minpinmom

I had my 1 week follow-up yesterday - got to love a 5PM appointment downtown. Took me 2+ hours to get home (normally a 55 min drive). But the appointment went awesome!

Dr. Spiegel came in, took the steri-strips off and said my incisions look great! (I was afraid the strips would hurt when they removed them - but they didn't) The incisions are soooo small - I can't imagine him getting any tools in there.

I had only lost 4lbs, he said he had expected me to loose more on the clear liquids. I told him I was only getting about 500 Calories a day, he said that was why I wasn't loosing. :-) I was supposed to start the Thicker liquids stage yesterday, but he moved me up to the mushy stage! I was so happy I wanted to kiss him.

When we got home last night, I made baked Tilapia 3 whole ounces and 1 bite of mashed potatoes. I ate my fish first (took like 20 minutes) and was no longer hungry. I am totally amazed. I know it will go away and I will soon be able to eat more, but I just can't believe it actually works. Wow.

This morning I got up, ate Cream of Wheat (Oh My GOD was it good). For lunch I had part of a dry baked potato with some low-fat Broccoli and Cheese Soup I made for my thick liquid stage. I didn't even eat 1/2 of my potato - normally I would have eaten all of that, part of a sandwich and chips and coke and cookies.

Oh, and overnight - don't ask me how, I lost 2 more lbs. I am down 6 pounds! I just can't believe it.

It is odd though, I keep fixing my plate thinking, yea right, like that will fill me up, and there is ALWAYS lots of food left.

I have to admit, the hardest part is NOT drinking during or after. I feel parched. I am not much of a soda drinker, so that won't affect me much, but I am so used to drinking with my food. I had to take my drink and put it in the fridge so I wouldn't grab it by mistake!

I have obsessed so much about Lap Band, I rarely discuss other things that are going on in my life. Something that I have done recently and I am very proud of, I took my course and qualified for a Concealed Handgun License.

I have always been a crack shot, my Dad was Military and now a Gun Smith. My family are all avid hunters. I believe I am the last of my family to get their CHL.

Last Saturday, I sat through an 11 hour class to complete my training. I also qualified with my .32 auto and, if I may brag a little, I scored a perfect 250! Out of 50 shots, ranging from 3 yards, 7 yards and 15 yards, I shot perfect every time. (I told yall I was a crack shot!)

I sent in my paperwork a couple days after surgery. Now I have to undergo the 60 day FBI background investigation. Shouldn't be a problem, I have worked for the Government and held a Secret Clearance - this is about the same as getting clearance for my CHL.

Well, needless to say I am very excited. No longer will I worry about walking to my car at Wal-Mart, or when I have to travel alone. Thank you Texas for recognizing my right to bare arms!

Our theme for Training Day:

"The individual who owns his own personal firearms, and commands the skills necessary to use them well, owns a peace of mind that his adversaries cannot match"

- Jeff Cooper

I can't believe I am sitting here, writing about my surgery. It has been such a long trying road and I have finally found my path.

On Tuesday, February 19th, I showed up at University General at 5:30 AM. They have free valet parking and the people are so freakin nice. They took us up to a waiting room with our loved ones. About 5 minutes later, they took us to the back to the pre-op area. We each had our own nurse and area.

We were given a gown, cap and sticky slippers to change into. Hopped on the bed and my bed started getting nervous. I wasn't too nervous about the surgery - mostly the IV. I know that sounds silly, but I have an abnormal fear of needles. Well, the IV went in fine, they hooked me up and brought back my honey.

I was second to go in for surgery, so I had to wait a while. At about 8:15, they came to get me, I kissed hubby and they rolled me back. I got to see the operating room and then went into lalaland.

I woke up and remember hearing the anesthesiologist telling me not to rub my eyes. My throat hurt like hell and come to find out that was because of all the scar tissue from previous surgeries in my throat, it got all torn up from the breathing tube.

They asked me how the pain was and all I said was please don't let me throw up. They gave me another dose of nausea meds and then I guess they gave me some pain meds in my IV, not for sure. Soon after they took me up to my room where my hubby was waiting. I felt pretty good, started chewing on ice and using Chloraseptic tabs for my throat.

I was up and walking with an hour of getting in my room. About 2 hours later, they took me down for a CT scan. They made me drink this horrible concoction and then lay down on the CT table (that hurt, I am not gonna lie). The CT scan took maybe 3 minutes, the guy was awesome, got me up WITHOUT any pain. Then wheeled me back to my room.

They brought in a lovely lunch of broth, water and jello. I sipped on a few things. I had no hunger at all. I didn't take any pain meds until late that night. I had made probably 40 rounds of the hospital walking constantly, and I had begun coughing (which hurt like hell), so that I could sleep they gave me some pain meds and let me tell you - wow, I couldn't tell you my name at that point. I slept until about 4 that morning, then woke up and started walking. They let me take a shower around 7AM and released me around 9.

All in all, it was uneventful (thankfully). The staff was awesome and I am so glad that it is over.

I am officially a Bandster!

This has all gone so fast, I didn't want to skip or forget anything that happens - so here I am at 8:00 in the morning, the day before surgery, recounting the events of the prior days.

My Pre-Op appointment was on Friday of last week. I found out about it 2 days ahead of times and was so excited. Don't get me wrong, I HATE needles and knew there would be blood work, but I didn't even care.

I had to be at Dr. Spiegel's office at 9:30. We arrived and were the only people in the waiting room (my hubs and I). One of the staff members called me back, took my weight, and we sat down at the table to fill out paperwork. I was given a small book/pamphlet with all of the instructions, dos and don'ts, what to eat, what I can take, everything. I signed the paperwork I think there were like 10 pages (I didn't really read it, I just initialed and signed :-) They gave me 2 prescriptions to be filled one for pain and one for nausea. Then they gave me a pre-printed map to the hospital.

No copay or anything like that. We arrived at the Hospital, about 15 minutes from his office. University General Hospital. Wow. Talk about posh. Free Valet parking at the front, they met us at the door to check us in. Everyone was so incredibly nice. The hospital is privately owned by the Dr.s who work there - and they do wls, plastics & some ortho, so they cater to the wealthy. The rooms are all private, huge, wireless internet, 42" flat screens in every room, it is so nice, I may want to stay a few extra days.

They immediately took me to an office for pre-admissions. Then walked us to the waiting area for the testing. They had HUGE tables of fruits and treats and drinks and anything you could think of in the waiting room. (Hubby liked that)

They had me fill out a paper on history and took me into a room to do the tests. They drew my blood, did some heart test, asked me like 1000 medical questions (not exaggerating) and then walked me down the the xray department.

They took the xrays and then walked me to the front entrance and said have a great weekend. All in all the entire thing took about 2.5 hours.

I was very impressed, and more excited than ever. Tomorrow is the day!

Well, one day down. Tomorrow is my pre-op. I will be spending most of the day down-town (Houston) having blood drawn (yuck) and all the testing. I am actually excited. I promised my husband, I won't even cry when they bring out the needle. (I am notorious for crying and passing out).

I spent most of the day dreaming about Tuesday and the days that follow. I can't wait. I stopped by Wal-Mart, grabbed more water, protein water, broth and jello. Yumm

My hubs wrote me the most beautiful Valentine's Day Love Letter. I cried like a baby. We were watching Dr. Phil earlier in the month, and it was over V-Day and love letters. He said he was inspired and wanted to do something to show me how much he loved me. It was awesome. Then he took me to lunch at Chili's (I had requested Chicken Crispers as my last supper).

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day.

Thank you! I am so excited, I thought it would be a month out, she asked me how soon I wanted to have it, I said yesterday, she said how about this Tuesday! I flipped, uhm, of course! Keep me informed about your surgery, the dates will be close - we can be band buddies!

I can't believe it, the Dr.s office called, and said they had been double checking my stuff because they said it is paid at 100%, and most people have a co-pay, deductible or something, but they checked and it is correct. I have a pre-op appointment this Friday, she mentioned a barrage of tests. I am only worried about the blood test. I am anemic, and occasionally the Dr.s get concerned and put me on iron pills, so I am starting the iron pills tonight as a preventive measure

My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, this Tuesday, like in less than a week Tuesday. Gulp, I am a bit freaked out, I feel like puking and crying and laughing and eating all at the same time!

I will learn more at my appt on Friday and I hope I have time to post everything I go through, if I don't, I will post afterwards. Tomorrow I am taking everyones advice and cleaning house. I don't want me or my hubs to have to worry about it while I am out. I have a 10 hour day on Saturday, I am taking my CHL (Concealed Handgun License) test. So that day is smashed. Sunday we are supposed to be meeting my best friend and her hubby and baby for our annual v-day dinner, but I am wondering if I am going to be so busy trying to get ready that I may need to cancel.

I still have a few odds and ends to pick up at the grocery store prior to - not have to haves, just want to haves. I may go do that tomorrow night.

I can't believe this. I knew it was coming, but I didn't account for the feelings that would hit me like mac truck. I can't wait to be on the other side of this journey.