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Almost 1 Week Post-Op

2/4/2009   "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." ...that opening line from Dickens' classic novel accurately summarizes my first week post lap-band surgery.   Looking back, this whole surgical experience has been wonderful ! The simple things took me by surprise. Never realized how often I sneezed, blew my nose, coughed and had bouts of hiccups....until having abdominal surgery. They put great pressure on the sutures (holding a pillow tight against my tummy helped). Needed assistance getting up and down the first 3 days.   Slept partially sitting up on the sofa recliner for 3 nights (laying flat creating pressure in my chest & throat). Was never so happy to see my own bed on the fourth night !   Saturday (the 2nd night post-op) I had 2 episodes of intense nausea after eating only 1/4 cup of vegetable broth. Tasted so good, however it just didn't sit well with me. The nausea came on so suddenly & was so intense it took me completely by surprise.....and I was concerned because it is drilled into us that "NO VOMITING" is the golden rule for the first 2-6 weeks after surgery. I held a pillow tight against my tummy, took slow deep breaths, grasped a plastic bag just in case, and walked around the house with Brian following behind me rubbing my back the whole time (he's such a doll). After about 15 very loooooong minutes the nausea subsided so I went to lay down in bed. Less than a minute later the nausea was back worse than ever.....another 15 minutes of walking, and pillow hugging, and deep breathing, and plastic bag clutching, and back rubbing ....I was finally able to take the anti-nausea meds that dissolve on the tongue (THANK YOU Dr Tull). Completely drained (mentally and physically) I was able to slowly doze off sitting upright in the recliner for the night.   Sunday I was hesitant to drink anything for fear the nausea would sneak back up on me.....thankfully that was the only episode. My mantra has been "sip, sip, sip". Actually drank using a shot glass as a reminder, and of course used my new silver baby spoon !!! Since surgery, my daily regime includes flavored water (Fruit2O), tea, coffee (with a little Unjury protein powder added), watered down apple juice, Jell-O and popsicle sticks. Monday (day 3), I added back in protein shakes and 1/4 cup Trader Joe's Tomato and Roasted Pepper soup (YUM, my new favorite).   My abdomen is puffed out like I'm 9 months pregnant, and it makes really strange noises....even the dog looks at me funny :-) Thankfully I've had zero gas pains, and have been taking Gas-X strips twice a day to prevent it.   The biggest problem post op (aside from the bout with nausea) is boredom. Have done a little too much online shopping, and daytime TV is unbearable.   Another week of a liquid diet before starting on "mushy foods". Spending this time researching high protein, low carb, low fat recipes for my new "band-friendly" way of eating. STAY TUNED...I'll soon post a list of useful websites & recipes.   Looking foward to my first follow-up visit with Dr Tull this Friday !!!   Here is the full quote....how appropriate for this journey !: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going directly to Heaven, we were all going the other way"
atwoodka

atwoodka

2
 

ABUNDENT OPTIMISM - 2 weeks Post-Op !!!

2/13/2009   After a second week of constant nausea and zero appetite.....I was irritable, exhausted and my strength was waning on a daily basis. After researching, I finally realized that the symtoms were from severe dehydration. Did you know that dehydration can cause nausea? And that nausea and vomitting are 2 separate symptoms? And that you CAN eat through nausea? I sure didn't !!! So I am taking the anti-nausea meds, drinking water constantly, and am able to finally manage an adequate food intake and feel wonderful.   In addition to physically feeling terrific, the total of over 22 pounds already shed has filled me with such optimism. Mentally I am ready to start down this path to good health.   I just ordered a "Spirit Candle" called "Rejoice" from the Signals catalog.     "It looks like an ordinary white wax candle…until you light the wick. As the wax melts, a small bronze sculpture hidden inside slowly emerges. Because it happens over many hours, the sculpture becomes a symbol of patience and waiting for the good things in life."   What symbolism as the fat melts slowly off my body over the months to come, and I am released from the bondage I have felt for most of my life.   I ordered 3 candles - 2 are gifts for very, very special women I have come to treasure in recent months. Jenn, who was also banded by Dr Tull the week before me, and Ann who was banded a week and a half after me me by Dr Patel at Temple Jeanes hospital. These women are truly sisters in my heart, and I could not have made it this far without both of them. I have such confidence in our future success. Both Jenn and I will be joining Ann for our post-op care at Temple Jeanes since the program at Abington Lansdale hospital where our surgery was done is closing its bariatric program in the next few months.
atwoodka

