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WEESIE

LAP-BAND Patients

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Blog Entries posted by WEESIE

  1. Tuesday had another fill. So far I feel like I need less food at a meal. I also get hungry between meals. I was hungry all the time before this so I didn't know when it was really time to eat. I hope this holds. I think I will start losing if it does. I lost 1 pound in the previous three weeks and I wasn't cheating. I was able to eat 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food and I was eating three to four times a day. Now I eat 1/2 cup at a meal and ususally only three times a day.
  2. Today I have been reading and watching youtube videos in order to get my mind around exercise and fitness. I hear people talk about liking and being addicted to fitness and exercise. It is like they are talking a foreign language to me. I have never enjoyed exercising for the sake of exercising. I used to love to walk to a destination and there were no limits on distance. But, to walk for the sake of fitness? Never! That might be my ADD, but it has never worked for me. As far as athletic exercise, I am the most uncoordinated person that ever existed. I was the last one chosen for the team and then I was only chosen if the teacher or coach forced them to choose me. So, needless to say I'm not the best example of fitness and exercise.
    The few times that I have tried to embark on a fitness exercise endeavor I have ended up overdoing and getting hurt or sick. So, this is something I have to do and I will figure it out. Last week I went to the gym and rode the stationary bike for 16 minutes. Believe it or not, that was too much. I was mostly in bed or resting for two or three days. I haven't been back. You might think that 16 minutes isn't much and so did I, but it was. I remember getting really tired around 10 minutes but I thought I could finish the trail I was on (the video) and I was enjoying it. But now, I know I should have done a quick cool down at that point and stopped.
    Things will be different this time. I know that my cut off point is 10 minutes so I will go back tomorrow and go for the 10 minutes. I found a video on youtube today that told me I should do my limit and keep at that for one week. I will not increase until I have done that for 1 week and then I increase that by 10% for the next week. I can do this. I will do this. This time I will not overdo and quit because I can't gauge my energy and abilities. 10 minutes and then 11 minutes six or seven times a week is better than 16 minutes and then a week off. I can do this.
    For future reference, the video link is http://www.youtube.c...t=FLFNut9fnDIMQ

  3. Learning to be banded.

    · WEESIE · 08/11/2011 23:35

    So I finally feel like I have a band when I eat beef or bread. When I eat these I have to eat slowly and chew more. Surgery was May 25th but I have really never had any feeling that I was different. I still can eat too much of some things and I get hungry in two to four hours after most meals. But I am on my way. Stuck at the same weight for two weeks, but maybe the next fill and learning to live and eat right will break this plateau.

  4. First fill

    · WEESIE · 06/22/2011 01:16

    So today I had my first fill. I was weighed and vitals taken. I have lost 6.6 pounds in the month since surgery. My blood pressure before surgery was 170/100. Today it was 110/78. My blood pressure meds are already 1/2 what they were a month ago. It was painful when she felt around for the port so she gave me a shot of lidocaine to help the fill be less painful. Next time I won't need that. I didn't feel the fill at all. She pulled back on the needle to measure the fluid in the band from surgery. She got 1 cc back and added an additional 2 cc's for a total of 3 cc's. They gave me a "lapband kit" which was a measuring scoop for protein/vegies per meal, a food journal, a lunch bag and a DVD of the rules of lapband. Oh yes, and an hourglass (well minute glass) to time my bites. She explained where the band is located. It is higher than I thought it is. It is about even with where the underwires on the bra start in the middle. So, I now know I have never felt anything in that area.
    Everything is going well for me. I am excited and ready to get this show on the road. A day of liquids and a day of mushies then on to learning portion control and slow eating.

  5. Mixed Blessings

    · WEESIE · 06/17/2011 18:24

    I am at the lowest weight I have been in a long time. I am down from four blood pressure pills to three a day. So I went to Walmart to shop. Before I was half way finished I felt so weak and tired I wasn't sure I could finish. When I went near the pharmacy to get my Gas X, I saw the blood pressure machine and used it as an excuse to sit down. While there I might as well check my blood pressure again. It was 170/110 after surgery. Today it was 110/58. I suspect the weakness is related to not being used to such a low number. I hope I see two pills today in my near future.
     
