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About this blog

My personal experience with Lap Band. Hopefully informative and occasionally witty.

Entries in this blog

 

Woooooohoooo! It's Friday!

Current Mood: Excellent, party on! :tongue2:   I'm going with stream of consciousness blogging today....   Friday, Friday, Friiiiiiday! Started out the weekend right last night by having a lovely home-cooked chili courtesy of my husband, doing all the laundry, wrapping presents, watching a movie and having a glass of wine. I slept like a log for most of the night and today I hopped on the scale and....ta da....another 2 lbs gone.   I'm going into the weekend in a great mood and good attitude. Final holiday shopping, setting up the tree, some baking (I won't eat the cookies, I swear) and probably sledding too! Next year, I'll have to buy smaller snow pants so I might as well get use out of my big girl ones now!   I think I can cram in enough activity this weekend to lose the last 2 lbs needed to make my year-end goal of 30 lbs total.   Fills: When I got my first fill on the 3rd of December, I didn't ask about follow up so I finally called the doctor's office yesterday and they said to schedule my next fill at the end of January unless I really felt there was no restriction and then I might come in earlier. I feel the restriction and even had a bad moment this morning - possibly the first time I've had first bite syndrome. I've been talking to my sister, who also has a band and is now a size 8 at 5'10" (same height as me but much smaller frame in general), and she's told me about her PBs, eating too fast, gas, etc.... She says it is all worth it though she does miss pizza. I already ate pizza.   Have a great weekend! I hope you stay on track but don't forget to enjoy yourself!   B
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

4
 

Where did July go? Checking In.

A couple of weeks after my last blog entry in June, I had to get some fluid removed from my band. I had developed vomiting and acid reflux after a sinus infection and antibiotics that were very harsh on my stomach. So, for almost all of July (and two weeks in June), I had a fairly loose band and lots of social engagements. I did ok though. I'm approximately the same weight I was when they loosened the band and just had a little fill last week trying to get back to where I was before the problems started. My doctor is insisting on a swallow study before he puts in anymore fill so I've got to schedule that soon because I would really like to be down more than 110 lbs by my one year band anniversary on 11/9 - about 3 months away.   Honestly, July was a blur. It started with World Cup frenzy, out of town for the 4th and again to DC the next weekend and then vacation with family and at the end of that a quick solo trip to Puerto Rico for a wedding followed by a family visit, tourist day in NYC with kids and finally, my daughter's birthday party for 16 held on 7/31. I am DONE with July and never want another month like that again. Between all the traveling, eating out, drinking, visiting people and places, etc., I lost my workout routine for about 2.5 weeks and drank way too much booze. But man, I had a lot of fun!   Happy to report that August is better already. Went back to the gym on Monday night and found that I hadn't actually gained weight and my fitness level is pretty much what is was before the craziness started. I had a check in with my trainer and he's put me on a tougher routine that I managed without much difficulty. The really great news though is that I am down to a size 22 Calvin Klein jeans and they are getting loose. I have some new clothes that are 18-20 and fit as well. I can feel my muscles are lean and strong (under the squishy parts) and I'm feeling and looking pretty good.   So, after may ups and downs on this band journey, I'm really in a good place. Down about 90 lbs in 9 months and feeling great. I hope the rest of the summer is productive.:cool:
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

2
 

What I Did During My Lapband Vacation

It's official. I gained 6 lbs since my "unfill" on March 10. It's probably not a full 6 lbs because I'm very bloated in a womanly way - I'm guessing it's about 3 lbs once I unload all this fluid.   The thing is, I really don't feel badly about the weight gain. I've been able to wrap my head around the idea that this is a process and with any long term endeavor, there are ups and downs. In this case, it's still mostly downs (as in weight going down) and I'm way ahead of where I was mentally and physically, even a month ago. Sure, a month ago the weight was falling off but it was at the price of vomiting, feeling unwell and feeling mentally punished for being fat all the time.   With the unfill, I was able to replenish both my body and my mind. I like to think of this period as a mini vacation from the band that allowed me to refresh and start anew...just like coming back from vacation and going back to school or work.   Yesterday, I got a fill. Only 1cc which brought me back to 6cc, exactly what I had after my first fill. I couldn't feel any restriction when I had my soup for lunch and fluids go down fine but I decided on some soft cheese, salad and hummus for dinner and I could feel it. Yay! Restriction is back and not too much. I may still need another adjustment but I'm really ready to get back on the wagon and correct these bad patterns I fell right back into over the last month:   1) Drinking while eating 2) Bread, bread, bread 3) Eating too fast and not chewing well enough - even with very little restriction I had a bad PB incident with a bagel 4) Slider foods and candy 5) Diet soda 6) Booze 7) Snacking   It was a great vacation - eating, drinking, my birthday, having too much fun with food - but I'm back now and tightening the reins.   Happy Easter, Passover, Spring to all!
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

