cherieinnv

I started that detailed journal (previous blog entries) weeks ago. Things have changed a lot. I have a surgery date: June 27th. Yahoo! But the weirdest thing happened, as soon as I got the date, I was nervous as hell. But that, too, has passed. I have met Mary, and am happy to have a "band buddy." She has her surgery next Thursday and it is nice to be able to reassure someone else! She is kind enough to have offered to drive me to the hospital and stay with my daughter, who wants to come with, then drive my daughter home. My daughter is almost ready to drive but isn't licensed yet, so this is a blessing. Another change is that I started swimming again at the local rec center. In just the two years that I stopped swimming because I had such awful psoriasis, my body strength has dropped, especially my leg strength. So, besides swimming an easy side stroke and back stroke, I use a kickboard and do 2 or 3 laps justing kicking my feet. I barely move! I also feel like a giant goober. My swimsuit is old and stretched out but I refuse to buy anything new until after banding and going down one size. When I am not on this website, I "fantasy shop" at sites like Victorias Secret, which has surprisingly cute clothes. I told Mary I am a complete fashion victim with no clothes sense. She has said she will help me shop. I also watch What Not to Wear to try to determine some basic clothes rules. I am tall and have really long arms and legs so have always done better buying men's clothes, which are too big in the shoulders. I've always been to fat for the Tall womens clothes, and they are often too expensive. I am not going to detail my food, like I did at first. I have found that this is a very emotional journey and I need a place to vent those emotions. I also want to share anything I discover along the way, like this morning, I decided to open up the two medications I take daily and see if I could mix them with applesauce. I opened both capsules into a small bowl, mixed in one small spoonful of organic applesauce, mixed well, spooned it into one spoonful, held nose and swallowed. It worked! No horrible taste, no gagging. It worked so well, I decided to try it with my vitamins. I take Andrew Lessman vitamins because I think they are the best. His capsules pull apart and the ingredients are finely ground. So I opened the CoQ10, the Eye Support, and the MSM (for joints), mixed with applesauce, held nose, swallowed, and GAG, almost RETCH. Ewww! Sorry, Andrew. I love your vitamins, but these weren't even the pack of multis I take. I will be going to the bariatric site for liquid vitamins. I'll use chewables as a fallback, since I don't think chewables are absorbed well (dinosaur shapes do appeal to me, though). OK, I doubt I'll write this much every day, but things are spilling out. I keep slipping off the 1200-cal preop diet. Yesterday, in a BIG way. My daughter suggested lunch at the Tbird lounge, which has the world's best friend mushrooms. I crumpled like a paper bag under a semi's tires. I didn't eat the bread for my steak sandwich, and only a few fries and about a third of the mushrooms, but I was soooo angry at myself. I didn't eat dinner, and then ended up eating microwave popcorn. What a mess! Now it's Sunday, and I am still drinking coffee and haven't eaten (except for 2 spoonfuls of applesauce). Being diabetic, I have to eat, so I'll go make my protein shake now. I know, don't beat myself up...I guess this is why I am getting banded.

