303'sJourney

Well I was SOOOO excited to hear about the progress with Dr. Cwyes office, the nutritionist and fitness guy. I am saddened though that you have to do a supervised diet. I am VERY fortunate that my insurance doesn't require it. keep your head up... I PROMISE it will be here before you know it! I started w/ my first visit in February and thought I'd never get to finally have the surgery... 3 months flew by... it will all work out, and Dr. Cwyes will have an opening when you're ready I know it! I hope you're day is fantastic and your spirits are rising...

Awe... Chloe is so adorable! Things are wonderful here. I was down 25 lbs but gained back 1 lb when I started soft food... it really hurt my feelings... but whatever. I will definately let you know how the fill goes! I'm a bit anxious about it also. I just found this fantastic protein shake for my late nights at work. It is 25 grams of protein, no carbs, no fat, no sugar and only 110 calories. It's by jayrobb and is whey protein. I didn't care for the strawberry but the chocolate is a dream!! I just ordered a single serving pina colada and tropical dreamscicle online today and can't wait to try them. They keep me full for a good bit of time. They're nice when you don't have enough breaks at work or time to cover all of your meals! I am so glad to hear you're doing great! Piper is doing wonderful, adjusting well. Well have to get back to work but it's great to catch up... I'll talk to you again soon!

I am down a total of 25 lbs from my pre-op until my 1 week post op check up... then in the last week I have gained 1 lbs back since adding soft foods which didn't impress me. My daughter is having a tough time not being able to be picked up and carried around all the time... but everyone is VERY excited for me. I am sorry to hear you have been in so much pain. I am glad to hear though that you are feeling better. When and where do you get your first fill? I am excited to hear your new job is going GREAT! It's great that you don't have to tell anyone about your surgery yet they can watch the weight fall off of you! How exciting!! I am glad all is well and look forward to seeing some of your progress pics and success along our journey! Have a wonderful and stress free week!!!

Thank you so much! It has been hard work that's for sure. I've been pretty darn hungry! The band effects everyone differently... some people afterward are not hungry from the getgo and then there's me. I wasn't hungry for the first week (while I was still extremely swollen internally) and then week two... BAM! I'm VERY hungry. I'm ready for the 19th to be here so I can get my first fill! I am working hard though. I have gained 1 lb this week... he said I would and I hoped he was wrong. LOL... he said that your body gets so excited to have real food it holds onto it but not to fret as it will come back off again soon. He wants me to lost between 3-6 lbs before my next appt on the 19th... I sure hope that is the case. I can't really "see" the loss but I feel it so that's great! I'll just keep working at it. I hope your appointment tomorrow goes great and I look forward to hearing all about it!! :) :)

Hi... my name is Teresa. We were banded just a few days apart and I thought we could keep in touch and help support each other through this journey. I was banded on the 18th and have my first fill the day after you on the 19th. How is everything going? How are you feeling? I hope all is well and look forward to talking to you.

So my post op appt went EXACTLY as you described... Definately uneventful... I go for my first fill on 6/19 I'll let you know how that goes too! I hope you and the kids are doing great and look forward to talking to you.

Hi there sweets... how are you feeling? How is your weight loss going? I hope everything is going great!!!

hey girlie... what's new? How are you feeling? How is your weight progressing??

Hey darlin'. Well things are going great! I feel better every single day. I can eat like a champ and have much more energy now that I am on soft foods. The last piece of my surgical tape finally came off last night in the shower so now I can actually see where he cut. It's pretty clean. It will still take a while to completely heal but it looks tremendous! I am going to take pictures of it this evening and post them... How is everything progressing with you? Do you have a date for the nutritionist? I hope everythings is fantastic!! It's great to hear from you!

I hate technology... whew... I've emailed it! :)

I just wanted to let you know my scanner is being STUPID but I will get it to you by Saturday! If I can't get mine to do it before then I will do it when I go to my dad's house saturday but will get it to you this week. Sorry!

I have always kneeled and tried to use my back and leg muscles instead of my abdominal muscles. It was difficult to get her in and out of a car seat etc... but she is very able and has had to learn to cope with the minimal holding. I still to this day cannot stand idle or walk carrying her... it is just too much strain. She has adjusted well I think. I just redirect her and it has actually helped her be more independant. I wish you the best of luck in your decision, they are both GREAT doctors!

