Susan B.

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Hello Everyone,
Man am I relieved!  I thought I might have messed up my pouch a week ago after eating some Chinese food.  I had been craving it terribly.  A good friend of mine was coming to visit and having dinner with me.  I hadn't seen her all summer and this fall.  I suggested Chinese thinking I'll be able to stop and I did, but maybe not soon enough.  I ate 2 crab rangoons (my fave),  Terriyaki Chicken (1), one chicken finger and 3 little peices of rib.  Plus with not seeing each other for a long time we were just gabbing away so I wasn't paying attention to my chewing.  I stopped when I felt restriction.  The next morning, my little girl woke me up with breakfast in bed.  A bowl of fruit loops.  I didn't want to hurt her feelings so I ate it but shared equally with her.  Right after that I started having pain and discomfort pretty bad.  I took it easy for the rest of the day and tried just eating soft foods.  And not much of it either.  But the pain just kept getting worse.  I went to mostly liquids for the rest of this week but yesterday had eaten a protein bar for breakfast and finely chopped chicken mixed with mashed sweet potato to make 1/2 cup, for lunch.  I was in pain all day.  It was not excrutiating but dull and constantly there.  By the end of my work day, I called my surgeon's office telling what I had done and that the pain was continuing even after taking it very easy this week.    I saw Dr. Mckee this morning and he ordered an esophagram immediately.  I went to the hospital, had the x-rays while drinking yucky chalk.  The Doctor on Duty read them immediately and said everything looked normal and my band is still in place.  What a relief!!.   I will be hearing from Dr. McKee sometime this afternoon with further instructions.  He did say earlier that more than likely I had not herniated anything or had band slippage but probably some swelling from not chewing enough and eating too much.  If that is the case, he said I would have to go to strictly liquids for two weeks.   Needless to say, I'm very relieved and need the two weeks of liquids.  When they weighed me this morning, I gained 2 pounds since October 20th.  That's a bummer but I'm sure I will be able to take it off.  I've also begun walking on my treadmill for 30 minutes 4 times a week.    I want to wish all that read this a very Happy Holiday and a Joyful New Year.
Susan

Hi everyone,  I know I haven't posted since 7 days after my surgery and some of you may think I don't need any support but that is not the case.  I'm just too busy and have been trying to get my butt to bed at a reasonable hour at night.  If I get on the computer, then it's all over because not only will I post but then I will browse other sites and before I know it, it's way passed by bedtime and then I regret it the next day because I'm nodding off right there at my desk where staff can see.  So I'm posting during work right now.  I have to be careful because Old HAWKEYE will tattle on me.  As she always does.

I just had my appointment with the surgeon.  I was expecting to get my first fill but he says I don't need one and my never need one.  He says I'm right on track and that I need to just continue doing, eating and drinking as I have been.  Of course that does not mean that I'm never hungry.  My head is always hungry.  But the fear of my band eroding into my stomach keeps me within my portion sizes.  I try to stay away from the bad stuff but do allow myself a little cheat sometimes.  Dr. McKee says that is fine.   I am allowed to have the unhealthy stuff once in a while but keep it within normal portions and only do it once in a while.  I have not begun to excercise yet and that is not real good either.  I could come up with many excuses but I know, THERE ARE NO EXCUSES.   I see the dietician next week and I'm sure she will shame me (in a positive way) to GET TO IT!   I have lost 21 pounds since October 6th and a total of 51 pounds since I began my weight loss journey one year ago.  I have stop for now before HAWKEYE gets back from her break.  I wish all of you the best and a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving.

Well this is my 7th day since my surgery and I'm feeling really good.  Still a little sore and breathing deep only causes a slight amount of pain.  The gas is almost gone.  What a relief.  I am also feeling the restriction of my band without pain.  Still on liquids buy tomorrow will try to have a soft cooked egg.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I miss the flavor of real food.  Protein shakes are wearing thin.  Thank goodness for cream soups.  Cooked my first meal for my daughter tonight.  Boy did it smell good!!  But it was not too tortureous.  My daughter was spending my recovery time with her Dad.  He dropped her off this morning.  With a half dozen Dunkin Doughnuts.  I thought that was so thoughtful of him.  NOT!!  I didn't let on that it bothered me.  I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of my reacting.     I don't know if I've lost any weight.  I don't have a scale.  I've always avoided them.  They depressed me.  I'll find out Friday at my post surgery appointment.   Gotta go for now.  Will post again in a few days.

Hi,
Well, I had my surgery on Tuesday, 10/06.  Everything went well.  I was taken into surgery at noon and was leaving the hospital at 4:00.  Things went until the anti-nausea medicine wore off.  At around 1:00 am I started gagging and heaving.  Had taken meds with applesauce but I had had only juice after recovery.  It was horrible and thank God my friend Marcia was with me.  She rubbed my back which help stop me from gagging.  Then she put cold cloths on my forehead until 4:30 am.  I'm now able to take meds with protein shake or cream soup.  I'm not able to eat very much before I get what feels like a terrible gas pain pushing on my diaphram.  Sometimes so painful it makes me nauseous.  I'm sure this will improve over time.  I'm very hungry and miss real food.  I just have to keep reminding myself that this is the healing stage and I have to take it easy.  Eventually I'll be able to eat normal food in small portions and able to get all my fluids.  I'm having a difficult time getting all my fluids and protein.  My doc told me that for the first couple of weeks I would not get enough proteins but not to worry because by week 4 and 5, I should be able to get all that I need.  So I'm hanging in there.  
 

Had my pre-op on Friday 9/25.  That went well.  I lost another 2 pounds.  That's 29 pounds total since last fall.  The Doctor was very happy with that.  He believes I will be successful as long as I work with the band.  The band will provide that extra help I need to continue to loose and to maintain once I get to my goal.  I'm not sure what my ideal weight should be.  I was very comfortable weighing 130 lbs years ago when I had lost 40 lbs after a relationship break-up.  I'm 5' 1" tall.  I have not been told by my surgeon nor my dietician how much I should weigh.  Anyone out there have a clue about that?  Anyway, I'm very excited about next Tuesday.  I've taken 2 weeks off from work just in case I have trouble adjusting to the band.  Plus my job requires that I sit at a desk most of the day and I want to be able to do lots of walking to avoid blood clots.  Gotta go.  I'll post again soon.

WOO HOO!!   Sure wish it could be next week instead of next month.  My physical and pre-op are on 9/25.  Now comes the waiting game.  But life is good anyway.  Bye for now.