wannabthinagain

I was concerned yesterday with how well i would be able to sleep. I have to say that it wasn't bad. i started out on my back but i hate sleeping on my back, so i tried my right side. it was a little scary trying to get there, because it hurt a bit, but once i was all the way on my side, i had no problems. I did have to switch to my other side early this morning. this morning i'm feeling pretty good. i can feel where my port is the most. it's really swollen there more than anywhere else. I had weighed myself yesterday before leaving for the hospital and again last night...i had GAINED 6 pounds! i guess it was from the surgery, being swollen, and the fluids they pumped in my before, during and after surgery because by this morning, i had lost those 6 again plus 1! when sitting, the only time i'm feeling anything is when i try taking really deep breaths. I was watching something that was sad, and started to cry, and THAT hurt..... all across my chest, both left and right sides. Getting up from sitting or sitting from standing has a bit of pain too. I keep getting up and walking around so the gas will pass. i also took Gas-X just incase. today, i can have water and a carnation instant breakfast drink.

It's DONE! i'm not hating life, i actually feel really good. good meds? maybe! LOL everything went well, he ended up finding a hernia on my esophpgus. He stitched it up. he asked hubby if i had reflux/heartburn/indigestion... i guess it would cause that. I'm home and other than when i take a really deep breath (left shoulder pain), when i go from sitting to standing or vise cersa, i'm feeling really good. i thought i would really be in pain and i'm not. not even close. i feel like i did way too many sit up (only at my port site). not bad...not bad at all!

It's DONE! i'm not hating life, i actually feel really good. good meds? maybe! LOL everything went well, he ended up finding a hernia on my esophpgus. He stitched it up. he asked hubby if i had reflux/heartburn/indigestion... i guess it would cause that. I'm home and other than when i take a really deep breath (left shoulder pain), when i go from sitting to standing or vise cersa, i'm feeling really good. i thought i would really be in pain and i'm not. not even close. i feel like i did way too many sit up (only at my port site). not bad...not bad at all!

My surgery was around 9, and i was outta there as soon as i could keep Water down, and not throwing up. I'm home and walking around for about 10 minutes every hour (if not more) to help the air go away. The pain isn't bad at all. I do have a very high pain tolerance. getting up, going from standing to sitting and taking really deep breaths are the only time i have any discomfort! hubby is going to go get my pain meds soon from the pharmacy though, so i don't let the pain GET bad. I was surprised that i wasn't nervous this morning. my BP was perfect, so it wasn't even making that go up! i keep dozing off, so i better go take a nap, or at least try to rest!

TODAY is THE day. I actually leave in about 20 minutes! make that 15! in 2 hours i should be taken back to the OR and by 8 they should start. yesterday i wondered, should i be doing this? last night, i took before pics. YES, i SHOULD be doing this, and i should have done it or SOMETHING about it SOONER! you can SEE the unhappiness in my face. i cannot even recognize the person in those pictures. I know by the end of the day i will be thinking, WHAT IN THE HELL DID I DO TO MYSELF??? but in a few weeks, i will be so happy to have done this and to be on my way to a healthy, happy ME!!! for now, let the freak out begin! AAAHHHHHHHHHH!

TODAY is THE day. I actually leave in about 20 minutes! make that 15! in 2 hours i should be taken back to the OR and by 8 they should start. yesterday i wondered, should i be doing this? last night, i took before pics. YES, i SHOULD be doing this, and i should have done it or SOMETHING about it SOONER! you can SEE the unhappiness in my face. i cannot even recognize the person in those pictures. I know by the end of the day i will be thinking, WHAT IN THE HELL DID I DO TO MYSELF??? but in a few weeks, i will be so happy to have done this and to be on my way to a healthy, happy ME!!! for now, let the freak out begin! AAAHHHHHHHHHH!

Well, tomorrow is the day! all my pre-op testing done, i'm pre-admitted and have to be at the hospital for 6:15 a.m. My littles are at my mom's until Friday (this is the first time away from my littlest man...i hope i can make it through this! LOL) I SHOULD be home tomorrow evening. wow...this is really gonna happen!! WOO HOO!!

