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Shontel

LAP-BAND Patients

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Blog Entries posted by Shontel

  1. New Year, New Attitude

    · Shontel · 01/01/2010 14:59

    I've been coming along since my 'drainage incident' lol. I still have the packing which will be changed on Monday. In the meantime, the common cold has made a home in my nasal passages. Oh, its just lovely. I'm on these mega antibiotics, but of course the viral cold just laughs at this. (sigh) So aside from hacking and sniffling, I'm beginning to feel better. On a high note, got on the scale this a.m. and I'm at 204...kewl..31 pounds in 35 days, not too shabby. I'm seriously needing to get back on track with my protien & vitamin schedules. It's been hit & miss through all this. I'm praying for a new attitude with this new year. Slight changes, that will add up to a new me. Can't wait to see where I am at this time next year! YaY Me!!

  2. Relief!

    · Shontel · 12/30/2009 02:57

    Went to the doc today. He took one look at it. Scheduled me as an add on today to have it drained. RELIEF...he said that when he cut it, it just gushed. The CT report said it was 3.5 inches deep. So now its packed and left open to heal from the inside. Still hurts but not NEARLY as it did before. I'm home now and feeling much better. Another step! Will update again in a few days! :thumbup:

  3. waiting...

    · Shontel · 12/29/2009 00:50

    OK, I have an appointment tomorrow at 10:00am. Found a surgeon that consulted with my ER doc...he even does VSG's...yay...oh, but cash only of course (big surprise there) Meanwhile, the pain is horrible. I wish I knew how to post a pic here..but the incision site is cherry red and protruding. I just pray for relief...just want this pain to go away! I'm scared of what they are going to have to do, what I'm going to have to go through, but anything has to be better than this. I remember reading a post by someone recently that said they just drained in office, didn't have time to freeze or numb it, people had to hold her down...I'm no woos...but I'm praying that's not the scenerio for me.

  4. New Orleans Weekend...

    · Shontel · 12/20/2009 23:02

    Ok, so I'm a big Saints fan, and my fiance and I decided to go to New Orleans this weekend for the Dallas-New Orleans game (big bummer Saints lost!) Anyhow, it was my fist time back to New Orleans since VSG. We travel to New Orleans a lot. Its one of my very favorite places to go and since its only about a 3 hour drive its a great weekend trip. So, I'm not 100% but I was glad to get away. I just had a flood of feelings...first the food. New Orleans is known for its top notch food and dining. I thought, no problem...bought some protien shakes in a cooler...but I wanted to just be normal...everywhere we went I was like, no way can I eat this, no way can I drink these collosal drinks...and the waitresses...can I just say....please don't comment on what I do or don't eat...if I clean my plate, I never remember them saying...wow you sure do have a healthy appetite...but they sure don't mind saying...is the food alright? no one ever leaves any of the crab cake...I felt embarrassed! I think my fiance was too, the second time we went out to eat, he ate some of my leftovers so it wouldn't look like I had so much left...I also found myself looking at everyone doubting myself. Feeling like a freak almost...like I didn't belong in the restaurant....and I always liked to drink. I admit it. I'm a full blooded cajun and drinking goes along with our love of food. I drank a bloody mary (delicious) but took an hour to finish it, and I was good, but then my fiance' was like bring her another one...I wanted to tell him, I'm not the old Shontel, I'm a new one, heck, in the 'old' days I could finish 2 or 3 in no time...(sigh) I know this will get better, I mean I'm 23 days post op...but I don't want to have to explain myself, I'm paying for my meal no matter how much I eat! OK, off my soapbox...the other thing I noticed is my stamina...I really thought I had more than what I did. Couldn't walk or stand for long periods. Burbon St...are you kidding me? Soooooo many people. I just wanted to veg out in the room. I felt like I was disappointing my fiance' even though he was very understanding and took good care of me..then, my left side where they removed the port and pulled my stomach out is really hurting...to the point of all I can do is sit or lie on my couch, maybe I just wasn't ready for such a trip. My head can't keep up with my mending body. I hope and pray I get my strength back! I'm tired of being tired!!

