ericsmom

Hi everyone! Ooooh, Kari! What a great NSV! I've noticed the lbs dropping since I can finally exercise since getting my new knees. I'm doing awesome...walking better than I ever have with no aides. It's amazing the little things I can do that I couldn't before. And I don't ache!! I am wearing 1X capri's this summer That's a 14/16. I was at 234 the other day (down 107), but after my TOM gets over in a couple days, I'll weigh again. I want to be in the 220's, even if it's 220, by Aug. 27th when I have to go back to work. I only have 4.5 weeks of my summer vacation left. Sherri Jo - you have NOT lost ONLY 80lbs! You are doing GREAT! Keep it up! That's nothing to sneeze at for a year total Everyone - keep up the good work! I'm off to bed Oh - Leona - YOU GO GIRL!!

DonnaMarie - so good to hear from you! You're doing great Congrats on tying the knot, too :eek: I am happy for you that you have such a supportive husband. Keep up the great work! Mary, hang in there with your mom...she's lucky to have you there with her. Sorry to hear she's having so much pain issues. I had the greatest NSV ever today - I was in the waiting room to be called in to see my lap band PA, and the girl that called me in opened the door and saw me sitting there and said "OMG look at you!" super loud in the waiting room. It was so cool! Then I walked through the door and all the nurses and my PA were standing behind the desk right inside the door and they just looked at me and their mouths opened and no one said anything, so I went "ta-da!" They all were laughing. My PA said I'm doing "phenomenal" about 6 times and said I am ahead of schedule and losing more like a gastric patient. He said he was very proud of me. That made me feel so good. Just wanted to share Oh - I'm down 107!!!

Serena - my scars aren't any smaller because it was called minimally invasive...they are a good 6" long. Minimally invasive means they spared the quad muscles and went around them. Typically they cut through the quad muscles and that trauma to the muscles is the major thing that you are recovering from during the long, painful rehabilitation. Because they spared those muscles I am doing really good. Minimally invasive is also about pain management. I had an epidural for 2.5 days after the surgery to manage the pain to both extremeties while I attempted to get up and move. As for which surgery you should have first, I wouldn't begin to know. I'm sure your doctor will help you figure that out While I don't doubt that you did extremely well, I am really surprised that you were bending 117 degrees when you ENTERED rehab...I am at 108 degrees on both knees 3 weeks post op and they tell me that is practially unheard of...so congrats to you for doing exceptionally well! Yes, I did the recommended exercises for my quad muscles prior to surgery, but as I said in my above reply, with minimally invasive surgery they spared cutting the quad muscles and that has aided in my progressing quickly in my rehabilitation. I will see my surgeon tomorrow and then I'll find out how well he thinks I'm doing. My physical therapist and I am amazed how well I'm doing, so hopefully he will be, too!

K - Congratulations on scheduling your surgery! You're on the road to a new life and it sounds like you're ready to go after it with guns a blazin'!! It's key to have a positive attitude and a strong support system. Your friends will be key in your journey. Keep them close when you need them and ask for space when you need it, too. I hope you find a group of bandsters around your age here for more support, but the older gang is going to be helpful, too Best of luck to you!

Brandi - best of luck to you as you embark on your journey to bandland!

I kind of thought the same thing...the doctor said she was a prime candidate and that she didn't have any other problems or sleep apnea. I don't know about you, but the more co-morbidities I had going for me the more I became a prime candidate. I, too, am wishing to be in the 220's. Fortunately it's only 6 lbs away to the high 220's I couldn't believe how he, who was bigger than her, was so against her having the surger because he didn't want a "bone" for a girlfriend. Maybe she got smart and realized he would hold her back. Maybe he got smart and realized that the band could help him, too. Definitely a situation heading for sabotage.

Hi Jennifer - welcome to LBT...anything and everything you need or want to know you'll find here. By the time you have your surgery you'll be very educated. Good luck to you!

Congratualtions, Beth! So happy for you, your daughter and your family! That's such great news... I am doing good...exercise is still my number one daily priority as I continue to rehabilitate from my knee surgeries. I ride my recumbant bike 10 minutes at a time, 3 times a day. Plus, I do my exercises I have been shown to do laying on my bed and from the side of my bed. I have lost a few more pounds as well. The scale is starting to move now that I can do some exercising. Something I was never really able to do before. I am 235 now...the lowest I've been. At 231 I will have lost 110 lbs. It's coming slowly but surely. I have physical therapy tomorrow morning and then I have to have X-rays taken before seeing my knee surgeon. I am still not allowed to drive because of my medications, and I have lessened the amount I take considerably, so I am hoping he'll release me to start driving again soon. Hope everyone is having a good day.

Well, I'm almost a month out from surgery and things are going very well...Having both knees totally replaced is almost unheard of where I live, so I was a bit of an odity at the hospital and rehabilitation. I am rehabing ahead of schedule right now. It's amazing how much better I feel. Yes, there is achiness from the surgical healing, but the fact that the arthritis pain from the actual joints is totally gone is indescribable. I just had my one year bandiversary and I lost 102.6 lbs and this knee replacement wouldn't have been possible without having the lap band first. Time to go ride my recumbant bike!!

Me on July 21, 2006 - two weeks post op (Surgery was 7/5/06 and I was busting out of 4X pants and tops) and today wearing 1X pants and top

My surgeon likes to keep you over one night and I was very thankful for that. I stayed in the PACU and was tended to by very caring nurses and the long night was made a little better by the morphine they offered me!! The other surgeon in the same hospital that does this surgery sends people home the same night if they "seem" okay to go home. I am glad I stayed. I was home by 10am the next day.

Yes, I am so glad I lost the 100 before the surgery. I saw him three years ago and he said lose the weight or I won't do it. My employer then wouldn't change their insurance to help me, so I got a new job. Turned out it was my calling...My range of motion on my right is 110 degrees and my left is 105 degrees. The goal is 110 - 115 for each. The right was the one that was behind by almost 30 degrees in the hospital (the right one was much more damaged and so the surgery took longer and was harder), so I'm surprised it's taken the lead now. I go to PT two times a week, do exercises faithfully here at home (it's my full-time job while I'm off for the summer) and ride my recumbant bike. Edie - yes, I know you are paying me a compliment. You've made me cry with your kind words...I see pictures of me in my late teens and early 20's and wonder where that person went. I am slowly seeing her emerge - as a 40-yr-old, of course . I have lived here in Superior, WI for 19.5 years and everyone I know has more or less known me as overweight, so they are seeing the transformation, but didn't know me before when I grew up in the Twin Cities. It's definitely an interesting journey. Thanks again for your kind words.

Thanks Kari! I have missed you all SO much! It's been a long haul, but with the support of family, friends, co-workers and LBT, I'm succeeding a little bit every day... You're doing great, too! Keep up the good work