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

Blogs

Blog 65542
 

Happy, Happy Second Band-Birthday to me ;-)

Today is my Birthday! Happy Birthday to me I <3 my band. I have never been happier in my life, well maybe when my two children were born! I was banded June 29, 2009, and have lost 100 pounds and kept it off. I have gained and lost up five, down ten, but never any more. I have had many Fills and many Unfills. I have been so tight it was painful. I have been so loose it was scary, because I was able to snack with no control. I have tested my band to the limits. My band works when I work with my band. I have learned how to eat real food, not too much, mostly plants, with proteins first. I choose to prepare all my own foods. I enjoy cooking now. I enjoy eating SLOW! I am healthier and my family is healthier today. I am three weeks into my recovery from my full body Nip and Tuck. My Lap band surgery was way easier and faster to recover from than this. My stitches and tape come off next week, four weeks of R &R, I have enjoyed it. I have excellent insurance and it paid for everything except what they consider cosmetic. I had to pay very little in the big picture. It was well worth it as far as I am concerned. I have a NEW Better BODY. I have to look hard to see that it really is me in the mirror. I have new clothes and I would do this over again if anyone asked me. I want to give Best Wishes to anyone who may be considering this journey. I know when I started, I read, and read, and blogged and blogged it helps. I am grateful for this site I know it has helped me and my journey has been so much more successful because I have been able to write about my ups and downs along the way. Happy Birthday to me I am proud of myself today. When I blow my candles out on my cake tonight it will be wishing the best for all the newbies. Thanks to all my LB buddies I love you. imaluckydog
imaluckydog

imaluckydog

7
Gardendiva3's Blog
 

Breaking the CYCLE

What I love about VST is reading people's blogs and finding out there is an entire community of people that relate to what we are feeling and can empathize with our situation. In the everyday world - people judge you for your size so we go through that endless cycle of joining WW, losing 20 pounds and then gaining 28 back after we get bored with the plan. Next we try Jenny or Nutri____ and to make up for the flavorless "mailorder food" we sneak real food to "fill up the corners". After that "failure" we decide to try slimslow or optislow or some other shake program...lose some weight but gain it back the first time we watch a Pizza Hut commercial. And...we're starving after a few hours ....   The problem with this cyclical method of TRYING to lose weight is we feel like failures every time we don't achieve our goal. Are we really failures? No. Could we have tried harder? Maybe. The point is the one thread that is common is we keep typing to lose weight by changing the type of food we are eating and counting endless fat grams, calories, and fiber.   Through VSG - you will succeed. The sleeve is going to take one important factor out of the equation...hunger followed by binging. Not gonna happenl! How do I know - because I've read about hundreds of women and men who DID succeed --on this website. I haven't read a single entry of "oh gee I wish I had not done this ..."   You will succeed because the single fact that you can't eat too much or you'll be seeing it again.... will help you modify former behaviors. It will happen. You've changed the formula by electing to have surgery...and that was not an EASY decision. Have a great surgery!
gardendiva3

gardendiva3

4
Anxiety vs. Excitement
 

Anxiety vs. Excitement

Well, as the date for the completion of my "wellness class" draws near I find myself battling the fight between Anxiety and Excitement! Our classes began in March and since then I have lost about 30lbs. Which I am very proud of! I have made many changes in my daily routine, starting with having a daily routine! Exercise is probably the biggest change I have made and the affects are paying off. The boost of energy and just overall feeling better are worth every minute I spend sweating! But.... After reading the post-op diet and instructions I can't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. I really feel like I will be staring at the clock and center my well-being on intake of food and or liquid. Not much else seems to be able to get done during the first couple weeks. Granted I am VERY excited about my new life, but I can't help but feel anxious about all the instructions to keep in mind. I'm so excited about loosing this weight that its basically all I talk about. This whole journey consumes my life, but in a good way. I'm lucky to have many supportive co-workers and family behind me to push me along, not to mention a great friend who went thru the surgery already who inspired me to make these much needed changes in my own life. It is so difficult for me to wrap my brain around the fact that this time next year I will be smaller...significantly so. No one can tell me or predict how this will change my life, only that it is for the better. From one minute to the next I'm happy and excited to aprehensive and anxious. I know that these feelings are normal but there is really so much to remember and keep straight! I'm seriously hoping that there is an "app for that"!
Kmaggie528

Kmaggie528

0
Shonda7911's Blog
 

Day 4 of post-op

HELLO, EVERYONE JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HOW MY WEEK WENT. 7/11-13/2011 . i WAS ON A TOUR OF MISSISSIPPI AND THEN WENT TO ALABAMA. HAD SURGERY ON THE 14TH. TODAY I FEEL PRETTY GOOD. A LITTLE TIRED BUT I THOUGHT THAT WOULD HAPPEN SINCE I'V BEEN SLEEP FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. TODAY I'M AT WORK. HAVE NOT FELT HUNGRY AT ALL. STILL HAVE TO THINGS TODO WHEN I GET HOME. I THINK THIS WAS A GOOD DICISON.    
Shonda7911

Shonda7911

2
deedee72's Blog
 

Stuck and sliming for the first and last time!