  5. egg & ricotta yay

    · Shontel · 12/18/2009 00:33

    ok, so today I was feeling much better, and maybe a little froggy. On a whim, I met my fiance' at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. I'd been contemplating trying more than soup and yoghurt on my mushies but up to now had been too chicken. Well, I just did it...I ordered an over easy egg with some grits, and ya know what? I ate about half of the egg and a few bites of grits...no problemo!! I was SO EXCITED. I did chew it till it was a pulp, but it tasted so good! Later I felt even more froggy and made a recipe I think I found here...maybe eggface...ricotta, marinaria & parmesan baked....yuuuummmmyyy....got about 1/4 c down and it was devine!! I never knew simple foods could taste so darn good!! Oh, I also received my can of Unjury Chicken Soup, and it is YUMMY! I was so tired of sweet shakes...so savory and warm for this cold weather! Has tons of ideas for recipes also. So, all in all...I think today was a resounding success for me...I'm progressing, slowly but surley, to normal foods. Yee ha! Stay Tuned.

  6. Post Op 18 days

    · Shontel · 12/15/2009 19:06

    My first entry here. No special story to speak of, My start weight is 235 at the hospital, which I went to Monterrey Mexico. Today, Dec 15th I'm down 21 pounds. I am on mushy foods, but I have to admit the only real mushies I've had is ground down tuna salad and Popeyes mashed potatoes with extra gravy. (yum by the way) I tried a mashed sweet potato with butter, sugar & cinnamon but it just wasn't happening, 2 bites was all I could manage. Did I mention I'm a revision from Lap-Band? Had it for 3 years, lost 60 pounds, gained 30 back...I'm going to try an egg tomorrow for breakfast...will keep my fingers crossed on that. I've not been having any problems getting in my fluids, and have been getting my 60 g of protien, but not without dread. Still looking for drinks that I can tolerate. Isopure is ok..tolerable. Also, I'm on GNC Wheybolic? something...ok I guess...I've just ordered some Unjury Chicken Soup, so really hope this is as good as the reviews are...Also trying the Calcet chews, and Biariatric Advantage chewables...I'm on Tums & Flinstones (can we say G R I T??) So here's to the future...stay tuned :001_tongue:

  7. Erosion

    · Shontel · 11/06/2009 02:12

    Well...I'm looking at my past post to my blog...I'm so very devasted. It looks like my band has eroded. It is the end of my band life, and not by choice. I'm praying the erosion is not severe and my healing will go ok. With everything going on in my life, I don't know how I'll cope but I know I will find my inner strength. I'm praying for the best!

  8. How I got here

    · Shontel · 04/11/2006 03:14

    So here it is. I'm fat. Not because I have some dreaded thyroid or metabolisim problem. Because I love food. I adore food. It has ruled over me for years and now I am bargaining with it. I saying to it, 'listen, I love you, I NEED you, but we have to come to an agreement' I am 100 pounds overweight. I am one of the 'invisible' ones. You know us, to many people out there, morbidly obese people don't exist. I can't or don't blame society for this, but I am bound and determined that I will not be one of those statistics. I want to feel like me again. Its been many years since I've felt whole. I have 19 days left before my journey takes a new road, I'm preparing for the bumps an valleys. Heres to my season of change.

  9. One Week Ban-a-versary!

    · Shontel · 05/05/2006 14:23

    So I'm one week post-band, and have lost 17 pounds!! I'm really pumped about that, even thought its probably all water. Feeling much better but still sore where port is. I went to the grocery store yesterday to look for some yogurt, and it was so weird. I kinda felt sad. Sorta like mourning over all the foods (bad ones, that I had no business eating to start with) that I wouldn't be able to eat. Sort of therapeutic I guess.

  10. BANDLAND

    · Shontel · 05/04/2006 12:55

    Well I DID make it. Not without some quick thinking and shuffling, but I did it. I got to Mexico and was informed that I'd have to have the surgery that same day! I was a little nervous, had to mentally prepare myself (thought I'd at least get a good last meal in...) but I came to get banded so lets get on with it! The process was as good as I've ever been through in a US hospital. Very comforting nurses and procedures were identical to those in U.S. I was glad to get back home a couple of days later though, nothing like your own bed. I'm almost a week post-op and am starting thick liquids. This has been MUCH more satisfying to me. I'm not that hungry (mainly 'head' hunger) I am taking each day as a learning experience. I look forward to the day that my band and I will become good friends :Banane59: We are learning each other right now, and I am an open book, willing to learn and make new chapters in my life, with its help.
  11. Purely Financial. When you own your own business, sometimes your cash flow is bumped, so as of now, I'm unsure about Friday. Won't know until Tomorrow. I have NO IDEA HOW I WILL NOT GO INSANE BEFORE THEN. Its definitely Nyquil tonight. Haven't slept (really slept) in 3 days. I have been praying for a favor. (Not that I'm that spiritual, b/c im SO not) but its funny how I think sometimes God tests you. Today as I grabbed a shopping cart to go into my local grocery store, someone had left their billfold in it. I felt such guilt, but wanted to look in it. I didn't. I brought it to Customer Service. (this once happend to me, except it was my entire purse: ie wallet, cell phone, ect) and someone was kind enough to turn it in. So I did the same (I would have anyway) I think maybe God was testing me. Hopefully my funds will come through, and I will be able to make my trip. Here's Hoping! TBC...

