This past week has been horrible!!  I had a training class to attend Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.  I really hate going to training classes for the fact that I can't keep my routine.  I can't eat a very late lunch that my band requires, can't get my walk in, etc. I don't know if the problems this week were caused by this fact, or if being off schedule just exasterbated them.  

Starting on Wednesday, I was having to excuse myself from class literally every 20 to 30 minutes to run to the bathroom.  I was sliming like crazy....had to PB all of that slime.  All of that wretching was irritating my band and stoma even more.  I had been having problems off and on since late June, but this was severe.  Wednesday and Thursday I was not able to keep anything down.  I could sip water, but by the afternoon nothing would stay down, not even water.  Thursday night I was continually throwing up....stomach acid was coming up as I didn't even have water in my system for going on 48 hours by that point.  I didn't get but a few minutes of sleep.  I HAD to go in to work on Friday morning, had some tasks I had agreed to do, but I was going in begrudgingly, as I felt like total crap.  I was dehydrated, exhausted and weak.

I knew that i had to get some saline out of my band.  I didn't think driving all the way down to El Paso would be quickest way to get this done.  I had to go to the E/R once back in October after being over-filled, so I knew that I could do that.  I thought about using Fill Centers, but with my tight money situation I didn't want to have to spend the $160.  So, I ended up leaving work when my tasks were done and headed to the E/R at about 11 am.  I get there at 11:30 and let the admitting person know why I was there.  He was a Brittish snob.  He asked me in which state did I get my Lap-Band installed, knowing there are NO WLS surgeons in New Mexico.  I told him that I had mine done in Texas and he muttered, "They sure do send us a lot of business".  He was just rude and not concerned that I hadn't drank or ate in two days.  Okay...so the waiting game began.  5 hours after being admitted I was finally called back.  They put me in a mini hospital room in the E/R section of the hospital and gave me a gown to change in to.  What??  I JUST NEED SOME SALINE OUT OF MY BAND!!  Are you kidding me??  I played their game.  The nurse took my blood pressure, hear rate and temperature.  A doctor came in a few minutes later and for the 4th time I was repeating what was going on with me.  He didn't know much if anything about the band.   Big surprise. He says he needs to consult with a surgeon and walks out the door.  What??  Give me a damn needle, I will do it myself!!  ARGH!!!

30 minutes later a young guy comes in and says he is wheeling me down to radiology.  Okay....finally!  He wheels me down there in the bed....this is so damn ridiculous.....I am being treated like an invalid.  We get down there and the radiologist tech comes over to talk to me.  He lets me know that a surgeon is going to go in to the port and extract some saline out.  Well, duh....I had only been asking for this for the last 6 1/2 hours!! He wheels my bed over to the Floro machine and asks me to scoot over to lay down under that machine.  Of course, I could't get up on my own and just lie down....I am an invalid, remember?  

He applies antiseptic to my skin around my port.  It's blue and in a bottle with a sponge tip, like shoe polish.  Lovely.  He carefull looks at the area on the floroscope.  He places a marker on my belly where he thinks the port is, and keeps double-checking this on the screen.  I am having to really stifle myself.  This is 36 hours that I haven't eaten....although I was able to drink just fine all day.  (is it too late to just go home?)  The tech then places a disposable cloth over the area that has adhesive to adhere to my skin. Then we wait for the surgeon.  We chit chatted for about 10 minutes until the surgeon comes in.  He had asked me about the previous time I was in the E/R for un unfill.  I told him that they took out 1 CC of saline then.  He decided 1 CC would be correct then.  I know that 1 CC is probably way too much considering with my last fill, Dr, Acosta only put in .24 CC's in, but I wasn't going to argue.  I figured my stoma needed some rest at this point and I could always get a fill in 3-4 weeks if I need it.  