Getting stuck and sliming is so not the business! I ate part of a chicken wing while driving Saturday afternoon. I had just gotten up and was on my way home with my kids (spent the night at my sister's house) I know it sounds crazy but sometimes I forget to chew and eat slowly like I should. I think the reason for that is because I had never gotten stuck or had any bad episodes with the band. (besides some slow moving bread last week) I instantly felt that stuck feeling and it didnt go away after a few minutes like before. The pain kept getting worse. Then the infamous sliming started. I was using a napkin after first to get rid of it, but it came a point that I had to pull over and spit it out. When I got home I laid down and after about an hour, the pain subsided. I never want to go through that again!!! This last fill brought me to 6cc's and my fills usually have a delayed effect. I tighten up about 2 weeks after. I will be more careful from now on!! On another note, I have on a size large skirt and a size large blouse today!!!    
deedee72

deedee72

5
Jadaboo1's Blog
 

An Example For My Family

Along with the health issues I had and wanting to look better, I also had the surgery as an example to by daughter. She is 22 years old and seriously overweight. I am worried about her future and her health. Since I was banded, I cook healthier foods (some even lap band recipes), that my family enjoys. I do not purchase sodas or any other "bad" foods. Everyone can eat what I prepare, or go out for anything else they wish to eat. One great thing about the surgery is I am rarely hungry. If I have a taste for something that is not "good", I taste it and move on. I don't think my daughter will have the surgery, but now I don't think she'll need to. Both she and my husband are exercising and making much better food choices. Our entire family is healthier and looking better, and for that, I am truly grateful.
gcmy

gcmy

2
Alicia's Blog
 

So the Journey Begins

I'm anxious, I'm anxious. I suspect that is how it will be until I have the surgery and possibly beyond. I've spoken with my surgeon and I'm going to have the surgery sometime in September. I have to wait until September because that's when the money will be available. I'm self pay and my boyfriend is loaning me a good portion of the money.   My surgeon has spoken with my primary care provider and they are both working very well together to set up my pre-surgery testing. He's very thorough and so is she. I love them both. Neither judges people and they simply want to help you be the best person you can be.   My home situation is rough right now for many reasons. Some I can't control and other problems that I need to be better about understanding what role I play with them.   Food is always tough for me. Essentially I love it. It tastes good. However I'm slowly allowing it to assassinate me. I could go back to the when and wheres of when I became obese as a child and what I've done as an adult to combat it but we all go through the same roller coaster of losing and gaining, being in control and then feeling like we're starving until we lose all control. For the last 10-15 years I have always exercised regularly and I feel confident that this will be a big help for me as I rebuild my health. I have concerns that I will "miss" my current relationship with food. I think that's normal. We are like any addict that needs treatment.   I have concerns that I will not have enough support after surgery. Family, friends, partners, they all intend to be supportive and there for you however I feel that it may be short lived and that they do not truly understand the magnitude of the change. My bf always likes to eat out, when I want to tell him no, I feel like I'm depriving him of enjoyment and I am secretly allowing him to encourage my over-eating. I know he doesn't see it that way, he's not the addict, I am. The house I currently live in is filled with garbage food. Processed food, sugary food, fatty food etc. I feel like bull dozing it and starting over but it's not my home and how do you impose your lifestyle on others? He would eat healthy with me if it was just us but I feel that other people who live there would never even try. I could explain that's it's poisoning their children and grand children but I'm pretty sure it would be a lost conversation. Who am I to preach, I'm the addict.   So for now I've resigned myself to the fate of the fact that I may have to be an island or get my support from others in the same boat. Surely there are others out there just like me    
aliciab

