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One Month Post Op

I have lost about 6 pounds since being banded. It was rather discouraging because I went three weeks with no loss, but once I could eat solids agian I was in business! I have been careful to keep my protein up and get in at leat 80 grams, sometimes more. I still rely on shakes and plain protein powder to help keep the levels up. I am going to get a photo so I can update mine, I think I have lost a good amount since that picture was taken. Sheer willpower is what I am running on. I am constantly hungry, I believe I could eat the table and all four legs, but I keep trying to stay away from the darkside. Protein is helping, but sometimes at work the hunger gets over the top. I am working on finding a better way to deal with it. I did cave and get a salad from the school cafeteria--I wish I could say it was healthy, but just iceberg lettuce, 1 ounce of shredded cheese and three small cucumber slices with ranch dressing can't be too healthy. I'm going to go easy on myself since it wasn't cookies and my stomach was making enough noise to disrupt my students! Things I have been able to do that I have not been able to do in a long time--I fit into my size 18 jeans and dress pants now. That allowed me to purge my closet of 26, 24, 22 and 20. I may keep one pair of 26 to remind myself of where I have been. Meanwhile I guess I'd better separate things into lots of similiar size and item to get onto ebay. I just hate to throw away good clothes! I went to my daughters cello concert and really fit into the seat, not sorta or sideways but really fit into the seat--that was huge! I go for a fill on Wednesday...good thing too because currently any small animals that cross my path are in danger! I am going to make sure I am all stocked on clear liquids and full liquids for the 2-3 days after my fill. Overall my energy has returned, although by the end of the workday I could still use a little nap! I have no real pain except near my port when I bend in certain ways and my waistband tugs at the area. All but one incision is completely healed. I ventured out with DH, who needed a new wardrobe, on Saturday. He started South Beach with me back in August when I started this journey. He had about 40 pounds to lose and lost it all--yeah him! He needed all new clothing as his pants were way too big and he was swimming in his shirts. We were in the store a long time and it got past lunch time, so for the first time since surgery I ventured to a restaurant. It went well, I ate very little--asked for an appy plate, moved my food to it and it worked well. I did not; however, remember that I am not supposed to drink with meals so I ordered an unsweetened iced tea. I will try not to make that mistake again. I did get a few sips near the end of the time there since it was about a half hour after I finished my salad. I was trying to avoid going out, but now see I can do it and not miss the things I used to eat. One more pound and I have lost 50 since starting my initial office visit in August. I'd like to lose it before I head to the Dr. on Wednesday. If it is still here on Wednesday then for sure it will be gone by my next fill! I am still very happy I decided to go ahead and do this. I keep thinking about how great it will be when I reach my sweet spot!
patsal

patsal

3
 

One Week Post -Op

I am feeling really good. It only took me a half hour to get down an 8 ounce double milk protien shake. This is huge because it was taking like three hours and I was lucky to get in 48 ounces of liquid per day. I am hoping to be on track and getting in all 64 ounces of liquid today. I have been careful to track my amounts on a small index card just to be sure I am meeting minimums.   Yesterday I had a bit of a setback though, when I was making DH's lunch and mixing the tuna I didn't even think, just licked the fork before throwing it into the sink--not good because I was feeling all tight the rest of the afternoon and evening. Finally, at about 8 pm I was able to get 8 ounces of Unjury Chicken mixed in warm water down. I will definately not make that mistake again!   I am thinking of trying a short drive today--I am planning on returning to work on Monday and want to be prepared. I have only been taking one lortab in the evening to take the edge off the pain, so I think I will be ok giving it a try. I will be gald to get back to work, a bit more structure there so maybe I will do better with my food. I have my first post-op appointement on Tuesday. That will be a good way to ease back into work--work a day,off a day, work three days.   Yesterday my TV in the bedroom blew up. Seriously, the thing just made a loud pop and then went black. What a horrid smell. I am glad my DH was home so he could move it out of there. The running joke around here is that it killed itself. See I had fallen asleep and when I woke up Jerry Springer was on. Not only did my IQ drop, but my TV commited suicide!
patsal

patsal

2
 

Home and Banded (Friday and Saturday 2-12 to 13)

