Back again and new and improved

Apr 28, 2016

So some catch up is in order.  My last posts were from 2008 just before and after my lap band was put in.  I do not remember much about those early days and the feeling of being happy.  I do think it's sad that I'm looking at my exclamation marks and seeing that I was hopeful that it'd work out.  Sorry to tell you girl but that band isn't going to do too much for you.  I was down 33lbs and thinking about that magic 200lb mark.  I never made it.  I did loose 50lbs but no more than that.  Sadly I also have to report that it was all regained back slowly over time as well.  I had some life changes and food was a confort, a cructch, a I need this quickly and I have no time to do it right, and that weight just found it'self all nice and snug on me again.

So where am I now? This Jan I went in and had my lap band checked and my doc and I agreeded that VSG was a good option for me.  I had to do the normal camera down the throat, sleep study, and other test and then March 14th I had my sugery.  All went well and the demon plastic band came out and my stomach was cut down to a far smaller size.  The first two weeks were not miserable but they were challenging at times.  I had a bad reaction to my glue again, I got dehydrated and thus constapated, and had to work out being on chewable or hard pills.  However Chaney took time off, we got through it all, and I'm at 6 weeks out and I'm almost totally healed up and participating in a work out program.

So here's the part I'm struggling with... how on earth do I not come back here in 1yr or 8yrs and read all these hopes and dreams and not be telling myself... it didn't happen?  I can say I have a far better plan now, the regain and failure of my work with the band has made me think a lot more this time.  The band had a lot of ways around it and VSG has less for sure.  It still has a few that I had to make sure I wasn't going to exploit like drinking my calories.  I had a bad Starbucks addiction that had to be stopped for instance.  I loved cokes, shakes, and other high calories sugary drinks as well.  I deciede they all needed to go.  I do enjoy some sugar in drinks now but now it's a spoon of tang, or 1 pump of sugar for my plain coffee.  It's not perfect but 10gms of sugar is better than 60gms anyday.  While I was at it I needed to stop with all the junk foods like cookies, cake, candy, chips, and other not good for me foods.  I was too into fried foods, pizza, take out chineese, and eating out in general which has all had to stop. It's not been too hard yet to hold back that giant wall of food but as I become more able to eat regularly I can see things peeking over the top of that wall at me and I know that soon the real fight against those foods will begin.

So how do I not fail? I've decided to go low carb and high protien with all choices.  Aside from allowing myself some sugary in drinks occasionally I have not and will not be eating things that are carb forward choices.  Carbs are my down fall, I loved them and was addicted to them.  I can't trust myself with candy and chocolates.  They call to me from the kitchen, I am too weak to resist them, and then I blow through my calories easily.  This would be especially true as I'm only eatting 800 calories a day.  That number gives me enough food that I am fully satified and some wiggle room for some items higher in fat like meat sticks, or a starbucks blacktea lemonaid.  However 800 calories would not allow for a bag of chips, candy, or cookies... there is just not enough room in that number to allow for those items.

So I have a food plan, I do have some work out goals as well but those are not as stong as my no nonsence food plan.  I want to work out enough that my muscles do not waste away during this weight loss process.  I know during this time my body will burn far or muscle so I want to try and stay ahead of it muscle wise.  I enrolled in a program my doc endorsed and it's for other WLS patients.  I have a small 5 person group with a personal trainer who tries to kill us twice each week.  

Food, working out, now my mind how to keep that on track.  I didn't really tell anyone exactly what went on.  Anyone could know that I took the lapband out, however very few know what I did after that.  It's a great choice but it limits some options.  Being fully out about the band, people knew I'd eat less.  But people may or may not know to expect me to eat less now.  But the trade off is people do not know and thus do not add thier thoughts, wishes, or silly questions.  I found it weird last time how many people thought I'd invited them to comment and ask some rather unusual questions about my weight loss path.  So this time I chose to just not deal with people's crazy.  I've been settled with the amount I'm eatting.  I do miss being able to have more but this is a new feeling.  I have been more greatful about being able to eat normal foods han anything these last 6 weeks.  I am happy to be able to eat salmon with a little vigitibles and the fact that it's less hasn't been much of an issue.