4
 

Unfill - Feel Physically Much Better But Concerned

My last fill on 1/27 resulted in a lot of restriction, so much so that I questioned in this space and others whether or not the band was too tight. At my appointment last week, 3/3, the doctor said he thought 2 ounces of food was a good amount per sitting so I assumed the problems I was having were related more to my eating habits than the band.   And then the real vomiting started. I'd thrown up a couple of times and slimed since my last fill but it got to the point over the last week that at least 1 meal per day ended up in the toilet or sink. Finally, after a week of feeling weak and that I wasn't getting enough nutrition (still) and I couldn't sleep because I kept gagging and vomiting a bit while lying down, I called the doctor's office yesterday and they were able to get me in today.   As soon as I described the vomiting while prone, the doctor said the band is too tight and he'd take some fluid out. He said that monthly fluctuations can cause different feelings of restriction so if I retain a lot of fluid with my period, that could be the cause. Of course, I don't have my period but sometimes it just happens.   He took out 1.5ccs (I had 7.5 in my 12 cc band) and told me to drink a cup of water and see how it went down. I sat in the waiting area, sipping my water and it didn't feel right. After about 3 ounces, I felt that old familiar pain and urge and ran to the bathroom and threw it up. Back to the exam room and he took out another 1cc of fluid.   I feel like a new person. I drank my cup of water with no problem and even had a satisfying little burp at the end. Got some soup on the way back to the office (doctor said warm liquids at first) and it went down beautifully.   Here's the concern though -- after I had the whole soup (about 6 oz - more than I've had at a sitting in over a month), I wanted more! I am worried that I'm back to square one with restriction and even though I will try to stick to the plan and eat the right foods and right amounts, it's the restriction that I depend on to help keep me on track. What if I blow it? I know I won't gain back all 60 lbs in the month before my next appointment but I question whether I can stick to my goals for 4 weeks if I have little restriction. I'm so bad in general that I actually considered getting a roast beef sandwich on the way back from the doctor's office, just to see if I could do it.   So, I'm glad that I'll be able to sleep and won't be running to the bathroom after every meal but I'm worried that I'll eat too much because....I can.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

5
 

This thing is definitely on!

CURRENT MOOD: Cranky :mad2:   Some days just getting out a bed ends up being a bad idea. That was today. I felt a little tightness in my chest last night before bed and upon waking this morning but was going full steam ahead with the plan as prescribed by my doctor.   1/2 cup of coffee, 2 chewable vitamins later the 4 oz of oatmeal with skim milk seemed like a real treat. But nooooooooo. Even though I added plenty of milk to thin it, chewed every rolled oat and took almost 20 minutes to eat it I ended up with that awful pain in my chest again and, it didn't go away. I had it all day, from 10:30 this morning. I tried Gas-X, a warm drink, water, hot broth, a decent walk (in the pouring rain!) and nothing seemed to make it much better.   The walk: We went out for late lunch because husband and daughter still get to eat and they were hungry. We walked to the restaurant, probably 1/2 mile, and I had to tell them to go ahead because I felt so winded and uncomfortable. After lunch (broth) we went to the drugstore for the Gas-X and then to a toy store for the two 6-year old birthdays coming up. By the time I got home I was really quite sweaty - from the constant pressure and pain.   So, I called my sister in Norfolk to find out if she'd had a similar experience with her band. I forgot about the storm until she answered so I pretended that was why I called. They had 4 feet of flooding and no electricity or land line for 2 days now. Luckily, they have a generator so they can keep the mobile phones charged and, like so many houses right by the bay, theirs is on stilts. Brushing aside all their worldly possessions that were in jeopardy, my sister confirmed that my symptoms were the same she had when her band was too tight! Her suggestions was stick to cold fluids to get some of the swelling down and, if I am really hungry, try some fat free frozen yogurt.   I've been sipping ice water as I write this and it does seem to help somewhat. Lord knows I'm not going to attempt to eat anything solid again today but amazingly enough, I do feel a little peckish.   I suspected that my band was too tight (3cc fill upon insertion) yesterday and talking to my sister has sort of confirmed that. I suppose I'll need to stick to liquids until I can talk to the doctor on Monday. Dammit! I really wanted that oatmeal with mashed banana that's on the menu for tomorrow.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

5
 

So Much Energy! I'm A Different Person.

A few years ago, at my heaviest, my husband complained that I always said I was going to do something and then didn't. Simple things like vacuuming the living room or taking out the trash...I just couldn't muster the energy to complete even basic tasks. Boy how things have changed!!!   I cannot believe how much energy I have now. Such a busy weekend starting Thursday when I went out to happy hour and dinner with an old friend and was out quite late. Then I was at work early on Friday followed by lunch with friends, popped into my local on the way home, full weekend grocery shopping, made a fresh lasagna (including my own sauce) and then after dinner, full work out at the gym then met a girlfriend for drinks afterwards.   Saturday, even though I felt I was getting a bad cold, I woke up early and mowed the lawn and re-seeded the bare patches and watered it. Cleaned up the back patio, took my daughter to see Shrek (walked there) and then to the pool at the YMCA for 1.5 hours where I carried her on my back while running laps in the pool and walked with her while she did laps on her back. After that book shopping followed by a bite at a nice outdoor cafe and gourmet shopping before heading home.   Sunday, went to the gym at 8:30 to get a work out done before we headed out to a friends' bbq, head cold at full steam now and sinus pain but powered through it and managed a great day out including making about 100 water balloons for all the kids. Home by 10:30 and a friend popped in for a visit so we sat in the garden chatting until 1am.   You'd think I'd be done but no, I kept going. Monday, cleaned out all the clothes that are too big for Salvation Army (5 garbage bags, including shoes and some of my daughter's clothes), cleaned my bedroom and the office -- including moving furniture and wiping down baseboards, took out the trash and recycling and did 5 loads of laundry -- all folded and put away too. Also helped put the AC in the windows and seal them, changed lightbulbs and finally, got my hair colored and worked out again Monday night, getting home just in time to put my daughter to bed.   So, if anyone asks me how I'm feeling since losing 80 lbs, I honestly have to say that I have never had this much energy in my entire life. I feel so much more positive about getting things done because my back doesn't hurt and I'm not sweating like a pig and walking to the gym ISN'T TOO FAR at just over 1/2 mile when you consider how long I can go on the elliptical, bike and treadmill now.   I am hoping to lose 6 more lbs before I head to Montreal on the 11th. If I do, I will hit a major milestone and will have lost 31 lbs since I first stated my mini goal of 20 lbs for Montreal! Yay.   Hope you all have as much energy as I do and are feeling great!
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

