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Blog 1175
 

dizziness

good evening, i have been feeling like poopoo!! i have been so dizzy for the last 3 weeks. when i would bend over and get back up, it would be like the whole world was spinning around me at 350 miles per hour!! that was all day sunday. yesterday was just like that. so today i went for some blood work. a1c,insulin level and complete bllod count, check my thyroid and God knows what else. then i go see the doctor next wednesday. yea what fun. to be skinny and feel like crap warmed over!!:scared0::sneaky2::mad:
lauramomof3

lauramomof3

3
Blog 80443
 

I am a bandster now......

Wow I can not believe it is over. I mean the procedure seem to be over before I knew it. I mean as soon as I woke up I told them I could get up and move around a bit. It actually felt good to get up and walk around maybe caus eI had that good ol morphine in me....lol. Well besides the hunger pain and gas pains I'm feeling pretty good. I mean my stomach hurts when I breathe just due to the fact that my insides are healing and my lungs are constantly expanding. I find that if I sit for about an hour then get up and walk around for a few minutes I seem to feel a little better. Once again I thank you all for your support and you prayers. God Bless you all and WHOO HOOO im a bandster now.:thumbup:
bsmithpbs1914

bsmithpbs1914

10
Blog 85396
 

Directions: One foot in front of the other....repeat

I went for my 2nd medically supervised diet appointment yesterday….and it was very educating. I was up a pound…which was probably due to the whole stopped smoking thing. I am pretty satisfied…I mean it could have been worse. I also found out that I am vitamin D deficient. I was told they have really only been doing research on this for the past few yrs but it looks like vitamin D deficiency is apparently an epidemic. I was also told that I have underactive thyroid. I don’t know a whole lot about this subject just yet…..but I plan on doing some major research. When I was handed an actual prescription for medication to treat this thyroid thing….I was really concerned. Not sure how everything is going to work out…..but I do know….IT WILL WORK OUT. I have an appointment to go to my bariatric office tomorrow for more of my pre-op stuff….chest x-rays and upper GI scan. I am feeling a little anxious but I am still positive that all things happen for a reason. Sooooo without sounding to cliché…my journey continues…one step at a time.
ShellieBell

ShellieBell

3
Blog 73771
 

In Mourning

It has been SEVEN months, and I am still mourning the loss of my dear friend, DIET COKE. We were instant and loyal friends from the first drink, when I was 12 years old.   What I want more than ANYTHING right in this minute: A large, condensation covered glass full of ice cubes and brown, bubbly DIET COKE fizzing on my lip and burning down my throat.Want one SO SO BAD.   I miss my friend. I know the relationship was a bad one, I know that I am better off without it. But damn it, a cool glass of chemical- flavored tap water just does not off the same carbonation-filled satisfaction that Diet Coke gave me over the years.   I have never been tempted to go back.... just saying.... I still REALLY miss my Diet Coke. :thumbup:   :cool2:Have a Twitter account? Follow my rants, raves and successes at http://twitter.com/lifeafterband
viking_girl

viking_girl

13
Just another day. . .
 

BOUGIE stuffI Just to bookmark this for myself since this asks often

If you haven't seen this, I found this on OH, and think it'll give you an idea of honestly how minimal difference in a 32 and 40 really is.     Just a visual to offer more pictures of how minimal the difference is between the sizes your concerned about.   Here is a fabulous link for bougies. It physically lists every size of bougies, with the millimeter measurements. Scroll to pages 3 and 5 to see the table of reference for bougie sizes. http://www.medovations.com/pdf/Esoph...Dilatation.pdf
Tiffykins

Tiffykins

0
Misadventures of a Bona Fide Diva! ME...
 

Tastebuds...???

