I am starting this journal as a log of what has and what is happening to me on what I am convienced will be my journey to change my life. I know it is not going to be easy. Having lap-band surgery is just a crutch to help me when my I let my will power and self control get the better of my common sense. So here goes, Patti's Big Adventure!

I had thought of weight loss surgery for several years, but my primary care physican had told me that I could not phyically handle gastric bypass surgery. That was the only form of bariactric surgery that my insurance would pay for and I could not afford to pay for the surgery by myself. In December 2006 I got the new book telling about my insurance plan for 2007. I was just leafing through it to see what changes I would need to know about and low and behold there was one major change. As of January 1, 2007, they would pay for Lap-Band surgery! If approved and I qualified. I called them up and asked if that was really true. They told me yes if I could qualify. Well I know what I look like and I know how my weight was effecting my health in so many ways, so I starting researching lap-band on the internet. I found several places in Kansas City that did the surgery. I found a Dr Malley who was on Blue Cross/Blue Shield preferred doctor list. Good start. I called his office and they said that they had a seminar on a Saturday in January. I signed up and went to just listen and gather information. In the mean time, I talked to my primary care doctor and he told me he would do anything he could do to help me get qualitied to insurance standards and I just kept checking it out on the internet. Reading everything I could about the prochedure. I went to the seminar, and I knew when I left there that I had to meet with Dr. Malley and see my options. I made an appointment, that day, for the middle of February to see him. I had my appointment and not only did Dr Malley say that I was a very good candidate for the surgery, but the people in the lobby were inspirations. Some had already had the surgery and others were there like me trying to see if we were eligible. I gathered the info that the Doctors office needed to send into the insurance company to get approval. A week later I had that info to them and exactly 10 days later, I got a letter in the mail from the insurance co. saying I was APPROVED! Wow, maybe it was going to happen. I called the doctors office the next day, and we started trying to schedule a date when Dr Malley could do the surgery and I could be off work for at least two weeks. We finally came up with July 12. I had to wait 5 months. Boy was that a long time. But it all worked out. My patience held out and the end of June, I went to Menorah Hospital to have my pre-op testing. Regular blood work, EKG, chest xray. Just normal stuff. I did meet with an antithegiologist (bad spelling, sorry). I had to do a 4 week pre-op low fat, low sugar liquid diet. Now that was a challenge, but I knew I would be on the same thing for 2 or 3 weeks after surgery. So I figured I might as well get used to it. I had to turn in Family Medical Leave Act paperwork to my boss. It said I would be off at least 2 weeks, and my boss told me that he thought I should be back in 1 week. I don't know where he got his medical degree, but Dr Malley said NO. I would be off at least 2 weeks. I had told him what I do for a living and about my daily duties at the Post Office and he said that I could not go back too early and mess up all of his good work! Anyway the day finally came. The day I had waited on for 5 months. Maybe the day I had waited on for a lifetime. But it was finally here and I was so excited and soooooo scared. What was I doing? I had not been in a hospital for 32 years when I had my gall bladder out. But I also knew this was my life. On to the next step!

