erikaw1971

Hey Jen. You are the only other CDH surgery patient I know. I thought I would commiserate with you. It has taken so long to feel restriction. I went in a couple of months ago and BEGGED for more - seriously! He started giving me 2ccs the last two times and finally I'm feeling some restriction. I still need another 1 or 2ccs I think, though. My port site looks like I've been punched a few times in the gut - ugly blue bruise. It does seem to take about 5-6 stabs to get it into the port. What is up with that? I do blame his nurse. She actually said in front of me to the doc that she didn't think I should get 2ccs again and told him to do 1cc. He saw my snarl and did 2ccs. Smart man. Think I might need to muzzle the nurse, though. :cursing:

Wow. Those are some stunning numbers. Congratulations May Bandsters! I'm not on here much, mostly just lurking, but I was banded May 20th. My doc is slowwwwww at fills. 1cc then 1cc then 2ccs (me begging) and another 2ccs (me begging again). So, 6 ccs as of just last week in a 14 cc band. It seems like it's taken forever to feel some restriction, which I finally do. I probably need another 1-2ccs but I'm happier with my doc finally. I feel like I lost 3 months of prime weight loss time, though. In any case, two of my three kids are finally back in morning Kindy and Preschool so I can walk now and start my running (slow jogging) again soon! I'm so excited. It's 1.22 miles to the school and back home. I do it twice on Monday and and once on Tues-Fri. I'm am loving it and hoping it will help melt the weight off. I'm certainly eating a lot less now. (I've been a fairly healthy eater quality-wise since having kids, but I've always made up for that in serious quantity!) I can't wait to see everyone's progress by Christmastime. Sounds like a lot of people will be close to goal.:cursing:

Does anyone else have a doctor that only puts in 1cc at a time when you have the large size AP band? I understand being conservative, but this seems ridiculous. My doc's office says 4-6 weeks between visits/fills. They want you to lose 1-2 lbs per week. I had good weight loss at the beginning. Great, in fact, but that's because I had a pretty swollen stomach and that gave e great restriction. Now I have no restriction with a total of 2 ccs in my band - from two visits. I called today and they scheduled my next visit for 4 weeks from my last visit. Holy hell. Is it really supposed to work this way? No band function until you get restriction - could be 7-8 months before that happens (7-8ccs). Until then I am on my own? I am losing the lbs. they want, but it's all me and I'm getting tired of it, just like I always get tired of diets. There is no help...no tool that I can feel. I can keep this up for a few more months, but I need restriction. I mean, I thought that was the whole point of a band - restriction. Argh. (My docs office did not explain how long it could take to get restriction. They never said I could only get 1cc at a time and only every 4-6 weeks.) Has anyone had any success annoying the crap out of their doc until he gives you more cc's?

So I was banded May 20th and things seem to be going well. I have lost quite a bit in a few weeks and really don't feel like eating much. I've had sashimi a couple of times now and that's my pig out session (5 pieces max) - fish only, no rice, of course. I'm feeling pretty good. The exercise physiologist has been on me about exercise, and well, I've been fudging. I said that I walk the dog every day, but I don't. Poor Zoe. I said that I've tried the treadmill a few times, but I didn't. I feel such pressure to do formal exercise for her to write in her notes or journal or whatever, but I'm not feeling the love enough to do it. My day is chasing after small children, bathing them, playing outside, going to the zoo, feeding them (not me), walking at the mall, running errands. I don't sit down more than a couple of times a day at the computer and only for a few minutes. The idea of being on my feet even more makes me want to scream. I do strength training...my 1 year old is 33 lbs, the same weight as my 3 year old, and they like to be carried. My arms are well muscled even if there is fat over them, darn it. I just don't have a lot of motivation for formal exercise yet. Is there some kind of pill for that? If so, can it be made into a liquid form?

@JuliansMom...THANK YOU SO MUCH for the Wii reminder. I have a brand new Wii Fit still in the package in the basement. Never opened it! If I get up 30 minutes before the kids I can get something done on there. I have some freeweights, too, so I can do a strength training mix on it, if there's something like that. I've never even looked at it (gift from well-meaning parents, at least, I think it was well-meaning). :tongue2: @Adagray...there are two large gyms here, a YMCA and a Park District Center that offer childcare, but it's not cheap. My problem is my 6 year old with high-functioning autism...they won't watch her (for liability reasons apparently). Although the money for them watching three would still be outrageous. (Chicago suburbs are a ripoff.) I've so tried to figure out a way to join a gym. Babysitters for three kids with one autistic are like $22/hour minimum. It's $18/hour just for 3 regular kids. I can't find a vomiting smiley. And I hear ya...as I've been typing this I've been asked for four different things...my mind is like mush but my thighs are like steel. :eek: I do have a pedometer that they gave me at the bariatric center. I suppose I really should look more at the things I have int his house (if I could find them all). I'll strap that thing on and check out how much I am actually walking per day.