3
 

So Full!

Current Mood: Tentative :smile:   My last fill was 4 weeks ago tomorrow. At the time, I felt I'd really gotten it right. It was going quite well until last Wednesday when I went out for drinks with colleagues. When I got home, I was hungry and decided to eat some left over steak. Well, being a little bit drunk, I probably ate it too fast and didn't chew well enough and my body retaliated. Vomiting and gagging for about an hour immediately. In the morning, my stomach still felt a bit rough so I just had some Greek yogurt with a little raspberry preserves mixed in. It didn't sit right. Nothing solid sits right since then and I've had a couple more incidences of severe discomfort.   The only thing that went down well and left me feeling good full was carrot ginger soup. The upset feeling is gone but I am now getting uncomfortably full from what probably amounts to 2-3 tablespoons of food, well chewed and eaten slowly. Last night I had one sea scallop and tablespoon of beans and mashed potatoes. I was full for hours. There is no way this is enough food for someone my size - 5'10", active and still a good 80 lbs overweight.   Is 2-3 tablespoons how much I'm supposed to be eating? I thought it was more like 2-3 ounces of food (6-9 tablespoons).   Or, maybe this is the right amount of restriction and I haven't quite grasped how little I am supposed to be eating and try to eat more at every sitting. In the last 4 weeks I have lost about 20 lbs. I've also started a regular work out routine and have been sticking to it so I'm sure that helped with the weight loss but still....5 lbs per week?   I have a post-fill check-up tomorrow and will see what they say about the amount of food I should be eating. I'm honestly hoping for a small unfill so I can eat TWO scallops next time!   Total weight loss as of this morning: 75 lbs at 6 months and 8 days post surgery.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

0
 

Slime and OCD.

Current Mood: Worried:sad:   The Lap Band thing is going well. I'm adjusting to my fill. I think I was eating too fast and a bit too much the first couple of days after the fill and that's why I got stuck a few times. On Saturday night, I tried a slice of turkey and swiss cheese rolled up and the second bite was just wrong. I couldn't get the feeling to pass. I got up and started pacing around the living room and kitchen hoping I could dislodge it. A sip of water made it worse. Finally, I started coughing up thick salive....Slime, I guess...and it eventually went down. Very unpleasant and definitely reinforcing the band as a deterrent to eating too quickly or too much. Won't do that again.   So, I'm on the right track but I can't figure out how to get everything in my life going in the same direction at the same time. If my weight is in a good place then something is bound to be wrong at work or in my family. Unfortunately, it's my family this time.   My 6.5 year old has started worrying about germs obsessively and is now washing her hands too often, refusing to touch things and even asked me if she could have her own hand sanitizer this morning. I've been noticing this behavior over the last couple of weeks - she would tell me she touched her lip and then the arm of the chair or somethign similar - and was hoping it was a phase but I'm afraid it is really OCD. I've been reading up on OCD in children and though it's very uncommon for a child of her age, it happens. I blame the Swine Flu! All the signs about coughing in your arm, washing hands, not spreading germs, getting flu shots....I think it really worried her and given her genetics, she's probably got a natural propensity for anxiety disorders (I have been known to obsess and have panic attacks in the past). So, my husband says to wait a while to see if it's a phase ("remember that time she started stammering and we discovered a kid in her class that she liked stammered?") but I can't stand to see her so worried and upset. I've called her pediatrician and will try to talk to her teacher today to find out if she's doing the same thing in school. Her babysitter didn't seem to notice it but she's fairly oblivious at times.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

1
 

Science is cool!