  12. 6 Days

    · Shontel · 04/23/2006 17:35

    I have to get away from this computer screen and GO DO SOMETHING!! I will definitely go crazy if I don't. I have so much to do before I go...Today I think my quest will be....Go get some Bean w/ Bacon Soup....I'm seriously losing it...lol. OK, going do some yard work....I...just....haaave....to.....:confused:

  13. 7 days and counting...

    · Shontel · 04/22/2006 15:45

    Next Saturday I will be in Band-land (and la-la land) [grinning] I am seriously getting excited. I have this daily ritual, come here, read for an enormously long time...post sometimes..then, I'll get my work done (work, what the heck is that....) I am self employed so I have to REMIND myself to do so. Then I begin thinking about what I still need to get..amoung the many things I have begun to collect for my life changing surgery. I think today I will go to GNC and get some more ISOPURE drinks. Maybe some Gas X...I am secretly laughing at myself. I'm like this giddy little child knowing I'm going to get a nice big present for my birthday (or I should say band-day) No one really knows about this, but people are now saying, what's wrong with you lately? You seem so 'perky' I just smile and say, its good to be alive! (ok, am I THAT hoakey?) I'll be flying to Mexico, so I am a little anxious about that, but overall I'm SO SO SO READY!!! To be continued :confused:

  14. Obsession

    · Shontel · 04/18/2006 19:32

    It's now an obsession. Well, it always has been. My weight. I wonder why it defines me so. I wonder why I can't just accept how I look and not get caught up in this web of self-hatred and doubt. I think now of all the things I have wanted to do up to now and said...well when I lose this weight, I'll do that. How accomplished I would be! I have always been an all or nothing person. I've always pushed myself to the limits (that includes indulgences like GOOD FOOD) Now I must admit defeat. Food is winning. Food has taken control of me. If I don't do something, it will destroy me. I dream of being able to walk and not have ankle pain. To be able to cross my legs again, to be able to fit in a chair without my hips touching the arms of it. This obsession with food is slowly shifting. Its not going to beat me! I will learn to like you food, not obsess over you. I will learn to love myself and like food. This is my prayer.

  15. helluva day

    · Shontel · 04/13/2006 23:02

    So its 15 days till I leave for Mexico. I saw my mom yesterday. I'd only told her a week ago (and debated at that) She was very supportive, asked me if I was scared about going to Mexico. I said to her, no, I'm not afraid at all about that, I've done my research, I've talked to countless people, I'm confident about that. Its just this friend I'm loosing that I'm sad about. Food is my best friend. How will I cope? How will I make it? In moments of desparity, I wonder if I am doing the right thing. It doesn't take me long to realize that I am though. I have a sexy pic of myself years ago at a party in some snug fitting Levis and a hot little shirt, THAT is my constant motivation. Today I was going crazy trying to get way too many things done, I noticed at lunch that I'd just 'forgotten' to eat. That's what gets me every time. I swung through Wendy's and got a club sandwich. Just chunked the bread and wrapped the lettuce around turkey, swiss and bacon drank a bottle of water and ate a few baked lays. I was pondering on how easy that was. ITS JUST FOOD, I thought. Its going to nourish you. I keep trying to pump myself up, trying to convince myself that my choices are bad, not me. For today at least, I believe that. Tomorrow is another day....to be continued
  16. So, week two on the couch 25K has been challenging to say the least. The jogs are upped from 1 minute to 1.5 minutes. Now, for someone like me, who hasn't run in better than 20 years, it was tough for me. That being said, I DID IT!! I'm worried about moving over to the 3rd week, as you have to run a segment for 3 minutes (yikes!!) But may try it and if its too much, go back to week 2 till I feel ready. I've been doing all the workouts on my treadmill, but soon want to hit some pavement or trails. Nothing better than sucking in some fresh air and scenery while gettin fit :scared0: I have noticed a change in my stamina. My runs are more thought out, more deliberate. At first, I would just do whatever it took to get through, now I am watching my form more and it feels GREAT. I can feel my body responding to the intensity. My thighs, my butt (no hope for the flatlands, lol) my arms, it feels great. And let me just say, that the energy level is THROUGH THE ROOF!! I have been a walker nearly all my adult life, the energy I feel after an interval run is SO MUCH more than if I'd walked for 30 minutes. I went from low energy to high def energy...woooooo hooooooo!! I got me a new pair of running shoes, and watched countless YouTube videos about running, so I'm pumped to continue the program. I'll let yall know how I do on the 3rd week workout (which I'm trying today) Also for anyone interested, I'm vlogging about all this as well on YouTube, just search my username: scneaux. Stay tuned and thanks for reading/watching :sneaky2:

