At this point I am down to 225 pounds. I've lost 24 pounds in 35 days. Not to bad. A little discouraging - I had visions of fat melting off like butter!! LOL
Since my last (or first) fill I've learned; when Dr. said small portion - he MEANT small portion!, bread is the hardest thing to swallow, cut into small pieces works better that trying to bite off a small enough amount, it really hurts when I overeat, and I think I've eaten out of shear boredom for a long time.
If I get something "stuck" - letting a big burp will many times help. Bread seems to get 'stuck' more often that just about anything else. Soup is still pretty good. The liquid immediately goes to my growling tummy while the noodles or whatever sift down more gradually.
So, I'm still excited and glad that things are 'working'. I'm hoping I continue to decrease at the same rate!!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
1 month visit
I had my 1 month visit yesterday. I am doing will. I lost 5 more pounds making a total of 20 pounds in 1 month. Really not bad. I have never been able to stay on a diet this long - so - it works for me.
I did the 10 days clear liquid which consisted of chicken broth, green tea, beef broth, and Liptons Chicken noodle cup of soup, and jello. I really got bored with this diet - but managed to keep going. Then came 10 days of creamy 'stuff'. I ate yogurt, pudding, tomato soup, cream of 'stuff' soup (Dr. said to strain out the 'chunks' but I just made sure I creamed them before I swallowed). This and the fall back on the liquids made for a bit more variety. Then 10 days of soft diet. Well, this I pretty well mangled. I ate really small portions of about anything anyone else was having - but I chewed it thouroughly and then a little more. I saw no ill effects except that I suppose I could've lost a little more weight had I followed directions.
At this point, my face has slimmed down. The jowls that were becoming rather pronounced have just about disappeared. I have found a set of facial firming exercises online that I have been doing. I don't know if they are helping because I don't know what it would be like if I wasn't doing them - - so that's a big if. I have continued to do moderate exercise. I get to the pool a couple of times a week for aquacises and I've been pedaling my bike for a bit most days. My sleeves on my shirts are looser and the legs of my shorts aren't quite so tight. That is mostly the only difference that I've noticed.
SO, I went to my appointment and the nurse explained the procedure since this was my first fill.... Dr. Valarde came in - he told a couple of jokes to try to relax me as he anestesized the area of the port. Then he measured the amount of saline in the band - 2 mls. - just as it was supposed to be. He then put additional saline into the band - checking every ml by having me sit up (that was odd - sitting up with the needle in my belly!) and sip water. Then he would put more saline in - until I could tell that the water wasn't dropping directly into my stomach. I could actually feel it slowing down.... An odd feeling to say the least. So I believe that he stopped at 4 ml. I forgot to ask to be sure - but from comments - this is what I'm thinking. He warned me to make sure that I eat very small amounts (about 1/4 cup per sitting) and stop eating as soon as I began to feel full. He sternly warned that going beyond this point would cause vomiting - and I will avoid that with everything I've got!! Today is clear liquids, tomorrow softer foods, and then - just really, really small portions.... and exercise...... I can do it!!
So this completely painless and very humorous ( a good Dr. is 99% of the battle!) visit was accomplished and over within 30 minutes of the time I walked into the reception area and I will be ready for a 2nd fill in 1 month and if necessary a 2nd fill 1 month after that. Since we will be cruising in December - and I so get a bit seasick - they will remove the liquid from the band before the cruise and if necessary - replace it afterwards. Our goal is 60 more pounds by then - So I am looking forward to none of my winter clothing fitting next year.... Yay!!!! I get to shop for new clothes.... and summer clothes too......
I did the 10 days clear liquid which consisted of chicken broth, green tea, beef broth, and Liptons Chicken noodle cup of soup, and jello. I really got bored with this diet - but managed to keep going. Then came 10 days of creamy 'stuff'. I ate yogurt, pudding, tomato soup, cream of 'stuff' soup (Dr. said to strain out the 'chunks' but I just made sure I creamed them before I swallowed). This and the fall back on the liquids made for a bit more variety. Then 10 days of soft diet. Well, this I pretty well mangled. I ate really small portions of about anything anyone else was having - but I chewed it thouroughly and then a little more. I saw no ill effects except that I suppose I could've lost a little more weight had I followed directions.