Current Mood: Light and Breezy :biggrin:   At 8:30 yesterday morning, exactly one week since my surgery, I got an upper GI series to check the position of my band. I was worried about drinking the barium before I went as I'd had a bit of a difficult weekend with pain and the feeling that I had too much restriction. Phew! They don't give you the giant bottle after the band, just a little cup of barium and, I only had to take a few sips. It was really pretty cool watching it go down my throat into the "pouch" and then through the stoma to the larger part of my stomach, which appeared to be something like outer space the way the liquid sort of floated around. The radiologist said it looked exactly right (8 and 2 o'clock) and the restriction looked fine as well.   I feel much better today than I did over the weekend or even yesterday. Maybe it was swelling from the surgery that was causing me the trouble. It seems to be pretty much gone now although I still feel...something and, I am still getting winded from walking.   Besides the X-ray, I also went back to work yesterday. I've been very open about my surgery with a number of colleagues and to the last one, they all said I looked like I'd lost weight. I even showed a couple of them the incisions (they still had steri strips on them) and then...I got to work.   Work is going to be an issue -- too bad I haven't won Mega Millions yet. I don't have enough time in the morning to eat, make my lunch and my daughter's breakfast and lunch and get my daughter to school and then get myself to work on time so I decided to bring my breakfast with me and eat once I get to my desk. Of course, I want my coffee first, which takes at least 20 minutes to drink, then I have to wait 1/2 hour and take 20-30 minutes to eat and then wait 1/2 hour for more to drink. By the time I've actually finished breakfast, it's pretty much lunch time. So far, I've just pushed lunch to later but then, when do I have my protein shake and all that water? I know I just need to work it out but it's a bit of a juggle right now.   Update on the post op situation at day 8: 1) I pulled off the steri strips after my shower this morning and 2 of the 3 small incisions look a little red so I put Neosporin and bandaids on them. The other small one looks like a scratch that is healing well. The doctor buried my port behind my navel so, unfortunately, the largest scar is also where I bend and where my jeans hit. 2) My stomach muscles are sort of tender and I have to keep forcing myself to stand up straight instead of leaning forward when I walk - probably just a little residual pain from the surgery, 3) I have a raging yeast infection from the IV antibiotics (this was mentioned in the literature I got before surgery) even with a near constant diet of yogurt. OTC remedy in the works. 4) The band feels tighter in the morning and seems to loosen up as the day goes on. I wake up with a feeling of slight indegestion followed by uncomfortable burps and/or hiccups within the first minute or so of being upright. 5) After days of being ...uh, non-productive and taking colace for that issue, I finally, and with much struggle....um, produced last night. Yay! This took longer than I anticipated so I just bought some Benefiber to add to ....EVERYTHING. 6) I can eat a full 4 ounces of yogurt and 2 ounces of apple sauce without pain.   Good news on the scale this morning: I was down 11.3 lbs from my day-of-surgery weight. That's 21.9 lbs down from my consultation weight. I really can feel the difference and it's good.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

2
 

Pretty Thin For A Fat Woman!

I know I am not thin. I know I still have a long way to go but I feel like I've crossed over from "circus fat lady fat" to merely "overweight" and it's a big difference. The compliments keep coming and make me feel great. The work outs make me feel even better. The only thing that continues to bother me about this whole weight loss journey (besides not being able to tolerate bread) is my husband's lack of support. My friends have said that he's worried I'll lose a lot of weight and then change and not want him anymore. I thought that was kind of silly but I'm starting to suspect that he might be threatened by my new outlook and lease on life.   He never tells me how good I look or that he is proud of me. When I asked him he said he'd be proud if I kept it up and reached my goal. Why can't he be proud of how far I've come already? He admits he loves that I have so much energy and that I'm happier in general than I have been in years but ... here's the real shocker... HE THINKS I DON'T NEED TO LOSE ANY MORE WEIGHT!?! WTF?   He's always preferred a woman who is not skinny and I still need to lose another 80 lbs and I won't even be thin then! It took me ages to drag it out of him and it turns out that he feels I've already accomplished my main goals of being healthier, looking better and being more active/mobile for our daughter's sake. He's right, those are the goals but I also don't want to be fat anymore and I am still fat and still can't run a 10k.   So, even though I'm a thinner fat woman these days, I'm going to keep on going and try to reach my goal. I'm also sticking with my husband and showing him that just because the outside is changing, the inside does not have to change as well. I still love him and just want to be as healthy as I can be so I can stick around to enjoy my family as long as possible. He'll just have to get over it.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

1
 

Pardon me, that wasn't the dog!

Current Mood: Good:thumbup:   Well, as much as I enjoyed the cauliflower yesterday, I paid for it dearly. A couple of hours after I ate it and several sips into my protein shake I was struck with debilitating gas pains. I have heard others compare this type of gas pain to labor with labor coming out on top.... they are right! Oh how I wished I could burp, or vomit or anything but no....   Instead I went on line and quickly realized that chemical intervention was required and it was going to have to be something OTC...Maalox to be exact (Gas X was actually recommended by name repeatedly but my corner store didn't have any)! With the aid of Simethicone, the gas storm subsided somewhat though I still had pain. I did not eat dinner. In fact, I took a Percocet, sipped some water to help the Maalox through and went to bed. Lying down helped.   This morning it was all gone and I proceeded with caution. Greek yogurt and, dare I try it, 1/4 cup of unsweetened apple sauce. Well, the gas kicked in but not nearly as harshly as yesterday. This time I took a spoonful of Maalox and headed out of the house for a walk. It didn't seem to dislodge the gas so I decided to try warm liquid - decaf, about 3 ounces. I sipped it while I got a pedicure. Well at least that turned out well. The gas was still there but not as bad by the time I walked home.   I decided to try for lunch because I actually heard grumbling and felt a bit hungry. Mmmmmm, 2 eggs in 1 cup of fat free chicken broth did the trick (ate about half). Not only was it mouth satisfying, but the pains went away too after a few much appreciated burps.   Since lunch...um, let's just say if there were a dog around, it would be getting blamed for the noises coming out of whatever room I am in. Wow! That cauliflower is finally making itself heard and it's not pleasant but boy does it feel good. To paraphrase a famous quote, "A fart by any other name would still smell as ...." Well, you get the point.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

2
 

Pardon Me But Your Weight Loss Upsets Me!

