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Blog 93350
 

I can't wait...

On Friday I went for a lot of testing. I had the Esophageal Manonentry, UGI, and blood testing...It was all horrible but I got through it. I start my fast on the June 7th and I am scared but I'm sure I can do it. If 50 cent lost 54 pounds in 9 weeks on a liquid fast than I am sure I can do it for 2.
Mrs. Stevenson

Mrs. Stevenson

0
Blog 295
 

Blood Work Results

Finally had my blood work done this past week (had the order for the last 2 months, but I really hate needles) and the surgeon called to go over my results. I thought things would be much worse because I haven't been as good about taking my vitamins for the last month or so, but all my levels were normal except for Vitamin D.   Last time (November 09) my iron was a little low, bad cholesterol was high, vitamin d was high, and b12 was high. Now my vitamin d was too low (22), but still higher than last summer (18) before surgery.   As of today, I am recommitting to taking my vitamins daily. Still love this tool and am continue to happily maintain between 138-140 lbs.
deedee

deedee

1
Blog 89559
 

Ouch

Couldn't even imagine posting Thur or Friday and I'm up and doing really well this morning so here it is.   Surgery and recovery was more difficult than I had imagined. I yelled at everyone when I got home -- mom, daughter, friend -- hated everyone and everything. So much shoulder and belly pain I could not function for about 6-7 hours after surgery.   Then I just sat down in a chair and prayed hard. I should be grateful! And I did feel better after that, not a lot, but a little. Sipped some water and slept about 6 hours. Better.   Thursday was great. Walked 20 minutes, drank the shakes, water intake good, felt good. Decided to nap late in the afternoon and woke up with terrible shoulder pain again. Took pain med and slept.   Friday was not great. Didn't feel great (shoulder and gas pain), but managed to walk, drink, shower.   Fell asleep last night praying again. Woke up really early and laid in bed and got rid of gas for like 30 minutes. Sitting here putting on makeup to go to WW and the store this morning!   I've been given a tremendous gift. Insurance covered this procedure and God saw me through the surgery. Its my turn to stand up and make the most of this!!!:frown:
sandradee0124

sandradee0124

2
Blog 75574
 

Pizza is not Passing Through Anymore! NOOOOOOO!

:frown: It's official. After the fifth fill I am too tight for Pizza! So I am deliberating with having a little unfill. Not that I love Pizza and have to have it or anything like that, but with an episode in the parking lot at Wal-Mart with everyone around, and no where to let it out, trying to hold it in until I get into the restroom and can't OMG was I ever so embarrassed! Well then when I did get inside, I had to visit the Bathroom again! ONLY ONE PIECE TOO! The salad I had enjoyed stayed, the Pizza did not! I had only had liquids for breakfast and it was 4:20 PM so I decided to eat with my husband out tonight. So much for the romantic ending! I came home and made some Lumpia Roll mix (like an egg roll) I was still hungry and so I ate a small bowl of the hot filling, cabbage carrots, onions, hamburger meat, and chopped green beans, etc. Very good. When I am at home and relaxed, everything goes very well, when I eat out, watch out! Are we LapBanders so different that we can't eat out anymore, or not very well anyway? I am fast discovering this so I will order small from thence forth. I may have a slight unfill on June 4th, haven't actually made up my mind yet, but maybe!:sad:
Blog 61243
 

This last fills thoughts

SO I know get that every fill is different. I wsa good with the 2...3...was a whole new learning curve! Totally changed what I could eat--for the gooD...save me from myself! lol I am very pleased with it, I am hoping for one more light one I think, and I will be rockin n rolling along.   Funny how we tell ourselves SLOW N STEADY...until that first 20lbs...and downsizing in clothes and then it is like MORE MORE MORE!! lol   Gone again
Hotenuf2

Hotenuf2

0
Blog 61243
 

Busy month!

