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Lindsey's Blog
 

Running with Lapband

Running with Scissors Lapband Am I too big to run? I realize watching me run will not be a pleasant sight but I'm wondering if I will hurt myself running. My BMI is 46 and I'm concerned about how my Lapband will reacting to being lurched around. Is there an ideal BMI or fitness level to start running? Yes, these are questions I will ask my doctor but I was just wondering what some other people's experiences are.
lindavidson

lindavidson

7
Lindsey's Blog
 

One Little Carrot

All it took was one mini carrot. Last night at dinner, I had a full feeling and decided to eat the last carrot on my plate. BIG MISTAKE. I've always been able to tell when I am about to throw up -- that metalic taste, excessive saliva. I immediately went to the restroom and knew I was about to throw up my entire dinner. And all that came up was a few bits of carrots and some spit. I thankfully know when to stop now but I am wondering if throwing up is a normal part of the process. My friend with lapband throws up every time she eats too fast. I'm only three weeks post op and have not had a fill yet but my concern is that I will feel miserable and feel like I need to throw up and won't be able to. I of course do not want to throw up but has this been part of your lapband journey?
lindavidson

lindavidson

3
Fibro Diva's Bariatric Blog
 

Discussing Fibromyalgia and Surgery with my surgical team

I have an evening appointment with my surgeon's assistant tonight. The purpose is last minute instructions and Q & A. I found a patient education sheet "Guidance for Fibromyalgia Patients who are having Elective Surgery" on the website of the Fibromyalgia Information Foundation.   I'm printing out a copy and taking it to my appointment tonight. Everyone at the hospital seems knowlegeable about FM and its affects on post-op recovery but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

1
Fibro Diva's Bariatric Blog
 

1 week pre-op

It's been a long road to get to this point. I've walked this road with my 2 children, my sister, and my best friend [who just happens to be a doctor]. For years my doctor's have been warning me to lose weight. My sister and I have tried various programs [diet and exercise] to no avail.   I didn't come to the decision to undergo surgery at the flip of a coin. I purposely waited until today, 1 week pre-op, to tell my extended family and friends because they are not always supportive of what I want to do for myself. Also, my mother's side of the family is Nawlins born and bred. They are the biggest [no pun intended] weight loss sabatougers. They think I am too skinny.   Well, I made my announcement today and most of the family ignored me.   I'm turning all the phones off.
FibroDiva

FibroDiva

4
smjuroska's Blog
 

2 days post-op

So I am on the sleeved side! I am doing ok...sore but ok. Surgery was uneventful and the first evening and night I just walked and pushed my happy button and slept. The next day is when the GAS hit. I was FULL of IT! Walking is helping but it is still there but much less. Until I could fart I was very uncomfortable. Now I am ok. I havent felt sick and I am handling all the fluids I have tried pretty well. I have had ISoPure power Zero with protein added decaf coffee and stevia broth jello and tea. Coughing hurts like hell burping can be uncomfortable. So day two the worst is I am just SORE. I have cleaned up a little and helped get the kids to camp and sitter and I am pooped. I have no desire to eat at all which is good since my family still has to eat. The smells don't make me sick either. Nothing too eventful and I hope it stays that way. Each day seemd to get eaiser. I havent even weighed myself. I am focusing on healing not the scale right now. Well I need a nap!
smjuroska

