Daisalana

I don't like sweet cottage cheese. We always made lasagna with cottage cheese, so I like to make it without noodles basically. Mix egg and cottage cheese with garlic powder, layer with a little ragu and bake. Reheats well.
Another quick and favorite of mine is mix salt pepper cottage cheese and onion powder, chop up some radishes in it (I leave the radish greens in it too).
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I was banded in 2007; it worked lovely for me, I lost almost everything I wanted in 1 year -- then I got pregnant & it broke, gained it all back, had a baby, revised band -- lost it all again, got pregnant again & it broke again -- gained it all back again, had a baby, revised band. Worked again, but slower... broke again.. gained it back... this has continued on and on.. I have had a total of 2 replacements & 6 revisions. The last revision didn't take, I don't feel the same as I use to, and that revision was early 2015. This is between 2 surgeons. Back to my original 2007 pre-op weight, my band has been bothering me... Found out it is slipped & has to go.
They had to move my port from belly, chest, belly... port has flipped 4 times... port disconnected once... tubing broke once... and now slipped.
Keep in mind, since day 1 I am self-pay, so I could have bought a house by now with all I have paid.
Doctor said we either revise the band again, remove it, or convert it.
I refuse to revise the band again, I hate the booger at this point.
It will be $9k to remove it -- $22k to revise it to a sleeve. I am too afraid of GP, even after all this time as a bariatric patient. In 2012 I wanted to convert to the sleeve, but the price difference was too much to justify everytime I had to go under the knife (if I only knew how many more surgeries I'd be paying for since then because of the band!!).
This time, I decided -- remove it, and be done. When I can eat 'normal' again for the first time in years, I'll work on eating things like fruit, veggies & salads -- which I can't eat now. I thought a little more & talked with family, and we've all decided I should just take out a 2nd mortgage and bite the bullet, because I'm not healthy anymore and would very much like to be, and if I decided later on I want the sleeve, it's going to be another 20k+ the 9k I pay now.
So, I have it all scheduled now. Surgery first week of January 2017 (for tax purposes, I asked to wait until the new year).
I've been absent from the forum for years, feeling that I have nothing to contribute as a lap-band failure, and the great friendships I made through this forum, I talk to all the time.
But I am back, now that I am going to be a 'newbie' in the sleeve world. I am very excited now that I've gotten over the initial shock of how much money I'm going to be shelling out..... again.
Here's to my new success, and good riddance to the band!!!!

Hi there,
Just wanted to share my progress after 3 months after band to by pass surgery.


Surgery Oct 3, 2016
SW 292
CW 244
Down 48lbs!
Feeling awesome! No more vomiting because food is stuck from my slipped band. So happy I made the choice to change my life.
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Hope your daughter has an uneventful recovery! I am in Alabama and was curious who her new doctor is?
It wouldn't be related but my original doctor disappeared in the middle of the night, rumor mill went nuts. I googled him and found a lawsuit was won against him in January 2016 - a rny patient of his called him with complications and he didn't tell them to go to the hospital, and they died. The lawsuit was for 3m.
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$500 would have been a miracle LOL!!
Finally talked to Anesthesia today, it will be $800.
Did my pre-op testing... she said some abnormalities, could be from coffee (I drink Protein shake in my coffee in the morning), and it's nothing they'd not do surgery over.
So, unless my blood work shows something crazy, I am still a go for tomorrow morning!

