A New New Dawn

Also, as for popcorn... aside from airpopping your own. You can get bags of skinnypop popcorn (already popped) at the store. It is 39 calories per cup and YUMMY! Many people at the hospital's support group recommend it too.

Lindabug - were you trying to eat brocolli and salmon before or after the fill? If it was after your fill today, that was likely the problem. Most doctors advise you to be on liquids, then mushies after a fill as you are a bit "inflamed" from them messing w/ your band.

great news!!!

Please report back after you do.

Here's the other thing, I know this isn't easy. However, you can make all the excuses but it is only hurting yourself. It took me many years to learn but by making YOURSELF a priority, you will be a better wife and mom. I neglected myself for years thinking my kids came first. Well, when Mom is taking care of herself she is healthier and happier. You need to put your needs first. The situation with your husband is unfortunate but there are going to be many other challenges in life and we need to learn to keep trudging forward and not let it set us back. YOU CAN DO THIS - IF YOU WANT TO. Eating healthy doesn't have to be tasteless, cardboard foods. I am amazed at some recipes and how tasty they are. Someone posted in another blog about mixing low fat ricotta cheese with splenda and cocoa powder ... sounds yummy to me. When I am craving a sweet, I have sugar free jello brand chocolate mousse on hand (60 calories). There are options. Stock your house with those "options" or your desk at work so you have low calorie alternatives. If you don't have the "junk" available, you cannot eat it. Whether your family is overweight or not, everyone benefits from eating healthy.

I am going to try some of the recipes. I finally figured out where the wonton wrappers are at the grocery store to make them.

Do you know how many calories the extreme whey drinks have? I would love to find something I could "stomach".

It gets better when you get back on "regular" food. I had this after surgery and no matter how much I brushed, mouthwash, etc. I had a horrible taste in my mouth, etc. Since I have been back on regular food, it went away.

What stage are you in? When did you have the surgery?

I, too, have BCBSIL and I was going through this process last year. Last year, they had several requirements, which they dropped as of this year. It is much easier and I had no problem getting approved when I applied this year.

For me, it was actually pretty helpful. I would be honest as they are not there to hinder you, they are there to help you with this process. Essentially, they want to make sure you fully understand what you are doing and what the surgery is about. I wouldn't worry about it. They will know if you are just trying to tell them what they want to hear. They also want to know that you have a support system (friends, family, etc) in place.

Great job and thank you for the inspiration. When did you have the surgery? Congrats to you!!!

About 3-4 years ago I went for a sleep study as I snored a lot and was always tired. It has made a WORLD of difference. The machines and masks are much smaller than they used to be so it isn't that bad. It took me a lot to get used to as I was a mouth breather and had to learn to sleep w/ my mouth closed. Now I do that naturally. Also, try out the different masks they have. I have the nasal pillows as I don't like having a big mask over my nose and mouth. Lastly, when selecting a mask, see if they have one that diffuses the air that comes out of it. The nasal pillow one I have does not and I have to lie facing the wall in my room otherwise I am blowing air on my fiance's back which is not fun for him. That being said, it does take getting used to and I took it off many times in the middle of the night. I kept at it and now I don't feel good if I forget to put it on. You will be amazed at the improved quality of sleep you will get.

AWESOME!!!

Try Protein drinks now to see which ones you like and stock up. You will want broths, cream Soups, sf popsicles, sf pudding. Also, one thing I wish I would have done is made some real homemade Soup (before surgery) and froze it for the broth. To me, chicken broth got boring. I much prefered having some homemade soup broth that had more flavor to it. Also, you may want some neosporin at home in case you need it for your stitches or incision and you may want some chapstick for the hospital and post surgery.

Totally normal post-op. You have swelling, are bloated, and were pumped w/ tons of liquids during surgery. Right now, just focus on healing and not losing. It will start melting off you very soon.

Have you tried having some ginger tea or chamomile to try to settle your stomach too? I agree with others though of taking it with some food. Call your doctors office and see what they suggest. I would think a protein shake or some yogurt (which is good to have anyway w/ antibiotics) may help.

It sux; however, lucky you don't actually need one! It is hectic getting everything in line and is sooooo worth the reward.

Rest as needed and keep sipping your liquids. Also, make sure to get up and walk throughout the day - even if just around the house. Congrats!