smjuroska

2
aliekat55's Blog
 

day 11 update

So i am into double digits post op and overall i can say the surgery was a roaring success! I have not felt any complaints from my stomach in days, either inside or on the surface. I am still not hungry and schedule my shakes and liquids. it remains a novel experience not to feel hunger and certainly not to think of what i am eating or not eating. More than strange it is totally alien. I have lost 55 pounds since i made the first call to schedule an appointment with the doctor. I am at my lowest weight in six years and close to my record in decades ( 9 pounds). I had decided not to weight myself so i would not see any stalls but it has turned out to be much harder than i anticipated. I went through alot to get this done and not to look for the fruits of the effort is very difficult. And as long as each day the news is good it gets harder not to keep looking. I am determined however to stop once this initial honeymoon phase is over. Then i am aiming for a monthly weigh in but doubt i will make it that long. I am also worried that as soon as i start eating food again it will trigger the old standby desire to eat too much. I have been able to eat greek yogurt slowly but when i tried applesauce it felt different, fuller and uncomfortable. Also the appleasauce was not particularly tasty, had no sweetness. so i will add some equal to it or leave it alone. sometime soon i will try pureed food. i am not feeling in a hurry at this moment. I have chosen my first meal. New England Clam Chowder, nice and pureed. perhaps 1/4 cup. I made pudding yesterday and forgot to try it! how is that ever possible? even when i thought of it, i felt too full to taste it. I wonder how long before I am out of risk for a leak?
aliekat55

aliekat55

0
Roo101769's Blog
 

Consult

I attended the seminar last night and have to say it was not new information. I like to be well informed on a subject, and I have done extensive research into sleeve gastrectomy. There were only a couple of things that came as any type of surprise to me. First was the fact that the sleeve is being strongly promoted now. In fact, they were pretty much discouraging lap band type surgery and pushing either the sleeve or Roux-n-Y bypass. They said, in their practice for the past year, they have probably done 45 revision surgeries for lap bands ( or removal) and only 5 insertions. I was also a little thrown off by their time frame for things. I realize that every doctor and every practice will be different. But this practice requires a two day stay in hospital after vertical sleeve surgery, yet said they typically release people back to work and their normal lives in a week post op. He did say that, if someone had the availability of taking two or three weeks to recover, they would prefer the longer time. But realistically people need to get back to their lives and, as long as you are healing and the pain tolerance is ok, they get you back as soon as they can. On a personal note my concern over my repeated clots being a factor to exclude me from surgery was pretty much eliminated. He said they control that with anticoagulants, which I already take. So all in all I think I am on the road to being "reborn" and the chance of really getting to LIVE the rest of my life! My consult is scheduled for 8/6 at 12:30pm. It was kind of funny really, when it came time to schedule the consultations. The seminar had been presented by Dr. Fleisher. I call him the "face" of the practice. He is quite a bit younger than Dr. Bruce, and is not bad to look at. If you go online and look at the website for Dayton Bariatrics you see Dr. Fleisher, not Dr. Bruce. So as everyone lined up to schedule their appointments, the sheet for Dr. Fleisher filled quickly, while the sheet for Dr. Bruce remained fairly clear. Good for me because I got his second available consultation time!. Dr. Bruce is who my GP referred me to. I have read his credentials and he is one of the best in the area. In fact, he is head of bariatrics for two of the main hospitals here. ( One being where they do the surgeries) I am pretty confident he will be an excellent doctor for me, even if he has a few more miles on him than his younger counterpart....LOL
Roo101769

Roo101769

0
Patty's WLS Blog
 

Update: Clothes & Pre-op Diet

I've started going through that massive pile of clothing......So far there is a garbage bag going to the curb this morning, something for goodwill.....and I've found clothing that fits and clothing that's too big.....that's always a good thing!   The coolest thing--I ran into a favorite maxi dress---and it fits.....have decided it's going with me to wear after surgery in the hospital.....Hey, why not look stylish while walking the halls, right? Plus nothing around the waist, and the material has a lot of stretch.   I'm on the pre-op diet, and keeping busy.....I painted my nails....all 20 of them! I can't tell you the last time I had my toes painted....over 20 years ago, I'm sure.   Day two went well. We went bowling last night, and there was a snack bar.....I ate my "yogurt-protein powder pudding" in the car, tossed in a water bottle with crystal light......and refilled it with water all night long....the pre-op diet now a mindset....it's my personal challenge. People could eat around me last night...I could care less......and trust me, the smells from the snack bar all night were quite delicious smelling....BUT....   Getting on the scale this morning and seeing it go down is much, much better.   Gotta Run.....for my pre-op fellow sleevers, keep busy and be good to yourself....stay on your plan.....you got this! Have a great day!
PGee

