Keeper

I am 3 months in and I have great days and bad days. There is still so much I have to learn, or relearn as the case may be, but on my good days, I feel stronger than ever. I definitely still have issues to work on, but it feels so good to know that I did this for myself and that hard work is paying off. I am such a results oriented person that it is hard to take things day by day, sometimes. Having said that, 3 months is a great time to reflect on where I was 3 months ago.

3 months ago I weighed the most I ever have. Today I am almost down to my lowest adult weight.

3 months ago I was a collective 24 inches larger than I am (arms, bust, waist, hips, thighs).

3 months ago I had knee pain severe enough to make me finally go see an ortho for him to basically tell me there was nothing wrong with my knees and that I needed to lose weight. For the record I think he is way wrong - knees don't hurt for no reason, even if I am/was overweight. Today my knees only hurt if the weather is doing something crazy (true story) or if I have been particularly active.

3 months ago I was 20 pounds heavier. Today I still battle with the word "only" - I "only lost 20 pounds, etc, and "should" - I "should" be further along than I am, etc. But today I am more capable of giving myself grace when I make mistakes.

3 months ago I overate constantly, exercised very little, and was very lethargic. Today I still battle motivation to a degree, but I go walking 5 days out of the week and I use my band to help control how much I eat. Today I am that much closer to my green zone than I was 3 months ago.

3 months ago I took antacid medicine on a regular basis. Today I have zero heartburn or gerd issues. In fact, I haven't had heartburn once since surgery.

Last but not least, I will attach some pictures. I am very self-conscious of these, but they tell my story more clearly than any words I could say. 3 months ago I said, "it's hopeless; I can never change." Today I say, "yes, I have a long way to go but it IS possible. I CAN do this. I WILL do this." 

When I met with my nutritionist pre-op, she told me that I would basically be doing (should do) Atkins for the rest of my life because of its emphasis on high protein/low carb. I've never done Atkins before so that was a bit scary to hear!

Fast forward 3 months post-op and for the month of February, my sister and I have committed to doing Whole 30. It is stricter than paleo but it isn't meant to be forever - just a 30 day system reboot. I am doing this because you have to give up ALL sugar, in any form including sweetners. fruit is the exception but I am limiting my fruit intake as well since I do not want to encourage my sweet tooth. I am so tired of having a sugar addiction and I think if I am going to be successful long term then I need to be done with this. Today is only day 2, so of course I feel optimistic, but I really am excited to be doing this. I would love to know if anyone else has done this.

I have BCBS of TX as well. They told me it was typically 4 weeks to get insurance approval and that was pretty much spot on. But I was able to do all the other pre-op stuff they required, nutrition, psych, and pre-op appt with the surgeon, as well as get my blood work turned in. I did call every week but once i got approved, my surgery was scheduled a week later.

I agree with Bandista, use this time to really get your head in the game. Because my process was so fast I felt almost behind when I actually had the surgery. I am sorry that this is frustrating, though! We have enough on our minds already, don't we? My frustrations have been with my after care center. They, too, have upgraded/switched their system and the 3 fills I have had, there has been some small issue every single time.

Good luck!

Mine was quickly approved and my surgery was scheduled a week out. Good luck! Keep calling them and bugging them! :-)

@@RWM i sent you a msg but I can't tell if it went through - it looks like something funky happened. If you are interested I'd be happy to resend.

I am so sorry you are going through this - it sucks. I take one medication that doesn't have a liquid alternative. At first I was able to take one pill but then I had to lower the dosage by now taking 2 pills to equal the same amount. But I haven't reached green yet so I am afraid I will have to go smaller once again. I feel lucky to not have any medication get stuck but I did experience one time where my med wouldn't go down at first. And these are the most bitter things you have ever tasted - NOT fun!

I hope you have a favorable diagnosis and I do hope your docs can find out what is causing your headaches. I am sorry this isn't more helpful!

I only had surgery 3 months ago, so I am very much still on this journey. I used to go to therapy quite a bit and I love my therapist to death, but she doesn't take insurance and I am no longer working so I only go in when I really need to. Also in the past, I had to get my medication figured out in order to live and feel like a "normal" person. I tried so many anti-depressants that didn't work and it wasn't until I got on a mood stabilizer that truly helped me. Almost two years ago I did an intensive outpatient program with an eating disorder clinic to see if it could help me with some of my food issues, but to be honest, I actually feel like it made me obsess more than I already did. All that was pre-surgery.

Post-surgery has been a challenge, some days, so for me I kind of just go back to basics. Figuring out the difference between real hunger and head hunger or if I eating for emotional reasons. I live in my head and that is really hard to break out of. One of the things I have done is start a blog about my experience. Not many people even know it exists, but for me it is a way to express where I am at or what I am going through. Plus it will be a neat journal to look back on when I have several months or years under my belt.