The morning of July 12, 2007. The day was finally here. My sister Kim and sister-in-law Sandy arrived by 4:30 to take me to the hospital. I was moaning and complaining because I could not have any water. I drink lots of water. How was I going to go until the next day after a swallow test to get some kind of drink. Kim and Sandy had little sympathy for me and just encouraged me to look at the big picture. Think of the things to come. Everything would be different and better. We arrived at the hospital by 5:45am. They took me back immediately to prep me for surgery. I got all of the questions asked again that I had answered at least twice, but I guess I gave them the right answers because they hooked my up with an IV and started giving me anti nausea drugs. I do not like to throw up so I did not argue with them at all. They decided I was all ready to go so my family could come back and stay with me till they took me. Well here came Kim threw the curtain and with her was Paulene Morrow. Paulene and I have talked about these weight loss surgeries for a long time, but Paulene beat me to it by having gastric by-pass surgery about 3 years ago. She has supported me in trying to get this day to come for a long time. I was so glad to see her. I knew she knew what I had to look forward to. We talked as fast as we could as she answered every question I threw at her. She is a special lady and I will never forget her coming to support me. She stayed awhile and then went back to surgery waiting room and sent Sandy back to be with Kim and I until time to go. Dr. Malley came in for a few minutes and told us what was to come. He said I would be back there an hour to an hour and a half. He left and the nurse came in and gave me a shot in the belly to prevent blood clots and we were off down the hall to the surgery wing. Kim and Sandy headed back to the waiting room right at 7:30. We started right on time. I arrived in the "holding room" and it was sooooo cold. I am never cold, but these people work in an area that reminded me of working at the locker in Adrian. It was very bright and these were people milling all around me. They said that there were 10 surgeries starting at 7:30 so there were beds all around with other people waiting to go in also. A man came up to me and intoducted himself. I told him that I remembered him. He was the antithesioligist, and that was it. It was like lights out. My next memory was someone calling my name asking if I could hear them. I started trying to wake up and get up. Of course they did not let me get up, but he stood right there and just kept talking to me and asking me questions. I can remember looking at the clock right in front of me. It was 9:25! Wow, it was over. Really over. The guy told me his name was Jose and he would be right there with me for awhile. All of a sudden I thought "Oh my Goodness. What have I done. This hurts so bad!" And immediately Jose ask how bad my pain was between a 1 and a 10. I said at least 8! He immediately gave me a shot. He just kept talking to me. In just a few minutes he ask about the pain again. I said at least 8! So he gave me another shot. He then ask me about Adrian. How big was it? How long I had lived there? How big is your family? I was trying to take deep breaths, cause that seemed to help. Then he ask about the pain. I knew if was a little better, so I said 5. Ok, I got another shot. Then we talked about my work. We talked about Miami, where he was from, we talked about the weather. I just know he stayed right there with me and made me think of something else. I was finally relaxing and I realized that my jaws were clinched tight. I went back to trying to remember to take deep breaths and relax. You know it is hard to remember everything when you are first coming out from such a deep deep sleep. Anyway, Jose wants to know how is the pain. I realize it is much better this time, so I say 3. Good, I get another shot. Finally that was the one I had been looking for. I completly relaxed. The pain was vertually gone and I was breathly normally it seemed. We stayed there in recovery until about 10:00. Jose was great. He just stayed right there with me and talked about everything. I remember that he just seemed fasinated with the small town I was from. I don't know if he really was, or if he was doing his job really well, but he had a very relaxing effect on me. And he even took me upstairs to my room and got me moved to the regular bed before he was off to help someone else come to without too much pain. When the nurse came to help him get me settled into the bed, I looked at her and she looked at me. We both said we knew each other. Then she says "My Post Office Lady". Yes, she was from Raymore and I had sold her stamps for years! Small world. She would be the RN in charge of my wing of the hospital. Also right there was Kim, Sandy, and Paulene. I feel so lucky to have such love and support. I am blessed! I just layed there and tried to talk to them for a while. I had to really try to concentrate hard to stay awake and keep my train of thought. After a little while, they decided to go out to lunch and told me to sleep. I guess I did, because I don't remember too much till mid afternoon. I know they kept coming in and giving me meds and checking my blood pressure and temperature. But finally I told Kim I thought it was time to get up. Of course there was not a nurse to be found, so she said she knew how to unplug me. And we did it on our own. I got up really slowly, but had no problem. Not even much pain in my belly. I had been told that it was so important to get up and start walking as much and as soon as posible. So we walked around one of those squares in the hospital. I went to the bathroom for the first time and headed back to bed. I was ready to be there. I dosed a little more and then got Kim to walk me one more time and sent them home. I felt fine there. I knew I had figured out how to get myself set up in bed (cause my bad just could not lay but so long), and I had the magic button to call a nurse. The staff there was very nice, but they were so short staffed that they were running themselves ragged. Because no one seemed to have time to walk me, I would just stand up beside my bed and walk in place. It helped the gas pains move in my belly and it helped my back more. I could not have anything at all to drink, not even ice chips, so I had really bad dry mouth. About drove me crazy. But, whatever it takes is my motto, so I survived. About 9:00 that night at male nurse came into my room and I knew him! He is the husband of one of the mail carriers at my Post Office. Turns out he was in charge of that floor of the hospital, and he asked what I needed. I told him I wanted to walk and in about 1 minute there was a nurse there to walk me. We walked around the squares 2 times and she gave me meds and I went to sleep for a couple of hours. I woke up and by 1:00 I had to get out of that bed again. The room was like a cave and I wanted out! Anyway they came and got me, took me on a walk, and got me a chair to set out in the hall by their station for a couple of hours. That helped so much. They would visit with me, and just made the time pass. I went back to my room and slept till about 7:00 and then got started getting ready to go downstairs to x-ray for my swallow test. There were 3 of us who were banned that day, and we went down together. We drank a little barium, and all passed, so we could have a drink! Thank God! Ice water and chicken broth never tasted so good.

