mandyb

What a week! <A style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; CLEAR: right; cssfloat: right" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XY28b1Yte7Y/Tc7ls5jjiFI/AAAAAAAAALw/fV5JfT8plVw/s1600/treadmill.gif" imageanchor="1">Well I have had an exhausting week! I went back to work on Monday! OH BOY! I have so much catching up to do (Paperwork)! I must tell you how nice it is though; I went back to work and the folks (developmentally/intellectally challenged) were so happy to see me! They showered me with hugs and kisses! It made me feel so good to know I make that much of an impact on their lives! I am so happy to get back into routine and I missed work so much! It is just great to be back! So let's get to business! This pic over here on the left is me last week! I took this pic and was amazed at what I saw! I was looking at this pic and feeling proud of all the things I went through to get to this point! Going through everything I did... it was a HUGE eye opener! It really makes you cherish life for what it is worth! I went to the Lung Dr. this week! I have a major NON SCALE VICTORY (NSV)... I am no longer on my inhalers for Asthma! This is HUGE! HUGE!!! My numbers are excellent! My Dr. could tell I was exercising cause my pulse and blood pressure were much lower than they ever had been! I am so much HEALTHIER! That is all I wanted out of all this! To be Healthy! Guess what.... I AM! I must tell you how much I have missed "FOOD"! I am stickin to my healthy lifestyle though and making good choices! I am actually eating a meal! Not a few bites; A MEAL! I am still trying to stear clear of the Carbs!!! Those are my worst enemy! Cause I love them oh so much! I have been walking! EVERY DAY I walk! I am now up to 3 miles a day! It takes me about 45 minutes to walk! But boy it feels GREAT! I love the rush it gives me; the way I feel after! It really makes me proud to know I can walk 3 miles! Then I come home and do a bit of resistance bands for some toning! I am getting into a great workout routine! This week was my first week really doing this on my own again! Back to Weight Watchers! So I really thought I would have gained because of the amount of food I had been eating! I lost .6 this week! I keep thinking to myself it is better than NOTHING!!! But I guess because I was so used to the big weight losses every week, I was a bit bummed! I feel good though! I am proud of myself! A total of 89.4!! Wooo Hooo Well I hope everyone is doing well! I have been so busy I am really falling behind on blogging! I haven't read blogs in about a week! Shame on me! Well till next time! Take care and stay healthy! ~Mandy

I had my band removed last Monday! I was doing great since I first had it put in.. but all of a sudden I was unable to eat! I was sliming, regurgitating, vomiting, even water! My Dr. sent me for an Upper GI... found no slip! Had me go in for a Scope.. didn't see any ulcers... Opened me up and found an infection. They had to remove the band and my Dr. refuses to replace it! I have lost 88 lbs (not sure if it has to do with the "infection" that I had).. not even sure how long I had the infection... I am terrified to gain anything back! I am able to eat! I can drink... but I have a JP Drain to help drain out the fluids and infection out... I am upset they removed it.. but I am Happier they found the infection in time.. and I AM ALIVE!!

So last week I made a few posts about how I am not feelin too great! I didn't eat for a week and was dehydrated ( I could barely get fluids down ). So I didn't get a scope done. I called the Dr on Friday and didn't hear back. I have my meeting on Thursday and if my Dr is not there I am going to call the office on Friday! I am sliming on yougart, cream of wheat, and gatorade. Gurgling with anything that goes down and regurgitating on everything! I don't know what to do! I am really frustrated and not sure whats wrong... Anyone else have any of the problems???? I could really use the help or advice... what ever you have!!!! I HAVE NO Fluid IN MY BAND! They just took out the only 2cc's that I had in there on Thursday.

