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January 3, 2014

I am really excited today.  Since the beginning of the pre op diet...I have lost 54.8 pounds.  Of those pounds, I have lost 21 since surgery.  I went to Catherines yesterday to look for a new top.  I had been wearing a 5x or 6x top;  the new top was a 3x.  I knew that I had been losing inches, but didn't really realize how many until I went clothes shopping.  This has been a good adventure so far.  I have a few issues to discuss with the dr. but nothing not manageable.  I can not wait to see what the next few months hold.

 

December 17, 2013

I am trying really hard accepting how slow the weight is coming off.  I am trying to drink the protein, but my stomach does not like it.  And this should be the best tasting stuff since ice cream!  lol.  I should know....when my husband had his surgery...he had to take liquid protein.  You would open the bottle and the dog would run away.  I am tired....Parts of my body hurts.  I know that i need more exercise...but my body won't cooperate at the moment.  Friday will be the last day of school for two weeks.  Maybe I can do better again...i am not cheating, i just can't get in all that i need.  Tomorrow makes 1 month.  I was hoping more for weight loss...but the clothes are getting so big...so I will take inches too.

 

November 29, 2013

Talked to the nurse. Seems that possibly the 6 week pre op diet i lost 35 pounds on...may be making me lose slower.  Makes it better.  The post op diet is great.  My stomach doesn't like oatmeal at this point...so I will stick with cream of wheat and sf pudding.  I go to the dr. on Tuesday and will get a new stage of my diet to follow.  Can not say enough good about Dr. Merriman and his staff.  Great physician and supportive staff.

November 25, 2013

I am disappointed.  I am sure this will be short lived, but as of today...I am disappointed.  I hear about others who are 7-10 days out  of surgery, and they have lost 10-23 pounds JUST SINCE SURGERY.  Me?????  A whole whopping 3.2 pounds...not that I am glad I have lost...but guess I was expecting better.  I am going to get my papers out again and look to make sure I am doing exactly what the dr. ordered...but I know I am....I had a horrible time yesterday.  I was really sore and everytime I tried to eat or drink....my stomach did not want it.  I did not get sick...I just only got between 16-18 oz. in....no enough....but all i could do.  Here is tomorrow....a brighter day.

November 20, 2013

My surgery was Monday.  I was suppose to go back around 10, but it was 11:00 or a little after.  I don't remember much from that point on.  They sedated me pretty well and evidently I was physically sick my whole recovery time.  Guess it was a good thing that I don't remember that.  Yesterday was much better.  They had to rebandage where the drain is and then my parents promptly told me they were on their way.  They are moving to Reno Nevada.  Got to come home last night, with instructions we were to stop every 30 minutes and have me walk around.  I was not to go to sleep either, or I could get car sick.  After we made it home, I decided it might be a good thing to get in bed and sleep.  Managed to do that and slept until 4:30 am.  Got up and went into the den, sat in the recliner, covered up and fell back aslleep for a while.  Today is my worst day for gas pains in my chest, arm and back shoulder blades.  I have a headache and took some baby tylenol.  Managed to get my blood pressure pill down and drank some diluted crangrape juice.  I somehow swallowed once too quickly and felt the pain, kind of sounded like a drain....noise and how it felt.  But all is good.  Glad I amde this venture.  I am ready to be healthy....skinny is just a nice side effect.

 

November 11, 2013

By this time next week I will have had surgery and on the road to my new healthy life. 

Oct. 31, 2013

It has been a while, but a lot has been going on.  Thank goodness for my neighbor who owned a "Magic Bullet".....if you have to do the powdered diet that you mix with water....it makes all the difference with the food.  I have not had difficulty with hunger.  I have not had difficulty going out while others are eating.  I have to work at getting enough water in.  I did find it easier to buy the smaller (8 oz. water bottles) to get the majority of my water down.  I am still working on the amount they want me to drink.  Someone asked me tonight about how many weeks I had left before surgery.  WOW...can you believe it?  2 weeks and 2 days!  It seems like I have waited forever and yet this time will pass way too quickly!  There is so much to do in the next week to make sure EVERYTHING is in place for the sub at school.  I stayed after today and started cutting cards they will need to teach with....ran extra papers for my aides to use (educational) but also has the Thanksgiving theme.  My parents are moving right after my surgery....that's a bummer.  I would love to hear from someone who has had the sleeve recently.  I am looking forward to a healthier life.  

