Gained weight
May 02, 2007
As of today I'm up 5lbs from my lowest weight since surgery of 251. I'm neither surprised nor disappointed. I know that any weight I lose before my fill is a bonus. I don't get a fill until 31 May (I hope). Why did I gain weight? Let's see...I'm not exercising and I've been eating dried fruit and nuts too late in the evening. I still don't have the crazy cravings for sweets and junk I had pre-op. Thank God. The nutritionist thinks I’m doing great and so do I. I forgot to ask her about my constipation. I purchased some powdered fiber from Wal-Mart which blends nicely into my protein shakes. Still after taking the fiber for almost 2 weeks, there’s still no “movement.” I’ll give it another week and then I’ll have to try something else. Yesterday I got my 64 oz. of water in. Hopefully I can keep up that trend. My blood pressure is normal so no more BP pills. I stopped taking my diabetes pills after I had my surgery. I need to have the nurse here at work check my fasting blood sugar. Dr. Lou (the urologist) called me yesterday and told me he’s going to have to operate again on my kidney. He hasn’t given me a date. I’m a little bummed by that ‘cause it’s going to mess up my workout. All in all I feel like I’m doing ok and I feel great. I have some slight discomfort in my port area. From what I’ve read on the OH website this is normal. Until next time…
A month later
Apr 15, 2007
Here it is almost a month later and things are going very well. Since surgery I've had very little appetite. But what's even more amazing is that I have no desire for sweets. Easter came and went and I ate not one piece of chocolate. I love this band. I know this is not the case for some people. I've read on the OH website that some are starving 3 days post op. We're all very different. As I said before pain was minimum. I would call it discomfort. Still having some discomfort in the port area. All but two of my steri strips have fallen off. I’ve lost 16lbs. This is without doing much walking. I get to start exercising on 7 May. I’m looking forward to that. I eat the same breakfast Monday thru Friday – cottage cheese mixed with unsweetened applesauce. On the weekend I have a scrambled egg with cheese and 1 slice bacon. Lunch and dinner is some type of protein and veggies. I don't usually get around to the carbs. I do induldge in about 4 Ritz whole wheat crackers with my lunch. Once this weekend I did eat when I wasn't hungry. I ate several (maybe 15) whole wheat crackers. What else can I tell you? Oh, I've been a little constipated since starting on pureed foods. I'll talk to the nutritionist about that when I see her on Friday. May have to add a fiber drink or pill or something to my diet. I love the fact that I'm saving so much money. I haven't gone to a fast food restaurant or purchased lunch at work since my surgery. I know lunch alone is saving me about $25/week. I'm also not drinking as much water as I should. Pre band I was drinking a gallon of water a day. Now I can barely get in 64 oz. That may be contributing to my constipation. I’ve had a terrible cold for the past week. Severe laryngitis. There was one day when I couldn’t talk at all. I coughed so much my abs hurt. I was constantly holding my stomach to cough. I was a little concerned about all the coughing, but then thought surely it couldn’t be doing any harm. I’ll bring that up with the nutritionist on Friday. I’ll try to write something after my meeting with the nutritionist on Friday.
I'm an official loser!
Mar 21, 2007
I'm home and feeling just great. I don't have any pain and the gas right now is minimal. I'm on full liquids so I had about a tablespoon of cream of wheat this morning before I left the hospital. They gave me 1/2 cup, but I could only get down a little then I didn't want any more. I'm not hungry, but I know I must eat. I'll start with a protein shake a little later today. I'm off to the bank then Wal-Mart to get a few things. I'm looking forward to this adventure. Pre-op I weighed 269. I'll weigh again at my follow up visit with Halmi and Tran next Thursday.
Today is the day
Mar 19, 2007
Well it's finally here. I have to be at the hospital at 11am today. I'm not nervous, but I'm thinking 'what the heck am I doing?' I'm having elective surgery. I pray I'm as successful as most are with the lap band. It's a little after 6 and I don't have my things in a bag. The woman who pre-registred me yesterday had the lap band several years ago. She lost 160lbs. Wow! She looked great. I wanted to ask her if she had plastic surgery, but didn't want to get too personal. So the big adventure begins. I'm really thirsty right now. I had a sip of water to get down the 2 Zantac tablets. I don't know why, but I have a lot of gas. Geez, I understand that's going to get worse. I hope it's all gone by the time I go back to work on Monday. One thing I've vowed not to do is weigh myself every day. I don't own a scale, but there is one at the gym at my job. It will be tempting. I plan on walking for 30 minutes every day on their treadmill. See you on the losing side.
