your thoughts, stories, and info.....please please tell me whats up, what to expect!!!   BigBird hopes to be a littler bird soon!
bigbyrd

bigbyrd

2
New Beginnings
 

24 Hours To Go

I have decided to go on an adventure. It was a huge decision on my part because it is a life changing and body altering choice. First, I think a little back ground is needed.   I have always been a "big girl" although, looking at pictures, not always as big as I thought. I actually prefer the term "BBB - Big Bodacious Broad" but that's just me! I have always been comfortable in my own skin. I was always active and a full participant in my life until a few years ago. Over the course of the years, I have had many, many stomach surgeries since my twins were born (that would be 25 years!). I realize that there are a lot of "always" but there really is no other way for me to say it. So this brings me to July 2009. I had two major surgeries in two weeks due to intestinal strangulation. This was a tremendous "wow" moment for me for many reasons. The main one was my dear husband. We had only been married for six months when this happened. Not only did I have these two surgeries but the next month, due to an infection, they actually had to do another surgery and leave my stomach open for over eight long months. I was connected to a wound vac and it was less than fun. This greatly impacted our life as you can well imagine.   As it turned out, I had to have more surgery to close my stomach but the surgeon would not do it until I stopped smoking. I smoked for over 35 years so this was no small request but I think I was actually ready to stop. I took that medication (which shall remain nameless) that, in my opinion, is a miracle cure for smoking. Contrary to some reports, I had no side effects. Within ten days, I was done and able to have my closure surgery.   I was doing fantastic!! I was breathing well, losing weight, helping to mow the yard, and actually walking. Shortly after this, we moved back to Texas, which I was totally stoked about because my kids and grandkids were all here. As it turned out, though, it was a bit stressful at first and I began smoking again. Not a good excuse and I knew I could not do that to myself so I decided to take my miracle medication again and again it worked like a charm.   Well, okay, so there was one small issue this time. I was sitting at work and my hands started hurting. I looked down and literally watched myself blow up like a balloon. Apparently, the medication was reacting with another one I had started taking. From February to April of 2011, I gained over 60 pounds. The total since then is over 80 lbs and its all fluid. I have done everything that I have been asked to do but nothing has worked.   So here we are to today, July 16, 2012. In 24 hours, I will be having a surgery called the gastric sleeve. I am very excited about this and cannot wait to have my life back. It will be a huge change in how my husband and I live our life, especially for the first few months. First off, I really won't be eating for awhile. My husband is a fantastic cook and it will be as hard on him because we are foodies. I'm not really worried though. I'm so looking forward to, first, being able to breath and, second, hopefully, not being in so much pain every day. All the fluid has made breathing a huge issue for me. I'm asthmatic so not a good thing.   At 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, I will be happily, excitedly and enthusiastically going under the knife. I am going to continue to blog about my progress, not only for myself, but, hopefully, to help someone else along the way. I also am going to post a picture of me now which is a HUGE issue for me because as much as I am comfortable being me, I am not happy with me physically right now. But changes are a coming!!!    
Leslie Hudson-Couch

Leslie Hudson-Couch

1
Sleeved by Dr. Kelly in Mexico
 

Restaurant Week (Or My $57 Lesson Learned)

Savannah, GA is in its infamous Restaurant Week. It is a way to get people (locals) to come out and try different restaurants during the hot summer when tourism typically goes down. The premise is that there is a $30 set menu with various chef featured items.   My sister-in-law (SIL) invited me to go and I thought why not? I was hoping for smaller portions and spaced out dining which would accomodate my sleeve.   I got to the restaurant first and ordered a class of wine ($7). I was sipping on it slowly and managed to only finish half the glass the entire evening! For the appetizer course I had chicken and waffle sliders and split half with my SIL, who shared her fried green tomato appetizer with me. I was getting concerned because I was FULL (couldn't eat another bite full) and the wine had started to heat me up (and it was already a hot and sticky which is typically weather this time of year). I was seriously getting uncomfortable and then they bring out our dinner part of the meal (we weren't even done our apps yet!). I ordered shrimp and grits and my SIL had a mahgarita pizza (which was flipping HUGE). I had a small piece of her pizza and could barely finish it and I didn't lay a finger on my shrimp and grits (and we still had dessert to go).   We brought our desert to their roof top bar (which allowed for some movement and resettling in my stomach). I gave my SIL half of my dessert and I took a small spoonful of her cheesecake. I managed to eat the cheesecake and a quarter of my small chocolate lava cake before I had to call it quits.   I enjoyed sitting and chatting with my SIL for several hours (during which my other half of the glass of wine was left without touching it) and I sipped on water the rest of the evening.   Altogether my meal, tip, and parking cost $57 for essential a half a glass of wine and an appetizer. Lesson learned! I would have been better off just ordering an app and glass of wine ala cart and not touching the Restaurant Week menu at all.
mrsteacher

