kimkimmie

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I wanted to share because when I was pre-op I wanted to read as much as I could about how people do with their band. 

I am really proud of myself for doing my part and cutting out all of the bad carbs!  I stay under 30 carbs a day but don't have to count carbs from veggies (but he did say avoid potatoes and rice).  I have stuck with protein and veggie carbs and this is working.  I lost 10 pounds since my last appointment, and 30 since my surgery.  My surgeon was proud of me for keeping my head in the game and I am proud of myself.  He is really an inspiration and am so glad to have him.  I wanted to give him a big hug but I refrained...  If he was old and grandfatherly that would be one thing but he is young and attractive so I decided against it. 

I started at 318.5 post op, so to be in the low 260's (261.5) about to be in the 250's...that is an accomplishment.  I have a good way to go to get to onderland, but I am happy that I am down 57 pounds and that I am still motivated to do this for myself.  The band really helps me limit my quantities and that lets me focus on making the right food choices.

Take Care!!

My 2nd fill brought some restriciton, but as the month went on the restriction weakened.  He filled me some more today (fill #3) and when I left I ended up spitting up some of the water that he had me sip.  I thought about going back in and seeing what he thought but I know that it was probably due to some swelling and didn't want to be without restriction in a few days so I will tough it out.  I don't get to eat soft food till tommorrow night, so I won't know until then.  Liquids are going okay now.  I just had some of the broth from the Tuscan Meatball Carb Monitor Soup.  I feel a little better.  I am about to make a coffee run though.

The fill itself wasn't too bad.  Due to some weight loss (10 pounds since last appointment and 20 since banding and yes 47.5 total including my pre-op diet) he was able to pull my skin down and reach my port through the incision scar.  No sting from lidocane.  A little bit of uncomfy pressing and prodding but not too bad.  I really respect and admire my brilliant surgeon.  I hope that he won't have to come to a point where he has too many patients and can't do my fills.  I credit some of this loss to wanting to prove to him that I take this seriously and look forward to my visits.  I also don't want anyone else doing my fills.  I am a big wimp, but he knows what he is doing and has my trust and confidence.  I am soooo glad I selected him.  I truely believe that he is the best!

I'll be back after my next appointment :o) 

It was a lot better!!  I had the stick and sting for about 2-3 seconds from what I believe was the lidocane, I tensed up and braced myself for the real pain from the fill needle.  He told me to stay calm that it was going to hurt really bad, and I was like Oh my word please help me God!!  He then said just kidding I'm done.  He said I would notice a difference this time and that he put a good amount in this time.

Thank God.  I love my surgeon.  LOVE HIM!  He is so awesome.  He always tells me the truth.  He told me that the heparin shot wouldn't hurt before surgery but I kind of thought he meant it woulnd't hurt too much... Well, I didn't even know she gave me the injection.  So if he didn't have it before (I think he did though), he really has my complete trust now!  

I guess I am swollen.  He told me clear liquids today and tomorrow, and I may be able to eat a light dinner tomorrow night.  I can have sugar free stuff like crystal light, sf Jello, and broth.  I thought I could do the broth part of the Chic Fil A chicken noodle soup, but I didn't realize how thick it was.  I had 2 teaspoons and it wouldn't go down.  I am still nursing the same 32 oz  unsweet iced tea.  I have to take tiny sips or it feels like it won't go down.  I really think that when the swelling goes down that I will be in a good place to be able to eat less.

It turns out my port was not under my incision, it was higher, so the needle had to go in above my incision into fresh new skin.  The needle wasn't long enough to reach the port so there was some additional pressing to get it where it had to go.  It hurt pretty bad.  I also gained about 6 pounds of water weight.  

So not a fun appointment, but the good news is the 6 pounds as of yesterday or Friday is finally gone and I can move foreward again!  I have my 2nd fill on Tues May 27th, so I will let you know if it is any better.  Dr. C said it would be but I am skeptical now.  The last one will be remembered forever lol!!  Anyway I just hope the band will start doing it's job with this fill instead of a future fill.  I've been doing all the work since October and so far the band is not even noticable.  I'm eating low carb but lots of it.  I want to be able to eat low carb and get full on less~

Today was my post op appointment and since surgery I've lost 12 pounds, but 4 were fat and 8 were water.  I'm still happy though.  I have over 100 pounds of water so as I lose that number has to go down anyway or once I get to 160 pounds I'm going to be a walking bag of water and bones lol!!  To date including my pre-op 6 month diet I am down 39 pounds!!

I get to start soft foods today.  She said think eggs.  They said to eat breakfast only if hungry and to only eat 2 meals a day - 3 if I eat breakfast.  She said no snacks.  She said that because my band has not been filled I don't have a pouch really yet so food will go thru somewhat easily possibly and to eat until I am satisfied (don't need to measure) being careful to stay under 30 carbs a day.

