JazzyMom17

Yesterday was my first fill. I was strangly more nervous about that dumb fill than I was the surgery. The great nurse at my surgeon's office told me that the guy would press around on my stomach until he found it and that sometimes there might be alot of scar tissue and that it might be really uncomfortable the first time.

SO I laid down on my back and had my husband feel around if he could tell where my port is. He could feel it with ABSOLUTELY no problem---could even feel it with his palm (hand flat)....um, WHAT is this going to look like once I lose 70 pounds???? :sneaky:) Oh no!!!

Anyway, the surgeon found it with no problem, but the first "pinch" of the syringe didnt hit the port---It HIT it, but didn't go in...So he poked around a few more times (made me laugh at something funny) and then it was in. It really wasn't bad at all. So he and I walked over to the x-ray machine to drink the barium....syringe sticking out of my belly. Thanks to LapBandTalk..I was fully prepared for that part. The barium was not bad at all. Nothing like the cup and a half I had to drink for the upper GI before surgery. He had me take a big swallow. WHOOSH right thru without even a pause--just like EVERYTHING else, I said!! Then put several CCs in and I took another drink and refluxed a little, but it felt fine going down. So he took some out and it was perfect. You could see my new LITTLE pouch forming at the top of the band. Cute!! Full of barium. Then he had me drink water (not x-rayed) I took a gulp---I've had zero restriction until this point so I still gulp water.... I felt something "hard" at the base of my neck. He took some more out and it went thru. I drank more water...no problems. Then it was done. Easy peasy.

He told me "Today is the day your weightloss journey begins". That felt SOOO good to hear that. I know I've lost a such a menial amount up till now and it has been hard as heck to get and keep that 10 pounds off since beginning of my preop diet. I've felt so bleak, b/c I really haven't lost ANYTHING since surgery and in my mind June 17th was the day my weightloss journey began...but really this is where it starts and that felt good.

I was STARVING when I went in for my fill. It was at 1:00--but I had to be at the pre-op room at 12:00 stomach completely empty. Let me tell you, by 1:45 when I left I was SOOOO full and I didn't want anything to eat until 4:00. HAHAHA....nothing like barium for lunch!!! I had soup for supper---and didn't feel any restriction, but I guess I'm not supposed to for the liquid part. But when I went to bed I wasn't hungry....that is a great thing!

I was up and at the gym by 5:15 this morning. Starbucks IS a liquid, BTW!!!!! That is another good thing. I did 45 minutes of cardio and then some core resistence work. By the way----I AM SWEATING LIKE A MAN!!!!!! What the heck is up with that??? I think it's because my thyroid medicine is jacked up and my Endocrinologist is trying to find the right balance for me. But, seriously, sweat DRIPPING OFF THE END OF MY NOSE!!! I used to just "glisten" and this is just embarrasing. Oh, well. I made it, thru and then wiped up the puddles. UGH!!!

I have been working out ALOT lately. I'm starting to feel that addiction coming back and the high from my heart beating out of my chest and that great body exhaustion feeling.

Now for the scales to start showing this effort!!

EVERY day when I get on the scale I think "scale whore"....EVERY DAY!!! HAHAHAHA!!! I will be there! Count me in... Do I get extra points because my spreadsheet has a graph (complete with a linear prediction of where I WILL be at Christmas time based on past performance???)

So, I went on vacation last week---when I got home I had gained five pounds!!! In a week!!!! I really wasn't eating a whole lot more than I had been either!!! At least it didn't feel like it.

I had my first "experience" and I'm not really sure WHAT it was. I had eaten a sandwhich for lunch (shaved turkey, swiss and white bread)....and about an hour later, I got an extremely uncomfortable feeling. Like a burp (one of my HUGE HUGE burps) was stuck under my sandwhich. Pain in my chest--like gas pains. Then I started getting nauseous. So I ran to the bathroom and started heaving. NOTHING came up. I did it about three times and then got my papaya enzymes and at 5 of those. The feeling went away shortly after that when I finally burped.

I have heard it said that once you have the band it is impossible to eat like BEFORE you had a band. Um......???? Really???? It feels completely like it did BEFORE the band--NOTHING different.

I went to see the DR for my second postop required BEFORE a fill. The NP said that I was doing great (even though on their scales I had gained 7 pounds back since last postop visit.) She said six weeks of healing THEN the weightloss goals should start.