I think it may happen!
Mar 19, 2007
My surgery is tomorrow! I won't believe it until I'm out of surgery and banded. I had an awful cold last week and thought that may be a reason to cancel surgery. But I feel much better today. Now I have my period and I know that will not prevent surgery. I've only told 2 people about the band. Both are my best friends. I decided not to tell my family because I don't want to be compared to my sister who had RNY about 5 years ago nor do I want to have them watch and be concerned about everything I eat. My friend who's taking me to the hospital isn't too keen about the surgery, but she's kept her opinons to herself. For that I'm thankful.
Still have the stone
Mar 07, 2007
Had surgery on Monday, 5 March to remove kidney stone out of tube (don't know the technical name, starts with a "u"). Urologist couldn't get it all out. He said it is really fused to the tube. He got as much out as he could and put in a stent. I have a little discomfort and it hurts when I urinate (I know TMI). Urologist did give clearance for me to have my lap band placed. So I'm having surgery now on 20 March at 2:30pm. I'm not going to get excited, because something else may come up.
Disappointed
Feb 20, 2007
I didn't have surgery today. Found out Thursday that I have a kidney stone. Dr. Halmi said that problem needs to be resolved, then I can have surgery. I'll have kidney stone removed on 5 Mar and prayerfully by 13 Mar I'll be able to have WLS. This has been a long road. If I don't get the surgery done by 20 Mar, I'll have to start from scratch. Geez, I really don't want to do that. I'll update after 5 March.
Test, test and more test
Jan 26, 2007
Since my last entry it seems like it's hurry up and wait. I went to get cleared by the pulumonary doctor and wound up having to do a sleep study. It was very interesting. The technician said I was the 5th loudest person he's ever studied. I do have sleep apena, but I guess I won't get the CPAP machine. Dr. Halmi has the results. He says once I lose the weight the apena will go away. Then I go to get cleared by my PCP and now I have high blood pressure. I'm sure that's because I've gained 10 lbs. since being approved. Geez. My PCP gave me blood pressure medicine and will check my pressure again on the Feb 13 to see if its below 150. God I pray that it is. I've been exercising and trying to limit my salt intake. I have to turn in my urinalysis because I couldn't pee when I had all the blood work done. Two week until my surgery and it seems like things aren't finalized yet. I registered at the hospital, had my upper GI done and my stomach xray. I'm assuming all is well since I haven't heard from the surgeon. I met wonderful Maria on the day of my initial pulmonary test. She's having surgery the same day as me. HI MARIA!!
So, now I wait and pray about my blood pressure. I'll write the results here next Tuesday.
11/8/06
Nov 08, 2006
Had the second group meeting with the nutritionist. This time it included the phycial therapist too. The PT was talking about exercise. I wasn't impressed with her discussion because she is overweight too. She needs to follow her own advice. This session with the nutritionist was included people having the RNY. A lot of the info was for them and not me. I have to come up with a schedule of what a post-op mushie eating day will look like for me. It must include the vitamins I'll take and water intake. I have my work cut out for me until our next meeting on 12 December. I have until our next and final meeting to get the blood work, ekg and psyhic eval completed. I'm gonna get the ekg and psyhic done first. I know I'm anemic so I'm going to take 3 weeks to build up my blood with iron supplements and lots of spinach salads. Haven't taken my weight, but I know I've gained.
10/19/06
Oct 19, 2006
Well I had one week of doing well on my diet. This week has been a bust. Eating a healthy diet requires a lot of time on my part. I'm not a cook (don't like to), but I like to eat fresh food and veggies. Life has gotten in the way this week. I haven't even thought about exercising. Next week must be better. I have 3 weeks until the nutirition class and I know I've gained weight. I'm eating my anxiety, frustration and stress. I must find a new way to cope if I'm going to be banded.
