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MissNikki27's Blog
 

The Why?

So I have been overweight since I hit puberty. It wasn't an issue until several years ago. After, I started having children the weight just never disappeared and then after some time the weight just continued and continued to increase and now I know that I need to do something. I don't think that I'm ugly or unslightly but life isn't as enjoyable as it should be and I kow that if I lost the weight I would be a more lively person. So here I am started the journey to the rest of my life.
MissNikki27

MissNikki27

0
adrianewycuff's Blog
 

Will I ever be able to eat my Faves again?

Ok so I had my surgery May 16th only 5 days ago and I'm so worried I will never be able to eat my favourite foods again. I struggled with my liquid diet twice since I went in for surgery on April 8th and there were complications with the breathing tube. I redid the liquid diet and had a successful surgery last week. Harder the second time btw! Right now my family has a lasagna in the oven and I can't tell if I'm having hunger pains or just soreness from the surgery. I love pastas and bread and crave them all the time. Will I ever be able to eat them again in moderation??
adrianewycuff

adrianewycuff

10
Lisha73's Blog
 

3 day liquid diet

Well...today is day 3 of my clear liquid diet...Things are going well. I would have to say that things have been pretty smooth so far. I did get a bit light headed but got home and had some chicken broth and I feel much better now. Been feeling like I am "nesting" getting as much finished as I can before my surgery on Thursday. Not sure if anyone else has gone through that too...strange..I have been able to get more done in the last couple of days that I usually do in a weeks time. Guess I am better under pressure! I still have alot to get done before I go into the hospital, I know that Mike and the kids will do fine while I am gone, but I always feel like I have to get everything done without help. I just want to be supported through it all.
Lisha73

Lisha73

4
Kime-lou's Blog
 

Admissions of Guilt

Here are some things that I need to admit:   1- I can not do this journey alone. My husband is awesome and so very supportive, but he isn't on the same path as me and it's makes it difficult to see him eating certain things and I have to tell myself no. I don't have anyone to call and vent to or talk me down. I thought I could do it with his support, but I need support from those on the same wagon train.   2- I am addicted to food. When all else fails eat. When you are sad, happy, mad, glad, worried, sleepy eat.   3- The only thing to blame for me not having lost more weight is me, myself and I. I choose to eat things I shouldn't have and more than I should have.   4- I am a master of excuses. If you have something you don't want to do, let me know I can give you 100 different excuses for not.   5- I have good intetions, but have trouble following through. I often "plan" to do XYZ, but then when the time comes, the excuses come.   I am starting to work on these. The journey is an ever evolving learning process. I have hidden and ignored a lot of things above, but I must face them now in order to move forward.   The last week bad decisions have now shown up on the scale. This morning as I stared down at the scale shining 191, I wanted to kick my butt. I made bad choices and I am now 3 lbs up. To many that may not seem bad, but for me it is a wake up call.   I have got to turn this thing around, I have got to reset. This started with me making a menu plan again last night. This way I will know what I will be eating and have less chance of making unhealhty things. I also made my lunches for the remainder of the week and packaged my breakfast, so all I have to do is pick and go. When I did this a few weeks ago it really worked, then life hit me and fell down.
Kime-lou

Kime-lou

5
KristyT's Blog
 

disgusted with the lapband

I have not been on this site for a long time and I hope i do not get negative comments for this post. I was banded in august of 2011. i started out at 272, got down on my own to 249 the day of surgery, i lost very very slowly, doing everything they said to do and exercising, i got down to 222 last summer, then everything halted. My surgeon is rude and was very irritated with me for not losing more weight and I tried to explain to him that i have other conditions that affect my weight loss , mostly pcos, pcos makes it very difficult to lose weight, he litterally said that was bull sh.....t. so i have not been back to him for 7 months. i can either eat right or i throw up. i have gained weight back and am back up to 244 almost what i weighed at surgey day. im disgusted with the band, i feel like a fat bolemic person. i eat like a bird and throw up constantly. i gain weight even though i dont eat and when i do eat it is healthy food. I am going to a different surgeon and discussing a revision from band to sleeve. i was wondering if anyone out there has had a revision. and please no negative comments. i did what i was suppose to do for the band, it just doesnt work for me. thanks for listening.
KristyT