I'm now 4 weeks and a day out! I never thought I would REALLY get this far; having the surgery, surviving and getting to the 4 week mark. BUT I'M HERE!   I'm down 21 lbs; which I can not believe. I got my TOM last week and then when she left I lost about 7 lbs!   I haven't been having any cravings or like when I used to "smell" things I HAD to have it...Not anymore. But I do notice that when I'm eating something if I chew it TOO much it starts to taste bad, or my body or brain is saying "you dont want anymore of that" and I spit it into a napkin. I also find that if I have something that lingers on my tongue I HAVE to scrape it off. I just don't like lingering tastes in my mouth. I thought it could be because my breath isn't in the best shape right now, but I just can't stand the "taste of food". Is it possible? OK most of you have proved it IS. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME?:scared0:
Bona Fide Diva

Bona Fide Diva

3
Blog 1978
 

Three weeks out

So, I'm a little over three weeks out from my surgery (5/6/2010), and a week out from my two week pre-op diet. I know I have fatty liver (diagnosed) and I'm going to be super rigorous following the pre-op diet since I don't want to risk injury to my liver during the surgery! It will be hard, however, since I love, love, love carbs -- the breadier and doughier the better.   I'm already trying to prep myself somewhat for the surgery by weaning off of carbonated beverages (it will be hard to say goodbye to my beloved Diet Cokes, but in return for being a more "normal" weight... okay!) and cutting back on carbs when possible.   My girlfriend had the lap sleeve in November of last year, and her tremendous success (going on 60 lbs lost with very little work on her part, and almost no cravings) has been my inspiration. Plus, it's very comforting to have someone around who "knows the ropes" and can reassure me that what I'm experiencing is normal. I'm a worrier, you see -- I comfort myself with facts and figures. I know that leak rates are less than 2%, I know that mortality in this surgery is around a tenth of a percent, and I know all of those things mean that, statistically speaking, the bad things almost certainly won't happen to me. I know that at 39 (which isn't a kid, but is still fairly young), with no diabetes, heart disease, or other comorbidities, and with a very uncomplicated surgery (no hiatal hernia, no gall bladder issues, "virgin" stomach -- not a revision), I'm very safe. But still, I worry.   I'm somewhat concerned about my mental state following surgery. I'm predisposed to depression and anxiety. Much of that has to do with my poor sleep (I've strongly tied my depression to lack of sleep) and the amount of caffeine I use to function despite being so tired. But still, I have to admit that I'm nervous about my mindstate after surgery, considering how common post-surgical depression is, and how I'm predisposed. I'm guessing that the first week post-op, where I'm scheduled to be back to work but "working from home" (so, no coworkers to distract me and lighten my mood, etc.) will be the hardest, as I'll have time to dwell and wonder "what have I done?" and mourn all the things I can't have anymore.   I'm not a religious person, so I don't have faith to strengthen me, but I have friends and families and the wonderful community here. I figure that I can survive a week or two of anything, and the payoff should be SO worth it.   So that, in a nutshell, is where I am today.
ouroborous

ouroborous

2
Blog 397
 

One Month

One month today. Down 21 lbs. Hard to believe. Even w/ the lap band I didn't get this close to goal. One month thoughts: It was rough the first two days post-op I am glad I chose to stay in the Hospital vice go to a recovery house. I get too sick after anesthesia. Glad to have the 24/7 care. Money well spent. Clear liquids got old fast, Jello made w/Isopure 40mg bottles saved me w/my protein intake. Full liquids sugar-free pudding made w/injury protein got me thru the full. I found out I didn't like most of the samples I ordered. Ended up ordering a jug-o-Syntha-6 Chocolate peanut butter. (it will be nice when I can blend a banana it.) Injury protien was the only other one I could stand (Even my 30 mg from Costco I don't like so much anymore-been heating them up @ work seems to make them more doable) Bought a "bullet" LOVE IT!!! Taking the blender out each time I make a protein shake is PIA. Blending it in the bullet makes it taste so much better than just shaking it in a bottle. I put the empty cup in the dishwasher. Tried to eat some Egg Foo Young. Was like a rock in my stomach. Felt like it was never going to leave! Didn't feel nauseous just very uncomfortable. (Flashbacks of the lap band nausea then the vomiting so glad I got that thing out of my body!!!!) Now I am scared to move off of soft/mushies. In case you are reading this and wonder is it worth it. He** YES!!!! I would not have been able to do it w/o this board. I know there has been some controversy lately. Don't let that deter you from getting help and encouragement here. Dee
Dee