On Friday, February 12th I went for my banding. The time moved really quickly. I arrived, checked in and was ready to sit and wait for a while when they called my name. I was glad to move so quickly, but this really surprised me. I got the gown, the slippers, robe and gave up the urine sample--not much to give when you've had nothing since midnight and it is almost 10am! From there to a comfy recliner to wait for the nurse. Questions abound and then the lovely Heprin shot in the belly--gotta say not my favorite thing. I'm pretty sure I had my son a few weeks premature to avoid the amnio--needles and belly freak me out. Of course now I have to wonder what I was thinking when I decided to have the band put on knowing that the port would get filled through a needle in my abdomen. I guess it was a blank moment for me, never really thinking about that part, but it is too late now so I will learn to suck it up I'm sure. I am instructed to go to a small cubby and remove my robe and slippers and get on the gurney to head to surgery--the doctor is a bit ahead of schedule and is waiting for me. Hold up, I still have to kiss my hubby before I head down, could someone please go and get him for me. Ok, they found him, I hand him my glasses and other belongings we go over the little breathing device and I am heading down the long hallway to surgery. The anesthesiologist comes in and introduces herself to me as does her assistant. Mental note, next time around consider this career, her jewlery is beautiful and abundant! My IV is hooked up and some relaxant is also given to me. Now they ask me about prior surgeries and what I am having done, umm the relaxant is kicking in and I am far from with it. The Doctor and his surgical nurse and PA stop out and we head into surgery. I switch tables and they strap my arms and legs in. Someone asks me something, but I fall asleep before I can answer. I wake up about an hour later in recovery where it is very busy. It took forever to get me from recovery to my room--so long in fact they give me a gift card for the supermarket. Now there is some irony I could go on about! I think that will go into my 10 weirdest things list. Seriously, I am at the hospital and the room will be ready when it is ready and it isn't like I can just get up and walk out with all the tubing that is connected to me! Finally, I am back to my room and I get settled, my husband is in there waiting for me as is a very large and beautiful floral arrangement sent by my four best friends. I rest while my hubby works on his laptop saying he got more accomplished sitting there than he would have at work anyway--he was completely uninterrupted. He mentions that the Doctor said he also fixed a hiatal hernia and shared that that may have been what was causing me so much discomfort with my Heartburn and Reflux. I realize I have not asked for anything for pain and continue to doze in and out. Finally at 10 pm I ask for some pain meds. I am given a choice between lortab or a shot, I pick the shot still too afraid to swallow a pill. I slept for about three hours and then kind of rested without much real sleep. I really wish they had not put my IV in my right hand. I walk the halls and at 10 am the PA comes in to tell me I can go home as soon as I have the Upper GI done. I wait and at about 1pm they send a wheelchair and one of my former students to transport me. Well, now this is a bit awkward...I converse all the time praying he doesn't open my chart and see how much I weigh and report to his former classmates...yup, I need to calm down that wouldn't be professional...right? Seriously that barium stuff tastes bad, why they try to mask it with vanilla and lemon is beyond me I think that only makes bad taste even worse. Everything looks good and I can go home. I am home by 3pm after hubby manages to hit every pot hole from Buffalo to Hamburg. I have to wait for him to go get my script filled so I try to relax on the sofa and sort fo fall asleep. He needs to get used to the path from home to the grocery store because over the course of the next 2 days he spends a lot of time there. The gas build up is bad and I can't get comfortable. I try walking I get up every few hours and walk. It feels better when I walk.
patsal

patsal

3
 

The Unwrapping of Me!

44 sticks of butter down, but I almost wiped out a Subway! So I've been doing the mostly liquid pre-op diet--the usual protien shakes, cream of wheat, yogurt, pudding, popsicles, jello and apple sauce--all sugar free and all very bland. The great thing so far is I am down 44 sticks of butter--for those that don't cook that is 11 pounds! Yesterday I thought I'd give myself a break from cooking for the rest of the family--kind of a slow methodical torture as I chop, dice and can't taste. I decided to grab them subway. Now I see the flaw in that. While I didn't deviate form my pre-op plan, I did have a singel moment of insanity one where I for just an instant thought I might jump over the counter and begin a two fisted grazing from the letuce bin. Yes, all the other stuff they have there and all I kept thinking was wow that is some beautiful fresh green lettuce--look at the color, I bet it crunches really nice too. Sick! Back to reality I have to place the order and with my eyes glazed over like a maniac I may be frightening to the poor kid fixing my order! The subway remains safely in tact as do the subs for the ride home and each of the family members got their dinner without any missing bites.
patsal

patsal

5
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