At this point, my face has slimmed down. The jowls that were becoming rather pronounced have just about disappeared. I have found a set of facial firming exercises online that I have been doing. I don't know if they are helping because I don't know what it would be like if I wasn't doing them - - so that's a big if. I have continued to do moderate exercise. I get to the pool a couple of times a week for aquacises and I've been pedaling my bike for a bit most days. My sleeves on my shirts are looser and the legs of my shorts aren't quite so tight. That is mostly the only difference that I've noticed.
SO, I went to my appointment and the nurse explained the procedure since this was my first fill.... Dr. Valarde came in - he told a couple of jokes to try to relax me as he anestesized the area of the port. Then he measured the amount of saline in the band - 2 mls. - just as it was supposed to be. He then put additional saline into the band - checking every ml by having me sit up (that was odd - sitting up with the needle in my belly!) and sip water. Then he would put more saline in - until I could tell that the water wasn't dropping directly into my stomach. I could actually feel it slowing down.... An odd feeling to say the least. So I believe that he stopped at 4 ml. I forgot to ask to be sure - but from comments - this is what I'm thinking. He warned me to make sure that I eat very small amounts (about 1/4 cup per sitting) and stop eating as soon as I began to feel full. He sternly warned that going beyond this point would cause vomiting - and I will avoid that with everything I've got!! Today is clear liquids, tomorrow softer foods, and then - just really, really small portions.... and exercise...... I can do it!!
So this completely painless and very humorous ( a good Dr. is 99% of the battle!) visit was accomplished and over within 30 minutes of the time I walked into the reception area and I will be ready for a 2nd fill in 1 month and if necessary a 2nd fill 1 month after that. Since we will be cruising in December - and I so get a bit seasick - they will remove the liquid from the band before the cruise and if necessary - replace it afterwards. Our goal is 60 more pounds by then - So I am looking forward to none of my winter clothing fitting next year.... Yay!!!! I get to shop for new clothes.... and summer clothes too......
Monday, April 6, 2009
13 days Post Surgery
I've been to my 10 day post op check up. I've lost 9.5 pounds in the 10 days. Not bad for someone that can say the 4 letter word - diet- and gain weight! I've been active. Resumed my aquacises and riding my bike. My feet have quit burning like I'm walking on hot coals. I managed to do the 10 days liquid diet and only cheated a few times. My cheats consisted of nibbling on a piece of pulled pork from my husbands sandwich, pulling a little over a fingernail size piece from his apple fritter at a breakfast meeting and nibbling on it, and when my heartburn acted up - I had a 1/2 cup scoop of vanilla ice cream.
I bought the singles water flavor packets with Vitamin C in them. I have a 32 oz bottle that I use these in. With no liquid 30 minutes before or after a meal - I can pretty well sip on this (using different flavors) drinking 1 in the morning/early afternoon and making a different flavor for late afternoon/evening hours. This gives me my 64 ounces of fluid and flavors to keep me from getting to terribly bored. Doctor says I have about 2 cc's of 'fill' in my band at this time. I return in 3 weeks for another fill.
My incisions are healing well. I still have a bruise and a lump over the incision where the port is. I used to sleep on my left side - not any more. It is still uncomfortable.
He has graduated me on to creamed foods. He didn't illustrate beyond saying that I wasn't to eat the solids in yogurt or creamed soups. I have 6days of this left and cheated on Saturday when we attended a benefit bar-b-que. I love BBQ's!! I peeled, shredded, and then well chewed a bit of BBQ chicken meat and a bit of pulled pork. I did not get a drink nor did I have any beverage for the required time before or after. THIS FILLED ME UP and I was completely satisfied for the remainder of the day!!!
My goal given to me for my next appointment is 20 pounds. So far - I think I have 2......