Dee

0
Blog 85448
 

Veggie Mary Update

Made the Veggie Mary this morning with the Bariatric Eating "Pure" unflavored protein product and added a little garlic and pepper - very good. Even tasted the powder by itself - NO FLAVOR! Will order some today - my quest is over!:thumbup:
RavenClaw779

RavenClaw779

2
Blog 85448
 

Loathing

How awful is it to absolutely loath a fellow bandster? I really enjoy reading everyone's comments and get a lot of useful info, but there's one community member whose self-satisified, Holier-than-Thou, preachy lectures make me want to scream. That vague school-marmish tone directed at fellow bandsters who've slipped on dietary rules. That "maybe you should question why you have the band" finger wag. What -because you slipped you should get your butt to the doctor and have him take it out because you're just not committed enough?! Everytime I read this bandster's comments I cringe - esp for the person who originally put the question out there looking for positive support and not a smarmy lecture. Even my husband read few of this bandster's posts and had to laugh - his comment is apt - "Get Over Yourself!"!:thumbup:
RavenClaw779

RavenClaw779

2
Blog 84015
 

Second thing down....still a whole bunch more....

SO...I wanted to write this down somewhere in case I forgot.....   Start date of the icanchange program: 02.03.10 Completion date will be 08.03.10 My 1st call to health coach: 02.03.10 My 2nd call to health coach: 02.17.10 My 3rd call to health coach: 03.15.10 My 4th call to health coach: 04.07.10 ***The booklet has been completed ***Sleep study was completed on 04.06.10....now I'm just awaiting the results of the study. The technician said that she didn't think that there were enough "events" to be considered for CPAP; however, she said that she is not certified to read the study. ***I have my first nutrition appointment on 04.20.10.   I am excited that this is becoming more and more real. :thumbup:   Anyway, I just wanted to have this written down so that I wouldn't forget if I needed it at any time....   Have a great day!!   ~Jen
jennay5180

jennay5180

5
Blog 85448
 

The Apple Don't Fall Far From the Tree?

