Tammy Shannon

Just checking in...I know it's been way too long. Banded July 13th and I'm down 46 pounds. I've had 4 fills, this last one has made a huge difference. I'm actually having a hard time telling my head to stop; my body reminds me quickly. Bread, rice and pasta are definite no's now. Three more pounds to hit wONEderland...can't wait as I haven't seen that in 15 years. Can actually buy clothes in the regular area; no more plus sizes. That in and of itself is a great feeling. Well, guess I better go get on the elliptical, as I have to log into work in 30 minutes. Hope everyone is doing well.

Went for my two-week post op appointment yesterday and the doctor was happy. Everything looked great; incisions are healing nicely. She gave me the go ahead to move to soft foods...yeah!!!! I also got the green light to get back on the elliptical. I go for my first fill on September 8th. Need to make wise choices and keep up the exercise until then. I also get to start taking my vitamins again. Hopefully that will help with the lack of energy. I still tire quickly. Yesterday I spent about 4 hours running errands (oil change, kids registered for school, doctor's appointment, etc) trying to get stuff done before I go back to work on Monday. About and hour after I got home, I crashed and burned and slept for three hours. Not good when you wake up about 30 minutes before you normally go to sleep. Must learn to pace myself as clearly I am not back to normal. I hope everyone is doing well and progressing nicely. I really am excited about being healthy again. It is truly a blessing! Tammy

All I can say is "what a difference a week makes!" I'm one week post-op and almost back to the normal me. Still slightly sore at the port and also on my left side near my waist. Only notice it when I move too fast in the wrong direction. Assuming my muscles are just still sore. The first couple of days I was always feeling stuffed and having a hard time getting all the full liquids down a day I should be having. Each day has gotten a little better. Still not starving/hungry which is a pleasant change from my pre-band mindset. Have lost about .75 to 1 pound a day since my surgery, so I feel like my band and I are working together and we are going to do this. I also have hypothyroidism, so weight loss has ALWAYS been an issue for me. I will not let that be an excuse. For all those on the pre-op diet, hang in there. It will really help you on the post-op side. For today's banders, congratulations and best of luck. Remember, you will probably feel like a mack truck hit you in the stomach the first 48 hours or so, but hang in there, IT DOES GET BETTER! Tammy Highest/Banded/Current/Goal 249/219/213/125 PS I only lost 6 pounds on the two-week pre-op Protein shake diet, the majority of the weight loss came from lifestyle changes I made prior to reaching the pre-op stage.

My doctor said not to worry about losing weight until after my first fill. I too am having a hard time getting in all the protein we are suppose to have daily. Keeping hydrated, but not getting my nutrients. Our body needs the protein to heal itself. Keep you head up and don't worry too much about the scale until after your first fill. You made the right choice to be healthy. We didn't get to this point overnight and we won't meet our goal overnight either. Here for you! Tammy

I know I'm suppose to post on the "other side" however I wanted to pop back in and wish today's banders the best of luck! Hang in there afterwards...it's going to be rough for a couple of days. Drink lots of fluids, take your pain meds and rest. I know it will feel like you are resting 24/7, but your body needs it to heal. I'm six days out from mine and I can't begin to tell you what a difference each day out makes. I've been off pain meds for three days, made it all day yesterday without a nap and haven't been hungry. Having to make myself eat. Can't even eat all that I am suppose to yet. Just know you have a lot of support here whenever you need it. Looking forward to seeing all of you on the Post-band side! Tammy

Do it for you and no one else. I live next to a personal trainer...you don't want to imagine what he told me. I am happy I did it. Not for one second did I second guess myself. I was banded on Wednesday (July 13th). I will say this, the first couple of days are rough. I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. Couldn't eat or drink anything but water the first day from the nausea. Day two, much better. Each day has gotten better. I slept without pain meds last night and did fine. I keep reading all the posts on the "other side" thread and it's very encouraging. Best of luck tomorrow! Tammy

I'm only three days post-op and moving around a little bit more. Have managed to only take children's tylenol today. Will definitely take the pain meds tonight; tried to sleep without them last night, big mistake. I was doing okay until my cat jumped on my stomach...ouch. Couldn't get mad, she was just trying to get in her normal sleeping spot. The only incision site that is sore is the port site. The rest don't bother me at all. I have been able to sleep on my side, but getting to my side is the hard thing. Feels like my side is pulling and tearing. Haven't really been all that hungry...eating three times a day about 1/2 cup at a time. I have a cup full of either decaf ice tea or Water with me 24/7. Definitely getting the liquids in. Suppose to have two Protein shakes a day...haven't managed to pull that one off yet. Tomorrow afternoon going to the local diner for their famous creamy chicken and rice Soup. Of course I can't have the rice or the chicken, but the creamy soup will be a nice treat. I did go get a pedicure yesterday. My feet looked awful. Probably a bit too much activity, but makes me feel a little better. Looking forward to getting to the point where I don't feel tight and full 24/7. Thanks for all the updates so we know what to expect. Hang in there for those that are only a day or two out. It really does get better. Tammy

Sorry for the delay...just woke up. I am so glad you are doing okay...was worrying about you. Take it easy, drink lots of fluids and walk when you can. See you on the "post side." Tammy

Anyone heard from Shauna??? Hope she is doing well.

