Anita
I started this journey over a year ago when I was shopping for clothing and one of the women who works in the store had dropped a huge amount of weight. I told her that she looked fantastic and she told me how she accomplished it. That was the day that I first heard about Lapbanding and that was the day that gave me hope of being able to actually lose weight and keep it off.
In May 2005, a client walked into my office and he too had lost a huge amount of weight. Guess what.....he also had lapband and NOW I was on a serious quest. I "stumbled" on OH one night and have found it to be phenomenally helpful beyond belief.
In June I went to two seminars and selected one of the groups to perform my procedure. Long story short, I went through all the pre-op tests, had my consults, etc, etc...was scheduled for surgery on 9/27, only to find that the girl handling insurance coordination had totally screwed things up and I did not find out til the day before surgery that it was NOT going to happen. I liked the doctor very much, but his staff was so below par that it was sad. Needless to say I changed doctors and am now extremely happy with my decision.
My very first contact with Dr. Iannace's office was positive. That was in the beginning of October - right after getting over the severe distress caused by the other doctor's insurance coordinator. Now it is January and I still feel totally positive about them. From my very first call, when I spoke with Joanne, I knew I was in the right place. Now, having spoken with Toby (insurance coordinator extraordinaire), I am, oddly enough, pleased that I changed doctors.....I guess everything happens for a reason.
I'm going for my pre-op tests tomorrow and hopefully I will be approved this time - have also changed my insurance carrier due to a new job. Lots of changes in my life, and it looks like they are all positive. I am tentatively scheduled for surgery on Feb 10 and am going through all the anxieties, fears and excitement I read from everyone else on this board.
Every night when I finish dinner and turn on my computer, the first place I go is to the Lapband Message Board, and now that I have found out how to do this journal, I'll be a regular here too. I did not want to do this before possibly because of the disappointment from September, but now that it looks like this could seriously be a go, I'm ready............and I AM READY.
January 16, 2006
I went for my pre-op tests today. It's getting closer and closer...I am feeling good about it this time and hoping that I get approval soon. I'm a bit crazed..but I guess everyone seems to feel that way just before taking that important step. I still get new and informative tips from the board, so I really feel comfortable with going into the surgery. So...Oxford...please get the hint and say YESSSSS!!!
January 18, 2006
Okay, I know I'm jumping the gun here, but I am so nervous waiting to hear from Oxford. I've read and reread the posts and I know that it takes time and I've been calm for a long time, but the waiting is really getting to me. Good thing I've been really busy and really, really tired, cause if not, I'd be biting my nails down to nothing - and I've never bitten my nails before.
Have been in training for my new job and have been travelling to Wall Street (New York City). It's been an interesting trip. First of all, I have to leave my house at 6:10 AM to get there by 8:30 - I simply do not know or understand how or even why anyone would do that every day. My normal commute is about 15 minutes, so I'm rather spoiled. The other thing is that the place I go to is 2 blocks from Ground Zero, the place where the World Trade Center was. I walked over there on my lunch hour the other day and spent some time just thinking about how that day in 2001 changed all of our lives. It's such an odd feeling to be there knowing what occurred...it puts everything else in my life into a different perspective........and just leaves me feeling so very sad and empty inside. So, all in all, yes, I'm very nervous about waiting for a decision from Oxford, but I need to remember that the wait is just a speedbump in the whole scheme of things....
I hope that the next time I add to my journal it will be to say I've been approved............and now it's off to bed...
January 19, 2006
Wow...I'm approved and it's so wierd. I was denied in September and was so crazed at the thought of being denied again, that I tried to keep myself from getting my hopes up too much. I had a new round of pre-op tests on Monday (today is Friday), but the insurance coordinator - The Phenomenal Toby - sent in the application last week.....and lo and behold, she got approval today. I'm ecstatic, scared, thrilled, nervous, looking forward to doing this and freaked out all at the same time....I hate to think of what my head will be like in 20 days and 13 hours. Tonight I went out for dinner with a friend and I ordered steak...it could be one of my last, at least for a while. This might seem silly, but it just didn't taste as good as I thought....I guess my palate is getting ready. My plan is to make a concerted effort to get back to the gym on a more regular basis..have been slacking off lately - will also be more aggressive about using my treadmill here in my house on the days I either don't want to or can't get to the gym. AND - I really have to clean my house and get rid of all the contraband. If I can, I'm going to reorganize my closet by sizes so that I can start eliminating things as they get too large...that's the best part and I can't wait to be a BIG LOSER.