Today i had my last appointment with Dr. Chung before the surgery. I was pretty calm. I thought i would be a nervous wreck. that will probably hit tomorrow. I hope it doesn't tonight. i want to be able to sleep! After my appointment, i went over to the hospital for Pre-op testing. Blood work, chest X-ray and EKG. They put my braclet on, i guess as a reminder of what i'm gonna be doing tomorrow! now, evertime my hand goes to my mouth, i'll have a reminder that i'm really gonna do this! REALLY. I'm GONNA! oh shit! The babies are at mom's now. i'm sure they will be fine. they'll miss us, i know, but they have GOT to know that it's ok to not have my scent (or dad's) 24/7. maybe this is the first step in the right direction...the one that ROSALIND starts taking time OUT for herself... to take care of HERSELF, to stop putting everyone else in front of HERSELF! I have to be at the hospital at 6:15. I am the 2nd band he will do tomorrow, so i should be in surgery by 8! that's LESS THAN 24 HOURS! YIKES! i need to do pics. i hate to even THINK about that, but i want to be able to see the difference because i know i won't see it by looking in the mirror. i'm sure i will be glad i did the before shots when i reach goal also! I have things to do....stuff to get together, things to clean.... so i better go. Tomorrow, March 3, 2009....the first day of the rest of my life. (my prediction says, i'm gonna HATE that first day! LOL)

Today i had my last appointment with Dr. Chung before the surgery. I was pretty calm. I thought i would be a nervous wreck. that will probably hit tomorrow. I hope it doesn't tonight. i want to be able to sleep! After my appointment, i went over to the hospital for Pre-op testing. Blood work, chest X-ray and EKG. They put my braclet on, i guess as a reminder of what i'm gonna be doing tomorrow! now, evertime my hand goes to my mouth, i'll have a reminder that i'm really gonna do this! REALLY. I'm GONNA! oh shit! The babies are at mom's now. i'm sure they will be fine. they'll miss us, i know, but they have GOT to know that it's ok to not have my scent (or dad's) 24/7. maybe this is the first step in the right direction...the one that ROSALIND starts taking time OUT for herself... to take care of HERSELF, to stop putting everyone else in front of HERSELF! I have to be at the hospital at 6:15. I am the 2nd band he will do tomorrow, so i should be in surgery by 8! that's LESS THAN 24 HOURS! YIKES! i need to do pics. i hate to even THINK about that, but i want to be able to see the difference because i know i won't see it by looking in the mirror. i'm sure i will be glad i did the before shots when i reach goal also! I have things to do....stuff to get together, things to clean.... so i better go. Tomorrow, March 3, 2009....the first day of the rest of my life. (my prediction says, i'm gonna HATE that first day! LOL)

I did my pre-op testing today, i'm sporting my beautiful admission braclet :thumbup:, and i have to be at the hospital for 6:15 in the morning! I'm the 2nd patient, surgery should start about 8! YIKES! It's really gonna happen!! i know there are other getting their bands tomorrow also... good luck to everyone else!!:thumbup: I'll update as soon as i can!

i found something called 'egg whites' in the grocery store yesterday. today, i added it to my liquid diet drink of carnation Breakfast and milk to get extra Protein and it tasted no different! it come in the little cartons like egg beaters and is found next to egg beaters in the fridge section. this will be a GREAT protein supplement for me!

Here is the start of a journey for the rest of my life! here's how it's gone so far.... Feb. 11- First meeting with Dr. Chung Feb. 18- APPROVED and got a surgery date!~ Feb. 25- 2nd appointment. got all my info to start liquid diet on 2-26. Went eat at Johnny Carino's for my 'last supper'. really was a stressfull dinner with the kids and the food was cold. Didn't stop me. I had Spicy Shrimp and chicken. February 26th. Today, it seems very easy. Five days from now? i don't know if i'll still say the same thing! HA! i went to Sam's and to Wally world to stock up and look for some of the things i will need before and after banding. so far today i have had 1 cup of carnation instant breakfast (chocolate) and water.....and it's 3 p.m.! yikes...that's not good! I took my BP meds 1 1/2 pills and 2 flintstone vite's! I have worked on clothes today also. i want to have the house all straightened, and hopefully really clean so i can come home to a clean house and the 'boys' can keep things up until we get someone in here to help. The babies will go to mom's Monday (3-2) and stay until Friday (3-6). Mom will bring them here and stay the night. I'm going to miss them so much, but i REALLY could use the break and this is a perfect time..... i can't do much, so i'll have to take care of ME while they are gone! I don't want to be fat anymore. is this a drastic approach? maybe, but it will make me happy with myself, and i NEED that right now. I need to feel good, look better, have more energy, be more healthy....and i need to teach my children that this is important! hubby is going to grill burgers tonight so i don't have to cook. I think while they eat, i will go take a LONG bath and relax. :cool2: this is gonna be me in 5 days! lol

