Jibbygirl

Surgery yesterday (9/29) went very well. I was excited to learn I had lost 19 pounds on the 2 week pre op diet. Wish I could save the money and just stay on the diet, but I know I won't. I found some pretty tasty protein powders and that helped get thru it. I was remarking to my husband I hadn't had a cheeto in a month and really was okay about that. Had surgery yeasterday and all went very smoothly, in at 8 for prep and out by noon. But then the fun began as I had a pretty rough day and night with the belly gas pains, refered into the shoulders and neck and across the abdomen. Lots of pain meds gave me little naps but it was a rough 18 hrs. About 5am I got up and ate a SF jello and I feel better now. Not good, still sore from the pokes, but not from the gas. Trying to get in my liquid quota, just not hungry or thirsy but I'm just trying to pace myself and keep at it. Keeping the food and liquid log has really been an eye opener for me. Good discipline. So far, so good. No regrets, just looking forward to a year from now and being able to function like a human again. Just getting under 300 made me giddy!! Just finished Women, Food, and God by Geneen Ross and reading A Course in Weight Loss by Marianne Williamson both of which are helping get my head in the right place to continue my journey. My critters are all being protective of mommy and daddy is busy harvesting corn which is good. Alone time allows me to think and pace myself. Praise God for getting me to this life changing place. Prayers and best wishes to all of you on the journey.

Ah, jiminy, hon. My sister said I could bleed to death and my son thought the hanging skin would be worse than a bad heart from weighing over 300 lbs! That's because this is not happening to them, this is about US!! They don't suffer my joint pain, wheezing, mobility issues, self disgust with my current state. I AM GOING TO FEEL BETTER AND I believe after prayer and research and physician recommendations THIS IS WHAT IT WILL TAKE. I WANT TO GO ON MISSION TRIPS AND TRAVEL AND ENJOY MY HUSBAND AND EAT NORMAL SIZED PORTIONS AND FEEL SATISFIED. And if that means I have to change the way I live my life then so be it. God is with me, my husband supports me and most of all I am soooooooo ready for this after 40 years of being overweight and unhappy. I love my family but they just don't get it and that's okay. This is all about ME baby, nobody has to agree with it, I just told them about it out of consideration for them, not for permission. I love them, but I've spent my life taking care of everybody but me and this here is MY turn!!!

Geta, just so you know you are not alone, thought I'd give you some of MY families responses. *Sister: well, this is a very dangerous surgery and I will be worried about you til you come out. You could hemhorrage and die, you know. (everyone needs a truly supportive sister, yes?? *Son:Won't there be a lot of extra skin hanging? (I guess as opposed to being over 300 pounds and my heart going bad?

Geta, just so you know you are not alone, thought I'd give you some of MY families responses. *Sister: well, this is a very dangerous surgery and I will be worried about you til you come out. You could hemhorrage and die, you know. (everyone needs a truly supportive sister, yes?? *Son:Won't there be a lot of extra skin hanging? (I guess as opposed to being over 300 pounds and my heart going bad?

I have had so many signs that I am doing the right thing with this banding that it all seems to just be falling into place. I have felt so bad, for so long and I feel tlike the help I will get from the banding is a blessing I resisted for too long. Because I am retired at 60 and can't get insurance for health issues, we have had to finance this ourselves. I sort of came into this thru the back door. I began having cardiac issues and the cardiologist is the one who recommended I look into this, so I already had all the preliminary work ups done to rule out other causes. Took a little while to get into the bariatric center, but I met all the criteria immediately so we are good to go. By not having to deal with insurance it has been a smooth ride so far. The worst part was getting over the failure of not being able to lose the weight or keep it off myself. I am a nurse and know HOW to do it but my addiction is food and I just can't get a handle on it. Once Dr. assured me I would NEVER be able to get more than 50 lbs off by myself and it would probably not stay off, I felt less like a failure. Fact is, the heart problems are gonna kill me if I don't do something about it and I have a lot of stuff I still want to do in life. I'm excited but trying to just take each day as it comes. Today I went shopping for all my supplies, the chewable vitamins and calcium supplements, liquid pain meds, low fat/low cal liquid and pureed options. Read lots and lots of labels. My nursing has helped a lot with that. I've read my pamphlets over and over, I've researched on the internet, I've lined up a couple of online support groups to keep in touch with, and I've asked God to be with me thru this. We even snowbird down south and I've lined up a doctor down there who will follow me for fills while we are down there and my doc here agreed and just wants me to check back in when I get back. I have good friend from church who is ending her first year and she looks and feels great and will be a great support to me as well. I am so truly blessed. I know my demons will be eating and drinking SLOW enough, and chewing thoroughly. If I don't feel hungry I can avoid the food aspect. I've slowly said goodby to all my favorites getting ready for this, the last Taco Bell, the last great Pizza, the last Bob Evans breakfast. I've been eating pretty healthy since all this began, and started taking 1/2 of my portions home or eating only 1/2 size portions and trying to avoid most of my beloved weaknesses. Tuesday the 13th I meet for my pre-op appt and see the dietician and probably start on the protein diet then. Surgery is Sept 29. Stay in touch, everyone and God Bless.

Another twin!! I am also getting banded ont he 29th. I will add you to my prayers as well. May God help us all to do well with this process. Cindy

Peg, we will be twins, I am getting banded on Sept 29th , too. I see the dietician for the pre-op appy on 9/13 and soon to start the liquid protein. I will add you to my prayers for us both to feel better afterwards. Cindy