January 26, 2006
Today I went to my PCP for final medical clearance and I am SO ready for Feb 10. My doctor, is and has been consistently supportive of my journey and I can't thank him enough. He reviewed my vitals and even though none are a problem, he said that after the surgery everything will be so much better. I can't wait til my knees, ankles, back and feet dcon't hurt anymore.
In the meanwhile I'm shopping......not for clothes...I can do that in my closet...got lots of sizes to work through.....and I won't have to buy anything for a while since for work we wear a company shirt and black slacks....and heaven knows I have tons of black slacks.
February 4, 2006
Haven't updated my profile only because I've been super busy. New job has kept me hopping so to say and although it's good, it has kept me tired and perhaps that also is good. Anyway, this weekend I MUST finish getting myself prepared since I am 6 days from my big day. Today it Saturday and my surgery is scheduled for Friday......I can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Strangely enough, I am absolutely calm (right now), and I think that this week all by itself will keep me pretty busy, so I'm hoping that I won't have time to get totally crazed, even though I feel some of the anxiety creeping up on me. Today I'm cleaning (that should burn off a few calories) and at some point I have to have my prescriptions filled and then I need to go out and buy the rest of the liquids I need on hand for the first week or so. I have tons of chicken soup and my daughter is making me some vegetable broth so I'll have that on hand as well. I already have the requisite jello (suger free naturally), juices and bottled water (the tap water here isn't that great), so I'm pretty much set to go.
I am feeling very positive about this journey and with the exception of a few moments of doubt - like I think I had my very last bagel yesterday and that kind of scares me, although it shouldn't, but....we're in the homestretch and I must keep in mind that not only do I need to do this, I want to do it.....there's lots of life left to be lived and I want to do it healthy.
Fortunately my family and friends have been most supportive. One friend (and I use that term loosely in this particular case) was less than supportive and I chose to distance myself from her. The last thing I need in my life right now is a negative instusion. I don't know if I'll update again before Feb 10, but I will surely be on the boards.....I'm addicted and it has been and I am sure will be my lifeline. So, to anyone reading this - or even to myself - see ya on the losing side!
Feb 4 (10:30 PM)
Okay...enough with the Last Meal Syndrome........went out for dinner with a friend and had the most delicious lobster dinner. My doctor does not require the 2 week liquid diet, so I'm not sure if that's good or bad. Anyway, as I was chewing on the steamed clams and mussels I was thinking that it would probably be the last time. Mussels I can live without and I'll just have to consider chopped clams some day...........it's okay. Now, lobster....it's one of my absolute favorites, and tonight's lobster was reallllllly, reallllly good, so if that was the last one ever, then at least I truly enjoyed it. Maybe in about 6 months I might give it a shot, but I suspect that I'll have to cut it into miniscule pieces and chew it to death and then chew it some more......
Today I got my prescriptions filled, picked up Isopure (Vitamin Shoppe has a great sale on it this month), got some of the ready to drink bottles, found papaya enzyme tablets, liquid Tylenol, scar gel, lip balm and a few other goodies. Tomorrow I'm going to empty my fridge since I promised myself that after my lobster dinner I would walk the straight and narrow.
I'm scared..........I'm excited...........I'm nervous........I'm afraid I'll fail (again)............I'm hopeful (extremely) that this will be the key to my future and my success. I know that I didn't get fat overnight even though it seems like that, so I know that I won't get thin overnight - even though I'd like to hallucinate that I'll wake up from anesthesia thin...........and I know that surely I have the hardest battle ahead of me, but if I work with my new friend I'll be fine.
February 10, 2006
First off, thanks to everyone who sent me words of encouragement. This board it PRICELESS and should be on one of those commercials!
My date was moved up two days which kind of threw me for a loop since I had so many things I wanted to do before going in, but in the long run it was better since I had less time to make myself nervous. Truthfully, if I had not spent all this time reading everything on this board, I would not have been prepared as well as I was. I pretty much knew what to expect and what not to expect. On Wednesday nite as I was thinking to myself "What the hell have I done to myself?" - and was really, really sorry cause I felt so crappy, I kept saying...I've read this before and it will be okay in a day or so...........and so it was. I had to stay an extra nite at the hospital since I couldn't tolerate enough fluid for them to let me go, but this moring I seem to have turned the corner and now I feel a gazillion times better. Still have some pain in the middle of my back, and I guess that's the gas, but other than that I think I'm doing okay.
