SUSAN P.
BARIATRIC HISTORY:
set a consult with Dr. Lord for Wed 8/17.... So excited!!!
Had nutrition orientation on 8/23 and completed lab work. Date set for 9/14!!!
YEAH I am on my pre op diet starting today, 9/12- I am in the mad rush trying to get a lot done so I can relax and recoup well after the surgery. Thanks for all of the emails! So busy could not reply to each but posted on the September board. 8am Wednesday is my day and time!!! YEAH!!
9/17- I am officially post op! My surgery was 9/14 and was successful. I was sore and gassy in thehospital. Though I only rated my pain a "3" at its worst, I took full advantage of the morphine pump and nurses. The walks after surgery were the worst. At least I caught up with my sleep. Been staying at my moms. She is taking good care of me. ENjoying my liquid diet. Can you believe it?
9/-21 14 pounds lost at my 1st post op appt. Very excited. I am healing well . In liquids one more week. Doing well and accessing the support of this site regularly.
11/14/05
I was down 14 lbs originally, before 1st fill, gained back 8. After first fill of 2.5 (but he only took out 1.5 today), I only lost 3 lbs in three weeks. At least I didnt gain...But he gave me a super dooper fill to 3cc's (adding 1.5 to my 1.5) because I cant stop eating and now I cant swallow my spit... Not good. So I am going back tomarrow... I at least want to be able to drink... URGHH!!
Any way, This is my saga... Hopefully tomarrow will be the infamous sweet spot? It would be nice...
254/240.5, 248, 245/ 154
11/30/05
I have a 2.2 fill (though the Dr anticipated it actually may be less due to swelling pushing some of the liquid out??? Dunno)
I seem to eat good every other day... One day, I even ate a WHOLE BAGEL in the AM!!! The next day, I couldnt eat refried beans or a shake lasted FOREVER and I felt it in my chest...
So, I am just planning my every other day schedule... Or "liquid fasting" the day/ AM before I plan a good meal I wanna eat...
I also have found that I DO NOT eat well around my kids, or in social situations, where I am inhaling a lot of air, and stress is higher... I am a "behind the computer" eater and that doesnt work now either...I exhibit PB'ing and Sliming.
However, I eat great at night, in my recliner, watching a good show... So, I plan accordingly...
I only was banded on 9/15... and have lost a lb a week. I think since this last fill, I am losing more, but I dont dare weigh in until my Dr's visits... Too much pressure... I am finally feeling clothing loosen...
So am I too tight? Maybe, Maybe not. Maybe its the environment you are eating in...The reason we got this darn thing is to make us eat less. I am satisfied with my tightness, though I have had periods of sliming ,etc. getting used to this new eating regimen... I wouldnt say I am too tight... Since I DO eat under the right circumstances...
254/last weigh in, 245/since fill I dunno/154
12/9/05
I weighed in at 232 today... That is a 1.8 average loss since my surgery.. No fill needed. I am at 2.2 fill.
254/232/154
12/20/05
THINGS I DO WELL: I have not put much pressure on myself. I feel like I can only do what I can do... I have not exercised a lot, but am consistently parking the car farthest and stuff like that. I eat protein at every meal and try to get my liquids in.
THINGS I DO NOT SO WELL: I am a problem child. If there is a way to eat, I will. I have not watched the types of food I eat. BUt have drastically been eating less. I need to get an excercise regimen. In the new year....
IM A LITTLE DIFFERENT...MY goal is not to get thin, but to stop the GAIN. I spent many years as a bulimic, and if I start to stress over WHAT I eat, I get nutty. So I don't. Thankfully, I like/ prefer good food. But I also like my social time, so if everyone is ordering dessert, so am I. I won't beat my self up about it. Life is too short.
I have had two fills. I am at 2.2 in a 4 band, but anticipating having the .2 removed early in the NEw year. . Having some trouble with solid protein.
Susan
254/231.2, 154
12/24/05
CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER:
Did great. One tiny PB. I had shrimp, bacala, baked flounder, two bites of a mixed green salad lubed with dressing, and spaghetti aioli.
I must of ate 6-8 bites total but sampled it all!!! I had a cup of tea a 1/2 hour before eating... We had a break after dinner and then went back for some strufoli (honey dipped fried balls) and had that with a cup of coffee.
So, though I ate my high calorie foods, I ate maybe 4% of what I used to, am not stuffed and no PB.. I sure am glad I got that .2 unfill this week. I would have been sickwith the first bite...
It was GREAT!!!
1/25/06
OK,
Banded 9/14
1st fill 1.5cc (like nothing)
2nd fill 3cc (crazy)
unfill to 2.2 (decent, but tightened up after 1 month to unbearable)
unfill to 2.0 (decent, but tightened up after 1 month to unbearable)
went for an unfill today as for one week I couldnt drink more than 10oz a DAY! and no food stayed down...
At appt, he took out 1.4cc... I ONLY HAD 1.4cc's in there!!!
Now I am down to 1cc....
When he took it out it when "Gurgle gurgle" like a backed up drain got released...
I am so happy I drank a BIGGIE unsweet tea from Wendy's and a chili!!!
But now I am scared... Did we tak eout too much?? Will I have no restriction again?
How come 1.5 was like nothing when I first started, but now the 1.4 was like a food chastity belt?
My next appt is not for 2 more months but they said I could call if weight stalls or I gain.
3/1/06
Dr. Lord filled me and later admitted he tightened me to 1.6cc's. It is tough getting things down. We'll see. I had gained 7 lbs.
3/13/06
I weigh 213.3- back on track, but had stomach pain today. Around my band. Uh, oh.