PGee

0
SolracSpree's Blog
 

Keflex now Biaxin

Went to the Doc office today. Brother went with me this time. I found out I dropped a pound since I was there last week. Funny when I actually start eating again and not as stressing about my calories I lose weight. Anywho surgeon took a good look at my stitches. He told me that there was still infection and he was putting me on a major antibiotic - Biaxin. So when I finish this antibiotic that means I will have been on 30 days on antibiotics. Wow.   Surgeon also asked how I was doing in general and I told him everything else was ok, had some heartburn off and on, but most of all I was just hungry. He told me to eat 5-6 small meals a day, low fat, and low sugar, didn't say anything about calories...     I also asked how long until I could get a fill. Answer - possibly a month. Greeeaattttt.   If this antibiotic doesn't work then the next step is for them to cut out the infected and stitch me back up . I 100% do not want this to happen! I return back to work the middle of August and I just dont need that additional hassle in my life.   I also have to get a abdominal support (?) because the weight of my belly is pulling my incision apart. Healing rate is estimated from 2 - 4 more weeks. Which means no swimming, no amusement park, no vacation. Good bye summer I guess.
SolracSpree

SolracSpree

2
mom2phoenix's Blog
 

ALMOST 3 MONTHS OUT

Almost 3 months ago I had gastric bypass surgery, I have since lost 71 lbs. WHICH FEELS AMAZING! I am absolutely not where I want to be yet, but am well on my way. Its been an adjustment for me, not so much they way you have to change eating, but i'm not realizing when my clothes aren't fitting properly anymore. I understand I'm losing weight but I'm not seeing myself as a thinner person. Not just yet at least. I'm hoping that'll come in time!!   I was lucky, I have had no issues with any food. I did have a piece of under cooked broccoli get stuck but was able to move it out with no problems. I am having some issues with acid reflux, I'm sure that's something that can be fixed no problem (probably upping my prilosec) I actually was able to walk around my neighborhood (about a half mile first half down hill second on a STEEP incline) without feeling like I was going to die! What a nice change that was!!   I am not in love with my saggy skin (mostly my arms) BUT I am going to try to figure out ways to tone them (I HOPE) I guess if that's the worst thing then I'd live with it haha. All in all I am happy with my results thus far and excited to see what is ahead of me!
mom2phoenix

mom2phoenix

2
Johnny99's Blog
 

The BIG 4-0 !

Yep, the Big 4-0! As much as I wish that was my current age, alas it is not. That ship sailed many moons ago, some where around George Bush 1 (The old guy). But it is the number of unsightly pounds that I have shredded since I began this journey on April 9th. My deconstruction has been in full swing for 15 weeks. If we look back to my first appointment in January, I have been fully encompassed with this project for 7 plus months, over half a year. Time does fly.   Let's talk about what 40 pounds really is.   A 15 foot canoe weighs 40 pounds. FYI - My old ass would never fit in a canoe. The kids at camp always made me go in the big boat.   An average 3 year old child and a full size Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier each weigh 40 pounds. In case you're wondering, I did check. A strange kid or a lost dog was not wedged in my butt crack.   An average full size human leg weighs 40 pounds. Really? I think one of my legs is the average weight of a full size human.   5 gallons of water weighs 40 pounds. Did you ever try to replace the big bottle on the water cooler? They're friggin heavy. It takes 2 skinny kids in my office to change it.   2 car tires weigh 40 pounds. Wow. I've been wearing two radials around my mid section. My goal is to lose a whole set of tires .... and the spare. Yikes.   4 ten pound bowling balls weigh 40 pounds. Try carrying those up and down the stairs a few times.   Need we go on? It's mind blowing to me that this much excess blubber was attached to my paltry frame. AND I'm not even half way done! I still gotta lose at least a kid and a Chihuahua to hit my goal.   Remember the guy who said " I treat my body like a temple." That obviously wasn't me. I've treated my body more like an all night diner. Attached to a liquor store. Years of binge eating, binge drinking and party chasing have come back to haunt me. There's always a price to pay. Reminds me of that 70s era bumper sticker: "Gas, Grass or ass, nobody rides for free."   The good news is that I should hit the half way mark to my goal some time next week. If I average losing 1-1/2 pounds per week I should hit goal near the end of January. In the mean time, if your missing a kid or a Labrador Retriever, I'll bend over and give you look in my handy lost & found area.   Chow Chow! Johnny   P.S. I see Dr. X Monday for another fill. I'm guessing he's going to take me up another 1.5 ccs. That will be a 30% closure on the band. Another new adventure.   Visit my blog at;   TheDeconstructionOfJohnny.blogspot.com
Johnny99

