voiceomt2002

Okay, another small non-scale triumph from shower time. I'd already noted my feet did not swell nearly so much lately, despite a lot of walking lately. I'd grinned and moved on. That was expected. The doc had promised, and it was true. Cool beans. What I didn't expect was what I saw --or rather, didn't see-- when I dried my legs this morning after my shower. Where'd the spider veins go? My feet, ankles, and legs used to be covered in blue and red spider veins and varicose veins, as if my three-year-old granddaughter had colored me with her magic markers. One particularly nasty set of both varicose and spider covered an area the size of two silver dollars on my right leg, on the inside calf. It's almost gone! Yes, there's a pale blue bruise, but nothing compared to the hideous mark I've worn for years. :thumbup: Excited and curious, I replaced my right leg with my left on the toilet top where I'd been drying my legs. My left has been the bane of my existence for two years. Without warning, the ankle and foot would swell until I'd burst blood vessels on my instep. Even those are reduced in size and color! :thumbup::tounge_smile: Holy moley! Can this all really be happening, or am I dreaming?

Okay, another small non-scale triumph from shower time. I'd already noted my feet did not swell nearly so much lately, despite a lot of walking lately. I'd grinned and moved on. That was expected. The doc had promised, and it was true. Cool beans. What I didn't expect was what I saw --or rather, didn't see-- when I dried my legs this morning after my shower. Where'd the spider veins go? My feet, ankles, and legs used to be covered in blue and red spider veins and varicose veins, as if my three-year-old granddaughter had colored me with her magic markers. One particularly nasty set of both varicose and spider covered an area the size of two silver dollars on my right leg, on the inside calf. It's almost gone! Yes, there's a pale blue bruise, but nothing compared to the hideous mark I've worn for years. :smile: Excited and curious, I replaced my right leg with my left on the toilet top where I'd been drying my legs. My left has been the bane of my existence for two years. Without warning, the ankle and foot would swell until I'd burst blood vessels on my instep. Even those are reduced in size and color! :cool2: Holy moley! Can this all really be happening, or am I dreaming?

Tonight I cooked a meal I couldn't have: pork chops with an apricot sauce, despite the fact it's low carb. My healing isn't done, and even chicken still presents difficulties passing the stoma. While my DH and roomie attacked the "normal" food, I hummed happily and turned to the fridge to find some mushies. Then I stopped. I was shocked to realize I wanted the veggies, but no meat. Was I nuts? Didn't I want a nice juicy slab of animal? Uh, no. Not really. I pondered this while I pulled out the kale, rutabaga, and broccoli I'd cooked a couple of days ago, deliberately overcooking them to the correct "mushie" stage. Tsking over the limp and soggy state of the broccoli, I chose it first. Zapped in the microwave, that serving lasted me about the same amount of time as the guy's massive portions. (I'm really getting into this serving myself a la russe --one course at a time.) The guys piled back into the kitchen and scooped great big second helpings while I daintily picked up the kale and warmed it in the microwave. Dante, my roomie, helped himself to a bit of the kale with me, but my carnivore husband disdained the veggies. By the time I'd finished my "dessert" of mashed rutabaga with a bit of Splenda Brown, the guys were burping and patting their stomachs happily. (snicker) Yes, they're both "manly men." They show appreciation by acting like apes. I'm still a bit surprised at myself four hours later. If I'd wanted protein, there's eggs, cottage cheese, tuna, and even some Spam. (It's a mushie meat that passes my stoma. Compared to chicken, it slides down easy.) I don't want it. I'd better think about a protein drink or something.

Tonight I cooked a meal I couldn't have: pork chops with an apricot sauce, despite the fact it's low carb. My healing isn't done, and even chicken still presents difficulties passing the stoma. While my DH and roomie attacked the "normal" food, I hummed happily and turned to the fridge to find some mushies. Then I stopped. I was shocked to realize I wanted the veggies, but no meat. Was I nuts? Didn't I want a nice juicy slab of animal? Uh, no. Not really. I pondered this while I pulled out the kale, rutabaga, and broccoli I'd cooked a couple of days ago, deliberately overcooking them to the correct "mushie" stage. Tsking over the limp and soggy state of the broccoli, I chose it first. Zapped in the microwave, that serving lasted me about the same amount of time as the guy's massive portions. (I'm really getting into this serving myself a la russe --one course at a time.) The guys piled back into the kitchen and scooped great big second helpings while I daintily picked up the kale and warmed it in the microwave. Dante, my roomie, helped himself to a bit of the kale with me, but my carnivore husband disdained the veggies. By the time I'd finished my "dessert" of mashed rutabaga with a bit of Splenda Brown, the guys were burping and patting their stomachs happily. (snicker) Yes, they're both "manly men." They show appreciation by acting like apes. I'm still a bit surprised at myself four hours later. If I'd wanted protein, there's eggs, cottage cheese, tuna, and even some Spam. (It's a mushie meat that passes my stoma. Compared to chicken, it slides down easy.) I don't want it. I'd better think about a protein drink or something.