3/22/06
Down to 210- this is where I start to feel human again. 11 lbs til my victory party! Yeah! From here on is cake! I feel decent at 210... Look pretty good in summer dresses. MY arms are shrinking which was important to me. Yahoo says I am 44% to goal. Fit Day says I have to lose 1.8lbs a week to meet goal by next year. We'll see. I will try!
Susan
254/210.8/154
4/11/06
203 lbs this AM. A bit dehydrated though, so it is probably water I have lost. I have gotten a fever once a week for three-four weeks. Yahoo says I am 51% there and need to continue to lose 1.75 lbs a week to meet goal by 10/25/06. (goal is 154). I have to focus back on health and remember to take vitamins and protein... Been slacking... Having some trouble eating- but less. Still finding what works and doesnt.
254/203.2/ 154
5/4/06
I went to my other doctor today and weighed 193 on his scale. Awesome, but I still go by my home scale, 198.8. It seems to coincide with Dr. Lord's. I went to the support group and still find it helpful. I am SOOOO Happy to be in oe-derland, even if I am just across the border. I got a spray on tan, that was an experience. I actually feel interested in my self again, and though I dont feel "beautiful" or "back to normal", I feel "human".... I feel I look good without having to deck my self out... I am on my way... very encouraged...
254/198.8/154
5/11/06
My question the other day was: Could laser removal of scars hurt my port/ tubing. Here is what I found out...
Inamed helpline had no idea.... Referred me to my surgeon.
My surgeon said that is was absolutely fine and would not hurt port or tubing.
I went to the Dermatologist to get lasered, and he ended up telling me to inject hydrocortisone instead for the following reasons:
1. It will smooth out the "ropy-ness" of the scar which was my complaint and flatten it.
2. It is a heck of a lot cheaper and covered by insurance.
3. He told me to come back in a month and reassess but he felt it would be sufficient.
5/28/06
196!!!!
6/13/06
191.8
I got an unfill Monday- He pulled 1.2cc out and left 1.0 in... Hopefully this will help night reflux and spitting up... We'll see.
Scar is looking good, got another injection of hydrocortisone that should do it...
6/15/06
. how long have you been banded? 9 months
2. rate your level of restriction:
E. Sweet Spot!!! (perfect restriction) For today, until this baby clenches again (unfilled to 1.0 last Mon)
3. how long after you wake do you drink your first liquids, are they hot or cold: 1 hour... Boiling or it comes back up.
4. how long after you wake do you eat your first food, is it solid or mushy? 3 hours. Mushy. I even had sausage gravy today... That was thick enough... Gave the biscut to a friend...
if it is mushy, when is your first dense protien solid? 4 or 5 pm.
5. does your restriction change throughout the day?
c. pretty tight most of the day- small liquid/mushy breakfast and lunch,
loosen up for a small solid dinner- (soup after that or I have reflux in the middle of night)
6. how often do you PB? Daily.
7. is it mostly Slime/Saliva or is it the offending food or liquid that comes up?
Either/ or or both....
8. why are you PB'ing?
a. i forget i am banded and try to swallow stuff whole (oops)
b. i ate something dry
c. i didnt chew good enough
d. i chewed good but the texture didnt agree
e. i sometimes do with first liquids of the day
f. i am eating beyond the pouch capacity
ALL OF THE ABOVE....
6/20/06
I weighed myself and I was 190.2 which put me right over into the Overweight category from the obese category... To top it off, I went to academy sports and bought two skirts in the MISSES dept, not WOMANS, but misses, and bought two jean skirts size 13/14... !st time I've been in that size in over 5 years... I am psyched... My mom is telling everyone I look like "me" again... And for her to say it, it must be the truth...
7/25/06
Totally unfilled due to problems. Still have restriction, mainitaining at 183...
8/21/06
I have a slipped band.... I am having to have it removed or repositioned (they wont know til they are in there which will happen).
Since I have had problems since DECEMBER 2005 this needs to be done ASAP. (I am approaching my 1 year anniversary)
Does anyone have a link to band fill protocols and when fluro should be used? Please forward to me. I have been complaining for months and never was given fluro to check it out...just unfills... I am very upset that I have gone through this for SOOOOOOOOOO long without a proper diagnosis. I want to have a discussion with my doc on how I feel he has failed me. Who knows? If this was diagnosed earlier, maybe a complete unfill may have corrected it...Now it is too late... There is a HUGE pouch over the top of my band....
I am also grieving the fact that I may be band less, gain weight back, have erosion when I never had stomach probs before.... BOOO Freakin HOOO!
8/25/06
Patricks doctor suggested I try liquids for 30 days and see if this corrects itself. I called Dr. Lords and he said we can try it. I have an appt for 9/25 and possible surgery after that. I stocked up on soups and fortified smoothies, protein powder and liquid vitamins... We'll see.
10/4/06
I am facing a band revision today. This is just over one year from my original surgery.
I have an anterior slippage and have probably had it for sometime. I tried a 30 liquid diet to see if it would go back. Was doing well, but about a week ago, started with a lot of reflux and spitting up again. So surgeon wanted me in there ASAP.
They may repair the placement of the band, switch me to a VG band, or remove the band all together, depending on what the surgeon sees when he is in there. Hopefully, they can maintain my original port, and at least I wont have that yucky port pain again.
10/5/06
MY band revision was all in all, a cinch. (see my profile for back ground hx).
My doctor was able to go in through four of my original incisions and reposition my band from its anterior slippage.
I was terribly dehydrated so, the IV was hard to get in. HOWEVER<
Praise the Lord,there was no damage to my stomach and since he was able to use the band I had in there, he did NOT have to mess with my port.
THIS MEANS-
>NO PORT PAIN!
>Since he went into my original scars, NO PAIN THERE EITHER! I guess the nerves were already dead.
I had my surgery yesterday, and besides being groggy and having some of that all over gassy feeling, I AM FINE!!!!