The PCP gave me the ok to start working out after my pneumonia and staph infection. So, this week I started and it feels so good. But, the scales just went up and up (.6 pounds/day). Finally, Wednesday on the way home from work feeling really discouraged about all of this I decided to go back on my carb restricted pre-op diet. Maxing out at 50 carbs/day....to lose 13 pounds and get back onto my goal track. I also need to feel that carb-addiction broken and my hideous hunger and cravings to go away. So, back to the old grind. I understand what the nurse was saying and I know that is "reasonable"...but I don't feel like that is good enough for me. I want more out of this, and I want to weigh 150 by Christmas. Sweet spot or not---I want to bust my butt (hopefully dieting for the last time) during these next six months or so...and then let the band do what it should do to keep it off.

So, I lost 2 pounds yesterday, got the preop diet headaches---carb withdrawal and felt like death on a stick. But I was like, BRING IT!!!! I'm ready for anything but being fat the rest of my life.

August 3rd....WHY SO LONG to get a first fill!?!?! But anyway, the nurse said that if after a week, I feel like I need more---call and they'll get me in right away. All I need is a week between fills and they want to get me to my "sweet spot" as soon as possible.

Amen to that.

Great job, Marie! I am hearing SO many people that are getting their first fills already and I am JEALOUS!!! They have my first one scheduled on August 3rd.

WOW!!! You look SOOO good!!! Keep up the good work!!! WOO-HOO!!!

That's Awesome!!! Congratulations!!

Ok...counting down the days....almost three weeks postop!!

I haven't lost hardly ANYTHING since the surgery--but I guess that is normal--the good thing is I haven't GAINED anything yet. It's just that I'm getting a little panicky like I'm not doing enough. Like I need to get my head wrapped around what is going on--or not going on with my weightloss.

I am feeling like I could eat ANYTHING right now. I haven't thrown up, PB'd, Slimed or anything yet. Thank GOD for that!! I haven't been trying to test my band really---but if it's soft then I'll eat it. And I can eat ALOT of some things!! I can drink with my meals--no problem. I can do pretty much everything I could do without the band--salad, watermelon, bread. I haven't tried rice yet...or nuts. The "hard stop" feeling that I got the first couple of weeks seems to be passing...so Bandster Hell...HERE I AM!

I've set a goal for myself of 10 pounds a month. I'm RIGHT at goal now for my first month post surgery---so I am sensing urgency of NOW is the time to get a grip...and work with my band! I have my first postop appt with my dr tomorrow--I know it's WAY out from surgery, but I've been so sick with pneumonia..etc. that now is the first time I can. Sixteen pounds gone since I was there for my preop appt...which is good, because I haven't obsessed about dieting or food at all. It is changing it's place in my heart from living to eat to eating because I have to.

Family vacation is next week in Tennessee...I'm really excited about it and for the first time feel this sense of FREEDOM about it all. With my family--vacations revolve around food---preparation, cleaning up, having enough desserts, more prep, food, food, food. This time I don't feel the panick that I have always felt. It's hard to explain, but the diets to prep for seeing family--then getting there and feeling the excitement and the failure of overeating the whole time. This time---totally different.

THIS FEELING OF INDIFFERENCE towards food is the EXACT reason I needed the band. The chains are starting to loosen their hold.

I got my hair done Saturday! It's DARK and totally different but I love the cut. The color will take some getting used to. ) But I love the new look and fresh start feeling.

And I went shopping for some capris. I didn't get a smaller size yet, but I liked my reflection in the mirror. My tushi is getting smaller!! :oD

I'm SOOOOO with you. Feeling the carb addiction--especially SUGAR---ALOT now...I'm two weeks out from being banded. I'm taking this weekend to have a "Come to Jesus" meeting with myself to figure out WHY and HOW to break this carb fettish. I was doing SOOO good on my Pre-OP diet, but then they gave me nothing but grape juice for two days after having surgery---so after those two days HOOKED AGAIN! I get my first fill the first of August....looking forward to that!! We can do this!

I'm kindof feeling a little panick and a little obsessive about the sense of needing to make a plan. My new "lifestyle" of eating. (NOT calling it a DIET!!!)

Here's the thing. I followed my PREOP Adkins--then two days preop liquid adkins---then one week postop liquid diet to a tee. When I was sitting on my hospital bed one week postop I called, and the awesome nurse at my LB Surgeon's office told me that it was ok to start introducing purees and soft foods. After I got over the initial shock from hearing THAT I did. I've only gained a pound since then, but I've found myself during the liquid postop phase especially, using sugar again---alot of it. They gave me only grape juice for two whole days after surgery. Which coming off Adkins tasted like nectar from the gods.

