viking_girl

I was banded today, it went well but took forever coming out of anesthesia, so the stupid damn nurses just forced me into it and practically shoved me out the door -- didn't bother to make sure I could hold down liquids. The bad news....my mom took my daughter to the doctor for me after spending the whole morning getting me to surgery and back. My little one has swine flu. My doc knew I was having surgery so he didn't want her home with me, so my mom has her. So my little one is really sick and she wants her mama and she is so so sad. I am incredibly sore right now and stressed to the max.

THANK YOU!!!!! Eight more hours, and here I sit at the computer writing one last story for the newspaper..... thank goodness I have time off to catch up on my sleep!!! It will be tricky tomorrow -- one of my daughters came home from her dad's with high fever, cough, stuffy nose, headache etc. Oldest daughter is staying home from school to car for the little one and we are still working out the details to figure out just how we can get her to the doctor tomorrow.

I went to see my surgeon on Wednesday, and Monday a.m. is the big day. I have to be at the surgical center at 7 in the morning, and it is just over an hour's drive without rush-hour traffic, so I will have to be up around 4:30 in the morning or so. It will be a long day! I keep thinking of all the things that need to be done between now and then, so I haven't had time to worry a lot yet. I still have quite a bit of work to do so that my co-workers can complete my portion of the newspaper for me, need to do some laundry, and make a meal for my kids that my oldest daughter can just pop in the oven Monday evening. Oh yeah, and I need to try the ticker thing again! I have had my gall bladder removed and that was a breeze, so I have high hopes for this one -- praying there are no complications with the band though -- as a single mom, I don't have time to deal with wierd stuff! So, if all goes well, I will update Monday night/Tuesday morning. :thumbup:

I went to see my surgeon on Wednesday, and Monday a.m. is the big day. I have to be at the surgical center at 7 in the morning, and it is just over an hour's drive without rush-hour traffic, so I will have to be up around 4:30 in the morning or so. It will be a long day! I keep thinking of all the things that need to be done between now and then, so I haven't had time to worry a lot yet. I still have quite a bit of work to do so that my co-workers can complete my portion of the newspaper for me, need to do some laundry, and make a meal for my kids that my oldest daughter can just pop in the oven Monday evening. Oh yeah, and I need to try the ticker thing again! I have had my gall bladder removed and that was a breeze, so I have high hopes for this one -- praying there are no complications with the band though -- as a single mom, I don't have time to deal with wierd stuff! So, if all goes well, I will update Monday night/Tuesday morning.

I am right here in Utah, I will get my band a week from tomorrow. I have yahoo on nearly all day -- and I have unlimited long distance, if it helps to to have a phone call, it can be done. Let me know!

I accomplished something this week and didnt even notice, until just tonight. Normally when I get uber hungery I get sick to my stomach, and them I get the dry heaves. Well, I am adjusting and getting used to the lower calories. Tonight I had my snack bar later than normal and started to heave, and it was only then that I realized it hasnt happened for a couple days!! Hey, you have to look for the positives whereever you can find them, right??

I accomplished something this week and didnt even notice, until just tonight. Normally when I get uber hungery I get sick to my stomach, and them I get the dry heaves. Well, I am adjusting and getting used to the lower calories. Tonight I had my snack bar later than normal and started to heave, and it was only then that I realized it hasnt happened for a couple days!! Hey, you have to look for the positives whereever you can find them, right??

<<<Originally Posted by Guy Are any of you guys doing any pre-op dieting? >>> My surgery date is October 5. I started my pre-op on MOnday, and so far it hasnt been as bad as I expected. I get a protein shake for breakfast, 2 protein bars for snacks, and frozen meals in the 200-400 cal range for lunch and dinner. I made a point to schedule everything so that I am eating every three hours to keep my blood sugar as level as possible. I thought it would be awful, but it hasn't been so bad, although I am starting to crave "real" food. I have some talapia at home and a 4 oz. piece is only 100 cal. so I think tonight I am going to treat myself to a piece of grilled fish and some vegies -- still in bounds of nutrition requirements, just not out of a box, yeah!

and I am trying desperately not to cave. I got busy this afternoon, and forgot about my lunch. When I remembered, it was too late....time to run around and gather up kids so I can spend one hour with them before I go back to work for a meeting. RIght now, I feel like HELL because it is 6 p.m. and I am starving. I was supposed to eat at 2, snack at 5. DInner at 8. BUt I will be in that meeting until 9-10. So the whole idea of trying to maintain an even blood sugar is shot today.... will try and inhale something here in a sec....but I feel like crap, I am stressed to the max, I have a headache and I have to go back to work. This would be the time when --in the old life -- I would have grabbed a diet coke and a cupcake or two and called it good. I am trying to do the right thing..... but did I tell you I feel like HELL???? Like I want to crawl in a cave. And I am trying so hard not to cheat on this diet. But it is a really long time til breakfast tomorrow.