Hello Pete! Thanks for the inspirational message. I was banded on January 2, so hopefully I too can lose the medical issues that have slowed me down. Lena

I understand about not believing the weight loss. I'm not driving across town to be weighed once a week, but my clothes say I'm dropping pounds. Not that I'm complaining, mind you! **Lena gathers up her baggy pants and wanders off**

No clue, to tell you the truth, but I'd be willing to bet it's a very individualized thing. You can start right now. I started months before I needed to do so, as soon as a bandster friend warned me. She told me to go on a very low-carb diet and stay there. I did, and once I made the adjustments to my recipes and got into the habit of reading all the labels of all the food I shopped for, it got a lot easier. I actually enjoy the low-carb life now, and had no trouble when the doc told me to diet and keep below 30g of carbs total a day. It wasn't until I started tracking calories as well that I actually lost a lot of weight, but by then the extra care wasn't that difficult. You can do this. Really. A little privitation now means the possibility of a lifetime of rewards later. Lena

Wow, Bella! What a terrible hospital. <HUG> Lena

Hi! Yep! I'm banded and dropping the pounds. Lena, dragging my droopy drawers already!

Yep! You should have seen the first picture of my liver. It was a disgusting pile of goo. Only reason I saw it is because it happened to be in a picture they took of my insides for a hysterectomy. My LapBand surgeon, Dr. Baptista, made me go on a strict diet. I won't lie and tell you it was easy. It wasn't. Was it worth it? You betcha! Dr. Baptista took a picture of my healthy much-reduced liver to give me a pat on the head after my surgery for being such a good patient. What a difference! Yeah, it was worth it. Lena

Hooray!! Congratulations, BlueeyesinCA95! :laugh: Lena

I'm very happy for you, Peanutband! Lena

Fair Winds and Following Seas today, Jen414. My DH had school the day got out, so my roomie took me home. Perhaps that was a good thing. DH would have fussed and made me go to bed. I was happily ensconced in my recliner with my embroidery and a DVD instead. Much better than boredom in a bed, IMHO. Lena

Thanks Peanutband and CJMTexas. Those numbers give me some idea, anyway. I probably make the minimal numbers anyway. I'll try to keep track of this as well. Lena

Welcome back, KelsieJoy! Glad everything went well for you. Lena

My condolences, Sil. Lena

Good for you! Just one question: What is "plenty"? I've never heard a real number. Not that I've had any problems, but I'd like to know. Lena

Hi Amanda! LOL on the condensation on the face. So very true. I'm just trying to grow my hair out enough so I can give a hairdresser some options. By the time I actually hit the salon, I might be a screaming lunatic.

Doc said to let the bandages and steri-strips fall off naturally on me. I kind of assumed there are stitches, but maybe there aren't any. He checked a few things, but I don't see him again until my very first fill appointment on the 5th. I've been reassured several times that fills aren't painful, but I'm such a baby about needles. (nervous smile) Lena

**HUGS** Yeah, the port pain goes away, thank goodness. Now my biggest issue seems to be over-confidence. LOL! Once in awhile, I forget to chew slowly, sip instead of drink, and be aware that I'm still healing. I tried a new dressing on my tuna today, and started to wolf it down because it was so good! Ow! Ow! I didn't put down my fork and chew-chew-chew! (whimper) Here's the recipe: 2 oz tuna 1 T olive oil mayonnaise 2 T lime juice 1/4 tsp minced garlic (I buy those jars in the produce section) black pepper to taste 82 calories, 1g carb. I deserved that pain for my greed, but I don't recommend it. Lena

Wow, it's only 8 AM on a Monday, and I'm already experiencing the effects of being banded. First, I awakened on my stomach. As a tummy sleeper, finding myself comfortable in that position was a huge relief. I stretched until I felt my back do the Rice Krispie "snap, crackle, pop!" Whew! I've needed to do that for a long time. I was also incredibly thirsty. I think I may already be less in need of my CPAP machine. Perhaps I'd better make an appointment with the specialist for more than a little finger stick this time. I'd love to get rid of the CPAP. It's been a friend who kept my marriage and heart from failing, but I'd really like to not be Darth Vader at night. Shower time! I'm normally a "quickie" bather. Get in, get out. But today, I looked down and wondered if I might be able to reach my toes without using a stool to prop my feet on. So, I bend down, soap laden scrubbie in hand, and washed my feet! I did a toe touch! Then I almost palmed the shower floor! Holy moley! It's been two years since I could do that! :tounge_smile: I'm growing my hair out. You'd never know from the picture I display here, but for the past couple of years, my hair has been close-cropped to my head. With all the hospital time and medications, the shoulder-length hair I prefer was a serious problem. So, I chopped it off. A cap of curls was much cooler and easier. Now, I'm growing my hair again. It feels so weird to actually comb wet hair and wonder if I'll sport bangs today or get it out of my face. I gave away almost all my clips, clamps, and ponytail bands. All I have left is one brown clamp and one black leather rose ponytail band. Guess I'd better build up the collection. Later, after I've written a bit on my latest book, I think I'll take a break and go through all my sewing patterns. My roomie Dante is a part-time tailor, and he's about to lose his mind in his eagerness to dress me up like a life-sized Barbie doll. (sigh) The big nut case dragged me out to the sewing area yesterday and presented his grand scheme for my complete new wardrobe. I almost ran screaming. LOL! Guess I'd better get used to it.