I'm tired and tried to catch up on all the posts from the past 2 days, but just couldn't do it yet.
So, again, thanks to all.......and I guess I have my first NSV....I can see my ankle bones again............woo hoo...........it's a start!!!
Feb. 22, 2006
I haven't posted since the day I got home from the hospital and so much has happened....and it's all good!!!
I had my band two weeks ago today and other than the first few hours, I am feeling fantastic. I am so thrilled that I had this done I can't even begin say. I went "shopping" in my closet earlier tonight cause my slacks that I've been wearing lately are beginning to look a little baggy... they were kind of tight 2 weeks ago. So, I found out that I can now wear 3 suits that I haven't worn in about a year, 3 pairs of slacks (one only needs shortening - I gained weight right after buying them, so I never did that), and I have 3 more pairs of slacks that will fit in about a week or so. I just started eating mushies tonight and it was a push, since I had lunch at 1 and when I got home at 6 I still was not hungry. So, I waited til about 7:30 and had about a cup of food....not as exciting as I thought it would be...now if that isn't super, I don't know what is.
I'm not sure what kind of restriction I have (obsviously only what's left from the surgery swelling, but I have little appetite and when I do eat, I feel like I'm eating a good amount of food, but afterward I realize that it generally isn't much more than a cup at a time and the good thing is that it stays with me a long time and when the next mealtime comes around, I'm still not hungry. Graduating to mushies was something I was really looking forard to, and now that I'm there....it just is kind of anticlimactic....how fabulous is that? I jus thope it lasts. I had one of the ricotta cheese recipes I found here on the board and it was gooooood, but a small bowl satisfied me just fine....yea me!
Stamina is just about normal and I am about to hit the treadmill. I am so happy I've done this and now I know what people mean when they say they love their band....I'm lovin it already!
March 8, 06
Busy couple of weeks.....
I went for my one month appointment today...4 weeks out and 18 pounds down and 17" lost. I feel fantastic. Of course my scale at home has me at 20 - but then again, I was naked when I weighed myself first thing this morning...even so, I like my scale better...but the real issue is that there are somewhere between 18 adn 20 pounds GONE!!!
NEWSFLASH: MY BAND IS THE BOSS!!
So, tonight I had dinner and I was feeling pleasantly satisfied, but there was one more bite on my plate....so dummy that I am, I ate it. No pain, just a really full feeling. I came upstairs and started to get out of my work clothes and all of a sudden my BOSS started to let me know that the last bite was not the brightest idea I've acted on. First the BOSS made me a little sweaty, then the Boss decided that message wasn't strong enough, so I started to feel nauseous and I headed for the bathroom to see if it was all going to come up. Fortunately I coughed a few times and a few moments later my stomach started to settle.
I didn't PB, I didn't vomit, I didn't slime, but the feeling was enough of a warning for me to not want to go there again.
I get my first fill 2 weeks from today (found out I have a 4 cc band) and am looking forward to it - and I WON'T BE MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN FOR A LOOOONG TIME!!!
In case I haven't mentioned it before...I am crazy about my doctor! He is the same age as my middle child and just wonderful. He is knowledgeable and encouraging and jus tmakes me feel good and well cared for. He answered all my questions and put me at ease about everything. I am so looking forward to my fill in two weeks and hope that it really jumpstarts my weight loss - not that 18 pounds is anything to sneeze at...
June 8, 2006
Holy smokes, I can't believe that it is 3 months since my last update. It has been a fabulous 3 months and I love my band more and more each day!
I am (as of this AM) down 42 pounds and have lost more than 37 inches.....that's the size of a pre-schooler...........ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!
I feel great and have gotten rid of so many articles of clothing that it blows my mind. I was wearing a pair of slacks size 22 the day before surgery and last month I bought size 18........one pair fits and the other is pretty baggy. I also bought some walking crop pants in size 14/16 (Avenue brand) and even though I know they run a little big, it gave me quite a thrill...I don't remember the last time I wore anything that said 16, let alone 14. I have clothing that I never had time to shorten and now have to give them away....that's cool...I can deal with it. The women at the shelter will be the recipients and that will just add to my good feelings.