    So, weight loss=lowered blood pressure =weakness=less medicine.
  6. SIL was doing better yesterday so I spent the night at home last night. I slept well and got to walk to the Family Walk video. Got up this morning and walked with it for 19 minutes. The one mile point is at 15 minutes. As I finished my walk, my husband called from the hospital and his sister had taken a turn for the worst. Her fever went up to 102.4 and she was totally out of it. I rushed on over, but this time I packed a little bit of high protein liquids. She awakened a little while ago as if nothing had happened. I think I will see if I can pull up the video on the internet and use headphones to do my walk in the room.
  7. My first full day up without any pain meds was Tuesday. I went out with my son, went shopping and walked for 10 minutes. When I was on my way home I found out that my SIL was being admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery. I headed over there and stayed with her until she went into surgery. The tired and weakness set in right after they wheeled her back. I was unable to rest while she was in surgery and then I got 2.5 hours of sleep that night. I stayed with her around the clock until last night when my husband was able to relieve me so I could come home and relax for a few hours. I'll be back with her by noon today.
    Eating at the hospital without any prior preparation has been difficult, but I made wise compromises. I have not gotten my protein in. I have had yogurt for breakfast and soup from the cafeteria for lunch and dinner. One day it was clam chowder where I mashed the potatoes and left the few pieces of clam. Yesterday it was tomato soup and then mexican wedding soup. I left the meatballs of this behind. Last night my husband took me out to eat at a deli and I had potato soup. I am eating too many carbohydrates, but reminding myself that healing is the objective here.
    I didn't need anything for pain for two days. Starting yesterday I have needed a little pain med. The area of the hernia repair is sore. I don't know why.
    When I came home llate last night I wanted to work but it was too late to go outside. I founda video on demand on Verizon Fios called "Family Walk". It is just walking to music, basically. I did that for 15 minutes. Yesterday I managed to get in 7500 steps of my 8000 steps goal. Pretty good considering the lack of normal routine here.
  8. So today was a good day. I didn't have much pain but I was really tired all day. I don't know why and I just went with it. I sat in the front yard for a couple of hours and enjoyed the sunshine.
    My Body Bugg arrived today. I am trying to learn how to use it with my phone. I'm excited because the first time I put it on was as I took a walk down the block. I would like to enjoy exercise. I never have. I'm looking for a lot of changes in my life and maybe that will be the first one.

  9. Second day post-op

    · WEESIE · 05/27/2011 13:47

    This moved quickly as I had hoped it would. I attended the seminar on April 30, 2011 and was banded on May 25, 2011. I was fortunate because it was covered by insurance due to a BMI or 36 with more than the required two morbidities. The one that concerns me most is my blood pressure. I am on three medications and my blood pressure the day of surgery was 170/101. It was up when I came out of surgery which kept me in recovery for three hours as they brought it down. My blood pressure is my main concern--even over losing weight.
     
    Today is going better. I Have walked a total of 33 minutes in short laps around my driveway. I think it took me about four trips out to make it, but I did. I am looking forward to being able to walk that long in one stint instead of several.
    Food (or liquids) is already getting old. I feel like I am getting hungry, but I'm thinking maybe it is partly hunger. I was skipping my pain meds, but decided to go back on them for a while longer. The hunger feelings are better since that so I guess some of it was pain.
     
    I splurged on a few ounces of egg drop soup for dinner (minus the egg drops). It tasted good and I didn't feel so deprived. Just two days ago the thought of food was nauseating. Today I am obsessed by it. So I have made a vanilla protein shake and added some orange water flavoring to it. I am letting it freeze while stirring it every few minutes. I hope it tastes like ice cream by the time it is time for me to eat again. This might be my first day to get all three shakes in.
  10. Okay, I joined the rec center in town so I can use the gym. Wednesday I rode this stationary bike that has a program that takes me on a trail that I can see on the tv screen in front of me. It was really fun and helped me pass the time. I did the 0.9 mile trail in 16 minutes. followed by walking 1/5 mile on the walking trail. I thought, this is no problem...I can go every day. Then I woke up yesterday exhausted. I'm not very strong yet. So I laid around most of the day.
    Today is a new day and I feel mostly rested. I am going to go buy groceries, make and freeze some low call Quiche and then try the workout routine again.
     
