Lap Band Journey

2006 had been a terrible year. I had suffered from November 2005 – September 2006 with Severe Arthritis in my back. My weight did not help matters. There were many times I was unable to move from the chair. I struggled greatly to get to work on many days. October 2006 I fractured my knee, while moving from the back door of the car to the front door. These injuries were hard enough on their own and carrying my overweight body around was hard enough without the injuries. The two combined were overwhelming, draining, depressing and disabling. I had started to become a recluse and cut off the world around me. I was physically unable to get about and grew embarrassed as my weight kept soaring.

I had visited an orthopedic surgeon regarding my knee. The MRI results showed a fracture to the knee and Osteonecrosis (bone slowly dying). He stated he would not even consider any type of surgery with me being this weight, and I was to lose a minimum of 30 kilos. It was somewhere around this point, my future flashed before me. I knew I was unable to walk or do any exercise, my back posed its own problems. How was I going to lose this weight?. Something had to be done, or I would continue my life getting bigger, more disabled and be soon too fat and too disabled to leave the house.

A couple of weeks prior to my appointment with the specialist, I had run into a girl that we had worked together at the same office a few years ago. She had lost 35 kilos with the lap band and passed me a card for Dr Paul Leong. I rang Dr Leong’s Office and made an appointment for December 1st to make enquiries into what was involved.

At this point he had stated surgery would not be until early in 2007. Being that I had a HUGE Phobia around Dr’s, Hospitals and was petrified of surgery, this was fine by me. Making the decision to have this surgery was one thing, actually getting there and going through with the surgery was another matter.

Somewhere around 12th December, I had made a call to Dr Leong’s rooms in an attempt to get a set surgery date for January 2007. I needed to let my work place know when I would be off work again. Being that I had been off already for 2 months with my knee. The receptionist said I could have December 19th 2006 or January 8th 2007. I felt the panic race through my mind & my body I had to make a decision. I said I would let her know ASAP, I needed to ring my husband Roger as he was away with work. After a lengthy discussion with Roger about him getting time off to be with me, we opted on the 19th December 2006. The year had already been a very difficult year, I wanted to leave all this difficulty behind me and start 2007 a new.

I weighed in at 123 Kilos on 19.12.2006 Admission to hospital was 11am. I was informed I would be in hospital around 3-4 days. Surgery was scheduled for around 6pm. Roger and I sat all day in the hospital, with me refusing to get onto the hospital gown until the very last minute. Nurses came and did the usual blood pressure etc & injections to prevent blood clotting. Then came the anesthetists, this is when fear struck me again. I cried, I knew I was really going to have this surgery now. I begged the anesthetist to look after me. I was petrified I would have a heart attack or a stroke under anesthetic.

5.45pm and they came for me for surgery, on with the little blue booties etc and a walk down the hall to the operating theatre. I felt like I was taking myself to be slaughtered (lamb on the slaughter line). As I laid myself on the operating table, I started to pray and begged god to let everything be ok. I pleaded with the nursing staff and Dr’s present to look after me. Please let me live through this and please let everything go smoothly without complications.

Next I recall waking and finding it really hard to breathe, the incisions were high up under the breast, I counted 5 in total. The surgery was complete, the band in place and I WAS ALIVE! YES YES YES I said, I have been given a second chance.

The three days following I had swelling, bruising and pain. Nausea was with me most of the time. BUT my worse experience was withdrawal of my comfort things (my bed, my home, and my BEST FRIEND “FOOD”) I cried and I cried one night, I was totally beside myself, WHAT had I done, I was not prepared for this. Nothing could ease this restlessness in me, nothing could comfort me and I could NOT eat my emotions.

I was released from hospital weighing 117.4 kilos 5.5kg loss and back home the next day. AT LAST some home comforts. I followed stringently the sample menu I was given. Varying liquids of milk, soups, yoghurts. I was to stay on the liquids until 21st January2007. A follow up appointment had been booked for Dr Leong for 30th January 2007 Gradually I started to feel stronger and the gas pains, nausea eased with the amazing help of Mylanta. First & second week has gone by NO weight loss. This has been very disheartening. I am only consuming around 900 calories a day. But my body shape is changing, So I have this to hold onto.

26th December 2006 117.4kg

2nd January 2006 117.4kg

9th January 2006 116.4kg YAY at last a loss

It was at this point I decided to keep a record of my Lap Band Journey.

I had discovered an online Lap Band Forum and was getting a lot of support from the folks in the same situation as me. These folk are from all over the world. We all had many questions and needed answers. There are people there who have passed through this stage and were great strengths of support. They shared great recipe options and ideas to get us through this liquid phase. I don’t know where I would be without the support of these great folk at the Forum.

Saturday 13th January 2007

I’ve headed away to our caravan for some relaxation and sunshine. I’ve broken the cycle of social reclusion. We sat with friends on the decking across the road last night and shared idle chat. I proudly told them of my surgery. I’m including more protein shakes in my daily liquid now, I’m finding them far more satisfying and filling. I’m looking forward to lunch today Velish (Provincical Vegetables) mixed with Heinz Spicy Tomato Soup. One of My Fave’s Mmmmmmmmm. It’s now about 4pm and I’m getting puckish for something savoury (my weakness). I headed for the pantry to see what I could find, vegemite or peanut butter or maybe some of those soft apero tomato, basil and cream cheese gourmet rice snacks. I tried a couple and sucked and sucked them to a pulp before swallowing YUM they hit the spot. I am so so ready for mushy food. Can I wait till the 21st?

Tuesday 16th January 2007 Officially 4 weeks today post op.

Last night I decided to try some mashed canned spaghetti Mmmmmm, I tolerated it well. It’s still 5 days before I’m officially allowed to go onto Vitamised mushy food. Tonight my neice Tara is coming over and I’m cooking her Favourite “Porcupine Meatballs with mashed potatoe, then were going off to get our hair cut and coloured Yay. I dropped another 1.2 kilos today. YES the scales are being kind to me J Todays Weight is 115.2kg that’s a 1.2 kilo (253.44 pounds) drop.

porcupine? you don't mean....?