So, for the first time in my adult life I've been making good food choices, and liking it too! I still don't do really well with breakfast, but I make sure I have some protein and according to doctor's orders, it is solid protein....although some days I cheat and have a protein shake....then I follow it up with something like a piece of cheese or a small piece of frut. Lunch is usually a few meatballs from the gourmet deli a few doors from my job or a can of tuna salad...of something like that. I still don't do all that well with chicken, so I work around it. Dinner I eat just about anything...protein, veggies and some kind of carbs (good carbs, but only about 2 times a week since I'd rather fill my tummy with better stuff and don't want to waste space on stuff that's probably going to go to my ass). Generally I'm good for the rest of the evening after dinner, but since I am a true night owl, sometimes I get a little hungry about 11 PM, so I'll have some peanuts or a SF fudgesicle. AND of course there is all the drinking....I still can't believe I gave up my Diet Coke and only miss it sometimes. I've tried a sip or two over the past month and it just doesn't taste all that good...so I'm wondering what I liked about it before....
I bought a pair of jeans the other day...the first ones I've had in about 2 years and I am absolutely loving them...so I bought another pair in a size smaller for next month. I had a coupon, so they were on sale for half price ($40 to $20) and then I had a 20% off coupon, so they were $16...who can argue with that? Usually in the past when I've found some article of clothing I like and then go back to buy more, there aren't anymore, so I decided to go for it since I KNOW I will lose the weight...and I figure I only have about 10 pounds to go til they fit....then I can get rid of the ones I'm wearing now. I also bought....drum roll please....shoes in a size smaller.....and they are damn sexy shoes too....strappy sandals with a nice heel and boy did they make me feel good. I haven't worn heels in a long time since my ankles, feet and knees were "objecting." Now I wore them for hours and did just fine...got some nice admiring glances too.
My family has been great....which makes this journey even easier. I had dinner with my daughter last weekend (she lives about an hour from here) and she told me how she was really concerned in the beginning - especially when she spoke with me the day of surgery and I was so out of it - but as she has seen the changes she is amazed at how much this has changed me in every way. She tells me that even my voice is different - it sounds lighter...and happier....and I am.
I got up for work this morning and was simply tired...showered, got dressed and started off to work...got about 2 blocks from here and decided I need a mental health day...so I turned around, went home and called in sick..........okay, so I'm not sick, just wanted time for me......there's the old joke that I'm suffering from "anal glaucoma" - I can't see my butt going to work today.
Later today I'm going to join the new gym around the corner. It will open on July 1 and looks to be a good deal. No contracts, no start up fees...$10 a month and I can cancel at any time if I don't like it. I joined Lucille Roberts last year but don't really use it..the place smells and they don't have the stuff that really will suit my purposes. I may still go there on occasion for a class - at least I'll feel like I've gotten some of my money's worth. The new gym is all equipment of various sorts, they have a women only area and they have personal trainers (real ones, not like the ones I met at L.R - who sounded like "wanna be's."
The other great thing is that through this board I met Rubina B. We started writing back and forth several months ago, decided to meet for lunch and found out we live about a mile away from each other. Now we walk together at least 2 or 3 times a week and it really helps a lot. She already joined the gym, so it will be one more place we can exercise together if we don't want to do our "mall walk" or the walk around the lake. I'm not a lover of exercising, although since I've been doing it pretty regularly these past 2 months, I miss it when I can't get it done....who'd have thought that??? Certainly not me!
All in all, I'm NOT HAPPY I did this...I am TOTALLY ECSTATIC! It is the best present I have ever given myself. I am seeing some cousins later this month who I have not seen in some time. A few of them I haven't seen since last summer and the others not since about a month before my surgery, so this should be very interesting. They all know I had the surgery and are looking forward to seeing the change. I also need to update my photos and if I can ever figure out how to do it, I'll add them to my profile.
I promise not to wait another 3 months before posting, but it's been such a great 3 months with so many positive changes that I just kept putting off this update.
For all the newbies..........go for it....THE BAND RULES!!!
July 4, 2006
Today is Independence Day....and I have given independence to lots of old clothes and LOTS of fat.
This has been a wonderful ride. I am so happy that I have my band and I feel better than I have in years. I'm going for a fill tomorrow and even though I could push it a little longer, it works out well for me since I'm on vacation this week. I'm losing almost the right way, but my biggest concern is that I can eat too much. My other concern is that I'm starting to slip back into some of my old bad habits...I MUST WORK ON THAT IMMEDIATELY. I cannot allow that to happen. I am going to either call my hypnotherapist or invest in the CD's that have been talked about here on the board. I've come so far, I don't want to blow it now.
