LinnieJean

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Hi everyone!!! I'm really sorry I haven't been here. The last time was the day before my gastric bypass in March! 

I'm doing GREAT!!!! I had the surgery, and since that time, I went from 295 and today I weigh 225. It hasn't been as hard as I thought, and I'm not puking like I did with the lap band. The hardest thing is not being able to have any kind of appetite. I am never hungry, which really makes it hard for Pat because I never know what to make him to eat.

We used to love to go out too, and we haven't since the surgery. Of course we're saving a lot of money, but you and I both know we didn't actually save it! LOL

My challenge -- to get some new clothes one of these days!! and to get off another 50 to 75 pounds.

But for the first time, I'm not morbidly obese! My BMI is 37 and that feels great!!! 

I'm really excited about beginning this journey tomorrow. If you read this and you know me, any prayers are welcome! Hey, you never know! LOL

I've done so much in my life... been a blonde, now red -- been married twice -- now to the best guy in the world!!!! Been a nurse, been a radio person, been an English Springer spaniel mommy (and still am!!), been an activist, been a researcher, been a paralegal, been a REALTOR, been a smoker (not any more), been a world traveler, and never been skinny.

Now this is MY TURN thanks to Dr. Hill and the team in Saranac Lake!!!

Life is such an adventure... embrace every day..

It's time to start over... after my lap-band failure, and no assistance from the surgeon in Auburn; after finding a wonderful group in Saranac Lake; after being denied the surgery by the insurance company; after having Dr. Hixson and Dr. Hill fight for me; after winning the appeal from the insurance company; I am SCHEDULED for my surgery on March 21st!!!

This time there is no fooling around. This time there is no cheating. This time there is no 'just a bite'. After all I've been through, after all of the people behind me, this time I will succeed.

I have an angel in heaven (namely my Mom) kicking me in the butt saying, "Knock it off, kid and just do this". I will! Because..

This time it's for me!

Have lap-band surgery and watch the weight roll off... NOT... it's been one year next week that I had the band, and to date I've only lost 40 pounds. 40 measly pounds. I see my friends losing after RNY, and me - I've only lost 40 measly pounds.

I know, I know.. it's 40 pounds... but I thought it'd be more by now. I'd had problems with the band initially. Too little fluid.. too much... then Doctor Weiss put in just 4 cc's in a 14 cc band. I thought it was enough.

I'm not hungry... I get head hungry but I don't get hungry per se. I eat when it's 'time' to eat, but I don't get hungry.

I don't exercise enough either.. I blame my knees for that.. two metal knees that I've had replaced and they hurt some times. I have a treadmill in the dining room and refuse to put clothes on it! LOL

But .. 40 measly pounds.

So, instead of feeling sorry for myself, I'm making a new resolution on this 1 year anniversary.

Have I changed anything since I had the surgery?  Not so much. I just eat less.
Am I still head hungry? Yes... and I know that's just a habit.
Am I exercising? No... but I will be... I'll start slow.

And, I might even start to like myself. I've never really liked me.. professionally yes, but personally -- not so much.

So, I'm done whining.. My goal is ... (drum roll) to lose 3 pounds in the next month. Let's see if I can...

Thanks for listening...

Hi everyone! It's been awhile again since I've been here.. I'm losing but it is slow.. since I started at 292, I'm now 254... down from 3X to 1X and some 18/20's. Thank GOD I'm tall at 5'7"! I can still hide it!

I'm still writing things down - a good thing - when I remember to. I still am eating protein first 2 bites then 1 bite of veges or fruit or starch. I still can't eat bread.. I tried the other day and I thought I was going to die after about 4 bites of toast, and then UP it all came. I still can't digest beef... and sometimes I can't digest fish that is baked either.

I'm still doing my shakes.. and I've learned to stop snacking at night.  I have found that I am craving (there's that old head hunger again) a little bit of sweet something, so I bought 5 pieces of sugar free Russell Stover dark chocolate and have one a night.

I'm starting to exercise... finally got the treadmill and am doing my best to do 30 minutes a day at the very least.

