pamla68

Congratulations and welcome to bandland!

I know this sounds awkward, however, in order to loose you have to be able to feed the muscles what they need to grow strong. I'm not doing a very good job of that right now. I can't get over 1000 a day, and to top it, I have some sort of upest stomach going on right now. I've been sick since last Thursday. Then my period came on Friday! This past week has been bad. I ran 5 miles yesterday and will try to repeat today after my daughters meeting. Stay blessed all!

I'm back! officially a bandster. Good evening to all those in the state of bandland. It's been six days since I posted, I'm now officially a bandster. Now I do tell you, the waiting was long, but I chose prayer and meditation to keep me lifted. Wanted to talk to Caribqn and Hope, couldn't in pre-op. I entered pre-op at 9:50am. I was put to sleep at 12:59pm, my daughters stated they were called in the waiting room that I was now in surgery at 2:15pm. They received the out of surgery in recovery call at 4:30pm. They were called to my room (where I finally woke up) at 6:00pm. WHEW! What a day. I will never forget June 25th. It felt as important as the day I had my first daughter. I'm not the same person. And I mean that, I feel all grown up. I've got work to do. I'm doing the best I can to be patient and heal, but now the future is just a little .

Now, my hospital stay was a bit discouraging. I feel that hospitals should consist of more staff who are more courteous of bariatric procedures and patients. My first nurse for the evening, asked me how did I pay for my surgery? And got a little upset when I told her I had help from my insurance. She told me a very detailed story of how her brother was near death, and was denied by his insurance and she had to pay for it! I commended her for saving her brothers life, however, is this common for people to treat others different based on self pay and insurance assistance? Keep in mind she was the nurse assistant on duty telling me the details of her family crisis.

My grave yard shift nurse pulled back my sheet and said " you had the lap band? Why? You're not big enough? I stated, well ma'am I've lost some weight in preparation for surgery, and at the time I began my journey, I was 269 with a bmi of 42.4 with high blood pressure. Yes, the band was in order for me. I have a hard time keeping it off. I don't feel that I should have needed to explain myself. When I was allowed to have some liquid after the gastrograffin , I was given a box of optifast that looked as if some took it outside and kicked it around in the dirt first. My overnight hospital stay haha! I could have done without and went home the same day. There is yet so much work to be done from the bariatric level. I feel it should be just as important as the nursery floor after a mothers delivery.

It's been along time, I should've let you without a dope beat to step to. Step to, step to, step to, step to, step to. Cause if at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again, Knock the dust off and try again, try again!

My tribute to Aaliyah, and chat of approval!

Congratulations Sheila!

Congratulations Sheila! I guess I'll keep waiting on that call from our Dr.!

Okay Sheila, you are scaring me.

Keep it going Sheila!

As I wait for UHC to approve me, I workout and try to research as much as possible to make sure I'm making the right decision. It is very agonizing waiting on them. I realize 30 days is not long to wait, but it sure seems like it. I have began steps and it is doing something awful to my knees, but I do enjoy the burn upon completion. I'm going to google and find out what I can take to help strengthen my knees so that I can make it through my 45 minutes of steps. I love steps. It feels like it's the only thing good for this big girl shaped like a pepsi cola bottle! It works my butt, hips and legs so good! My appetite has increased and I understand why. So I eat 5-6 small muchies a day (to small to call a meal) I'm trying to workout at least 5 times a week. I know I will have to change in a few months to 7 days a week to fight off that plateau.

I do think about replacements, slippage and other problems that may arise. The best defense is for me to do all I can to follow the rules of banding and make sure if there are any problems they are due to circumstances beyond MY control. Hurry up UHC!:biggrin1:

I had a good 3 mile this morning. It is becoming more and more simple to do. I hope I don't get bored. I'm doing all I can to claim that the surgery is coming. I saw "The Secret" and I must say it was life changing. I have begun to visualize the new slender me. How fine I'm going to be. I will have a journey for all the members of lbt to observe and feel as in some shape, form or fashion, they took part in creating the masterpiece!

Why was I told they would submit my paperwork to UHC on February the 21st and UHC told me yesterday they just received it on March 1st! I'm very disappointed. I don't mind being patient however, I don't like being lied to. Your word is your bond. Sometimes that's all you have. If I can't trust you to do as you say, then I just don't. I've cooled off since I found out yesterday my case worker lied to me, but that need to be her last slip up!