So far I'm down 46 pounds (might be more like 45 since I had Dairy Queen tonight) and have gone from wearing a size 22 slacks and 3x shirts to 18 (almost 16) slacks and 18 tops. My bras are still the same size though and I can foresee having to do something about that down the road. Even after my youngest child was born (31 years ago), the "girls" never went back to a normal size even though my body did. So, right now my mini goal is to get to Onderland by the end of the summer and my overall goal is to lose 90 to 100 pounds on top of the 46.
I gave myself a treat today and that was to buy a glider for my newly refurbished patio. It was so wonderful sitting out there this evening. I hope I'll get to use it frequently...actually I plan to use it frequently as a present to myself for being good.
That's it for now. I have a good feeling that this fill will get me to my sweet spot as I've been feeling close up til the past week or so.
Ta Ta for now....:-D
July 8, 2006
Five months today...my bandiversary and as of this morning I am down 50.5 pounds. That's averaging 10 pounds a month - exactly what I was told I could expect and even though I didn't believe it at the time, I do now. Tonight I went to my daughter's house for dinner and ate a bit more than I should have. I had a fill on Wednesday (.25 cc in my 4 cc band which brings me to 2.25 cc total) and I really felt crappy after eating...took about 2 hours for it to start filtering through even though I chewed my food to total oblivion. Right now (5 hours after eating) I feel like I won't be hungry for another two days. Will have to be more careful and allow my stomach more say in the matter....old habits die hard and this is really the first time in ages that I didn't listen to my body and stop eating. I didn't pb or vomit, so that's good, but I did have a pain in my back and middle of my ribs. Lesson learned!!!
Went shopping the other day since my 18 slacks are starting to get a bitv baggy. I figured I'd get a new pair of slacks in a size 16 so I'd be ready...should only be a week at the most before I'm there. So I tried on several pairs and didn't like any that were suitable for work, but I did try on a pair of cargo pants in a 16. They were a little roomy so I decided to try the 14s. OMG they fit like they were made for me...so I bought two pairs. Wore one pair tonight....so comfortable I can't believe it!! I don't remember the last time I wore a 14...okay, okay they are cut a little full....but the tag does say 14....woo hoo for me!!!
August 25, 2006
It's almost 2 months since I last posted and it's been one of the best summers I've had in absolute ages. I bought two (count them...TWO...) bathing suits....cause the first one got TOO BIG!!!!! Do you see me doing the happy dance?? Anyway, whereas I don't look fab in either, I feel fab and I'm looking forward to next summer when I WILL BE FAB!.
Joined the gym and am working with Tom (the adorable 30 year old who is a real help)....not to worry, he's younger than all my kids, so even I have my limits of how young I'll go out with them...
So, we're working out a program that will help me lose weight and hopefully get me past this plateau that I've been on for about 4 weeks. I'd like to be losing, but at least I'm holding steady and since (to be perfectly honest) I haven't been getting much exercise I am not surprised that I'm not losing right now. I'm also starting a pilates class right after Labor Day, so whereas I know that what I do in the gym will help overall, the pilates will help with the midsection and hopefully will take care of some of that tummy stuff...who knows, maybe a MIRACLE will happen and I won't need plastics...yeah, right and maybe I'll win the lottery too....
Am changing pictures tonight, just because....
Will write again soon....when the weather isn't so wonderful that I'd rather be outside all the time.
September 11, 2006
So hard to believe that it is 5 years today since the WTC was attacked. I try to keep everything in perspective and recognize that what ever problems I may have, they pale in comparison. I thank G-d every day for my health, the opportunity to improve it and of course the health of my children (hardly children - 36, 35 and 31). I have wonderful friends and extended family, enjoy my job and have lost 55 pounds in 7 months. I am going for a fill in two days and hopefully it will break this plateau I've been on for about 2 months. I've also been exercising a good deal, so that might be part of the problem.
AND.......look!!! I finally have some pictures on my profile. The first one (in the lavender shirt) was taken five weeks post-op and the one in the white shirt was taken on Labor Day which is 7 months post-op. My friend is impressed since she can see so much of a change even though I'm wearing white.....that really made me laugh....last year I wore dark colors....I wonder why!
Don't know if I've mentioned this....yeah, right....I LOVE MY BAND!!!!
