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Blog 76599

A blog by 1019Joanne in General

  • Entries

    26

  • Comments

    81

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    3,871

About this blog

A weight loss surgery blog by 1019Joanne on BariatricPal. 26 entries on surgery, recovery and progress.

Entries in this blog

11 months out....wow!

I think back to a year ago, and I had just gotten approval from my insurance company, and scheduled my sugery. What a difference a year makes! I walked into surgery weighing 277lbs - this morning on my scale, I weighed in at 193lbs. 193 lbs in 11 months - holy smokes. I always wanted to be a thinner woman - and not be the biggest mom in the group, and cringing when boarding an airplane hoping the belt would buckle. I wanted to fit in the desks at back to school night, and wanted to stop undoi

my name is not GRACE for a reason!

You never know where you are going to find someone who understands.... This past Saturday was my youngest daughters high school graduation party, and toward the end of the party, I tripped over a root of a tree (a root that I had warned people about over and over about through the day,but failed to heed my own advise) and after getting the party all cleaned up, I really had a chance to check out my foot, and then I decided on a quick trip to the emergency room, since I could no longer get my fo

just when I thought I was stuck in neutral....

It's been almost 9 months since my surgery, and just over a year from when I started the whole band process. Lately tho, I thought I was stuck in a holding pattern, a plateau of a huge magnitude. I went to my regularly scheduled appointment with my surgeon yesterday, and dreaded the walk to the scale. I even told the PA that I knew I had not lost one pound over the past 7 weeks. and he agreed with me.....since I had lost 3! I am not going to disparage the weight loss, since every single pound

back to the "band"wagon for me!

There is no pity-party here! I seem to be in a holding pattern with my weight loss, but I know why....IT'S ALL ABOUT ME! The scale is not moving...and why might that be? Well, lets talk about it.....my hours have changed this month at work, making it harder to scheduled in gym time ( I am down from 4-5 times a week to 1-2), I am eating later at night (since I am home now at 8 instead of 6pm) and some of my food choices really are not the best for me. So, NO pity party for the scale not moving,

scanning the room....

Come on, I know you do it......I think we all do.... You walk into a room (any room) and you scan, non-chalantly of course, to see if you really are the biggest person in the room. Or you see a photo of yourself, and you scrutinize everyone in the photo to see how you "measure" up..... well, have you done this since you had your surgery? Are you still hiding behind objects thinking that you look smaller, or are you really smaller? Are you no longer the biggest person in the picture? I go

6 months out

Tomorrow is my 6 month "bandiversary"! I cannot believe it! In some respects it feels like yesterday, and in others, years ago. I visited my surgeon for my 6 month check last week, and he was very pleased with my progress - I currently have 6 cc's in my 9cc Realize band, and I do have restriction. After losing 12 lbs since my last visit to him in February, the good doctor decided to leave me alone this time around, and I will see him again in July if I am consistantly losing between now and th

walking - and enjoying it!

Saturday in the Northeast area of the country was not a very nice day, however, the morning found us on a train into New York City - my daughter's dance team was competing at the Manhattan Center Theater, so rain or no rain, off to the big city we went! I am always in awe when I arrive at Grand Central Station - and usually, I head right for the taxi stand...however, with 17 of us traveling together, a taxi was not an option....so, umbrelllas up, and off we went! Off walking into Times Square.

My New BFF!

I have come to realize that in order to get the most out of this journey, I need to get moving - really moving. So, I joined a gym. Seriously, I JOINED A GYM! It's really is funny! Who knew! Me in a gym, and the best part is - I LIKE IT! I walked in the first day and I am sure I looked like someone who did not belong there. After a tour of the center, and some careful instructions from the trainer who made me feel so welcome, I started on a machine. Little did I know then that this machine w

First vacation after surgery

I love to fly...I really do. I did not like having to put my seatbelt on while flying, though, since it barely fit and when I managed to get the belt buckled, it was so uncomfortable. I was ashamed to ask for a belt extender - I would rather be uncomfortable than call attention to my largeness. However - last Thursday, I boarded a plane to Dallas, and as I buckled the belt, and tightened it in, and had about four inches of slack. I literally sat in my seat with tears of joy rolling down my fac

Is there a mute button on this thing?

I had my second fill in my band last Wednesday, and I have to say I am now the noisiest girl on the block! No matter what I eat or drink, it seems to bring loud gas bubbles up from my stomach that rivals any beer drinker! I have again started taking Gas-X after lunch, since I cannot imagine what my co-workers are thinking....but I cannot help but wonder....where is the mute button on this band! On the other hand....I am down 45 lbs since I began this journey - down two pant sizes, and two shi

Putting the fork DOWN!