Wow, it's only 8 AM on a Monday, and I'm already experiencing the effects of being banded. First, I awakened on my stomach. As a tummy sleeper, finding myself comfortable in that position was a huge relief. I stretched until I felt my back do the Rice Krispie "snap, crackle, pop!" Whew! I've needed to do that for a long time. I was also incredibly thirsty. I think I may already be less in need of my CPAP machine. Perhaps I'd better make an appointment with the specialist for more than a little finger stick this time. I'd love to get rid of the CPAP. It's been a friend who kept my marriage and heart from failing, but I'd really like to not be Darth Vader at night. Shower time! I'm normally a "quickie" bather. Get in, get out. But today, I looked down and wondered if I might be able to reach my toes without using a stool to prop my feet on. So, I bend down, soap laden scrubbie in hand, and washed my feet! I did a toe touch! Then I almost palmed the shower floor! Holy moley! It's been two years since I could do that! I'm growing my hair out. You'd never know from the picture I display here, but for the past couple of years, my hair has been close-cropped to my head. With all the hospital time and medications, the shoulder-length hair I prefer was a serious problem. So, I chopped it off. A cap of curls was much cooler and easier. Now, I'm growing my hair again. It feels so weird to actually comb wet hair and wonder if I'll sport bangs today or get it out of my face. I gave away almost all my clips, clamps, and ponytail bands. All I have left is one brown clamp and one black leather rose ponytail band. Guess I'd better build up the collection. Later, after I've written a bit on my latest book, I think I'll take a break and go through all my sewing patterns. My roomie Dante is a part-time tailor, and he's about to lose his mind in his eagerness to dress me up like a life-sized Barbie doll. (sigh) The big nut case dragged me out to the sewing area yesterday and presented his grand scheme for my complete new wardrobe. I almost ran screaming. LOL! Guess I'd better get used to it.

Hi y'all! Sorry I disappeared on you. I felt so great, I returned to work and was buried. LOL! Anyway, what Peanutband had is normal. I had a sensation of "back wash" and discomfort when laying horizontal. Fortunately for me, I had a bed wedge left from a previous medical condition. Now I sleep normally, and this morning awakened to find myself on my stomach! That's happy. I'm a tummy sleeper, and missed it. Doc warned me I might experience some pain around the port area when I visited him Thursday, one week after surgery. He was dead on. I'd been feeling some new pain, and over the next two days I was back on the liquid Tylenol. It did go away, and by Sunday morning was forgotten. Now the big problem has been constipation after I started consuming soft foods. (Ahem!) I tried a certain herb tea, and while it did the job, it was sloooow. In desperation, I'm trying Metamucil because it's psyllium. Only problem is, it really fills up the stomach pouch. I have some mild discomfort, but a cup of hot liquid like coffee pushes it past the stoma where it can go to work. Off to blog and answer a private note! Lena

Thanks, Dimyvette. It's sooo weird. Lena

OMG, more weight has fallen off me like I’m a melting snowman or something. For the first time in at least two years, when I stepped on my bathroom scale I didn’t have to do the math: “Hmm…Okay, when it passes the zero, that’s 260…so add what the scale says to 260…” Okay, so the scale says I weigh 257 lbs as of this morning. That’s still a significant loss since my banding. Call me vain, but I’m most concerned about my clothes. I’m still swollen enough to need my “fat clothes” yet they hang off me like a clown suit anywhere but up front. Perhaps I’d better take a bit more time choosing my outfit today, since I have a visit with Dr. Baptista and a weigh-in. I’d love to wear a certain suit I’ve not put on my body in two years, but I’m scared of being disappointed and humiliated again. Last time I tried to don this beloved denim suit, I couldn’t slide the pants past my thunder thighs, and the duster couldn’t get around the granny flab in my upper arms. Can we say "humiliation?" Yeah, I know. We all can. (sigh) Maybe I’d better resign myself to a personal fashion show with three piles: 1) Too big, 2) Too Small, and 3) What do you mean it fits?