Oct. 18, 2013

It has been a pretty good week overall so far.  I go Wednesday to see my dietician.  I hope they are pleased with my progress and we continue toward the goal set.  I honestly can say I have not been hungry on this and sometimes have to make myself eat all they want me to eat.  I feel like a lot of us that use to support each other must not visit this site anymore.  Have a  great Friday night.

Oct. 14, 2013

It is so wonderful that I have not had a headache for the last two days!!!!  Yay!!!!  The magic bullet was the answer for mixing the powdered products.  One week down and 5 to go!  We can do this .... seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!  Good luck!

Oct. 13, 2013

I began the preop diet.  I had some difficulty at first with mixing the shakes and soup without clumps.  It was not appetizing to try to drink the mixtures with the clumps.  I have a friend who owns the "Bullet" and she brought it over.  It works amazingly.  I am able to premix them and have them cold and ready for the next day.

One of the difficulties I have had are the headaches.  It began Tuesday night and I have had one every day since.  Yesterday was a killer.  I really thought I was going to have to go to ER to get some relief.  I know that my body has to adjust to the new food...but I was almost not able to function yesterday.  

The headache is gone for today....thank goodness.....hopefully they will be over for the most part.

I am anxious to see the dietician on the 23rd to see how I am doing.  I know that my pants feel looser.....so even if not pounds...must be inches.

 

Oct. 8, 2013

I went to the nutritionalist yesterday.  I was weighed and received my instructions for the next few weeks.  I started the diet today.  It was not as bad as I had anticipated.  I have been on complete liquid diets before and have no trouble doing so.  I was given a "variety" and was worried about some of the choices I had.  So today I made one of the items a shake and the other two shakes I made like pudding.  The pudding never set up and the shake was very watery.  But like I said, it was not as bad as I had anticipated.  I had the soup for supper and a berry drink after dinner.  This is just the beginning of the rest of my life.  I can not wait to see what my future holds.

Oct. 5, 2013

I went back and read my posts from right before and after lap band surgery.  I fought with insurance to pay and still did not succeed for their assistance.  Funny how things have not changed.  I was so depressed when the lap band failed me and had to be removed, that I started on a long journey to get where I am today.  Once I was able to heal and inquire about what the next step was...I was told that I needed to wait at least 6 months before any other surgery.  That would give my stomach time to heal.  He also would like to see me lose before the next surgery.  I went to the dr. that was recommended....I was given a diet and diet pills and silly me forgot to ask about any side effects to watch for.  Everything was going fine.  I had to go to the hospital for some tests and the person taking my blood pressure had a funny look on her face.  I asked her if there was a problem.  She told me that my blood pressure was a little high.  NEVER did she go and get someone....never had me go to the emergency room to have it rechecked.  So when I got in the truck, I asked my husband to take me to our primary dr.  Good thing....it was 200+ over 200+......he counteracted it with medication that made me very sleepy.  I went home and laid down....then when mother nature called....I got up and had difficulty focusing.  While in the necessary room I began to realize I was in trouble. I began feeling like I was going to pass out, couldn't make my hands move, my ears felt closed up and I had trouble speaking.  My husband came to check on me and wanted to call paramedics immediately.  I managed to have him help me back to the bed.  Evidently my blood pressure bottomed out.  Needless to say....NO MORE DIET PILLS.  I then went from that to a complete liquid diet.  I managed to lose right under 40 pounds and then hit a plateau.  All this time I was following a house bill about weight loss surgery.  Different events occurred and I knew that weight loss surgery was not in the near future.  The harder I tried to lose....the harder it was. I was angry with all the people who had lap bands, who never followed the rules from day one, who never went to have any fills, that insurance paid for, and they want it removed.  They hate their band....they like food better.  I was a cash pay for my surgery....I followed the rules....lost 85 pounds in 19 months...and felt like a million dollars.  Then the band decided it didn't like me anymore.  It eroded into my stomach and had to be removed.  My weight has been up and down the same 10 pounds for several years.  