Last but not least, if you are a reader, I have some suggestions that you may be interested in. All of these have been recommended by my counselor at various points and have been very helpful to me.

The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee - Christian based. Designed to discover self-worth.

Healing the Shame That Binds You by John Bradshaw - also Christian based. Helps identify and heal by releasing the known or unknown shame that holds us back from recovery. Especially helpful for anyone who has experienced trauma.

The Artist Way by Julia Cameron - this is a book that talks more of a 'higher power' and is intended to help with spiritual/self healing using an individual's creativity. For example, I am a writer who is forever not allowing myself to write thus blocking myself emotionally and spiritually.

I linked these to Amazon, but that is just so you can read the blurbs about the books. Anyway, just a different set of tools that I use. :-)

I had thin (and fine) hair to begin with so this was something I was really worried about. My doc told me Protein, Protein, protein. Our nails and hair are made from protein (keratin) so it is vital to make sure we are getting enough. With both of my pregnancies, my hair stopped shedding and I was ecstatic, but after they were born the shedding resumed. I went to a dermatologist a couple of years ago and he recommended women's rogain. Well, I am horrible about using it every single day so I never really noticed a difference. I had heard a bunch of people recommend Biotin for nails and hair even before surgery and the doc mentioned it as a supplement so I thought 'why not.' I am also a pretty skeptical person, but I have to say, the Biotin has worked very well for me. I do still shed, but it isn't a big increase over what I experienced before surgery, so I am happy!

I have BCBS (of TX) and I was approved for surgery. I feel like my process was super quick - from the first 'info' meeting, psych appt, nut appt, pre-op surgical visit, and surgery was about 2 months. The longest part of that, however, was indeed getting insurance approved. My dr's office told me from day 1 that insurance usually takes between 6-8 weeks to process, so my guess is that this time frame is "normal." Sorry it is frustrating, though! I highly recommend that you take this time to ground yourself. I don't know if that makes sense, but because I feel like my process was so fast, there was a point post-surgery where I was like "what the hell did I just do?" Also, I only had one week for the pre-op diet. Are you on that yet? But I only lost a couple of pounds during that period so I felt like I was "behind" everyone else post-op. I know that is stupid, of course. Everyone is different, there is no point in comparing yourself, etc., but that is where I was. Anyway, this was just my experience but I hope it helps give perspective. This is an incredible journey you're about to go on. Good luck!

Has anyone done or tried Whole 30? For those who don't know it is a little stricter than paleo, but the gist is no grains, no legumes, no dairy and no sugar. Lots of Protein with fresh veggies and fruits. I am going to try this begining Feb 1st as a way to help me kick my sugar addiction and was just wondering if anyone else has done it. It is not meant to be permanent as you can reincorporate items back into your diet. I am sure some people stick with it, but I do not plan to. Just kicking my addiction to carbs and sugar to the curb. A system reboot of sorts.

This is so fascinating to me! I am actually a triplet but only identical to one sister (plenty of photos in my album on my profile). My identical sis and I have almost always been overweight, but I've always been a bit heavier. there was one point about 10-12 years ago where she lost all of her weight because she contemplated joining the army, but that didn't happen and getting married and having four kids did. She supports me and my band journey but I don't know that she would ever do it herself. Did your sis having it done motivate you?

But as for feeling stuff, there are times we will have sort of premonitions (probably too strong of a word, but or lack of a better one) if one of us is feeling off or something, but our periods are still in sync, even 2 states away from each other!

hi @@Dolores33778 - just had my 3rd fill. I think I am finally getting closer to green! I have "only" lost about 15 pounds, and that keeps fluctuating a bit. I know I shouldn't use "only" or "slow" or other ways of not recognizing progress, but it is hard not to sometimes! Having said that, I am still so glad I had the surgery and I am still really looking forward to the success that I know I will have. Even if it isn't tomorrow. My next fill is in February.

And yes! Our state is too big! I have noticed that seems to be hard to get DFW-ers (esp the Dallas side) together. I am really surprised by that since it is such a metropolitan area.

@@Redroses63 I let my friend know. She said we would need a minimum of 4-5 people to get a successful group going. I am still putting feelers out there. I live in South Irving and her office is on Preston Road in North Dallas, about 30 minutes from me, fyi. But that is still closer and a heck of a lot easier to get to than Plano!

I agree with what everyone else is saying as far as not (or limiting) drinking your calories, but I will be totally honest and tell you, I love my Starbucks. I love a frappiccino and I love their holiday lattes.