Band to sleeve on January 4th!
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I posted this earlier, repeating with some edits and updates and plan to keep this updated for my own accountability!
I was banded in 2007 at 333lb; it worked lovely for me, I lost almost everything I wanted in 1 year (220lb) -- then I got pregnant & it broke, gained it all back, had a baby, revised band -- lost it all again (211!), got pregnant again & it broke again -- gained it all back again, had a baby, revised band. Worked again, but slower... broke again.. gained it back... this has continued on and on.. I have had a total of 2 replacements & 6 revisions.
Before my last, last revision I was back to 220lb. Took over a year of testing (with a new doctor - previous doctor disappeared in the middle of the night - that's a whole other story) and got back up to 300. Started personal trainer 3x week at a gym. Down to 270 - then The last revision didn't take, I don't feel the same as I use to, and that revision was early 2015. Ruptured a disc in my back and exercise went to nill. Took a year or so of tests and appointments before my doc fixed my back. I've been plugging along for over a year at 300-330lb. Back to my original 2007 pre-op weight. Band has been bothering me like it never did before. Waking up choking on acid. Sort of vegetarian by force - no meats are soft enough. Can't eat many veggies or fruits, but hey ice cream goes down! Insurance is terrible (I have never even been offered a plan that has Bariatric coverage, ever. Through different companies. Wonder where this stuff exists.)
So the waking up choking really scares me and I finally made a $700 appt to try an unfill(don't have much if any anyway) and check the band. And it slipped.
In my various revisions They had to move my port from belly, chest, belly... port has flipped 4 times... port disconnected once... tubing broke once... and now slipped.
Keep in mind, since day 1 I am self-pay, so I could have bought a house by now with all I have paid.
I'm not kidding!! Doctor said we either revise the band again, remove it, or convert it.
I refuse to revise the band again, I hate the booger at this point. Not one more penny!!
It will be $9k to remove it -- $22k to revise it to a sleeve. I am too afraid of GP, even after all this time as a bariatric patient. In 2012 I wanted to convert to the sleeve, but the price difference was too much to justify everytime I had to go under the knife (if I only knew how many more surgeries I'd be paying for since then because of the band!!).
This time, I decided -- remove it, and be done. When I can eat 'normal' again for the first time in years, I'll work on eating things like fruit, veggies & salads -- which I can't eat now. I thought a little more & talked with family, and we've all decided I should just take out a 2nd mortgage and bite the bullet, because I'm not healthy anymore and would very much like to be, and if I decided later on I want the sleeve, it's going to be another 20k+ the 9k I pay now. I was born overweight and it has been my lifelong struggle.
So, I have it all scheduled now. Surgery January 4,2017 (for tax purposes, I asked to wait until the new year).
I've been absent from the forum for years, feeling that I have nothing to contribute as a lap-band failure, and the great friendships I made through this forum, I talk to all the time.
But I am back, now that I am going to be a 'newbie' in the sleeve world. I am very excited now that I've gotten over the initial shock of how much money I'm going to be shelling out..... again.
Here's to my new success, and good riddance to the band!!!!
---------
1/1 update; took out several loans to pay doctor and hospital last week. Don't know how we will manage but I guess we will. In the midst of this someone asked about paying the anesthesiologist. This wasn't brought up in conversations previous, so it was another slap in the face . Left anesthesiologist 4 messages last week so I know cost and where to pay, no one is calling me back. I guess with holidays. I tried googling an estimate for self pay anesthesiologist and got no results I can use to sleep at night.
Went on 12/29 for preop. With my 5 and 7 year old (who helped me run around paying everyone, ever so graciously). Started the endless paperwork. I showed them my current insurance (2016) and new insurance for January 1. 30m later, he starts showing me payment plan for the preop! $2k!! They are killing me. Another cost not brought up before. I didn't take out enough loans to pay thousands upon thousands more. Then he says it's because my 2016 insurance is out of network for their hospital. I don't even, what?!.... I said well, can I come back January 2 then?? And he said yes. Why wouldn't they lead with that? Anyway, so we left to find Pokémon cards rewards for being such patient little kids.
My doc asked me to do Protein shakes a week pre-op to shrink my liver. He didn't sound stern about it, and it is the holidays.... but I really am nervous about a conversion surgery. Seems more invasive, I feel unhealthy, and I have a lingering cough from a bad cold I got a week before Christmas- so I want to do the best I can. I have done a modified liquid diet based on reading others' diets.
On December 26th I started a liquid diet, broth (chicken bouillon cube in water) mostly. I hate taste of sf products so I'd rather not have them. Also New whey Protein Shots, carnation high Protein essential powder mixed in with coffee. Two nights this week I have also had a low carb small dinner at night. Grilled fish and asparagus/cottage cheese with ragu. First couple of days I had intense headaches by evening. Headaches Stopped December 31. Tried sf Jello on December 31 also, and glad to see it tasted great. I've moved past that sugar hang up. Wahoo. I forgot it can be done. Every time it feels so hard, I get through it by remembering it's only temporary.
I was 322lb at the preop appointment with doctor on December 25. Today January 1 I am down to 309lb. I feel much less bloated than I have been feeling for a while.
Kids don't start school until January 5, husband and I are both busy business owners. This is going to be a rough week. I also have been wanting to get the house good and cleaned before I have surgery so I don't fret about cleaning while I recover, but I can't find the time! Plus, did I mention the kids are out of school?
I am anxious about surgery. I watched two YouTube videos of the conversion. I've had a band for almost 10 years and they make me nervous. What if the band is embedded in my stomach?! Wah! I should not have watched them admittedly. I also have been reading around the forums. Sad to see the interaction is barely a fraction of what it was back when I was doing the band thang.
That anxiety is why I am up at 2:30am posting here. Hopefully I am not messing up my preop tests by showing up on little sleep.
I'll keep posting updates! Hopefully It just gets better and better......