*Warning - A totally non-WLS rant posted because it's my blog and I'll post what I want to:tt2:   My s-i-l hates to drive at night, so I'll be trucking down to the city to pick up my college age niece. Apparently she has a medical issue which she could've had taken care of at her university health center, but when her mother(my s-i-l) suggested this, my niece had a meltdown and demanded Momma make her an appt at home and fly her in. What a surprise! Momma does what baby wants. She may be 19, but emotionally more like 15...like her group of college friends who hang out together living a "high school but away from home" type of lifestyle. 20-some years ago when I was in college, we were a lot more mature and aware of key world issues. The effect of helicopter parents?! It's scary when my niece tells me she doesn't like kids but wants to teach 'cause she'll get lots of time off. Wow - just who I want educating the future!   Back to the "Apple" topic - my niece is now upset because her mother told the doctor about the problem when she made the appt. Apparently, my niece wanted her to just say that it's for a "check up" (& no - this is not a woman issue)! My s-i-l (rightly so) told her that the doctor needs to know the real reason so as not to waste time. S-i-l wonders what her baby is thinking?!!   RU kidding? Here's where it "falls from the tree"...my s-i-l is a DM2 who tries to deny it. It took 3 years of warnings of pre-diabetes and then 6 mos after diagnosis to get her on oral meds. She's still not testing and tries to "trick" her labs by fasting for several days prior or eating "healthy" the week before. Of course, the numbers are still bad because she's non-compliant and hasn't educated herself. She calls me post doctor visit to report that the doctor wants her on more "meds" because her "numbers are bad" and she feels he's probably getting paid by the pharmacutical companies to give her more "stuff". So I say - "Could be - what new meds does he want? what were your labs?". She says..wait for it.... "I dunno - I wasn't paying attention!". Excuse me? What is more personal than a visit to your doctor - how can you not pay attention when it's your health?? This then leads to a conversation we've had before of how her health plan works and me telling her again to print me a copy and I'll review it...which she forgets - as usual. I guess I'm not too surprised as this is some one who wishes she were back in high school, doesn't read the paper or watch the news, and threw a fit when her boss told her she was going to have to take some tech classes - started crying and shouting that she "didn't want to learn anything new!" I'm actually fond of my s-i-l as apart from the tendency to gossip she is a very kind and non-judgmental person(wish I could be more like that) - but I often feel like I'm dealing with a child.   Not surprising - her mother (my m-i-l) is the same way. No, she doesn't want to go back to high school - instead she's fiercely independent...sort of. She's moderately more aware of what's going on in the world, but so flightly she only grasps half the story. When she doesn't get her own way - or doesn't get buy-in from the "fam" she just goes off and does whatever she wants then let's the rest of us pick up the pieces, the tab...whatever. When it comes to medical issues - see above. She takes whatever scripts the doctor writes but doesn't know why..."I'm not going to take this Liptor anymore - I don't feel any different...". She's still seeing this ancient doc-in-box who treated her mother. She nixed her prior doc because the doctor did an Alzheimer's test on her and was concerned enough to contact my s-i-l. Par for course, my m-i-l wanted my s-i-l to keep it a secret - Right! Her driving skills have always been sub-par and now they're even worse. Sunday night was a classic - when after two glasses of wine she was red-eyed, staggering and slurring but refused to give up her keys or let someone else drive her home and my s-i-l tells me, "She's not drunk - I'd know!"(sorta like, "She doesn't have memory issues - I'd know!") I'm torn between making a confidential call to the DMV before she hurts someone or herself or just stepping back and letting her kids take responsibility. Sigh - good to vent and hope it gives my readers a laugh; I'm sure plenty of you are in the boat.
RavenClaw779

RavenClaw779

2
Blog 80443
 

Today is the day......

Wow it has finally arrived. In just a few short hours I will be a bandster. Hey once again I say thank all of you for your support and please pray that I have a safe surgery and a speedy recovery. Today is the beginning of my new life!:thumbup:
bsmithpbs1914

bsmithpbs1914

7
Blog 85162
 

Changes....

Well, I am almost 3 weeks post surgery and what a ride its been already. The surgery wen well and I did experience some pain for the first 5-7 days. But by day 3 I went to the movies and started getting out of the house regularly. About 2 weeks post op, the depression came. I realized what I had done to myself and was sad at the "divorce" from food. Food was my best friend and I was letting it go...It was very hard to let go, but I made my peace with it and told it that I no longer needed that friendship in my life. It was ruining my life.... I am still a bit depressed, although not as bad. I am going to ask my psych doc to increase my antidepressant for a bit. I am seeing a therapist to help me deal with my food issues but I do not think she is the right therapist for me. We really dont talk about food issues. We mostly talk about her....I will ask my psych doc for a therapist who deals with addiction and had experience with food addiction....since I am a food addict. Since being banded, I have bought a adult 3 wheel bike, sketchers shape up shoes, and a Wii. I have been looking forward to using this stuff but now have come down with bronchitis and a head cold. I'm feeling crappy physically. I am down a total of 33 pounds which makes me feel good....but I want more. I want everything I have been dreaming of, and the things my morbid obesity has kept me from doing. At my post surgery appointment everyone said how good I was doing and that I have healed up properly.   Now, it is time to really start this new life...the healthy life...the active life...the life I have always dreamed of... This will be hard, emotional, powerful, painful,wonderful, exciting, amazing, joyous, eventful and the best thing I could ever do. I'm ready....I just need to get over this cold/bronchitis...   I love myself today.... :thumbup:
Megg40

Megg40

6
Blog 50043
 

rice is evil.

