Mary Ellen S.
June 25, 2006
Jun 24, 2006
Tomorrow I go in for my first fill. I am excited. Had a lot of trouble this last week. Felt like I was having a heart attack! Freaked me out. Well, after a couple of no sleep nights I called the doctors office. (ok I am a typical woman that takes care of everyone else but themselves) After talking to me for quite awhile and ruling some things out we decided to treat it as acid reflux. Darn if that doesn't feel like a heart attack. I have had heart burn when I was pregnant but it did not feel like this. Ugh. Well, I'm still suffering but the Pepcid AC is helping me a lot. I will see what the doc says in the morning. I'm officially at 25lbs. Hope this fill helps things continue along smoothly.
June 18, 2006
Jun 17, 2006
I did get my appt. for my first fill changed to June 26th and they told me to go ahead and keep my July appt. because I might need another fill. I know Dr. Tull is very conservative with his fills and I am ok with that since I want to take this nice and slow. Since I wrote on the 6th things have changed. I am not hungry anymore, well, not like I was. I am eating smaller portions and those 4lbs have come back off. Not sure if there is a little restriction or I have just gotten my tummy to shrink a little. I get full on about a cup of food and that lasts until the next meal. I have done little to no inbetween meal snacking. I haven't always made the best food choices but have really for the most part been doing pretty good. After some prompting from my friends and Bridget, a great supporter, who I met on the lapband board I decided to join Curves. I had my first workout on Friday and was sweating like a pig so for now I know this will be a good workout for me. I will be doing curves 3 days a week and trying to get to the pool for water aerobics at least 2 days a week. So that should help a lot! I'll report in after my first fill. One more week!
June 06, 2006
Jun 05, 2006
Boy have things changed. I am now eating mostly normal foods. Chewing everything till it's mush. Well, I have never attempted breads or meat like steak but have had some fish filets and some chicken with no problems. I am a little frustrated right now. Ok not a little a lot. I know this is all normal and I know this is my body playing tricks on me and I know this all will pass but geez it's hard anyway. I have gained 4lbs! I finally just stopped getting on the scale. It drives me crazy. So even though I am not eating that much I hate that I am gaining. So consequently it is easy for the mind hunger to come creaping up. I am not scheduled for a first fill until JULY 24th! That is like 6 more weeks! or 9 or 10 weeks post op. I think I will go crazy before that. I do not want to gain all this weight back. I know he said I would most likely gain but I do not want to! Dr. Tull said that he is unofficially in the office on June 26th and if I was really feeling the need we could try a fill then. Well, even though I am not fully healed I think I will be feeling the need!! Depending on how things go maybe I can even keep my July appt and have a second fill. I will be traveling July 16-21st to SLC Utah and think that is enough time after a first fill to be doing good. Anyway I just needed to post that I am struggling
May 27, 2006
May 26, 2006
I am down 23lbs today. I'm going to enjoy this 1lb a day weight loss while it lasts because I know it won't. I asked the doc. about the left shoulder pain and he said it is due to a nerve we have running up our left shoulder that is affected by where they place the band. Should subside in about a month but could return with fills. I know many people ask about that pain and maybe that will help someone. My shoulder pain seems to be gone now. I haven't had any for several days which is nice. I still feel quite restricted. I was a little disappointed because the doctor said full liquids now for 2 weeks and then mushies for 2 weeks. Even though I am restricted I am bored. I am ready for even tuna fish or something other than soup and protein shakes. But it's working so I won't worry too much and about 6oz of anything fills me up for a good 2 hours. So as long as I don't think about it too much I am ok. We always go out as a family on Saturday nights that was kind of hard. Always go to Steak N Shake so to watch everyone eat while I sipped on my broth was a little tough but doable. It gets easier and easier but gee I would have liked a bite of sandwich! LOL! I haven't even attempted anything solid just not wishing to risk any problems yet.
May 22, 2006
May 21, 2006
I just had to report in I made it over the weekend! Yes, I am now officially under 300lbs! I was 299 on Sunday and 298 Today (monday) for a grand total weight loss of 19lbs! I go in to see Dr. Tull for my first post op appt today. I dread his scale because it is about 10lbs heavier than mine here at home plus I will have clothes on!! LOL. I am doing great though! Had a little pain yesterday in my shoulders almost hurt to breath. Went back on pain pills (that's what they are for anyway) and felt so much better. Helped me get through the day. Today I feel great! and hope not to need them at all. Everything is healing well.
May 19, 2006
May 18, 2006
Amazing, surgery two days ago and today was driving to town to take youngest son to physical therapy and going to softball game tonight with youngest daughter! I am thrilled that I am feeling this good. Started on full liquids today. Had some tomato soup and some protein shake. Definitely can't get down anything like I could before surgery. Had 4oz of shake this morning and about 6oz of soup for lunch and another 4oz of shake for supper and that was all I could handle other than sipping on water all day. Didn't get a ton down but I think that will improve with time. I think part of my success is that I actually took my full dose of pain meds last night and got a good nights sleep. I think that helped tremendously.
May 18, 2006
May 17, 2006
Banded! I feel pretty good. Sore at the port site, headachy from the anesthesia I guess, but otherwise fine. Surgery went well. Dr. Tull said he got the small band in and thought I would do well with it. I actually feel restriction today. I am sure it's from swelling. I am on clear liquids today and can start full liquids tomorrow for a week and mushys for 2 weeks. Hope that goes ok. My stomach is growling big time but for some reason it is not bothering me at all. I had lost 13.5lbs on the pre-op liquid diet. I started at 317 and was 303.5 yesterday before surgery. Doc said he didnt' care if I gained 20lbs this month because it was all about healing! I said heck I just lost 13lbs I dont' want to go back there!! He said Oh you won't but I want you to know we will work the band with your first fill right now just take it easy and don't worry about calories just heal. I really like him. He is so easy to talk to. Thanks for all the well wishes for my surgery. It went well and I know it was from all the prayers going up on my behalf! Thank You!
May 16, 2006
May 15, 2006
Tomorrow is the big day! I am feeling pretty calm considering. My head hunger is subsiding and things have been much better these last couple of days. I have lost 13lbs on the pre-op diet. I think I can handle the liquids for a little while longer now. I look forward to getting some of this weight off. I can't wait to be feeling more energy. I am determined to work this band. I know it won't always be easy but I am determined to try to get this weight off. I have tried so many times in the past. Losing 50lbs has happened probably 4 or 5 times in my adult life but then life happens and it comes back on and then some. I hope the band will help me have a little more control. I always told myself I would never weight 300lbs. Ha I've been over 300lbs now for a couple of years! Not much over but heck still over! I'm 4lbs from being back in the 200's and then I hope to never see the 300's again....EVER! Well, I will report in after I am banded.
May 9. 2006
May 08, 2006
Today I am suffering. I am so hungry. Can't tell if it's actual hunger or head hunger. I just want to get through today. I have lost about 5 or 6lbs already since I started liquids but it doesn't help me feel less hungry unfortunately. One more week of this liquid diet before I have surgery! Yikes!
May 3, 2006
May 02, 2006
Things are moving pretty fast. I have to start on my liquid pre-op diet right away. Met with the dietician and had my pre-op physical. Have to go have my chest x-ray, EKG and blood work done tomorrow.
About Me
East Central, IL
Location
24.4
BMI
Surgery
05/17/2006
Surgery Date
Apr 23, 2006
Member Since