Band to sleeve on January 4th!
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Band to sleeve on January 4th!
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You can expect to wake up alone in a hospital room with no power. You will then find out that the world has been taken over by walkers. No wait. That is the Walking Dead. For me there was no pain, I was just soaked because the IV had come out of my hand and leaked all over the bed. It was hard to stand up the first time but the nurse was right there helping me the whole time.
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Someone mentioned in a previous post that people only post complications and rarely when they are doing well. I know its not as interesting but I am doing much better than I thought I would at 12 days post surgery.
I have pretty much stopped taking my meds minus the PPI which I was already on. I'm hitting my goals for the most part and while I do miss eating solid food I am fine with cream Soups and Protein powder since thats pretty much what I live on at this point. I tried some puree stuff and it was ok...not really all that excited by it so back to my cream of XYZ Soups I go. I'm only weighing in at my Dr's office so no new weight update, I was down 10 lbs 8 days post surgery, I think I go back this Thursday or Friday.
I just wanted to post something positive for the Pre-Operation folks I know are lurking.

@@mamabear87
Wow you are lucky getting it through the NHS. I was told I would have to wait a mininum of 3 years and even then it would be possible it would change to a longer wait. So I went private.
@@SalesGirl711
Thank you for sharing your story and best wishes for the future. Please keep posting on how you are doing. x
Kate