The bill finally passed and they were conducting a study in Louisiana.  The Heads Up program was formed through my insurance company.  They would be sending out letters to all members concerning the study and recruiting 200 people for lap band, gastric bypass and diet.  I was one of the first to sign up....did not wait for the letter.  I was immediately rejected due to the fact that I had already had surgery and they were looking for first time individuals for these procedures.  "I DID NOT MEET PROTOCOL AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE STUDY."   I was and am devastated that once again, rejected.  There were people before my lap band that the state insurance paid for and now this study is paying for their surgery, etc.  AGAIN I WILL HAVE TO BE CASH PAY.  There is nothing fair about the "exclusion" when this surgery is a necessity....I am not the first person to have the band erode nor will I be the last. 

As you can see....that is still a touchy subject for me.  But I am very excited that my husband has generously offered to use part of his retirement so I can get the help I need.

I really hope there will be someone who will relay their experiences with me between the erosion of their band and the revision to the sleeve.  

I am looking forward to this new adventure.  I go Monday and will begin my 6 week liquid diet.  Wow....6 weeks.  Seems like a long time...and then again it will pass very quickly.  Then the first of November I will have all my preop's done.  Finally on the 18th of November....I will begin my new life.

October 5

I am interested in hearing from those who had the lap band and then had the revision done to the sleeve.  

Surgery Date

I will be having my revision on November 18th.  After my band decided it didn't like me anymore in 2009, I will now be the proud owner of a sleeve.  I am looking forward to this experience and much needed surgery.  I am  looking forward to having my health and my life back.  I am looking forward to my future.

I go and see Dr. Merriman at 4:30.  I hope to know more about the date for surgery and meet with the nutritionalist.  Getting excited that this may become a reality..  

I am once again excited.  I have waited a very long time in order to be able to post this message.  I am finally going to have a revision!  I will go to see my surgeon on the 26th of Sept. to make arrangements.  I don't have many details yet....At first we thought that it would have to be an open procedure.  The is a strong possibility that it can be laproscopic.  I do not know at this time if it will be the sleeve or bypass....but either way!!!!!  I am looking forward to having a life again!  I hope that I can find encouragement here once again as I did the first time I had lap band.  

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I happened to open my home email tonight and had a message from Obesity Help congratulating me on 4 years of success with my band.  I cried.  I wish I still had my band...and no way of paying for another procedure at this time.  Anyway...Merry Christmas to everyone!  I wish you much success....keep posting...I love to read about your journeys.

November 8, 2011

I have not been here in a long time.  I hope that everyone is doing well.  I have met so many people who HATE their bands, who don't follow the rules, and want their bands out!  I don't understand why I had to be the 1% and they still have theirs.  I am so proud of you who have done well.  Keep up the great work!

November 17, 2011

Where is time going?  I can't believe next week is Thanksgiving.  I have so much to acomplish in the next 6 months.  If I could lose 50 pounds by May.  Wow!  Would that help me a great deal!

Can you believe it.  Another year already.

We had lots of sleet today.  Around 6 this morning...was the only snow we had.  The flakes were at least the size of half dollars.  It was beautiful.

No school tomorrow.

No surgery of any kind yet.  I have to have a root canal next Monday....I have to call the Dr.'s office in the morning about the surgery on my legs to increase circulation and then sometime...get in touch with Dr. Merriman's office to discuss surgery this summer.

I hope that everyone is doing well...the surgeries are working and this will be our best year yet!

November 20, 2010

I haven't been here since the beginning of school.  I have not had any surgery yet...and had planned at first to have one during the Thanksgiving holiday and take off the rest of the year.  I changed my mind.

I am planning right now to try and have it after school is out.  We will see.

I have been on an all liquid diet since August.....I have lost 39 pounds....oh my...960 calories and just 39 pounds... I am not complaining though...but I would like to lose another 30-50 pounds before surgery.  I have to have surgery on my legs for circulation too...I won't know anything until December about that.

I hope everyone is doing well...HAPPY THANKSGIVING !