corgimom

I had my surgery Monday 9/24/12. I got to the hospital at 5:45AM and they took me straight back, into a gown and started the IV. My hand was numbed for the IV and I must say I really appreciated that!! They allowed my husband to come back with me and then my parents once I had the IV. I got the shot of Lovenox in my stomach. I had several nurses, anesthesiologist, the surgeon, another surgeon all came in and everyone asked me why I was there. I was wheeled into the OR about 6:30 or so and moved onto the table. They put the mask on me and I was out like a light. I woke up in recovery and felt fine-just really really thirsty. The problems started when I tried to sit up. I had a pretty bad reaction to the anesthesia and was sick for the next 12 hours. I basically dry-heaved unless I was knocked out. The staff tried a lot of different things but nothing really helped until the meds got out of my system. It was supposed to be outpatient, but I ended up staying the night in the hosptial. By about 9 that night I started feeling better and could walk without issues. I went home the next day around 10 and have been doing pretty well ever since. My biggest advice is that if you feel like you might get sick from the anesethesia ask for something before they sedate you. I feel pretty good 3 days post op and have been walking, drinking my Protein and doing little things around the house.

I saw my doctor this morning for a fill and while I was waiting the receptionists were talking about cakes and pies. I seriously wanted to jump over the counter and smack them. *sigh*

Saw my endo dr Monday and asked her about it and she said, yes, it's hormones. She suggested that if things really get nutty (my word, not hers!) to maybe go on a low-dose birth control pill for a few months just to get things balanced. I'm going to give it one more month. And thanks Lap Band Evangelist for the idea about the clarsonic. I may try that.

Dr. Omotosho at Duke did mine. The surgery was at Durham Regional which I cannot say enough good things about but there is also the Duke Raleigh Hospital where I had my pre-op appts with Dr. Omotosho. He is frank, down to earth and doesn't sugar coat which is what I needed.

Checking in at 285 down from 291 last week. Down 6 so I am pretty happy!!

Checking in at 285 down from 291 last week. Down 6 so I am pretty happy!!

My nutrionist actually suggested I get a baby spoon or shrimp fork to eat with, take eraser size bites, put the fork down between bites and wait one minute after I swallow to take another bite. I'm sure we all got pretty much the same instructions. I haven't actually gotten to eat food yet (banded on Monday the 24th) but I personally will do my best not to go against my doctor's orders because this was a long road to get the surgery, it was very expensive and for me at least-not doing what my doctors' have told me to for years is what got me to the point I needed WLS.

My nutrionist actually suggested I get a baby spoon or shrimp fork to eat with, take eraser size bites, put the fork down between bites and wait one minute after I swallow to take another bite. I'm sure we all got pretty much the same instructions. I haven't actually gotten to eat food yet (banded on Monday the 24th) but I personally will do my best not to go against my doctor's orders because this was a long road to get the surgery, it was very expensive and for me at least-not doing what my doctors' have told me to for years is what got me to the point I needed WLS.

That's just being rude and this site is a place to go to for support. We're all entitled to our opinions but let's try to have a little respect.

I thought keeping track of everything you ate was so you were accountable? My job/insurance had me go through 6 months of very intense nutritional counseling as well as nutrition assessments and psychological assessments. (Where I work has the strictest rules for WLS in NC according to my doctor, who works at the same place) Every person I had to meet with stressed the importance of writing down everything you put in your mouth. If you don't, how will you know what behaviours to change, what is working and how to adjust when you hit a plateau? I don't look at it as restriction vs control-it's both. I can be restricted all I want but if I choose to go out and drink a bunch of milkshakes all the restriction in the world isn't really going to help. The band is simply a tool to help me make the right decisions.

Last night my hubby, who was a sailor, was looking over my incisions and said that my doctor had put my port in the wrong place. Considering my husband does not have a background in surgery or bariatrics this puzzled me. I asked him why he thought my port was in the wrong place and he pointed out that it was put in the starboard side. So my port is not on port, but starboard. I really need to get him a hobby......

Last night my hubby, who was a sailor, was looking over my incisions and said that my doctor had put my port in the wrong place. Considering my husband does not have a background in surgery or bariatrics this puzzled me. I asked him why he thought my port was in the wrong place and he pointed out that it was put in the starboard side. So my port is not on port, but starboard. I really need to get him a hobby......