I ran to the mail box this morning thinking that certainly there would be a letter there from United Health Care to no avail. I would hope tha tI should be ready to schedule for surgery sometime in April. Now I truly know how everyone talks about the waiting game. I wonder sometimes what will me reaction be. Will I be excited or nervous, relived or frightened. I just don't know. But I do know I and so ready to at least have that portion taken care of. I would say change my life but I feel that moment happened the day I decided to take make my lifestyle changes. I have added supplements to my everyday life, I have began exercising and have improved my grocery list. I'm so proud of where I am.

What type of bacon do you recommend? Glad you are feeling better!

You go girl!

Congratulations!

I had these test performed yesterday at Methodist. Wasn't as bad as I thought. Reality sets in now. How I want ot change my life. If I can be who I am 38 years, I can change for another 38 making 72? Did that make since? Anywho, I'm waiting on UHC and the results of those test. Patience is a virtue. It will be two weeks Monday. I'm finding inner peace with excercise and attempting to learnn yoga. I would like to get down to a comfortable size 155-175. I won't complain, I truly feel it will be a blessing if I'm approved and I must use this for what it actually is a tool to a new me. I'm learning to love me. If I don't who will?

OMG Sheila you look wonderful! Simply devine! That is so motivational.

Congratulations! Oh, what a feeling!

Well I attended my first consultation all day last Friday and it was a great success. My paperwork will be submitted to the insurance company Tuesday. I met the BMI requirement (42.4) so let's roll! Now there is the EKG and chest x-ray and I should be underway. I have more supplements than food chices right now. I have done quite a bit of research and discovered there are alot of things missing from my diet. I glad I'm not difficult to get to take pills. I got a little upset with a few of the other people in the room who will have some form of surgery as well. It is as if they are using this as a get skinny trick. What about the meal changes in your life? What about the effect of your family which could change their lives and prevent them from going through what you are going through? How about this is something that should change your life forever? Not a magic pill? The nerve of some people.

I'm beginning to get excited! I have plenty of questions to ask. I don't want to appear to be just someone who is looking for a quick fix. That I am actually concerned about my health longevity. Because I truly am. I feel this is a good time in my life to do so. I'm a divorced mother of 4 daughters and a neice (with me most of the time so you might as well say 5 ladies) I don't want to go through menopause with complications. I currently have mensies that sometimes last two to three weeks which drained me. I take 135 mg of iron a day which I was taking twice a day until my iron count got back up to 16 (I was 1!) Out of the 4 daughters one is dealing with obesity. I feel that I can be a more positive role model for her as well. She is dealing with " I want everyone to like me! Do you like this? do you like that? did I do a good job? syndrome. I pray that this will pass. My older daughter next to her was the same way until she began to love herself more and got to jr high. She's 13 and has gone from a size 14 to a size 8-9. She looks really good. I have to pay attention to her because at times it becomes an obsession. Boy the stars on tv can certainly play a role with our youth can't they? My oldest daughter is an athlete so that's good for her. She is happy with her physic. My baby daughter is to young (6) to call it either way yet. No weight problem though.

Well I had a very good workout this morning and feel great. I beat yesterdays time of 30:32 today was 29:50. Baby steps to some but a victory for me. Don't want to loose any weight before the consultation weigh in. I'm just at bmi allowance of 42.4. I have began to take supplements also:

Biotin - to prepare for the weight loss

Vit E

GNC women's active

B12

Magnesium

Iron - of course

Fish oil

I'm sure to add more as time progresses.

I also drink 1/2 my body weight in water.

Well I guess I have rattled enough for the day!

Keep up the good work Sheila. It is his will, it will be done!

I'm getting excited as it gets coser to Friday. I got up early this morning before work to walk on the treadmill. I got up to 1 1/2 miles in 30:32. Not bad for a lady out of shape. It felt great to be back up on the treadmill. He and I know each other very well. In the past he was there to help me loose 70 lbs, and now he's back. My best friend is my treadmill, oh yes and my steps. I'll be seeing him again real soon. I sweated for like an hour even after showering getting ready for work. I guess thats good too! I was hungry for breakfast for a change. I made sure I drank plenty of water yesterday, about 100ozs to be exact. Not quite half my body weight but quite an improvement for me.

Just stay focused and it will work out fine.

Thank you so much Teresita. Stay in touch!