Wishing you the very best of luck for your conversion surgery. I love the way you write, so open and honest with humour thrown in. I'm pre op, sleeve surgery is in around 8 weeks. It's so different over here in the UK, obviously we have the NHS so if you meet the strict criteria then your op is paid for. Then you just have to jump through whatever hoops the surgeon requires. Sounds like you have really been through the mill! Following your progress x
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Just my experience.. I had the band with its ups and downs for 9 years. I lost little, gained it all back. Had constant issues with denser foods so I always turned to sliders. Bad choices and poor nutrition became the norm because of a very stressful job and long hours. I was sleeved in November and so far my biggest regret is that I chose the band over the sleeve the first time. I'm 5 weeks post op, down 35 pounds and able to eat denser Proteins in small portions with no issue at all. I believe this was the right choice for me and I will be successful this time.
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I was out n proud with my band. Didn't bother me. I've been telling everyone I'm swapping to sleeve too. I never felt the need to keep it a secret.
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I took my first steps towards gastric sleeve in February of this year, 2016. The process was a bit of a nightmare, and I was denied by my insurance the first time around.
Once I did finally get my approval, it was so late in the year that I just knew that my surgery wouldn't be until January at the earliest. Which was very depressing because that would mean that my insurance out-of-pocket maximum would start over, and that would cost us thousands extra.
But my surgeon Dr. Shadle gave up his holiday vacation time to ensure that myself and many other patients got their surgeries before the end of the year. I cannot say enough good things about my surgeon. If any of you are in the Sacramento area, see if your insurance will work with Dr. Shadle. You won't be sorry you did.
I started my 2 week liquid diet on 12/14. It was pretty tough, but I knew what was at stake so I pushed through. Dr. Shadle even gave me permission to eat Proteins and vegetables for the Christmas holiday. That was great, but my body pretty much rejected it because I hasn't eaten in so long.
The night before the surgery I was so nervous and scared I could barely sleep. The next morning I paced around the house and sliced fruit for dehydration to keep my hands and mind occupied until it was time to go to the hospital.
The check in went smoothly and quickly, and before I knew it I was being wheeled back to the OR. The next thing I remember was waking up after the surgery. I was in sheer agony. Crying from the pain and desperately dry heaving. It took several hours for my pain to come down to a manageable level. Part of the pain was from the incisions themselves, and part of it was from the gas. The gas itself feels like a tight band around your chest, and it eventually settled in my shoulder. The gas pain has mostly subsided at this point.
Another aspect that I was not at all prepared for was how dry my mouth was. For the first 36 hours or so my mouth felt like sawdust, no matter if I just sipped Water or took an ice chip the moment before. This did eventually alleviate itself, thankfully.
One of the things they really monitored in the hospital was my liquid output (pee). Strangely enough, no matter how badly I felt like I had to go, it would only come out in a tiny trickle due to the fact that my insides were still asleep.
I was given a few doses of milk of magnesia to try to wake my bowels up, but to no avail. I also spent a good amount of time walking while I was in the hospital. It felt so good to get up and stretch out my torso.
I was released from the hospital yesterday morning. There was a bit of a kerfuffle with my prescriptions. I had thought that I couldn't pick them up until after the surgery, but they had apparently been sent over weeks beforehand, and to a different pharmacy than I thought. So by the time I got my pain meds, my pain was out of control again. I have oral dilauded for pain to take every 4 hours, but it wasn't taking the edge off. I was told I could take it every 2 hours until it was under control, but even then the pain wasn't receding. I finally sent my husband to the store to get some extra strength liquid Tylenol, and some milk of magnesia. I've found that taking 1 dilauded every 4 hours, and 30ml of Tylenol every 6 hours is the winning combination for me. The pain is still there but it is very manageable and I can move around without too much trouble. I have also found that putting a heat pad on my belly is very effective for helping me manage my pain.
I took a dose of milk of magnesia last night and finally had a bowel movement this morning! Tmi warning* it was completely liquid and did not cause any pain or discomfort at all.
I was technically supposed to start the "full liquids" stage of the post op diet yesterday, but I was too scared to try with all the pain I was in already. I just stuck with water, and a few sips of a pomegranate flavored bariatric Protein Drink (clear). This morning (12/30) I was actually feeling pretty good, so I tried about 1/4 cup or so of cream of chicken Soup. Took me about 30 minutes to get it down, and I have about 15 more minutes before I can start sipping liquids again to take my pills. It went down very well. There was one sip that I took a little too quickly that caused a little pain, but other than that there was no issue.
In addition to the dilauded and Tylenol, I also have zofran (nausea), colace (stool softener), pantropazole (anti-acid/reflux), and Vitamin D (because I'm deficient). This is on top of the daily Vitamin regimen that we are required to do. If you are reading this and don't already have one, I HIGHLY recommend getting a pill organizer. I have a 7 day, morn/noon/eve/bed organizer. It's a little bulky, but it is so very helpful.
I started my pre-op diet at 343 pounds. The morning of my surgery I was 326, and I am currently at about 325. I expect this will continue to go down as my swelling recedes.
I will be posting to this blog as often as I can, mostly for my own records so I can look back and see my progress.
Of course any comments, input, or tips are most welcome
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Six months ago my husband was prepping to have his gastric sleave surgery. He has since lost 53 lbs. But that is his story not mine.
I thought I had the power to loose the weight with him without the surgery. I was wrong. I lost a couple of pounds but then started to gain (again)! I didn't feel surgery was for me. I was BMI of 35 with several health issues (high cholesterol, Migraines, and constant knee, hip, feet and back pain). After his second week post op, I changed my mind. I saw how well he was doing with recovery and decided to give it a go. I started at 220 lbs 5'6.5", presurg weight of 207.4 lbs. I am now 169.8 lbs. I can't beging to count how many plateaus I have had but going to the gym and walking often has helped immensely. I am going to Jamaica in 11 days and am so excited to be able to wear a bikini that I finally don't fall out of. When I get back my knee surgery will hopefully help me finally get rid of the last of the pain and into a more rigorous workout routine. My back, hip, migraines, and cholesterol issues have all been fixed.
OK so I am going to post a pic I am not proud of and one that I am. The first collage is just after I decided to go through with the surgery and had already started my 2 week presurgery diet. I was down almost 6.6 lbs already. The second was taken two days ago when I was down a whopping 49.7 lbs. Today I am down 50.2 lbs since Aug 29.