i had shrimp and rice for dinner. the shrimp went down fine., the rice did too. until the last bite, which promptly got stuck. :thumbup:   an hour of extreme discomfort later, im finally unstuck.   good lord. ill be avoiding rice forever i think.
harliquinn

harliquinn

4
Blog 61819
 

issues

I am having issues with the drinking while i eat thing. I didnt think it would be an issue at all. I HAVE TO DRINK WHILE I EAT. I have been taking little sips for now till i can break the habit but i am worried i wont be able to. :thumbup:
princesslaurie1

princesslaurie1

4
Blog 47420
 

Help/complication after complication

I've had nothing but complications....I'm disappointed. I had my lapband surgery in Sept 09. I went for my first fill and the dr couldn't access my port. I had an xray and per the dr the post had flipped. He scheduled me for surgery in Dec.19th 09 to replace post...surgery EVERYTHING went well so I thought....went for a fill and the dr couldn't access the port again...went for xray ..had to had surgery again..but before my surgery I notice a knot(that was getting bigger by the day) . I visited the dr he stated it was fatty tissue and when I have surgery on Friday he would remove it......Surgery day I woke up without a port and Septecimia(blood posion), a Drain bag and 5 days in the hospital.....I should have stop and had him remove the unit but on 4/1 I had surgery again he replaced the port. But I'm afraid... I think I want it out.....DO ANYBODY KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN THROUGH THIS....PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN..ANYTHING...ADVICE , ENCOURAGING WORDS....ALL I hve from this lapband is 4 surgerys,blood poison, depression,bills and 15lbs heavier.....what do you all think?   Thank you Anita :thumbup:
asteward964

asteward964

7
Angela's Blog
 

1 month until "B"-day. Band date 05-12-10

The countdown commences. The skeptics come out. The rude comments continue. The supports are there but not in as large of numbers as before. The question that is on everyone's mind is "Will I succeed or will I fail?" Hmmm...dare I prove them wrong? YES I DARE!! There are a lot of things I have given up on in my life because the going got too tough. Well, this is an investment in my life. A very hefty investment. I am self pay and with that means I will bear the success and the failure heavily. More incentive to succeed. To use my tool to its fullest potential is a priority. Do I have fears? Yes. Do I have second thoughts? Yes. Do I think there will be times that I fail? Yes but I sure hope not. I am going into this with my eyes wide open to all possibilities. This is probably the hardest thing I will ever do next to child birth and raising 4 kids and raising teenagers. :thumbup: This is the best support site I have come across. There is more compassion and support than I could have hoped for. I have gotten tons of tips and advice here. I have received valuable insight into what to expect and what could happen. It is good to be in the know. I feel very prepared. No one is preaching to me or at me. It is like we are all lifelong friends. I think it is because we are all on the same lifelong journey together. We are each other's lifeline. I am looking forward to sharing each leg of my journey with you and hopefully my experience will help others as I have been helped. 30 more days!!!
anglov

anglov

5
Blog 87586
 

Approved by insurance company in 30 min no kidding be proactive.

I just want to spread the word that if you are proactive in the process of having your lap band and not always waiting for the Dr's to do all the work, you can sometimes speed up the process. I had my final appt with my doctors office the Thursday before Easter. They told me that they would submit my paperwork to the insurance company the Monday after Easter and that it would take 2 weeks to a month for approval. Well I decided to call the insurance company after a weeks time and asked them did they receive my paperwork from my Dr's office. They told me that they just received it 17 min before I called. The agent asked me a shocking question,she asked "Is this something urgent that you need because I can bump your review status to urgent " I said yes it is urgent to me" I hadn't hung up the phone 10 min before she called me back to tell me that I was approved. My surgery date was set today for May 17th 2010.
AFRO-ITALIA

AFRO-ITALIA

2
Blog 81031
 

my surgery was on April 14th 2010, not anymore!!