Current Mood: Slender :thumbup:   Ok, so I don't really feel slender, just less fat than I used to feel. It's a good thing.   I just came back from my second fill. After asking what I ate yesterday, my doctor said I really need a fill if I can eat 8 ounces of sirloin and 3 vegetable dumplings at a time! (Hey, at least it was protein, well..mostly) I got 1.5ccs added for a total of 7.5ccs in my 12cc band. I must say that I went into the appointment in a good mood but still feeling just a little bit disappointed that I hadn't lost more weight since my first fill on 12/3/09. Here's what I found out:   It's your fault! Yes, you! You people who lose 40 lbs in one month. You're making the rest of us feel bad! LOL.   Seriously, my doctor thought my 17 lbs was a great number and that I was ahead of the curve for lap band patients in general, especially considering my holiday season indulgences extended from 12/3 to 1/3!! He reiterated that lap band is slower loss than other WLS and I am right on track for me. I really like my doctor.   Fill effect: The cup of water in the doctor's office went straight down, no problem. Since I'm on liquids until tomorrow, I picked up a small corn soup on the way back to the office and when I got here, I looked at it and realized it seemed to be pretty heavy on the cream. I decided to eat it anyway. Well, I got about halfway through and then it happened....the moment I've been waiting for....my eureka moment. I felt the restriction with a liquid for the first time! I thought about taking one more mouthful but already had a gurgly burp brewing so I put the lid on the soup and dropped it in the trash. I put my yogurt in the fridge for tomorrow and called it lunch! I am so pleased right now and looking forward to losing more weight and maybe....just a little bit quicker.   Oh, and I was only kidding above. Everyone loses at a different pace and thought I might be a bit envious of those who drop it more quickly than I, I don't begrudge anyone his/her victories. You're doing spectacularly - keep up the good work.   B
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

3
 

Ooops, I Did It Again! (Not the Britney version)

CURRENT MOOD: Aha! :tongue_smilie:   I ate too much!   Wow! When I get restriction I really get restriction. It's been almost two weeks since I got my second fill and I've had some issues adjusting. A couple of vomit/slime episodes and definite pain from eating too fast or the wrong food, followed by swelling and finally relief.   Today, I really can't eat more than 4 ounces, no matter how healthy the food is! Just finished lunch and I am now very uncomfortable. I ate 1 very small black cod fillet -- it was no more than 3 ounces --, about 1 ounce of steamed spinach and two very very small slices of raw tuna - less than an ounce. Well, I'm sitting here wishing I could burp. I can feel the food sitting at the bottom of my throat and I'm just waiting for that 1/2 hour to pass so I can take a few sips of water and get this food moving down. I seriously considered getting rice on the side when I got my lunch but opted for the tuna instead. The tuna is in the refrigerator, with the miso soup, having earned a reprieve for this meal at least!   I've seen people post that their restriction levels are different day-to-day or that a fill sometimes takes a while to settle that's why I say that I have good restriction TODAY. I hope it stays like this.   Mexico is one week away, which can't come soon enough since we're facing a blizzard, and I've already met my mini goal of 10 lbs since the fill. Time for a fiesta!   Hope those of you facing down the snow (on the ground or about to arrive) have plenty of TP and protein powder!   B
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

1
 

One year anniversary today - 114 lbs!

I feel like I finally have an "after" picture. I still have more to go and I'm fairly disgusted by all my loose skin but I'm healthy, feel good and the cosmetics can be fixed.   I said it before and I really do mean it, Lapband surgery was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

4
 

On the verge of another decade!

CURRENT MOOD: A-OK :thumbup:   I've been pretty successful at getting back on the program since the new year and it is paying off. I got on the scale yesterday and was down a few more pounds. I am judging my weight loss by my personal history and I am currently somewhere in the mid 1990s. I am hoping to break into the late 1980s by the end of the summer.   Something new: I finally experienced getting food stuck for the first time and it IS really as unpleasant as everyone says. I didn't vomit, slime or foam but the pain stopped me in my tracks and my husband thought I was choking for a second until I was able to say what was going on. It was steak and I just didn't chew it well enough. The weirdest sensation was when it cleared. I could actually feel it slipping through my stoma after a couple of minutes and sips of water. Very strange and uncomfortable. Why did this happen? Well, I've eaten steak plenty of times (it seems I need solid meat to stave off hunger) but I was wolfing down my food because we'd waited too long for lunch. Then we chose a restaurant that was too crowded so we went to another restaurant and the kitchen happened to be incredibly slow. I think I said something about lunch initially at 1:30 and it was literally 3:20 by the time our food arrived in front of us. It was a learning experience: 1) Do not wait too long to eat or you risk eating too fast and not chewing well enough 2) Do not choose a restaurant that is so popular you will have at least a 25-30 minute wait for a table when you are already hungry 3) Do not choose a restaurant over a mile away and insist on walking (for the exercise) when you are hungry 4) Chew, chew, chew, especially steak 5) Have some sort of signal ready for your loved ones so they don't think you are choking to death and try to do the Heimlich maneuver on you   I am getting my 2nd fill on 1/28. I currently have 6ccs in a 12cc band and can still eat over 8 ounces in a sitting. I am hoping to have restriction at a lower volume and get used to it before our vacation to the all-inclusive (BUFFETS!) resort in Mexico on 2/16! I am also hoping to drop another 10 lbs by then and fit in the seat on the plane without pushing up the arm and overlapping on my 6-year old. Well, that part might be pushing it...I probably need to lose 30 more lbs before I stop overlapping on planes.   A couple of updated stats: Weight loss total since consultation: 34lbs Weight loss since surgery on 11/9: 23 lbs Jeans: same size but now they actually fit and don't restrict the circulation in my lower body! LOL
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

