karynj

Aug. 24, 2011 Scars are fading fast!

The scars are getting much better. Now I just need to feel a whole lot less hungry and things will be good.

I'm having serious issues with hunger too. I have to be on just clear liquids and protein shakes for the first 3 weeks post-op. I lasted 1.5 weeks. I called my doctor once to find out if I could move up to mushies after 1.5 weeks and they said no. I called again today crying since I'm so f*#@ing hungry and all the protein shakes in the world won't stop my stomach from growling. They said I absolutely could not eat anything because the stitches could rip & my band could slip. I was angry since they just don't allow for any variation in their program and I feel like an individual with individual needs. Judging by the posts on here- 3 weeks is triple what most people do!!! All i wanted was tomato soup or something. What is also crazy is that I admitted to them that I have been eating small amounts since I am going insane and they just weren't going to listen to me that i feel completely fine. I'm upset and emotional about it all. I know that they have a system, but the system isn't working for me. Also, I don't think that losing a pound a day is healthy which is what is happening.

Went to San Francisco for 2 days to get my tattoo worked on. Still have a couple more sessions to go! Aug. 15, 2011

I missed a day of pictures. Glue has come off of the one on the right side of my mid-line and the top one by my bra line. Honestly, i picked at them last night since the glue was wearing off on those two. They look pretty good, but I wish the one by my bra line didn't resemble a little volcano! I hope it goes flat soon.

I'm one week post-op! Felt a little "pop" when i bent over to pick something up off of the ground which is freaking me out a bit. I think i may have popped a stitch on my band or port There is some mild pain right around where my port is and I really feel like holding the spot when I'm moving. I think its time to call the doctor.

Hey, I'm 7 days post-op and yesterday I bent over to pick something up off the ground and felt a sort of pop with some pain. Since then I've had mild pain where it happened (port area) and about 2 inches below my big scar I have a little discoloration. The discoloration is very small and doesn't look like anything i can really describe except that it is also mild. Do you think i popped a stitch holding my band in place? Should I be worried? It hurts more when I'm walking and i feel like i want to hold my stomach in place so that it doesn't move. Thanks, karyn

Why not go for an awesome wide garter belt? You get double duty: 1) you hold in your tummy 2) you get to feel sexy Hips & Curves has some good looking ones for "plus sizes" and if you don't need a plus size then you have lots of other online options.

Here we are at 228 pounds on Aug. 8, 2011 All the glue is still there. Was my first day back at work & I felt pretty good

I added 2 this time & one is VERY cropped so you can see more detail. Aug. 6&7, 2011

Hiya! I just got banded on Aug. 2nd & so far so good. I'm a fairly low BMI person & I'm 30 years old. I had been thinking of some sort of surgery for about a year and finally just decided that I could afford to do it and it would be a decision to better my life. When I walked in the Doctor's office I was at 255 pounds. The day of surgery I was at 235 and I'm 6 feet tall (gives me a BMI of 33.6). I would like to weight 160 pounds within about a year. I don't have the hard core co-morbidities that others tend to get as they get bigger and I'm REALLY glad that I didn't wait until I did get them before I got my band. My body aches from carrying around 90 extra pounds and I want to feel awesome! If you're low BMI & thinking of the band, I say go for it. The cost is fairly high, but you're investing in a future of health & well-being karyn

Hi there! I'm on a liquid diet for the first 3 weeks following surgery, then i can go to soups and things after 3 weeks, then to "regular" foods after another 3 weeks. I was banded on 8/2/11 (just a few days ago) and I'm starving!!! I have been drinking 2 ounces of protein drink every single hour I'm awake and just feel so hungry! I am going to call my doctor 1 week post-op to see if i can add in some soups before my first fill on Aug. 23rd. I can't stand the way my stomach is growling while I'm following the plan perfectly. karyn

I agree on the chapstick! My lips were so dry after the surgery and you can't really hydrate yourself to fix it. Luckily my mom had one Bring a magazine that you want to read while you wait & recover- the TV in the hospital is pretty boring & you'll be spending a couple of hours before your band just hanging out where there isn't TV. I recommend the magazine because you can just ditch it when it's time for you to go without worries. I had mine on Tuesday & I'm feeling great! I'm sure you have all your shakes lined-up, but you might also want to buy some broth to sip on & some milk of magnesia in case you don't have a bowel movement for a couple of days. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! karyn

Off pain meds today! Still have some purple marker after 2 showers.

