Kristina B.

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It has been 10 wks since surgery, I am at about a 40 - 45 lb loss. I had actually gained a couple lbs this last time. So it was difinately time to fill. I don't know if the gain was d/t TOM or actually that I found myself starting to graze d/t hunger. Either way, I got my first fill yesterday. We did it under fluro. We attempted last week but was unsuccessful. I kinda looked like a pin cusion, thank God for lidocaine, on the most part I didn't feel anything. Yesterday was a lot easier, and we discovered that my port had actually shifted some, so that is why we didn't hit it last week. Now, next time we can do it in the office and save some time. Dr. Cernero put in 1 cc. I can feel some tightness, it is not overwhelming. I have been on liquids now for two days. Tomorrow will be the real test when I eat something solid. My DH and I are going out to eat for our 6th wedding anniversary. Wow, it has been 6 yrs. That is hard to believe, he has survived me that long (jk). He is an amazing man, I am truly blessed to have him in my life. He is very supportive of my journey and has been here every step of the way.

Well, I got curious tonight and thought I would redo my measurements. Here is what they were on June 10:

waist-   50"     bust -  57      thighs - 29      calves  - 18
hips  - 65"       knees- 18.25   biceps -  21    neck  - 18  

and tonight August 25, just 2 months and 5 days post op:

waist- 48    bust - 51  thighs- 27 1/2  calves - 17 1/2
hips - 60   knees - 17  biceps - 17  neck - 16

That's is a total of 22 1/4 inches lost. I am so excited. Always knew the girls would be the first to go. But that is okay, didn't need all of them to begin with. Can't wait to see where I am in another 2 months. 

We have our first lap band support group meeting on Monday. I hope we have a good turn out. This is the group for Dr. Cernero, either those who actually had surgery performed by him or will be receiving fills from him. I hope everything goes well, I am assisting in getting it started and although I love to talk, being in front of others tends to get me out of my comfort zone. This first one will be a meet and greet and I will give some info on the services available in the area. Wish me luck and pray. 

Chat at you later.

It has been a while since I last posted. Some of life's stress has eased up. My sister finally made it home. My boys still have their moments- but boys will be boys. We did go camping with the church last weekend and they had a blast. They already want to go camping again. We finally got them another pet - We now have a 10 gal. aquarium and 4 tetras at the moment. Hope to add aleast a couple of more. Buddy is still asking for a dog though. I told my DH that the fish would not replace the dog. We lost our Golden Retriever in June 2006. DS has been asking for another dog for about 3 months now. I told him that it was up to his dad, that when daddy says we can, then we will get a dog. If it was up to me, we would have gotten one at the first of the year. The boys start back to preschool Sept. 5th. I can't wait! They are excited too. Especially Buddy, this is his 2nd year and Jonaton's first. We have been counting down the days.

It has been 2 months since surgery!!! I can't believe how time flies. I am down to 275. That is down 48# since attending a WLS seminar in November and down 43# from the first time I saw my surgeon in April. Yes that is 43# in 4 months. I was able to get into a pair of 3x scrubs I had tucked away in the closet. All my scrubs are starting to literally fall off. I have tried rolling the waistbands, it doesn't work. I have pinned some of them, but all the sagginess doesn't look too professional. I can wear my wedding rings again and even sleep in them w/having to pry them off. It's not just my uniforms that don't fit. All my clothes are sagging, drooping and falling off. Granted all my old bras are a little stretched but I was able to get a size 44d on as opposed to the 52DD I was wearing before surgery, AND they don't cut into me. 
About 2 wks ago, I took my car to a garage that is exactly .75 miles from my office for an oil change and to have a tire fixed. Well, I didn't realize that they did courtesy p-u's when the were finished, I just told them I would be by after work to get the car. Well, I was the last one at work so I decide to walk to the garage, instead of calling DH to come get me. Granted I was hot for the weather, but I was not even winded for the walk. Can you believe it I walked .75 miles w/o getting winded and did it in about 25 minutes. It is so wonderful to be able to do things again.
I haven't had a fill yet, b/c I am still loosing between 2-4# a week. I am not really hungry, yes I get the munchies during that time, but I am learning to choose the healthy options and forgo the chips and chocolate. Don't get me wrong I still eat them occassionally, but very limited. I rather have sliced apples instead of chips now. And one small piece of chocolate satisfies, instead of the whole bar. It is and will always be a learning adventure. But I am finally realizing that I can and will do this w/ the help of my tool and support system.