My 1st fill is scheduled for 5/6.  She said they will ask me what I have eaten and if I have been hungry and determine if they want to fill me or not at the appointment.  They have 1 person that has lost over 100 and hasn't been hungry so they haven't done a fill yet and it has been 6 months.

I feel lots better so for anyone just banded, it will get better even if it doesn't seem like it at first.  I am 8 days out today and went to JCPenny after my appointment  to have an ink tag removed that was left on, and walked around the store a little.  I was really exhausted after that but I got around fine.

I thought my return to work date was 4/28 but when I spoke to Cigna they said 4/24 (glad I called). Not a big difference and it gives me time to start to get some of my strength and stamina back as I begin eating protein.  I think it will be good to work 2 days to get back in the groove before the following 5 day week.  I'd rather have all of next week off to play catch up on the neglected housework, but I think that going back on Thursday will be good.

~Be back on 5/6 with an update!

Well I made it through my surgery.  I didn't really think about the actual medical part of the surgery which is kind of naive.  I had all the focus on the eating part, and the rules and stuff but didn't realize that I would actually be in considerable pain and so weak.  I guess when you go 2 days before and 2 days after sugery with no calories you will be weak!  Anyway combine the weekness with pain medicine and the pain in the port area that the pain medicine didn't really touch and the gas pain I have been down and out basically and just felt like visiting OH for the first time today.  I am going to need to lay down again in a few minutes, but since I can have full liquids now since yesterday I will read some posts and enjoy my Atkins shake while I have a little energy and try to catch up.  Thanks for all of the messages that you all sent.  I have been kind of out of it so it was hard to reply.  

My surgeon said my surgery went fine, and he had to repair my Hiatal Hernina which whould cause me a little more discomfort/pain during my recovery.  I checked in and got taken back and the heparin shot in my tummy did not hurt.  The IV in my hand wasn't that bad either.  I was taken back, given anesthesia and woke up in recovery.  I remember thinking OMG this really hurts, I can't move, breathing hurts and sipping made me cough and coughing hurts and I hope everything went right!  I tried to stay still to avoid pain.  I went home later that evening and any noise irritated me and made me want to throw up.  I tried like crazy not to throw up because I didn't want to hurt my band.  I did dry heave about 4-5 times.  I pray that this didn't hurt anything.  I stayed on my clear liquids for 2 days past surgery and started with Atkins shakes yesterday.  I feel more alert with a few calories. I've smelled food that my daughter was eating and am beginning to look forward to eating again.  I can eat on Friday, soft foods but meat is okay if moist and chewed well or prepared like tuna salad or something.  I am still very sore on my left side of my abdomen in the muscle.  I try to sit up by using my arms and not my stomach muscles because when I use my stomach muscles if feels like something is being ripped, and I don't want my port moving anywhere.  I am a baby and hate pain so this has been pretty hard on me.  The reward will be weight loss, which is also the goal.  I don't want to go through this again, so I pray in Jesus name that I will have the strength and will to follow the bandster rules and make this work and that there will be no complications, erosions, flipped port, or anything further.  I know I will need fills, but I even pray that I won't need much of those either.  I don't want a revision or even plastic surgery.  

This all sounds bleak but is how I feel.  I want to keep an accurate history both for me to go back and remember but also for newbies.  I will say that many people suffer less than I did.  Some amazing foks are up and out the next day and I really wish I had it more like they did!  My Hiatal Hernia repair has added to the pain, so that is something to keep in mind.

The BEST and MOST IMPORTANT news is that I made it through.  I am now on the 'losers bench' surrounded by many amazing people and the real journey is underway!  Nothing that is worth havind is ever easy, so I did what I had to do to get here and I have faith that it will all be worth it!  Thanks everyone for all of the support and well wishes. 

I am finally there! I am doing this.  After years of research and Pre-Op dieting since August (and really seriously counting carbs since October) I am about to really do it!

I have so much I need to do before bed but all I can do is read OH - LOL.  I am on day 2 of my pre-op clear liquid diet.  I am really hungry.  I just took my daughter to get dinner (take out) and I want to eat my keyboard!  I guess I will go make a bowl of broth and for dessert enjoy a sugar free blue-raspberry popcicle!

I will be back soon to update how the surgery went.  
~Kim

Well so far the news is I have a surgery date.  4/10/08!!  I am down somewhere between 15-18 pounds.  I've been following a basic under 30 carbs a day diet and was told to exercise at tleast 10 minuted a day.  I will keep this page updated as I get some new info at my 4/2 appointment.  I will learn what I have to do the final week pre-op at that time.  I have to lose about 160 pounds, so I have about 145 to go!
~Kim