Karen H.
February 21, 2007
It's been two weeks and two days since my surgery. I feel soooo much better! But, I have to admit, I still get tired and sore when I'm out of the house doing errands. Naps are wonderful. Yesterday, I did absolutely nothing. My body is worn out!
I was really discouraged a few days ago. I had lost 12 lbs when I went to the doctor but I'd gained 2 1/2 lbs back! I was always hungry. So, I came back to OH and reread a lot of posts.
Yesterday, I started a food diary, increased my water, and really paid attention to when I drank my water. It worked. I dropped 1/2 lb. this morning. I also uploaded my "before" pictures to this website. I'm not ready to let anyone else see them yet. They are VERY eye-opening to me. I had my daughter take them of me (in my one piece swimsuit) the night before the surgery. Frankly, I didn't realize how bad I looked. I'm glad I have them!
My mood has drastically improved and I'm no longer starving. My water bottle has not left my side. I am continually sipping on some type of liquid until 1/2 hour before I get ready to eat. It's made a HUGE difference.
There are a few odd things. When I press on my side, I can feel my port. Maybe I'm still swollen. Also, I'm still craving starches. Mashed potatoes seem to be my favorite food right now but I've started eating sugar-free low cal pudding and jello when I get a sugar craving. I added SF cool whip and I found that an entire package of pudding leaves me too full.
Today, I've begun measuring my food (I know these details are probably boring, but I'm doing this so I can track what works for me and what doesn't). I've also purchased a book (Mindless Eating) and a video (The Biggest Loser). I rarely buy things like this, but I want to keep motivated and I want to start exercising so that it will be a habit from the beginning.
I have a long way to go to believe that I'll ever have an "After" picture to post, but I see so many others who have made it, I have a lot of hope!
March 15, 2007
Today I had my first fill. It was quick and painless. The doc. said he went right into my scar, so it may have still been numb (six weeks post op???) and that may be why I didn't feel anything!! I laughed and asked him if that meant I was going to be in excruiating pain the next fill! He said, "I've never had anyone leave crying yet." Hopefully, I won't be his first cry baby!
I had oatmeal with peanut butter before the fill. Post-fill, I drank water all day and I wasn't hungry for the first time in six weeks. I finally got hungry tonight. I'm on liquids for two days so I had some soupy soup. I had 1/2 cup and I'm really full! Hopefully this wonderful feeling will last. Now I know why people say they love their band! Me too!!!!!!
I've lost a total of 13 lbs as of today. I hope it will start rolling off from here on out.
I actually went swimming and did one day of exercise using my new Biggest Loser video! And, I've been walking faster at work!! I'm going to start increasing my exercise now that I'm past my six week mark. My next fill is in 6 weeks.
At this point, I'm VERY glad I had this band put in. My clothes are beginning to get baggy and I've already dropped a size. It feels like I'm dropping inches more so than pounds. But, I still want to see those scales drop!
Karen
March 17, 2007
Happy St. Patty's Day! What a difference a day makes! Yesterday, I drank a protein shake at breakfast had 1/2 cup cream gravy for lunch, and a cheesy bean dip (very thin) for dinner. I checked my blood sugar before dinner and it was low so I sucked on three life savers. Later on that night I checked my sugars again and they were down to 63! I rushed to the kitchen and grabbed leftover chicken and rice. It's been a day and 1/2 since my first fill and this would be my first solid food. Boy, big mistake. The chicken went down fine but the rice, well, let's just say it came back up. It was horrible. The worst throwing up and pain I've ever had. My blood sugar was now down to 58! I finally took a tablet designed to bring my blood sugar up and by bedtime (1/2 hour later) it was 100. I opted not to take my insulin injection and pills. This morning my b.s. are a respectable 113. What a night. The good news is a lost more weight. I've lost 16.5 lbs. Joy of joys!