This journey back to health means so much to me...sometimes, it's hard to find the words. I am seven weeks post-op, and 6 days out from my first fill. This past week has been an eye-opener....was my fill too much, why could I not swallow, OMG what can I eat, and at one low point, what have I done? However, I am learning so much about myself, too..... I am not a quitter, I can follow this diet, I will succeed, and I will put down my fork when I am full. I do not have to eat everything on my plat

sooo...THIS is what a fill feels like

Today I am six weeks and two days post op....and today was the BIG day! I was ready for my first fill! My weight loss has stalled....hanging tough at 30 lbs since my journey began, and I am ready to get back on track and start losing again. The office was packed when I got there, and I was so happy to see a familiar face - my friend "Dan" who had been through all of my pre-op classes with me - he was in for his two week check up, and he looks great! Finally, it was my turn....and I hopped

oh dear.....STUCK....for the first time

Here I am....happily banded almost five weeks ago on what appeared to be a normal Saturday.....normal for when I work on Saturday. Off to work I went - and in such a rush to get there today, I forgot to grab my lunch out of the fridge....hmmmm....someone always orders lunch out, so, I knew I could get something....BIG mistake! It seemed as if the entire office was ordering chinese food today, so I joined that bandwagon, and ordered steamed veggies with white rice. I thought that would be my

la di dah!

I am almost 4 weeks post op....and I am feeling really good today! I realize now that I have not been consuming enough protein - which had been making me very tired, and just about putting my weight loss at a stand-still. After talking to a friend at work (who had this surgery about 15 months ago and has lost over 115 lbs) I am getting more protein, and I feel sooooo much better. My friend suggested putting protein powder in sugar free pudding as well as making sugar free jello with isopur

3 weeks post op

I will be three weeks post-op on Monday...three weeks! In some ways it feels like yesterday, and in others - it feels like a loonnggg time ago! Going back to work has given me back my routine, and although I am tired, I do sleep well at night, and I really needed to get back into my life. I really feel like these past few days I am feeling like me again - almost "normal" or whatever that is. I still have some twinges in my port area...which I understand is normal. I did take a quick trip to t

It's back to work for me!

I am two weeks post-op, and time to go back to work! I work in an inbound call center for a telecommunications company, so my job is not physically demanding. I walk in the door and realize that the whole office is having a baby shower for one of my co-workers, which means FOOD is everywhere! You name it, it was there...meatballs, baked ziti, salad, baked ham,red beans and rice, chips, and desserts galore! Oh dear.....to top it off, it's a full moon, and we all know that the full moon brings

first Post-Op appointment

I had my surgery on Oct 19, and went back to see my surgeon today. I have to say I was pretty excited to step on the scale, probably for the first time in my life. Day of surgery I weighed 266....today I weighed 252...the day I started this journey on July 1, I was 277. So....I have lost 25 lbs??!!! OMG - but where? I look in the mirror and I see me, the very same me that has been staring back at me all of my life. Yes, my clothes look baggier, and yes I have people telling me over and over

is it just a cold...or swine flu?

Stay well everyone and I hope this helps! Difference between Cold and Swine Flu Symptoms       Fever   Fever is rare with a cold. Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.   Coughing   A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold. A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred

It's Always Something

Sitting here on a beautiful autumn Sunday morning, and just got off the phone with a well-intentioned friend, and I just had to put something into words. My friend asked why I would have surgery so close to Halloween? CLOSE TO HALLOWEEN??? OMG - well, lets take a look at the calendar--- Yes, Halloween is 10/31 then Thanksgiving and then Christmas quickly followed by the New Year and then my birthday and then it's Valentines Day and then St Patricks Day and then Easter and Mothers Da

Home Sweet Home

I have been home from the hospital for just over 24 hours....and so far, so good. I arrived at the hospital at 9:30am, 15 minutes before my scheduled arrival time, and I went back to pre-op right on time. My surgery was scheduled for 11:15am, but after changing into my lovely jonny, the nurse told me there was going to be a 'little" delay in my surgery time. Well, after watching the noon news, and then the show that came on after, I finally headed into the OR at 1:10pm...I cannot say enough go

Home Sweet Home

I have been home from the hospital for just over 24 hours....and so far, so good. I arrived at the hospital at 9:30am, 15 minutes before my scheduled arrival time, and I went back to pre-op right on time. My surgery was scheduled for 11:15am, but after changing into my lovely jonny, the nurse told me there was going to be a 'little" delay in my surgery time. Well, after watching the noon news, and then the show that came on after, I finally headed into the OR at 1:10pm...I cannot say enough go

36 hours until banding

WOW - I can't believe that I have 36 hours until I am banded. 36 hours! Today, my youngest and I went on a tour of UMASS Amherst (she is a senior in high school this year) and the tour of this beautiful campus was lead by an enthuastic 20 year old, someone who could run up and down the hills of this university with no problem. Me, on the other hand, I was out of breath halfway up the first hill! I stayed with the pack, kept going, and toured the campus on this picturesque autumn New England da

tick....tick...tick....

6 days until banding. Time seems to be slowing counting down until surgery day, but I also feel like I have so much to do, and so little time to do it in! Today was my Pre-Op testing - 2 hours in total in the office between bloodwork, chest x-rays, EKG, talking with the anesthesia nurse, and finally my exam. I am ready to get this show on the road! I am still nervous, however, I am confident that this "intervention" is what I need to get my life back on track. and the clock keeps on tickin

10 days to go

It's already the 9th of October, and I have 10 days until banding - today was my endoscopy...and it was not as bad as I had prepared myself for. Pre-Op testing is next....then surgery on the 19th - somehow, time seems to be flying and creeping along at the same time!

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