I bought the singles water flavor packets with Vitamin C in them. I have a 32 oz bottle that I use these in. With no liquid 30 minutes before or after a meal - I can pretty well sip on this (using different flavors) drinking 1 in the morning/early afternoon and making a different flavor for late afternoon/evening hours. This gives me my 64 ounces of fluid and flavors to keep me from getting to terribly bored. Doctor says I have about 2 cc's of 'fill' in my band at this time. I return in 3 weeks for another fill.
My incisions are healing well. I still have a bruise and a lump over the incision where the port is. I used to sleep on my left side - not any more. It is still uncomfortable.
He has graduated me on to creamed foods. He didn't illustrate beyond saying that I wasn't to eat the solids in yogurt or creamed soups. I have 6days of this left and cheated on Saturday when we attended a benefit bar-b-que. I love BBQ's!! I peeled, shredded, and then well chewed a bit of BBQ chicken meat and a bit of pulled pork. I did not get a drink nor did I have any beverage for the required time before or after. THIS FILLED ME UP and I was completely satisfied for the remainder of the day!!!
My goal given to me for my next appointment is 20 pounds. So far - I think I have 2......
Friday, March 27, 2009
Surgery Day!
The day of surgery! I am so excited, and nervous, and anxious. I know, realistically, that I am not going to come out of the hospital looking slim and svelte like Princess Di, but it's a start!
We got to the hospital a little early, so early that they weren't open yet.... How's that for excited and anxious? I got checked in and they come picked us up to go to the preop room. Keith was as excited as I was. He has been really great. Of course - he needs more than clear liquids to live off of and I think he is getting his good foods offsite, so I don't have to watch him eat. But, unbelievably, I am hungry. Other than being rather bored from not cooking, or baking, or doing anything .......
Dr. Velarde came in and checked up on me, as did the anesthesiologist, and there was a nurse there wh0 had the same procedure done about a year ago - she gave me quite the pep talk... she is still estatic and still loseing weight. Not to be mean - but she must've been really, really huge because you can see the layers of skin hanging - and she doesn't look to be very old either - probably in her 30's.
So, once we were all ready they sent Keith off to the waiting room and wheeled me out the door. I didn't stay awake to get clear into the hallway. I don't know if we took an elevator or if we just went down a hall... I woke up about 10:30 with the feeling like I had a girdle around my midriff. A pretty tight girdle. I did not wake feeling nausous (like I always have had after surgery). I could tell that I was going to feel rather sore and movement was restricted. My neck and shoulder ached pretty badly but I couldn't have my arthritus medication....
I was taken to my room and given a 1/2 cup of jello and a 1/2 cup of cranberry juice, and a cup of water with a spoon. The best tasting water in the whole wide world!!! I used the plastic spoon and kept the 'tastes' small - it works for juice too. By 2pm I had been up to the bathroom (the iv's made sure that I did that often) walked my iv pole up and down the hall and was back in bed. My middle was still very tender and swollen. Getting up and down or even adjusting my position was a little difficult. It was made more difficult because of the neck and shoulder issues that I already had. Many say that the gas they use sometimes 'pools' in a joint area and that makes that area ache until it is absorbed. It may have made the pain in my shoulder a little worse - but I cannot pull myself up with my arms anyhow - so I couldn't really tell.
I was delivered dinner - more jello, juice, and coffee. I ate 1/2 of the jello and had some more of the water. By this time I was passing gas from both ends. This helped with the tight feeling in my midriff.
I slept on and off. Waking several times to use the bathroom - which consisted of calling a nurse to 'unplug' me and help me get out of the bed. Once up - I was fine on my own. I also had the blessing of a roomie that snored and moaned all night LOL!!!
Morning came and Dr. Velarde came and checked me out. I got instructions to take my bandages off when I got home, shower next day, eat clear liquids for 10 days, and call for a follow up for 10 days.
I got home and was pretty beat. I took a nap and felt better. I took off the bandages and was amazed to find that I don't even have stitches. I had 1/2 cup of chicken broth and later about 1/2 of a jello snack pack. And water. I'm still using the teaspoon. Somehow I'm getting more taste from it that way. I was warned many times about gulping liquid and I'm useing this as my training tool.