aliciab

1
LUCYCAT's Blog
 

ALMOST THERE

I am counting down the days. Next week Frankie is on Vacation so I will get to hold the fort alone. It will make the work week go quickly. The week after that, I work two days then I have taken 3 vacation days.   The 27th will be my education class and I will need to register at the hospital. The 29th will be my preop appointment with the surgeon. I didn't see the need to just go in and work one day between my vacation days, so I took thursday off too.   My surgeon seems to do things a little differently than everyone else. He will put everyone on a liquid diet 2-3 days before the surgery- rather than weeks. Some doctors take patients off of their medication weeks in advance. He hasn't said a word to me about mine.   It makes me nervous. I worry that I will get down to the pre op appointment only to have him freak out on me. What!?? You Haven't been on a liquid diet and you Have been taking your meds? And it will delay my surgery.   I guess I just need to trust that if they had more to tell me- they would have told me. It isn't like this is their first rodeo.   I've started having dreams about the surgery. Well, not the surgery itself but the aftermath. In my dream last night I was freaking out because I didn't know what I was going to say when coworkers asked how I was losing weight.   I am not sure what I will do with myself the two weeks I am off work. I will be crazy inside 4 days. I haven't had 2 straight weeks off of work...ever.    
LUCYCAT

LUCYCAT

0
Daniella's Blog
 

12 days post op

Well I'm going into my third week. Last week was a very scary week for me. I had a lot of temptations. My worst times seem to be at work. I'm trying to find a way to best handle this. I want to eat more hard foods and I know I'm not ready for that. I also stayed very gassy. I broke down and called the doctor on Friday. I felt like I was abnormal. My patient advocate told me I was fine. I wouldn't be able to eat much and my weight loss may stall. He told me as the weeks go on and the more active I got, I would see the weight drop. I am happy to say that I have lost inches. I wore a pair of jeans and a shirt that was supper tight and I could wear it comfortably. That gives me hope. My husband is the best and he has been a rock. He helps me stay strong. I don't regret my decision one bit. It was in my best interest. The one thing that I can say is that my blood sugar has been awesome. I'm learning to keep it leveled. I thank God for his blessings.
Daniella

Daniella

4
TTkkTTkk's Blog
 

From: Updates

<a href=" http://www.TickerFactory.com/"> <img border="0" src=" http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10744;459/st/20111108/e/1+year+Since+Gastric+Band/dt/-10/k/b1f1/event.png"></a> <a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/"> <img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10728;133/st/20101108/e/Gastric+Banding+Surgery/dt/-10/k/219f/event.png"></a> <a href=" http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wneS29c/"> <br style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> <br style="text-indent: 0px !important; "> <img border="0" src=" http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wneS29c/weight.png"></a>     Source: Updates
TTkkTTkk

TTkkTTkk

0
here we go...
 

loony loony loony

ah. diary. i hate how you block out words you consider naughty. i will simply have to be more creative.   i went out to lunch today with a friend. the first meal out with a non-family member. i like this girl a lot and occasionally thought about letting it slip and just telling her i have the band. but i kept catching myself. if she turns out to be a real and true friend then yes. but until then i am sick of bringing it up, anyway.   still having these crazy anxiety attacks.. not as often, but they're there and they fcuk with my being. and i dont know how to attack them, from what angle. sometimes smoking pot helps, but then i just want to eat and eat and eat and eat and eat until i die. which hasnt been helping too much these last few days.   i still can't imagine the weight being off. i'm about 265 right now. i gain and lose up to 8 pounds a week, it's insanity. i shouldnt weigh myself every day. it's a terrible habit to get into, and i'm sure most of the people on here would agree with me.   i need to be eating more than lean protein and oatmeal. gotta put veggies and multi-vitamins in. STOP SLACKING.   speaking of slacking. - working out. i was all gung-ho for a while then it lost some(all) steam. but this week my beautiful amazing mother and i are going to a personal trainer together, to get our workout on. i'm glad for this.   i want to build up stamina so that i may stay at the gym longer, and perhaps even know what i'm doing while i'm there. this weight absolutely can not come off fast enough. at the start of this year i was 304. today i'm 264. a few days ago i was 262. i'm a yoyo. but at least i'm getting ******* down with my yoyo self.   it just cant be ALL about the food. this depression comes from sitting inside, alone, all day because i dont feel good enough for... society. going to an all ladies gym can help that. definitely. working out with mum will be fun.   i see all these women on the forums that are married and it fascinates me. my mind is fukced and all but wow. letting someone touch my body at this weight is not even an option. but then it goes beyond that to things way more psychological. like letting someone love me at this weight. just typing it out makes me feel ill. so... obviously i have deep, deep issues.   anyway. was i going somewhere with this? i want this ******* weight off of me. literally and figuratively. i want to get my ass on the ball, eat more veggies and go to the gym at least LEAST twice a week to start. just to start. relax into it.   my blood sugar's been good. other than the past 2 days my eating has been tops.   my dad occasionally mentions the money he spent on me for this surgery and it makes me feel like a complete failure in life. even tho he doesn't mean to make me feel that way or anything. i dont know. someday i would like for my parents to be proud of me.   until then, i'm off into the wild blue yonder.. but not really. it's 1:20am and i am typing this from bed.   i want to meet other girls in my spot. why is that so hard?
jessyM

jessyM

4
How I lost 100lbs
 

No fills and counting....