Johnny99

2
Kay__S' Food Blog
 

protein shake revision!

I made some rookie mistakes yesterday when I added fruit and vegetables to my protein shake. I put so much in that there wasn't room for hardly any ice. By the end of the drink, it just tasted like lukewarm beet juice. Today's is much better!   1 scoop of market pantry chocolate protein 3 tablespoons of organic fat free vanilla yogurt 1/2 large organic cucumber 1 handful of organic blueberries lots of ice   This is a much smoother taste. And according to the interwebs, cucumber is a natural anti-inflammatory!
Kay__S

Kay__S

1
Elliejmiller's Blog
 

Wish me luck... baking a cake for the surgery team...

SO TONIGHT IS MY LAST NIGHT I WILL BE AT MY HOUSE FOR A FEW DAYS... I AM GOING TO MY MOM'S WHICH IS CLOSER TO THE HOSPITAL FOR RECOVERY....   MY MOM WORKS IN THE SURGERY DEPARTMENT AT THIS HOSPITAL SO EVERYONE THERE KNOWS ME AND THAT I BAKE... I DO ALL THE FUN DECORATING AND WEIRD THINGS... I HAVE MAKE THE CUPCAKES THAT LOOK LIKE MINI GRILLS TO A TOWER OF MINI CAKES JUST ALL FOR FUN... WELL THEY ARE EXPECTING SOMETHING YUMMY SO I AM GOING TO MAKE A ORANGE POPCYCLE CAKE... AND ABOUT 5 DOZEN COOKIES.....   SO I WILL BE EXTRA HUNGRY TONIGHT FOR SURE! SO I JUST WANT TO SAY IF I PASS OUT OF WANTING TO LICK MY FINGERS BUT I CANT!!!!   THE DOGS WILL ENJOY IT THO!   I ALSO WANT TO ADD, IF YOU ARE READING PLEASE ADD ME AS A FRIEND I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP UP WITH PEOPLE AND THEIR PROGRESS AND GOOD WORDS TOO !   THANKS LOVE ELLIE
Elliejmiller

Elliejmiller

8
Roo101769's Blog
 

One small step for this (wo)man

Tonight is the bariatric seminar. It is mandatory to take to become a patient with the practice I have been referred to. I am very excited, I want to get this party started! I have to keep myself motivated, keep pushing forward. I am the kind of person who will give up all too quickly if I do not see progress. Not exactly a shining personality trait, but it is who I am. It explains a whole lot about my lifelong weight struggles. Also explains how so many of my "big ideas" have never panned out. But this time is different. I have to stay focused. I cannot give up just because things aren't going at the speed I want them to. There are many steps in the process that I have no control over and I must accept that. At the same time I am being little Miss Proactive and I am trying to speed things along as much as I can. My GP told me I would have to get clearances from all my doctors relating to my recent DVT/PE. I already went to the vascular doctor and got his blessing. I go to my hematologist on 8/6 for my post hospital check up, and I will get his clearance at the same time. My GP is already on board, although I am aware I will have to do a full physical. And during my research I read that some doctors prefer you have your pap tests / mammograms current. I went ahead and scheduled my pap for next month ( not really due until September) and will get the mammogram scheduled from there. Like I said, I am doing my part. I won't lie either, there is a financial motivation involved in all of this as well.. Since I had the issue with my leg, the hospitalization, the minor surgery to have an IVC filter placed, all the tests that go with being on blood thinners, and all the doctor visits stemming from it all...I have met my cap out of pocket amount through my insurance for the year. Therefore, if I can get the whole process approved and surgery done before the end of the year I will have little to no out of pocket expense. I am not fully motivated by this, but it is just another component of my decision. Might as well kill two birds with one stone! LOL But the idea of losing weight and feeling so much better in my body is the biggest draw of all. I long for a pain free day. It has been a while since that existed. It has gone from a minor irritant before this last DVT, to a daily chronic problem that I seriously have problems dealing with. I do not want to be a pain pill addict. I do not want to learn to live with chronic pain. I want to learn to live again, without pain and without the fat that is holding me back!
Roo101769

