Thanksgiving two years later

Nov 25, 2013

Happy to finally have the courage to post on my long neglected OH board.  Been ashamed of myself for not losing any weight at all after surgery...well, I will edit that, I did lose about 3 lbs overall.  The past two years have flown by and I did not stick to the guidelines of my program.  As time marched on, I saw the fellow members at KP and here, just drop weight like crazy but I thought I knew better.  No, didn't know better, just stubborn and acting stupid is all.  Why did I have my band removed and my stomach reduced with a sleeve?  Thought it would help but it only helps if you stick to the program and make a conscious effort to CHANGE permanently.

So, the past 6 weeks I have done that....sort of went by my guidelines but with a low carb slant.  Atkins/Paleo  with exercise AND participating in community makes the difference. No man (or woman) is an island...we need to step outside and walk the walk.

Glad to report I am down 31 pounds overall and that I believe I found my way.

2014 is going to be good!!

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post op

Aug 22, 2011

I am happy that I have lost 15lbs since surgery day!  My surgeon is happy with my progress and has released me to stage 3 mushies...I think it is still too early but it is nice to know that I can move up if I choose to do so.  I am only on day 3 of my full fluids and I know I hate cream soups on their own...the Oikos Greek yogurt left a bad taste in my mouth and the BlueBonnet vanilla whey protein with skim is terrible.  My taste has really changed alot since surgery. I have other rtd protein shakes that I am slowly choking down.  I have to get my water back up and hopefully I'll have at least 33 ounces down by tonight.
My next and final appointment with my surgeon is in six weeks.  I thought my appointment would be in four, which would make it six weeks since surgery but he requested six weeks from today. That means...six weeks of mushies, only food that can be eaten with a baby spoon, no fork or knife. At least I can blenderize meats now and I do plan to do so.
Found out the right hand belly button area pain is where he had to incise the muscle to put my trimmed stomach into a baggie for removal. The pain will last for a few more months and to be careful about moving/lifting right now. I have to give it time to heal on it's own and be patient with the occassional pain it emits.
So..my goals....going to gym for 1 hour at least 5 times a week, liquids at least 70 ounces per day...get my protein back up with combo of food and protein drinks and rest!! 
The weather is feeling very early autumn...the light is beautiful outside and I am feeling so much better.
No swimming or compound lifting for at least 2 more weeks.  Must start vitamins now. Keep crushing all meds until I see my surgeon again in six weeks.
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First time..

Aug 16, 2011

So happy that yesterday I was able to get in at least 64 ounces of fluid!  I am 6 days out and finally was able to do it all! Although I only had 40 grams of protein, thanks to Isopure Apple Melon, that added to a 1.5 litre of water pushed me over the fluid edge. Tomorrow I hope to get in 1.5 bottles of Isopure mixed with another 1.5 litres of water.  Mixing Isopure with water is the only way I can get it down.

I plan on staying on clear liquids until I see my surgeon next Monday. Then I will go on full liquids for another 2 weeks, mushie/puree for 2 weeks and after my surgeon cuts me loose at the 6 week mark....SLOWLY move into solid foods.

Going to bed now, I'm tired.
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I did it!

Aug 12, 2011

I had my surgery on Wednesday August 10th and I survived!  I had a crew of wonderful nurses, Kevin in pre-op, Sherry, Mary Ann and Connie were assigned to me throughout my stay in the hospital.  My blood pressure dropped pretty low...83/57 and I was restriced to bed-rest unti my pressure recovered. I did have to share my tiny room with a very ill lady. I was not on the floor that is supoosedly only for the bariatric patients. I was assigned to the old part of the hospital that features at least a double occupancy, one tiny toilet room and one chair for visitors.  The kitchen kept sending up NON sugar free fluids and Nicole the RD was kind of upset, thinking that I ordered the sugar diet.  I would've stayed one more night but I was able to drink and was very mobile.
I was late getting out because my surgeon didn't discharge me.  His assistant, Grace, had to remove my drain and boy was that painful! I did feel that sensation of a snake moving, but really I felt the burning tearing of the tubing being removed slowly. I hope I will never need a JP drain again.
I am now 2 days out from surgery and I can say that the first day is the worst. It was better today and I expect it even better tomorrow. I have my postop visit with my surgeon in 14 days and my staples will be removed at that time. I hope I come in with a good loss. Like so many other VSG'rs...I seriously questioned myself why I put myself through this operation, I was angry and regretting the surgery. But now, I see that this surgery is the right step for me to take in order to start living again.
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Hospital tour

Jul 19, 2011

I had my tour of KP tonight, I was about 5 minutes late and wouldn't you know that the tour was pretty much over.  I made it into the conference room for questions and suggestions, but was given a quick walk about the 3rd floor aftewards. The nurse, Julia B....totally cool and very confident about the surgery. Said not to worry, KP HC does at least 20 surgeries per week and that the sleeve is a much more simple operation that the bypass.  The rooms on the 3000 are pretty small but I get a private bathroom with shower. I don't plan on showering while there, but it is nice that is is available if I want to later.
'
Nice to know that i was the smallest of the three in attendance, but their surgeries are early next week while I have to wait 3 weeks. I started getting anxious about the surgery, with a fear of death or major disability. I was surprised that in pre op the nurses weigh you now and if you've gained weight the surgeon will cancel surgery right there.  It has been done several times now and I was warned a few times not to gain any weight from my preop appointment with the surgeon.  I have to get going on my liquid diet because I want to come in at the last weight I was with Dr Mun.

So, I hope he will not be too angry about my 23 pound gain after my LapBand was removed. I am losing weight from that high but don't know if that will be enough or him to keep my surgery date.  We will see!  Update coming August 1st, my pre-op appointment. 
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23 days left until surgery...