I started that detailed journal (previous blog entries) weeks ago. Things have changed a lot. I have a surgery date: June 27th. Yahoo! But the weirdest thing happened, as soon as I got the date, I was nervous as hell. But that, too, has passed. I have met Mary, and am happy to have a "band buddy." She has her surgery next Thursday and it is nice to be able to reassure someone else! She is kind enough to have offered to drive me to the hospital and stay with my daughter, who wants to come with, then drive my daughter home. My daughter is almost ready to drive but isn't licensed yet, so this is a blessing. Another change is that I started swimming again at the local rec center. In just the two years that I stopped swimming because I had such awful psoriasis, my body strength has dropped, especially my leg strength. So, besides swimming an easy side stroke and back stroke, I use a kickboard and do 2 or 3 laps justing kicking my feet. I barely move! I also feel like a giant goober. My swimsuit is old and stretched out but I refuse to buy anything new until after banding and going down one size. When I am not on this website, I "fantasy shop" at sites like Victorias Secret, which has surprisingly cute clothes. I told Mary I am a complete fashion victim with no clothes sense. She has said she will help me shop. I also watch What Not to Wear to try to determine some basic clothes rules. I am tall and have really long arms and legs so have always done better buying men's clothes, which are too big in the shoulders. I've always been to fat for the Tall womens clothes, and they are often too expensive. I am not going to detail my food, like I did at first. I have found that this is a very emotional journey and I need a place to vent those emotions. I also want to share anything I discover along the way, like this morning, I decided to open up the two medications I take daily and see if I could mix them with applesauce. I opened both capsules into a small bowl, mixed in one small spoonful of organic applesauce, mixed well, spooned it into one spoonful, held nose and swallowed. It worked! No horrible taste, no gagging. It worked so well, I decided to try it with my vitamins. I take Andrew Lessman vitamins because I think they are the best. His capsules pull apart and the ingredients are finely ground. So I opened the CoQ10, the Eye Support, and the MSM (for joints), mixed with applesauce, held nose, swallowed, and GAG, almost RETCH. Ewww! Sorry, Andrew. I love your vitamins, but these weren't even the pack of multis I take. I will be going to the bariatric site for liquid vitamins. I'll use chewables as a fallback, since I don't think chewables are absorbed well (dinosaur shapes do appeal to me, though). OK, I doubt I'll write this much every day, but things are spilling out. I keep slipping off the 1200-cal preop diet. Yesterday, in a BIG way. My daughter suggested lunch at the Tbird lounge, which has the world's best friend mushrooms. I crumpled like a paper bag under a semi's tires. I didn't eat the bread for my steak sandwich, and only a few fries and about a third of the mushrooms, but I was soooo angry at myself. I didn't eat dinner, and then ended up eating microwave popcorn. What a mess! Now it's Sunday, and I am still drinking coffee and haven't eaten (except for 2 spoonfuls of applesauce). Being diabetic, I have to eat, so I'll go make my protein shake now. I know, don't beat myself up...I guess this is why I am getting banded.

