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belld

LAP-BAND Patients

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Blog Entries posted by belld

  1. Post op Day 4

    · belld · 08/09/10 12:39 AM

    Last night was the first night that I have slept anywhere near flat. I am still on my back but it really felt good to be flat. My back has been hurting terribly. I drove 2 hours yesterday to get my new car. I was crazy but I love it. Bill wants me to fly to NC tomorrow to get our RV and drive home (2 days away by mileage, 3 days by RV time.) I am a little scared to fly. I have read some good experiences and some bad. I guess people who go to mexico and beyond, do it all of the time. I still have an empty band. That seems to be the kicker. Soooo I will try it I guess.
    I am still having large gas bubbles or at least that is wht I think they are. I had to get up and walk at 4 am. I can't burp. Why is that?
    I am still having abdominal pain at the port incision site and down my right side. The bruising is hideous. I can't say much for my surgeons plastic surgery skills.:thumbup:
    I read some entries about hair loss today. I seem to be losing a substantial amount. I can't get all of the protein in. Don't know if that is all of it or just plain ole stress.
    Hanging in there.:ohmy:

  2. Post Op Day 17

    · belld · 08/21/10 11:45 PM

    Ok so it has been awhile. I have had a few struggles over the last week with weight loss. I had been losing about a pound a day and for 4 days I lost nothing. I have been extremely gassy and had bouts of diarrhea and constipation. I went to my support group and the nurse and dietitcian sort of helped me figure some things out. I am now including 1 solid item a day in my diet. I have tried mashed potatoes, cream of chicken soup, scrambled eggs and today I tried tuna. I have tolerated all of them well. The tuna today made me kinda bloated. I think I will stay away from that a little longer. I still intend to continue my protein drinks. I really like the GNC Soy protein chocolate and in 16 ounces with skim milk I can get 70 g of protein. They are convenient and I am not hungry in the morning so I can take it with me to work. Anyway, bloating and gas are gone today and I was down 2 pounds from yesterday. School starts Monday and I am in a good place emotionally and nutritionally. I have dropped 26.5 pounds and I think most of my clothes will fit again. I will wait for awhile to buy new stuff. I barely got to wear the new stuff I bought in the spring before it was too small. I am excited for the future and prepared to do battle in the classroom. My knee works great now thanks to surgery in June and I have satisfied the arthritis dragon for another couple of months.:biggrin:

  3. Post op Day 6

    · belld · 08/12/10 03:06 PM

    I had my first post op appointment yesterday. I was a little annoyed at the doctor. First of all my doctor is a general surgeon who does bariatric surgery. It is a Blue Cross Center of Distinction which is the reason I had to go with him. 2nd, he has 2 "fellows" who study under him. I felt like I was on a moving sidewalk. One of the fellows came to get me in the waiting room. He weighed me and thought I was 3 weeks post op. The date was right there on my record. he didn't even read it. He looked at my incisions (for about 2 seconds) and asked me if I had any problems. I went through my list (he didn't write anything down) I told him I was very hungry and that the 1 ounce every 15 minutes would not work with my school schedule. We were interrupted by the other "fellow" who needed the scale so we moved to another room. I was left for the doctor. The doctor came, he didn't want to listen to my difficulties and really didn't give me time to talk about them. I told him I was hungry and that the 1 ounce every 15 minutes would not work when school starts. He seemed surprised that I was only drinking 1 ounce at a time. He said I should be drinking 2-3 ounces at a time. When I mentioned moving to some more sustainable foods,he accused me of "food negotiation" He said he wanted me on protein shakes as long as possible but if i was desperate, I could have some soft scrambled egg. He said come back in 1 month and he would consider a fill! A fill! I haven't even tried to eat food yet! GGggrrrrhhh. The entire conversation lasted 5 minutes.
    So I cannot count on any kind of food guidance from him. So I will have to make my own deciisons based on how I feel I guess. I was trying to follow his guidelines that he publishes in a nice booklet but it is obvious he doesn't even know what is written there.
    I can put in 2-3 ounces at a time without discomfort so I should be ok at school. At least I know that I can get in all the protein I need for the day.
    He is a great surgeon, no doubt, but he is not in touch with his bariatric patients.
    I mean he could have suggested that I stay in touch with the nutritionist or something. anything but slamming the record shut and saying well you can do some soft scrambled eggs if you want but don't get anything stuck. Eeerrrgggghhhhh:mad:

  4. Post op day two

    · belld · 08/07/10 01:00 AM

    I finally slept last night after taking an ambien. Of course I agonized over whether I could take it or not. I finally did and slept till 10 this morning without waking up.
    Drinking every 15 minutes has become a pain. I have been a little hungry today. i am still experimenting with the protein intake. I have to maximize the protein while minimizing the disgusting taste of the soy protein.
    I went out today with my hubby. I had to get fitted with a knee brace from my June knee surgery.
    I had a dilemma and somewhat of an anxiety attack last night due to a medication I thought I could not break apart. I finally called my family doc today and he said not to worry about it to go ahead and cut it up. Ok so I feel better now.
    I think every day will get better. I have not taken the vicodin today. I did take some liquid advil which helped a lot. I went ahead and got some tabs to break up. A whole ounce of childrens advil is gross.
    I am soooo thirsty.

  5. Post op Day 1

    · belld · 08/05/10 06:21 PM

    Everything went smoothly yesterday. The people at the outpatient surgery at Northwest Medical Center in Houston were great. The anesthetist Alan was cute and funny. They took great care of me. Last night was restless. I couldn't burp with my cpap on so every once in a while I would have to get up and take off the mask and walk around. I have made use of the pain meds. the pain has not been overbearing but it is hard to cough and I need to cough. I haven't been hungry at all but I have been drinking anyway.
    My husband waited on me hand and foot yesterday but has made me get up and move around today and do for myself. He is so wonderfully supportive but always has my best interests at heart so he makes me do things he knows are better for me.
    I am on my way!:tt2:

  6. Day 9 Pre op

    · belld · 07/29/10 11:51 PM

    We went for a drive over to Gatlinburg today. I took my new mixing container with the whisk ball in it. Wonderful device, the protein mixed great. I think the protein drinks after surgery will be easier to transport.
    I haven't lost any weight in the last 3 days. I guess my body has decided that it is in starvation mode. I am very tired. The trip today was exhausting. I don't know if it is the diet or the fact that I am now 1 week past my time for remicade. I had been feeling pretty good but I knew it would hit me sooner or later.
    I am only taking in about 700 calories depending on how many popsicles and jellos and broth I consume. They are all about 10 calories a serving. I need something to chew.
    5 days and a wake up.

  7. Day 6 Pre op diet

    · belld · 07/27/10 12:16 AM

    Ok. I have had enough. I called the doctor. He says he has never had a patient that had a whey protein allergy. I am faced with switching to a soy protein which the girl at GNC says is grainier and she doesn't like it because of that. She refused to grade it on taste. SO...if I can't deal with that for 4 more weeks do I cancel my surgery? He is so particular about the liquid part and the fact that it had to be high protein so my hair won't fall out. I get no other options from him. I took a break today just to get my digestive system back in order. Now towards the end of the day I am starting to feel better. I have to taste the soy tomorrow. I won't get back to town until two days before my surgery but I think I will get an appointment to talk with him at length about my options after surgery. Tell me this is the most miserable part. Tell me I will not regret this. Today is the first time since I made the decision to have the lapband that I have doubted my resolve. The scale says I have lost no more weight but then I am so bloated with gas that who knows. :smile2:
    It is so beautiful and peaceful in the NC mountains. I don't want to go back to Texas. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Texas and I don't think I could ever leave permanently. but to be away from the heat for at least part of the summer is the best.:thumbup:

  8. 4th day Preop diet

    · belld · 07/25/10 12:55 AM

    I am thinking that something is really wrong about the protein drink. Every time I drink it I get really nauseated and woozy and I get a headache. I did some research and thought that it might be lactose intolerance or a whey protein allergy. I purchased some lactase and some gasX and this evening I took the lactase before I drank the drink and then took a gasX. About 10 minutes after I finsihed drinking, I was extremely nauseous and felt terrible. I sat really still and did a lot of deep breathing and it settled down after about 20 minutes. I walked around a little and belched several times and I feel MUCH better except for a burning stomach. I took a TUMS and I think that worked. If I am allergic to Whey protein what will I do? I know there are veggie type protein drinks out there but they don't have as many grams of proteins and I dread the taste. I am calling the doc first thing on Monday. Hopefully I can get some alternatives. But what to do tomorrow...I don't know if I can drink the protein drink knowing what will come after.
    I knew going into this that food choices might be a problem. I like what I like and if I don't like it my throat won't swallow it. If it happens to get by, I generally throw it right back up. :cursing:
    I had quite an episode of diarrhea this morning. I got some benefiber even though it has a few carbs in it but I think the diarrhea:blushing: is also a symptom of my intolerance of the drink.
    I lost another 2 pounds though. :mad: I might just be back to my pre summer weight by the time the REAL weight loss starts.
    Hanging in there.

  9. Day 3 Preop Diet

    · belld · 07/23/10 11:22 PM

    Today started well. I increased my shakes to 3. I still feel listless and I have a headache. I tried cleaning some of my house today....I made it through the bathrooms and had to quit. I went for a ride with my husband to try to take my mind off my stomach and my head. I just didn't feel well. I had cold sweats off and on. Bless my husband . He is trying so hard to make this process easier. He even let me go to Harrah's and lose some money...which I did.
    All in all the day was slightly better. There was not as much nausea. Another problem I have to solve is my medication. If I don't take this med every day I have terrible withdrawal but if I take it without food, the side effects are worse. I am afraid I had to take some drastic :mad:(although not too damaging) measures to get it done. We shall see. I lost 1 pound.

  10. Day 2 Preop diet

    · belld · 07/23/10 12:11 AM

    I got on the scale this morning and I had lost 6 pounds. I guess that was fluid as I was in the bathroom every 15 minutes yesterday.
    I woke up this morning feeling pretty good. I drank my shake and then I took my medicine which includes a calcium pill a blood pressure pill and an antidepressant. 15 minutes later i was so nauseated I couldn't move. I stayed nauseated the rest of the day. I had trouble drinking anything and so I didn't get as much water as I needed.
    I haven't had a lot of energy. My husband and I went to the store and walked around. I was even more nauseated and lightheaded.
    Will this pass? I hope so. It will take every bit of strength to do this for the next 5 weeks.

  11. Day One Pre-Op

    · belld · 07/22/10 02:02 AM

    The day started off slowly. The protein drink is gross but I think I have a handle on it now. I tried the other isopure drinks and they are gross as well. I spent the morning nauseated and with a huge headache but it eased off later in the day. It is the end of the day and I just had some broth. I think I will go to bed so I don't dwell on what else I want to eat.
    It is funny how your brain works. Every once in a while I would think about some food that I will never be able to have again. I hope that passes. Food can't be my friend anymore. It has been for 54 years. I got on the scale and I have gained 10 pounds since I got to NC for the summer. Wow 10 MORE pounds to lose. I thought I was just eating all the things I won't be able to have. I didn't think of it as even more weight to lose.

  13. Day 11 Preop

    · belld · 08/01/10 12:18 AM

    Wow the anticipation gets more intense. We are headed back to Houston tomorrow and then Wednesday....
    I finally broke the backlog and the scale showed 3 pounds down. That is a total of 14.. The sad part is, I am really only a few pounds down from where I started at the beginning of the summer. Why did I eat so much?:closedeyes:
    Well, 14 pounds in 11 days is nothing to sneeze at. I know I am just getting a jump on the post op weight loss. Right now, I just want all of my 1X clothes to fit again when I go back to school.

  14. Day 8 Preop Diet

    · belld · 07/29/10 01:02 AM

    The day went well. I was down half a pound on the scale but I know that if I can do what I need to do, it will be lower. I have added some benefiber to maybe help the process along. Drinking has become somewhat easier. Maybe I am finally in a groove. I am still wondering what to do when I can't put more than 4 ounces in at one time. Oh well. I guess I will figure it out.
    Counting down the time I have to go back to Houston. 6 more days till surgery.

  15. Day 7 preop diet

    · belld · 07/27/10 11:35 PM

    Well, the soy protein was pretty good except for the 4th time I had to drink it. I nearly threw it back up. I have to hold my nose and drink it. Something will have to give post surgery. I can't do this for 3 more weeks. My stomach is still pretty sensitive though so maybe it will get better. No it won't. This is hell so post surgery will seem like a dream.
    I have a more positive attitude today. :rolleyes:I am feeling tons better. I got some school work done and I visited my sister in law whom I love dearly.
    My only problem now is constipation. Maybe the soy will do the trick. who knows. My intestines are gurgly but the urge just ain't there. The scales won't show any weight loss though till something happens.
    So I am back on track for the moment. We will see what tomorrow brings. Back to Houston on Saturday I guess. Back to the searing heat....uuuurrrggghhhh:frown:

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