KristyT

5
@DomLorenVSG
 

9 Month Surgiversary w/ *Before & After Pics*

My, my, my... where do I even begin?   Let's see. My life has drastically changed. I'm a different person, inside and out. And oh yeah, I found someone who loves me and my child and wants to marry me. Yup. Life is good. Wait... no.... life is GREATTTTTT!       Bottom line, my life didn't begin until I had VSG. Plain and simple. No diet, no magical pill, no trainer workout session would ever get me to the point where I am today. I'm now smaller and weigh less than I did when I was in high school. I had a lifetime membership to the fat kids club, and now I'm on the outside looking in. If I could afford to pay for all my overweight friends and family to get this surgery, I would do it in a heart beat. This has been a high photographic month for me. My boyfriend and I are NOT engaged... yet. However it's on the horizon and we had formal pictures done with my son, and then last week I went on Vacation and he and I went to Las Vegas for 4 days with friends, followed by a week with my family in Colorado. It was amazing. And I lost weight on vacation.... my sleeve is a miracle worker! While the pounds aren't coming off as drastically as they use to, they are coming off. I'm still eating a pretty clean diet, and I work out 3 to 4 days a week for a couple of hours at the gym that has onsite daycare for my son. My schedule is a hectic mess, but once again- if I can do this- ANYONE can do this. There is no magical one thing I did. I did it all. I worked out as much as I could, forced my water consumption, and ate clean. The sleeve did the rest, and the proof is in the pics.   Interesting side story:   While on vacation I visited with my aunt, who has been my stand in mother my entire life, has been battling with a number of major issues that have made her gain 90 lbs over the past 7 years or so. Always a pillar of health, when menopause set in, followed by a major back surgery, she couldn’t stop the weight gain. Last month she found out she has major artery blockage, horrible cholesterol, and high blood pressure. They put her on a super intense strict diet. I sat her down, and told her EVERYTHING. She knew I had VSG, but I told her the good the bad and the ugly. I even told her I went to Mexico for the surgery (she was VERY upset, and I figured this might be her response…).   Then she said something interesting- she told me I was a walking billboard for VSG. We went to lunch and dinner several times together, and she was watching my eating and drinking habits, and started asking me how I was a 2 bite wonder? How I could eat a little bit of everything but not binge? And asked me about how my hunger has lessened, if not almost totally disappeared.She has never seen me so healthy and happy. She said my weight really messed with my head and my life decisions, and she sees how drastically I’ve changed over the past year, and she was so proud. And also found out VSG is covered by here insurance! She has already made the doctors’ appointments to look into it. I’m so blessed and thankful; she looks at me as a success story. She said she would NEVER have considered it if I hadn’t done it. While I wish I could get all of my overweight friends to invest into the VSG surgery, it’s absolutely humbling that someone so close and important to me would consider this surgery. I truly hope she follows through with it, and I hope I’m there when she has surgery.     Height: 5'9   Highest (Surgery) Weight: 216 lbs Current Weight: 147.1 lbs   Weight Loss to Date: -68.9 lbs   1st Primary Goal Weight: 169 (Achieved 11/27) 2nd Optimal Goal Weight set by Doc: 145 3rd Final Personal Goal Weight: 135   Sleeve Journey: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 8/17/12- PreOp/Surgery Day w/Pics Posted in Blog Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 (-11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2) Week 3 (9/7): 196.8 (-3.8) Week 4 (9/14): 193.5 (-3.3) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 9/17/12- 1 Month Anniversary w/Pics Posted in Blog (-22.5 lbs) Week 5 (9/21): 191.6 (-1.9) Week 6 (9/28): 190.1 (-1.5) Week 7 (10/5): 187.0 (-3.1) Week 8 (10/12): 181.9 (-5.1) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 10/17/12- 2 Month Anniversary w/Pics Posted in Blog (-11.6 lbs) Week 9 (10/19): 181.4 (-.5) Week 10 (10/26): 177.9 (-3.5) Week 11 (11/02): 176.8 (-1.1) Week 12 (11/09): 174.7 (-2.1) Week 13 (11/16): 173.3 (-1.4) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 11/17/12- 3 Month Anniversary w/Pics Posted in Blog (-8.6 lbs) Week 14 (11/23): 173.1 (-.2) Week 15 (11/30): 167.3 (-5.8) Week 16 (12/7): 168.1 (+.8) Week 17 (12/14): 164.6 (-3.5) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 12/17/12- 4 Month Anniversary (-8.7 lbs) Week 18 (12/21): Holiday Break/Vacation- No Scale Available Week 19 (12/28): Holiday Break/Vacation- No Scale Available Week 20 (1/4/13): 164.5 (-.1) Week 21 (1/11): 161.5 (-3.0) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 01/17/13- 5 Month Anniversary (-3.1 lbs) Week 22 (1/18): 161.7 (+.2) Week 23 (1/25): 158.7 (-3.0) Week 24 (2/1): Out of town- No scale Available Week 25 (2/8): 157.2 (-1.5) Week 26 (2/15): 157.2 ( .0) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 02/17/13- 6 Month Anniversary 157.2 (-3.3 lbs) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 03/17/13- 7 Month Anniversary 153.9 (-3.3 lbs) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 04/17/13- 8 Month Anniversary 150.8 (-3.1 lbs) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 05/17/13- 9 Month Anniversary 147.1 (3.7 lbs)    
@DomLorenVSG