The surgeon then goes through all of the same stuff with the marker and floroscope.  All Dr, Acosta ever does is feel around for the port, jab the needle in, boom, I'm done in 30 seconds.  Knowing all of this, I am wondering if this surgeon knows how ridiculous I think he is.  He finally gets the needle in and pulls out 1 CC.  I am cleaned up and wheeled back to my room.  I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone for sure.  I get to my room and get dressed, the nurse comes in and says that I need to wait for the doctor to release me.  What??  30 minutes later I am pissed.  I am starving, and tired....I want to get the hell out of there.  The nurse tells me that he isn't in his office but he will write them when he gets back. No....so, I ask her what will happen if I just leave.  She said that she can't reccomend that but I won't be put in jail.  ha ha ha ha   I am out of there!  See ya!!!

My husband was with me the whole time and getting pissed.  He took me out to eat.  I am not sure if I was supposed to eat solid foods, but I sure did!!  I mainly stuck to soft protein like fish but also had a few bites of chicken.  We went to a buffet so that I would have lots of choices, not knowing what I could handle.  Everything went down fine.  I didn't eat a whole lot, but more than I have been able to in weeks.  

I came home and crashed.  I slept very well, no throwing up.  Yay!!! It's early yet today and have only had a protein shake.  I am thinking of staying on liquids or just very soft foods for a few days.  I know my stoma is very injured right now.  My plateau os over though!! ha ha This morning I was down to 151!!!!  1 pound away from goal!!  OMG!!  I only pray that such a large unfill will not sabotage my weightloss!  I need to be strong! 

I did get hired at Walmart...so, I am supposed to go to an orientation class this Friday.  I had asking for the day off of my real job to do this, but I guess I have no choice.  

I am just glad to be home and okay....hopefully my band I will get along again.  

Ugh, weightloss is at a standstill again.  I was at 155 again this morning.  I haven't eat a whole lost this week, but I have made poor choices.  I don't think that my calorie count is too high, just my body being weird again. 

I haven't had too many problems with my band this week, but there have been a few instances.  I swear, sometimes I think I am becoming bulemic.  ha ha. 

This week was major stressful again.  I hate it.  I got interiviewed and pretty sure I am going to be offered a job with Walmart.  Yeah.  It's a second job, I really need the money, so I am happy, but just sad to be giving up my sanity,....any spare time I have for myself.  With the economy the way it is, I am thankful that i have one really good job and an additional job as well.  At least I will be able to support myself now. 

I just got back from a LONG motorcycle ride with a friend of mine.  It was so much fun!  I absolutely love going on rides, but when I was so damn heavy I could only take it for a short while.  Now the problem I have is my butt starting to hurt because there is no padding!!  ha ha!!  I have really lost a lot in my butt recently.  When I was younger and lost weight, I still had a nice ass...this time it's a little flat.  I probably need to do some toning exercises to lift my ass up some!  

I am still dealing with massive amounts of stress, and have had a hard time eating this week.  Aunt Flo showed up late Monday evening, so even though I was allowing myself to eat junk, I couldn't really get it down.  A friend made me her homemade banana cream pie.  She makes the best damn pie in the world....everything is homemade including the custard.  YUMMO!!  I DID manage to eat an entire LARGE slice of that yesterday.  I am back up to 155, but I am blaming it on Aunt Flo.  ha ha.  Hopefully those extra pounds will leave soon.  I am hoping to get to goal very soon!!

I was down to 153.8 this morning!!!  It's crazy to lost 6 pounds in one week!!  I have been going through MAJOR stress, and wasn't able to eat...so, I know WHY, it's just nice to know that there IS a rainbow after a storm.  I am so thankful for my good friends and my brothers....they are always there when I need them!!  I just need to remember to *breathe*.  I WILL get through this also.  

I have officially lost 100 lbs now!!!!!    I weighed in at 159.6 this morning!!!    Only 9 more pounds to get to my original goal!  I am so happy about that!!  I have had some trouble again with my band in the past few days....stress is such a killer with my band.  I haven't been able to eat much, but I will try for a very small unfill, or just be very careful.  I think now it's really irritated.  I bought a new pair of size 10 Levi's and wore them to work yesterday.  They fit just fine in the morning but my the afternoon they were baggy in the seat quite a bit.   .  No, not ready for a lower size YET, but hopefully in a month or two I will be in a 7/8!!  
Our first ever support meeting was a great success last Saturday!  We had a great time and I think we will be able to help each other quite a bit!!  Thanks ladies!!