I am trying to not be discouraged. I know I had the choice of RNY or lapband, and while I see a lot of my friends losing so quickly with the RNY, I'm slow and steady... so I guess I'm a little jealous... but it's all for the good..

Anyhow, I'm here and I will try to be here more.

Me 

Since the support group in Watertown is not the best it could be (boy, was that tactful) I started a little online support group. It's really for people in Northern NY but if you are interested just drift over to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/nnylosers/ and visit us. It's really nice and while we don't have a lot to say, we have fun.

Me

I am here to tell you.. you will wish you curled up and died... I did.. and it took over 1 week and a trip to Auburn to have some of the saline removed to finally make me feel human again!

I'm doing great.. sometimes I get a little depressed - I don't think it's over the restriction or the lack of eating what I used to.. I think it's because I forgot that I would have to give up some of the things I liked (like steak and bread)... but hey - it is what made me fat, so I can go without...

I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa... and may we all be healtier in 2010!!!

Well, December 7th marked my second fill. I was having real problems before the fill - I was able to eat almost anything except bread and beef. It just would not settle. I was watching what I was eating, and writing everything down, but I only lost 2 1/2 pounds from October till Dec.

Had the fill on Monday - I was fine until I got home and tried to eat. Up came my 3 ounces of protein, and I felt like @#$$@ all night. Tuesday wasn't bad until lunch. I was panicing. I called my surgeon (finally got through to him directly) and he said .. you'll be ok... if you need to come back to get some of the saline removed. I had planned to go there today until...

SNOW hit!!! The roads are horrid and there's a huge storm. So I guess I'll be home, having fluids as tolerated, until I can get to Auburn!

Oh, and while this is a horrid photo, it's me from my webcam..

Went to my first fill appointment this past week.

Well, I didn't lose much in 2 weeks - just one pound. I know, that's better than no pounds! LOL   Dr. Weiss looked at my incisions and said they all looked alike, and nothing was concerning him. So, I got on the table. He puts a pillow under your chest, and he locates the port. Kim (his nurse)  puts some spray lidocaine on your site, and Dr. put in (in my case) 4 cc's of saline. So far so good - didn't feel much, just pressure. Then I sat up and Kim gives you a little 10 ccs or more of water to drink. Took a sip - no pain, no pressure. Then I drank the rest and HOLY CRAP!!! I thought an apple was stuck in my throat. Could not breathe, etc. Dr. said, gee, think we put a little too much in (I'm thinking NO @#$$!!) Lay down, assume the position, put lido on and he injects another needle to take out 2 cc's. He had trouble finding the port entrance.. OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But enduring the uncomfortableness, I survive. Immediate relief when they got that 2 cc's out. Well.. that about knocked me out for the rest of the day. Came home and took a nap. You are on total fluids for that day, the next day is soft food, and today (for me) was regular diet. BE CAREFUL!!!!! You won't be able to eat that much. This morning I had one egg and 1/2 slice of toast, and I thought I was going to die from that same sensation... that's a pretty good signal you've eaten too much! I stopped half way in the breakfast. Liquids, no problem.. Food - be careful!   I'm able to drink diet soda.. that's not a prob for me. I have to go back the 7th of December for a check up and 'fill' - maybe... Meanwhile, my diet is 3 meals a day and one snack. Since I'm a snacker after 9 p.m. I'm saving my protein shake for that time and then if I get hungry during the day, I'll have a popsicle or something like that.

My counsel to you is to be careful after a fill!!!  You cannot eat what you did before you have a fill... and if you like a cocktail be careful there too!!! You can't drink as much as you used too!!

Happy Halloween!!!

I am so pleased... it's been a month tomorrow since I had surgery. While I'm not losing like someone with RNY, I've taken off inches (about 18" total) and 35 pounds!!! PLUS, I'm so honored.. Dr. Weiss (Carl Weiss III from Auburn - my surgeon) is coming to Watertown on November 19th to do a free seminar on the various bariatric surgeries - RNY and Lap-Band - and he's asked me to come and talk if there are any questions on the side of the patients. That's so cool!!!!

I'm not hungry - I am finding I am snacking less and less. Plus I'm going for my first fill on Thursday, so I'll report back as to how that went!

Hang in there all.. we can DO THIS!!!