Anyway....I am able to eat almost anything now. I am not "testing" my band--but if it is something soft (meatloaf) then I will eat it. I haven't PB'ed, Slimed, or thrown anything up yet. But I definitely feel the "hard stop" feeling and the need to march the halls after I eat something just to try to either get some gas out of my stomach or move the food thru--not sure which. Some times I can only eat a few bites and it's like "AAAAGGGH!!" I have to walk....other times--like last night I ate a whole hotdog/bun/ketchup/mustard/onions/relish and could have still kept eating. Also---I have not ever had a problem drinking when I eat. I know I shouldn't and try not to, but when I forget, it goes right thru.

I was reading BandGroupie's blog yesterday about "redefining full" and that really struck a chord with me. I'm still feeling restriction, but I'm finding myself mindlessly eating or comfort eating STILL. That is what scares me---to death. Did I have this surgery without really nailing down head hunger first--the real culprit?? Can I get a grip on this NOW??

I am on the verge of "Bandster Hell" I know it--if I'm not already there, but I really want to get a grip on my mind before I'm completely in the middle of it all.

There is alot going on. Next week my family is meeting in Gatlinburg, TN....can't wait. But everything has revolved around food. ) I do feel a real sense of FREEDOM like never before---where before I would have been DREADING this free-for-all of food like the plague then getting there and going WAY OVERBOARD. This time I have a calm sense of "cool, food" indiference. I'll get to taste some things I haven't tasted in a long time, but it won't rule or consume me. That

YEAY! Happy Bandiversary!

I'm feeling the freedom in your voice!!! Woo-Hoo! This is huge!! Congrats!

Hey, guys...

Tomorrow is two week anniversary of getting banded!! I am down officially 16 pounds total--including my one week pre-op diet and I am THRILLED with that progress. I've had pneumonia...etc. so I have not focused at ALL on losing weight--just surviving and getting well---so seeing the scales dropped SO much is just SUCH a cool thing.

I'm getting used to my new world of eating. I eat less than my six year old!!! We have gone out to restaurants as a family a few times, and I got the "is everything ok with your food, Ma'am? YOu havn't hardly eaten anything".....I'm sure there will be many more to come. This last time I just shared with my little girl -- the kid's meal.

I have ULTIMATE restriction right now. But I know bandster hell is on it's way. I'm just loving being able to eat 1/2 cup of refried beans and feel completely full for hours.

I haven't focused on protein, getting my water in, nothing like that. So, I am going to make a plan today of how to attack this next chapter...from now as I start feeling better to my first fill. My husband is making comments every day about how much weight I've lost--he can't believe it...and when I went to work yesterday the lady that NEVER says anything good said that she could tell I was sick, because "you have lost alot of weight".

My hubby broke down and told my skinny MIL when I was so sick in the hospital the second time. (!!!!!!) So she came over and had to get the whole story. Why would I do it? What exactly did they do? She had to see all of my incisions.

My incisions are almost completely healed. Thank God, that is the one part of this surgery that has been a breeze had has healed mutantly fast. My MIL could hardly find all five of them. The only one that looks like an incision is my port (when I went back into the hospital they put those hideously sticky heart monitor things smack over the top of my port incision. ????!!!! Not fun to take off, but it's ok now)

I'm getting ready to walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes then make up some tuna salad for lunch. Probly be able to eat 1/2 cup of that! :thumbup:) I'm wasting SO much food. MIL did make me her awesome deviled eggs and those went down GREAT!!!

My postop appt is July 7th at 1:00pm...I can't wait! Things are looking up! I'm SOOOO glad I have the band!

YEAY! 14 pounds! Good for you! They had me start on Mushies last Thursday and I've kept on losing!! I was worried about that...but the key for me is eating mushy beans....they keep me full for a LONG time! This time you will accomplish this lifelong battle! Sieze the day!

WOW, girl!! you are doing AMAZING!!! Keep it up and just let those abs be sore---you are making great progress!!

AWESOME JOB!!! Kudos on all your hard work! You are an inspiration!

YEAY!!! Isn't it GREAT!!!! I never thought mashed sweet potatoes could taste THIS good!!

You sound like you're doing great!! Now that I'm feeling better I've been itching to get starting working out too---10 days postop. Just don't do "The 100" or any of the other abdominal pilates moves---my DR was very specific about not doing ABS right away because the port can flip or twist if you do core work too soon. Good luck with everything! I'm right with you on the beans---:thumbup:)!

Ok, so I'm back from another hospital stay (since Tuesday)...Monday, when I went to the Primary Care DR to get my sore throat checked out he told me it was Thrush...OK..fine. So, then he told me that I needed to get the Pneumonia Vaccine. I asked three times if that was a good idea while I was already TRYING to get better...and he assured me that there would be NO problem.