atwoodka

1
 

Personal Trainer, Shopping Nirvana & New Pics

About 6 weeks ago my friend and I had a moment of pure insanity.....we signed up for 12 weeks of personal training, twice a week....worse yet, in our enthusiasm, we pre-paid for the full 12 weeks. After the first session, I needed my boyfriend help to drive home (I'm not kidding....I could't raise my arms all the way to turn the steering wheel). While we soaked in the hot tub for an hour, he listened to me whine about how sore I was, and how they knew what they were doing collecting payment for the full 12 weeks up front, because no one in their right mind would ever go back for round 2 of this torture !!!   It's been 6 weeks now, and my friend and I simply adore our personal trainer, Bob. He is a young guy who I honestly think enjoys the twice a week sessions as much as we do. He is amused by our half-hearted attempts to try and talk our way out of things.....of course he never gives into us, he just pushes us harder, and we love him for it.   The scale wasn't moving as quickly as I expected, and I was beginning to doubt the value of my efforts until my friend and I went shopping one day. I had always sighed as I walked by the Michael Kors shops, but too embarassed to walk into a designer store and bear the embarassement....knowing that nothing in that store would come close to fitting, so why torture myself, and why waste the sales girls time. For some reason, this time we had the guts to walk in, but was still very hesitant to try anything on. A sales girl saw that I was staring at this jacket for quite a while so she walked up and said the cut of the jacket was really flattering and I should try it on, then she then walked away. Still not convinced, I thought for another minute or two, but realized that she didn't seem to think I was too heavy to try the jacket on, soooooo......Stunned, shocked and thrilled beyond imagination the jacket fit perfectly....and I whipped out my credit card before I woke up from the dream. I can't remember the last time I bought clothes in a "normal sized person's" clothes store.....PRICELESS.   Even though the scale may not have reflected all my hard work during the personal training sessions, my body was still undergoing changes !!!   I wore the jacket to 3 different events that weekend, and if I could have slept in it I would have :-) I also fit into a pair of my "skinny jeans" I had pushed to the rear of my closet several years ago.   Anyway, they say a picture is worth a thousand words....so here are a few pics of me and my new jacket before the "Yanni Voices" concert...check it out against my "before" pic:   Current - 4/2009 - 3 months Post-op Before - 1/2009 We had a "meet & greet" with the young performers before the concert as part of our pledge package to the local PBS station. If you get a chance to get tickets to this concert, you should, it was an absolutely amazing evening.   Here are 2 of the incredible performers, Chole & Ender.
atwoodka

atwoodka

5
 

Surgery & Day 1 Highlights

Banded as of 1/30/2009!!!   Pre-op Day (Thursday) The day before surgery I did all the "girly" things, like shaving (or defuring as I like to call it) from the neck down. Treated my self to a pampering spa afternoon for a manicure, pedicure & eyebrow waxing. No nail polish of course due to the surgery. Packed an overnight bag just in case, and a few books on Paris to keep me distracted !   Surgery Day (Friday) The procedure itself went very well. Arrived at the hospital at 8 am, was in the OR by 11, and home by 4 pm. Dr Tull & the Abington Lansdale Hospital Same Day surgical team were absolutely wonderful. I remember almost nothing about the procedure, except when I first woke up there was a familiar song playing. I swore I would remember it, however thanks to the OR drug haze it unfortunately has slipped from my mind forever. During the surgery my Mom & fiance ran out to the local jewelers and picked me up a few gifts.....a silver baby spoon for the lap-band way of eating, and roses!   Happy to say the the hospital scale confirmed that I lost 15 pounds on the pre-op liquid protein diet :-) My blood sugars were up because I was not permitted to take any meds the day of surgery, but they have already started to come back down the following day.   Knock on wood, I have no real pain post-op, just moderate tenderness at the incision sites. Standing up and rolling over are the most difficult. Thankfully, I have absolutely no nausea or gas pains, and I am able to tolerate clear liquids without any problems. Keep your fingers crossed, I know these can suddenly sneak up on you anytime during the first few days.   First Night First night post-op was difficult but not really because of the surgery. Since arriving home, I had been dozing off and on, so wasn't tired at bedtime. However, I ended up with 2 bad sneezing episodes, followed by a bad stuffy/runny nose, and coughing. This was very hard on the incisions.   Day After (Saturday) Feel absolutely terrific !!!. Only mild incisional discomfort. Tolerating the clear liquid diet very well, remembering to take small sips. Still no nausea or gas pains. Have been up and walking around the house frequently....unable to walk outside because it is a very cold day. Can't even tell the band is there, and I am not hungry in the least, although I am soooooo looking forward to soft foods in 2 weeks. The hardest part for me right now is boredom. Snuggled up on the sofa by the fireplace reading, watching TV, learning French using Rosetta Stone, and gathering high protein low carb "band friendly" recipes off the internet in anticipation of my new way of eating :-) Below is a post-op pic, 5 incisions in all. Belly is still a bit distended, and yellowed from the surgical betadine.     This journey has been nothing but positive, and I look forward to using the band as a tool to get healthy in 2009 !!!!!
atwoodka