  17. 4 Month Update

    · Shontel · 03/24/2010 12:34

    I realized that I've not been keeping up my blog because I've been doing videos on YouTube alot with my updates. (if interested, I did a 4 month video my user name on YouTube is scneaux) However, I wanted to keep my blog up as well because this is where I began recording my thoughts. At 4 months I've lost 57 pounds. By my calculations, I think I've lost only 5 pounds this month, but am sort of glad to have slowed (trying to keep my hair as long as possible...ha ha) I noticed my hunger is sort of coming back. Not severe by any means. Just a nudge to let me know its time to eat. My favorite snacks are beef jerkey, string cheese and sunflower seeds. Still struggling with ny protien shakes and vitamins. I do take Prevacid still and this past month as everyone knows, I began training for a 5K. I am noticing my body transforming! yay! still got the skin issues, and the going south issues, but noticing some muscle definition which I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE!! One thing I am going to do this weekend is to try on some jean/capris and see what my true size is. Up to now I am still floating around in my 14's and a few 12's. I'm gong to buy at least 1 pair of capris this weekend (mall, watch out! lol) I may do another update this Friday, because its by date my exact 4 months. Stay tuned!! :scared0:

  18. Weekly Update

    · Shontel · 03/05/2010 17:16

    Today was my weigh day, and I'm down 2 more pounds! Yay. 55 total!! I've been concentrating a lot more on getting my water/liquids in these past few weeks and I think that is helping alot. I still have yet to incorporate some organized exercise into my daily routine, although I am way more active than I used to be. I know I'll have to get some weight training in to reshape my body. Other than that, I'm doing great, feeling good and waiting for spring to get here!
  19. So yesterday I went for my wound check. (Recap: I had an abscess in my largest incision that had to be drained. Its been packed for 14 days now.) The nurse said it is healing nicely and switched my packing material from the 4x4 gauze sponge material to the ribbon type packing. She thinks by Friday it may be healed enough to do the final step which is putting an ointment on it to make it 'scab' and heal. This was all good news to me, since right before I left I did the 'q-tip' test only to get half the darn thing down there. She also explained to me that the body heals in different ways (not necessarily from the bottom to top, sometimes from the sides in..(big sigh) So, I'm optimistic. At least the packing is not so bulky now. She also said no abdominal exercise for a good while (I don't want a hernia!) She cleared me for walking, and arm exercise with free weights. I'm glad of that, I need to get out or on the treadmill...need a boost, need to feel normal again.
     
    I did go out with friends Sunday night, it was nice to be out and around people again. I've become a shut in! Afraid to get sick, trying to cope with not feeling 100%.
     
    I'm struggling with my protien..just can't choke down another protien shake. Waaay past being sick of them. I do still drink the chicken soup protien I got from Unjury..not bad. I also been taking my vitamins/calcium irratically. Just hate the taste/texture. I guess I need to get off my 'feel sorry for yourself' box and get on with it.
     
    I am going to be in a parade on Monday for MLK day, so I'm pretty excited about it. My cousin saw me Sunday night (the first time since my 35# weight loss) She was amazed. Said she could really see it in my face. Well, I DID fit in a size 13 Jr. pair of Levis that I hadn't fit in in a LONG time..lol They were stretchy, but better than the 16's (almost 18's) that I was fitting in in November. I've lost 2 inches in my waist & hips! I guess I need to pat myself on my back for that :svengo: I'm thankful for all that, and need to stop the pity party! OK, resolved to do just that!! Yay me! :thumbup:

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