enjoylife

I was banded by Dr. Singh March 24, 2008. Dr. Singh was the third WLS surgeon that I investigated. I chose his practice for a few reasons: 1) I felt comfortable with Dr. Singh; his “bedside manner” put me at ease. He likes to make jokes – corny but funny ones, 2) I was confident in his ability to get me through the surgery alive – trust me I read everything I could about his practice. I wanted to know the statistics on patients lost, infection, and anything else I could find out. One thing I really liked was that Dr. Singh actually trained other doctors to perform this surgery AND (and this is important people) he likes working through the smallest incision possible. I have enough scars and I really didn’t like the idea of getting five more, 3) this practice made you jump through all the hoops you’ve ever heard of – which although it can get to be annoying, I knew that if I could pass all of the specialists evaluations that I had a better chance of surviving the surgery, and my last reason 4) there were no extra cost for crap that I did not need or lived too far away to properly use. The other two practices that I checked out wanted at least $2,500 for extra stuff – like gym usage, nutritionist visits (up to two whole visits!!!) and support group meetings. One of the doctors I checked out even charged for fills! I was like, ”Well what the hell am I paying for insurance for?” Anyway, I really am thankful that I chose Dr. Singh. I have a friend that went through Dr. Averbach, whom Dr. Singh used to share a practice with and she recommended him, but I chose Dr. Singh. I could go on and on about this, but if you really want to know about my journey, you can check out my blog or any of my posts here on LBT.

Yesterday was a fill day. I am going to make this my last fill. This is the fill that will get me to Onderland. I weighed in this morning at 232.8 and I know for a fact that my scale is two pounds off so I am actually 230.8. So this fill has to help me lose at least 31.8 pounds. My goal was to be in Onderland by July 4, 2010. That’s 10 lbs a month including this month. I really tried to be 220-something by March 24, 2010 (my two year bandiversary). Well, obviously I was not successful with that. That’s okay though. I still have my main goal and I am still determined to get there. I am kicking up my physical activity. Every day I have to do something (walk, exercise video, clean up, cut the grass, play Wii – I don’t care… as long as it’s something). I want to join the gym, but I’m waiting for EKG results. Since my blood work and chest x-rays came back great I am almost sure that my EKG results will allow me to begin working out. I really just want to be able to master the elliptical machine; use the abductor and inductor equipment; and use some sort of arm machine to try to tighten up my flabby upper arms. I’m praying that the elliptical machine will not only help me build cardio strength, but will also lift my sagging thighs. I love losing weight, but I hate that I allowed myself to get so fat that my skin is loose. I saw a woman at the hospital the other day. She was wearing short sleeves and her arms led me to believe that she has lost quite a bit of weight. Her skin was loose and covered with shrunken stretch marks. But she was wearing those short sleeves with confidence. Who could blame her, aside from her arms, she looked great (fully covered in her shirt and long pants) but great. So, I’m increasing my activity so that even if I end up with “loose meat” I can still look decent in clothes. I’m also doing it because I’ve had a few weird episodes of chest pains and burning sensations from my jaw line down to my chest. That’s why I had all those tests done. Heart disease runs in my family. I need to everything I can to avoid any kind of heart disease. So this morning I am drinking my protein shake – very slowly because I am very tight. Usually after a band it is recommended that I do liquids for 24 hours. I think I may do 48 hours. We’ll see it may be longer, I really am tight. All I can do is sip. But that’s the norm for me right after a fill. Anything more and I’m asking for trouble. So I’ll be checking in later to record how I’m doing.

HA!!!!! Last fill my petunia!!!!

Yesterday was a fill day. I am going to make this my last fill. This is the fill that will get me to Onderland. I weighed in this morning at 232.8 and I know for a fact that my scale is two pounds off so I am actually 230.8. So this fill has to help me lose at least 31.8 pounds. My goal was to be in Onderland by July 4, 2010. That’s 10 lbs a month including this month. I really tried to be 220-something by March 24, 2010 (my two year bandiversary). Well, obviously I was not successful with that. That’s okay though. I still have my main goal and I am still determined to get there. I am kicking up my physical activity. Every day I have to do something (walk, exercise video, clean up, cut the grass, play Wii – I don’t care… as long as it’s something). I want to join the gym, but I’m waiting for EKG results. Since my blood work and chest x-rays came back great I am almost sure that my EKG results will allow me to begin working out. I really just want to be able to master the elliptical machine; use the abductor and inductor equipment; and use some sort of arm machine to try to tighten up my flabby upper arms. I’m praying that the elliptical machine will not only help me build cardio strength, but will also lift my sagging thighs. I love losing weight, but I hate that I allowed myself to get so fat that my skin is loose. I saw a woman at the hospital the other day. She was wearing short sleeves and her arms led me to believe that she has lost quite a bit of weight. Her skin was loose and covered with shrunken stretch marks. But she was wearing those short sleeves with confidence. Who could blame her, aside from her arms, she looked great (fully covered in her shirt and long pants) but great. So, I’m increasing my activity so that even if I end up with “loose meat” I can still look decent in clothes. I’m also doing it because I’ve had a few weird episodes of chest pains and burning sensations from my jaw line down to my chest. That’s why I had all those tests done. Heart disease runs in my family. I need to everything I can to avoid any kind of heart disease. So this morning I am drinking my protein shake – very slowly because I am very tight. Usually after a band it is recommended that I do liquids for 24 hours. I think I may do 48 hours. We’ll see it may be longer, I really am tight. All I can do is sip. But that’s the norm for me right after a fill. Anything more and I’m asking for trouble. So I’ll be checking in later to record how I’m doing.