I thought keeping track of everything you ate was so you were accountable? My job/insurance had me go through 6 months of very intense nutritional counseling as well as nutrition assessments and psychological assessments. (Where I work has the strictest rules for WLS in NC according to my doctor, who works at the same place) Every person I had to meet with stressed the importance of writing down everything you put in your mouth. If you don't, how will you know what behaviours to change, what is working and how to adjust when you hit a plateau? I don't look at it as restriction vs control-it's both. I can be restricted all I want but if I choose to go out and drink a bunch of milkshakes all the restriction in the world isn't really going to help. The band is simply a tool to help me make the right decisions.

Last night my hubby, who was a sailor, was looking over my incisions and said that my doctor had put my port in the wrong place. Considering my husband does not have a background in surgery or bariatrics this puzzled me. I asked him why he thought my port was in the wrong place and he pointed out that it was put in the starboard side. So my port is not on port, but starboard. I really need to get him a hobby......

I thought keeping track of everything you ate was so you were accountable? My job/insurance had me go through 6 months of very intense nutritional counseling as well as nutrition assessments and psychological assessments. (Where I work has the strictest rules for WLS in NC according to my doctor, who works at the same place) Every person I had to meet with stressed the importance of writing down everything you put in your mouth. If you don't, how will you know what behaviours to change, what is working and how to adjust when you hit a plateau? I don't look at it as restriction vs control-it's both. I can be restricted all I want but if I choose to go out and drink a bunch of milkshakes all the restriction in the world isn't really going to help. The band is simply a tool to help me make the right decisions.

I thought keeping track of everything you ate was so you were accountable? My job/insurance had me go through 6 months of very intense nutritional counseling as well as nutrition assessments and psychological assessments. (Where I work has the strictest rules for WLS in NC according to my doctor, who works at the same place) Every person I had to meet with stressed the importance of writing down everything you put in your mouth. If you don't, how will you know what behaviours to change, what is working and how to adjust when you hit a plateau? I don't look at it as restriction vs control-it's both. I can be restricted all I want but if I choose to go out and drink a bunch of milkshakes all the restriction in the world isn't really going to help. The band is simply a tool to help me make the right decisions.

I thought keeping track of everything you ate was so you were accountable? My job/insurance had me go through 6 months of very intense nutritional counseling as well as nutrition assessments and psychological assessments. (Where I work has the strictest rules for WLS in NC according to my doctor, who works at the same place) Every person I had to meet with stressed the importance of writing down everything you put in your mouth. If you don't, how will you know what behaviours to change, what is working and how to adjust when you hit a plateau? I don't look at it as restriction vs control-it's both. I can be restricted all I want but if I choose to go out and drink a bunch of milkshakes all the restriction in the world isn't really going to help. The band is simply a tool to help me make the right decisions.

I thought keeping track of everything you ate was so you were accountable? My job/insurance had me go through 6 months of very intense nutritional counseling as well as nutrition assessments and psychological assessments. (Where I work has the strictest rules for WLS in NC according to my doctor, who works at the same place) Every person I had to meet with stressed the importance of writing down everything you put in your mouth. If you don't, how will you know what behaviours to change, what is working and how to adjust when you hit a plateau? I don't look at it as restriction vs control-it's both. I can be restricted all I want but if I choose to go out and drink a bunch of milkshakes all the restriction in the world isn't really going to help. The band is simply a tool to help me make the right decisions.

Well I'm the one who posted the picture, and it's not pea sized it's the size of my fingernail. Hence why I put the picture of my finger next to it.
As far as "I'd rather have self control than live like this"... I've lost almost 150 pounds in 9 months. I log every single thing I put in my mouth and count every single calorie. Believe me, I have plenty of self control. My weight loss results speak for themselves quite clearly as to my level of self control.
You can live however you like, however I like to be able to eat bread, rice, Pasta, and all the stuff so many say they can't eat anymore since then being banded. I can still eat all that, and everything else I enjoy, with the self control to take small bites and stay within bandster portions.

I just read a post on my Facebook. Someone said, "103 lbs down. No surgery, just determination." Maybe that is not meant as a diss to lap band surgery, but it hit me as one. I feel like so many people think having lap band surgery is such an easy way to lose weight. Just get the band and the weight drops off. Why don't people realize the band is a TOOL?! WE are still the ones doing the work!!! If someone can lose 103 lbs without surgery, I applaud them. I, however, could not. It does mean that by getting the lap band I took the easy way out. This has not been an easy road. Not at all.