@DomLorenVSG

13
HoosierGirl's Blog
 

HALF WAY TO GOAL!

Today, I am half way to my weight loss goal of 92 pounds! Yes - I am eating well and exercising, but I've never lost 46lbs just eating well and exercising. And NEVER could have lost 46 pounds in less than 4 months! Feeling so blessed and free from past demons. I am re-writing my future and it feels so wonderful!
HoosierGirl

HoosierGirl

3
Pammers Johnson's Blog
 

1week Post Op Appointment

Hubby dove me 3 hrs each way to see surgeon for post op appt today. finally under 300# (299) so I'm down 26 from first appt in Feb Incisions are still horribly red. He decided its allergic reaction to adhesive on steri strips. He Rec OTC cortisone cream. He wasn't concerned that I still had some pain and wrote me an RX for more liquid Vicodin. I was starting to feel like a baby. Doing great, but feeling like I should have minimal to no Pain at a week out. He questioned me on fluids and amount of protein. I guess I'm only getting in half the protein I should be. He wants 80-90gr. It's getting harder to get down the premier protein drinks as I've Been on them for so long. We stopped on the way home and bought some unflavored whey protein to add to soups etc, but when I tried it tonite...it was just too big of a scoop if I'm only eating 1/2 cup of soup. Which is too bad cause his powder has 25gr protein. But the scoop is huge! Almost 1/4 cup volume I'm sure. Back to the drawing board I guess. I'll try to get 2 shakes in tomorrow. Anyways, between the long car rides, and being in pain. I was worn out when we got home at 2 pm. I'd taken a protein drink with me and sipped on that and water for the car ride there. And hubby got me a latte with whole milk to sip on for ride home. I went too long without enough nourishment, was dehydrated and in pain. My B/P dropped and nearly passed out. All better now. But looking forward to a pajama day tomorrow and owning the tv remote while hubby goes to work. Will really work on liquids and protein this week so stomach heals and I can move on to soft foods next Monday!
Pammers Johnson

Pammers Johnson

1
Lauracat's Blog
 

self image

even though i lost all the wait i still struggle with self image issues. In my mind i see my self as as Big even though my paints size is a 4/6 in my mind i wear an 18. I hold up cloths in the store and look at them and say no way and go back to the pluse sizes it a long i mean hour and hours long process for me to get cloths. The weather is warming up hear in Ma and i have no shorts So i had to get some i just could not belve i was this size i could even shop in the juiors and did get a juniors dress but it just so hard. I think alot of pepole do not understand how it a daily stugle for alot of us I look at my refection and I start hating my self i can tell you everything wrong about me .   I spend 90 % of my time thinking about food and feeling bad and that i need to extersize it off. but most pepole have no idea.That this is a strugle for me they think that the band sloved everything boom it all fixed in the real life no it not fixed. they have no idea how hard i work how meny hours i spend working at this.
Lauracat

Lauracat

2
Blog 85448
 

Cha-CHING!