Whether or not you should go to the ER is a call that only you and your surgeon can/should make. My experience is that if I regurgitate (for real) my stomach swells and I may have difficulty eating after that. I either have to take a break from eating and drinking altogether for maybe a whole day, but usually four - five hours. Then I try to sip water or eat something that I normally have no problems getting down. Maybe you just need to give your stomach a break and let the swelling go down. Give your surgeon a call and see what he/she has to say. Good Luck to you. The Diva

You went from 324 to 206??!!! Wow! That is awesome. I can’t wait to see 206!! That post just inspired and encouraged me. I really needed to see that. Keep up the great work.

I do get on the scale - every morning – I can’t help myself. But you are correct - those NSV's are the best. They are what really tell the story! Needing smaller sized clothing, fitting comfortably in a charge or airplane seat…. You can’t beat that!

Some bands are tighter in the morning. I can eat much better in the evening than I can in the morning. Even if you get some taken out you may still be tighter in the morning. I think it has something to do with the fluid draining from the port tube into the band while you’re lying down. That would make the band tighter. Then, after you’re up and about, the extra fluid drains back into the tube (or at least that an explanation that I’ve heard before). If you are a week out and all you can get down are small amounts of mushies then you may need to have a little taken out. But really, only you and your doctor can answer that for you. The Diva

@ pacthelton, I have not attended any support meetings because I live 2.5 hours away from Dr. Singh. However, I may come down for a 100 lb pin. If I do I will send you a message, I would love to meet someone who was banded right after me! @ caramia 71, I’m sorry to read about you having problems. I know that can be scary and frustrating. But just the fact that you have a surgeon who really cares about your well being is such a BLESSING. I tell anyone who says they are thinking about the surgery about Dr. Singh. He is wonderful and so worth the five hours I spend driving back and forth to get to and from his office. A drive I’ll be making soon (I just got a postcard informing me that I am due for a checkup). I’m ok with that – I really meant it when I named this thread I’m Lovin This Practice. @bjackson – CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Being banded is a wonderful thing especially if you make it to Onderland (or so I’ve heard). I am desperately trying to get to Onderland myself. I’ve got 36 lbs to make make 199. Have a wonderful journey – don’t rush it. Listen to Dr. Singh – as you know – he really knows what he’s talking about!

Your baby is not fat. She is gorgeous. My baby was chunky and cheeky when was that age in fact, most babies that I know are - especially the breast fed ones and mine was defintely breast fed! You know they could be looking because they are envious. You can run around with your baby, you engage your baby, and you've got your own style. Before my surgery, I couldn't get around well at all. I used to stare at moms who could join their children in play and wish it was me. Just Friday my baby's choir was tie dying t-shirts. I was the only mom who couldn't get on the floor - I sat in a chair and helped. Did I look and wish I could get on the floor? Yep I sure did. So when youa re getting those stares, remember you are out there enjoying life and they are sitting on the sidelines watch YOU!

I know how you feel. What’s really horrible is that children will tease other children because of what their parents look like. My baby, who is now seven used to come home telling me that her classmates would tell her that “her mommy has a big butt” or that “her mommy is fat.” It broke my heart to know that my daughter was suffering on the playground and in the classroom because of my weight issues. I didn’t want her to grow up ashamed of me. I’m big on attending her functions, games, and practices. I did not want the day to come when she either asked me not to come; avoided me; or pretended she didn’t know me when I showed up at her school. Of course at age five (when this started) to seven; she still thinks mommy is the bee’s knees. I knew that could change by the time she turned ten and I did not want that at all. My baby is thin and very athletic, but so was I when I was her age. Teaching her a healthy lifestyle is so important to me. Here’s to us chubby mommies that are working on getting it together not just for ourselves but for our beautiful babies.