And Jachut...that is totally how I packed on the pounds...coffee and sugar and anything to give me the energy to make it through the day starting six-seven years ago. I didn't know a person could gain so much weight so quickly. I have been without caffeine now since surgery and I'm starting to think it was a serious appetite stimulant for me previously. I'm still a bear at about 2pm, in my desperate hour of need, but hopefully that feeling will be gone soon - I'm sure the children hope so. Thanks for the thoughtfulness. It's especially helpful to hear from another mom of three!

That sounds great and works well for someone without kids or whose kids are in daycare. Before I had kids I got up early worked out at a gym before heading to the office. I do miss that kind of focused alone time. My options for a gym are before the kids get up or after hubby gets home. Considering he's out the door at 6:45am to catch a train and then back in the front door at 7pm, well, it would be funny to watch the the household implode. I'm all about putting myself on the list...I did when I had the surgery (and the 12 months pre-op planning for the HMO to pay for it), but I am not a one person show again until they get a little older (about 2 years - when the littlest one is in preschool). So, it looks like swimming is my summer activity until school starts at the end of August and I can use the jogger for the soon-to-be 2-year-old. Ooooh, this is a good excuse to get a suit that fits properly and is conducive to actual swimming...Land' End here I come.

I actually like the walking, but only have a single jogger. Once summer ends and school starts again, things get to be more doable. My 3 year old will get picked up by the bus for preschool in the morning and I will be walking my 6 year old to Kindy at the local school. The 2 year old can ride in the stroller and then I can jog/run with him since we'll finally be alone. We have a prairie path nearby that is nice. Until then, I'll have to stick with the prairie path on weekends when my husband can watch the two girls (or all of them - but that's a dream). Our schedule sucks mostly because my hubby is gone from 7am-7pm (works in the city...train time) during the week, so during summer it's just me and the kiddos and four hours a week of therapy for Charlotte (autism). I do get to swim at my parents' pool at least once a week, usually about 3 times a week, so maybe I'll start doing laps. I've never really considered swimming much exercise because I never really feel the burn, but hey...swimmers have good bodies so it must be decent exercise. I know the more I lose, the more active I'll be. In fact, I used to love running in my prior life when I weighed 140. I figure at about 215 lbs, I'll be a lot more interested in running again; that and I'll need the Oprah running bra that let's NOTHING jiggle. Is there something that can keep a bum from jiggling too? Thanks for the understanding, ladies. I'm going to see if the kids will give me 15 more minutes to research swimming exercises. And maybe when hubby gets home I can check Craigslist for a double jogger, although our garage is so full, I'll have to keep it in the living room.

I was just banded last Thursday. I was on clear liquids until my doc came to see me Friday night (ended up in the hospital an extra night because of an unknown antibiotic allergy). Friday night he said that I could move on to pureed foods and that he thought I could handle them fine. Okay...I thought I was supposed to go to full liquids, but he's the boss. So, I had yogurt and applesauce and was full after a couple of spoonfuls. My band seems to handle it okay. This morning (Tuesday) the bariatric nurse calls and asked how I was. I told her I was on pureed and that I had had a bit of tuna and a scrambled egg. She then started to say I should only be on liquids. I told her to check the chart and I was only doing what the doc said and she checked and said...well, we usually don't do that, but, you're right, it is noted. However, you should still only do liquids. Ummm....what? The fact is...no one has the right answer for what to eat yet. Probably not enough decisive studies yet. I'd say go by your doctor, but hey, if you do that, you still get reamed out apparently. Me, I'm sticking to about 1/4 cup cottage cheese, a scrambled egg maybe and a few small forks of tuna on occasion (this is over a couple days), otherwise it's Protein shakes for me. (My band was not filled but my stomach was fatty and thus putting the band on has caused restriction. Doc says when I start losing a decent amount of fat, the band will have less restriction and then we might need to fill it. In other words, I may not need a fill for up to 6 months at first!)

Okay, I don't know how this sleep study thing really works out in the end. Last night I went in at 9pm and was done at 5am this morning. At home, I sleep on my stomach, I don't snore, I fall asleep quickly (like 5 minutes), I don't wake up throughout the night (sleep like a log) and don't stop breathing as far as my husband can tell. How can they possibly get a read on how you sleep at home when you don't remotely sleep like you do at home? At the sleep center I couldn't sleep well AT ALL. It took me at least an hour or two (couldn't tell time) to fall asleep and then I woke up a lot because I was so uncomfortable, especially with that prong in my nose and everything taped on me. It sucked. I just question how it relates to real life sleep. I mean, who wouldn't have sleep issues with all of that crap on you.:biggrin: I need a nap.