And the Band Plays on… DAY 1: Today isn’t really Day 1. It took me 2 years to decide to have gastric band (lap-band) surgery. I’m well into the process, too. I’ve attended Dr. Teng’s (surgeon) seminar, which was like a cattle call of the morbidly obese, plus some folks who looked just plump to me. I had my first consultation with the very pleasant and to-the-point doctor, who says I can get down to 165 (!!!!). I had a very intrusive but enlightening psychological profile. I’ve met with a very slim dietician, who says he thinks I’ll get into the 180-190 range and told me losing weight before the surgery reduces the size of your liver and makes the surgery easier. I have created a chronological diet history (a real walk down memory lane) and assembled all required medical proof of obesity for Aetna EXCEPT for 2004. (I have 2003, but not 04.) I need medical records for 5 years and in 2004 I was out of work and living on Ramen. A doctor’s visit was a luxury, with no insurance. But I recall a visit to my oby-gyn for anti-depressants, and I have requested my records in writing, since she has retired without passing on her records. So far, no reply. I’m trying not to stress since everything else is falling into place like dominos. If I don’t have the records this week, I may knock on the doctor’s door this Friday (yes, I have her address). Or perhaps a certified letter would be less obnoxious. I’ve learned to trust Dr. Teng’s staff for help when I think I’ve hit a roadblock, like the $2,000 deposit. They told me about getting a CareCredit Card (geonlineservice.com) for medical expenses. I was approved for $2,000, no problem (even without perfect credit) and I almost wish I’d asked for more. I’m not sure how much the hospital will be after insurance. A little history: Chubby kid who was fed a nutritious diet and had plenty of exercise. Can anyone say “Genetics played a role” in this body? I was introduced to diet pills in high school by my boyfriend’s doctor and starved to the 150-160 range. In college, pizza and a new awareness of the evils of amphetamines took me to 180-190. For my wedding day after graduation, I starved into a Size 14, the best I could do. I started overeating BEFORE the honeymoon started. We stopped for food AFTER the reception. I’m surprised the wedding dress didn’t burst! My husband was chunky, too. I yo-yo’d for 9 years and got way up into the 200s. I even did the binge/purge thing to try to stay at an acceptable weight. I worked out. I fought the good fight. Once, I went on an 800 calorie a day diet and worked out for an hour a day. I lost a ton of weight but then hurt myself at the gym and spent the next 3 months with my leg in a cast and Nacho pity parties at night. After my first divorce, I went on the Divorce Diet Diet Coke, coffee, alcohol) and looked pretty good. I met my second husband, fell in love, got married, ended up with two great kids and eventually, another divorce. I packed on plenty of weight before, during, and after the pregnancies, but the divorce diet and exercise took a lot of it off. Then my health started going to hell. Eventually, I was diabetic and 315 lbs. But there has to be a Day 1, so I am proclaiming this day as Numero Uno because I am following the dietician’s pre-op diet for the first time. Before I started this process, I lost 6 lbs and was up and down until settling at 298. Meeting the dietician made me throw a “Nobody can make me do this!” tantrum of eating for a few days. I realized last night that it was entirely up to me. So today, I’m following the diet. You may find some recipes in this blog. I make no claims at being a great cook. I do love to “invent” recipes, so I will be trying to create edible meals. I bought tiny bowls, a small food processor, and will use my children’s old baby spoons to eat. I am using Andrew Lessman’s Secure shakes (powder) because it’s in my cabinet. Once it’s gone, I’ll buy the ones recommended by Brandon, the dietician. I am checking off days on the diet sheet because I have 7 days until my appointment with Dr. Teng when all the paperwork is submitted to Aetna. Then, we see if I get approval or a fight. They supposedly approve this surgery. Food so far today: Brkfast: 8 oz choc soy milk 2 scoops protein powder 4 oz OJ 8 oz V8 1 cup coffee Lunch: 2 scoops protein powder in water Handful broccoli florets, ground up in food processor and microwaved with 2 oz shredded parmesan cheese, 1 tsp diet margarine, garlic powder. (not bad) Dinner: OK, dinner didn’t go so well. I was hungry at 3 pm so I ate a banana. At dinner, I had a cup of rice, a T diet margarine, an entire pork chop, and a large serving or asparagus. Any other night, that would be OK, but it’s more than twice what I was supposed to eat. This will be easier when I am banded and get full easily! I’m determined to do better tomorrow! Day 2 Today went better and I followed my diet except for two of the 100 cal snacks and some sunflower seeds at night. I find that the whole ordeal of shelling the seeds and chewing them to pulp keeps my mind off other treats. I am upset today about a couple of things but I can deal with them. I think another long, hot bath tonight and submerged (except face) meditation is in order. It felt good last night until the A/C came on with a whoosh and broke my focus. Food today: Breakfast: 8 oz soy mile and two scoops protein powder 1 small banana 4 oz berry Cheerios Snack: 100 cal Sun chips Lunch: Broccoli with lemon pepper 4 oz shrimp 2 scoops protein powder in water Snack: Coffee and 100 cal cookies Dinner: 3 oz turkey burger with mustard and onions (no bun) Green beans 2 oz frozen defrosted berries Snack: sunflower seeds I still haven’t received the medical records from 2004. I guess I need to send a registered letter but am a little short on cash. I’ll call Dr. Teng’s office tomorrow to get Tina’s advice. The weirdest thing happened recently. I met a guy for coffee from an on-line dating site. He sounded OK on the phone and I said I was heavyset. He was nice enough and intelligent but no chemistry for me. I think he liked me, though, which is awkward. I even told him about the upcoming (I hope) lapband surgery and he was very negative and full of misinformation that “a friend” had given him. I told him he was misinformed. Although we did meet later and walked our dogs in a nearby park (very public) and I enjoyed talking to him, I just don’t have time for someone right now who has to be convinced that this is the right decision for me. It took me 2 years of research and soul searching before I made this decision. I think I’d better hold off on dating until after the surgery. Then the deed is done. Of course, then if I meet someone I’ll always wonder if he would still like me as a fat woman… Day 3 I do not feel well today. I didn’t sleep well last night and today I feel like my blood sugar is all over the place. I ate the same breakfast as yesterday but felt really light-headed at 9:30, so I ate another 2 oz of cheerios. I was starving at noon and had half a turkey bacon sandwich and skipped the shake. Now I feel dizzy … like I ate at a buffet. I may go lie down for a bit. Met a possible “band buddy” on-line last night. Her name is Mary and she is a retired nurse. She sounds close to the same stage in the process and I know I could use some moral support.