The pounds go down on the scale...so it's been awhile since I've been on or blogged but just a quick update. I haven't had a fill since December... which was great at first then I got to the point where I was throwing up then ok then throwing up then ok... Not wanting to waste the co-pay and not get a fill I just decided to go it on my own.. Come late April/May I evidently hit my sweet spot because I've lost more weight in the last 3 months than I've lost the entire time I've had my band. I was starting to feel like I was a band failure hovering at the same weightloss since 6 months out of surgery... not really gaining, but not losing either.. or if I gained 10lbs losing it (hormonal) then just balancing out at the same range..   So now I am 1 yr 7 months out since surgery, it's been 8 months since my last fill and about 2.5 to 3 months since I hit my "sweet spot" I no longer HAVE to shop in fat girl stores, I am now able to shop in the skinny girl stores even if it's they're biggest size, it fits... So now my band is just truly giving me portion control...the way it's intended and now I'm losing losing losing.. I've also stopped weighing myself since the 1st...So I have absolutely no idea what I weigh at this point but everyone keeps telling me how I look like I've lost so much weight and I actually see the changes on an almost daily basis.   I guess I've just stopped worrying about it and just doing my best to live right and eat clean... always room for improvement and it's a process but it's getting better everyday! Hope you're all doing well.
Yvette1026

Yvette1026

6
Adge's Blog
 

Progress takes some time...

I am the type of person that wants instant gratification. Breaking my mentality has been a bit difficult, but I am getting there. Sunday I did well eating, Monday was eh, Tuesday decent, and Wednesday alright. Thursday I went into my Dr. for a fill and had gained 8 pounds since I last went (I think I was there 2-3 months ago). He put 3cc's in my band since I am starting fresh. I have been on liquids since Thursday. My Dr. has you on liquids the day of and 3 days after. Then 3 days of soft foods and then back to healthy eating habits. The Lord has blessed me with strength to keep at it. The soups are shakes are tiring now though, so I am excited tomorrow is my last day. I have not weighed myself for two reasons 1) I don't want to see progress and then make an excuse to go back to my old ways and 2) I don't want to have not made progress (or what I think progress should be) and give up. In time my self control will strengthen (with God's help) and I will be able to weigh 1-2 times a week, but not now.   I also ventured into working out. Since I am leaving in a month I joined Curves since I feel it is less intimidating than bigger gyms. I had my first workout today and it made me sweat more than I thought. The person that set me up took basic info, measurements, weight, and goals. When she asked me my goals I was surprised at what I even said. I said I would like to lose 7-10 pounds before I leave, be able to bend down and paint my toes, and fit comfortably in an airplane seat. She was glad my goals were something absolutely measurable and not all about the number on the scale. I plan to workout 5-6 days a week (30 minutes a day). It is a start and she was pleasantly surprised at how "movable" and flexible I am at my weight (I had to tell her that I was once an athlete).   All in all many changes this week, but I am happy about them. I am heading in the right direction for success. Lord willing I will lose 2 pounds by next Thursday. That is my goal for right now (and to workout 5-6 days).
Adge

Adge

8
dreamscancometrue's Blog
 

First Post Since Surgery

Well I am 3 days out and it has been fairly easy. I followed the liquid diet just about to a T and it paid off. My surgeon said it was the easiest surgery he had ever done. Everything went perfectly. Even the nurses were impressed that I was doing so well. Now honestly the first night I thought I was going to die. I kept getting gas bubbles that would cause me to gag. Everytime I gagged I thought my stomach was going to explode. When they say walk they really mean it. If I had walked more earlier in the day I would not have had these issues at night. The other kicker was the morhine made me sick as well. I think if I could have avoided the gaging I would have been on top of the world. All in all I am 3 days out now and still even with the gagging I am glad I did it. I am not having any issues with getting my liquids in and have been really shocked at how excited I have been about my pureed food. The other kicker is I started today. I think this actually has caused some of the pain and bloating that I have but just think...by the time I go back to work I will be done with it all for a month. Just trying to look for the positive. And to boot I have my pain medicine for surgery so the cramps have been virtually nonexistant or at least I havent really had to deal with them . Well I need to get off here and go take another lap around the house before its time for another nap.
kbowlin74