Regarding how much a sleep study costs...I would agree $1500 self pay would seem like the max. My HMO referral listed the sleep study and amount they get paid $387. So, considering the HMO gets about a 50-60% discounted rate, I'd go with around $800-$1000...and I live in a crazy mark-up suburb of Chicago. Good luck on your journey!

I just found out that I did a CPAP mask fitting and CPAP titration sleep study yesterday/last night for nothing!:frown: A few minutes ago called the bariatric center to see what, if anything was missing from my chart so that I could make sure that the file went to Dr. Vallina for review and insurance approval pronto. They said we were only missing my PCP clearance letter. (She was supposed to do that two weeks ago, but whatever, she has no problem giving clearance.) I said, well, we're waiting for Pulmonology, too, but that was just finished last night and we should get it in a couple of weeks. She said nope...you got Pulmonology clearance March 15th. No. No nonononono! The nurse at Pulmonology said I needed to continue to get a mask fitting and CPAP titration. Argh!!!! What a waste of time and insurance company money. :thumbup: I need a beer/wine/margarita...and I don't even drink.

Well, I managed to get an earlier CPAP titration sleep study by being on a wait list, so I had the mask fitting yesterday morning and the study last night. I got the Opus Nasal Pillows and they seemed the least claustrophobic. Riddle me this: I fell asleep without a problem and slept for 6-7 hours with this alien nose thing on. I woke up and felt like total crap. I was so tired this morning that I almost fell asleep while driving home and I NEVER have felt that way in my 22 years of driving. I thought this was supposed to make me feel great...like the best sleep in years kinda thing. Ummm...WTH? In any case, I should have pulmonology clearance (I don't have to get a home machine) in a few days, doc review of my file and then off for insurance approval. Let's hope they can actually accomplish something quickly here because I have vacation in May. So here's to being done with CPAP and sleep studies. BLAH!

Hey sushi ladies! I am so happy to know that I can probably still do a roll but just chew the heck out of it. And sashimi....yum. :drool:Love that, too, especially when it is tuna that literally melts in your mouth. Can't wait to enjoy it more often since it will be much cheaper if I can't finish one roll! :frown:

Well, the results are in and...ta da! I have obstructive sleep apnea. Apparently, not enough to be "severe" but enough to need a titration. Now I have to get a mask fitting (next week) and do a sleep study (earliest is March 28th) for the titration for the anesthesiologist during/immediately after my surgery. Good news is the pulmonologist said I don't have to actually get a machine and use it at home. I only need it the day of surgery and that once I lose some weight (even 20 lbs) I should have a lot less apnea episodes. So, more waiting. Which sucks because our vacation starts May 1st. If I don't have the surgery at the beginning of April (so I can heal before vacation), it will have to wait until mid May! Depressing. Apparently I can't blame the kids for me being exhausted all the time.

Yay Melissa! I'm so happy for you. If my insurance wasn't covering it, I'd be on the plane with ya. How exciting!:thumbup:

Colorado, some listed instances would help me. I'm not trying to be rude, I just don't understand why a medically unnecessary unfill would be done unless it was to eat food/amounts of food not meant to go through the band. My doc never discussed unfills with me but I've only had one meeting with him and we really went over more general things. Is this something that the doc brings up later? Is this something a lot of banded people do? I really don't want to have to go in for filling/unfilling a lot...

Oh Gawd, I didn't mean to hijack your thread for my soapbox. I tried a new protein drink today and it was so nasty it pissed me off for hours. (Isopure Melon/Apple - just say no.) You'll do great because you know what to do and what not to do in order to meet your expectations. Your friend will, in a way, probably help you by showing you what not to do. Good luck on your journey!

Yeah, I totally think doctors are really giving the soft sell on it lately. My doc said 50% of your extra weight is the norm. I told him not good enough for me...I want 100% of the extra weight. So I'm willing to go to the mat for it - I'll do what I have to do to make it happen. He explained that GB is more of a given for weight loss. I said no way, the band will be my buddy. It's important to remember that the 50% is the average. Someone has to lose much more and someone less. A woman in my support group lost 20 pounds and she's done. I'll take her as the "less" and I'll be the "more". And I swear...I will NEVER EVER take fill out in order to eat more (my pregnancies are verifiably DONE). I am frankly disgusted and horrified by this idea of taking out fill. I don't think my doctor would do it, I HOPE my doctor has never done it unless it was medically necessary. Lately this kind of stuff has made me pretty angry/annoyed. This is SURGERY. It's serious. This is morbid OBESITY. It's serious. :cursing:Anyone who would remotely consider taking out fill to binge is right back to the beginning and it's not looking like a good future.