So what has been going on? I have been very busy, with all this new energy. I am down to 239 by my PCMs scale and look forward to the Official scale at the LB Dr office.   This last fill was a new learning experience. For the better, it really cut me off where I needed it. I had a lot more barfing but all because I didn't do my part, chewing small bites...that kind of thing.   Other than that I feel great! I started working out, The Crunch Dance, and a few others I like....and going to borrow an elliptical from a friend.   My inner thighs are just aweful, at least while fat they were solid...now just dripping puddles of chub hanging down--not liking it AT ALL!! So all bets are on the Elliptical!   I fit into the CUTEST Lane Bryant bermudas in an 18 today--only to find they didn't have the style I wanted in 18! ROFL Geesh.   Tops are now 18/20's!!! LOVE it.   I hope you are ALL doing great out there. I hope to get on and catch up with some of you.
Hotenuf2

Hotenuf2

0
Blog 87886
 

2nd fill today! 4.2cc now

I went in for my 2nd fill today.. 5/29/10. They put in 1.2cc, so now I have 4cc. That is what I had when I had surgery, and they had to take some out. But that was probably because of the swelling. I am on liquids for today, tomorrow, and then Sunday i can do mushies, then Monday solids again. Will be interesting to see how I do on the solids. I have not had any trouble at this point with anything, except the yams! Hopefully that will continue. My weight was 238! Last time it was 246. I was on a plateau for a while, then dropped when I went camping last wekend, then even more this week! Finally! So that is a total of 55 lbs lost since early march when I went in to commit to doing the Band. I have 68 more to go.. almost half way there! Yay me! I went back to Curves too to workout. The owner, Sheila, said I could bring the kids in this summer, if they sit in the back room and watch a DVD movie. So i will try that! She really wants to help me. I have been floundering on my diet.. not sure what to do, how much to eat, what to eat, etc. So I talked to the doc today. He said I need to go back to the pre-op diet! That will put me in ketosis again, and will melt away the fat. Boy, if I have been doing this good while NOT on that diet... imagine how good I will do going back on it! Sooner the better to me, getting rid of this weight. I know I am not supposed to lose it real fast... but I just can't help it! It has to go NOW!!! When swimming this last weekend while camping, i actually wore my bathingsuit without shorts(it has a skirt)! So daring! Before that, I was refusing to swim at all. The suit is a bit big, especially in the bossom. So I bought another suit, plus found my old one that fits well now! I got some swim shorts to wear with it too(no skirt on this one). There is a pool party this Sunday at a Lap Banders house. We are having a meeting there. So i will try out my new suit. Then next week starts swim lessons for the kids at UH, for 2 weeks, so i will swim there as well, good exercise, and I am not as ashamed now either. I am about ready to ride a horse again too. Sherri has been riding Sunny the last 2 days, and will continue to ride her, to get her ready for me. She has not been ridden in a long time, so I do not want any suprises! I am really looking forward to it! Ahhh to ride again! Good timing too, my ponies are leaving in a week and a half, I will be equineless. So I need Sunny! That will be a really big day for me! Ok, going to go now, more later!
skinnyorbust

skinnyorbust

0
Blog 2243
 

Therapy

This is basically my journal, although public. Hoping this will help me sort out my feelings. I am having VSG surgery July 15th and figured I better learn about myself and my poor relationship with food. This is a journey that I have never been on before. I was able to "diet" and lose weight plenty of times but I have never dealt with the issues that caused me to gain the weight in the first place.   Sooooo, started therapy this week. No much to say for the first visit, just mostly intake questions. I was surprised to have a DX already: General Anxiety Disorder. After researching I would have to agree. I have very poor coping skills and tend to stuff my face to help the "out of control" feeling. I also feel like I'm coming out of my skin when the anxiety is real high. I cannot wait until I can take control of this or at least calm it down. It's taking a toll on my concentration at work and I noticed I'm beginning to lose control a lot when I drive. And I don't mean, scared to drive, I mean I am getting VERY aggressive. I think I'm just redirecting the anxiety of the day's work into my driving, then sitting in a ton of traffic every day is really taking it's toll on me and the little patience I have. I am glad to have the weekend to reflect upon this diagnosis and maybe find a book or two that can help me until my therapy visits kick in. My new therapist is booked for the next couple of weeks and I REALLY need help now so I better reach out and find it myself. Luckily I am very resourceful.
sickofitall