kbowlin74

2
Karon's Blog
 

Welcome to Banderland

Well on June 21st I began 3 weeks of liquid protein shakes with one small meal per day. I could have chicken and fish with a salad or some vegetables. But I mostly ate the salad everyday. The shakes were not as bad as many people seem to make them. I had order a lot of samples and bought the Body Fortress Super Protein Whey from Walmart and that was pretty good. I got 3 flavors in 2lb. containers for 40.00. That was a great deal. I bought them online. I could also have yogurt, preferably greek, strawberries and oatmeal. So it wasn't really too bad. I must admit that I did cheat on the 4th of July and had a hotdog and a hamburger. I was so nervous about that, but I just wanted one they smelled so good. Other than that, I was able to survive. Now when it came to my nerves that was a different story. I was getting nervous. Reading the different posts here on lapbandtalk.com some of them are negative and some people's experiences were not good. I began to question myself. My mind was saying "well you have lost 49 pounds maybe you can do this yourself." I would go back and forth with these thoughts. But then I would read a post that would say "you have yo-yo dieted before, you can lose the weight but you can't keep it off." So that would reinforce to me that I needed the help to do it and I would be committed again to do it. I had a countdown widget on my Android Tablet telling me how many days until the surgery. I would make comments on facebook about my big day but I didn't say what it was. If someone wanted to know what it was I would tell them to inbox me. It wasn't until they mentioned the guy from Pawn Stars on facebook that I finally alluded to the fact that I was having this done and even with that, I don't think many people picked up on what I was talking about. So I guess that's a good thing. The last 3 days were the hardest for me mentally. I began to worry about the surgery and my surgery got moved by one day. This then created a problem with my support person who had to attend court that morning. But my daughter would be off that day, however she is only 23 years old and I was fearing for the worst and I thought if something went wrong and they had to come out and tell her about it, she would probably faint or something. I kept telling her "remember I want to be recusitated". But God is good and as it turned out, i didn't have to be to the hospital until 9:30 and my surgery was to start about 11:30. So my daughter went with me and by the time I was getting wheeled into the OR, my other support person had arrived. So I was able to go in without event. As for taking anything to the hospital, you really don't need to take anything. I took slippers and a housecoat, but you have that IV in your arm so you can't put anything on anyway and they give you slippersocks and I kept them on. They also provide you with all your necessary toiletries. I would only suggest bringing your cellphone and maybe a computer or Tablet in case you can't sleep at night. Most hospitals have WiFi. Do not wear any jewelry or fingernail polish on your nails. Toenails are OK to be polished. So Wednesday morning July 13, I went in to begin this new life of mine. They took me back to the preparatory section. My daughter was allowed with me during this time and that made it nice. They had me undress and put on this old ugly "gown" and then the nurse put an needle in my hand to which she attached IV drip. Then a series of nurses, techs and the anesthesia people came in asking question after question and each one of them had to start with asking me what procedure I was having done as well as my name and birthdate. I got so tired of providing that information that one time I said "I'm here for gastric bypass", and the nurse looked at the chart twice and then to me and I laughed. She said "boy I was wondering how they got that one wrong." I was asked if I wore dentures, if my teeth were loose or tight, stuff like that. They took some blood from me. At one point, my surgeon came in and asked how I was doing and I told him "fine". I asked him a couple of questions about the pre-op diet as I was just wondering why he does his for 3 weeks and some docs don't do them at all or only a few days. He said to shrink the liver, which I already knew but I was just wondering if there was some other reason and he said "no". I also asked him if he was going to be able to do the surgery laperscopically since I have had previous surgery to my abdomen. His associate had said that there was a chance that they might have to cut me open again. I sure didn't want that. He told me that he felt they would be able to do it without cutting me like that again, he just said my surgery would be a little longer--1.5 hours instead of 30-45 minutes. This helped me feel a little better too. Finally, they said they were ready to take me to the OR and I had to say goodbye to my daughter. I began to tear up and she told me "if you cry Mommy, I'm going to kill you." I tried not to let the tears drop out of my eyes but they did. I have had several surgeries and I guess I always get this way but this was one of the first times she was ever the one to go back with me. I gave her a big hug and told her I loved her. They then rolled me into the OR which was freezing as usual. They had a nice warm blanket ready for me though so it was alright. They