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Well it was 1 year on 4/2/09 (now it is 9/7/09, the time is flying).  I've lost 111 pounds and still have about 30 more to go.  I love my band and just need to continue to work on food.  Head hunger is still there, but I'm slowly conquering it.  I will say that I don't eat real heatlhy.  I eat like popcorn, milk, coffee, and chocolate on a daily basis.  The healthy stuff just doesn't really go down.  But I will work on that, now that the weight is falling off.

I had my fourth fill on 9/6, I got 1 1/2 ccs (4 1/2 now in a 14cc band).  I have had one sliming episode (on ice-cream of all things) and have felt stuck twice.  I know the band is working and doing its job, now I must continue to do mine.  Best decision I ever made!

Hi,
Well I'm between 38-42lbs loss (depending on the day and the TOM).  My clothes are fitting better and I feel better energy wise.  I just got my third fill (3ccs in a 14cc band) last week and I finally have slight restriction.  Up to last week I was eating Everything that wasn't nailed down (or at least it felt that way).  But now that I'm feeling restriction (weird feeling when I eat to fast or the wrong thing), so now I'm being more careful.  I don't think I'm anywhere near my sweet spot, but gradually I will get there.  I'm trying to pump myself up more to do more, this band is a tool and I have to work it.  Sometimes I want it to do all the work for me, but that WON"T happen.  I hope to be down by at least 50lbs by month 4.  We will see.  I also got my surgery bill it was $25,000 but my insurance covered all of it but $100 (how lucky I was on that).  So after pre-op stuff, I probably paid $1400 out of pocket.  But now, I have heard that my fills may range between $100-$250, I hope it is the lower end of that range!

Well it has been 2 months and 3 days since I had my surgery.  I am down between 33-35lbs depending on the day.  I have been eating a lot of food the past two weeks and staying at my current weight (surprised I haven't gained).  I have had one fill in late May and only could handle 1cc of saline in my 14 cc band.  I orignally go 4ccs, but felt acid reflux immediately.  Dr took some out and now I have no restriction.  I go next week 6/13 for my second fill, hopefully this will give me restriction, not to the point that I can't eat but maybe so that I'm not so hungry.  Right now, I am very hungry and eat the same way.  I am starting the Plateau Buster diet today and hoping it will jump start my weightloss right before my next fill. I would love to be down 40lbs by the time I get my next fill, but we will see!

12/18/07                  1/23/08
Seminar @              Evaluation
Norton's                   (Dietician, 
                                   
_____________________________________________________

So far...
Regular Dr $15 co pay
Norton's Bariatric Center Fee $300
Cardiologist co pay $15
Pulmonary Specialist co pay x 2 $30
Surgeon's consult fee $250
Sleep Apnea medical charge $178.51
Sleep Apnea Test $257.81
so far pre surgery total:  1046.32

12/18  Seminar at Norton’s Bariatric 5pm-6:30 (approx)

Dr. Ben Tanner gave the seminar.  Slideshow showing the different bariatric surgeries.  Question and Answer session at the end.  Had to fill out a packet.  I filled mine out in advance and turned it in that night.  Included letter from Dr.

1/15(4 weeks/usually 3 but longer due to holidays):  Received call to set up first appointment.

 

1/23(1 week & 1 day from call, 5 weeks & 1 day from beginning):  First appointment at Norton’s Hospital.  Watched a 30 minute movie about the procedures/including testominals.  Met with Psychatrist for a few minutes.  Just asked about family history and any past depression/anxiety.  Then met with dietician.  She explained the eating plan after surgery and gave me a sample of injury protein.  Last I met with a nurse.  She weighed me and asked just a few more additional questions about my commitment to have the procedure.  This visit cost $300 out of pocket (not covered by insurance)

 

1/29:  Name was sent to surgeon’s office from Norton’s Healthcare

 

2/6 (2 weeks since appt at Norton’s, 7 weeks & 1 day from beginning):   LaDonna called from Dr. Tanner’s office to set up appt with Surgeon.