    BTW, I have fibromyalgia and my progress is always slow, but I am determined to learn to exercise. Baby Steps are better than No Steps.
  11. Yes, I get this all the time. I have always gotten this while I have tried to lose weight over the last 25 years. I started this with a BMI just over 36. Initially my patient advocate even said she was concerned about me being approved. I have always had chicken legs and chicken arms. At times I choose to dress in such a way that my chicken (now normal sized) legs and arms are emphasized and my torso is minimized. I also had liposuction on the quadruple chin a few years ago for job stability. So yes, I do look smaller than I actually am. I also don't have a BMI over 40.
     
    But...there are some people who don't question my decision
    My PCP doctor who writes my three blood pressure medications each month.
    My Rheumatologist who treats the fibromyalgia and arthritis
    My Endocrinologist for my diabetes
    My husband who sees the rolls on my five foot frame under the clothes.
    My husband who pays the $300.00 copays on meds each month and hopes we never lose insurance and can't afford my scripts
    My children and grandchildren who want me to attend graduations and weddings in the years to come.
    Myself....I want to live longer, be happier, be healthier, have less pain, take less medications and feel better about myself.
    So I might not have reached a BMI over 40. I was not as healthy as a lot of people with that magic BMI of 40 plus. Fortunately for me the criteria for surgery include "unhealthy" people with a BMI over 35.
    Source: Weird Comment by fellow Bandster

  12. From: My favorite mushy meal

    · WEESIE · 05/31/2011 00:57

    So, I know this isn't the food/recipes forum, but I just had to share my favorite fulfilling mushy dinner so far.
     
    I put a can fat free refried beans, a half a cup of salsa, about a tablespoon of cottage cheese, and a sprinkle of taco seasoning in the food processor and pureed until smooth. I then measured out a half cup of the mixture, sprinkled some shredded cheese on top and warmed it up in the microwave. I finished it off with a small dollop of sour cream. It was shockingly tasty and very filling! My husband was having a very Mexican dinner that I couldn't have, and I didn't even feel deprived! I was so pleased with myself! lol.
     
    Source: My favorite mushy meal

  13. Day five post op

    · WEESIE · 05/30/2011 19:11

    Today is so much better than any previous. I can't wait until it cools off outside so I can see how long I can walk today. Yesterday I was able to walk for sixteen minutes consecutively. I am a little slower than others because I enter this with my other health problems, but this is my hope to overcome or have less problems from them. I can't wait to see my blood pressure medication dose go down.
    Tomorrow is my grandson's graduation from fifth grade. I feel like I will be feeling much better by then. Maybe I can act like I never had surgery and mean it tomorrow.

  14. Day five post op

    · WEESIE · 05/30/2011 19:07

    Today is so much better than any previous. I can't wait until it cools off outside so I can see how long I can walk today. Yesterday I was able to walk for sixteen minutes consecutively. I am a little slower than others because I enter this with my other health problems, but this is my hope to overcome or have less problems from them. I can't wait to see my blood pressure medication dose go down.
    Tomorrow is my grandson's graduation from fifth grade. I feel like I will be feeling much better by then. Maybe I can act like I never had surgery and mean it tomorrow.
  16. Today I met my surgeon. I will be having surgery next Wednesday at about 9:30 a.m. I asked her if it was an easier surgery than the gall bladder lap. She said, "No, this one is more difficult." I thought the Gall Bladder was bad! Yikes! She gave me the pain and nausea subscriptions so that will be ready. Tomorrow I will be buying something to wear home from the surgery center, Gas-X strips, and anything else that I can find a list of. More to follow.....

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