Well, I'd was holding out hope that maybe just maybe sticking to soft(but nutritionally sound) foods would result in a miracle and I'd be able to start working in some normal foods and not need surgery. Alas...attended a party yesterday where I managed a couple of tablespoons of guacmole, a teaspoon of corn salad and two mini empanadas - or so I thought.A half hour after my last bite I was in the bathroom - SIX times before leaving for home. It continued after I got home and removed my "second band" - my bra. Later that night I barely got down a cup of hot tea.   Amusingly enough a friend who is also banded was at the party. She's had several fills, and had no trouble eat small amounts of all the different foods served - and there I am with no fill barfing to beat the band.   Pretty much decided that when the band comes out, the surgeon would do a vertical sleeve - after all that's what we'd talked about. Called my insurance carrier and they were okay with this - no additional hoops to jump through. Imagine my surprise when the case coordinator called to tell me that before a removal/revision, I'd have to have another psych consult, testing, nutritional counseling, attend a class about WLS and two support groups. It took some back and forth for me to finally get her to tell me that while my insurance carrier does not require this, their practice does!? Really - did you tell your surgeon this 'cause he was planning to do the full monty in a couple of weeks. Now my choice is to try to run around and get all these additional "requirements" done in a couple of weeks before a 6/15 surgery date, or have the band out and then go through the whole set of hoops again for another surgery in a couple of months OR wait to have the removal/revision after I fulfill these requirements again. Seriously?
RavenClaw779

RavenClaw779

2
HappinessProject2013's Blog
 

The Journey Has Begun

Hello! I just joined this site. My surgery is scheduled for May 30, 2013 and it has been a wild ride getting here. I say wild ride because I just made the decision to get surgery on the morning of April 29th. I researched getting surgery about 4 years ago, but I decided against it because I viewed it as a "failure". I am 42 with a BMI of 46. I have high blood pressure, arthritis in my knees, PCOS, and IBS. That morning I woke up and decided that I had done 42 years in a big body and I was going to do the next 42+ in a different body. I just got tired of carrying myself around.     When I got to work that morning I called my insurance company to find out the places that were in-network and then I went online to learn everything I could possibly need to know. When I thought about surgery 4 years ago I thoulght I wanted the Lap Band, but since then I have changed careers and I travel frequently. I just didn't like the idea of having that band inside me as I get on a pressurized airplane every week so I started researching the sleeve. By the end of the day I had contacted the surgeon's office, viewed the online seminar, filled out the initial paperwork, and scheduled an appointment for the next Monday.     The appointment went well and I needed to get nutrition counseling and a psych eval. I called the nutritionist from the car and scheduled an appointment for Thursday and I already had an appointment with my therapist for Friday. Completed both appointments and the letter was submitted to my insurance the next Tuesday. On Friday I was approved. Whew!! Even typing that made me tired. The next day I went for a pre-op group session where we toured the hospital and learned all of the details of the surgery day. And here I am today joining this site.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery - An Unexpected Journey
 

Like Throwing Bricks Into The Grand Canyon or One Of Those Days – My Stomach Is A Bottomless Pit