Here is the start of a journey for the rest of my life! here's how it's gone so far.... Feb. 11- First meeting with Dr. Chung Feb. 18- APPROVED and got a surgery date!~ Feb. 25- 2nd appointment. got all my info to start liquid diet on 2-26. Went eat at Johnny Carino's for my 'last supper'. really was a stressfull dinner with the kids and the food was cold. Didn't stop me. I had Spicy Shrimp and chicken. February 26th. Today, it seems very easy. Five days from now? i don't know if i'll still say the same thing! HA! i went to Sam's and to Wally world to stock up and look for some of the things i will need before and after banding. so far today i have had 1 cup of carnation instant breakfast (chocolate) and water.....and it's 3 p.m.! yikes...that's not good! I took my BP meds 1 1/2 pills and 2 flintstone vite's! I have worked on clothes today also. i want to have the house all straightened, and hopefully really clean so i can come home to a clean house and the 'boys' can keep things up until we get someone in here to help. The babies will go to mom's Monday (3-2) and stay until Friday (3-6). Mom will bring them here and stay the night. I'm going to miss them so much, but i REALLY could use the break and this is a perfect time..... i can't do much, so i'll have to take care of ME while they are gone! I don't want to be fat anymore. is this a drastic approach? maybe, but it will make me happy with myself, and i NEED that right now. I need to feel good, look better, have more energy, be more healthy....and i need to teach my children that this is important! hubby is going to grill burgers tonight so i don't have to cook. I think while they eat, i will go take a LONG bath and relax. :cursing: this is gonna be me in 5 days! lol

any of you with BC/BS federal standard ever have problems with them paying for the surgery after saying it was approved? right now they are telling me i'm approved, it will be $300 for hospital, and 15% up to $5,000 (which it shouldn't be anywhere near that) then it's 100% covered. BUT...i know when they approved shots for my premature baby 2 years ago to have RSV shots that where CRAZY expensive, AFTER the 6 months/6 shots were given, BC/BS took the money BACK from the pharmacy the shots were from, and told US we owed them the money.....at the sum of $24,000!!! for SIX shots! we fought the charges, did the appeal, they still denied paying it, then we went throught the next step before they FINALLY decided to cover it! i have this little fear in my head of this happening...not enough to make me cancel my BAND date of 3/3/09 though! LOL it will be worth every penny if we ended up paying for it, but i was wondering if any of you had to fight to have it paid after getting a pre-certification approval? thanks!

we are trying to figure out my husband's schedule, along with care for our 2 little ones while i'm recovering. My Dr. told me i could pick up the baby, but not the 2 year old. To be safe, i would rather not have to pick up either until i'm sure i'm healed. (he weighs about 19-20 pounds) my question is, how long should i have help with the little ones? they will go to my mom's the first week, but i know i'll be crazy with them being gone that long (she lives 2 1/2 hours away and she can't stay here that long. she has other commitments too.) how long will i be tired or need medicine that would make it hard to care for them? should i prepare for help for a week? 2 weeks? more? would it be ok, as long as i had help at home with them? should i take an entire 2 weeks to rest and heal? my husband works rotating shifts and the week he is on midnights is the week the littles would be coming home. that leaves me to deal with them alone if they wake at night, and the entire time during the day while hubby sleeps. would that be too much for the 2nd week? i want to be prepared with what to expect... they could always come home early if i'm feeling fine. i just don't know how far out from surgery to have plans for their care. :eek:

Thanks to all the replies! i actually have FOUR boys, but the other 2 are much older (16 & 10) and can do for themselves. They can actually help with the things like lifting the little ones into their beds and the youngest into the highchair or even carseat if i can't pick them up after i'm given the ok to drive. i know after my 2 little ones (i had emergency sections for the last 2) i waaaay over did it and paid for it! I don't want to even chance it with this...i don't want ANYTHING to go wrong!! for my sections, i stopped pain meds in the hospital because they were making me so loopy and i couldn't even complete a sentance that made sense. i hated that feeling. Kristi, you are 3 weeks out and have lost 37 pounds? WOW!!! you are an inspiration! i pray i do that well! thanks for all the advice, i hope my recovery is quick and easy and i'm as successful as all of you!!

for those of you who get your protein from the foods you eat, could you list some for me. I want an idea of things that i can eat with high protein instead of relying on powders and supplements. I cannot have any artificial sugars. I cannot even have steva (sp?) or splenda. They all give me terrible migraines. I have gotten reccomendations of a protein bar and egg white supplement that seem both to be safe from the sugars i need to avoid, but i would rather stick to my food getting the protein i need... any suggestions?