sickofitall

0
Blog 93330
 

stopped smoking

Well My doc requiers you to be Nicotein free for one month per op.:thumbup: So I started today. I had my last Marlboro last night. I leave June 6th for my appt on June7th. i start my liquid diet june 8th. Doc requiers 3 week liquid diet pre op and post op. Opti meals are 100 a week. That is just way too much! I found whey protein. Its 1 scoop, 140 calories, 24 grams of protein. hope my doc will let me suppliment. this huge jug of whey protein is 16.88. way better than 100 a week! I cant afford $600 for dinks, and I dont even get a buzz:biggrin:!! so pray for whey protein!! I will post June 7th after my appt.
Tori1983

Tori1983

0
Blog 89474
 

I had my second fill today

Wow today was great. I lost 10 pds. in three weeks. I am down 41 pds. now. The doctor said I was doing great. He had a little trouble with finding the port so was stuck twice. I had to wait three hours to see him but that is turning out to be the norm. to wait.lol I just keep doing what he tells me to do and he said not to focus to much on the numbers on the scale but how well I am following the program. It still helps to see the progress on the scales though. It really does motivate me to keep going strong.
rhonda2010

rhonda2010

0
Blog 91311
 

Can't wait until my first fill!

It has been three weeks since my surgery and I was approved for soft foods last week. My problem is that my appetite is back with a vengance and I dont know how to control it.   I can eat pretty much aything I want without any negative side effects and that is very scary for me!   I dont want to gain any weight before my fill which is scheduled for June 9th.   Any suggestions on how to stick with "the program" until the fist fill?
Butterfly10

Butterfly10

5
Blog 81574
 

Couch to 5K process applied to lapband....(No running required)

This is a cut and paste from the C25K website, I have adapted it for the band lifestyle by just changing the words running to banding.   "Too many people have been turned off of banding simply by trying to start off too fast. Their bodies rebel, and they wind up miserable, wondering why anyone would possibly want to do this to themselves. You should ease into your banding program gradually.   It's easy to get impatient, and you may feel tempted to skip ahead in the program, but hold yourself back. Don't try to do more, even if you feel you can. If, on the other hand, you find the program too strenuous, just stretch it out. Don't feel pressured to continue faster than you're able. Repeat weeks if needed and move ahead only when you feel you're ready."   So here is my new banding program, I designed it for beginners but if you are starting over just start on Week 6:   Weeks 1&2 -- (Pre-op) Diet start Dr recommended preop diet and follow to a "T"   Get banded   Week 3&4 -- (Post-op) Liquid diet, once again do exactly as Dr prescribed. Do not try and lose weight during this phase.   Week 5&6 -- (Post-op) Mushie weeks, practice weighing or measuring everything, eating off a small plate, eating slow and chewing, no trying to lose weight. Learn to eat less than 1 cup of food at any given meal. You should not be trying to lose at this stage, just trying to improve your eating habits.   Week 7 -- Continue with the things you did in weeks 5&6 but also start on soft foods, start journaling everything you eat or drink on an online calculator like fitday.com. Make sure you are getting enough protein. (Specified by your Dr)   Week 8 -- Get your first fill, 1 day liquid, 1 day mushies and then soft foods. Now you are going to start trying to lose weight. Continue doing the things that you learned in weeks 5-7 but now that you have a weeks worth of food journaling look and see if you are staying in the 1000-1200 calories a day, with the amount of protein your Dr wants, if not change what can to get it in those ranges.   Week 9-- Continue the things you learned in Weeks 5-8 plus add 1 hour of walking 3 days a week. (If you cant make it an hour, do what you can) Journal this exercise as well as your food.   Now every week from now until you get to goal you will continue the things above but also think of 1 thing you can do to improve your results and then add that 1 thing. Continue tweaking the program until it is perfect for you.   Now if only I could think of a cute name for my program like Couch to 5k!   *If there is anything I have recommend that goes against your Dr's instructions, do what he/she says!
LeighaMason