atwoodka

1
 

Mother's Day Musings

Personally, I only have children of the furry 4 legged variety. But I still love Mother's Day because I am lucky enough to still have my Mom with me…..at 82, going on 50, she is an amazing woman, you'd all love her. We bought her flowers, a dress jacket, and went out for lunner (the meal that falls somewhere between lunch and dinner).   We broke tradition….for years we have gone to brunch at the Wm Penn Inn. A local upscale restaurant with a Mother's Day all you can eat "buffet" that is to die for !!! And let me tell you we never hesitated to get our money's worth….they lost money on us just from our trips to the dessert tables alone. Every year we starting drooling over the thought of going to the Wm Penn Inn Brunch as soon as the dishes from Easter Dinner were cleared from the table. However, this year, figuring that asking a lap-band patient to go to a sumptuous buffet would be like sending a gambling addict to a free weekend in Vegas (you can look, but you can't touch) Mom kindly suggested we go to the Olive Garden instead. Now Olive Garden, with it’s bottomless salad & breadsticks IS like winning in Vegas to me…..JACKPOT !!! I was salivating on the drive over, and it was a wonder I didn't get a speeding ticket in my haste to arrive and get in what I knew was going to be a very looooooong line (they don't take reservations).   Little did I know, my band had other plans for Mother's Day……in the end my meal consisted of 1/2 cup salad and 1/2 breast of chicken parmesan…...that was it…..I was full. No breadsticks, no pasta, no dessert. I was satisfied, and I did NOT feel deprived the least little bit. I did NOT need to unbutton my pants to be able to breathe, or need to go home and nap after eating.   As we sipped our coffee, we couldn't help but talk about of how much emphasis we place on food. How much I looked forward to "going all out" during the weeks building up to the big event (only to be replaced by the next big event on the calendar). How in the past I would have had several helpings of salad (it's good for you, right???), and by the end of the meal we would have asked for several baskets of breadsticks (they are free, right, so they don't actually count as part of the meal)…. oh, and don't forget the dipping oil for them…..we are half Italian after all. Speaking of which, it's impolite to leave anything on your plate, so both chicken breasts and the pasta would have disappeared as well….and dessert and coffee are necessary to relax and help the digestion. NOT so in lap-band land.   So, my memories this year of Mother's Day do NOT consist of another buffet just like the year before, and the year before that, and the year before…… This year, we went shopping together, talked a lot, took the dogs for a walk, took them to the farm and rode my horse, watched a movie together as a family…..oh, and we stopped off and got a bite to eat along the way.   What a difference a little band makes :-)
atwoodka

atwoodka

1
 

ONEderland is ONEderful !!!

It's been a while since I have blogged....life has been crazy, but band life has been wonderful....I mean ONEderful. My weight has finally broken the 200 mark and I am in the 100's, aka ONEderland.   Living with the band has been exactly what I expected from all I read on lapbandtalk.com. I've had days where eating the recommended small amounts is easy, days where eating anything made me nauseous, and days where I felt like I could eat my way through the entire grocery store without a second thought. Through it all, I kept the band rules in mind....protein first, vegetables second, and carbs third.   I will confess, I am a life-long carb addict....breads, pasta, pastries, etc.....thankfully they don't agree with my band (uncomfortable pressure feeling and mild nausea), so I hesitate to even reach for them any longer. This is fine with me, the band does for me what I was NEVER able to do for the long term for myself !!! The band definitely is a tool, not a magic bullet.   My 3rd fill was on 4/8/09, and I now have the appropriate restriction. Weight loss has been slower than I was hoping for...but don't we all want 100+ pounds to simple melt off over night???? I struggled daily with my frustrations, asking "How could I be eating so little, excercising so much, and not be dropping 10 pounds a week???". Then I realize that I've lost over 35 pounds in a less than 4 months.....how cool is that !!!!
atwoodka

atwoodka

5
 

FIRST FILL - on my way now !