July 13, 2007 My first day home. Sandy brought me home from the hospital. We got here about 11:30. Karen had just come for lunch, so I got to visit with her. Sandy took my prescriptions up town and I just kind of sat around. I was having some gas pain, so I took some of the pain medicine as soon as it got here. Mother came over, as her and Christy were going to spend a couple of nights with me, in case I needed anything. I just walked in the house that day. I ate chicken broth and a little jello, but my favorite was sugar free pop cycles. My mouth and throat was still dry. About time to go to bed, the gas pains got much worse. I took the recommended gas x tablets, but they did not touch it. Mother suggested liquid Mylanta. At that point, I would have tryed most anything. I was so tired and I did not like that kind of pain. Anyway, I took a sip and immediately it let up. I took the second sip and I went to bed. I had already taken the pain medicine, so I was good to go to sleep. I was only up one time all night to go to the bathroom and I slept till 9:00. I felt great

Saturday, July 14th.

Slept great last night. Did not get up till 9:00. Had a shower. That was a real treat. Had to keep the incisions dry as possible, but it all worked out ok. I had chicken broth and jello for breakfast and had the same for lunch. I don't know what I would have done without my SF Popcycles. My supper was a chocolate potein shake. It does not take anything to fill me up and I stop as soon as I feel the least bit full. I lost one pound! I sent Mother and Chris home to their own beds. I was doing just fine.

Sunday, July 15th.

Didn't sleep as good last night. Kinda of restless. I have not gone back to taking my sleep apnea medicine. Wondering if that is the problem with sleeping. I am using the CPAP machine but not the pills. I have not taken any more diabetes pills. I have only taken one of the two high blood pressure pills I usually take and I have not taken my premarin or asthma medicine. Going to keep an eye on my blood pressure and see how it goes. Lost 2 pounds! Had diarehea today.

Monday, July 16th.

Still did not sleep. I think I will go back to taking the sleep apnea pill. Otherwise, I feel pretty good. Awfully tired, but still trying to walk as much as possible. Have to walk outside in the evening, because of the humidy. Lost 3 pounds today. Probably from the runs yesterday.

Tuesday, July 17th.

Today was a rough one. Very tired and even kind of week. Doctor told me to try some creamy soups and runny mashed potatoes. Had Cambells Soup at Hand, the creamy chicken. It tasted soooo good! First thing that really seemed to have a taste. That was for lunch. For supper I tried that runny mashed potatoe. What a mistake. I baked a small potato and mashed it up really well with chicken broth. I made sure it was really runny. Then I added a couple of tablespoons of jar chicken gravy. I thought that would just make it runnier. I ate about half of the potato and all of a sudden I had such a pain that I cannot decribe it. It was between my breasts and it ran from front to back. I thought I must be having a heart attack. I knew better, but I just wanted to best describe the pain. I immediately knew something was stuck and since I had only at that potato, I know that was it. I walked and walked. That is what they tell you to do. I walked inside, then I walked outside. I walked to Mother's, rested a few minutes, then Christy walked with me up the street and I walked her home and it still did not let up. I went inside and drank a bunch of water, thinking I could wash it on threw. That did not help. I started coughing up this slimy stuff. Thought I was going to throw it up, but I did not do that. I went back outside to walk and I got about to the end of the driveway and I coughed really hard and up came a big hunk of that slimmy stuff and all of a sudden the pain was gone. I guess it moved on through somehow. Don't know how that worked, but I did not care. I was just relieved for the pain to be gone. I will not eat anything like a potato again any time soon. I lost 1 lbs today.

Wednesday, July 18th,

Took my sleep apnea pill last night and I slept much better. Guess that is not a pill I can go off of yet. I went to see Nurse Laura to get my blood pressure checked. It was 130 over 72. Great! My legs started hurting bad today. They felt like they do when I have worked on them for 8 hours. I had not been on them that much. Sandy and the doctor told me that not taking the Premarin could do that so I went back to taking the Premarin this evening. I lost 2 lbs. today!

Thursday, July 19th,

Very tired today. Just can't seem to get any lasting energy. But I am trying to walk as much as posible. Legs and joints were a little better today. Lost 1 lbs today.