omg i been on my liquid diet for about 10 days and i lost 15 lbs i been very very motivated because i know my surgery date is coming up.   well the problem that i am face with and that could have prevented is this:   i had blood work done by doctor's brathwait office about a month ago and my blood clotting was a little slow, then i had another test 1 week later at my PCP office and it was normal, 2 weeks later i had another test for my pre admission and my clotting was slow again here are the results, (recent blood work) PTT: 39.6 NORM: 27.0-36.0 INR: 1.23 NORM: 0.9-1.2   now this is what get me furious:mad: (i did not get clearance for my surgery 4/12)   My surgeon doct wife (who works there) called me and told me about her concern about my clotting time that it was a little bit slow, so she wanted to speak to my PCP to ask her if i should go to a hematologist because she can schedule me in right away so i gave her my PCP number.   my surgeon wife called me back and discussed with my PCP about my clotting time and my PCP said "its not that high and she has no other problem and is in relatively in healthy shape" so my the surgeon wife did not plan my the hematologist apt because as stated above my PCP said i did not need it     :thumbup: WELL today was my clearance appointment and my PCP now does not want to clear me and need me to get clear by a hematologist :scared2:. i was sooooo mad she was told about the same results before and she told my surgeon wife that it wasn't needed   so now i have to go to a hematologist app on the day that was suppose to be a life changing experience..   I'm not mad at the fact that i have to go to the hematologist i am mad at the fact that i could have went ahead of tI'me and still been able to have the surgery.       but im looking at my clotting time and there are not that far from the normal ranges so it doesn't look like it can be bad enough to not clear me.   ugh i don't know..... just soooooo mad right now :cursing::cursing:
Nycfw

Nycfw

2
LoseIt!'s Blog
 

Starting Week #6 of my Jumpstart!

It was a good week all around! After my .4 lb gaining debacle last week, I lost 4.6 lbs this week. YAY!! That mean that I'm averaging 1.8 lbs lost per week since the procedure. I'm quite happy with that.   I worked out EVERY day last week for 5 1/4 hours which is an average of 45 minutes per day. Excellent!! One of the girls I work with has started working out with me at lunch one day a week and she said that I have inspired her to work out more. Another person I met through Group says that I have inspired her to make an 8 week exercise committment. I have NEVER been an exercise inspiration before, so that is just AMAZING to me. My exercise goal this week, is to get in my two lunch work outs and my two personal trainer sessions. It is race weekend at TMS (woohoo!), so anything else is gravy. We generally get a lot of walking in at the track because it is at least 1/2 mile to the car. :-)   Non-scale victories just keep coming. I bought a new pair of size 18W jeans yesterday that I'm now wearing. I was wearing a 20W (or size 3 from LB), so that is great for just 11 weeks! Also, I'm wearing my rings full time again. I stopped wearing them sometime last summer because they were just too tight. Finally, I get comments constantly about how good I am looking. I will NEVER get tired of that.   I'm starting to see muscles forming everywhere. There is fat hanging from them from every which way, but they are there!! I know that as I continue to lose, it will look better and better.   I have Support Group tonight and I ALWAYS look forward to that. I can't wait to see how my new friends are doing.   Have a great week fellow bandsters!!
LoseIt!

LoseIt!

1
Blog 88324
 

diet and exercize!

I started my "diet" two days after my consult, and found that it's more of a behavior mod diet that one to lose weight on! My guidelines are to eat at least 4 times a day, lots of protein, eating slowly, drinking lots of water.... etc. The dietician says it's not about weight loss, mostly practicing to eat like a bandster. If I lose weight, thats great, but I just can't gain it! I can live with that. I've been on it for 4 days now, and am finding it hard to being eating "so much", as I usually don't eat much during the day. Not drinking with meals has been fine, but eating slowly and taking smaller bites has been a challenge. I guess it'll get better with time and PRACTICE! As for exercising, I haven't started anything yet, I need to start walking at least a little bit though, just as a start. I need to make an appointment with the exercize physiologist to get a routine made for me, that will help! I know that I need to get moving for all of this to work!
susi1662

susi1662

1

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