Post op Day 3
I've been doing well. The gas is mostly gone. Just a painful spot when I move a certain or cough that I'm assuming is gas, intensity fluctuates but very mild.
I'm able to drink 10ml at a time without pain, if I don't drink too many sips at a time.
I technically advanced my diet early today. I couldn't stand anything else fruity and the broth/protein isn't agreeing with me. So in puréed costco broccoli cheddar Soup. Had about 1/4 cup split 2X. It was so satisfying to have a new flavor after 2weeks (including the preop).
I've been continuously active and got in a lot more liquid today
However, I realized I have to kick my Starbucks habit. Too expensive to not be able to enjoy the full cup, but i did order a mug warmer tonight
Said all of that to report that it does get better each day!
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Finished the last piece of that Ricotta bake today, going to make more tomorrow, it's my new lunch every day now, holy cow it's so good.
Tried some mahi mahi tonight for the first time ever, also first time I ever cooked fish. Not sure if I did it wrong but it was pretty bland, just bleh. Finished 4 oz. though, lots of Protein and it was something new to try. I have another piece in the freezer, maybe I'll cook it up and then blend it in the food processor and add some mayo, make a little seafood salad.
Everything is going great, although I get little blood spots every day on my shirt from the large incision. The PA at my checkup said not to worry, but at some point it should stop, right? Anyone else noticing this 10 days after surgery?
Also I noticed on my little signature ticker thing that my BMI is below 40, so I guess that's a milestone, woohoo!

Not for a moment. Doing this relit the fire in my soul.
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I had a hard time telling at first, until I had to do this collage... I had surgery in August 2016, and was very discouraged because I didn't feel like I was losing enough or what I was supposed to be. But just keep going, it does happen and you do but we are extremely hard on ourselves, our own worst critics... Hope this helps.
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It really does get easier after a couple of days. I am on it too right now. Things I forgot (I had to do this I 2007 when I was banded) is 1. Headaches!!! I don't know if it's the low cal or low sugar but I got headaches every night for a few days 2. Mood swings from being hangry! It dulls down more each day. 3. I hate the taste of fake sweeteners so instead of sf Jello or popsicles I would rather just drink broth till my eyes explode - but realized yesterday, my body made that swap where the fake sweetener stuff tastes like normal sugar. Wahoo broke the sugar itch. Hang in there and keep your eye on the prize. This is temporary.
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I was sleeved on Sep. 19, 2016 and I can wear my rings again!
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I was banded in 2007; it worked lovely for me, I lost almost everything I wanted in 1 year -- then I got pregnant & it broke, gained it all back, had a baby, revised band -- lost it all again, got pregnant again & it broke again -- gained it all back again, had a baby, revised band. Worked again, but slower... broke again.. gained it back... this has continued on and on.. I have had a total of 2 replacements & 6 revisions. The last revision didn't take, I don't feel the same as I use to, and that revision was early 2015. This is between 2 surgeons. Back to my original 2007 pre-op weight, my band has been bothering me... Found out it is slipped & has to go.
They had to move my port from belly, chest, belly... port has flipped 4 times... port disconnected once... tubing broke once... and now slipped.
Keep in mind, since day 1 I am self-pay, so I could have bought a house by now with all I have paid.
Doctor said we either revise the band again, remove it, or convert it.
I refuse to revise the band again, I hate the booger at this point.
It will be $9k to remove it -- $22k to revise it to a sleeve. I am too afraid of GP, even after all this time as a bariatric patient. In 2012 I wanted to convert to the sleeve, but the price difference was too much to justify everytime I had to go under the knife (if I only knew how many more surgeries I'd be paying for since then because of the band!!).
This time, I decided -- remove it, and be done. When I can eat 'normal' again for the first time in years, I'll work on eating things like fruit, veggies & salads -- which I can't eat now. I thought a little more & talked with family, and we've all decided I should just take out a 2nd mortgage and bite the bullet, because I'm not healthy anymore and would very much like to be, and if I decided later on I want the sleeve, it's going to be another 20k+ the 9k I pay now.
So, I have it all scheduled now. Surgery first week of January 2017 (for tax purposes, I asked to wait until the new year).
I've been absent from the forum for years, feeling that I have nothing to contribute as a lap-band failure, and the great friendships I made through this forum, I talk to all the time.
But I am back, now that I am going to be a 'newbie' in the sleeve world. I am very excited now that I've gotten over the initial shock of how much money I'm going to be shelling out..... again.
Here's to my new success, and good riddance to the band!!!!