Judy F.

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It's been hard to not have any weightloss for months now. I haven't gained but no losses either. I'm trying my best to eat the right foods,and drink only after hrs of eating. BUT..I now know what the problem has been! First off my bloodpressure has been high. I just couldn't figure out what was going on, but I started thinking about the past and why my blood pressure was rasied back then.  NAIDS!  Anti-inflamation drugs that I've used over the years to help with my OA. Well, I've been taking celebrex again since Dr. woodruff put me on them. Water retension and then of course water gain! I took myself off of the celebrex and lo and behold my weight dropped! Everyday more drops off.  Four days ago is when I went off of them and I've dropped 5lbs! Now I need to tell my doc cause he didn't seemed very pleased with me the last time I went in for a fill. I guess he thought I wasn't going by the rules...I didn't understand it myself so why should he? I hope and pray this is what is going to get me back in the game again. As far as my OA....alot of pain. Of course worse than before but I need to stay off of the anti-inflamatories. Not even asperin... I'm going to my daughters destination wedding in Mexico and I want to be thinner to wear a bathing suit, but I need to feel better too. Guess you have to give alot to have a little. My heart has felt lighter,and my mood has changed if not drastically then at least some.

I'm starting to be afraid....after two adjustments I still don't have restriction and I'm able to eat more than I should. The scale tells it all, I had gone down to 223lbs from 262lbs. Now I've been edging up to 226 and the only explaination is my food addiction! Why can't I do this the right way? I feel I've been eating more at night before bed. Guess I'll try to go to bed earlier than i'm used to. Can anyone relate to  this? I have screwed up my life with this addiction and I guess I still have alot to learn. I need to pray and  ask God to help me thru this. With so many people needing help  far worse  than me....  I need to start again and work harder with more reslove to kick this into action again. Only I can turn this around, and only with God's help.  

I haven't written for a while,so a update is needed. It's been 2 and one half months since surgery. I've had one ajustment done and I don't have the restriction I need. But I've managed to lose 36lbs since starting this journey.Starting at 262 and now at 227! Wow what a great thing this band is. My next fill is for Nov. 28th, right after Thanksgiving....I surely hope I'll have some restrition after that. 

I just need to say how much better I feel now. I can walk better,and I can see a prettier person looking back at me in the mirror. Maybe that is due to my outlook now,being more positive and finding hope again.I need to thank God and my angel's who watch over me. This OH site has been very helpful to me over these last months, and I thank all of the bandsters who lend advice and help each other. Life is good and I appreicate everything given to me.

My surgery went well except for a infection in my port. Since I was released from St joseph's hospital my port was red and ozing a green pus like liquid. My surgeon had me come in and said it was infected and he cleaned it up then actually took a couple staples out! Lordy, I didn't know it had staples in it! He changed my antiboitics and it's a lot better. I am surprised at how much confidance I have in Dr. Woodruff. He's a good surgeon and I'm lucky  I found him. 

I seemed  to have a relatively easy recouperation. The hardest thing was not to lift anything more than 5 lbs. EVERYTHING IS MORE THAN 5 LBS! lol. I'm lucky that my sister was staying with me and she reminded me when to get up and walk.  That's a very impotant rule...blood clots scare me and I do not  want to have any complications. 

It's been very hard not to eat real food...clear liquids first then full liquids 2nd. I will not bend to my growling stomach...and I surely am hungery. I need to always look toward the future with better health and less pain in all my joints. I only wish this could have been available to me 15 yrs ago! 
 
I want to thank my Lord, my God for bringing me safely out of surgery and home with my family. I hope he continue's to watch over me and you.

hugs and love,  Judy

Yes! Only one week to go! I should be getting nervous but I'm not yet. I'm NOT looking forward to the nasty stuff I'll be drinking to clean my colon out. No matter what flavor they have I'm sure it won't taste good. YUCK!

I need to get out and buy some new things to recover in,like a new summer robe and maybe a few nightie's. Seems like that's the only time I buy those types of things like when I have surgery! Last surgery was over 3 years ago and I had back surgery. That really kicked my behind and took me a long time to recover. That's one of the reason's I want this lap band surgery. I'll need more fusions and stenosis surgerys if I don't lose the weight. So many reasons though....LOTS. 

Wondering what I'll need at home for my liquid phase then my mushy stage. No doubt I'll be freaking out the closer I come. But...Im looking forward to my new life.

Today I saw Doctor Woodruff and he answered any questions I might have for surgery. I was weighed to see if I lost or gained and good news is...I lost! YEA!!!  I actually lost 9 lbs from my first consult. I've been trying for the past three days, drinking my protein in the morning and a  non fattening   dinner. I had no idea I would lose anything, But God willing I I did.  What a surprise for me...I knew Id lost some but...9 lbs? Now I need to watch till surgery day so I won't pig out and lose the footing I have.Three more weeks exactly now till the big day. 