And the Band Plays on… DAY 1: Today isn’t really Day 1. It took me 2 years to decide to have gastric band (lap-band) surgery. I’m well into the process, too. I’ve attended Dr. Teng’s (surgeon) seminar, which was like a cattle call of the morbidly obese, plus some folks who looked just plump to me. I had my first consultation with the very pleasant and to-the-point doctor, who says I can get down to 165 (!!!!). I had a very intrusive but enlightening psychological profile. I’ve met with a very slim dietician, who says he thinks I’ll get into the 180-190 range and told me losing weight before the surgery reduces the size of your liver and makes the surgery easier. I have created a chronological diet history (a real walk down memory lane) and assembled all required medical proof of obesity for Aetna EXCEPT for 2004. (I have 2003, but not 04.) I need medical records for 5 years and in 2004 I was out of work and living on Ramen. A doctor’s visit was a luxury, with no insurance. But I recall a visit to my oby-gyn for anti-depressants, and I have requested my records in writing, since she has retired without passing on her records. So far, no reply. I’m trying not to stress since everything else is falling into place like dominos. If I don’t have the records this week, I may knock on the doctor’s door this Friday (yes, I have her address). Or perhaps a certified letter would be less obnoxious. I’ve learned to trust Dr. Teng’s staff for help when I think I’ve hit a roadblock, like the $2,000 deposit. They told me about getting a CareCredit Card (geonlineservice.com) for medical expenses. I was approved for $2,000, no problem (even without perfect credit) and I almost wish I’d asked for more. I’m not sure how much the hospital will be after insurance. A little history: Chubby kid who was fed a nutritious diet and had plenty of exercise. Can anyone say “Genetics played a role” in this body? I was introduced to diet pills in high school by my boyfriend’s doctor and starved to the 150-160 range. In college, pizza and a new awareness of the evils of amphetamines took me to 180-190. For my wedding day after graduation, I starved into a Size 14, the best I could do. I started overeating BEFORE the honeymoon started. We stopped for food AFTER the reception. I’m surprised the wedding dress didn’t burst! My husband was chunky, too. I yo-yo’d for 9 years and got way up into the 200s. I even did the binge/purge thing to try to stay at an acceptable weight. I worked out. I fought the good fight. Once, I went on an 800 calorie a day diet and worked out for an hour a day. I lost a ton of weight but then hurt myself at the gym and spent the next 3 months with my leg in a cast and Nacho pity parties at night. After my first divorce, I went on the Divorce Diet Diet Coke, coffee, alcohol) and looked pretty good. I met my second husband, fell in love, got married, ended up with two great kids and eventually, another divorce. I packed on plenty of weight before, during, and after the pregnancies, but the divorce diet and exercise took a lot of it off. Then my health started going to hell. Eventually, I was diabetic and 315 lbs. But there has to be a Day 1, so I am proclaiming this day as Numero Uno because I am following the dietician’s pre-op diet for the first time. Before I started this process, I lost 6 lbs and was up and down until settling at 298. Meeting the dietician made me throw a “Nobody can make me do this!” tantrum of eating for a few days. I realized last night that it was entirely up to me. So today, I’m following the diet. You may find some recipes in this blog. I make no claims at being a great cook. I do love to “invent” recipes, so