Here are the 5 incisions that were made for the procedure - some swelling is still evident and they are still really tender to the touch. I can get up and down easier and the swelling is rapidly decreasing.
Here is after my shower and later in the day. The swelling is almost gone. I am moving almost normally and it is just a little over 48 hours since surgery. I am amazed! And I am still pleased.
I don't know if I've lost any weight yet - won't know for a couple of days yet - I'm not weighing until Sunday. I will post then.
We got to the hospital a little early, so early that they weren't open yet.... How's that for excited and anxious? I got checked in and they come picked us up to go to the preop room. Keith was as excited as I was. He has been really great. Of course - he needs more than clear liquids to live off of and I think he is getting his good foods offsite, so I don't have to watch him eat. But, unbelievably, I am hungry. Other than being rather bored from not cooking, or baking, or doing anything .......
Dr. Velarde came in and checked up on me, as did the anesthesiologist, and there was a nurse there wh0 had the same procedure done about a year ago - she gave me quite the pep talk... she is still estatic and still loseing weight. Not to be mean - but she must've been really, really huge because you can see the layers of skin hanging - and she doesn't look to be very old either - probably in her 30's.
So, once we were all ready they sent Keith off to the waiting room and wheeled me out the door. I didn't stay awake to get clear into the hallway. I don't know if we took an elevator or if we just went down a hall... I woke up about 10:30 with the feeling like I had a girdle around my midriff. A pretty tight girdle. I did not wake feeling nausous (like I always have had after surgery). I could tell that I was going to feel rather sore and movement was restricted. My neck and shoulder ached pretty badly but I couldn't have my arthritus medication....
I was taken to my room and given a 1/2 cup of jello and a 1/2 cup of cranberry juice, and a cup of water with a spoon. The best tasting water in the whole wide world!!! I used the plastic spoon and kept the 'tastes' small - it works for juice too. By 2pm I had been up to the bathroom (the iv's made sure that I did that often) walked my iv pole up and down the hall and was back in bed. My middle was still very tender and swollen. Getting up and down or even adjusting my position was a little difficult. It was made more difficult because of the neck and shoulder issues that I already had. Many say that the gas they use sometimes 'pools' in a joint area and that makes that area ache until it is absorbed. It may have made the pain in my shoulder a little worse - but I cannot pull myself up with my arms anyhow - so I couldn't really tell.
I was delivered dinner - more jello, juice, and coffee. I ate 1/2 of the jello and had some more of the water. By this time I was passing gas from both ends. This helped with the tight feeling in my midriff.
I slept on and off. Waking several times to use the bathroom - which consisted of calling a nurse to 'unplug' me and help me get out of the bed. Once up - I was fine on my own. I also had the blessing of a roomie that snored and moaned all night LOL!!!
Morning came and Dr. Velarde came and checked me out. I got instructions to take my bandages off when I got home, shower next day, eat clear liquids for 10 days, and call for a follow up for 10 days.
I got home and was pretty beat. I took a nap and felt better. I took off the bandages and was amazed to find that I don't even have stitches. I had 1/2 cup of chicken broth and later about 1/2 of a jello snack pack. And water. I'm still using the teaspoon. Somehow I'm getting more taste from it that way. I was warned many times about gulping liquid and I'm useing this as my training tool.
Here are the 5 incisions that were made for the procedure - some swelling is still evident and they are still really tender to the touch. I can get up and down easier and the swelling is rapidly decreasing.
Here is after my shower and later in the day. The swelling is almost gone. I am moving almost normally and it is just a little over 48 hours since surgery. I am amazed! And I am still pleased.
I don't know if I've lost any weight yet - won't know for a couple of days yet - I'm not weighing until Sunday. I will post then.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tomorrow
Tomorrow is my surgery. I am to report at 6 am with my driver (aka Keith). He will be the one getting all of the post - surgical instruction!! If they only knew.... he doesn't listen well at all....
