ObesityHelp

hi.  i'm lucy and i just had my banding done on monday, 3/26/07.  it went very smoothly and i am feeling good.

my journey towards this started june 19, 2006 after i had a right knee arthroscopy and ended up out of work for 5 weeks, no longer able to do my job as i had before, and unable to do my favorite thing - walk on the beach because my knee was too unstable.  i laugh ~ all these troubles started because i went to one of the "30 minute workout" places - and worked my knee right out of commission.  i signed up for the 'medically managed nutrition and weight loss program' out of PMRI and began that in sept 06.  what a fabulous program!  my nutritionist was terrific and i learned quite a bit from her and the gym, well, my second family now!  both staff and clients!  anyway, i used the personal trainer option of the program 3x a week with joe n. and that got me on my way.  i am unable to stand too long - about 10-15 minutes at a time - and i can't do any weight bearing exercises so it was a bit of a challenge as to what i could do, but joe put a program together that was challenging and beneficial.  before surgery i was up to 50 minutes of cardio ~4 times a week (stationary bike, nu-step, ube) and then i was lifting weights about 30 -45 minutes 3 times a week.  other than my knee and my weight, i am in the best shape ever.  but even with all this, my weight wasn't going nearlly as quickly as i wished.  my ortho surgeon (also one of my bosses!) won't touch my knee (i need a replacement - i'm bone on bone) until i lose a substancial amount of weight so i realized i had to do whatever was necessary to acheive that weight loss. 

January 4th, 2007 i saw dr irgau for the first time.  he said i was a candidate for the lap banding and i almost cried with relief!  then things moved really really fast!  saw dr adeleke for my cardiac clearance - done.  saw dr jones for my pulmonary clearance - needed a sleep study - scheduled that for 2 weeks later, the second part because i failed the first night (apnea) was done 1 week later.  saw the psychologist at pmri - done.  had my lab work all done. saw dr irgau for preop clearance march 5...got my clearance pending pulmonary from dr sheshadri at pmri on 3/12.....and pulmonary clearance on 3/22......whew - just made it as surgery was 3/26.  trish, sharon, misty from pmri and chrias were all terrific - very patient with a nervous preop pt who wouldn't believe it was going to be done til she woke up in pacu!  and i did and it went so well.  i really think that my being physically fit prior to surgery has helped me - i actually was bored last night and wanted to go exercise!  never thought i'd say that!

i hope to get clearance on thurs, my post op, to go back to doing cardio workout.  i am walking outside at home - but my original problem is still very much here - my knee.  so i'm hoping the weight loss will help the knee resolve and if it is still painful and keeping me from working as i want to once the weight has decreased - then do the replacement - i want my quality of life back! and thanks to dr irgau, i am on my way. 

 my husband and two girls apologize when they are eating something in front of me - and i said - don't apologize - this is how it is - and it will be fine!  they all can't wait for me to be feeling better too.  and i never thought i would say this either - but it wasn't til about 2 weeks preop that i realized that i am going to be losing weight and looking thinner as well!  oh my gosh - it's all been focused on doing it for the knee that the looking better is really just icing on the cake.  but, part of why i am here now writing, i sure do love the thought of that icing:)

i look forward to meeting some of you at the support group meetings and wish all of you a continued good journey!