mrsteacher

3
Lets keep trying
 

Today Was My Unfill

So today I went back to my bariatric doctor for the first time in almost a year. Let me tell you, I was not looking forward to that and was a bit nervous. The last time I had went there I had a pretty bad experience with the nurse practioner, and decided not to go back. Since no one else would take me, and I am obviously filled too tight, I went back. It was a pretty good experience today. The nurse practioner who I hadnt liked is no longer there, which was a relief. Natalie, my new NP, asked why I was here, and was very considerate of my situation. I am 1lb heavier than I was when I got the surgery (which is 4.5lbs less than I was 2 weeks ago! ) but Im taking that in stride. Im trying my best to measure my food, and chart my food. I bought an electronic scale today from bath and body works, and let me tell ya, I think it's gonna help! A coworker (and fellow bandster) challenged me to measure my food and stay between 6-8 ounces per meal, and I said GAME ON! We'll see if it helps (I think it will). I told myself if I lost 5 lbs in 2 weeks I will get my hair colored, and I really want that done. I dunno if 2.5lbs a week is too much, but we shall see. Wish me luck fellow bandsters, Im trying to do this right now.
ape087

ape087

4
Mimi's Journey 07/03/2012
 

I Was Bad...sugar Today

I was bad today. They served us lunch and I gave in to a brownie. I have not had real sugar in over 3 months. I really just wanted to see how it tasted and I also wanted to see if I would experience "dumping." I guess I'm a sadist or something. The other day I was happy to have felt "restriction" and ended up vomiting.   Well I didn't have a dumping reaction to the sugar. I did enjoy the treat while it lasted, but afterwards I felt I'd fall into the old craving of sweets. I surprisingly have not. With it being that time of the month, no less! (I know TMI, but hey this is why we have the forum!).   Overall I feel I've tested something within myself with this cheat...but I don't know what...
Mz_Elle

Mz_Elle

4
incontrol(almost)'s Blog
 

Nerves Before Surgery

hello,   first, i would like to thank all those who share their stories. i have been able to find so much information and have had many questions answered.   my surgery is 23 days away and i am starting to get really nervous. i have been in this process for a while and i am sure it is the right step for me. now that it is finally "real" with the surgery scheduled, i am experiencing anxiety.   does anyone have any tips or words of wisdom to lessen the pre-surgery anxiety?   thank you.
incontrol(almost)

incontrol(almost)

6
I'll make my own luck
 

*deep Breath* (First Post)