again asked me my name and what I was having done. Next, they had me breath in some oxygen a few times while they did what they had to do and that is the last thing I remember happening. So, I went in an unbanded person and woke up banded. What did it feel like? Well I was very, very sore. Felt like I had been beaten up in my abdomen area. I didn't have any negative response to the anesthesia as I never have in the past. It doesn't make me nauseous or sick, just sleepy. I'm hard to wake up, I hear. They were so nice in the recovery room, I had a nurse stay at my side the whole time until I was awake enough to go to my room. That was the first time I had experienced that. They usually walk around the room, but he sat next to me and had a computer by his side to take notes, etc. He asked if I needed something for pain and I said I was OK for now. Finally, they told me I was going to my room. I asked for some ice chips as my throat was hurting from that breathing tube they put down your throat. I got the ice chips and off we went. My surgery was done at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem, NC. This is a teaching hospital. My room was a private room and very nicely appointed. The nurses scan everything they do to you just like at the grocery store. They scan your wristband and it goes into the computer that is in your room. It was pretty high tech. Everyone was very nice to me. The next thing that had to be done was an x-ray of my stomach to make sure my port was in the right place. I had the nicest transport person take me down to x-ray. He tried to make the ride as "bump free" as possible, as he knew my stomach was hurting. The x-ray went fast and I was on my way back to my room where my family was waiting for me. They told me that the doctor had come out and spoke to them and told them that everything had went well but that I did have some scar tissue that caused my time to be a little longer than someone who had no scar tissue. My surgeon's name is Adolpho "Fuzz" Fernandez, that's how he introduces himself--as Fuzz. He has a great bedside manner, kind of young and handsome, not too young, but younger than my 53 years. So the family didn't stay too long as they knew I was tired and wanted to rest and sleep. The nurses came into check my blood sugar and it was OK. I was also worried about that being too high but it was alright. I didn't want to end up staying an extra day due to that problem. The rest of the evening was uneventful. I was able to take some of my meds by mouth and some were given to me through the IV. Finally, I was feeling hungry as I hadn't eaten since midnight on Tuesday. The nurse found me some chicken broth and jello and juice. That broth tasted like a Rib Eye Steak. I ate it all surprisingly and most of the jello. That IV had me running to the bathroom every 2 hours or so, and I had to drag that IV stand with me, that's a real pain in the butt. Then they didn't have me down for sleep meds and I had a terrible time going back to sleep that night. I tried to play with my Tablet but the wifi signal wasn't strong in my room. Finally about 3:30 a.m., they gave me a different pain medicine and that put me to sleep, but at 6:30 a.m. the doctors came in to see me. They said that as soon as Fuzz came in and looked at the x-ray that I could go home. They told me I could take my time, it was no rush. So I just went back to sleep after they left until about 9:30-10:00. I got out of there about 1:30 p.m. and stopped to get my prescriptions filled, and wouldn't you know that neither Walmart or CVS had this liquid narcotic that I had been prescribed. So I had to wait until the next day to get that medicine. Fortunately, I take pain meds for my knees and they helped out during this time period. My first day home was great. I was sore, but I felt so good mentally. I was able to eat soup with no problem and I had some sherbert later on. I even had a couple of soggy crackers with my soup. My doctor said I could have protein shakes if I wanted them and any type of liquids. He said after that, if I wanted to try a soft egg in a few days that I could. I'm going to take it slow and allow my port to heal. I'm not in a rush to eat anything yet and so far I haven't been really hungry. I eat because I know I need to stay hydrated. But I have no appetite. I don't know if that's due to the band or just because I just had surgery. I do know that I feel happy for the first time in a long long time. I really don't know what to attribute this newfound happiness to. Someone called me brave to undertake something like this--to have a port inside of me that the doctors can access from outside, something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I never thought of myself as brave but I guess I am. I guess when you look at it and the chances and you hear some horror stories, one has to have faith and courage to undertake something like this. But my goals were so defined. To get off of so many medications, to be diabetes and hypertension free, to look better and feel better. To walk without a cane. Not to have my knees hurting all the time. This was my motivation, my goals. That the rest of my life could be better than the first half. So that's my story up to this point. I'm a happy camper today, this Saturday, July 16th. I'm a new woman on the road to becoming another woman and I'm so excited about that!!!
Karon

