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Goals

Be an active outdoors person

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1 Person
 achieved this

Get approved by my insurance for surgery on April 2

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1 Person
 achieved this

Not be anxious about new situations

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Member Interests

Braven05's Journey

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Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
Basically a roller coaster. Up down, up down, up down. It was physically and mentally unhealthy. I knew that I wanted to lose the weight, I just didn't know how to get there. I thought WLS was taking the easy way out--until I looked into in properly.
Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by vikkihayward on 4/2/08 2:19 pm
    I got a text from Damara that she is officially banded and doing well. Not in too much pain and she has been walking. They are going to let her eat some jello for dinner - lucky girl! Way to go Girl! Now it is my turn tomorrow
  • Comment by vikkihayward on 4/1/08 6:53 am
    Good luck tomorrow girl. I will be thinking about you. I feel like we are in line for a really cool rollercoaster. You get all excited in line but your stomach squirms. You get on you feel ok, you start the climb and you think why did I do this, there is fear and excitement then as the coster goes down you feel great! then up to the next fear filled climb.....Just remember when the ride comes to an end (goal), you feel great and you feel as though you accomplished something. I am proud of you for taking the first step, and I am honored to follow along behind you.
Click here for the surgery support page

Action is the moment you make the changes that will make a difference


**ticker above includes 17 lb loss from pre-op diet**
j
342/325/237/150
Consult/Surgery/Current/Goal (to be considered "normal")
1st fill 6/08 - 1cc, 2nd fill 7/08 - 2 cc, 3rd fill 9/08 - 1 cc, 4th fill 1/09 - 1 cc, 2 unfill 3/09 -.5 cc, 5/25 -.5cc Total - 4 cc in my 10cc band

Braven05's Blog
Braven05's Blog


WOW
on October 14, 2011 7:53 am
So much has happened since I last posted on here.  Definitely way way way off track and hoping to start fresh at a new doctor's office and start losing again.  I gained a BUNCH of weight back, found out I was expecting in December of 2010 and had my baby girl Avery 7 weeks ago today!  I am transferring my care from 2 hours away to right here in town so I don't have to go so far and am truly hoping this will help get me back on track.  When I got pregnant I was about 296 lbs, when I gave birth I was 300 lbs (did help not gain weight through pregnancy!) and after I gave birth I was down to 275 lbs...I'd like to keep going down.  Anyways, just thought I'd throw a quick update up here!
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Blah
on January 13, 2010 8:45 am
Haven't been on OH in months...maybe have lost my way a little....okay a lot.  Haven't been to a support group either.  Feel ashamed that I'm failing right now and want so badly to get back on track and I know that defeats the purpose of support groups but those people looked up to me cuz I had done so well and I've gained weight since my unfill and I hate myself for it.

Went in to get a fill yesterday.  Moved me from 3 cc to 4.5 cc...am hoping to have some restriction back because it will make it easier to make good choices.  Need to find my motivation to get back into the gym and get back where I was mentally when I started all this.  How have I strayed so far?
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Lost, angry, scared...
on October 30, 2009 11:19 am
Its been a few weeks since I had my band emptied because of a stretched stomach.  This was supposed to shrink my stomach back into place and hopefully allow me to begin getting fills again.

I don't think its working.

My stomach throbs sometimes which tells me that things aren't right inside.  Either my stomach isn't shrinking or my band is still slipped. 

I'm so scared that I'm going to lose my band and gain all my weight back.  I just want everything back to the way it was before things went wrong.  I'm trying to do liquids for a few days to see if this will help with the pain and maybe the shrinking process...but its hard...I'm starving.  Last time I had nothing in my band I was all swollen from surgery still so I wasn't this hungry.

I go back to see the doctor on November 10th...I just know its going to be bad news.  I just wish I knew why this had to happen after 18 months...I was doing so well and feeling so good about myself and my progress. Blah.  This really sucks.
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Stretched stomach and possible band slip...
on October 7, 2009 11:56 am
I went to see my PA yesterday and it was a lesson in listening to what my body is saying to me.  I knew there was something wrong.  Not being able to eat much for the past month and really abd heartburn daily.  I went in there and had lost 12 lbs and she was so happy and she said, you don't look very happy today and I said thats because I think somethings wrong and she said, noo there's nothing wrong...then she looked at my band under flouro...and her face fell.

We could see a bubble, which was my stomach and my band in the wrong position.  She said it could just be in the wrong position because my stretched stomach is pushing it down.  She completely unfilled me and we're waiting 4-6 weeks to see if it corrects itself.  I am so scared that I'm going to gain weight and scared that its not going to fix itself.  18 months and I'm only halfway there...I'm not ready for this to be over.
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Unfill...
on May 27, 2009 11:05 am
So after my last visit with the PA where we decided I didn't need a fill and scheduled an appointment for June 16th, I decided that I actually was probably still too tight...so I called and they squeezed me in yesterday for an unfill.  I was going to ask her to take out .25cc which would take me just .25cc above where I was before I got my last fill.  BUT as I know all too well, things don't always go as planned.