Roo101769

0
Patty's WLS Blog
 

thoughts on pain and pain management

So, I should probably preface this with I either don't feel pain like most or I have vast experience in ignoring it really, really well LOL.....I'll save the gory details I've experienced my fair share of broken bones and surgeries over the years.   However, I just don't think we need to experience undue pain if it's avoidable.   After my gallbladder was removed, I took one pain killer the following day (don't remember what they gave me in the hospital)...sure it was sore, but nothing to write home about.....I'd rather be sore than loopy LOL I'm hoping the pain from VSG will be similar.   The surgeon's office told me they suport patients taking pain meds at night so they can sleep, but would prefer no pain meds during the day so patients can get in all their water, etc. following surgery, because if you're asleep during the day, you're not drinking.....sounds logical enough......   BUT if I have to, I'll be taking the pain meds....even if it's just 1/2 a dose to take the edge off......At this stage in my life, I'm too damn old to put up with unnecessary pain   13 days and counting.......and you know I'll have a new post on pain post-op in 14 days or so LOL (still hard to believe us 8/6 sleevers are so close)
PGee

PGee

8
abbygirl's Blog
 

Hi ho hi ho...it's off to see the Doc we go!

One week preop diet down one to go. Get to finally meet the surgeon today . Get to ask him all the questions I have. Thing is I don't have any. Between this board, books, and Google (thank God for Google) I think I got it.   From everything I've read no two people are the same in recovery, no two are the same in weight loss and no two are the same in final results. That means every question will be answered as you can expect or on average.   I will listen carefully to what he has to say but when he asks , do you have any questions, I don't think I will. Makes me think I should make some up just to make him feel good (how about, how long do you have to practice to pay off your student loans for med school - guess that's not what he is looking for),   Fortunately I have my husband along. He has been there every step but he's not on the boards here or reading books so I am sure he will have questions.   I will take the time to tell him how inefficient his office is (even today's 2pm appointment was confirmed to be 2:45 - how does that even happen).   I laugh because in Canada we have a social health system (which I get questioned on every time I travel to the US). And while it has its hiccups (long waits being #1- which is why I am self paying in the US) I have not seen the level of inefficiency on the adminstration side here as I have with this. From talking with my friends in the US this is not unusual. Really?? And you're okay with that.   Have to say neither system is perfect but I like the option of accessing both. Wish I could blend them together but big business and socialism don't mix (so sayeth ....someone).   So don't get me wrong I'm happy I have the ability to access an immediately available medical source but just would have expected better non-medical services/support for my $17,200.   Oh yhea..... Have to pay today. Wonder if that is why they really want to "see" me.
abbygirl

abbygirl

0
Kime-lou's Blog
 

What can I do?