Doctor said I should do well with the surgery and I hope he's right. I do want this sooo much and I feel this is my one and only chance. Oh to be able to walk with ease is my main goal. To lesson the pain of osteoarthrits and fibromyalgia. I realize these illnesses will always be with me but I think the surgery will definatly help with pain.

To be off of medications will be great too. I spend a good amount on these even though I do have presciption insurance, I still spend out of pocket. 
It all adds up I guess.  It's been a good day and I'm thankful for friends here on OH, and thankful I found the weight loss center here in my area..,thankful my insurance will pay most of this, To my family who is behind me on this journey, but most of all thankful to God who has allowed me to even make this journey. ~hugs to all~ Judy

Today I went to a water exercise class with other WLS people. There was just 12 of us plus our doctors WLS consultant,Molly.  I couldn't believe that she was right there with us, going thru all the exercises and having fun. Boy did I get a work out! I know I'll be sore tomorrow. Some had the surgery already,some didn't (like me) I wanted to start exercising but with all the painful joints and feet along with the degenerative disc disease, I didn't think I could. The water does have a positive effect on everything really. Our aquatics instructor looked very fit, almost like a body builder. We were in the water actually exerciseing for 1hr straight...fun but demanding at the same time. 

Only about 4 weeks to go now till my surgery! Wow...alot of appts. between now and my date. I'll go to my support group tomorrow night, then I have a date with my Nutt, also another appt with Dr. Woodruff. A workshop about life after weight loss. I sure hope I'll be a sucess with this lapband. There's always that worry I guess. It's true that this is a journey of sorts, I need to be ready . 

  It's a very happy day for me today.  Not only is it my 14 th  wedding anniversary but It's the day I recieved my approval. I can't stop smiling....lol.  I guess in the back of my mind I knew it could go either way, but I was prepared to re-submit again and again if I had to. But I never dreamed it would all go so fast!  Medical mutual only took 8days to decide to approve me!  I still need to go to a support meeting ( required) and another meeting about what to expect after weight loss. (also required.) After that..." aint no stopping me now!" YEA!!!  Ok, got to calm down a bit Judy..lol.. 

This lap band board and all the people on it has been a GREAT source of information and support. I feel like I can over come this disease with all this help here. 

((hugs to all)) Judy

The news today is that I called my insurance to ask if they recieved my paper work from Dr. Woodruff's office. The person who answered my call was very helpful and checked to see if they had it yet. They did!  yahoooo! Wonderful, I'm glad I called cause it picks up my spirt ALOT! She also said they recieved it on the 29th and it would be reviewed as soon as they can. I asked how long does it usally take to hear back from them and she said a few days to a few weeks depending on if they had all the info they needed and didn't have to send for any info that was left out. "crossing  fingers, toe's " lol..  

This will be a Godsend if and when I have the surgery. I want to be normal once again...Things I want to see happen is > being able to shop again>, to go to any restarunt and sit in any booth (to not be afraid I won't fit) >to not have so much pain from my arthritic knee's and spine..feet...>take the stairs without losing my breath and having to sit down before I do anything else. > being able to finally clean my house  without paying for it all the next week.>to just go for a nice walk to enjoy the day> stop sweating from the effort of pushing a buggy  and walking around the grocery store.>needing a buggy for any shopping just so I can make it through store without killing myself.  > to finally enjoy intimacy with my hubby again. He's a good man and I've been unable to focus on this part of my life fearing what he may be thinking about my size. He's never / ever said one hurtful word about my being over weight. I hope the dear Lord will bless me and help me get thru this journey. Alot will depend on my attitude I think. I'm going to try and think positive.            Judy

Yesterday I heard from the weight loss center. Good news because everything is ready to go to medical mutual for approval. ( the excitment grows!) The endoscopy and biopsy were ok except for a little inflamation in my stomach. A small amount of reflux but nothing warranting any action. One doctor I go to for high bloodpressure sent in a wonderful letter, had all my weights listed for the last 5yrs! The two others that I thought would send in a letter never bothered thus far. Weight watchers will be my 6months on a supervised diet proof, and medical mutual just started allowing this for the first time a few weeks ago. Sooo, it was all sent in and now I wait for an answer.  At least 4 weeks I was told, most likely more. They told me there is only one nurse in the state of Ohio that reviews all the weight loss surgerys for medical mutual! ONE! I wouldn't want her job...lol. I'm keeping my fingers crossed now and thinking positive thoughts. Just knowing this might really happen in the near future is enough to wash away alot of my depression over my health. I managed maybe 20 min. in the hobby lobby store yesterday.  I tried,  to walk around to shop a little. What I wouldn't give to actually be able to go into a dept. store and shop for the joy of it. Well, maybe by christmas time this yr I'll be able to shop for gifts instead of on the computor. God willing....  Judy