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Dennise

LAP-BAND Patients

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Blog Entries posted by Dennise

  1. So, I am completely new to blogging but thought I'd give it a try. I'm hoping that by putting my thoughts, fears, and hopes down, it will help me through my journey of weight loss. If in the process, it happens to help any of you who stumble across my writings, then that's even better!! First of all, although I have not always been obese, I have always been "chubby" and/or have struggled with my weight and had an issue with food. I am an emotional eater. I eat if bored, angry, depressed, happy. . . you name it, and I'll eat for it!! I come from a very Italian family who solved everything with food. I recently came across a diary I kept when I was in high school. Most of the entries were about me complaining about how fat I was and if I could only lose a few more pounds I'd be able to fit into a bikini!! I couldn't believe how fat I thought I was when looking back I know for a fact that I was 120lbs at my heaviest in high school!!! Most of my weight gain came about after a miscarriage, losing a baby when I was 23 weeks pregnant, then from my first and second successful pregnancies. I ballooned eventually up to 252 lbs and this was way too much weight on my 5'3 frame. My back hurt, my knees hurt, I had high blood pressure, pre-diabetes. The list goes on. I tried many different weight loss programs, diet pills, gym memberships, etc. Nothing worked. I finally got up the courage to go for Lap Band. This is my physical, mental and emotional journey.
     
    First off, I was banded on 3/1/13. Liquids one week, pureed one week, soft solids one week then. . . regular food. Lost about 18 pounds. No problems to speak of until I went for my first fill on 4/9 when my doc found a kink. . . literally. He could fill but not aspirate! Apparently, my tubing had kinked he believes due to intra-abdominal pressure within the first few hours or days of banding! So, he only filled about 1.5 ccs. Went 4/11 for an x-ray, and lo and behold. . . staring right at me is a very sharp kink that of course, my doctor and the GI fellow both could not manipulate manually to unkink! Fast forward several weeks, and here I am again fresh out of surgery on 5/3 where I had to have the port replaced. Luckily, it wasn't as invasive as the first surgery, so I am not experiencing any of that wonderful chest, back, shoulder pain, etc., Basically, just pain at the incision site. This poor site has already been used 3 times! Originally to remove my gallbladder, then for band surgery #1 and now #2! Any more incisions in that area, and I think the scar will stand up and slap me!!! Now I'm on liquids until Tuesday when I see my doc again. He filled my band to 3ccs. Total weight loss so far is about 24 lbs. I'm hoping all will be well this time. We will see!!! I'll update again after I see my doc on 5/7. Wish me luck!!
  2. Hi, folks!!
     
    So I returned to work on the Monday after my port replacement. Only phones on Triage (I'm a nurse) because I didn't want to overdue it. I actually felt really good. I saw my doctor 5/7 (it was the Bariatric Fellow who has been following me along with my doc because my doc had an emergency.) Everything looked good, no additional fills, appointment for next fill in 5 weeks. Liquids for one week (yuk!) So that was a Tuesday, and all was good. Then I returned to the floor on Wednesday, and we were soooooo busy, that I think I overdid it with bending, etc. I was in pain Wednesday night and noticed a bright red ring all around my incision area, and it was swollen and tender. Took pics of it, because it didn't look right. I had off Thursday & the area looked a little better but I figured I better call the doc just in case. He is such a doll that he let me e-mail him my photos. Said it looks like a possible seroma but to be on the safe side, he put me on an antibiotic for a week. The redness, swelling and irritation went away. But now I notice that if if overdue it a little (or actually whenever. . . there's really no rhyme or reason. . . the area under my incision will actually hurt, especially if I kind of hunch over like when sitting and then straighten out. It's really weird & didn't happen with the first surgery. I think I'll just keep an eye on it for now.
     
    As far as losing weight goes, I've lost about 25-27 pounds so far, depending on the scale, lol! I will tell you though, I thought it would be a lot easier, and that the weight would kind of just fly right off. I really have to "diet" (oh, how I hate that word!) and watch what I eat. I had 3 family members who have had gastric bypass, and their weight just flew off. My brother-in-law told me that he would weigh himself before bed & in the morning he would have lost 3 pounds! I understand that it was because they didn't absorb the calories or nutrients, blah, blah, blah, but I was hoping not too have to put this much thought into losing weight. I'm pretty sure I haven't hit the green zone yet, because I don't feel that restricted. Maybe 3 ccs isn't enough for me. Also, I can eat, and then be really hungry again 2 hours later. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. I know losing 25-27 pounds is great since March 1st, but I guess I was looking for an easier way out. Anyone have a food plan can follow for lap band?? The only downside about my doctor, is I'm not too crazy about his dietician/nutritionist!!!
     
    Later, gators!!

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