Yesterday, I started to really think about what I can do. This brings many thoughts to mind- the things I can do now since losing 60 lbs, the things I want to do, the things I should do, ect.   Pre-surgery I was lucky, my health was pretty good, but I was terrified of it starting to fail. My knees had just started to ache when I walked alot- they would pop and creek. I knew they were telling me I was to large. I would cut grass and go inside and sometimes passout- litterally- do to over excertion. Did that twice.   Yeterday afternoon it was 92 degrees at my house with 98% humidity and guess what- I pushed mowed my lawn with NO ill effects. It took me 45 mins to cut the entire yard. Then I did some clipping in my flower garden and watered my pepper plants. Then I finally went into the house- and I felt good. I went stratight and got in the shower since I was dirty, wet and smelly. I got out of the shower, got a glass of water, sat down a few min and then back up to cook dinner. I couldn't have do that 60 lbs ago.   I now walk and sometime jog without pain. I can ride a bike for a mile or more without stopping.   I will be the first to tell you I hate "exercise". I put it in "" because I don't like just walking, or just getting on the elliptical or just lifting weights. I like to do something with a purpose that has a end point, like what I did yesterday. I love working in my yard, in the garden with my mom, playing with my neice, walking to go somewhere, even house work.   So I know that since I don't like exercise, it is very important that I move! So even though I have a office job I have tried to set things up where I must move. My bookshelf is across the room with my reference lit, my file cabnet is across the room. I have to stand up and step to my printer. Instead of taking the short cut to the potty I take the long way around. I stand up when on the phone. Movement is movement and it burn energy which burns calories.   Over the last 6 months my weight loss has slowed, but not stopped. On average it seems I lose around a pound to 2 pounds a month. While this isn't what I would love to lose, it is a loss. It is steady and comfortable. I don't feel like I am giving up anything. I feel like the life style I am living is one I can maintain forever. I make better choices, I do follow a give and take rule, I move more. So while I complain and fuss, fume and whine about having not lost as much as others; I am proud to say in 1 year and 1 month I have not gained, my weight has been on a decline. So I think little by little, inch by inch one day I will reach my goal. I may not get there as fast as I had hoped or dreamed, but I will make it.   I can do this, one step at a time.
Kime-lou

Kime-lou

0
EddiesAngel's Blog
 

Felt Hungry All Day

I don't know why, but I have felt hungry off and on all day today. I wish that I could figure out why I have felt this way, I got disappointed twice today, and I've felt anxious and jittery this evening. I tried to lay down and rest but didn't have any luck at all, its like all my senses are on high alert. I went for a short walk as fast as I could and it calmed me a little bit, maybe its just energy that I'm not used to having, lol, I really don't know. I only have six days to go until my big day. Maybe that's it, a little case of the nerves, but it will pass.
EddiesAngel

EddiesAngel

2
mom2ris' Blog
 

Was gonna have a pity party but decided to do laundry instead.

I am on day 2 of my pre op liquid diet. I have to do this for 2 weeks. My husband, who is having the sleeve done with me, only has to do 1 week. Our surgery is August 5th.   I wanted to cry today when I heard my stomach growl. But to be honest I cannot remember the last time I heard it growl. I am learning a lot about this body of mine. That is when the pity party started. I feel like crap. How could I have let myself go this far? How come I did not stop the overeating when I only had 50 pounds to lose?? I went through a list of how, why, when....you name it.   I then realized that I am being given an opportunity to get my life back. To enjoy things I have not been able to do. To go places I have been uncomfortable going. I am going to be new.....it is all going to be worth it. And the best part is I have my husband there for support. He will be my partner through this new stage of our lives. We will be a team.   So I decided to go wash some clothes. To give myself a change of scenery. To wash clothes I may not be able to wear again someday....
mom2ris

mom2ris

7
Patiently Awaiting's Blog
 

Approved & Surgery Date Set!!

Hello my bandster's. I am sooo excited. I was approved after 27 longggg days by my insurance (Cigna). My surgery date is 7/31! I have been on my pre op diet for about a week now and it was very hard the first 2 days OMG . But so far I have lost 6 pounds. my surgeon requires a 10 pound lose before surgery. So lately I have been getting everything together I may need after the surgery. Has anyone recently had there surgery or is schedule soon to be banded? Please share your stories or anything that may help me after the surgery. Thank You
Patiently Awaiting

Patiently Awaiting

3

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