This is my first blog here, but I have a blog on Blogspot here is the addy: ajourneytoachange.blogspot.com

Here are some points from my previous blogs, I will try to post here as well if I get good feed back.

Feb 10 2009

THE APPROVAL LETTER FOR THE SURGERY!!!!

I will not lie I was feeling a little skeptical about it. Only because it does not seem like luck is on my side. So tomorrow I will send it to the doctors office so we can start setting appointments. This is the table of appointments - 2 weeks before the surgery Pre-Op nutrition class, then Pre-Op FAST!!! That is like the slim fast diet, 2 protein shakes then one meal a day. Then 2 days before surgery labs drawn, clinic & hospital visit. The day before surgery LIQUIDS ONLY. Then surgery.

It has been approved, and now hurry up and wait some more!!!! I am so ready for the change this is going to be. The change in my life, I will be able to do more with Logan, and maybe even ice skate more than I did Saturday. We all had a blast. I could not have asked for a better birthday party for Logan!

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Saturday, February 28, 2009

This Lap Band Thing

Here is the deal. I have joined a forum called. lapbandtalk.com it is neat and really informative. I have found a few people on there who's blogs I am following and I know one is following mine, and I hope she continues her journey since she is so close to the end of it!!!

As I have stated in previous blogs, my surgery is being done at UT Southwestern Medical Center here in Dallas, TX. I am pretty confident on them, especially since I have know several people who have gone there, and had great results, and nothing but POSITIVE things to say about the doctors and the after care. One lady told me a downside for her was since it is a teaching hospital she had lots of interns/students seeing her. But you know they have to learn somewhere too. But back to my point...Knowing what my insurance requires and how strict my doctor is about the Do's & Don't's I am really flabbergasted reading some of the posting. It seems like everyone knows they have the best doctor....but here is my question - How good is the followup care your doctor is providing you? Are you just a number to him? Does your success mean anything to him?

This is done so often as out-patience. If you are having a foreign object placed in your body around a major organ why would you want to hurry up and get out???? I am looking forward to spending the night at the hospital so I have the nurses at my disposal when I have a question or concern, and for what we are paying, I am going to make sure all my questions are answered. I have started a list of who I need to ask what questions too..I am just hoping I remember to take it with me and ask all the right people.

My doctor makes sure I understand the band is a TOOL, and I have to use the tool right...How many people are doing this. Maybe I am being too critical. The pre-op diet, you know you are going to have to do it...so why are you in shock at it? I don't start mine until March 13th, but I have already started to replace breakfast with a shake. I will be in less shock and have an easier time cutting out 2 meals since I have already gotten rid of one. It is working out good. I mix it up the protein shake thick so it last until about lunch time, and I am trying to not splurge. In my work on doing this...I am down 13 pounds since the first time I was at my doctor's office. So I am below 300, not a lot below, but I am below it. I have also found out that in the last 6 months, my cholesterol has drooped about 15 points. I know I am on the right track. I miss some foods already, but I know that in moderation or a bite, I may be able to taste them again.

Logan is probably 85% of the reason I am doing this. He is such an inspiration to me. He is already talking about all the things he wants to do this summer when I loose my 'fat weight' it does make him a little sad that i do not eat breakfast with him, but I think in some little 6 year old world he understands more that I think he does. Knowing that I am increasing my chances of being here for Logan longer makes this all worth it. I have been lucky because I don't have any of the co-morbidity's associated with obesity, but that does not mean I am immune.

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Saturday, March 21, 2009

Counting the Hours

In 36 hrs I will be on the way to the hospital for a life changed surgery....you will now be able to call me Mitchell...WAIT WRONG BLOG!!!!!

I am 36 hrs away from starting life over! Starting a journey, to a new me. Is there really a skinny person inside who wants to be seen? I have wondered this for a while. I have lost 22 pounds already. My personal goal....75 by Christmas...53 to go.

I know that this changes a lot of people, not for the better, maybe physically, but just the person. I HOPE that does not happen to me. I have enough people around me to keep me grounded and on track to make sure I do not become some monster.