LeighaMason

0
Blog 90798
 

School's Out for Summer

So that means more time for ME and my girls.   Hello, my name is Donna, ssmom to all you badsters. I am 42 in North Alabama. I am having my band next Friday, June 4th with Dr Kevin Cottingham.   I have been over weight my entire life. I was chubby as a child, obese as a teen, and have grown to morbidly obese in middle age.   I am a single mom, adopting my two girls when I was thirty, because I wasn't going to wait for a husband all my life (and yes I am still waiting)   I am a teacher, a church leader, and a community activist so I am always in demand and on the go.   But this summer I am focusing ON ME!!! I am going to really watch my diet, start walking, and stay on this blog and site alot! I have friends and family, and a growing numbers of them are being banded as well, but God has put me as a lone ranger most of the time, so this site keeps me in touch.   I am beginning my pre-op diet TODAY. I gradually brought myself up to this point by replacing 1 to 2 of my meals with protein drinks for the past 2 weeks, so now its all protein with very small amounts of other.   So if you would like to join me on this road, it would be much appreciated.   In God's Love and Mine ssmom
ssmom

ssmom

2
Blog 1395
 

One Month Out today...

For my one month update I wanted to share from my overall experiences both good and bad. Lets start with the good: Surgery was on 4/28 and today is 5/28 and I have lost 30.4 pounds. 30 pounds in a month is awesome and I am so thrilled I made this decision. I do feel my restriction and get full very quickly. 4-6 ounces is about my capacity depending on the type of food. Slider foods like Greek yogurt I could eat more of but I just eat a 6 oz container and stop there. So far I have been lucky to not have hunger *knock on wood*. I have felt thirsty though--but this could be psychological because I used to always have a diet coke nearby to drink from--now its water or crystal light but I still have the need to have liquid around allot. Needless to say, I always get my fluids in and usually more. This may be TMI but my urine is usually clear (which is supposedly a good thing) Now lets talk about my diet. Some people say this is not a diet and not to treat it that way- but technically your diet is what you eat so everyone is on a "diet" all the time (neener neener, HA!). I stick to the general doctors orders here for the most part on most days. I count protein, but I have not really bothered with calories that much. I get very full on protein so I try to have some type of fruit or veggie when I can fit in an ounce or more. I think I could still add some more here but I will explain why later. 3 out of every 4 days I am pretty much by the book vsg diet low carb, high protein (70-80). Where I have drastically differed is on my 4th day. I up my calories and do count calories on this 4th day because I want to try and hit from 1800 calories or more. This would not really be possible for me to do without pure junk food IF I tried doing this with just food just based on how often and how much I can eat. So I supplement with a "weight gain" drink called Suplimed. It was developed as a well balanced formula to help those who have lost weight through illness to regain weight. One 8 oz shake in water is 500+ calories and more if its in milk.(sometimes I do half at a time) So I typically do 2 whole shakes plus food to get me to the 1800+ on my forth day. As I can eat more real food in time I will lower the shakes or half them. Why? because I am trying to avoid any weight loss stalls and not allow my system to adjust to low calorie metabolism--and I use the shakes because I don't want to use junk food to up calories. I am not recommending this to anyone, because that would differ from what your doctor would have you do--I am happily the human guinea pig for this and I just want to see how this works for me over the next couple of months. So far no stalls *knock on wood*. This zig-zag calorie method has been in the body-building world a long time--so I did not think it up on my own. I just could never do it pre-op with all my hunger. I started my first high calorie day on my second day of full liquids and have stuck to the 3 regular days 1 high cal day since then. Honestly, I don't look forward to the high calorie days because it is a chore to get the shakes and food in when you have no hunger--but I stick with them like a prescription medication for now--if they stop being effective over time I will drop them. Supplements I take: BA multi vitamin. The orange was nasty but I can tolerate the berry flavor. Twin labs sublingual B12, Vitamin D weekly 50,000IU (set by doc based on pre-op low levels), prescription to prevent gal stones(help me keep the gal bladder), and I take a tablespoon of Barleans Omega Swirl to get necessary fats in. Protein supplements as needed too.   Ok the Bad: It has not all been roses--or maybe it has been roses, but there are a few thorns . Let me preface this by saying I am very happy with the sleeve and would not trade it. Post op--I had a wonderful experience until about one week out where it felt like I pulled something on my large incision. It was painful and I had to rest it a couple of days--luckily I did not tear it or have a hernia (internals protrude through incision) but it was a wake up call to me. I should admit this now I guess-- I hit the Stairmaster Stepmill (real stairs that rotate) the day before this happened --STUPID ME! I just felt so darn good and the stairmaster has been my punisher of choice for years--nothing happened that day but the next day simply bending over without bending my knees and popping back up quickly caused the oh crap moment. I talked about the bending over part before, but I had to come clean on the Stairmaster part so someone might learn from my idiocy. This from a guy who skied 1.5 days with a broken collar bone back at age 18--I did not know it was broken but my pain tolerance is a little off and dammit I had paid for those lift tickets! Anyway, I thought I would be super sleever at one week out. That stairmaster is going to get its ass kicked at 6 weeks out I will tell you though! With a couple of rest days I luckily had not messed anything up--whew what a wake up call. The next item I have had to learn after moving into regular food is to slow down. Its easy to remember this with dense heavy foods, but for foods like scrambled eggs--I used to inhale those. Bad habits of not chewing foods like this have led to me throwing up--I would stew for like half and hour trying to walk it off until finally my stomach says "nope!" and up it came. So yes you have to chew even the smaller soft foods. Last but not least I have dealt with some constipation. This is why I think that I need more fruit or fiber in my diet. I have used Miralax (or the Walgreen's equivalent) to clear this issue up some, but I want to get the food right so I don't have to.   So there you have it the good and the bad so far at one month out. I am loving my sleeve and the results have been awesome. Feel free to post any questions if you are pre-op or new to this. Thanks!
Swiftflow