So, I'd say I'm PRE-pre-op. I'm terribly obese. I can't even tell you how obese because my doctor doesn't have a scale that goes that high. He hasn't had a scale that goes high enough... for a while. I'll be 32 in exactly 20 days and I've been fat my whole life. I've never been happy about that. I've never been proud of it. In fact, I've mostly tried to ignore it and hope everyone else does too. I've literally been the elephant in the room.   I considered surgery so many times in my life. But, I don't know, there was something nagging in the back of my mind saying that surgery was a bad idea. For whatever reason, I decided that I need to do something now. I've already "wasted" so much of my life being fat - because, sadly, I am a total hermit and don't go out, therefore have been single for WAY too long. I have zero confidence when it comes to men. Furthermore, I don't even like the idea of having someone touch me right now. I disgust myself. I know that might come off as totally self-loathing, but I really don't hate myself. I hate my situation. I want to change it. As someone who has tried to keep blinders on about it for years, I actually think it's the healthiest thing for me to look at myself through a strangers eyes. I'm no longer some chubby girl who's still kinda cute. I'm FAT. I don't want to be anymore!!   So, looking around at the various surgical options, I think I really want VSG. I talked to my PCP on a visit 2 weeks ago about surgery and he said we can get started so the insurance will approve it. He's referred people for it before, people with similar insurance as mine. At this last visit, I was also officially diagnosed with high blood pressure (160/90) and he put me on meds to bring it down. I go see him again Monday, and I have a whole bunch of questions written out for him. I've been seeing him for years and he respects me (I think) and he knows I have some medical knowledge (I'm a health insurance underwriter - YES, I'm probably that jerk you hate that declined you coverage) so I'm really hoping to get a better understanding of how the process works and what I can do to speed the process along. I got a referral to a Nutritionist from him on my last visit, I'm calling them tomorrow to schedule an appointment. (the referral came in the mail today - NO, I promise I haven't been procrastinating since 2 weeks ago!!)   I'M SO NERVOUS!!! I talked to my best friend about it last weekend and she wasn't as supportive as I thought she'd be. She's also overweight, but not nearly as much as I am. Despite the fact that we've shared with each other multiple times how unhappy we are with our weight, I really think she sees WLS negatively. She's the kind of friend who will support me anyway, but I just feel like deep down, she thinks I'm making a mistake - and that bums me out. Then again, I was one of those surgery nay-sayers 3 weeks ago, so I can also understand that A, the news was probably a shock and B. I could be projecting. She's got serious issues of her own to deal with, so maybe I'm putting too much value into the conversation!   I told my mom about it today. She was so happy for me! She's also overweight and said, "I've been wanting to do something like that too, but I'm too scared to take the plunge!! I'll let you go first - PAVE THE WAY!" I wish I had talked to my mom before I talked to my friend!!! (Isn't that how it always goes? lol) Anyway, Mom agreed to take good care of me post-op, so I got that part taken care of, albeit incredibly premature.   I realize I've barely dipped my toes in this whole process and I'm already so anxious to do this! I want my life to change. I want to go through what everyone describes here - the ups, the downs, the highs, the lows - I just want to turn my whole life around so I can go run down the street if I want to, or not have to worry about if there's a close parking spot or if that friend's house has a bunch of stairs.. OR ICE IN THE WINTER!! Ugh! I swear, FAT GIRL NITEMARE is falling on some ice and it's impossible to GET UP!! lol - gotta keep a sense of humor about these things, right?   Anyway, I really look forward to this journey. I hope I can stick to it, I hope I can get this done... wish me luck! Hope to find some cool people with a sense of humor to get through this process with on this site, and IRL.
makemyownluck

makemyownluck

7
cadezma77's Blog
 

Feel Like The Drs Aren't Listening...

Someday I am going to have a positive entry...lol I have been having nausea for 2 weeks now, the past couple days has been 24/7. I also have this horrible taste in my mouth...YUCK! So I called my LB dr (nurse) and she tells me she's pretty sure it's a gastric bug that has been going around, prescribes zofran and tells me to call back in a week if I am still feeling this way or if I vomit. After taking the zofran, no relief! The only thing I got from that was a big ol' headache. I call my family dr (nurse) and tell her what's going on and that I am kind of looking for a second opinion. She states that it probably is a bug and if it's anything lapband related they would just refer me back to the LB Dr because they don't mess with that! This is frustrating to me. My family doctor could do blood work, order xrays and what not....correct??? SO because I have a lapband I can't see him for anything stomach related?? All I know is I have four kids and a job and I cannot continue to function feeling like a big pile of pooooo!!! anyone that ive talked to said to demand some tests, but how when I can't get past the nurse. I know it's thier job to be the go between but I feel like they are blocking me. just very sick...n frustrated!
cadezma77

cadezma77

3

PatchAid Vitamin Patches

Bariatric Forums

For Patients

Health Professionals

Search Surgeons

Bariatric Surgeons: Want to research a weight loss surgery surgeon? Enter their last name below to start!

×