and I am trying desperately not to cave. I got busy this afternoon, and forgot about my lunch. When I remembered, it was too late....time to run around and gather up kids so I can spend one hour with them before I go back to work for a meeting. RIght now, I feel like HELL because it is 6 p.m. and I am starving. I was supposed to eat at 2, snack at 5. DInner at 8. BUt I will be in that meeting until 9-10. So the whole idea of trying to maintain an even blood sugar is shot today.... will try and inhale something here in a sec....but I feel like crap, I am stressed to the max, I have a headache and I have to go back to work. This would be the time when --in the old life -- I would have grabbed a diet coke and a cupcake or two and called it good. I am trying to do the right thing..... but did I tell you I feel like HELL???? Like I want to crawl in a cave. And I am trying so hard not to cheat on this diet. But it is a really long time til breakfast tomorrow.

I am not far into it - it is almost 10 a.m. I was advised to practice the whole water thing - not drinking for two hours after. That is the hardest part -- I am thirsty more than hungry. This morning was so-so... I wasn't starving, just had the dry-heaves because I was so super hungry. I normally get that way when my sugar is low, except that my fasting blood sugar is not under control -- it was 165 this morning. We'll see how the day goes! ________________________ Yeah! I did it!!!! By lunchtime, I was so excited for any food at all that I could have licked the gravy from the plastic food tray. But you know -- at work and all -- it wouldn't be proper. By the time I got home, I had the dry heaves again. Ugh - it is hard to not eat when my kids eat, but I have scheduled my meals in 3 hour increments to keep my blood sugar as level as possible. Thank goodness for the 2 hr premiere of HOUSE -- that was a great diversion!! And Biggest Loser tomorrow night... that will keep me going for another day!

I am not far into it - it is almost 10 a.m. I was advised to practice the whole water thing - not drinking for two hours after. That is the hardest part -- I am thirsty more than hungry. This morning was so-so... I wasn't starving, just had the dry-heaves because I was so super hungry. I normally get that way when my sugar is low, except that my fasting blood sugar is not under control -- it was 165 this morning. We'll see how the day goes! ________________________ Yeah! I did it!!!! By lunchtime, I was so excited for any food at all that I could have licked the gravy from the plastic food tray. But you know -- at work and all -- it wouldn't be proper. By the time I got home, I had the dry heaves again. Ugh - it is hard to not eat when my kids eat, but I have scheduled my meals in 3 hour increments to keep my blood sugar as level as possible. Thank goodness for the 2 hr premiere of HOUSE -- that was a great diversion!! And Biggest Loser tomorrow night... that will keep me going for another day!

Hi Tanya, I am a single mom and I have four kids also, ages 6-16, so I know just what you mean when you say much to live for. For my own surgery, which is scheduled for Oct. 5, I actually opted for the Lap-band over bypass "because" of my kids. The surgery is easier, less complications, quicker recovery, it can be tailored to meet my specific needs with the fills, and it is completely reversible if something goes wrong. And, none of the issues of not absorbing nutrients like with the bypass. My kids need me to lose weight and be healthy in the long run, but I still have to take care of them in the short term. To go to Mexico or not? I guess that depends on where you are planning to get aftercare. Me - with the kids - I just could not get away to get to Mexico for multiple trips -- financially, and because of my kids. So staying close to home will work well for me. The other thing is does is allow me the opportunity to begin building a relationship with the surgical staff in advance. All but one member of the staff have been banded themselves, they know exactly what I am experiencing as a patient. I have already met my surgeon once, and he made me feel so confident about my decision on first meeting! I have a consult with him in about 10 days -- for an hour! Not even my MD does that! Someone suggested going to one of the free seminars and I think that is a great decision. My doctor told us how many surgeries he had done, how many had complications he experiences and what they were, and also how many he had removed (one in 7 years). He was also able to show us, in all those surgeries, how much weight those people lost in 7 years. It really helps put the complications in perspective. The most important thing is -- take the advise you can use, dont worry about the rest, and listen to your Jiminy Cricket. :blushing:

Seventeen days to surgery. I am excited -- the idea of eating a smaller than normal size meal and feeling full after - what a miracle for me! Reaching a point when I am not hungry ALL the time, even in the middle of the night, that would be amazing. I still cant grasp that one. Really? Not hungry? What does that feel like? Eventually buying cute clothes instead of whatever piece of fabric is least awful! Being able to move and be active, and have the energy to do it. There is a lot to look forward to!!! And at the same time..... I am really afraid of some things as well. I am a single mom with four amazing kids. After my divorce, I have put them first above everything. I am a caretaker by nature. So it is easy for me to put everything into my kids, to volunteer with veterans, to be there for a friend. It is NOT so easy to take care of me first. I worry about finances. I just lost a source of funding which will make grocery shopping very, very tricky. I worry about keeping my kids fed and healthy while buying all of this special stuff for me in the first month or so. And having the gas to drive an hour away from fills when I can barely maintain the gas to get to work and back. I have to do this -- I know how incredibly important it is. I want to do this. I am just worried about all of the little details coming together or not. LOL .... how is that for timing? Have to run now.... the alarm on my cell phone is screaming at me because it is time to take my meds for diabetes and high blood pressure. Yup, I even need a reminder to do that!:tt1:

Seventeen days to surgery. I am excited -- the idea of eating a smaller than normal size meal and feeling full after - what a miracle for me! Reaching a point when I am not hungry ALL the time, even in the middle of the night, that would be amazing. I still cant grasp that one. Really? Not hungry? What does that feel like? Eventually buying cute clothes instead of whatever piece of fabric is least awful! Being able to move and be active, and have the energy to do it. There is a lot to look forward to!!! And at the same time..... I am really afraid of some things as well. I am a single mom with four amazing kids. After my divorce, I have put them first above everything. I am a caretaker by nature. So it is easy for me to put everything into my kids, to volunteer with veterans, to be there for a friend. It is NOT so easy to take care of me first. I worry about finances. I just lost a source of funding which will make grocery shopping very, very tricky. I worry about keeping my kids fed and healthy while buying all of this special stuff for me in the first month or so. And having the gas to drive an hour away from fills when I can barely maintain the gas to get to work and back. I have to do this -- I know how incredibly important it is. I want to do this. I am just worried about all of the little details coming together or not. LOL .... how is that for timing? Have to run now.... the alarm on my cell phone is screaming at me because it is time to take my meds for diabetes and high blood pressure. Yup, I even need a reminder to do that!:huh2:

Way to go Kathy!!! I definitely plan on using this group for support. The groups here are an hour away from where I live. I am a single mom with four daughters at home. Frankly, I just dont have the money to go running to town all the time for group meetings. Being online allows me to get the support I need and still be at home with the girls.

........ for all of 20 minutes. I really expected so much more out of these pre-surgery appointments. Today, I got on their scale. SHe said I could have 1250 caleries per day -- one protein shake for breakfast, frozen meal for lunch and dinner (weight watchers, healthy choice, etc.) and 2 protein bars to be eaten in between meals. She also gave me a sheet that detailed the range of calories/carbs/protein/fat I should be aiming for in each in order to meet the 1250 cal. requirement. She reminded me about the water.... none during the meal, or for two hours afterward. She recommended I start trying to live up to that one now, rather than later. That was it. So, I start that on Monday, and will do that for about 10 days before I see the surgeon, then I have surgery a few days after seeing him...October 5. :tongue_smilie:

........ for all of 20 minutes. I really expected so much more out of these pre-surgery appointments. Today, I got on their scale. SHe said I could have 1250 caleries per day -- one protein shake for breakfast, frozen meal for lunch and dinner (weight watchers, healthy choice, etc.) and 2 protein bars to be eaten in between meals. She also gave me a sheet that detailed the range of calories/carbs/protein/fat I should be aiming for in each in order to meet the 1250 cal. requirement. She reminded me about the water.... none during the meal, or for two hours afterward. She recommended I start trying to live up to that one now, rather than later. That was it. So, I start that on Monday, and will do that for about 10 days before I see the surgeon, then I have surgery a few days after seeing him...October 5. :tt1:

Hey, thanks! How long have you had your band? My guilty admission -- I am a sugar addict from hell -- the one who will have a little taste of something and end up eating way, way too much. So for me, I know a large part of my success will come from avoiding the stuff at all costs for a good lengthy period of time. Forever -- not practical. But maybe someday.