But anyhow,
I have dieted for years. All of my life really. I can remember being in 3rd grade and my mother putting me on a diet. I was born 'normal' - 7#5oz. Normal toddler and preschooler. By the time I turned into a teen - Twiggy was in - fatties were out. I starved and I gained, I grew depressed and did really stupid things, I quit school and went to work as a waitress. That got some of the weight off -
As I got older - I gained and I lost. I changed jobs and stress would take it off.... I would get comfortable (or something) and I'd gain again. I just couldn't keep it off.
At this point I've tried everything. I now have fibromylgia, arthritus of the lower back, hips, and knees. I have sleep apnea and GERD. I don't fit in a normal lawn chair nor am I able to wipe my own backside with confidence that it is done properly. I cannot sleep on my back and the topper of it all - the airline seats are to tight. My last plane ride - the steward very nicely and quietly came forward - and asked if I need a belt extender... That was one of my eye openers. The next one was when I really looked at my fat, gushy, white, lumpy rolls of blubber in a full length mirror. I had to make myself do that. I am usually a pretty realistic person... but even I had myself fooled.
It is time.
So here are my pre-surgery stats.
Height 62", Weight 244, BMI >40 (morbidly obese), Neck 16, Bust 46, Midriff 42, Waist 47, Hips 52, Thigh 30, Calf 17, and upper Arm 16. I am not flabby fat. I am solid. You can't pinch an inch. I exercise every morning, ride my bike pretty often, work in the yard, grow a garden. My bp is 120/75, colesterol is 162. So I take blood tests really well.
I've done my research. For months I researched the lap band, the gastric sleeve, and the bypass. My insurance will go for the bypass and the band - but not the sleeve. I think I would have gone for it - but - $$$ talks....
I went to the seminar, then the consult, wait for the authorizations, then the psycho consult, then the nutritionist appt., then back for the preop appointment and all of the labs. It has been a long 6 weeks worth of wait for the next step.
IT has arrived. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight and be there at 6 am.
Wish me luck. I will update my experience in a couple of days
But anyhow,
I have dieted for years. All of my life really. I can remember being in 3rd grade and my mother putting me on a diet. I was born 'normal' - 7#5oz. Normal toddler and preschooler. By the time I turned into a teen - Twiggy was in - fatties were out. I starved and I gained, I grew depressed and did really stupid things, I quit school and went to work as a waitress. That got some of the weight off -
As I got older - I gained and I lost. I changed jobs and stress would take it off.... I would get comfortable (or something) and I'd gain again. I just couldn't keep it off.
At this point I've tried everything. I now have fibromylgia, arthritus of the lower back, hips, and knees. I have sleep apnea and GERD. I don't fit in a normal lawn chair nor am I able to wipe my own backside with confidence that it is done properly. I cannot sleep on my back and the topper of it all - the airline seats are to tight. My last plane ride - the steward very nicely and quietly came forward - and asked if I need a belt extender... That was one of my eye openers. The next one was when I really looked at my fat, gushy, white, lumpy rolls of blubber in a full length mirror. I had to make myself do that. I am usually a pretty realistic person... but even I had myself fooled.
It is time.
So here are my pre-surgery stats.
Height 62", Weight 244, BMI >40 (morbidly obese), Neck 16, Bust 46, Midriff 42, Waist 47, Hips 52, Thigh 30, Calf 17, and upper Arm 16. I am not flabby fat. I am solid. You can't pinch an inch. I exercise every morning, ride my bike pretty often, work in the yard, grow a garden. My bp is 120/75, colesterol is 162. So I take blood tests really well.
I've done my research. For months I researched the lap band, the gastric sleeve, and the bypass. My insurance will go for the bypass and the band - but not the sleeve. I think I would have gone for it - but - $$$ talks....
I went to the seminar, then the consult, wait for the authorizations, then the psycho consult, then the nutritionist appt., then back for the preop appointment and all of the labs. It has been a long 6 weeks worth of wait for the next step.
IT has arrived. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight and be there at 6 am.
Wish me luck. I will update my experience in a couple of days
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