Food, working out, mental, and family... Chaney has been rock solid on helping me out and making sure he's also eatting less because it's important that he also lose weight.  Having only the two of us to work with for meals has been great.  Christy has been over several times for dinner and has also listend closely to me about my thought's about all this. She and I know we didn't do near enough work with the band in order for that to have worked out well.  It's sad in retrospect but it's been the foundation on how I'm going to work with food this time.  So am I sad it didn't work, well yes because I would love to be 180 but at the same time I wasn't going to get there in the head space I was in.  So I am happy it went so wrong because it's made me very able to understand my issues.  My family knows and has witnessed Shelly having RNY so I do think they'll have some realistic expectations when I see them.  Chaney's parents are more of a wild card but they always are and we just roll with it.  

So I'm in a good space.  I've lost 40lbs, I at 240 and despritly want to see the 220s as it's lower than anytime with the lap band.  I feel like once past that hurdle I will feel like the crap of the past will be just that the past.  I can't change it but I can learn from it and I can run from it, far far away all the way down to under 200lbs.  My end goal is 180, I want to be healthy, I want to wear cloths and not have a spare tire around me, I want to get undressed on the dive boat and not feel like I'm the fattest person on the boat, I want to use under 20lbs to sink my ass when diving, I want to ride roller coasters, and never have to spend time researching if I can do something because of a weight restriction.  I'm done with this fat suit, I've wore it my whole life.  I don't know how quickly I'm going to get there but I think this time I have the parts and pieces needed to work this out.

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Back on here

Sep 17, 2008

 Ok so I forgot that everyone needs a hand.  I went away from here during the summer and so I came back to help me refocus.  So far I'm down 33lbs I love that.  It's taken awhile.  All summer I've been at 30lbs lost.  I was back into some bad eating habbits, all the swelling went down, and I was left with an open band.  Sometimes it behaves and sometimes not.

At this point I'm at 7ccs in my 9cc Realize band.  I think I'm going to head in for another .5ccs and see.  Its like I'm so close.  After coming back on here it seems that on this band a lot of people need to be in the upper range to get the right fill.  I'm glad I know that as I was starting to feel a twinge of buyers remorse.  

I'm still in good spirts about this though.  I'm down 33lbs yes it's take awhile but you know it's nice cause it's 33lbs that I'm sure I'd not be down without it.  

We've got an Alaskan cruise booked for next July 11 which will be my 18month Bandaversiry and I'd like to be down another 33lbs!  Much closer to 200 if it's possible.  I didn't book it that way but it happen to come out like that.

So I'm back on the water, trying to edge out sodas and bad for me stuff.  Yes I drink soda.  TBH I think it's nuts to think bubble will move my band.  I also am going to go for another fill and make more on an honest try at the "rules" like not drinking with meals and watching my portions more.





Review of so far

Mar 26, 2008

So I wanted to tell how the surgery went so I could remember this whole process. 

 I went in Monday morning I think around 10am or so.  I wore some comfy clothes and was taken back weighed and put in a holding cell or hospital room.  The nurse couldn’t get my IV so the anesthesiologist got it.  Dr. Nick stopped in and said hi and then we were off not to long after that.

I woke up in recovery and was in and out.  My throat hurt more than anything.  And I hate that they want you to rate your pain.  I think I told them more pain because of the throat than anything.  They gave me some time and then I went back to another room.

I did finally get Christy back there and she said I was in and out for about another hour.  They forced me to eat some jello.  I swear it was strawberry banana.  –Horrible- I also had to drink some which wasn’t an issue because my throat hurt. 

Finally she got me up and I was walked a short distance which seemed to make the nurse happy.  So I got my clothes on and got to leave.  As I hate hospitals I was too happy to get the crap outa there.

We stopped at Sonic and I got a lime slushy.  I now think that was an odd choice as it was cold, and I’m surprised my tummy didn’t hate me for it.  However it went well and I lived on lime slushes for that first week.

Tuesday I was too happy to barf up some pills I had taken.  That disturbed my mind and make me rather upset for the morning.  I took two small pills and I think the combo of it being early and tighter also taking the pain and pepcid together made for a barf.

Later Tuesday I was in a lot of pain from the horribly gas.  Which I think they should be required to squish out of you before gluing you back together.  I think we should all suggest that.  I was on my back in bed and not happy because I couldn’t get up and then I was crying and that made it worse.  Tuesday night I also tried to eat some jello which caused me to slime!  Now I hate jello. 

I woke up a lot at night Tues night but Wed morning I was better.  I stopped taking those darn pain pills.  I was in pain from the gas not the surgery so much. 

I also ended up going to a friend’s house Thursday for most of the day and I felt lots better because I started blowing out the gas.  I was crazy happy about that.  I had some beans from Taco bell.