3
 

OMG! Slime and Vomit....in public!

Current Mood: OK, I Guess :drool:   Wow! I know what sliming is now and I've just had my first Lapband associated vomit. I feel fine now but it was a bad 1/2 hour for sure.   I ate some pulled pork, with a fork, no bun and a fried pickle slice. Definitely ate too fast and didn't chew well enough, at least the pork. Within minutes I had the stuck feeling and then it got worse. I went to the bathroom about 6 times with a combination of severe sliming with heaves and actual vomiting. That was the most unpleasant thing that I've experienced since I got the band. Definitely think this thing works as a deterrent because Lord knows I'm not eating that again and will try to chew, chew, chew!   I posted about the "sweet spot" the other day after a fill -- was I there or not? Well, after a few more days, I've decided that I am. I can eat 5-6 bites, chewed well and feel finished. Oh, I still want to keep eating because it tastes so good, but I've been able to stop and not have a vomit or slime (until tonight).   Really good news - I am now 2 months and 3 weeks after surgery and this morning I hit 30 lbs lost from the morning of surgery. That's 41 from my consultation! Right on target of 10 lbs per month.   I am going to Mexico two weeks from today. I bought a maxi dress from Silhouettes in a size smaller and when I tried it on, the boobs were too big and it was a bit tight around the middle. Also, it is not a tall so rather than brushing the tops of my feet, the hem is about 4" above my ankles. Well, I kept it anyway -- my husband thinks it looks ok already but in two weeks it will look even better! Wooohoo, my first tangible sign of weightloss - a size smaller!   Feeling great about this decision right now, even after the rather awful incident this evening. I hope those of you who are struggling can go back and read how frustrated I was a few weeks ago and how much better it has gotten.   Don't love the band yet but definitely in deep like, possibly infatuation, with it now.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

2
 

OMG! I'm like a new woman...that might be a problem.

So I got an unfill yesterday. Dr. took 2.5 ccs from my band, which had been 7.5ccs in a 12cc band. I am like a different person. With the band too tight, I'd started to adjust my behavior to accommodate the issues -- too tight, eat less, have soup instead of solids, rationalize that everyone with a lap band pukes!   Now that the band is looser, I can burp. I can eat without pain. I feel SO MUCH BETTER that I can't believe I went for 5 weeks with a too tight band.   My concern about lack of restriction is definitely legitimate. I will work on a healthy diet but when it comes time for my next visit, I will definitely get a fill if I feel there is no restriction. Last night, I ate well but couldn't finish my meal. Today, I had a similar experience but made a bad choice. Salad and soup tasted great but probably didn't actually fill me up as much as another choice could have. I have to stick to the plan, even when the band isn't working for me.   Sorry if this blog entry was a bit like a self cheer leading effort...guess I just needed to talk myself into doing it right. Will report how I do with limited restriction.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

4
 

NYC Restaurant Week & Lap Band Family Ties!

Current Mood: Pretty Good :sad:   Restaurant Week has always been my 3rd favorite holiday after Christmas and Halloween. Now I am facing my first restaurant week with a band and restriction and....my 2nd fill in 3 days!   NYC Restaurant Week allows us the opportunity to eat in some of the world's best restaurants that we normally couldn't afford. The fixed price for lunch is $24.07 and dinner is $35. I looked at the list of participating restaurants and got really excited and even made a reservation before I realized that my 2nd fill is Wednesday at lunch time! Luckily, I will be going to Tao on Tuesday for lunch. I'll just skip the fried rice and it will all be good.   What I'm really looking forward to is my next fill. I have 6ccs in a 12cc band and though I have some restriction, and recently experienced getting food stuck for the first time, I still think I can eat too much at a time. I'd like to get down to a full feeling at 1/2 cup of food rather than 1 - 1.5 cups that I can currently eat.   In other news, my "little" brother got a band last week. He is 6'8" and I couldn't even guess what he weighs. I hope it works for him. He is still young and has a great life ahead of him if he sticks with the plan. I'll be trying to support him as much as I can.   My older sister, though she was not very overweight to start, has a band too which we found out about a year after she got it. She's been very helpful to me and I hope she supports our brother as well since he's pretty much going it alone.   I am really looking forward to Mexico in a few weeks. I feel like the fill will help me be the weight I want to be when I get there. 10 lbs is not impossible between now and then and, I just bought a maxi sun dress a size smaller because I'm just that sure...or at least optimistic...that I can do this.   Next self improvement - teeth whitening. I just had trays in my mouth for 45 minutes this evening and I swear my teeth look better already. I realized it will benefit me in another way too - if I put the trays in right after dinner, it prevents me from drinking for 45 minutes. I've been having problems waiting a full 30 minutes before/after meals to drink and at least this should keep me "dry" until an acceptable amount of time has passed. I'll have to figure out something else after the bleaching is done. Suggestions are welcome.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

1
 

Need a Refill NOW!