I don't have my surgery date quite yet (should be soon) but I'm already thinking about the final meal. Mine is not necessarily bad for me, but won't be totally possible afterward. I LOVE sushi rolls. Each piece is meant to be eaten with one bite...you can't take a small bite of a roll, it falls apart. I'll do it it small bites later, but probably not at a sushi restaurant, it would be embarrassing eating it that way! So my "last supper" will be at a The Sushi House sitting at the sushi bar and enjoying eating a roll the way it is meant to be eaten. However, it will be so great after the band...I'm going to be a much cheaper date (take-out) for my husband since I won't be able to eat nearly the quantity of sushi I can now - it's amazingly expensive.

Good luck and congratulations on your new/revised life. I think positivity peppered with reality is always a good way to go. Your honestly with yourself is inspiring and I hope it starts a trend. Actually let's toast to that with a hearty low cal, low carb, high protein shake!

If they call me and tell me I have to do a CPAP titration...well...argh. I can't even imagine that kind of fun. Thankfully, I might be spared. The pulmonologist said that unless I were in dire circumstances (lots of apnea events) he would just release me for the surgery because losing the weight would get rid of minor apnea. So here's hoping that I didn't stop breathing constantly during the night. (I woke up feeling rested at 5am, so that seems to be a good thing at least.) Oh yeah and that sticky goo...It took three shampoo-ings and I still had a tiny bit left at my hairline. Blech. Other than that, it was slightly relaxing there since at home I have three little kids. It was very peaceful, like a hotel room.

Congratulations on getting here. Honestly, it seems like half the battle to really get this far. I think I know what you mean about the "Hey, you're not THAT fat"...but truly are. I still look in the mirror and usually don't really see all of the fat because growing up, I wasn't overweight. I'm like the opposite of people who can't believe that they're thin after they lose all of the weight and still see an overweight person. I've been in denial sooooo long. :smile2: The only thing that really got me here was seeing pictures from our last vacation. I was horrified when looking at them. I was huge, obese. When did that happen? How did that happen? Oh yeah, I have been overeating for years. It was like a kick in the well-padded ass. Now I'm ready. I'm excited to lose the first 25 lbs so that I can start jogging...then 40 to start running, then 50 to play a decent game of tennis, then 75 to run a half marathon, then 100 to do anything I want. Good luck in you WLS Quest. Even if it means 6 months of a nutritionist (it sucks but gives you time to get focused), it will truly be worth it.

Hey Melissa. I have three kids, ages 1,3 and a daughter just turned 6. I had spoken to my doctor about the lifting restrictions regarding my 29 lb 1-year-old and he said that wouldn't be a problem...I could pick him up as long as I went slowly and was used to picking him up beforehand. HOWEVER, I will have abnormal lifting restrictions after the band because of an umbilical hernia that is being repaired at the same time. That is the only thing causing the lifting restriction for me. All doctors are different and you should always speak to them first and ask for their reasoning behind decisions. It should be noted, though, that my band doctor, Dr. Vallina, was a pioneer in laparoscopic appendectomies back in the early nineties...he did my appendectomy through my belly button and three small ports...and he is doing my WLS (very weird coincidence - didn't know until I had my meeting with him that he was my appendectomy doc), so I am fairly confident that he understands lifting restrictions in regard to lap surgery. I went through SitterCity and found an awesome sitter. She will be here for the first week throughout the day to deal with any lifting issues. My parents (don't get me started on crazy weight loss moms) will be in Egypt and not able to help, fortunately or unfortunately, not sure which. My husband works fairly long hours, too, and is very busy right now so extra time off really isn't an option for him. You have a decent amount of time to figure it all out, but you sounds like an organized person, so my guess is, you'll end up with a good plan that will work for all of you. Good luck...I'm so excited for you. When you finally get to this point, it's almost a relief to be done with the decision.

So I went to what I thought was my final pre-op appointment today. No problems on the PFT, the results were "very good". The pulmonologist :reddevil:then feels my jaw and neck and says I have a small jaw and because of that and being obese, I need a sleep study. WTF? I was thwarted by having a small jaw? Now I have to have a sleep study Sunday night. How long does it take for the results from the ss? Anyone know? I want to get this this show on the road! Oh yeah, and I sleep on my stomach (even when pregnant through 25 weeks!)...how is that going to be possible with all of those electrodes?