I go to my appointment next week and i will discuss this with the Dr. also. i thought i would get ideas from people here also. I will have to go on a 5 day liquid diet (not sure exactly what that will be, i will find out at my appointment). from what i have read, most that have gone on a liguid diet have used a lot of sugar free products. I cannot have ANY artificial sugars, including splenda and stevia (sp?). it all gives me migraines. are there other things that i can have? would real fruit bars be ok? even low-fat/no fat yogurts that have no artificial sugar has a lot of sugar (32 or 33 per 8 oz for the kind i normally buy). i want to do well at the pre op (and of course the post op) diets but want to prepare myself ahead of time with choices. i don't want to have the same things all day long for who knows how many WEEKS. that will get old and Harder to make it through the liquid/mushy days! any ideas?! thanks!!

on the site for the egg whites, it looks like they are saying it's 26g of protien in a CUP. that seems like a lot of eggwhite to drink. it seems like a GREAT alternative to protien powders/drink/bars for me since almost everything for me will have artificial sugars or steva (sp?) or splenda (that's the other name i couldn't think of yesterday!

I'm 37, wife and mom (to 4 boys...ages 16, 10, 2, & 1). I haven't always been overweight, but haven't always been thin. until i had my first, i was very tiny. i'm 4'11" and was less than 100 pounds! (my entire family on my mom's side is little...my dad's side on the other hand, are mostly greatly overweight!) i was a yo-yo for quite a while. i could get down, but couldn't stay there. pregnancy did not help at all. I divorced after a 10 year marriage and the some weight came off without a struggle, but i could never manage to get to goal. i stayed that way for a while. remarried, had migraines so bad i was put on seizure meds and other various meds, only to gain about 30 pounds. hated them enough to stop them, I tried and wasn't very successful at geting the weight off! I got pregnant with baby number 3 and when that baby was 5 months old, i was pregnant again! that just added to the weight problem. I KNOW i'm done with our family, and i have unsuccessfully taken the weight off, only added to it! I want this so much. i know what it is like to run ( I LOVE to run), to workout (i am one of those nuts that actually enjoy it!) to play with my kids, to be social (because right now, i want to stay in my house and hide!)..... and i want that again. On March 3, 2009, I will begin my journey to be successful at my dream. I don't weight to be an issue with my children, i don't want them to think mom has self image issues, I want my family to learn to be healthy. I want to be happy, because if i'm happy, my family is happy, my marriage is happy.... and i feel like this is the first step to taking care of me! (because as a wife and mom, i take care of everyone else and it's time for me to take care of ME first so i can take BETTER care of them!) whew... felt like a therapy session there! I hope i can find someone, or several people who are happy with thier decision to do WLS, are successful (or at least trying thier best), to help me through the struggles AND the good times! support is needed to make it through this, making friends and getting/giving encouragment is a bonus!!!

does anyone know of a protein powder/shake/whatever... that does not have ANY aritificial sweetners. I cannot even use Stevia...i think there is another one too that is derived from sugar. I cannot think of the name right now. I get migraines from any of these types of sugars, and don't want to waste my money on them. TIA,

I just got the call this morning that i my insurance was approved and I have a surgery date of 3/3!! I cannot wait to start this journey!!!

:blushing: my Dr.'s office called and said my ins was approved and they have an opening for MARCH 3rd! if i don't take that one, they have late in the month available. i want to start this journey asap so i told them to put me down for the 3rd! YIKES! i'm getting so nervous now...but am so excited to be on my way to being healthy and thin again. i have to go in Next Wednsday for my appointment to get all the info about the liquid diet and schedule everything else for the pretest (which will be the day before surgery). *breathe* i am so excited! anyone else for March 3rd?

we have BCBS Federal employee, so i don't know if that will make a difference, but I went for my consult last week on WEd. and i just got a call from the Dr. office letting me know i was approved (i had a lower than 40 BMI too) and to let me know what dates they have open for surgery! THAT was QUICK!! i hope you don't have problems and they approve you quick!