My unfill, as suspected, has led to basically no restriction whatsoever. It's PMS week and I have totally lost control. I am practically jamming in food - taking big bites, not chewing all the way and gulping it down. It's like I was starving for a month (I kind of was with the vomiting and all) and now that that I can eat again and there's plentiful food I'm like a dog....gotta eat, gotta eat.   I know I need to get this under control now but honestly, if I had that kind of control I wouldn't be huge and need weightloss surgery in the first place. I'm trying to take it one meal at a time but it's not even 10 o'clock and I've blown breakfast!   My unfill was only last Wednesday.... is it too soon to get a fill??? I'm not scheduled to go back until 4/7 and I'm afraid I'll explode by then if I keep up this pace.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

1
 

Nearly done in by a Dayquil Liqui-Gel Capsule!

Sometimes life is just a trial. We are flying out tomorrow morning at 6am for vacation. Today I woke up with a bad head cold and proceeded to have a rather bad PB/vomit incident and now, it's snowing again!   If anyone can learn from my problem and avoid doing what I've just done, then maybe it was worth it... NO WAY! I wish someone had told me....   This is the first cold I've had since I got restriction a couple of weeks ago. I'm congested, have a bit of a cough and feel just sort of blah. On the way to dinner this evening my husband popped into the corner store and bought a pack of Dayquil Liqui-Gel capsules. Even though I know the liquid would have been better I decided to take a chance and have one with dinner because I feel that sick. Big freakin' mistake. The damn thing got stuck straight away. I had to ask for green tea, hoping to melt it a little and let it pass. It seemed to work so I had a few bites of beautiful soft tuna but then I got the hiccups and the trouble really started.   Ran to the bathroom once with a mouthful of slime that came out with a big cough which seemed to dislodge the pill. Went back to the table, sipped my green tea a bit longer and realized I was clear so I had one, ONE, one piece of California roll, chewed meticulously to a fine mush and that was all she wrote! Apparently the pill was still stuck because I had to run to the bathroom again, this time for a full on vomit in the sink ! But, the pill didn't seem to come up so the vomiting must have pushed it through the other direction.   Rinsed my mouth and went back to the table where I could sip my tea with no problem and was able to eat the avocado out of my sushi and even some boiled soy beans. Amazingly, I was still quite hungry having had only a couple of ounces of lentil soup for lunch.   I think this does it -- I was really hoping my band wasn't too tight but it sure seems that it is given the trouble I've been having. Unfortunately, I can't make it to the doctor before my flight to get an unfill so I will be living on yogurt, soup, beans and fish while I'm in Mexico. Hmm, actually, that doesn't sound so bad. I do love fish and it seems to be really easy to digest for me.   I'll chalk it up as yet another learning experience with the band. Here's what I learned: 1) Dayquil Liqui-Gels are gigantic and will jam in a stoma that might be a little tight 2) Avocado and soybeans are quite easily digested and even soothing 3) Don't wait if you think your band needs an adjustment or you could end up on vacation at an all inclusive resort being unable to eat properly 4) Snow is beautiful but really stinks when you've got to fly   On that note, I'm off to bed so I can get up at 3:30 for the taxi. Hope everyone has a great week and can use some of my hard-earned lessons.   B
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

2
 

My Scale Thinks It's On The Biggest Loser!

Current Mood: Optimistic :thumbup:   In preparation for my fill, I weighed myself this morning and I think my scale has delusions of grandeur or ambitions to be on TV! It is a new, good quality digital scale but when I get on, it does the same thing the scale on The Biggest Loser does....up, down, up, down, up, up, down, down. I find myself holding my breath to see where it settles every time. Luckily, I don't have to wait for a commercial break to find out what I weigh!   I think I've figured it out though...it never shows a weight lower than my actual weight, so at least I'm not thinking I lost 8 lbs for 1/10th of a second before it settles 5 pounds higher. I still have a sort of "phew" moment when it shows the low number every time.   I'm just really glad it can't talk! LOL
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

3
 

Lose Vs. Loose

Let's just get this out of the way first: I am a spelling bitch! I try to see past the poor spelling and grammar all over the internet so that I can actually absorb ideas, experiences and thoughts that might be helpful but I just can't get over some simple mistakes.   This is a weight loss website. We should be able to tell the difference and, spell the difference, between lose and loose. Every time I see someone say he/she is not "loosing" I cringe. Don't even get me started on there/their/they're!   So, I know it is my problem but maybe some of you will find this helpful anyway:   Lose (pronounced looz) - This is what you do with weight (and car keys and other small personal items). While in the process of shedding weight, you are losing. In the past, you have lost. If you win on the TV show, you are the biggest loser.   Loose (pronounced loos) - Your pants (and possibly your skin) should be loose after losing weight. Your clothing may be looser than it was previously. In fact, your dress may be the loosest it has ever been when your LAP-BAND® is no longer loose.   I hope this helps some of you who struggle with the right choice of words.   For those of you who are offended, sorry. Just getting it off my chest, which is currently encased in a very loose bra because I have lost so much weight and am still losing.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

3
 

Let me feed you sweetheart!

