Michelle H.

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Well, here I am BANDED and on the other side!!!  I went into the hospital on Thursday the 29th and my surgery was bright and early (7:30) and I did pretty well in the hospital, I just was really, really nauseous.  It seemed like every time they gave me nausea medicine that it would make me more nauseous.  It was pretty bad.  I only got up and walked once that day.  The next day I walked four times around the unit.  Doctor Garcia came in in the afternoon and suggested that I stay another day.  He wanted me to go home without having any nausea.   After he left they disconnected me from all ivs and stopped giving me anything.  I felt much better and got to come home just after breakfast on Saturday.  I am pretty sore, but feeling better each day.  I have lost six more lbs since my surgery morning weigh in so it is a total of 19 lbs so far!!!
I am pretty excited.
 

Well, today was one of my scheduled surgery dates. . .  but the final (knock on wood) date will be thursday!  I am so excited.  I am counting down.  I feel like the lady on the old Mervyn's commercial (open, open, open).  Oh well, I know that Thursday will be here before I know it I will be being wheeled into surgery!  Yeah!

Well, I had to have my gallbladder taken out yesterday and I feel pretty good.  I was a little disappointed about having it taken out, one, I had no clue that I had gallstones and two, I was scared about my surgery being postponed.  I now see how flexable and cool Dr Garcia truely is.  When I went in and met with him last Wednesday he said he would take out my gallbladder on thurs and then do the lapband two thursdays latter, when I asked if he could do my gallbladder on Friday he had no problem making it happen!  I feel great.  I am a little sore, but totally not bad.  I was expecting to be a lot more sore.  Really the only time I have pain is when I transition from sitting to standing or vice versa.  I currently have more pain in the mess of fever blisters going on on my lips (both!!) and the sores in my nose from this cold/flu thing that I have had going on!!!  Yuck.
I hope I feel this great after my lap band surgery!

Well, it is all moving forward. I met with Dr. Garcia last Wednesday (one week ago) and he told me I had to lose 15-20 lbs before the surgery. Not too cool. I am drinking lots of water and slim-fast!
Last Thursday I had a treadmill stress test. I had some stuff (not sure) show up on my ekg while I was on the treadmill so I have to go back tomorrow to do a nuclear treadmill stress test. Monday and Tuesday mornings I went to the hospital to do lab work. I had to have an upper GI, a gallbladder ultrasound, a pulmnary stress test, a chest x-ray and a bunch of blood work. I was in the lab having blood drawn for 50 minutes. It took 4 lab techs, 8 sticks to get all those tubes of blood (and there were a bunch!!!)
Even though I felt a little stressed after my stress test :) I totally feel pumped about this. I feel like it is all falling into place and going to really happen. Because of the amount of weight I have to lose we changed my date to March 26. Wow less than 20 days!

So today I went and met with the bariactric coordinator and then went to see my pcp.  Tomorrow I have an appt with my surgeon!!! Monday I go to have lab work and tests, then I go to do my treadmill test, Tuesday more lab work and tests, Wednesday I go back to my pcp to have him sign off on my pre-op, Thursday I meet with the nutritionist, and everything has to be signed off by friday.  Monday I also start my two weeks before my surgery liquid only diet.  The next wednesday I go to a class (pre surgery) for three hours (manditory), and then if all goes well I will be banded on the 19th!!!
I have a lot going on and I am trying to stay in today and just do the next indicated thing.  It sometimes seems overwhelming, all of this and a full time job and two small children.  I keep telling myself that in two and a half weeks this part will be over and I will be onto the next phase of my weight loss.  
Even though I am a little overwhelmed, I am really excited!!!
I will post tomorrow after meeting with Dr. Garcia.

You know it is so funny, I am totally at the point where I am ready.  I am ready to start my liquid diet, I am ready for my skin to not feel so tight, I am ready to change my actions with regards to what and how I eat, but, Kelly the coordinator at the hospital told us to not diet until we meet with the surgeon as any weight we lose will not count.  She said he will want us to lose probably 10% of our excess weight so for me that would be approx 14lbs.  I can't wait to go to our appointment with Dr. Garcia on Wednesday.  I feel like I will have a plan of action at that time.  Hopefully!!!