Everything happens for a reason~ Do you believe that saying? I have b[/url]een thinking, thinking, and thinking! I guess things happen for a reason... Although I am still not sure as to the "reason"... I am probably confusing myself and everyone else... I have the words at the tip of my tongue; they just don't want to come out! I began this journey just over a year ago! Trying to make me a happier and healthier person! Although there have been many struggles, I must say there has been many successes! I am not sure what else is in store for me. I do know that I am not planning on any more "surgeries"!! My husband looked at me the other night and asked me "Honey, are you done"? Basically meaning; he has watched me suffer enough and does not want to see me suffer anymore! I know he loves me for who I am and how I look and my body and all! Anyways... my successes on this journey! **I quit smoking! I have added years onto my life! April 8th, 2011 was 1 yr Smoke Free! **I can walk a mile and not be out of breath! **I can fit in a booth at the resturaunt! **I can wear a regular hospital gown and Tie IT! Without my ass hanging out! **I can paint my own toenails! **I actually know a good (healthy) meal plan! **I sit closer to the steering wheel...My belly is not in the way! **I am more active (well not at the moment)..but In General....! **I am happier! I really was upset that I had to lose my band, but I can't dwell on it and focus on the loss! I need to move ahead and look forward to the future! This is and was all part of my LapBand Journey and just because the band is gone...doesn't mean my journey ends! You know it's funny how things turn out! You realize who is most important in your life when you really need people! You realize those who surround you are those who love you! Those who call you are those who are concerned for you! My mind is all over the place lately! I was on Facebook and found this status shuffle that fit perfect for the way I have been feeling! I would rather live my life with mistakes made and lessons learned than to live it full of regrets, if onlys and what could have been. ~Mandy

Thank you so much! I appreciate that!

I am home from the hospital! I was released yesterday afternoon about 4:30. Monday mornin was my surgery and before I went in the OR my Dr. came by and we chatted for a few about what he would be doing. First he would go down with the SCOPE, check for ulcers or any obstruction..If nothing was found there, he was going to open me up and find out whats going on... Dr. told me that maybe from the Sliming and Vommiting; someting was really irritated. Dr. said the last resort would be to remove it, and just assume I am Band Intolerant! I remember them asking me to move over to the operating table (I was high as a kite with the cocktail mix they gave me to relax)... I woke up in the recovery room with my Dr's assistance telling me everything went well, but they had to remove the band. I cried, cried and cried! I am upset that it had to come to that. Later when I was in my room the Dr.'s came by and explained to me they found an infection underneath the rim of my band. One of the stitches came undone (possible from vommiting). Dr. gave me a few options! We are going to see if I can Maintain or even lose weight on my own (since I lost a huge chunk weight with the Lap Band. If I struggle and can't keep it off or can't lose any more.. we will discuss the options of Gastric ByPass. So, I am out of work for 2 weeks and have a drain coming from my stomach..to let the infection drain out! I can't sleep...I have 2 antibiotics and a narcotic to help with the pain. I am so full of emotions! I am just lost! I have a Visiting Nurse coming to the house to change the dressing and empty my drain! I JUST WANT TO SCREAM! I am so mad! I am upset! I am SCARED! Once this is all healed, I will work my ass off to try to lost more weight! I am 30lbs from goal! I will put my mind to it! Thank you all for your support! I see the Dr. on the 5th of May to take out the drain and discuss my options! Thanks again!!! ~Mandy

Tomorrow I am having surgery; hoping they can fix my problem of "Being TOO TIGHT"! With no Fluid in my band! I haven't eaten in 2 1/2 weeks.. and anything I put in my mouth either comes back up or hurts like hell going down! I need to be at the hospital for 6 am! I will be up at 4am to be out of the house by 5:15! I most likely will not sleep tonight! I went to the park today with my hubby and kids and walked around the track (walked a mile today)... While I was walking, I keep thinking.... "What am I going to do if I wake up and they took my band out"!!!!!!!!!????????? I am scared that I will just end up gaining all the weight back! I know I have my mind set to keep going and keep losing! But in the back of my mind I am scared as hell! Like I wake up and there it is.. I am back at 270 and this was all a dream! I never lost 85 lbs! I am scared for tomorrow! I am not sure what to expect! Needed to vent! Thanks for listening!

They finally let me go home.. About 5pm EST. I was told by my Dr. I will never had the band back b/c of the infection! Not sure what exactly happened, but he said one of the stitches came undone! Could have been from me vomiting and Sliming! But when he went in to see what he could do.. he found the infection and just took it out! I I have a drain that sucks out all the infection and bloody water and what not! I will have this for 2 weeks. I go for a follow up with my surgeon on the 5th. I am happy that they fixed the problem.. that infection could have lead to some serious infections...and possible death! Well, Thank you all for you support through everything!

I woke up with NO BAND! I had an infection! They had no choice but to remove it! I won't be getting another band. My Dr.. said to wait, see how I do... Keep loosing or maintaing.. If I being to gain weight.. My Dr. Said he will do the Bypass! Just wanted to update you all! THanks for you support!!!