When my sister lost a lot of weight in 2008 she started baking and cooking ridiculously high fat and sugary foods and feeding other people. She would bring two trays of brownies covered in fudge icing and chocolate chips to a family event, plus chicken parmesan, lasagna, corn dogs, etc. Even my husband's family commented on how thin she was for someone who cooked like she does. At the time we didn't know she'd had secret Lapband surgery in Mexico. She finally came clean at Thanksgiving 2008, after presenting a huge tray of mini pastries made with love and, as we discovered that day, true longing for what she could no longer have!   I bring this up because lately, I've been cooking and baking a lot. I cooked regularly for my family before surgery and we have always enjoyed entertaining but now I find reasons to make gingerbread and other cookies, fresh bread, braised short ribs, jambalaya, soups, country pate, Indian curries, and... I even made my own cheese recently! I am making food that makes people happy and that I love but can't really eat except for a bite or two. Granted, the food that I have been making is definitely healthier than what my sister makes but I wonder if I am doing the same thing she did - transferring my love of eating to a love of feeding those I love with food I want myself.   Suddenly, I've become very popular at work and among our friends -- could be all the baked goods I've been gifting and the food I've been blogging about. In fact, I am thinking that if I get laid off (which could happen) I will change careers and become a cooking teacher or small scale caterer or personal chef for hire.   Wouldn't it be ironic if finally successfully losing weight leads me to a career in gourmet food?!? Or, maybe this phase will pass... I know my friends and family hope it doesn't!!!   Off to Mexico tomorrow at 6am for a family vacation. All inclusive resort means buffet meals. New mantra - only one bite, only one bite, only one bite! Have to leave room for the margaritas after all!   Adios!
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

1
 

Just had surgery yesterday - Pain, Food, Drinks

MOOD: Very positive:smile2:   I had LAP-BAND® surgery yesterday, 11/9/09 at Lenox Hill Hospital. I weighed in about 11 lbs less than at my last doctor visit before surgery so I felt good about that. Surgery went smoothly - Dr. Roslin said it took 11 minutes - and I was in recovery before I knew it. The nurses were really great. Cute anesthesiologist too. Dr. Roslin told me he filled my band with 3ccs already. I walked out of the hospital with no problems early in the afternoon.   So, what about pain? The pain yesterday was all related to the CO2 used to inflate the abdominal cavity. It felt like someone was pushing my lungs or standing on my chest. After a couple of percocets, it mostly went away. I did not get the shoulder pain that is common with laproscopic surgery and they used a local on the incision sites so nothing there beyond a twinge when the dressing pulled.   Today, however, I've got muscle pain in my abdomen, diaphragm and neck and a sore throat and mouth, probably from the breathing tube. I am trying to get by with Aleve but if it doesn't subside I may go fill the percocet prescription.   I just ate my first "solid" food since Sunday morning - 2 days ago. I had about 2.5 ounces of fat free greek yogurt with 1/2 packet of Equal mixed in. I served it in a children's bowl and ate it with a small coffee spoon, like the kind you get with espresso. It only took me 10 minutes to eat it and I was trying to go slowly. No pain yet so I guess I did it right. The temptation to drink something while eating is very strong. I think this might be the hardest thing for me when eating, especially since my throat is sore. We'll see.   So, day one done. Day two off to a good start. I've got fat free cream of chicken soup lined up for lunch and dinner but I'm just not hungry enough to think about it right now. I'm sure it will be good though. And, my first protein shake is chilling now.
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

3
 

Is This The Sweet Spot?

Current Mood: Iffy:blink:   How did you know if you hit your sweet spot?   I got my second fill on Wednesday and since I haven't been able to eat much at all. I stuck to liquids for the first day and pretty soft food the following day. But, everything I have eaten is causing the same feeling... almost a burning sensation at the bottom of my throat as soon as I swallow anything with texture. It's not getting stuck - I've done that recently so I know what that feels like.   I am feeling full for a long time after eating very little but, I still feel hunger if I wait too long to put something in my stomach -- say 6 hours. It's just that I don't want to eat because it is unpleasant so I put it off too long.   Could be swelling. Could be just right and I haven't worked it out properly yet. Could be too tight. Could be that I'm eating too much too fast (I ate an 8 oz steak in one sitting the day before the fill!). I just don't know yet. I am going to give it the weekend and do everything right. If I'm still having the issue on Monday I will call my doctor.   On the positive side, I think I dropped another 4 lbs since Wednesday!   Here are my fill stats: 12cc band - currently filled with 7.5ccs -3cc at insertion - 11/9/09 -3cc added at first fill - 12/3/09 -1.5cc added at 2nd fill - 1/27/10   What do you think?
BarbaraWM

BarbaraWM

2
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