By Friday I could put my Jeans back on and things were good.  I got dressed and went with some friends for about 2hrs on Friday to Frys.  It was nice but tiring to get out of the house.  That was also my first day alone.  I have to say I was super thankful about  Christy being home those 1st 4 days.  For those who go home alone… hats off to you as I was so very happy to have someone there with me.

I think it was Sat or Sunday though I was super hungry and really not able to eat enough protein to keep me from being crazy hungry.  At one point I was so upset I cried about being hungry.  All I can say is drink that protein powder.  Just do it.

Things have gotten better each day then each week.  I am now eating very normal.  No more weird hamburger problems or anything like that.  I can eat about ½-3/4 of what I used to and that’s been good.  I have little to no restriction as of now.

Each day I lost about a pound for the 1st 2 weeks.  I lost 19 total.  From the time I started the process.  I have kept that 19lbs off.  I go in tomorrow and get my first fill.


2nd day pre-opt diet

Jan 29, 2008

ok so it's the 2nd day of my pre-op diet.  The 1st day went well, and this second is being a pain in my ass.  I keep dwelling on food.  I'm not hungry per-say but I'm really dwelling on food. 

I can't hardly believe I'm now at the 2 week phase of this.  Just 13 days away.  I am having a hard time figuring out what I might be saying about this in say ... a month or 3 months, much less 6 months.  I hope its good stuff and that I've lost weight.  I really want this to work, but I've found so many people that have such vaired results so I'm not sure what to expect.

I have to go Friday for all sorts of test.  Lab test, and a upper GI test, plus a trip to the nut.  We'll see how that all plays out.

post to someone, wanted to remember my thoughts on this

Dec 13, 2007

Good post.  I agree that the band is not perfect, far from it really.  However it has major advantages over some other procedures.  The best one to me is if something better and down right the best ever method to lose weight happens to come down the pike in 10 years... I have a great chance of having this reversed if I still need to do it.  I was very gun-ho for VSG and my insurance would pay for the band but not that, I finally came to terms that the band leaves me with options where the other's don't so I'm headed for the band in Feb.

The part where you say your active, and don't eat like a crazy loon is me too.  I am active darn it, I get out and do stuff, I do, I don't ride the couch, I don't eat 3 pizzas and a gallon of chocolate milk for dinner and I AM TIRED OF FEELING LIKE SOMEONE WHO DOSE.

Band here I come

How am I doing

Nov 14, 2007

Well I'm still feeling a little all over the board about the band.  I am still having issues with the idea of a plastic thing in me.  I am having a hard time understanding how it's susposed to help.  I'm being a little negitive there.  I know it can help and will if I make it.  I know if I do the pre-op and post op diet I have a reasonable change of dropping 20-30lbs right off and I should be able to use that as a way to keep the lbs coming off.  Nothing like getting some sucess to help you pull though.

I have read that lots of people have lost lots of weight with the band.  Sometimes I have to do a double take.  I am trying to "know" and not just read that this can help me.  I think I got over the stress of getting to the doc, and now I'm playing a long waiting game because I'm not getting this done till Feb 11th.

Going for the Band

Nov 09, 2007

I'm taking the "easy" way out for now.  I'm set for Feb 11th.   I feel that currently the band is being offered to me on a platter with insurance covering it.  My insurance right now is hard to get VSG if not impossible.  The way the insurance companies see it I'm only a 40 BMI and to write up VSg you have to say it's the 1st step to the DS which isn't belivable at my weight apparently as they normally won't do that unless the BMI is more than 50.

I can feel the good things about this for now.  I asked about problems playing sports and he said if I got hit hard enough to have it cause issues I'd have bigger issues than that like broken ribs and other what nots.

I feel that I can choose this method and if it dosn't work or it causes me issues then I'm ok and and I can always have VSG at another point... I mean I'd be paying for it now or then anyway so why not take this option and see if it works for me.

I know the band can be a pain in the but with the fills and what not but... I can deal.  I guess I can anyway.  I kinda hate some of the issues with the band like PBing, sliming, and getting stuck.  But it also seems like this is what I have and it's way better than what I have going for me now.

I will research this band and find out how to make it work for me.


Gag

Nov 08, 2007

I am frustrated that I keep flipping out.  Two days ago I was second guessing why I was turning down lap band for VSG when I had it approved.  i could just walk in the office there and say... I'm here lets make an time to do this... but NO I want to toture myself and make things had and try for VSG. 