2/13:  Called to make appt for Sleep Apena test consult

   

2/20:  2:45pm had appt with nurse and Dr. Ramirez for my Sleep study consult.  They had an opening (cancellation) and had me stay the night that evening for my sleep apena test.   Spent the night at Audubon Hospital.  21 wires were connected to my body (head, face, chest, side, legs) and connected to a box.  The nurse had me try on the CPAP equipment to see how it worked (air pumps up your nostrils) in case she had to wake me up in the middle of the night and put me on it.  My room was private with a TV/shower etc.  Watched TV and went to bed at 10pm.  Asked the nurse to wake me at 5:30 (for work).  But I had to use the bathroom at 4:30 (had to call the nurse so they could unhook my wires).  Never went back to bed.  Slept fine.  Just woke up twice when the nurse came in to adjust some of my wires.  I don’t believe I have sleep apena, they never had to wake me up to put on the CPAP (but I have been told that doesn’t automatically exclude you from the disorder) but I have a follow-up scheduled for 3/19^th at 2:50.

 

-Feeling anxious and a little nervous (because I don’t know what to expect, since everyone is different).  Heard I have more test to do before surgery, will ask the Dr. on 2/22.

 

2/22 (9 weeks & 3 days since my first seminar):  9:15 meet with Dr. Tanner (surgeon)

Had to go see my regular Dr and get medical, pulmonary, & cardio clearance (had to see a cardiologist, pulmonary splst).  Did a chest X-ray and a Pulmonary Function Test.  

3/21:  Had my 2nd appt with Dr. Tanner (my surgeon), I go for pre-op on 3/27 & have a surgery date 4/2/08 @ 7:30a
Excited & Nervous!

3/27:  Went to the hosp for pre-op blood work and had one more Q/A session with about 10 other future band patients.

4/2/08:  Had surgery at 7:30a (had to be at the hospital at 5:30).  They gave me an IV, and a blood clot prevention shot in my tummy.  Took me to the operating room and gave me sleepy meds through my IV.  Woke up in the recovery room (where I stayed for 7 hours, because they had no rooms available).  Got to my private room around 5:30pm.  Very tired and a little sore.  They had blood clot cuffs around my ankles that inflated every few minutes (like a blood pressure machine).  Had a few visitors (Hubby, Mom, sister, brother-in-law, nephew, & aunt).  Went to bed at 8:30, but didn't get much sleep.  Nurses came in every hour checking my vitals and check my incisions.  At 4am they took blood.  At 8am I was taken downstairs for a swallow test.  I had to drink barium (not very tasty) and stand in front of a fancy x-ray machine to make sure I didn't have any slippage.  I was told I could finally have something to eat/drink (had been 36 hours since I was allowed any food/drink).  I was given a cup of water, chicken broth, and a blueberry popsicle. The broth was gross, but I ate a few bites since I was soooo hungry.  But I ate all of the popsicle (Yummy).  I was released from the hospital day 2 at 2:30

4/4/08:  Was able to take a shower and feel pretty good. I have a little bit of gas pain in my shoulder and neck and my tummy is growling a lot, but nothing awful.  I hope it stays this way.  I am drinking protein shakes and soups for the next two weeks.  Oh and popsicles, yummy!

4/5/08:  3 days post op feeling pretty good.  Even went out to a card party.  Later in the day went to my moms where they were having a cook out.  It was so hard because I really wanted a hamburger, but I stuck with my soup.  Thank goodness for the band, because if it was just another diet, I would have given in.

4/6:  Got on the scale this morning and I am down 13lbs in 4 days (I am sure it is because I am on all liquids, but because I didn't have a pre-op diet I will take any loss)

4/23:  My 3 week bandiversary:  Down 21lbs, feeling greating and trying to walk as much as possible.  On the soft food stage right now, but not doing too bad!

4/30:  4 week (1 month) bandiversary:  Down 27-29lbs (27 based on day before surgery, 29 based on Dr. scale the week prior).  Feeling great, working on eating solids.  Don't really have much restriction, but feel confident that I must relearn how to eat.  Using my tool wisely!