WOW! It is Nov 27, 2005 and my surgery is in the morning. I've done well following the "rules" and am actually down 29 pounds! I am looking forward to having this behind me. Thanks for all the support!
Nov 29th, had my band placed yesterday and was home by 3:30. Doing ice, water, broth and MEDS!!!!
Dec 1, 2005 had a bad night, gas pains, it felt like something was stuck, I knew cottage cheese was evil, would have felt better with cool whip!!! LOL JK! I called the Dr and they said to come into ER, so once there I had x rays, and an endoscope, and of course lots of IV fluids, so now I have to stay. Doggone it. And they couldn't give me anything for my acid reflux. Am I in a hospital? I stuggle with this never ending foam that just keep producing so finally I gave up on the water and ice and just asked for Demoral. Good Night!!!
Dec 2 I woke up and sipped some water, foam again. I just want to go home and take my prilosec!!! After 3 units of IV and eating ice chips I can go home, BUT if I start to throw again I have to return. Dang.
And the real kicker is, I do daycare, and everyone returns on Monday. My husband will be kept very busy that day-week!! Let him see what I go through!
pre op starting weight 313
day of surgery 287
4 days post 277.3
Okay, so back to the hospital again, so sick. Dec 2-5th on IV and steriods. My esphogous is so swollen, edema, that it is retaliating and not accepting anything. I just feel so robbed right now, I know this will pass but what a price to pay. My kids miss me, oh brother.
returned home 2/5
weight 273.2
12/6 first day back to work, feel great, a little tired, sticking to water and broth only. Nexium and reglin seem to be doing the trick. Alot of praying got me to this point. ALOT. This has been a very enlightning and emotional time. I pray that I am on the other side now and will have respect for this crazy band and what it can do.
12/10 went to the mall with Mike and the boys... Lunch, hmmm, some vegetable soup, I could only eat 1/4 cup and that was difficult. Taking it easy and putting myself back on CIB's. A little sore.
12/19 feeling good, up to cream of potato soup, and love the Unjury, great product. Had I ounce of beef today. I did well. This is the start of my 4th week post op and I am down to 266.
starting in a size 30/32 I am inbetween 26/28 and 22/24 and am just beside myself. I still have restriction on my own without a fill, although the surgeon wants to schedule on mid Jan. I'll decide if I need it as eating is still very controlled. 1/2-3/4 cup at a time does it.
12/23 Okay so I said I did daycare before, well I brought the kids to Burger King for lunch and some playtime. I am happy and sad to say I ate 4 chic tenders, shame on me they were sooo de-lish. This comes as a relief to me because I haven't been able to get past the mushies. The swelling must be gone. Still, the chicken and 2 spoons of chili and I was done. Not bad, and its been 3+ hours and I am not hungry. I thought I would never get here. I promise myself to slow down and take it easy, but I am so sick of egg drop soup! Oh yeah, the sad news... back on solids, up 3 lbs.
12/26/05
Okay, yesterday's Christmas dinner... 1+ oz prime rib and 2 oz sweet potatoe mashed, that was it, done. Later a small sliver of pumpkin roll. And dare I say, a cup of coffee? Then today, I cooked turkey, one tiny taste had me hurling. Back to creamed soup and shakes for a day or more, we'll see.
12/30 todays weight 264.2
1/3/2006 todays weight 262.2 I had a thoughtful Christmas, my clients gave me certifs for new clothes, and even a spa gift certif. Everyone is happy with me, and everywhere I go, the compliments, so nice, but make me feel a little uncomfortable. One of my close friends is overweight, but I was bigger than her, before, and now I know she is a little distraught over it. She is attempting to join Curves and diet again, she has a control thing and even though she has tried and failed before she will try hard again. I just wish she would come to a info meeting to check it out. Not that this has been an easy journey, but it has been a hopeful one. I want to see her happy and healthy.
On a happier note, I went shopping today. Just want to get a couple of pieces of clothes here and there as the sizes change, and I bought on sale, a great 50% off sale, a jacket and top in a size 1x, it is a little snug, just a little, but I am saving it for a planned getaway with my hubby in Feb, so hopefully it will be just right by then. I am anxious to get into the 250's and I hope it happens by next week, I am only 3 lbs away, come on Deb!!!
1/9/2-6 first fill 1cc, feel the restriction but feel good. Hopefully this will get me moving. I have to join Planet Fitness and start exercising!
1/11/2006 todays weight 261, oh lets keep going!!!!
1/17/06 The restriction from the fill last week has been off and on. Trying to cut back on liquid calories, they go down so easy. I have been anxious to get into the "50's", but doggone, the scale say 260.4 this morning! Eating light today, trying to establish some short term goals. I want to loose 10 more pounds before 2/11, my wedding anniversary, 'cause I bought an outfit a little snug hoping it would fit by then.
okay 1/22/06 and finally started dropping weight again. I had some trouble over the weekend with some solids and PBing so I am taking it easy today. Although I feel great, and shoveled the entire drive way 2X's, doggone it, I am fighting the urge to "eat" and am trying to stick to sipping today. Having my Unjury, crystal lite, and a coffee. I feel lighter, relieved. My small goal is to be down 8 more lbs by Valentines day. As a reward I bought myself some crosstrainers this weekend and intend on joining Planet Fitness this weekend coming. I have to start moving!!!
so a recap: 313/287/258/hopefully 165!
2/21/06 I guess I have been loosing on track, down 9 pounds since the last post, but half the month I spent reloosing the same 2 pounds. I am scheduled for a second fill 3/7, but I am still debating if I want/need it. I have days I can eat and days I am too tight, but water, I can guzzle w/o restriction. I added raw almonds to my eating yesterday. I have had haddock, chicken breast, lamb, beef has been hard. Still no salads, but for some reason I can eat cucumber, so I do. Adding more fruits and vegs as my Viactiv has seemed to bind me. I hate that. So...
313/249/165 I have lost 64 pounds so far.
3/13/06 I made some bad food choices over the weekend, I have restriction till about 3:00 in the afternoon, then just about anything is tolerated, except for breads and pasta... anyhow, that leads me to the movies and a bag of m&m's and a ice cream chaser, TWO DAYS IN A ROW!!! It has been an emotional weekend. I am dealing with a rebelious, wreckless teenage son that is making some seriously bad choices. With that being said, I am up 5 pounds.
3/16/06 Okay, finally, I had my second fill today, I took about 5 mins start to finish. I was surprised that I recvd 1cc. So now I have 2cc's in there. I feel the restriction already, kinda a lump in the throat. I had a broth, and later a CIB which took me and hour to finish. So, liquids for 2 days and work myself up from there. The Bariatric scale said I lost 65. Their scale and mine are different by a couple pounds. I thought I had lost 70 lbs, hopefully that will be true in a couple weeks. I really needed this fill because I was able to eat volumes of food, still made excellent food choices, but surely too much.
3/20/06 the 2 cc's have been too much, called Dr. Looser, he will see me tomorrow to remove some. I have had 2 0z of protien shake 2x's day and sips of water.
Back from Dr. Looser's, he remove .5cc, it amazes me that 1/8 of a teaspoon can make such a difference in the band. I was able to have some cream of potato soup, my first real meal since Wednesday. I feel so much better. so total in my band is 1.5cc.
3/23/06 weighing in at 237 and holding
3/26/06 weight still the same, had grilled steak today for the first time since surgery. I was a little afraid, but I took my time and felt great. Drinking more water today, I fell behind yesterday. I finally sent off my pic for this page so hopefully I will have a face soon. Tomorrow I speak at the informational meeting at Portsmouth Regional. I am honored, flattered, and chicken all at the same time. I have lost 29 pre op and 50 since banded.
4/4/06 I haven't lost a pound since my last fill. I definately need a tweak, maybe .25. I had some bread products over the weekend, and that put me up 4 lbs so I had to re-loose them. It has been another emotional weekend. Hanging on to God for dear life! Mike is preparing for his upcoming surgery and is doing very well with his eating, he is probably beyond his weight loss requirement, I am proud of him.
I am scheduled for a fill next week, hopefully I can make that appointment.
4/12/06 This has been quite a week, I dropped 5 lbs, finally. I was stuck at 237 and within 2 days it just dropped, yippee. Mike has lost 29 lbs pre op. He is scheduled for 4/24. I was surprised by a shopping spree... and size 18 pants fit, wow. Working with this band has been an amazing journey, 7 months ago I was 81 lbs heavier. I stand amazed.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful man I married for being so awesome. He has been very supportive through all my weight loss ups and downs. The best feeling is knowing that he is proud of me, I feel like a kid! God has truely blessed my life with him.
4/28/06 Okay, so Mike had his surgery 4 days ago, he is doing great! Handled the pain "like a dude" (as Frances said). My PCP office called, yes I was having low blood sugar episodes, 4 hours after breakfast my sugar was 89, which is low so I just need to carry juice in my purse for those low times. I changed my diet up also, sneaking more complex carbs in like a Kashi bar broken up over the day, dried apricots in mini bags, they are fantastic! Just to manage my sugar better. I am taking a trip to the health food store this weekend for some ideas. I would like to get my house off of so much Crystal lite and find a healthy alternative, that is my goal for this weekend. I am wearing size 18's now at 230 lbs, that amazes me!
5/14 It's MOTHER'S DAY, and I'm up early. We have had such heavy rains that the basement started to take water, so that will be a project for today. I jump on the scale this morn, just for the heck of it, and I am down to 225! I can't even believe it. And that was after a little (lot) of skinny cow indulgence! Mike is doing well, his port site still hurts a bit, but he is losing weight nicely, even w/o restriction yet, I think he may be down 45# now.
5/23/06 Down another pound to 224, this is the push I need over the next couple weeks to get down to 220. Thank God the rain stopped, the water receeded, and we can walk the track again. I am working on my legs so I'll be ready for vacation in August! Yikes. Keeping up with clothes that fit is wacky, new clothes that just fit are loose again, I buy a piece here and there, my next size will be 16, I can't believe it.
5/31/06 I'm recovering from the Memorial Day w/e. We ate out Friday, a great BBQ place for Hubby's Birthday. Fried pickles, sounds strange, but quite good. Of course I wouldn't habitually eat fried foods again, at least not till Sunday when Mike and I took a Sunday drive and stopped to share scallops and rings. Oh the guilt... but, we shared a small order, so some good came out of it. My ability to eat more has increased so my band must have loosened up, but my head hunger, it's out of control! I need a fill soon. It's been a while anyway. I was up 2 lbs this morning after all this. I was good with food today, but I feel like I could lose control if I let myself. Yikes, I hate feeling this way!
Today I have had 2 coffees
1 Kashi bar
1/4 cup tortellini salad
4 oz canned Turkey with light mayo
1 italian ice
it is now 2:00, I thinking about dinner
6/4/06 More solids, like grilled chicken, shrimp, zuccini, onion... = -2 lbs. Trying to gain some discipline to stay clear of liquid calories, like my coffee :o(. I am finally moving again on the scale.
OT, My son Greg is the best! He just is!
222 today!
6/13 Had my 3rd fill today, I am at 1.75cc's. I hope this is it for me, I have 45 lbs to go. Mike got his first fill of 4cc's and the poor guy feels nothing, he is still hungry. My weight is 220, I am anxious to see the scale really start moving, but I did lose 10 since my last visit *8 weeks ago!!!* and my Dr. and very satisfied with that loss. :oP
6/17 This last fill of .25 might have been too much. Still trying to figure this out, a couple more days and if it doesn't ease off a bit I'm calling Dr. Looser. 4 small bites of anything and I'm done. I added protein shakes back just to make sure my nutrition is up.
7/20/06 I made a trip to see Dr. Looser. My band was still too tight and nighttime reflux was unbearable. He removed just .1 so that puts me back to 1.5 cc's. I hope this adjustment restores my comfort. I wanted/did eat too much yesterday, my tummy is a little sore today so I will try to go easy.
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9/15/06 It been a while for an update, I had more fill taken out and a barium swallow revealed that I was still a little tight. I was able to eat a salad which is remarkable because I hadn't had one since before surgery!!! With that my weight is dropping again. yeah
10/4/06 well, last week was a rough one, started a new pain med for the fibro that cause so much swelling in my stoma, I was so sick vomiting. After seeing my surgeon, he give me another unfill. I was surprised when he said I still had 1.2cc in there. He took out .3, I wanted it all out, but he is an optomistic... he left me with some and told me to try the meds with mylanta... fearfully I did. I had felt so sick last week it was frightening. Anyhow, 2 days into Cymbalta and I feel okay with it, it is aggressive on the digestive tract, but that unfill allowed me to get that pill into my real stomach where it belongs. I have approached this with much Prayer and am thankful and greatful to God for making a way.
10/20/06 Last night was a rough one, I rolled over in my sleep and awoke to choking on some water I had drank 3 hours before. It can be discouraging at times, I am not sure what I am doing to cause the swelling of my stoma. I am going to have to profile my days to get some idea. My weight is still @ 202# Other than that I feel great!!!
10/21/06 what a great surprise, I weighed myself this morning and I am down 2 more pounds! I am 200.6, I can't believe it!
11/25/06 I am officially under 200# and it's been 3 days and holding, I came out of Thanksgiving with a loss, have no idea how that happened, I didn't eat the pecan rolls and butter and loads of desserts so that was my reward. I am 3 days away from my one year anniversary with my band. It has been an incredible journey. I have made some sensational friends and value their wisdom and humor! I REALLY LOVE YOU GIRLS!!!
1/10/2007 It's been some time since I updated. My brother passed away after a short illness, he was 53. I have been busy planning a memorial service for Peter by the request of my family. That is a miracle.
I started getting my band filled again, .25cc's puts me at 1cc total. Dr. Looser didn't want to give it, we are trying to see if I can reverse some of the reflux. I am hoping that tiny tweak will get me motivated to lose again. I have been stalled, actually gained 5 lbs from holiday treats, lots of chocolate, scones, goodies! Time to get back on track. Down a lb from yesterday already, yay!
1/25/07 It's been a while but a little update. I am still 197-196 lbs. I have very little restriction so I am looking forward to my next fill, I am really going to need it to motivate me to lose again, I have been very comfortable where I'm at now. This Saturday is my brother Peter's memorial,Jan 27. He passed away from lymphoma on Jan 7, 2007.
My size is a comfortable 16, not 16W, tops are 14's or XL.
OKAY so BIG HUGE updates... my band journey, although success in regards to WL, it hasn't been an easy one, and the reasons have always been mysterious... On 4/11/07 the discomfort from reflux became unbearable, I contacted my doctor who had me come to the hospital for a barium swallow, sure enough my band was slipped, so he scheduled me for emergency surgery and repaired and restiched my band in place, I spent the night, the pain from that surgery wasn't too bad and I was home the next day. I actually felt soooo great that I thought this is how healthy banded life is supposed to be like... I hadn't had solid food since 4/10, I was on water and protein shakes, but that was okay because my hunger level was way down. Then while in church on 4/16, I took a sip of water and dull pain began to radiate up my back. I went home and put myself to bed, the following day, Monday, was a holiday, we had a black out from the NorEaster of rain so I did not have work, not electricity, not heat, light... so at this point I couldn't get water down and stay down, so a call to Dr Loosers office had me back to the hospital through ER... the barium swallowed showed again another slip. This was absolutely not provoked and we were all stunned by it. So I had a little cry for myself, then off to surgery again for a complete removal of my band. I am currently recovering from that surgery, the pain and swelling was intense. It looks like I am carrying 6 lbs of fluid in my abdomin. I have done some extra crying, and know it's going to take some great planning to maintain what I have lost. I am trusting God that this will be for the best. As things were, I couldn't exsist with my band for very long unless something changed, and as it stood, my band was completely empty, however I was still aspirating in my sleep, everynight! My stomach has been gurgling and seems relieved. The hunger level is still real low and I am keeping out the small plates and going to try to remain active with the knowledge of portions and calories taken in.
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