Swiftflow

3
Blog 91736
 

yesterday was a good day

I ate very well yesterday and had no problems at all. I had an egg and 2 oz's of chopped up steak for breakfast. 5 chicken wings and a s/f jello for lunch, and then a side of cauliflower with cheese and 5 wings for dinner. Nothing bothered my stomach and all went down good. Sipped on a Route 44 diet cherry limeade all day so I got my liquids in. I had a customer go off on me right before we closed so that made my night not so good. He was just awful the way he acted but it comes with the territory. This morning my husband and I went to breakfast, I ate an egg, 3 pieces of sausage, and the insides of my toast. Don't feel over full just perfect. I'll update you tomorrow. This band seems to be working finally for me. I didn't weigh myself and plan on weighing on Tuesday. It will be 2 more weeks before my next fill, that will bring me to 9cc's in a 10cc band. All should be good.
khunt719

khunt719

0
Blog 53590
 

Great Day

So today is going to be a fab one. I am so ready to make great decisions today. I will get 8 glasses of h20 in, at protien first, stop when I am hungry and work out.   What about you? We set long term goals for ourselves, but a new challnge should be daily goals. So those are mine.    
JerseyLady

JerseyLady

0
Starting from square one
 

Shopping for supplies online 5/28/10

I spent the afternoon shopping for my pre and post-op needs. I found baby flatware, 2 oz tupperware cups, the smallest bowls with lids I could find were 8 oz.   I found the pre-op Atkins Advantage RTD Shakes for about $4.50 per 4 pack, 4 oz. baby apple juice for dirt cheap, gerbers baby green beans, stage 2, Isopure 3 lb 50g protein powder for $32 (1.50 a serving). I found the best deals by using Google.   I already have a food scale, chicken broth, and shaker bottle. I'm trying to think if I need anything else.   For four days after the surgery I will be in a hotel room near the hospital, until the doc says I can drive myself the 100 miles home. They have a special rate for this-$69/night and my Flex acct will reimburse $60/night for that.   The room doesn't have a fridge, but for day 3 and 4 I'm hoping I can get some soup in the hotel restaurant, and yogurt for breakfast. Otherwise, everything is check! Surgery scheduled for 7/14/10.
Donna4545