The horseback riding is a good one too! I went w/ my fiance and all our kids to the Smoky Mountains. We did a horseback outting too. I called ahead to see what the weight restriction was as I was afraid I would have to sit out as to not injure some poor horse. Much to my surprise, I was within the weight restriction. However, there was a caveat to it.... I had to ride "diablo" - YES, that was the horse's name. I swear it was a friggin Clydesdale. I had to get on a platform and then a chair so I could get on/off this horse. They gave me the biggest horse. I was so scared on the ride too going up and down hills on this giant! I guess, that is a good thing I would love to try again on a "normal" sized horse.

Ok, first.... BREATHE!!! I am not sure where you have been reading as you are describing the extreme cases, not the norm. Sure, there are no guarantees; however, most people go through the procedure without those difficulties. Yes, you have to learn to eat slower, smaller portions and there are a few foods you may not be able to eat going forward (dry meats, doughy bread...). You may have a "stuck" episode and you learn how to not have it happen again after it passes. It isn't a daily occurence and preventable. The only time people seem to have reflux issues is if the band is too tight (after several fills). It is quickly and easily remedied after removing a bit of the Fluid. Yes, there are risks with this and ANY surgery so I am not trying to minimize that. It just sounds like you are associating that with most people's experience. It is true that EXCESSIVE (not the occasional) vomitting can harm the band's placement. However, if you were to be ill (flu, etc) you could ask your reg. dr for anti-nausea meds to remedy that (as many do). Also, think about how much you have vomitted in the past year. Guessing it didn't happen too often. It sounds like you are trying to sabbotage yourself with pre-surgery jitters. It is natural to be nervous as you start this journey. I would urge you to go back to what brought you to this decision rather than focusing on all the "what-ifs". Remember too that if you were to have "issues" this surgery is completely reversible should you have adverse effects. I agree w/ Angela above that if your doctor still approved for you to have the surgery, knowing you have Chrons, then they must not be concerned about it. I had my surgery through the same hospital you will (guessing CDH). My surgeon was Dr. Klem. However, I will say, Dr. Vallina performed an emergency appendectomy on my some years back and he was a WONDERFUL and thorough doctor (and not too hard on the eyes, lol). Personally, I have a lot of faith in Dr. Vallina from my prior experience. He was an excellent doctor. The only reason I didn't go through him for my lap band procedure was it was easier for me to get to Dr. Klem's office. When I had asked, Dr. Klem told me he has been doing this for years and has not had any issues like you described. In life, if you keep doing the same things, you will keep getting the same results. The choice to do the surgery is yours. Just try to make that decision based on real statistics as you appear to be honing in on the extreme, worst case scenarios. Have you attended any of the support group meetings at CDH? I think they are the 3rd or 4th Monday of every month at the hospital. They are hosted by a dietician and offer great advice and you will meet others in varied stages of the process. I had my surgery on 7/25/12 and haven't looked back. There are days that are difficult but it hasn't been from the band. It has been from the emotional adjustment to food and eating healthier. Good luck to you. I would be happy to speak with you further if you would like. I also agree with Angela, if you are not ready then postpone this until you are. Though it really sounds like a case of "stage-fright" to me.

Next summer, going to the amusement park and actually going on the rides Not worrying about the seatbelt on an airplane Ladypart thing, like you mentioned - lol Shopping in the misses dept Not opting for slip on shoes so I don't have to struggle tieing them Hopefully, not taking BP meds anymore Hopefully, ridding myself of sleep apnea Not feeling so self conscious Having more energy Being able to wear knee high boots (these damned calves) Being able to sit in a meeting at work and not look down just to see my belly all bunched up Going out w/ friends at lunch and not having to take the front passenger seat as it is the most "spacious" Not worrying about going to a concert and spilling over on the person next to me or worrying about going through the turnstyle getting into the show Having more clothing options - that can include wearing horizontal stripes ( ) Having more hairstyle options rather than just the ones that don't accentuate my round face LOL - those are a "few" of the things I am looking forward to.

I had my first fill about a week and a half ago (6 weeks post-op). It wasn't bad, but a little "weird" for me. My surgeon numbed me with a shot of lidocaine first. He put a pillow under my back so my back was arched. He then had me lift up a bit like I was doing a sit up while he pushed around on my belly to find the port. After he found it, he marked it with a pen, swabbed it with alcohol and injected the saline. What was a weird sensation for me was I felt the Water go up the tube. I think as we lose weight, it will be easier for them to find and access the port as it is covered by layers of fat now. Nonetheless, it wasn't a bad experience for me. I drank some water afterwards to make sure I was ok and that was it. If they cannot find it then I believe they may do an xray (flouroscopy?) to help pin point it. I think that is a rare occurence though.

Awesome!! Congratulations! Enjoy your new journey.

congrats to both of you! exciting news.