Well, it has been awhile since I have posted anything. Between work, immediate family and my crazy sister things have been a little stressful and wild. The doctor I work for has been out of the office for about 3 weeks, b/c her father was in an accident, then later past away. So we have been scrambling to make sure all the patients are taken care of. 
My 4 yo seems to be going through another case of separation anxiety. My husband has to peel him off my legs every morning just so I can get out the door. And Jonaton, my 2 1/2 yo is definately in the terrible twos now. But I loved them and wouldn't trade it for the world. I have also had my 10 yo neice for about a week now, she left for Jr. camp yesterday. But comes back on Thursday night. She is going through alot for someone her age. Especially, since her mother (ie. my crazy sister) decided to go to Myrtle Beach the wednesday before I picked her up. Fortunately, they are living w/ my mom. Tammi, my sister, was married in June to someone we thought was going to be good for her. Well, evidently as soon as the marriage license was signed his evil side came out. At times I am scared for her and the kids and my mom. He has been verbally abusive, jealous and according to my mom has even slapped Tammi a couple of times. And now she goes to SC w/the guy. 
She called the other day wanting me to send money for them to come back on. I don't have it, my mom doesn't have it. This guy is physically able to work if he would. And today I find out that he has out stayed his welcome at his mom's house, so they are on the streets since they don't have any money to live on. She called my mom again asking for money in order to get a bus ticket home. Mom would have to go get a loan in order to do it. I told her not to send money, but if she was going to help, then purchase the bus tickets and arrange it where they can pick them up at the bus station out there. Brandy, one of Tammi's friends said she would use her debit card if mom gave her the money. We will see how this plays out soon. 

Well, enough about that. My incisions finally are healing. My port site incision is closed and scabbed over. Luckily there was no infection. I am suppose to go in for my first fill on August 2. I am down to 287 now. The scales didn't move last week, but I think in part it is b/c of hormones kicking in. Not to mention I am having trouble getting my water and protein in. I am still in the soft foods, but am able to eat some normal type food. Mainly, chicken, and turkey. I am now wearing mainly 26's w/some 24's and I have one shirt that is a 22. It just depends on how it made. I am officially down to my pre-pregnancy weight w/ my first son, Buddy. My goal by Labor Day is to be down to 270. I think that once I start getting in my fluids, protein and more exercise I will make it. I am mainly walking w/ the kids (pulling a wagon) around one city block so far. 

I went in for a PFT last week and it was up by 12 pts., so I don't have to use the inhalers anymore. Still, have my rescue inhaler just in case. Well, enough for now. Just had to get some of this off my chest.

Well, it's been awhile since I last posted anything. Life as just been crazy since I went back to work on June 25. A gluten for punishment, I suppose, but I do have to work to make a living. My work week actually went pretty smoothly, mainly played catch up on hospital billing for Dr. Mina. My husband was off that week, so he got child care duty, house duty, everything, and did a wonderful job I should say. DH is wonderful and does quite a bit for me. 

My incisions are slowly healing, two of them at first looked to be infected, but we caught it early, fortunately working where I do, I know what to look for and what to do. I am down to 288 as of Friday. I can't remember the last time I weighed that much. My clothes are fitting so much better. I have been able to move on to mushies. Never knew tuna fish and egg salad would taste so good. I have been doing good on fluids, but as starting to have trouble w/ the proteins. They are starting to make me gag. I did go get a bullet and use it at work. So far I am proud of where I am and excited to see where I can go.