First post on the "other side" and it feels great to finally be here. Had the surgery Wednesday morning. Was nauseous all day Wednesday from the anesthesia. Had to take two different types of nausea medicince. Could only tolerate water. I didn't take any pain meds until bedtime (wanted to try and sleep). Woke up Thursday and felt much better. Kept walking (I actually was up roaming the hospital floor at 3AM). After the surgeon came to see me discovered the pain was not gas pains, so relieved. Got to eat chicken broth, jello, italian ice and ice tea for breakfast and lunch yesterday. Was glad I didn't have any problems. Last night I had a little yogurt for dinner and this morning some cream of rice ceral. All very yummy. The pain is about a 3 today (max pain was a 5). I think I'm going to try children's tylenol during the day to see if that knocks the pain out without me falling asleep. Keep the good stuff for nighttime. Overall, very happy I had the procedure. Looking forward to the healthy me! Tammy

Well made it through my banding yesterday with no complications. Experienced nausea and the typical gas pains. Didn't take pain medicines until bed time. Did sleep for about six hours. I have been walking..twice yesterday and once already this morning. Plan to walk every hour. I am able to sip on water thus far. My throat was really sore from the tube.felt like something stuck in my throat, but on day two much better. Best of luck to the pre-opers and today' s banders!!! Tammy

Well made it through my banding yesterday with no complications. Experienced nausea and the typical gas pains. Didn't take pain medicines until bed time. Did sleep for about six hours. I have been walking..twice yesterday and once already this morning. Plan to walk every hour. I am able to sip on water thus far. My throat was really sore from the tube.felt like something stuck in my throat, but on day two much better. Best of luck to the pre-opers and today' s banders!!! Tammy

So much has gone on this week...we had a freak storm come through Monday morning and we have been without power since Monday morning. Thought my surgery would be cancelled, but that area of Chicago still has power. Pre-op diet day 10-14 went like a charm; had a hard time getting four shakes down a day. Usually three was all I could take. Getting ready to leave for the hospital in about 15 minutes. Not really nervous; ready to get it done. Will have one overnight in the hospital and then home some time tomorrow. Hopefully the power will be back on. Best of luck to my fellow July 13th banders. I am with you in thought and prayers. To all the July banders still on pre-op...hang in there. You got this! All my love, Tammy

Well, the challenges just keep coming and coming. Chicago experienced a really bad freak storm yesterday morning. Hurricane force winds, nearly 1,000,000 people lost power. Twenty-four hours later...we are one of the 300,000 still with no power. I believe my will power is being tested...I had to reheat that yummy smelling pizza hut pizza from the night before in a frying pan on top of the stove (because our gas oven has an electric ignitor). Talk about torture. But I hung in there. Tomorrow is band day...can't believe it. Seems like it was forever ago when I began this process in February. I hope all the pre-op dieters are hanging in there. I know it's hard, but you can do. Best of luck and congratulations to all today's banders. Looking forward to joining your club tomorrow.

This has been a long and rough two week pre-op...did really good the first seven days, then the 4th of July came. Couldn't resist a little BBQ. Then back on, tried to focus; only had one slip up. Then this past weekend we went to Alabama for a family reunion. You can't even begin to imagine how incredibly hard it was to sit at a table watching all your family eat ALL the wonderful homecooked food you know tastes amazing, while I drank my shake and ate a bowl of plain steamed broccoli and mushrooms (thanks to my cousin who is a bariatric surgery alum and looked out for me). OMG that was the test of all test. Then after the 14.5 hour drive back to Chicago my boyfriend orders pizza for him and the kids for dinner. I don't blame him...he was tired and didn't feel like cooking. I was doing fine with the smells for about the first 30 minutes then I started to feel weak. I decided, I didn't care that it was only 7:30, I was going to bed because I knew if I didn't I would succumb to the bacon and cheese pizza sitting in the kitchen. Woke up this morning and very happy that I didn't cheat. Surgery is Wednesday and I can get there. Hope everyone else is doing well on their pre-op. I know it's hard, but it's hard for a reason. Best of luck to today's banders! Tammy