I am so grateful to have the supportive husband and son that I have. Ray is looking forward to the new meals and things I will be trying, Logan is looking forward to me being able to jump on the trampoline with him. And I am too. Looking forward to being able to run around crazy with him, and be a more involved mom. In May I am hoping to be able to start taking martial arts with him!

If I don't post tomorrow, I will post something as soon as I get home on Tuesday!

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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Surgery Day - 2 Day Post Op

Monday went good. We got to the hospital about 4:45 am, and waited. Got up to the day surgery waiting area, with signing in and my number. Lisa came up before she went to work, and mom and day were close behind. I went back to my curtain about 5:40 am, got changed in to the ICU gown, you know the one where people behind you can go "I C U"!!!

Lisa & mom came back and visited then about 6:30 I wanted Ray back there since we were getting down to business. He came back and the parade started, the IV, Heparin Shot in the tummy, belly getting drawn on, twilight shot, and the OR Nurse taking me to the bathroom to potty so I would not have to have a cath! I was all for that!!!

About 7 am we went to the OR....only after they let me get one last kiss from Ray! It was about an hour to get ready before they started on the procedure. He got called very often from the OR to let then know the progress. When it was done, Dr Scott came out and talked to Ray to tell it is all went well. As I have talked about before my doctor has been doing SIL - Single Incision Laporscopy for about a year now. He one incision went in thru my belly button, the port is attached right above my belly button. Hopefully the fills will be easy. I got out of recovery, and in to my room, about 11:00am. By that time, my parents & Ray's parents were there, when they wheeled me toward my room, I say the best image I could..Ray was sitting in my room.

Every one came in I was doing well. we visited for a little bit, and once the moms saw I was good, they started to leave, Ray and I tried to nap. He had to leave about 1:45 to go get Logan. My sister came up about 2:00, we spent some time together, she was the only one of the other 3 kids, who came or even called. I decided to get out of bed about 3:20 to walk and potty, I did really good, I did not get back in bed until about 9:00pm. Lisa came about up about 4, and Pete left about that time since I was not alone, and so she cold miss some of the traffic going home. Ray & Logan got up there about 5:30ish, and ate dinner. It was so nice seeing Logan although I could not cuddle him as I would like to. Lisa headed home about 6:00, and Ray's Tina came in...I was being tag teamed on visitors and it was nice. I begged for a tray...the ice chips were not cutting it, so I was able to have broth, juice, tea, and some frozen Italian ice. They all hung out for about an hour & half, and 3 more laps around the floor. They started heading out about 7:45, and passed Holly in the parking lot...we had some time together, I was feeling tired, but just did not to be alone.

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Saturday, March 28, 2009

People Noticing the Weightloss

I was banded on March 23, 5 days ago. From about the 20th of Feb until March 19, I had lost 20 pounds! And in the last week, another 8.

I went back to work and people are already noticing in my face and upper body that I am loosing. I am feeling it some, but since I still have lots of swelling in my tummy, my clothes are a little tighter that I would like. I have been cooking for my hubby & son, and doing ok...but last night the hunger pangs started. Since I was making sketti, I took some of the meat chewed it up until I got all of the flavoring out, then spit it out. The sauce was so so good, it was garlic & onion I think!!! It was good, but just for the flavoring!!! That is what I miss is the different flavors. Although adding extracts to the protein drinks help, my pallet is not very forgiving of me keeping all those good flavors from it!

My 1st goal is 75 pounds by Christmas...I want to stay on that track. ________________________________________

Hey There Lsmmom! Sounds like you are doing well! We are both March bansters. I had my banding done on March 26th, at Cedars in Los Angeles. My doc is Dr. Michael Feiz. Super Doc! Yesterday I had a port revision done, mine came unattached from the tubing, now I am back to normal. I have lost 30 pounds since surgery, I was not on any pre op diet. If you would like to converse please feel free! My name is Cheryl, in Burbank, California. Good luck to you!