Having said that, I am a coffee drinker. I like cream and sugar in my coffee (occasionally I will do the flavored ones). My coffee has been one of the things I have held onto, something that is mine. I recommend reading this post, though. I loved the perspective on how we are each different, for right or wrong:

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/330351-im-not-right-youre-not-wrong-we-are-different/

but, now I am going to contradict everything else I just said :-) Sugar is my weakness. My progress since getting banded has felt very slow to me. I just had my 3rd fill and I am hoping that this puts me a lot closer to my green zone. But I know my band is just a tool and that for it to be its most effective, then I have to make changes in my life. Starting in Feb I am going to challenge myself to cut out sugar, not even sweetners. We'll see how it goes! Looks like I'll be joining you tea drinkers. I don't mind black tea. :-)

cross-posted on a couple of threads:

I had my surgery in Plano and there are support groups in that area. However, my husband and I share a car and Plano is a little too far for frequent trips.

I am interested in a local group in the Irving/Dallas side of DFW. I have a friend who is a therapist who had bypass done in 2002, and she would love to facilitate a support group. I just had lap-band this past November.

If interested just let me know, either here or by message!

Cheers.

I had my surgery in Plano and there are support groups in that area. However, my husband and I share a car and Plano is a little too far for frequent trips.

I am interested in a local group in the Irving/Dallas side of DFW. I have a friend who is a therapist who had bypass done in 2002, and she would love to facilitate a support group. I just had lap-band this past November.

If interested just let me know, either here or by message!

Cheers.

I had my surgery in Plano and there are support groups in that area. However, my husband and I share a car and Plano is a little too far for frequent trips.

I am interested in a local group in the Irving/Dallas side of DFW. I have a friend who is a therapist who had bypass done in 2002, and she would love to facilitate a support group. I just had lap-band this past November.

If interested just let me know, either here or by message!

Cheers.

I feel like I could quote JustWatchMe exactly, lol.

I appreciate your post - your honesty and your story. So many of us look to other people to figure this journey out (when we are getting started) and have yet to learn that our story is our own and that it can look so much differently than someone else's. But I think we do it because we believe inspiration will beget inspiration. And your story is inspiring.

This might sound awkward but there are a lot of vets who come off as super heroes: I did it, I conquered, you can do it, etc., but sometimes that isn't helpful. Hearing about real struggle and hearing that it might continue to be hard is helpful. For me anyway. Thank you for sharing.

to be honest, I didn't ask. I had my fill just a little while ago but I didn't see the dr - just the techs.

Basically I've been sick this last week. I can't tell if that was because I threw up or if me getting sick just triggered me getting a cold. I'm still coughing and have some chest congestion, but my throat is not hurting anymore (a couple of days ago i woke up with a very sore throat) so I'm happy. I feel like I'm just getting over a cold without all the nose issues.

First note, it has literally been years since I have thrown up. I have always been really healthy- I haven't even had a cold in years. Vomiting had nothing to do with my band and it was just once. I had a reaction to a medicine I took yesterday morning. I didn't have any food in my stomach, just coffee. I have been had a slight cough since then, not just at night. My cough is not bad at all; just irritating. I know that if it gets worse to let my doctor know but I'm not worried at this point. My question is how long will this last?

I can't edit from my phone so I am assuming it is the same with a tablet. But if you are on a PC, you automatically have an edit option where it says "report, multiquote, quote." On my phone I just have a "reply" button.

Are you using your phone or PC?

The Vitamins are to supplement what you would normally get from regular kinds and amount of food. After surgery since we eat so much less, your body can become Vitamin deficient. Women especially need Calcium to keep our bone strength and vit D to help with calcium absorption. B12 helps with energy. I also take Biotin since it helps with Hair loss. I was B12 and vit D deficient prior to surgery anyway. Follow your doctor's instructions for sure. You might not need more than a daily Multivitamin. I bought some liquid vitamins right after surgery and they were the most awful things ever. I bought the Gummy kind this last round. Not as bad. Regular pill vitamins are waaaaay to big to swallow. I made that mistake by buying them before survey and don't know how large they were! So now I have 2 full bottles of vitamins I can't take, lol.

Hi @@Dukeuni, my dietitian pre-op told me that a lot of high carb foods like bread and Pasta expand when wet; pasta in particular. So a regular bite of pasta can turn into a too-large bite with our bands. I think I've had pasta once and I just made sure to eat it really really slowly and I was fine. Good luck!

Mary, you are not alone! I don't know if there is rhyme or reason for when I do burp - sometimes after eating, sometimes drinking, maybe sometimes just normal digesting - but I have never sounded like that before! Mine aren't so much loud as they are long. Luckily I have 2 boys who think mom burping is the funniest thing ever! ????

@@Ldimples, how are you doing? Thinking about you.