She took a picture at my current level as I swallowed barium and marveled at how slow it went through, then decided to take .5cc out instead of .25cc, which has brought me back to my previous level prior to my fill.  As she did this she assured me that she knew of people who'd had the exact same thing happen and they didn't go back to the prior restriction level, but kept some of the restriction they'd had.  I've also heard of this happening to people...so I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that I still keep some restriction and maybe in 8 weeks I'll need a little tweak.  I just want to get losing again.  On a positive note - I didn't experience any heartburn when I layed down to go to sleep last night...first time in weeks!
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My Story

Hi, my name is Damara and I'm in the process of being approved for surgery.  A friend of mine that I met in April of last year is beginning the process as well and he planted the seed in my head, if you will.  I never thought of WLS as an option for me, even though I've been morbidly obese for the majority of my life.  Right now I weigh around 340 lbs and am 5'-3" tall.  I've always been active and ambitious but weight is something that I've struggled with my entire life.  It kills me because I've tried so hard to achieve success in my life despite difficult beginnings and this is one thing I have never been able to control.  Two years ago I quit smoking cold turkey, one of the harder things I've ever had to do.  And yet I put my mind to it, made a decision, and did it.  It baffles me how that was so easy, something I was physically addicted to..and yet I'm still defeated by my eating.  A year and a half ago I made a decision once and for all (haha) to do something about my weight.  I began exercising everyday, eating right, and changed so many things about what I was doing.  I had gained about 15 lbs when I quit smoking and I lost that, plus another 25 lbs.  I kept most of it off for a long time, but I have since gained most of it back.  I've been on a long, crazy, annoying rollercoaster for some time now.  It's physically and mentally exhausting.  I just need help.  And I know WLS is what I need to help me get where I need to be.  I've dreamt my entire life of being thin, fit, and normal.  I will get there.

On 5/8/07 I called the Bariatric Center at Highland Hospital and signed up for the informational seminar.  It's scheduled for August 30.  Kind of sad I have to wait that long, just for the informational seminar, but it will give me plenty of time to do my research and decide if this is something I really want.

On 4/2/08 I was banded at Highland Hospital.  Exactly one year ago today was when I called to make my appointment, weird!  So much has happened in that year.  I've started my life long journey as a bandster and so far I haven't had one regret about my decision to do this.  At 5 weeks out I am down 27lbs and 44lbs since 12/07...not too shabby if you ask me!

As of 9/10/08 I am 5 months post op.  My how time flies when you're having fun!  I am down a grand total of 70 lbs and 53 lbs since surgery.  As you can see above I've challenged myself to lose another 12 in the next month and a half.

11/2/08 - 7 months post op.  Down a total of 60 lbs since surgery and 77 lbs overall since December.  Still waiting on my "sweet spot" but remaining positive that I will get there soon!

Yummy Band Friendly Recipes

Crustless Spinach Quiche
(this makes a very small individual amount, double it if you're serving to others)

1/2 package of cream of spinach 
Chopped frozen onion (1/4 cup or less)
1/4-1/2 cup cream of potato soup (I had some homeade soup hanging around made with potato boiled in chicken bouillion, salt/pepper, 1/4 cup 1% milk, and tsp butter)
Pinch/shake onion powder and garlic
2 eggs beaten
Salt/Pepper to taste
1 Tbsp flour
Mix all of the above ingredients together and sprinkle with parmesan cheese
Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or so


Taco-Potato Casserole
1 lb of ground turkey (or lean ground beef)
1 packet taco seasoning
1 large potato
3-4 oz lowfat shredded cheddar or mexican cheese
2 tablespoons light sour cream
1/4 cup lowfat milk
1/4 cup frozen or fresh diced peppers and onions
Salt/Pepper/Garlic to taste

Preheat oven to 375.  Peel and dice potato and boil for approx. 10 minutes.  Brown turkey, add peppers and onions, cook until completely browned.  Add taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water, salt, pepper, garlic, simmer.  Drain potatoes.  Add sour cream, cheese, milk, and potatoes to meat mixture.  Mix well, add to a baking dish coated with cooking spray.  Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and potatoes are completely soft.

Crustless Pizza Quiche
**exact technique still in progress**
5 eggs
3 oz lowfat shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1/4 cup frozen or fresh diced peppers and onions
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1/4 cup pepperoni slices cut into 1/4's
Salt/Pepper/Garlic to taste
1 tbsp butter, melted
Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray glass pie dish with cooking spray, set aside.  Combine ricotta, 1/2 the mozzarella, spices and mix well.  Add eggs, melted butter, and 1/2 the pepperoni, mix well.  Layer baking dish with sauce, then the remaining 1/2 of the pepperoni, then remaining 1/2 of mozzarella.  Pour egg mixture over the top.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  Bake for 30-35 minutes or until top and sides are brown. 

Crustless Taco Quiche
1 lb ground turkey (or lean ground beef)
5 eggs, beaten
1 tbsp butter, melted
3 oz lowfat cheddar or mexican cheese
1 packet taco seasoning
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup diced fresh or frozen onions
1/4 cup light sour cream
Salt/Pepper/Garlic to taste

Preheat oven o 350.  Spray glass pie dish with cooking spray.  Brown ground turkey with onions.  Add water and taco seasoning, simmer.  Add sour cream and mix well.  Combine eggs, spices, butter, and cheese, mix well.  Mix taco meat in with egg mixture.  Pour into pie dish.  Bake 30-35 minutes or until brown on top and sides.