Friday, July 20th,

Wendy took Mother and me to see Dr Malley today. He was very pleased with my progress. One of my incisions was not healed. Had to leave on the steri strips. Was concerned about my lack of energy. He told me that I needed to take an extra week off of work. Not to go back until August 6th. I was to get back with him later to get any work restrictions that he felt I needed to have. We scheduled my next 3 appointments to start my fills in the band. This will restrict my stomach more so that I will not get hungry and I will feel full sooner. These start the end of August and are every two weeks after that till I have 3 fills. We left the doctors office and I called the Post Office to tell my boss that I would not be back for another week. He said that was not acceptable. I had to come back. I told him that I had new FMLA papers that said I could not come back before August 6th. He told me to call my doctor and tell him I had to go back to work and for the doctor to write up any restrictions I would have standing or lifting. He just would not listen to me at all. I hung up in tears and called Karen Grimes to ask who I should call to make a complaint. She gave the the number to Labor at the main Post Office. After I told them my story, they gave me the number of the Midwest Area FMLA coordinator. That man told me that I could not go back to work without the doctors approval no matter what my boss said. He was going to call my boss. Don't know if he did,cause I never heard from Toby (the PostMaster) again. Lost 1 lb. We went out to Applebee's for lunch. Had a roast chicken breast and penne meal. It tasted so good, but I could only eat 2 little strips of the chicken and 5 penne noodles. I guess I will get really good with the doggie bag. I had two more meals with what I brought home.

Saturday July 21st,

Went to Clinton with Mother and Chris. Belle was in a baby contest in a large air condioned building there. I got to enjoy seeing her and I got to do my walking in a nice big air conditioned room. That was a treat. We ate at Country Kitchen and had Alaskan Cod with Cottage Cheese. Once again I brought home that doggie bag and had fish for another meal. Lost 1 lbs. I drove for the first time.

Sunday July 22nd,

Tired today. It seems to be a big deal to get up and go somewhere. I still am getting so tired so fast. I am trying to eat all the protein I can and walk. Went to Dan and Sandy's for a surprise Anniversary Party. I really enjoyed it, but I was really tuckered out by the time we got home. I lost 1 lb. That makes 14 since my surgery 10 days ago!

Monday July 23rd,

Went to Butler. Did a little WalMart trip and went to Sonic. I had not had my Sonic Route 44 Ice Tea with extra ice for too long! That made me one happy camper. But bad news was that I had gained 1 lb. Why that happened I do not know.

Tuesday July 24th,

Mother made Salsa for John and Amanda. I sat at the kitchen table and chopped up tomatoes and cleaned peppers and garlic. It took much longer than usual, but we got it done. Did not lose any weight.

Wednesday July 25th,

I am beside myself. I gained 2 pounds! What was wrong? I have not ate anymore than I had been. Most was the exact same thing I had been eating. I got on the internet and talked to my new friends at lap-bandtalk.com. They assured me that that had happened to many of them. That it was your body reacting to the changes that were happening. Also had I been to the bathroom lately? Thought about that and no. Not since Sunday. Could that be the problem?

Thursday July 26th,

I got up and went straight to the bathroom to do my thing. And yes, I lost that 2 lbs. back. Thank goodness. This can be very stressful when I want it to work steady and FAST! This is diffenently not an easy way out. You still cannot eat much and as for me, I still think about food all of the time. I imagine that going back to work will help that as I will be so busy that I will not have time to think about food constantly. Some people say that they cannot watch TV because the commericals for food just drive them crazy. I even still watch the Food Network all of the time. Maybe I am a little nutso, but I still enjoy it and I know I want to go to Applebees and have that new shrimp salad thing they are advertizing!

Friday July 27th,

Very quiet day. Still no weight loss. I am getting kind of discouraged. I am not eating anymore. I talked to Nicki at the doctors office and she assured me that it was ok. My body is just trying to adjust to all of the changes happening. It has a natural reaction to these strict diets and sometimes it just latches on to itself and fights to keep that fat. Well the body might as well give it up, cause me and my new friend, my band, are not going to give in this time or even the next. This time I AM going to lose this weight and feel better and most of all be able to live my life like normal people! I am working on finding a name for the band. Lots of my new friends who have had lap band surgery tell me that they have named their band, because they are thinking about it so much. So, I am thinking of the best name I can come up with to talk about my new friend and one I will have around the rest of my life.

Saturday July 28th,

Well it was the day to finally get out and walk among the peoples. My nephew Justin has a new baby girl, so great grandma, Aunt Christy, and Aunt Patti went baby shopping. And then I wanted to buy me a new grill to use in the house for my meats. So I got that and we did WalMart too. I was exhausted. I did not lose any weight and I could not sleep last night.

Sunday July 29th,

Did not sleep well at all. I have had a short nap this morning, but have not done or accomplished anything. Did not lose or gain any weight. I cannot believe as much as I walked yesterday, that I did not lose, but I didn't. Chin up!

Tuesday July 31st,

Yesterday was a blah day. No changes. Today I have done laundry and started trying to make me a journal to start charting what I eat and what I plan to eat, so I can plan ahead. I know when I go back to work I will have to be organized and have my meals all planned out with quick access. This is harder than I thought it would be.