Well, it was about 3pm when I got home on Thurs. Very sore and groggy. My M-I-L stayed with me and the kids that night to make sure I was ok. She was also here on Friday, and went home after putting the kids to bed. The more I moved around the better I feel. I haven't had to use many pain meds. I have had to use the phenagren, b/c I get nauseated when I try to eat. But that is getting better with everyday.  Saturday, I took the boys to a B-day party at the Church Gym up the street. Everything went well, people were surprised to see me at first. But then they remembered how I bounced back after having Jonaton. The boys were good. When it was time to leave the held my had and walk to the car and climbed into their seats. Buddy buckled his and I tightened it, then fastened Jonaton in his. Sunday was the same. My husband got them ready for me and in the car. Then after church they went to the car w/o any problems and got in their seats. It is amazing how much they are growing up. Sunday afternoon we after Jon woke up, we went to the grocery store, We were in there for almost 2 hours. The walking felt good, but I was exhausted afterwards.  

Today, I went back to work. Everything went good. I really did not start hurting until about 3pm. I took a pain pill and kept right on working. Tomorrow will be the real test, we have 30 patients scheduled and half of them are new patients. So it should be quite interesting. But I'll have my meds just in case. Hopefully, tomorrow is Tonya's half day, at least that will be helpful. Well, I stepped on the scale this morning. Granted I had a popsicle in one hand (breakfast) and keys in my pocket, but the scale said 299. I was 301 the morning of surgery at the hosp. 311 when I started the liquid diet and 323 when at my heaviest about 3 months back. So I am excited and am determined to use this tool to the best of my ability.  

heaviest/pre-op/surgery/current
323/311/301/299

Today, has gone a little better. They took out the foley @ 6:30 am and I was able to actually get up a move around. I went down for my swallow test about 7:30. Everything went fine. Man, that liquid is nasty. If I can drink that stuff than Proteins should be no problem.   Jon came by after work and dropping off the kids at the sitters. He is getting ready to go home and go to bed so that he can work again tonight.  Carolyn is coming back up later today to take me home. They are suppose to let me go after I "eat something". Which happens to be a popsicle and sf jello. But it is a start. It is going to be closer to 3 pm before they let me out of here. The only thing about being one of the first WLS patients at this hospital is that alot of the staff doesn't know what goes on. I have had several nurses ask me about it. I don't mind, but I feel that the hospital needs to inform their staff of the procedure. Hopefully this will be one of the programs that we get to put in place here. I feel fortunate that I will have the opportunity to work w/Dr. Cernero, not only as a patient but also as an advocate in this area.

On Wed. June 20, Jon was able to take me to the hospital. We got there at 5:45 am in the pouring rain.  (When will we ever start to dry out?) Carolyn was there waiting for us. She is such a dear sweet friend and a lifesaver. We went back and did all the preliminary getting ready stuff. Fortunately, it only took two tries to get an IV started. God Bless Debbie M., R.N.!!!.  They took me back to the holding area about 7:15 am.  The anesthesiologists came through and read that I had asthma and had been off my steroids for 2 wks, well he about flipped his wig. Needless to say I got to do a breathing treatment before surgery. But I'm with him, I rather play it safe that have something happen. Well, at least the treatment gave me something to do, because Dr. Cernero was running late. Once he got there, the show got underway. I don't know what time I actually went under, but it was Noon before I got into recovery. The Dr. told my husband and Carolyn that he was just making sure everything was done correctly and did not want to rush things.  Recovery was not pretty, the anesthesia made me very sick to my stomach, so every time I would start to wake up the nurse would give me pain/anti-nausea meds and put me back out. I got to my room about 12:30 pm. Carolyn stayed I believe all day with me, because my husband had to go to work. I vaguely remember people coming in/out. They said that my mom called from OK to check on me. But Wednesday is a total blurr.