Tuesday at 3 I was in the ER--again. I ended up having a reaction to the vaccine. High fever, chest pain, HUGE lymph nodes under my arm, and cellulitis in my shoulder where they put the injection. Added to that my lower right lung was still "not expanding". ..which can also cause fever, chest pain, tachychardia..etc. They gave me a bag of Vancomycin--not sure I even want to know WHY---but I had a reaction to that too--which caused my arm to be that much more inflamed and SORE!!! Cry cry cry--sob sob--cry! Another CT scan with contrast...more blood cultures and blood work every 6 hours. Sniff Sniff--cry.

My husband has been SO incredible--I think I scared him to death. I'm pretty good about pain, pretty matter-of-fact and grit your teeth and do it kind of person--but I cried more in the last two days---my arm was SORER than I can even describe--having someone lightly brush my shoulder would send me into sobs. He was completely in shock of all the crying, and didn't know whether to hurt the people that hurt me or what to do--certainly couldn't hug me!!! :oD

Yesterday after my 10 laps around the hospital I called my LapBand surgeon to let them know everything that has been going on. The nurse was SOOO sweet that I cried some more--and then she said words that were sweeter than honey..."if you want and feel hungry--start trying some "soft foods" like refried beans, mashed potatos, scrambled eggs" I was in complete shock...like a prisoner let out on parole early! :thumbup:) AWESOME!!!

Today they finally let me come home...my little girl had made the SWEETEST "Welcome Home Mommy" party---she made EVERYTHING..chocolate cake, banner, carefully colored and snipped up confetti, streamers. SOOO sweet. My sister canceled her flight home on Wednesday and is able to stay until Sunday morning! It is SUCH sweet relief to know that my little girl is relaxed, getting supper, getting baths, and having so much fun thru all of this.

I know that all of this is NOT TYPICAL lap band surgery stuff---I was up 20 minutes after recovery walking to the bathroom feeling fine. My LB is something that I think of from time to time but haven't really had a chance to let it sink in that I'm ON THE OTHER SIDE--(Not the other side that I thought I might end up on!) ) My scars are hardly showing--I can feel that something is different in my tummy and I am getting excited to think about taking off with diet and excercise!! It's starting to sink in now!!! I can't wait!!

Oh, I know!!! Not more soup!

I just had surgery on June 17th. Things to buy would be: some hard candy to suck on and get the taste out of your month...an abdominal binder from CVS or Walgreens...LOTS of soup--the creamed kind...Gatorade...Isopure Vanilla protein--tastes GREAT with chocolate milk.

Good news! It WAS thrush!!! So definitely the lesser of two evils! I will be better soon! PCP said NO WORK ALL WEEK--not because it would be too difficult to be up walking around, but that my immune system is too compromised right now and NOT a good time to be around people. :thumbup:| So...today I got YET ANOTHER afternoon nap! After that, I felt really refreshed and alive...coming out of the woods feeling. If my DH will get the treadmill down I will do another 5-10 minutes today. Almost time for another protein drink...and a follow up swish/swallow of the antifungal. After all of this--I could win big $$ on Fear Factor, right? ) Thanks, BG for all your support!

YEAY!! Good for you! 41 pounds! This time is for keeps! Keep up the good work and SO glad you didn't SLIME!!

Five days out==WOO-HOO! I'm in "ONE"derland! I dreaded this post op liquid phase so bad--but it has FLOWN by and I am actually LIKING my protein shakes! I CAN'T beleive I am saying that. MY scars look like NOTHING and are very minimal and little brown lines on my belly.

Yesterday I woke up and my throat was "scratchy"....and felt kindof sore when I swallowed. By last night 10pm my fever was going up and my tonsils were the size of golf balls and white. The back of my tongue looks like a red globe with white continents--patchy and there are little white bumps covering the whole back of my very red throat. It hurts SO bad to try to swallow. I'm going to the PCP for throat culture today.

I'm still on POTENT meds for pneumonia and everything else. Can't figure out HOW could I get Strep?! Also, it doesn't feel like THRUSH--I've gotten that before and I remember incessent itching and no fever.

I felt "sore" throat after being intubated that lasted about a day--then with some good hard candy--that went away....this CAN'T be from that??

Once I get well from all of these freak illnesses I'll be on mushies! ) Trying to stay positive!

I know!! Isn't it funny to be so excited about passing gas and Number 2 again!!! hahahaha...but I share the joy! It's the little things in life! You sound like you are recovering really well!! One day at a time, right? My DR won't allow me to do jello, someone got some stuck...so the rest of us patients are off-limits! )

YEAY!!!! You got in! So exciting--I go in tomorrow!