So, two topics today because life has been nuts and I haven't had time to do this. I had my pre-op class last week. I was so surprised when they said it would take all of three hours, barring any complications. And a little more than two hours of driving. Insane, huh? Otherwise, we got very brief presentations on diet, mental challenges (surgery is on your stomach, not on your brain!) etc. I am grateful for the specific ideas on clear/full liquid diet suggestions. I am a low-income single mom with four growing kids who still need to eat, so my budget is extremely limited. With these ideas, I can start shopping a little at a time now and slowly build up my pantry/freezer. Uggghh, the diet coke thing. I have had a few over the last few dates, both cases in extreme heat situations. I had been drinking ALOT of water, but really, the water just wasn't doing it for me.... maybe because I have been drinking it so long. It was also easy to justify, because I havent actually had the surgery yet, so I figure I have a little room to work with. A few over several days is still much better than a few in a day.... or a few before noon. 23 days until surgery. And the last big hurrah...... sigh. Here in my hometown there is a fabulous street festival every year that centers aroun the harvest of the most amazing peaches. It is right up their with Christmas in terms of favoritism for me. I purposely planned my surgery for after this date, which also roughly coincides withthe end of summer BBQs etc. I thought it would be so much easier to have the funnest things behind me for the year before I start this journey. But then.... Well, we did the parade, we did the burgers. Walked through the booths. We indulged in water and icees because it was so incredibly hot, and finally, yes, one diet coke. We went to the car show, the kids played at the park. We went home for dinner and R&R before returning for the carnival. THe numbers varied during the day....anywhere from 1-3 adults and 4-7 kids. With that many people, and in a huge crowd, it gets hard to do what every person wants to do. So, by the time we got all that in, the booths selling steaming hot, fresh peach cobbler had closed up shop. I was, of course, very disappointed. ANd at 11 p.m. in total and complete exhaustion, I couldn't figure out why I felt like it was such a big deal. I didn't remember, until about 4 a.m., that I had planned to make that cobbler be my last big hurrah before I start putting my health first above everything. Not sure what I am going to do about that just yet. I see the dietician on Friday, so I have about a week before I start the low-cal pre-op diet. I was going to use that time to start cutting back on what I am eating so that next week isnt so painful. I know all of these baby steps are quite necessary, but I am really starting to get a bit impatient. It is so much easier to just DO rather than think about what to do all the time. :thumbdown: PS. Comments are always welcome!

So, two topics today because life has been nuts and I haven't had time to do this. I had my pre-op class last week. I was so surprised when they said it would take all of three hours, barring any complications. And a little more than two hours of driving. Insane, huh? Otherwise, we got very brief presentations on diet, mental challenges (surgery is on your stomach, not on your brain!) etc. I am grateful for the specific ideas on clear/full liquid diet suggestions. I am a low-income single mom with four growing kids who still need to eat, so my budget is extremely limited. With these ideas, I can start shopping a little at a time now and slowly build up my pantry/freezer. Uggghh, the diet coke thing. I have had a few over the last few dates, both cases in extreme heat situations. I had been drinking ALOT of water, but really, the water just wasn't doing it for me.... maybe because I have been drinking it so long. It was also easy to justify, because I havent actually had the surgery yet, so I figure I have a little room to work with. A few over several days is still much better than a few in a day.... or a few before noon. 23 days until surgery. And the last big hurrah...... sigh. Here in my hometown there is a fabulous street festival every year that centers aroun the harvest of the most amazing peaches. It is right up their with Christmas in terms of favoritism for me. I purposely planned my surgery for after this date, which also roughly coincides withthe end of summer BBQs etc. I thought it would be so much easier to have the funnest things behind me for the year before I start this journey. But then.... Well, we did the parade, we did the burgers. Walked through the booths. We indulged in water and icees because it was so incredibly hot, and finally, yes, one diet coke. We went to the car show, the kids played at the park. We went home for dinner and R&R before returning for the carnival. THe numbers varied during the day....anywhere from 1-3 adults and 4-7 kids. With that many people, and in a huge crowd, it gets hard to do what every person wants to do. So, by the time we got all that in, the booths selling steaming hot, fresh peach cobbler had closed up shop. I was, of course, very disappointed. ANd at 11 p.m. in total and complete exhaustion, I couldn't figure out why I felt like it was such a big deal. I didn't remember, until about 4 a.m., that I had planned to make that cobbler be my last big hurrah before I start putting my health first above everything. Not sure what I am going to do about that just yet. I see the dietician on Friday, so I have about a week before I start the low-cal pre-op diet. I was going to use that time to start cutting back on what I am eating so that next week isnt so painful. I know all of these baby steps are quite necessary, but I am really starting to get a bit impatient. It is so much easier to just DO rather than think about what to do all the time. :thumbup: PS. Comments are always welcome!

That's good news isnt it? I thought it would take much longer than a week. I am really ready to just have this done. I have my pre-op appointment tonight and I am excited about it...all but the photo, lol. :redface:

That's good news isnt it? I thought it would take much longer than a week. I am really ready to just have this done. I have my pre-op appointment tonight and I am excited about it...all but the photo, lol. :thumbdown:

Well, it has been a day, and I am getting ready to wind down for the night. And the funny thing is, I am not dying for my Diet Coke like I have been. It has been HOT so (flavored) water and the like have been OK with me. So far so good. I seriously thought I would be climbing walls by now. :redface:

Well, it has been a day, and I am getting ready to wind down for the night. And the funny thing is, I am not dying for my Diet Coke like I have been. It has been HOT so (flavored) water and the like have been OK with me. So far so good. I seriously thought I would be climbing walls by now. :thumbdown: