Claudine1975

I have done the same thing from the moment I made the choice to get banded. I have to restrain my self from making snickering comments under my breathe.

I will start with the lows and end on a positive note with the highs of today.

Lows for today – My port hurts today and it has not hurt all week. I had to spend 80 bucks on a computer bag with wheels so that I can transport by crap back to work on Monday. I needed to get a new cordless phone and I bought one with out an answering machine so I have to go back and return it. That is what I get for going with the cheapest option.

Now for the Highs – I am a week post –op and I have lost 27 pounds so far – 5.8 lbs this week. I started on full liquids today and I love it. I had a ½ cup of potato soup for breakfast and lunch and I feel full and satisfied. I ate the breakfast portion at 9:30 and didn’t get hungry until 2:00. That is a record for me. I got a $50 check from the hospital. I paid $50 when I did all my pre-op testing and I guess the insurance company paid the bill in full.

I am looking forward to the Olympic open ceremonies toady and a member of this board, Lanakila, will visit me tomorrow. I am also looking forward to the cooler weather here in the Carolinas

Yesterday afternoon before my nap, I noticed my fridge making a clicking notice. I dismissed it and took a nap. Two hours later upon waking, I went to grab a sugar free Popsicle. It was MUSH! My freezer was not working.:cursing:Urgh:cursing: I called the repair people and it will be a week until they can come and look it at. That is not going to work. I hauled butt to the nearest appliance store and bought a new fridge. So not in the plan this week. Later in the evening my husband said the refrigerator part was not keeping anything cool. Great! The whole damn thing is busted.:frown: Off to the neighbor’s house to pack their fridge with our food. The new fridge will be delivered between 2 and 4 today.

On a lighter note – the Crystal Lite Cherry Pomegranate is YUMMY.

Good Luck Cutie!! Let us know how you are doing once you get to the other side.

I had a great night’s rest last night. I was in little to no pain and I was able to toss from side to side with little effort. I walked my 2 miles this morning with great ease. I do feel a little light headed from not consuming a lot of calories. I think I am going to venture out today and look for a rolling computer bag. Currently, I only have a backpack style to carry my work lap top. That will not work going back to work. I am going to have bring my computer back to work on Monday and I doubt I am supposed to lift it myself.

A lot of people on this board complain about the pain in the left shoulder. I don’t have anything in my left shoulder but my right side near my clavicle is killing me. I think I need to try the heating pad in that area.

Oh, and the most surprising thing to me this morning. I look 7 months pregnant. Really, I do. From the front I look normal, I turn the side and my belly is poking up further then my DD’s. I know it is the swelling but jeez….I hope it goes down before Monday. I don’t want that rumor started at work.

I was banded on August 1 at Rex Hospital. I was wheeled into the operating room at 8:42 am and I notice a car stereo in the wall with speakers. I only thought to myself “I wonder what music my doctor will be playing while he is installing the band.” I was strapped down to the table and told to breathe in the mask. I don’t even remember breathing in. I awoke around 11:00. I was very groggy and in severe discomfort. Not really pain. I was given morphine and then the shakes came. I could not get warm. I was then given demoral and then a shot of something for nausea. By 12:45 I was wheeled out the hospital and into my car for the ride home.

After getting home, I just went to sleep for a while. I then took some Lortab and felt really good. Walked around the house and nap on and off for the day. Saturday, August 2, was the most painful day so far. It was mostly gas in my shoulders and upper stomach area. My port area is really sore. My step mom came over and kept my daughter overnight which was a blessing. My husband and I went to Wal-Mart to walk around some and to get my Gas X strips. I didn’t realize that it was Tax-free weekend and every school supply shopper was out in full force. We managed to get what we needed and to get out pretty fast.

Sunday, August 3, was great. I woke up feeling refreshed and some gas pains. My port area is now every color of the rainbow and really sore. I wanted to go for a walk before it got hellishly hot outside. I walked for about a mile and it took my 30 minutes. After that I passed out in the bed for 2 hours. For the rest of the day I sipped on protein bullets mixed with water and ALL bran fiber water dink mix. I don’t feel hungry at all yet. Or least what felt like hunger before being banded. I hear my stomach rumbling but I don’t know if that is gas or hunger. I practice sipping every 15 minutes and managed to get down 60 oz of water and 50 grams of protein.

Today is Monday, August 04, and I continue to feel better. My husband went back to work today and I am home alone. I took a 2 mile walk today. I will continue to sip on some protein water and just take it easy.

My weight loss journey has started.

I have just come back from the movies and I went all by myself. I was quickly reminded why I don’t attend movies anymore. It was $9.25 for just me! Once the movie got started there were some little twerps behind me. Don’t get me wrong – I love kids. I have one of my own. These kids proceeded to start talking. Since I have had NOTHING to eat today my nerves were on edge. I had to ask them twice during the movie to be quiet. I felt like an old biddy – I wanted to enjoy the movie. Then on the way home I almost ran over a cat or a dog. I couldn’t tell since it was dark and I was going 60mph. I was startled and shocked – I am a animal lover and the thought of my running over a pet would have sent me into a anxiety attack (on top of not eating for 24 hours). I arrived home and opened my tailgate of my SUV to get out my work computer and there and behold I had run over a frog. Not good. My lucky husband came out and quickly got rid of it. I felt bad but I could not see a frog in my driveway. Oh well enough about that.

I don’t feel incredibly nervous or excited about my surgery tomorrow. I think I am a little numb right now. I am sure it will become incredibly real when arrive at the hospital. Did I mention that they moved up my surgery to 8:15 AM. Which is great for me – get it over with. My husband and I have to drop my daughter off at the neighbors so that they can take her to school in the morning.

On a lighter note I have lost almost 20 pounds befoere surgery. I am pretty proud of myself.

Bye the way - I AM STARVING:mad2:

Ready or not here I come…..

I lost 3 more pounds this week all by myself and I got my insurance apporval and band date. August 1st.

I got to the beach on July 25-27 for one last celebration. I can't wait!!

I have been walking on the weekends and working at Curves Mon-Thur and finally it has paid off. I have been watching my portions and sugar and carb intake. I went to Mexican yesterday for lunch only only had a few chips and ordered the chicken Faijitas. I ate only the chicken and veggies. Very proud of myself that I didn't order cheese dip and slather myself in sour cream and guacolmole.

I have a $50 gift card from the Outback that I have been holding onto since Christmas and I guess now I have to use it before my big day.

Happy 4th!!

I would like to start off that I did walk 45 minutes and swim for an hour today. But, I did a little farewell tour to some foods this weekend. Last night it was Bojangles and today it was frozen pizza. I am done with the both of them. The Bojangles hurt my stomach this morning and the pizza wasn't really all that good as it has been in the past.

I will walk tomorrow for 45 to an hour. I don't want to gain back any weight back that I have lost.

I have a girls beach weekend coming up in July 24-26. We are staying the weekend and I am so looking forward to my last beach trip as the big girl. I will bring lunch meat, fruit and low carb wraps to keep my eating in check. The hardest thing will be keeping my drinking to a minimum. I will have to sip my wine very slowy.

With that being said - I don't want to be banded before the beach. I hop the week after I get back will work.

I have a feeling these next couple weeks of waiting for insurance will be killer:eek:

I have decided that Friday is my weigh day and today I have lost 10 pounds since May 20th or so. I am so happy that I have been able to do it all by myself. Now, I will tell you that I have gone to bed very hungury but come hell or high water..I was going to not snack after 6:00.

Today , I got my phys clereance and my surgeon filed my insurance today also:biggrin:

It should be 1-2 weeks until I hear back:scared2:

I hope to at least mantain my weight loss until then:w00t:

My journey has begun. I went to my initial consultation with Dr. Enochs today and he was very pleasant and easy to talk to. My BMI is 49 yeah because BCBS will not approve the lap band for a BMI 50 and over. He said that I will lose 100 over 2 years:lol:.

Oh by the way, I lost 4 pounds since the dreaded day the scale entered the house:biggrin:. I have cut out the after dinner snacking and try to limit my carbs:angry:. I have bought a ton of sugar free Jello and do like that if I need to snack. I am drinking a minimum of 60 oz of water and going to Curves Mon – Thurs. I know I am on the right track to weight loss. I don’t want to get derailed again.

I was sent home with a informational booklet and I was reading the nutritional and eating information aloud to my husband. He asked was that forever!!! I said this is a permanent lifestyle change and yes it is forever.:thumbs_up:

I bought a scale today – :ohmy:for the first time. I decided to really track my weight loss and gains. I was totally shocked that I weigh the exact same since 3 weeks ago. :smile2: I have been on Slim fast and eating Lean Cuisines at lunch and I cut the snacking out. No weight loss. :cursing:I am pretty disappointed with that. I am even more disappointed that my BMI is 49.6. If it goes to 50 or above BCBS will not cover the lap band and cover gastric by pass instead. According to them the lap band will not be enough to loss the excess weight. I am terrified of the bypass and don’t want to loss weight fast. Urgh…

I can only hope the doctor’s scale on Tuesday (my initial consultation) is right on track with my new one and he rounds the BMI down.:thumbs_up: Or maybe I will lose a pound…yeah right. I am sure I will be stressing about it all weekend long. :cursing:

Finally, I got a call confirming the all my records were faxed over.:thumbs_up: It only took 2 weeks. I am so excited about my first visit next Tuesday. Hopefully things will start falling into place. Still working on upping my protein and not snacking between meals which is something I have to get used to. Hopefully I have made some good habits before I get the band that will stick.

My husband and daughter and I took family pictures. I said to myself these are the last fat pictures of me. The next time I will be slimmer. :biggrin2:

I am trying not to be that annoying patient that calls all the time….but I have my initial consult next Tuesday and the doctor’s office requires paperwork and most of all my 5 year weight history. My OB/GYB sent in the fax 2 weeks ago and I sent the rest the day after asking to confirm if they got all the paperwork. Nothing :thumbs_up:....no phone call. So, last Thursday I sent an e-mail asking to confirm if all paperwork received. And still nothing. Today I called and I had to leave a message. I don’t want to become annoying to the coordinator there and I do respect the fact that she very busy. I just want to know if they have all the paperwork. I will be patient again tomorrow, but Wednesday I have to become annoying again...

10 more days until my initial consult with Dr. Enochs.:rolleyes2:

I have faxed all the paperwork to the office and my 5 year weight history came from my OB/GYN. I really hope they have all the paperwork. I never have been so excited to get surgery.

I have been trying to intake my water and protein in my diet.:blushing: I am trying to lose some weight before the consult because my insurance, BCBS will only accept the lap band if you have a BMI of under 50. I am right on the borderline. If you have a BMI over 50 my insurance wants you the have the gastric by-pass. I don’t really want to go that right. I am stepping up my Curves :w00t:workout and not eating many sweets:sneaky:. I don’t have a scale at home and I am thinking about getting one. I never had a scale in the house growing up. My mom is overweight, her mother is overweight and my great grandmother was overweight. See a pattern.

For now, I am trying to patient and pray everyday that I get approved for surgery.

It has been a week since I attended the seminar and….today at work I got the phone call that my benefits have been verified.:biggrin2: I am not approved, I just have benefits that cover the lab band and I don’t have to do a diet first. I am pretty stoked about that. My OB/GYN faxed over my weight records also and I have all the pre-paperwork all done. My initial consult appt. is May 20.:rolleyes2: 20 days away and I am getting closer to starting my new life.

I have not told anyone other then my husband about my decision to use surgery as a tool to lose weight. For one, I want to make sure that I have a surgery date. I also want to make sure I have as much information as possible to answer questions – because I know they will have them.

.

I have made a huge discovery today and I mean huge. I am now currently 50 pounds heavier then I was in 2004. 50 freaking pounds - that is more then my 3 year old daughter that I had in 2004. I have gained more weight then she has in these past 3 years.

A lot has happened. I have been diagnosed with Bi-Polar and depression and I am insomniac. I am also an emotional eater. Not a good combination.:biggrin: I saw my psychiatrist on April 18th. The medications I am on cause weight gain and he and I both knew that. I didn’t figure in the 50 pound part. He actually suggested the lap band.

And so I begin the new journey and working on the new me. :rolleyes2:

I called my insurance company BCBS Blue Care of NC. They did cover the surgery. I just need to meet some requirements, which I believed I did. I contacted Dr. Enochs office (that is who my psychiatrist) recommended. I went to a seminar Thursday, April 24 and learned about the Lap band. I was told that I need a 5 year weight history and they need to verify my insurance.

That is where I am today. I will keep posted.:blushing: