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427 People in progress, 450 People achieved this |
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Member Interests
- Crafts - Haven't really done in years, but used to sew and do counted cross-stitch
- Family & Friends - Love getting together and having fun, fun, fun!
- Dogs - Mata Hari is a 12 year old Aussie and Cooper is a 7 month old Mini LH Dachshund
- Gambling - Casinos are my thing!!
- Movies - Love going to the theater and drive-in
- Music - Love just about all types - - except metal and really weird stuff
- Hiking - Can't really do much right now - - looking forward to getting back in the groove
- WLS in your 30's - Well - I'm 39, so that still qualifies. Right?
- Reading - I read one or more books every month
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Well . . . since I didn't cut and paste my journal from the earlier format, I'm doing this part over. My name is Sonja and I live in Surprise, Arizona (just northwest of Phoenix). I've been an OH Member since May of 2006, but have been researching and considering surgery since around 2001. Like many, many others, I have struggled with my weight for most of my life, but didn't really notice it or let it affect me until I was in my 20s. Now I'm 40 and I really don't want to live the rest of my life like this. I have been married for 22 years and have 2 boys - ages 17 and 10. My husband has no complaints about the way I look at 275 pounds, but worries about the fact that I have diabetes and other co-morbidities that affect my daily life. My oldest son shows signs of continuing my legacy of obesity and it scares me. He's 6' tall and weighs about 240. He says his weight doesn't bother him and I try to explain the problems he can have as he gets older, but he's too young to see it. My younger son is more like his father - lean and energetic. I'm seeking to have this surgery because I want to look and feel better. But mostly I just want to be here for my boys and to set a better example for them. I'm really looking forward to my life after surgery!
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7 months out and things I have learned on March 4, 2008 9:22 am
I am a few days shy of my 7 month bandiversary and, upon reflection this morning, realized how much my life has changed. Here are few things I have learned and/or changed in the last 7 months:
I make better choices and eat healthier foods
I still crave breads/carbs, but limit them by choice
I don't snack on junk food
I don't eat "fast food" in my car - or otherwise
I take a multivitamin and calcium daily
I take all my meds as prescribed
I don't eat until I'm full -- just until I'm satisfied
I exercise 4 - 5 times a week or more
I feel better about the person I am
I stopped having 500 calorie Starbucks coffees every day
I only have 1 soda (or none) a day instead of 5 or 6
I drink tons more water than I used to
Sweets are now an occasional treat, not a staple
All of these are things that I could have -- rather should have -- been able to do without the band, but didn't. My band ("Barbie") has made it possible for me to FINALLY commit to making healthy changes in my life. This is truly so much more than I expected. I knew it would "force" me to eat a certain way (less food, type of food, etc.), but I'm pleasantly surprised at how it has helped me be healthier, both in action and in thought. So, thank you Barbie. Thank you Dr. Simpson!! And thank you all for your support and love. This journey is not always easy or fun, but it has changed my life forever!!
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3 Months Out on November 7, 2007 1:04 pm
Three months out and I'm down 27 pounds since surgery, which is really frustrating since the first 20 was lost in the first 5 days after surgery due to constant vomiting and a slip. I keep playing with the same 3 pounds over the last 3 weeks. I had a check up with my doc 2 weeks ago -- begging for a fill and he wouldn't give me one. I confessed that I had been drinking with my meals and he said that was probably why I was always hungry. He also said he was a little scared to give me a fill given the problems I had right after surgery. But, I have to admit the doc was right. I have not been drinking with meals since I saw him and I haven't really been hungry at all and am still eating pretty small amounts. The only problem is I'm still not losing. I hadn't been exercising really much either, so this week I started doing the treadmill and some abs and arm exercises. We'll see in a week if that helps. I also had a PB episode on Monday and sliming and vomiting yesterday after dinner. So today I'm on liquids -- sucks! I see the doc again next Thursday and hope he will give me a fill - even a small one. I only have 1 cc in my 10 cc band so far and seem to actually have some restriction most of the time. All in all, I'm still very happy with my band. I'm just a very results-oriented person and I'm easily discouraged when I don't see results. In a perfect world I will be down another 20 pounds with good restriction by the end of the year.
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My first time on September 24, 2007 10:22 pm
I had my first fill last Thursday and have been doing pretty good, but tonight I had my first true experience of being stuck. Before tonight I thought I had been stuck before -- I was VERY wrong! Those were obviously just slow moving food in my band that cleared within 5 minutes and never included PBing or sliming. Tonight it lasted over 40 minutes with pain, sliming, PBing once or twice, major wretching and then vomiting. I really didn't want to vomit, not after the band slip I had right after surgery. I couldn't have stopped it from happening if I had wanted to. I felt much better after it was all over, but am still a little scared. I had a cup of hot tea about an hour later and 3 oz. of soup another 2 hours later. All of it stayed down - thank God! I think I'll be ok, but I'm sticking to liquids for the next day or two.
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3 Weeks Post Op on September 1, 2007 7:06 pm
Well, I've survived so far. The first 2 weeks were really tough though. My surgery was 8/8/07. I went home that same day but started vomiting the next afternoon and didn't stop. The next day I saw my doc and he pulled out 2.5cc from my band. He said I was pretty much closed - thus the vomiting. Unfortunately, every time I drank about 15 minutes later I had severe pain and pressure in my stomach and back and ended up throwing up every thing I took in. This continued until Monday, 8/13 when my doc put me in the hospital. I was severely dehydrated. They had me on i.v. fluids and meds and I could only drink water and tea for 4 days. I still vomited everything I took in. My doc then did an x-ray with contrast and found that I had a slip -- most likely caused in the first 2 days due to vomiting. The vomiting continued because of the slip. He did anohter surgery the next day to fix the slip. I went home the same day and haven't had any problems since. It was pure hell, but I guess now that I've gone through the worst everything from here on should be a breeze - right?? I'm on mushies right now transitioning into soft/normal foods as I can. It's going pretty good so far. I've felt stuck from time to time, but no PB or vomiting. Right now I have no restriction and am hungry a lot. My next dr. appt. (and hopefully fill) is 9/24. I can't wait. I'm down 23 pounds since surgery, most of which happened the first week due to not keeping anything down. Hopefully a fill will give me some restriction again.
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5 days and counting on August 4, 2007 3:00 pm
I'm all set. Wednesday at 1:30 is my surgery. I've had my last pre-op appointment and bloodwork done, and have done all my post-op shopping. DH offered to cook my "last supper", no matter what I want. His brother and wife are coming to dinner tomorrow and we're having our traditional holiday dinner -- turkey, potatoes, yams, green been casserole, stuffing and cranberry sauce. No worries, I won't overdo it. I've actually been having "last" meals off and on for the past 2 weeks. It's good to get it out of my system. I've been increasing my water intake and cutting back at breakfast and lunch by having protein shakes, yogurt drinks and jello to try to ge used to the liquids. I plan on going back to work the following Monday, unless I'm not feeling up to it.
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