Today was one of those scary days were it seemed like I just never got enough to eat. I have days like this on occasion and don’t really know what triggers them. I haven’t strayed from eating “good” foods, so I don’t think it has anything to do with the foods that trigger my hunger monster.   But, the amount of food I have been able to eat is really starting to scare me. With everything I’ve eaten, I definitely feel full, but the feeling doesn't seem to last but an hour or so.   So to combat those feeling of “I’m going to obsess about eating until I’ve eaten something,” I keep plenty of lean protein in the house. Grilled chicken breast, grilled pork loin and plenty of low sugar sauces. I don’t keep any temptations in the house to ward against days like this. Maybe I need a WLS voodoo doll with pictures of bad food and pins stuck through them.   I really started thinking about how and what I've been eating. And I have read the warning stories about people regaining their weight after surgery and it is a really scary feeling. I would never forgive myself for having gone through all this just to gain all the weight back.   So, I've set some limits on myself. Not so strict as to feel deprived, but not so loose as to let myself get out of control.   I will eat healthy food first. Protein/vegs/fiber every day.   I will let myself try a dessert, but never eat more than a bite or two. (And by bite, I don’t mean “as much of the cookie as will fit into my mouth at one time” bite. :-P)   I will not bring unhealthy food into the house. If I want something that bad, I’ll have to get off my butt and drive to the store. Most times, the craving does not overrule my need to stay camped out in front of the TV in my underwear or by the time I DO get there, the “craving” has worn off.   I will make my own lunches to bring to work. That way, I can’t rationalize going out to eat and making food bad choices, convincing myself that eating healthy food costs too much.   I’m trying to be realistic and know that I’m not always going to be faithful. But having the rules reminds me to stop and think before making a food choice. It’s a tool, just like WLS.   Knowing that I am allowed to eat SOME bad stuff removes the stress of “I can’t ever have that again!”   Knowing that I CAN eat a little of anything puts the power back in my hands and puts the responsibility on my shoulders to CHOOSE to eat the right way. It is empowering to feel like I am allowed to eat anything I want, but it’s my CHOICE to pick a different food option.   I like this new lifestyle and after 5 months of hating to get out and walk, I am beginning to WANT to go on daily walks. Although I don’t necessarily like them, I do like seeing the scale drop and my energy level go up!   Keep Pimpin that Sleeve!
joatsaint

joatsaint

1
Jim1967's Blog
 

New Bandsters becoming extinct?

I've been banded for a little over a year now and I can remember when I attended my first seminar in October 2011 there was so many potential band patients. As time went on and I attended support meetings and gastric patients always far out numbered bandsters but there was still a lot of people. So now my Wife has begun her journey and is using the same center I used but a different Doctor. Doctor who was giving the seminar discussed all three option as they now offer the Sleeve along with the band and bypass. As I was taking in all the information it became quite clear that the band has fallen out of favor with the Doctors in the center. They'll still do Bands if that is what the patient wants. At one point the Doctor said "On average our patients lose 30 pounds in year one where the other surgeries have a higher success rate".   Needless to say I disputed those numbers and then privately told the Doctor I believe she was being unfair with her assessment and then I questioned her that out of the number she is using how many were due to non-compliance vs actual complications/failures? Her answer was bluntly "That is why I like to push for the Sleeve over band as it requires less attention". Sounds pretty bias to me!! I then said so what you're saying is getting the Sleeve means it is successful regardless of the effort of the patient? And her reply was "Well there will always be guidelines and good choices to be made in order to be successful". .At that point I had enough and it sounded like she was blowing me off.   I continue to follow up with my Doctor and I still attend certain support meetings but I can sadly see band patients being a thing of the past. I attend as a patient advocate in what is called a Panel of Experts which is made up of post op patients with at least more than 9 months of experience. I sit on this panel with bypass and sleeve patients. It is designed for preop to ask anything they want to the post ops without any presence from the Center. Basically a patient to patient candid talk. I will tell you the last one I had been to consisted of about 20 people and 2 were potential bandsters. I think I ended up answering 3 or 4 questions while listening to the Sleeve and Gastric speak.
Jim1967

Jim1967

17
M_8ankz's Blog
 

This is really happening....