I will be trying to create edible meals. I bought tiny bowls, a small food processor, and will use my children’s old baby spoons to eat. I am using Andrew Lessman’s Secure shakes (powder) because it’s in my cabinet. Once it’s gone, I’ll buy the ones recommended by Brandon, the dietician. I am checking off days on the diet sheet because I have 7 days until my appointment with Dr. Teng when all the paperwork is submitted to Aetna. Then, we see if I get approval or a fight. They supposedly approve this surgery. Food so far today: Brkfast: 8 oz choc soy milk 2 scoops protein powder 4 oz OJ 8 oz V8 1 cup coffee Lunch: 2 scoops protein powder in water Handful broccoli florets, ground up in food processor and microwaved with 2 oz shredded parmesan cheese, 1 tsp diet margarine, garlic powder. (not bad) Dinner: OK, dinner didn’t go so well. I was hungry at 3 pm so I ate a banana. At dinner, I had a cup of rice, a T diet margarine, an entire pork chop, and a large serving or asparagus. Any other night, that would be OK, but it’s more than twice what I was supposed to eat. This will be easier when I am banded and get full easily! I’m determined to do better tomorrow! Day 2 Today went better and I followed my diet except for two of the 100 cal snacks and some sunflower seeds at night. I find that the whole ordeal of shelling the seeds and chewing them to pulp keeps my mind off other treats. I am upset today about a couple of things but I can deal with them. I think another long, hot bath tonight and submerged (except face) meditation is in order. It felt good last night until the A/C came on with a whoosh and broke my focus. Food today: Breakfast: 8 oz soy mile and two scoops protein powder 1 small banana 4 oz berry Cheerios Snack: 100 cal Sun chips Lunch: Broccoli with lemon pepper 4 oz shrimp 2 scoops protein powder in water Snack: Coffee and 100 cal cookies Dinner: 3 oz turkey burger with mustard and onions (no bun) Green beans 2 oz frozen defrosted berries Snack: sunflower seeds I still haven’t received the medical records from 2004. I guess I need to send a registered letter but am a little short on cash. I’ll call Dr. Teng’s office tomorrow to get Tina’s advice. The weirdest thing happened recently. I met a guy for coffee from an on-line dating site. He sounded OK on the phone and I said I was heavyset. He was nice enough and intelligent but no chemistry for me. I think he liked me, though, which is awkward. I even told him about the upcoming (I hope) lapband surgery and he was very negative and full of misinformation that “a friend” had given him. I told him he was misinformed. Although we did meet later and walked our dogs in a nearby park (very public) and I enjoyed talking to him, I just don’t have time for someone right now who has to be convinced that this is the right decision for me. It took me 2 years of research and soul searching before I made this decision. I think I’d better hold off on dating until after the surgery. Then the deed is done. Of course, then if I meet someone I’ll always wonder if he would still like me as a fat woman… Day 3 I do not feel well today. I didn’t sleep well last night and today I feel like my blood sugar is all over the place. I ate the same breakfast as yesterday but felt really light-headed at 9:30, so I ate another 2 oz of cheerios. I was starving at noon and had half a turkey bacon sandwich and skipped the shake. Now I feel dizzy … like I ate at a buffet. I may go lie down for a bit. Met a possible “band buddy” on-line last night. Her name is Mary and she is a retired nurse. She sounds close to the same stage in the process and I know I could use some moral support.