Being able to fit into smaller clothing is not a small victory. That's huge! That means that your weight loss journey is successful. I get so excited when I go down a size. Of course it means having to get new clothes or alter the ones I already have, but aside from the cost involved I really look forward to dropping sizes. When I started my journey I was wearing a size 32. This week I wore a pair of size 22 pants to work that were way too big. I would have jumped for joy, but they may have fallen off (okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration - but you get what I'm saying right?). The Diva

I can’t speak for anyone else, but eating (or rather – not eating) was not a problem for me the first week after surgery. I would get full from less than a half cup of broth. My problem was the burp that came after. I had the loudest most embarrassing burp imaginable. I have a 14cc band. My surgeon put about 2cc’s in the band the day of surgery so I had slight restriction from day 1. Week three (the mushies) was much harder for me than weeks one and two. I guess my appetite kicked in when I started chewing. I used a Magic Bullet to mush up everything from veggies to fried chicken – yeah I said it… I put wing dings (minus the bones) and chicken broth in my magic bullet. Trust me; I tried to eat it all but I could not. I did get permission from my nutritionist to go from doggone near “strainable” mushies to mushies I could chew. You will do fine on your liquid stage… That’s my prediction and I’m sticking to it. This is not a promo, I promise, check out my blog. I was honest to a fault. Of course there are lots of really good blogs here on lbt. Reading them helped me so much; maybe it will help you too. Good Luck and be Blessed!!!!! The Diva

Well here I am. Back in the 230’s and would you know I am not happy? Heck I was 233 last June. I am 236-8 now. I’ve recently been as low as 234, but can’t seem to stay there. I am coming up on my two year bandiversary. I thought that by now I would be much smaller. I had major surgery last June and it took a lot out of me physically because my recovery was long, painful, and hard. I’m glad that I did it though. I am so much better off than I was before. I can move around and I don’t need any apparatus. When I sit down, I’m not spending all of my time trying to figure out how I can gracefully get back up out of the chair. So though that road was tough and I gained 33 pounds. I am better, stronger, and happier. I wish I was at least back to 233lbs, but I know I will get there. My bandiversary is March 24, 2010. I promise me that I will be in the 220’s by then. I don’t care if it’s just 229.5 – as long as that scale does not register anything above that. Of course if it says anything from 225 down, I’m gonna hafta buy myself a sundress! Of course that means I’d better start working a whole lot harder on getting rid of this arm flab; but everything comes with a cost. Fellow banders, I am back with a vengeance! I just checked out TMG333’s pictures – check her out – she looks fabulous! I want to post pictures that look like that. I can be obnoxiously competitive sometimes – but I have to give her props. She looks great. I wish that I looked that good after losing 100 lbs, but I was quite heavy when I started. At my heaviest I was about 340 – 350. I can hardly believe that myself, but it’s true. It’s time to post more pictures. I want to see for myself if I have made visible progress. I also want to have record of the 230’s because once I get into those 220’s it’s all downhill from there (not effort – just my numbers J). Two-hundred twenty something pounds – GET READY BABY because I am coming through. I don’t plan to stay for long, but I do plan on celebrating my being there! Wooo Hoooo for me!!!!!

Well here I am. Back in the 230’s and would you know I am not happy? Heck I was 233 last June. I am 236-8 now. I’ve recently been as low as 234, but can’t seem to stay there. I am coming up on my two year bandiversary. I thought that by now I would be much smaller. I had major surgery last June and it took a lot out of me physically because my recovery was long, painful, and hard. I’m glad that I did it though. I am so much better off than I was before. I can move around and I don’t need any apparatus. When I sit down, I’m not spending all of my time trying to figure out how I can gracefully get back up out of the chair. So though that road was tough and I gained 33 pounds. I am better, stronger, and happier. I wish I was at least back to 233lbs, but I know I will get there. My bandiversary is March 24, 2010. I promise me that I will be in the 220’s by then. I don’t care if it’s just 229.5 – as long as that scale does not register anything above that. Of course if it says anything from 225 down, I’m gonna hafta buy myself a sundress! Of course that means I’d better start working a whole lot harder on getting rid of this arm flab; but everything comes with a cost. Fellow banders, I am back with a vengeance! I just checked out TMG333’s pictures – check her out – she looks fabulous! I want to post pictures that look like that. I can be obnoxiously competitive sometimes – but I have to give her props. She looks great. I wish that I looked that good after losing 100 lbs, but I was quite heavy when I started. At my heaviest I was about 340 – 350. I can hardly believe that myself, but it’s true. It’s time to post more pictures. I want to see for myself if I have made visible progress. I also want to have record of the 230’s because once I get into those 220’s it’s all downhill from there (not effort – just my numbers J). Two-hundred twenty something pounds – GET READY BABY because I am coming through. I don’t plan to stay for long, but I do plan on celebrating my being there! Wooo Hoooo for me!!!!!