Its just been up and down for me.  I'm being crazy I know.  I know VSG is the best option known today.  Something is telling me to just to the lapband and be done with it.  That something better could come by.  I could have it removed and do the VSG later, if I'm paying for it anyway what's the difference.  The I think I'm not going to lose the weight I need to with Lap band, the numbers are no where near as good.

Darn it back to driving myself nuts again.  I really do hate a lot of things about the band ... I'll just have to go see the doc today and see how that flys.

Approved for Lapband

Oct 29, 2007

Ok to update I was approved for lap band last week.  I'm torn about that though.  I'm now mostly sure I want VSG.  I now have a doc appoint and can talk to him about both options on Nov 8th.  I'm happy I got approved it at min tells me that I'm not going to have to live at this weight for much longer.  I can work the band if needed and it dose have some nice things about it.  I really today feel like VSG is for me though.  He might shed some light that I'm not thinking of though.

I did want to update what it took to get approved again as that's important to the journey so in total:

My BMI = 40 showing this from the docs weigh in at my last appointment

History of 5 yrs being obese minium 35 BMI.  I went back in doc records that I got them to send me and dug this out.

A psych eval that showed I was in good mental health.  That was strange but well worth it as it was really painless.

Weight watchers attendance of 9 months with heights and weights.  I sent my cards in that they stamp at each meeting.  I also had WWW send me a letter showing what their program was all about to show it was comprensive.

2 Doctors recommendations 1 from Spfd and one from here they were simple but gave their thoughts that this could work for me.

And history of high blood pressure shown in doctors records for the last 2 years

I have a web printout showing I've been an online member of Weight
Watchers from the summer of 2006

I found documentation of the gym billing me from 2005-2007to go to a local gym it didn't show I went just that I had at least paid for it

I have documentation of playing football for a local team for 2002-2003

I went to a  dietitian on October 18th who talked to me about what life after surgery would be like.

All in all the doc's office person Christina who is there to help me get this submitted really did help.  She was there for me to send all this to and she's the one that actually sent it.  I had to have a fax machine for the Docs office to send me all this.  I had to call each doc, each gym, weight watchers, and all them and get them to send it.  I had to stay on top of them and ride them but it got done and most of in less than 2 weeks.  Christina thought it'd take 5-6 and it would have if I didn't ride the offices each day.  I never said what I wanted it for, I thought that might just given someone the reason to inject their own feelings into it and slow down in they wanted to. 

Resubmitted and changed my mind...

Oct 15, 2007

Ok so round two with the insurance.  I got the additional things sent to the doc's office and then they got the info to them sometime Thursday or Friday.

Ok so now... I'm starting to think about not doing lap band but doing VSG instead.  I went in thinking about doing lap band for several reasons some I'll list and then why maybe not...

I like band cause:

It can be reversed at a later time
Its simple enough and dosn't alter your tummy
It can be adjusted to you
The results are slow and would allow for skin to shrink back
not to complicated as far as what can be eaten
no dumping to speak of

I don't like:

Its not full proof, after watching a co-worker I know it can be cheated
It dosn't get results fast, in fact the results seem to vary a lot
Seems to be no sure way that you will
Having a plastic thing in me makes me nervous
things can get "stuck" and hurt


Why I'm thinking about VSG:

It seems simple enough, make tummy smaller, eat less lose weight
I like that ghrelin isn't going to be there to make me hungry
It offers more loss up front
nothing extra added to me to cause issues later
won't have to have it fixed or changed out later


The biggest reason is being able to cheat it by drinking while eating is huge.  I watch my co-worker eat "normal" amounts of stuff all the time.  He just drinks with lunch so he's still able to gulp down a whole 20oz Dr. Pepper, a hamburger, fries I mean what ever, and I'm not talking kids meal either.  That scares the crap out of me because I know I could fall in the trap he has.  Where you just do it once and then you get to doing it more often and before you know it your not losing weight and then you start to gain!  I tell you I want to do something and have it work, have it help, I know I have to work with it and not do bad things.  I have to have something I can't so easily cheat though.




About Me
Dallas , TX
Location
30.7
BMI
VSG
Surgery
03/14/2016
Surgery Date
Surgeon
Sep 17, 2007
Member Since

Before & After
rollover to see after photo
@Blizzcon
275lbs

Friends 16

Latest Blog 17
Back on here
Review of so far
2nd day pre-opt diet
post to someone, wanted to remember my thoughts on this
How am I doing
Going for the Band
Gag
Approved for Lapband
Resubmitted and changed my mind...

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