Karon

5
LovetheNewMe's Blog
 

Keeping up the pace

Happy Saturday bloggers! Hope everyone had a great week and did one thing for themselves this week. I have worked my "buns" off this week at Curves and on my treadmill. In the past week I have exercised 30 minutes every day and burned a total of 1830 calories. I have lost 1.4 lbs and a total of 8" in the past two weeks. It was so hard for me to get motivated over the past 8 months to exercise as usual I wish I had got off my butt sooner and started. Some mornings I do not want to roll my body out of bed but I do and it is paying off. So happy with the results so far.   Tonight we are going out to dinner with friends to celebrate her 40th birthday. She is a gastric sleeve patient, about 2 months post op and has lost 30 lbs. We are going to a dinner theater. Looking forward to the evening with friends but always stress over what to eat. One good thing we can share a meal. Have a good weekend everyone and keep up the good work, remember we are all on a journey taking it one day at a time.
♥LovetheNewMe♥

♥LovetheNewMe♥

1
LeeLee76's Blog
 

The "Official" liquid diet

So.. today is the official start of my pre-liquid diet. I say official since I decided to test it out this week and see how I would do. I actually wanted to make sure I didn't absolutely hate the shakes since I'm extremley picky. The aren't bad as long as they are extremely cold and I don't take too long to finish them, hope that doesn't work against me in the long run. I finally managed to like the chobani greek yogurt. Does anyone know if the fruit on the bottom is ok for this brand? It has 14g of protein and is great for you. I digress. I managed to lose 4.6 lbs this week from Monday-Fri and that was even with a pasta day on Thursday and a class of wine and a shared app on Friday night and that made me feel great! I woke up this morning and feel I'm raring to go and mentally prepared. The only downside, of course my boss is having a huge get together today and I have to go. It would be anti-social of me not to show and I will be the only one not eating or drinking alcoholic beverages. sigh..... Well, wish me luck, I am now 10 days from surgery and am waiting on pins and needles!
LeeLee76

LeeLee76

3
MsAnn6550's Blog
 

July 15, 2011

Today has been a day of firsts. To start with, I actually walked on the treadmill this afternoon. I won't lie. It made my knees and my back hurt. I only made 1/2 mile at a speed of 1.7 mph, but it's a start. I'm gonna try to walk every day. If all I can do is 1/2 mile to start, so be it. Maybe I can try walking twice a day. Go to daughter's house next weekend, so i guess I'll have to walk outside at her house. The heat will limit how much I walk there. The second thing I tried is spaghetti squash with spaghetti sauce on it. It was a lot like eating pasta, just a little sweeter. Made me wonder what spaghetti sauce and cheese ( you know, like macaroni and cheese) would taste like. I got some left over cooked squash so I think I may check it out tomorrow. The last thing is I took some Miralax tonight. I have got to find the secret to this constipation thing. I'm tired of going to the bathroom with the urge and only passing gas. I burp like I'm drinking beer at the bar and I fart like a mule eating hay. Laugh as you may, I'm afraid I'm going to do either one at the most in-opportune time possible. I hope the walking will help this too. I wonder if Beano would help . I'm trying to eat slowwwww and chew extra well to see if that will help with the belching. If anyone reads this and has any suggestions, feel free to give them.
MsAnn6550

MsAnn6550

1
NJGirl32's Blog
 

Fills, Scales, and Exercise..Oh My!

Well after that first fill I entered "Bandster Hell" the period where you don't lose a damn pound and may actually gain weight!! It's sort of a scary place to be because you wonder if you are going to be one of those people who lose very little or don't lose at all. I have been eating more than I should, but at the same time watching what I eat. Does that make sense? My scale broke 2 weeks ago and I wasn't in a hurry to by a new one. I finally said enough is enough and bought one. I got on and lost 2 pounds! Today was another 1-2!! I am thrilled and secretly praying that this scale isn't wrong! lol I averaged out my weight loss to about 2-2.5 pounds per week (eventhough most of that was the week before and after surgery). I am feeling happy! My Fill Situation - okay my doctor does fills every 6 weeks...every 6 weeks!!! Come on-give a girl a break! But I know there's wiggle room with the appointments - I just don't know how much! I know I would be okay booking an appointment 4 weeks, but not sure if I could get away with 2 weeks. He might say "No I can't give you a fill it's only been 2 weeks (or 3 weeks). So I did something very naughty. I am confessing here so shhhhh! There are a couple of doctors at this group and I booked an appointment for every week in August. I have one August 4th (13 days after my 2nd fill), one booked for August 8th (16 days after my 2nd fill) and today I booked August 15th (23 days after my 2nd fill). I plan to book the week of August 22nd too! Now before you think I am absolutely crazy let me explain my strategy. First, I will probably cancel the 4th-that's too soon after my 2nd fill. I will only keep 1 appointment but I wanted to have them schedule because this doctor gets filled up in his appointments so quick you get shut out. But if I don't have any restriction I am not waiting 6 weeks this time.! I hate that I have to book them like this but you can't just call and say I need to come in next week (I tried that already and they said they had no openings until August! Let's hope the 2nd fill has some magic to it! (scary thing is my couch actually looks like this!)   Finally, exercise, yes exercise-blah! I spend way too much time on my couch. WHen I get home from work that's where I sit most of the night. Today I had off from work and I spent 80% of the day on it! I hate the heat and it wipes me out. Fortunately, I have a pretty active lifestyle most of the time, but I need to get going with some exercise! A gym 5 minutes from my house has a special until July31st for teachers. It's $20 a month!! No long term contract, but I have to pay first and last month's payments. I think that's great so I might go for it. I am trying to talk one of my daughters into it too because she's a teacher and the other is a student so she is eligble too.   So I'll let you all know how the 2nd fill goes on the 22nd!! Take care!
NJGirl32