Today is the day that i saw so far off in the distance 4 months ago. A day where I would exhale and quietly rejoice with myself. A day where I found contentment in myself that I haven't had in many years.   I rushed around to get ready for work this morning....I was running VERY late. Before I grabbed my purse I stepped on the scale, somewhat blah, and had a little surprise. I was 199.8! Time stopped at that moment as I stood there staring. I slowly stepped off the scale and just stood there. Alone in the bathroom I took a moment to be thankful. Thankful that my surgery was even an option, and thankful that my body took so well to it. After today I am going to continue all the work that it took to get to this point. I now know today, how strong of a person it takes to have WLS. I feel like I have accomplished so much more than just smaller numbers on a scale. I gained confidence, contentment, and healthy knowledge.
M_8ankz

M_8ankz

7
bayougirlmrsc's Blog
 

Day 1

today is day 1 of getting back on the right track. Good so far, turned down a bad breakfast idea... good for me. Breakfast is Coffee, 1/2 sausage patty.
BayougirlMrsS

BayougirlMrsS

3
Kime-lou's Blog
 

Working on it......

My attitude the last few weeks has been less than great. I have been down for a number of reasons and it has take a toll on me and my weight loss. My life is still beyond busy, but I hope I am getting some control over my attitude.   By the end of last week I was in the mode of screw it, I don't care I am going to eat what I want and do what I want. However, I noticed that my band does prevent me from going to far over board and I suppose that is a great thing.   Saturday my parent drove down from Southern VA to help the hubs and I set up our awesome new deck. We finally built the deck of our dreams. Even though we live in Raleigh, NC's capital, we have a house in a subdivision that backs a river, so I have a big feild and a river behind my house. This helps me feel like I am some what in the country. We now have a 25 x 14 deck. My parents helped assemble a gazebo on our deck, complete with curtains. We have beautiful new deck furniture. So Saturday from the time my feet hit the floor until my butt hit the bed I was hauling butt.   Eating wise, I am not sure how to feel about the weekend. Saturday and Sunday morning, I had what the hubs refers to as the hearty breakfast bowl. This bowl consist of 1 pack of cinnamon oatmal, half of a small apple chopped up in it and a sprinkle of granola on top. It is very good. I don't think that was a horrible breakfast. For lunch, for time sake, we order a pizza. I ate two slices of a medium veggie pizza. When dinner finally rolled around, I felt like a truck had hit me since I had been working out in the sun since 8 am. The hubs wanted to go to Moe's Southwest Grill. I ordered a Quesodilla with chicken, onions and peppers. I pulled off the execess shell, but I did eat most all of it. Funny thing is I never had one stuck spell or felt over full. This worries me a bit.   Sunday, I had to make the trip up to Southern VA for a family reunion. I was worried about this, since it would be outside and I would have no where to go hide and PB if I got stuck. I ended up helping my plate with to much, however it was about a 3rd of what I would have normally had on there. Yet, I still didn't eat it all. I ended up giving a peice of chicken that was way to big to my newphew who is 16 and is as skinny as a rail, yet eats like a horse. I didn't have dessert a spoon of strawberry cobbler and 1 thin slice of pound cake. Luckly I never got stuck, but still know I ate to much.   When I finally arrived home the hubs wanted breakfast supper. I made sausage and egg sandwiches. I toast mine so the bread doesn't gum. I ate the entire thing- normally I would only eat half.   I worry now that I may have stretched my band. I know I need to get back on track and stop this insanity before it gets totally out of control. I had hoped to get up early today and go for a run, but it's is raining cats, dogs and a few horses here in NC and will all day . This afternoon I need to go get my mom's B-day gift, since I finally know what she wants. Then I need to come home and clean the house, which got neglected this weekend with everything else I have to do. So I know I will not stop moving until my head hits the pillow again.   This constant being busy is likely what has prevented my weight from going insane, I am up to 190.8 this morning. My lowest seen has been 187.   I must get back on track one step at a time, I believe it is time to go back to journaling, if I can find time to do that.
Kime-lou

Kime-lou

1
Melissa W.'s Blog
 

Day 1 of pre-surgery diet

I made it though the first day of only eating 800 calories. I had a really hard time in the early evening, because I was just plain hungry. I went out and mowed the lawn to take my mind off of eating. Tomorrow should be interesting with having to go to work
Melissa W.

Melissa W.