Donna4545

1
Blog 86212
 

Post-op Day 6 (5/27)

Another day of slowly getting back to normal!   Last night I was actually able to sleep on my left side for about 30 min! Woo-hoo....it makes me so happy!   I had my 1-week post op appointment today. Everything went well. They weighed me...lost 15 lbs since my pre-op appointment! Dr Bobby gave me a prescription for some antibiotics...he thought maybe one of the incisions were starting to get infected. He said I can progress to pureed/mushy foods next Thursday...I can't wait to have some mashed potatoes!!   I went out on a date with my husband....first time since I started on the pre-op diet. We went to the Daily Grill and I had cream of tomato soup ....it was yummy. I ate half the cup (maybe 6-7oz) and brought the rest home. I kinda felt bloated after...weird, I don't think I 'over ate'.   Still struggling with some gas pains in my chest....I'm starting to wonder if they ever end?
sophieownsme

sophieownsme

1
Blog 86625
 

Need some help!

Okay its been a while since I last posted. Things are going well, 40 lbs since my surgery (90 days). 2 fills (3.5 CC's out of 10). I find myself still very hungry and though I eat healthy food, I struggle to keep most of it down. So first question, is there a a cookbook or website that recommends meals? When I am able to keep food down, it feels so wierd. Like a lump at the top of my throat. Not like there's a top stomach that just fills up quick and you're no longer hungry. Liquid goes down smooth though. So question number two, is that what it feels like to others and is that the way it's suppose to feel? And last I am terrified of flabby skin once I hit my goal weight. Any advice to limit that besides to drink lots of water? Special exercises? I need to be checking this site more often as I get so much out of it. Good luck to all and thanks for your responses!
vjmillco

vjmillco

4
Blog 89244
 

Confused and unsure

Had my first real fill three weeks ago, for two weeks had alot of trouble with food, would eat to much - not really knowing I was eating to much and throw up the last few bites. Monday visited with surgeon and he agreed that it was a learning curve. Had not lost anything in two weeks. Started drinking more water as recommended and was doing much better, then today all heck broke lose, I would have and could have eaten ANYTHING. I did actually, I ate an entire steak, this is not normal for me, usually very little meat if any, after I finished was extremely full but that was all. Since drinking the water, did lose 3 lbs, which I am sure is water weight. Why can't I get full now, others tell me they can only eat little bits and small portions I eat smaller portions but fairly normal size bites. Am I doing something wrong???
katspiers50

katspiers50

1
Blog 93252
 

Anyone in or around Ft. Sill, Oklahoma

I had my surgery in Feb 2009 with Dr. Warnock. I moved back to Iowa for a year and have had NO fills or anything while I was gone. I just recently moved back down here to Ft. Sill and I was wondering if anyone has been to that new doctor here in Lawton and what they think? I wasn't that comfortable with Dr Warnock and I would perfer not to have to drive that far for appointments if I don't need to.
mklovell

mklovell

0
Blog 91019
 

Good day...

I went to a support group today, through my surgeons office. I found it, freeing a bit. I feel I need more of that to succeed. why do I push it away? This whole weight life journey of mine is all I know, and is definetly as much mental as it is physical! I know I can overcome this, I just dwell on when and what's next.
LT1126

LT1126

1
Blog 2606
 

Newbie

Hi, I am just starting the whole process and will be attending an informational seminar on June 8 in Oakland, CA at AltaBates Summit Medical Facility. I am excited yet scared. Hoping to get the sleeve. Is anyone from my area? I would love to hear from you. I'm hoping that my surgeon will be Dr. Ajay Upadhyay. I hear is really good. Has anyone heard of him or has he performed anyone's surgeries?
detradee

detradee

0

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