Hi! My name is Sharon and I live in Henderson. I am getting banded on the 27th of this month. Mary (Cadet) and I met yesterday at the Coffee Bean in the District (215 and Green Valley Parkway). Mary recommended it and it is lovely there. Would you all like to form an informal social support group that meets there once a week (or once a month)? Early Sunday mornings or late Sunday afternoons work for me. Anyone interested?

That's great! Congrats and welcome!

I'm scheduled for June 27!

That's wonderful! Congrats to you and your family. I get banded at the end of this month and hope my weight loss helps my children, who are both overweight.

That is wonderful (your weight loss). I am 50 and getting banded in a month. If I do as well as you, I'll be thrilled!

I have heard too many success stories to doubt that I will get results. I just need to follow the "rules" and the weight will come off. I am a little sceptical that I will reach the weight my surgeon says is possible (165) but anything under 200 is fine by me!! You will be a success story too, if you do everything they tell you to do, especially some exercise!

I have a month and 2 days to go and I am both excited and nervous. Tomorrow I am going to make a grocery list of anything I need for the 2 weeks after surgery. I have done my blood work and my upper GI and I'm on a 1200 calorie preop diet. I've found that it helps me to mark on the calendar when I've eaten the correct breakfast lunch and dinner. Today I get to add a smiley face for exercise. I have a feeling that the days when I have 3 checkmarks and a smiley are the days that will get me thinner!! Thanks for starting this conversation. I am grateful for the support.

14 lbs on pre-op diet but am now approved and have date--June 27--and am getting serious! Look out!

I am being banded in a month and am trying to follow a 1200 calorie preop diet. I actually like chocolate soy milk with chocolate protein powder. Once I am banded, I plan to get therapy to address my need for food. I have lost weight before, only to find that I struggle with the feeling of deprivation, also of the new self image. I'm trying to find hobbies that are an outlet for my impulses. Right now, I'm painting Tshirts every night after work!!

Hi! I have Aetna and there are many plans within Aetna. My plan allows a 3-month supervised diet within the last 2 years and then a 3-month followup diet. I had 4 months of doctor visits last year and then did 4 months this year. They denied me at first but my surgeon's office went over my history with the reviewing nurse. They approved me and I'm scheduled for surgery June 27th! I'm excited but plan to see my PCP next week and then in June before the surgery so I have 6 months, just in case. Hang in there!

My surgeon, who is very knowledgeable about insurance, says the Aetna requirement for a 6-month supervised diet can be satisfied if you have been on a 3-month medically supervised diet (3 consecutive months) with the past two years, and 3 months "followup" months. So after 3 months, I am submitting to Aetna this week, because my PCP put me on a diet over a year ago and I saw him for 4 consecutive months. I also had to see the psychologist and a dietician, and come up with the 5-year history, which took some legwork to come up with one of the years. I had a "missing" year and a retired doctor for that year and I had to track the doctor down to find my records. She is meeting me tomorrow to give me a notarized statement for that year. Let's hope that works!

Plateaus are a natural thing. Your body always tries to find balance. You have lost 50 lbs!!!! that's fabulous, but your body is a little confused. It might be time to up your exercise to something more intense (but not enough to hurt yourself). How about pool aerobics? Keep going and convince your body you are serious, and it will start dropping weight again soon!

I think it's normal for any sane person to be nervous about making a major lifestyle change. I have not been banded yet and took 2 years making the decision. After a lot of reflection, I realized that being fat all my life is a big part of my identity. I also tried every diet and succeeded, only to fail eventually because I went crazy with hunger. I have talked to several people who have been banded and they have never had a problem with "sliming, PBing, etc." so I am not too worried. You are doing a great thing to improve your health and become the beautiful person you truly are. You can do this and we are all here to help you. Best of luck!!

I have confidence in Dr. Teng and in Tina, the coordinator. I won't be going to the next support group meeting because the last one was a sales pitch from a plastic surgeon. I'm also working from home right now and don't want to drive to the west side (my office is in the Lakes). I have completed 99% of my insurance requirements ad have one more appt. with Dr Teng next Tuesday, when we will submit for approval. Must go to bed now. Pls stay in touch!

My name is Sharon and I'm hoping to have band surgery in the next few months. If I can get one last piece of paperwork by next Tuesday when I meet with the surgeon, it'll go to Aetna for approval. I frantically dieting to try to show my "commitment" and hope it goes well. I am diabetic and have arthritis in my joints, so hopefully that and 100 lbs overweight will buy me a lap-band. I'd love to find a lap-band buddy (male or female) in the Henderson area to give moral support and maybe walks. Anyone out there? :redface:

Hi Mary! Dr. Teng is my surgeon. How about you? I love Anthem, by the way. I hope to buy a home there one of these days. Sharon

Congrats! I hope Aetna is that speedy.