Jul 18, 2011

...I think!  My surgeon "Tenatively" scheduled my VSG for August, but I am afraid that he may delay the surgery date further.  The new policy at KP is to wait one year from LapBand removal to other WLS revision due to accumulated scar tissue.  When I foolishly backed out of direct conversion in February....the surgeon told me and my mother that the direct conversion to VSG was very possible, I had little scar tissue. What was funny was after surgery...I felt like my old band was still in place - Thanks to Scar Tissue ... I had restriction!
That restriction lasted about 4-6 weeks at most and now....,well no restriction.
I gained alot of weight...10% in the 5 months since band removal. I am on a "diet" now and use my BodyBugg to help track movement and track calories online. That little device really helps alot and is something I plan to keep using even after vsg surgery.
Anyway, just thought I would post that I lost 2.6 lbs and that I only have a few more weeks until I know for sure if my surgeon will give me my surgery.  I may not have KP next year and I really like them, the only downfall is that their are member hospitals so I cannot just go to any medical center unless a dire emergency.
I know I can lose 10 lbs more by the time my pre-op appointment comes around.  I know my surgeon is not going to be happy with my weight gain but hey, I am actually losing some of what I did put on since February.
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Low Carb here I come!

Apr 18, 2011

My legs and feet hurt from moving my stuff from storage to my basement in flip flops.  Flip flops are really not a fat person's friend because they give almost no support.  They're easy to put on and take off but after a few months...they're flat and cause great discomfort.
I weighed in this morning and have my Low Carb eating plan laid out.  Today for breakfast is low salt span and 2 fresh pastured eggs from my chickens!  No added splenda and plenty of water too.  Here it goes!!

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Getting real

Apr 16, 2011

I have my surgery date....August 10th 2011.  Still don't understand why my surgeon wants me to wait 6 months betweens surgeries since he was willing to reduce my stomach at the same time he removed my lapband, but I've accepted it.
I finally moved my store stock and personal stuff out of storage. Happy but kind of sad too....happy that I will be saving $260 a month on the storage fee but sad because the storage represented the success of my store and when my nephew moved in - almost 7 years ago. 

I realized that I am spending too much money paying family members to work on my house. That is going to stop. No more over compensating because I feel like I am not worth enough for them to donate their brawn.  Besides I am always there for them at the drop of a hat for darn near everything. 

Just found termite dust on my windowsill.  Perfect timing as the window repairman was there to give me his estimate for fixing all 14 of my double hung wood casement windows. I have a deadline of May 31st to get the final few things needed for the house to be listed on the rental market.  I have two dates to look forward to....May 31st and August 10th.
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Paying for it now

Mar 31, 2011


It is now officially 7 weeks since my lapband was removed.  I had a follow up and consultation regarding possible scheduling for a sleeve.  My surgeon wants to wait at least 6 months but would prefer 1 year from my last surgery date.  He said that there is an big chance of lots of scar tissue and inflammation from where my lapband was stitched. A much higher chance of leaks because of the continued healing  from lapband removal.  I don't qiuite understand because he was anxious for me to get my sleeve during the removal of my lapband last month.  Anyway, he said the later the better but NOT to gain any more weight.

Yes, I gained weight.  I am now 11 pounds heavier than I was on February 17th, my post lap band removal visit. He warned me that I will gain weight and stupidly I didn't want to believe him.  I will tell you, now that the swelling has gone down my stomach seems like an empty cavern begging to be filled.  I whole heartedly accomodated it these past 7 weeks.  I see it, in my face, the way my clothes fit and the way my body feels. My lower legs swell now, my breathing is more labored with exertion and my fat rolls are hard, like I'm spilling out of my stretched out skin.

So now, the earliest date is August 8th and his office is scheduling for the end of July already.  Chances I will have surgery in August, I believe are slim ... I would've been slim by then if I would've only let myself get the sleeve when my band was removed. 

Tomorrow is April Fool's day, I have written up a battle plan regarding dieting, exercising and goals to meet for the new month. I need to put down in writing a sort of list or contract for me to take it seriously - to keep me on track.  Weigh in, stay on my eating plan - weigh, measure and time food - and exercise at 4am.  I know I can do this because I 've done it many times before, I only hope that when my second chance comes that I won't be stupid enough to pass it up again.

Time for bikini photos and the tape measure again.
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Calories In - Calories Out

Feb 09, 2011

I had my LapBand removed on Monday and was hoping for a revision to the sleeve but that is on hold right now.  Now, that I am at a crossroads, I figure that I will take back control of my weight but with the help of counseling, perhaps OA and of course, the good old "Calories In, Calories Out" philosophy - which is the truth.  I am in culinary school and also updating my science courses for nursing school.  So I feel like I am a new kid with new horizons instead of the middle aged failure exsisting in a vacuum.

I love to eat, I think we all do....but the trick is to change the habits of using that love when you feel lonely, bored or stressed out.  I know it won't be an easy overnight happening, it  really is a daily recommittment to one's self that food, is just that...food.  It is not best friend, sounding board, secret lover or anything else that one uses it as a stand in for in life.  It is fuel, yes, it is part of celebration but it is, in and of itself, not the real reason for celebration.

My belly is sore, I am still quite tired and I'm still full of surgical gas (probably hot air too) but the morning is looking golden.

I hope it is golden for all of us here because just being here, posting and maybe making some new revelations is what it is all about.

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About Me
Hawthorne, CA
Location
42.9
BMI
VSG
Surgery
08/10/2011
Surgery Date
Jan 03, 2007
Member Since

Friends 30

Latest Blog 38

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