I grabbed a pair of shorts that i haven't been able to wear in about a year & I'm taking them with me on the road (I'm a pet sitter that goes to people's houses) to see when I will be able to wear them again. I was semi-close before surgery since I lost 20 pounds before my surgery on aug. 2nd. Can't wait to feel great back in those shorts! I have other stuff that I've held onto to see when I'd be able to make it back into them although I doubt they are anywhere near in fashion (true religion bootcut jeans anyone?!) What have you been keeping in the back of your closet? Karyn

Hiya! I was banded just one day after you! I also did outpatient surgery and really liked the shakes they gave me in the hospital. I wish i could find them now! (they were in juicebox & tasted good, but i think they had 10 carbs which is more than all the others). I'm using Nectar shakes and the pre-mixed 35 grams of protein shakes that come in cans at Trader Joes. It's weird to be sipping just 2 ounces every hour, but i'm feeling pretty full. My big scar really hurts a fair amount, but the shoulder pain has gone after doing a decent amount of moving around the house. It doesn't really feel like the oxycodon is doing much- how are your pain meds treating you? How many scars do you have? I have 5 & no glued-shut belly button Karyn

Aug. 4, 2011 Scar progression 2 days after surgery

August 3, 2011 Showing scar progression

I thought I'd share my lap-band progression via photos on my blog. I'm 30 years old, 6 feet tall, and on Day 0 I'm 235 pounds. I'm also including pictures of my scars and tattoos to see how they heal & change.

I have my surgery scheduled for Aug. 2nd!!! I'm getting it in Seattle at the Swedish Hospital through the Swedish Weight Loss Center. I highly recommend them to anyone- they really take over all the tricky insurance stuff and line-up your appointments for you. All my pre-surgery tests and appointments are done, I've got my work covered for the rest of that week, and I have my pre & post surgery medicines/vitamins all bought and lined-up. I AM SO READY!!!!!!!!!!! Karyn

I get mine from my Doctor's office- so convenient! They carry 8 flavors there. You might be able to look it up online (remember that it is spelled funny "nektar") Let's touch base after we're both post-op, ok?

I have my surgery scheduled for Aug. 2nd and my doctor has me on a 2 week very low carb diet (60 grams or less) for the 2 weeks before surgery and then the day before surgery it is Clear Liquids only. I also recommend the nectar drinks- I've lost 20 pounds having them for Breakfast and then following a fairly low carb & high Protein diet. They taste good & i like that they have the fruity flavors that mix well with Water for on-the-go. Good luck!

I asked my Doctor about how long i need to wait until i get my tattoo worked on. He was fine with me doing it 1.5 weeks after my surgery. He also said i couldn't fly for a week, so i thought i'd mention that since I hadn't heard that before. Getting surgery on Aug. 2nd & the tattoo on Aug. 13th! I'll keep a photo record to share since it seems no one else has covered this before... or hasn't had time to post Karyn

Hi there, I'm Karyn. I am getting my surgery in August and I'm a self-pay patient. My BMI is currently about 33 and I'm 30 years old. I've been as high as 290 pounds and as low as 190 pounds. Right now I'm at 239. I'd like to make it to 160. I'm going to the Swedish Weight Loss Center and started as a "non-surgical" patient to get down from 255. I just don't want to have to fight so hard my entire life to hover at 205 pounds when I'm "being really good" so i decided that a lap-band is a good option. My doctors agreed and I'm getting ready to make this major life change. It'll be $14k when I'm done, but that will be money well spent! I was wondering if anyone has large tattoos that were done before their surgery. I have a pretty big one on my side (used to hide stretch marks) and I'm wondering how it will warp. I'm fairly low BMI, so I'm hoping that it won't look completely crazy later. I also wanted to know how long before and after the lap band surgery I need to wait until I get that tattoo worked on (its a work in progress). I don't believe it will be in the same area as the surgery scars unless I'm not finding the right photos of people's scars online. Thanks, karyn