ChubbyCyclist

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I haven't been in here for a looooooooooong time.

This has been a great year.  My weight is 174.5 so that is like a 63.5 loss.  Life is good!

4 weeks after the start of the liquid diet.  2 weeks post op.  I hit 199.5 this morning.  What a happy day!

I'm a week out and doing well.  Incisions are healing well.  Still have a bit of soreness when I try to sit up.  Sleeping has gotten almost back to normal.

I've lost 4 pounds this week, which makes me happy.  Since I started the liquid diet 3 weeks ago, I've lost 21 pounds.  = )

I'm taking Calcium Citrate "easy to swallow petites."  They are not easy to swallow for me.  I even cut them into fourths, which seem even more difficult to swallow.  I guess I'll investigate chewable ones.

Tomorrow I go back to work.  = (  I feel well enough but I expect to feel really tired.

P.S. Anyone local might be interested in this.  I went to Giant this morning and they had the store brand WheySoy Protein shake on sale for "buy one, get one free."

Ahhhhhhhhh........my surgery was yesterday.  I am so thankful to have this opportunity to begin again.

I went in at 6:30.  I remember being in the room before the OR.  Dr. Halmi came in and talked to my sweetie and I.  I remember being rolled into the OR and thinking what an ugly room it was.  The lights above my body were huge and ....weird.   Then I woke up an hour and 15 minutes later in the recovery room.  The nurse told me that she'd never seen a lapband patient wake up that fast.  Not sure what that meant, but I'm glad I woke up.  = )   My doctor spoke to my guy a couple of times before and after surgery.  I appreciated that.

There were no rooms available until after 11 so I just laid in recovery listening to nurse gossip.  They were really nice though. 

Since Dr. Halmi said I could go home that afternoon, I was anxious to get the ball rolling.  I'm always that way.  Overanxious to get the ball rolling.  It doesn't always serve me well.  I wasn't peeing much until around 9:30 that night though I was drinking lots and they were filling me with IV fluids.  I did get to go home then, which made me happy.

Medicine wise, I haven't taken any high powered pain relievers since I left the hospital.  Liquid high strength Tylenol has been my elyxir of choice.  Probably I have taken it three times since last night.

One thing that my sweety did for me that helped immensely, was to put a small step ladder that has a curved handle across the top by my side of the bed.  That way I could just roll off the bed and push myself off that rail.  It was easier getting out of my own bed than it was the hospital bed.

I first went to my surgeon's office at the weight of 233.  When I went to pick up my Optifast for the pre-op diet I weighed in at 227.  By yesterday morning I weighed 210.5.  I didn't weight this morning because I thought it might be wonky from the surgery.

I'm not hungry and I wasn't hungry yesterday. I'm making sure I take in my fluids and protein.  I'm concerned about not getting enough calories and put my body into fast mode.  Since no doctor really mentioned calories I guess I shouldn't worry.

Today I have walked on the treadmill a mile and still have a mile to go.  I'll get that in during Oprah. 

Thank you for all the good wishes you have sent my way.  They were appreciated.

Only a few days til my surgery.  Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Surgery Day!!!  I've got the earliest surgery of the day with my surgeon, so I'm hoping I'll be able to go home the same day.

My surgeon's office put me on a two week liquid diet with Optifast.  It hasn't been horrible at all.  The Optifast chocolate shakes....chicken soups...and peanut butter chocolate bars were all quite good.  No complaints.  I did get hungry if I went off my 2 hour schedule, but I survived.  My last meal was eaten each day by 5:30 and that's pretty much the same as when I eat a regular diet.  I usually had a cup of herbal spice (decaf) tea after that in the evening, which I found satisfying.  Weight lost so far.....17 pounds in 9 days.  Can you believe it??????

I really am happy with my surgeon's office.  They have been friendly and informative.  They are always helpful too.  So, I'm looking forward to a lasting relationship with them over the years.

Today I went to my PCP with all my test results.  After looking at all the reports from my tests, he declared me in good health and gave his approval.  He said that my lungs looked really good, so I credit that to years of working out.  I've been slacking this week, but will jump back on the bandwagon this afternoon. 

I've been watching lots of lap band video blogs on YouTube.  That has been a tremendous help and inspiration.  I don't have the nerve to put my face out there for ever and ever, but appreciate those who do.  They also benefit from the great connection and support with other banders.  I don't really feel that here; I don't have a clue if anyone is reading this.  Hopefully someone along the way will appreciate that I have shared my experience though. 

So, I have a week and a half until I start my liquid diet.  Things are moving quickly and I am ready for it.

Because of lots of conflicts later in the month, I got all of my medical appointments done today.  Xrays.  Sonogram.  Upper GI.  Labs.  Anesthesiologist.  I was so thankful to get it all done today.  Nothing was daunting or uncomfortable.  I meet with my PCP on Friday to get the final approval for surgery.  

Two weeks from tomorrow I meet my surgeon for the last time before surgery, and then start my two week Optifast diet.   I've been on a Medifast diet for about a month, so I am not expecting any shocking difference.  The only real change will be that I will miss my one "lean and green meal" a day.  

I guess the countdown is now ON.

As much of a pain in the neck as my psych evaluation was, setting up appointments for pre-op has been quite wonderful.  The hospital has a "one stop shop" for all the testing, and I wanted to get it all done there.  I wanted to get it done during spring break too, so I didn't have to take time off from work.  Though they were heavily booked, the appointment lady moved heaven and earth to get me in.  God love her!  I was ecstatic.  So, my pre-op appointments begin Monday.  I have a month and a half til surgery.

Watching tons of YouTube vlogs by lap banders.  Quite informative.

Finally!  Thank goodness for St. Patty's Day and the luck of the Irish.  I got approval and a date!   

April 28.

I wrote to the surgeon's office today to check up on if my paperwork had been sent in.  After the torturous wait for the psychologist, I was afraid of being forgotten.  Dr. Halmi's insurance person said that it all had been sent in a few days ago.  Once I get the thumbs up or thumbs down, I'll feel as though I can start breathing again.