The group appts are a very unique approach they take and I think it helps everyone see that they are not alone and to meet each other for support. They also have support group meetings the first and third of every month if you wanted to go and meet some more people and hear what they are going through in that specific office. Well if you like Dr. Cwyes a Thursday surgery would not be as bad b/c then you could just take thurs/fri and be back to work on Monday. I do understand what you mean about not wanting everyone to know your business though. As far as your supervisor you could just tell them you have a medical procedure and they cannot legally ask any more questions. As far as picking up your little ones... it is as you feel comfortable. It will take 4 to 6 weeks for your body to completely heal but as far as weight... I did not pick her up for the first week from a regular standing position

Also... lesson learned from me. You don't have to wait until they give you the pre-op diet to start preparing yourself and following it. If you would like I can scan and email you a copy of both the pre and post op diets... just shoot me an email address. I hope all is well and love catching up with you! :)

Dr. Cwyes said with all of the research they can accomplish the same thing with one incision and will be moving to do all of the surgeries this way. He was like a kid in a candy store talking about the surgery. I am on to soft foods... like eggs, cottage cheese, skinless meats etc... I am feeling SOOOO much better now that I have some real food in my stomach! I would stay on top of the nutritionist to get your appointment scheduled but they are usually pretty good about getting you in relatively quickly. Just so you are prepared b/c I wasn't... all of your appt's #2 and #3 will be group appts, #2 will be with people who are at the same stage of the approval process and #3 will be with people having surgery the same day as you with your dr. It was really great to see and compare stories today at our follow up visit with the other 3 that had surgery the same day. I look forward to hearing about your nutritionist appt.

but he explained to me... I don't know about them; that he decided to do it on me because aside from a hiatial hernia and obesity I am otherwise in great health... where as the other's had diabetes or some other co-morbidities that he just felt the traditional way was best for them but that he plans to continue use of it since I am healing so nicely. He also said I should have zero visable scaring and my port is right in my belly button area instead of half way up my chest. Dr. Baptista may use this technique also...

Beth, Well I am sorry to hear that you won't be using Dr. Cwyes but I do understand wanting to take as little time off from work as possible. Today actually was my one week check and he was estatic that since I started my pre-op diet to today I am down 25 lbs. He confirmed that I am the first SLIP procedure he has done, the other three girls that had surgery the same day as me were a little upset he didn't do it on them too... especially the two after me...

OH my goodness! Hello. So my name is Teresa and I just read your reply to 2nd week post op and gaining... I have to ask... is your doctors name Dr. Cwyes? LMAO?? I hope you are doing well and if he is your doctor I am glad you didn't kill him right there in the office.

Thank you for the VERY sweet comment about my munchkin... she is my pride and joy! How much longer does your dr have you on liquid?

Rachel,

My daughter's name is Piper and she will be 2 on the 15th of June. She has been a real handful since my surgery. She never wanted to sit in my lap or put her head on my stomach... now... that's all she wants!! I too am sick of liquid. I dreamt about cottage cheese yesterday... who does that! I can't wait until Tuesday when I can finally have some. Did you have your post op visit? How did it go? What did your doctor say? Did he remove your bandages/tapes? Things for me are pretty good... just still feel like I have done a million too many crunches... but I'm making it!

HI there! Yes I am in Florida also. I live up in the Yulee/Fernandina Beach area. So aside from the pain (I truly believe is from your hernia) how are you feeling? Are you hungry? Are you tired? What kinds of short term goals have you set for yourself? I hope that all is well. I added you as a friend. We were banded around the same time and lord knows you can't have too many support people! I hope all is well. P.S. I also use a heating pad a night to help with the pain in my left shoulder... that's when it seems to be the worst!

Hi there... my name is Teresa. I see that we were banded just a week apart and are battling about the same amount of weight. So I thought maybe you and I could keep in touch through this difficult journey as no ones support system can be too big!

How are you? How are you feeling? I hope that you are doing spectacular and are getting all of the rest you need to heal!!

So what's next with you? Are you excited??

Days 1-3 clear liquids... just like 2 days before, then 4-9 is creamy's like protein shakes, then I can move to mushies like scrambled eggs for about 3 more days then by day 14 I am on to regular food. So far so good... no issues keeping anything down and no nausea.