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I had my first follow up appointment on Monday.

Everything looks fine. It was a PA I had never met before. She removed the remaining steri-strips and snipped some of the internal stitches that were sticking out. There were a few pinches and pulls. My incisions look pretty good. The port and the incision right next to it will leave the most noticeable scars.

I had to make another appointment for next month. We talked about my first fill. I don't think I'm going to be able to get it until AFTER I get back from vacation. *pouts* I leave for vacation 10 days after my next visit and they don't like to give fills (specially the first one) within 2 weeks of a trip where you won't be near the office. 

I do understand and certainly don't want any problems on my vacation. I hope I can at least maintain in that time. We'll see how I do with regular food. I've been doing well with mushies so far. Today is 30 days since I started the pre-op diet and I've lost .... 28lbs!!!! I'm beyond thrilled.

I found out a few days ago that's what my "condition" is called. 

Around the time I started my pre-op liquid diet, I started getting a weird feeling in the back of my throat. It was like there was something stuck back there. No matter how much I cleared my throat or coughed it wouldn't go away. I've had strep throat quite a few times and it wasn't the same sensation.

I went and saw my PCP on the Friday before my surgery just to make sure I didn't have an infection. She said my throat looked fine and maybe I was having some kind of reaction to the whey protein or all the dairy. Perhaps a mucous build up or post nasal drip?

Surgery went fine that Monday - the feeling in my throat never left though. I ruled out any allergy type symptom because I was on clear liquids for 4 days. 

Went back to my PCP last Friday and she said everything still looked fine but gave me an antibiotic just to be sure. After 5 days on it, all it did was give me a yeast infection. My doctor said I needed to see an ENT because she didn't know what was going on. She rattled off a number of things it could be and heart burn was one of them. A light bulb went off! Why hadn't she mentioned this before!?!

When the discomfort started I also had a blockage feeling in my chest. I've never really had bad heartburn so I guess I don't get the normal symptoms but when I saw the doctor for the EGD she found the start of 2 small ulcers and that I have GERD. I took Previcid for a month and was fine.

I did some research online and many other people have the same problem I have been having - they call it GLOBUS SENSATION. Ahhh - at least I know what it is now!! I called my Gastro doc that had done the EGD and she said to try Prilosec for 14 days. It should make a difference in under a week - today is day 4 and things aren't much different. I don't feel a tightness in my chest at night any more and my throat is a little better.

It's been almost 3 weeks of this sensation and I was really hoping it would clear up before I switch to mushies. What a pain in the ass for this to happen right when I had my surgery!!!

I see Dr Geiss for my first follow up on Monday. All Lap Band related healing is right on track. I’m feeling back to normal and have lost 23lbs so far!!! I start mushies on Monday and really need to kick it up with my daily walks so that calorie increase doesn’t slow down my momentum too much. I am sooooooooo looking forward to eating real food again!!!

 I went to the hospital yesterday and had my pre-surgery testing done. They drew blood, I had to pee in a cup, met with the anesthesiologist, and had a physical. 

Today I went to my PCP and had ANOTHER physical and she faxed over my clearance for surgery.

Looks like it's really happening! I can't believe my surgery is in 5 days!!

So far I've lost 7.5lbs on the liquid diet. I've been craving Taco Bell and Doritos like a mad woman!! Over all, it hasn't been as bad as I was expecting. I just had a Diet Dr Pepper – this is my last soda! That has been the worst – kicking soda. I haven’t been drinking much for the last 2 months and I miss it sooo much.

This really sucks!  I never want to see another protein shake again. Only 3 days and I'm already freaking out.  I hope I can do this! My poor boyfriend - I actually cried last night - lol! I think I'm just worried the Band isn't going to work for me. Nothing else ever has ...

I started my pre-op liquid diet 3 days ago (8/16/07) My doctor only requires  7 days but I've been eating so poorly the last month or so (major case of "Final Meal Syndrome" ) that  I started 4 days early. 

 I've also walked with the dog for 45 minutes each day. 

I'm really trying to do my best to get things moving in the right direction! I'm going on vacation at the end of Oct to Disney and I want to lose as much as possible before then!  Plus I’m sure the holidays will be a trying time.

I've been meaning to blog about my whole "Lap Band Experience" but haven't gotten around to it.  Here goes ...

I started the process for the Lap Band back in Jan. I'd thought about WLS seriously and researched it for about a year. Once I finally made my choice, I hit a road block right away. My insurance plan (Anthem BC/BS) had an exclusion for WLS. DAMN!! Luckily, my employer said they would allow me to switch plans if I could find one that covered WLS. I would have to pay the difference if the new plan was more expensive.

I found a plan with GHI that was within $10 per month of my Anthem plan. GHI wouldn't tell me anything other than they cover WLS if it's medically necessary. I scoured the net and read EVERYTHING I could find about GHI and took a chance with them. They ended up approving me within a week of the request submission. All my worrying was for nothing!!! lol

Going back to Jan ...

I found a surgeon with a great reputation in my area and read everything I could about him on OH and the net. I had a consultation with Dr Geiss in Feb and decided he was the surgeon for me. He's done about 1800 Bands and it is the only WLS he now does. Everyone on his staff was pleasant, helpful, and understanding. I'm sure I drove them all crazy with my emails and phone calls. I'm overly meticulous with details. I think Dr Geiss's staff had as much to do with my choice, as his reputation did.

I found a doctor in my area (I only moved to NY 1 year ago and hadn't needed a doc since moving) to start the 6 month diet that Dr. Geiss's office advised me GHI would ask for. I started seeing a local female doctor and did the dreaded monthly weigh-in. I lied every month and said I was exercising and dieting. I wasn't kidding anyone though because I gained 10lbs between my 1st and 4th visit!! Then I got serious and lost about 15 pounds between visits 5 and 6. 

I got all my visits for the pre-op tests completed by the end of June, right when my 6 month "diet" was over. Luckily my employer is very understanding because I don't know how people get all that stuff done during business hours! 

I went to the Band seminar held by Dr. Geiss's office.

 Then I saw:
Pulmonary doc for breathing exercises and a chest x-ray. She also sent me for a sleep study, which I had to do twice. (HELL - complete hell!) Of course I have severe sleep apnea. (I got the CPAP machine about 3 weeks ago and haven't used it at all - I'm so bad!)
Cardiologist for the stress test (that was a real fun way to waste 5 hours on a Saturday) and they did an ECHO and EKG on me.
Gastrology for the Endoscopy. [sp?] (I got a nice surprise co-pay bill for that, $500.00!!!) I was surprised she didn't do the dreaded Upper GI - I'm sure I'll get to experience the gross barium swallow in my future anyway - lol
I got blood work done for the thyroid tests.
I saw the surgeon recommended nutritionist and shrink. ($250.00 EACH!!) I actually got a lot out of the hour with the psychologist. I'm glad her office is close to my house, I think I'm going to try and see her a few times after surgery - I think I'll need it! lol

I also took care of some dental work I'd been putting off forever. I got 2 root canals and crowns done in March. I figured I can't "chew-chew-chew" if my teeth are in bad shape.

 I just saw the OR nurse with other people being banded around the same time I am. I have the PST next week and a final physical with my PCP for clearance the following day.

When all is said and done I count 23 appointments! And that’s BEFORE the surgery!!  That's a MAJOR accomplishment for someone afraid of doctors - lol! 

Too late to back out now - I've spent about $1800.00 in co-pays and  surgery is scheduled for 8/27/07!