2
A Long Road To Happiness
 

My Surgery Date: 5/20/13

*Breathe Christina* This is it. Tomorrow morning I will have my surgery. It will be the first day of the rest of my life, a truly life changing event.   It has been a long road, I have been to so many doctor visits preparing for this day to come. I have my bag ready, family notified, I am having a visit with a Pagan Minister for many Blessings so that I will have a safe and healthy journey tomorrow. Everything seems to be in order. I relaxed today, took it easy. Got a lot of rest. I am feeling calm now, but I know tomorrow morning I will be begging for a sedative!   I've been repeating to myself "no hair clips, no makeup, no perfume, no nail polish. shower with antibacterial soap. don't shave my surgical site" (not that I would, but it's on the list)   Ipod- Check! Friends notified- Check! Cell phone charger- Check! And of course makeup and shower essentials for the day after.   *Sigh*   Wish me luck, Blessed Be!  
ChrissyVon

ChrissyVon

0
A Long Road To Happiness
 

Stage I : liquid diet- Pre-Op

"This will probably be the hardest part of the surgery. If you can get through this, you'll do just fine." That is what my surgeon told me two weeks ago when I had just started the Stage I liquid diet. I knew it was going to be difficult, but I had no idea how it would be this difficult. You can't eat any solid food at all for two weeks prior to surgery. That means with a normal, or maybe even a little bigger than normal sized stomach- you will not be able to eat a single thing for 2 weeks. Not even yogurt with little pieces of fruit in it. Sounds easy huh? NO. Definitely not.   My surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning, which will mark my two weeks of being on liquids. It has been a challenge. I made it. I didn't slip up or anything. But, I am so hungry! I'm dying for even just a little piece of toast. Every bit of food sounds appealing and smells really good. My mother came to an apt. with me and asked the surgeon "is there anything she can eat that will make her feel full?" And with a nervous chuckle and a sympathetic smile, he shook his head "no."   Now, this would be easier if I weren't lactose intolerant.   I've yet to find a soy protein that has less than 3 grams of sugar, I tried the whey protein just to see if I could stomach it. I can't. So I got some carnation instant breakfast, a cousin of mine got the surgery a couple years ago and that is what she used. I am doing a lot better but it definitely isn't nearly as filling.... My surgeon was right. nothing fills me up. You just have to keep hydrated, drink what you can as much as you can without grazing and just toughen through it.   Also, without eating solids...You go to the bathroom a lot...whether you want to or not, whether you are prepared to or not. You will go. I suggest that people take it easy those 2 weeks, make sure you are always near a bathroom and have liquid pepto on hand. Pepto Bismol (and store brand versions) have been my absolute best friend through this journey. They failed to tell me that part. Someone should! Haha. BE PREPARED!!!   There have been so many times where I just wished I could have taken a bite out of something. A sub, sandwich, hamburger, hot dog...something. And there have been times where I craved mashed potatoes, toast, popcorn...little things I didn't think I would miss this much, haha. Things you don't really ever think about.   BUT I made it!!! I met my protein goals, my water intake goals, took my chewable vitamins and my next big step is tomorrow.
ChrissyVon

ChrissyVon

3
My journey
 

Should I or Shouldn't I?

I am 90% sure I want to get the lap band, and 10% unsure. I'm certain that my story, my life, my decision is not unique - but it's mine. I am 33 years old, almost 34. I have been 50 pounds over weight for years and years. I have been over weight since the fourth grade. It's part of who I am. I hate it.   For over 20 years, not a day has gone by where I didn't have negative thoughts about my weight and my body. I love myself, I truly do. But I hate my extra weight. I am self conscious of my body. It prevents me from doing new things, meeting new people, and living my life. I walk into a store and start comparing myself to every female in the store. I obsess. This is my life and I effing hate it. I want out.   That is why I am 90% sure I want this.   I don't want scars. I don't want to be in pain. Most of all, I don't want this, getting the lap band, my last resort, to fail. Because this is it. If this doesn't work, then this is my life and I am petrified of failing and having to life the rest of my life in this body. That's the 10% why I'm still scared to get it.
colorado_chick

colorado_chick

1

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