3/2/2009   1 MONTH POST-OP VISIT   So, last Thursday I walked into my Dr's office and said "Let's get this ball rolling !" He just shook his head, smiled, laughed and said "I'll get my bag". Thankfully, being a lap-band patient himself, Dr Tull knows how anxious patients can be at this stage of the game.   Getting weighed was a bit of a disappointment.....only down 3 pounds in the month since surgery, and actually up 1 pound since the 1 week post-op check-up. How frustrating when I've barely eaten for a month. Dr Tull reassured me that the band wasn't working for me yet, and things would change.   Watching him prep the needles, tubes and syringes made me a bit queasy....which is funny since I'm a nurse :-) Having worked on an ambulance and in the Emergency Room and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit I'm totally cool helping others.....but can't stand the sight of my own blood....such a big baby.   So I laid down on the exam table (partly to keep from fainting), and the Doc feels for the port....and can't find it.   The conversation goes something like this: Doc: "Hum, I can't find your port" Me: "What do you mean you can't find it?" Doc: "Raise your head....hum, it's a deep one" Me: "I can find it no problem" (Really wanted to say "And who put it there buddy?") Doc: "Raise your head higher" Me: "Want me to find it?" (Nurses are such bad patients) Doc: "Raise you legs" Me: "Both of them...at the same time????" Doc: (smiles) "Keep your head up too" Me: "Your kidding right" (I hate crunches) Doc: "Higher....higher" Me: "That's as high as they go" Doc: (with a twinkle in his eyes) "I'll have to get a longer needle" (He's enjoying this way too much) Me: (Raising my head and legs until I was close to kissing my knees....not really, but that's how it felt) Doc: "There it is !!! Now hold that position" Me: (He's darn lucky I can't speak while in this position.....by the smile on his face somehow I think he knows this)   I drank 2 full glasses of water without problem, and in the end, he put 1 1/2 cc in the band. This was in addition to the 3 cc he put in during surgery. (I didn't know the band already had 3 cc, but I thought that might be the case since I had felt mild restriction for the past month, but just chalked it up to the healing process.) So I now have 4 1/2 cc total.   Currently this is the perfect amount of restriction for me. I am satisfied with small portions, and get hungry right before my next meal. Cravings are for the most part not a problem, unless I unexpectedly see or smell something really good....but it passes quickly instead of haunting me like it would in the past. I am able to follow all the lap-band eating guidelines, and thankfully can eat and drink without any of the problems some bandsters have.   So now the real work begins....800-900 calories a day, 70-80 protein, < 50 carbs, low-fat. Eat slowly, small bites, and chew, chew, chew. No drinking right before, during or after meals....but lots of water in between meals. My goal is to exercise every day, with at least 3 days at the gym.   Plan to limit weighing myself only on Fridays (was my surgery day) as I know my weight can fluctuate greatly on a daily basis....and to only concern myself with the monthly totals.   Currently at 207.5....will post new pics and measurements when I hit 200 :-) Hope to be there real soon !!!   Karen   Band date: 1/30/2009 :smile:   My Blog: http://karenslapbandjourney.blogspot.com/  
atwoodka

atwoodka

1
 

Pre-op Visit

1/19/2009   After thoroughly savoring every morsel of my "last supper" at the Olive Garden last night, this morning began the full liquid diet to shrink the liver prior to surgery...the next 11 days will be limited to protein drinks & broth.   Driving through one of the prettiest snow storms of the season so far (winter has just begun here in PA), I met with my surgeon, Dr Tull, this afternoon for the Pre-op visit...EKG, blood work, chest x-ray & consent forms. Everything is ready for next Friday; now it is just a matter of patience...never was my strongest virtue :-)   Also took the obligatory "before" pics & measurements. UGH...but it helps knowing that this will soon be the "old" me.   STARTING STATS 1/19/2009: Height 5'5" Weight 230 lbs BMI 38.3 Bust 52" Waist 43" Hip 52" Thigh 23" Calf 16 1/2" Upper Arm 17"    
atwoodka

atwoodka

1
 

2 Weeks to Go !

1/16/2009   My journey, almost 50 years in the making, is about to take a turn. 2 weeks from today I will begin my life as a "bandster", the recipient of a gastric lap band. I am grateful that this surgery is available as a tool to assist me in my journey to health. Come friends.....you are welcome to tag along with me on this adventure, the more the merrier !   "The Sweet Spot" Karen's Lap Band Journey
atwoodka

atwoodka

1
 

PARIS here I come !!!

1/17/2009   It's official...we'll be in Paris for my 50th birthday!   The City of Lights took my breath away and captured my heart during a brief stay as part of a France/Italy whirlwind tour several years ago. I promised to return someday to immerse myself in the city at a much slower pace.   A romantic evening at Le Jules Verne restaurant located high within the Eiffel Tower on the night of my birthday, followed by a slow cruise on the Seine river. Chic shopping on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, a fashion show at the Galeries Lafayette, resting my feet at sidewalk cafes. Strolling through quiet museums and glorious cathedrals...and even a fun-filled day at Disneyland Paris. What more could a girl dream of !!!   To be THIN of course :-) Not model thin, just normal weighted... - to fit comfortably in the plane seat for the 7 hour flight - to hold my head up high walking into the Paris fashion boutiques - to willingly jump in front of the camera for vacation pictures - to be fit enough to climb the 387 steps up the north tower of Notre Dame to sit with the famous gargoyles for magnificent views of Paris!   Louis Vuitton...Christian Louboutin...HERE I COME!   www.lejulesverne-paris.com www.galeries-lafayette-paris.com www.disneylandparis.co.uk/index.xhtml   "The Sweet Spot" Karen's Lap Band Journey
atwoodka

atwoodka

1
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