NJGirl32

0
Gardendiva3's Blog
 

Vitamins 102

:welcome: Amazing! I don't have to swallow those horse pills! I went online and orderd a Ninja (after reviewing Consumer Reports online) and I will be in the smoothie business two weeks before my surgery. To think that 3 weeks ago I knew nothing about VST and this wonderful :grouphug4: support group...so thank you to those who recommended various sites for vitamins.   I found iron in capsules - but I plan to open those "ponies" :rip: and put them in a morning smoothie. Between this site and several others of my favorite recipe sites - I've found some smoothies I just have to try.   I know I'm going to LOVE being sleeved because I used to enjoy cooking :hungry: (or was that eating?) and now that it's just me - I love the simplicity of limited choices...at least for awhile. Variety will be fine after 6 weeks but I will have no problem getting the liquid shakes down.   :focus: Back to the vitamins - Costco does carry gummy calcium and "chews" and I found the sublingual B-12 in Cherry flavored tabs that disolve under your tongue - yea baby! Ok so there were NO iron gummies bust some chewables that were outragious in price - forget that.   I found this big pill box to put the assorted weeks vites (less the iron that will be PULVERIZED) :ack2: by Mr. Ninja. While I was at Costco I picked up a BIG bottle of some GUMMY FIBER! Farewell Metamucil--bite me Beneful! No "as seen on tv" stomach discomfort for me...why can't they just say constipation.. I am truly ready now...oh hurry September 2 be near to me. Oh the joy of having people share such trivial stuff. :party4:   Thank you thank you thank you! :thankyou:
gardendiva3

gardendiva3

0
Changed through grace...
 

Pre-op appt & Phase II Liquid Diet begins!

Pre-op day was very long. We had a to be there at 9:30 am and left after 6pm! I am so glad that is over with. One step at a time! I cannot believe that 2 weeks from today I will be sleeved! Still scared about it, but I am trying to do my best to leave it in God's hands. I have to admit I am still a little anxious about it all. Normal, I suppose!   First Day Phase II Liquid Diet... It is hard today... Feeling weak. I am sure as the days progress I will be ok. But the first day has not been very pleasant, and I've been in the bathroom all day if you kwim? ugh. I don't have much else to add... rather, I don't have much energy to add much else. lol
LonnieThatGirl

LonnieThatGirl

2
KathyD49's Blog
 

Dedication to What I Want to Accomplish

I got on the scale this morning, and it was exactly the same as yesterday. And even though I have read tons of posts about plateaus and stalls, I was so disappointed when it happened to me this morning. And it has only been two days, so I am trying to give myself a little pep talk, and remember that the weight WILL come off. It is a matter of doing what I have been doing for the last month. (By the way, tomorrow is my 4 week surgiversary!)   Since my "little problem" on Wednesday morning (where I overate and was miserable and vomited) I have been trying to REALLY watch what I eat, and REALLY take it SLOW. So to get on the scale this morning and see NO change was a disappointment. But like I said, I know the weight will come off, I just have to keep on keeping on! (Easier said than done!) I am trying mightly to resist the impulse to step on the scale every time I walk by the bathroom! It is such a temptation. But I know that only sets me up to be depressed when the number doesn't change. Some days I really wish time would fly by, and I could be at my goal weight. But then I am trying to learn to enjoy not only the goal, but the journey. And I know there is so much I need to learn about making healthy choices. I need the journey to give me time to learn everything I need to learn.   It is back to work tonight. I work the next three nights (Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 7:00 PM till 7:30 AM), so have to take a nap this afternoon, so I will feel like working tonight. That's the other thing, the fatigue is still with me. I do think it is getting better, but still there. I keep telling myself with four weeks post op coming up, I will start to have more energy any day now! I hope I am right.   I am working hard to get my water and protein in today. I had a protein shake for breakfast (well actually I am still sipping on it. I can't do more than 2-3 ounces at a time.) And am alternating the drinks of protein shake with drinks of water.   Hope you all have GREAT weekends! Get out there and be active. I did my 36 laps in the pool this morning, and then treated myself to just layng in the sun for 20 minutes and relaxing. It felt great. Have a great one friends. Later.......
KathyD49

KathyD49

1

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!

×