sisterwood

November 27, 2011

After having started with my first appointment with Dr. Lord on July 29th, 2010, my surgery date is Monday, Nov.29th, 2010. This was really fast according to others I have met on this journey. I was antsy and nervous through the whole process being afraid something would happen that would make me not qualify. All along I prayed that if God was not into this, that he would get me out any way he needed to. But all signs were go and here I am tonight in middle of the dreaded Bowel Prep of 32 Osmo pills (4 at a time + 8 oz water) every fifteen minutes. I had my last meal around 2:00 Thansksgiving Day - 55 hours ago. Only clear liquids since. Tomorrow there are antibiotics to take several times plus lots of water. Going to the hospital in 30 hours.

I wanted to tell how I have been today. Not having eaten I am naturally a little weak and more emotional. The thoughts of am I doing the right thing... fill my head once an hour. Like this isn't a new haircut! Its a whole new way of life. My answer always goes to YES! Yes, I want to be able to walk and do things without pain. My joints are all painful, I have a back surgery ahead of me unless God chooses to heal me first. One knee has already been replaced and the other will most likely need it if I wasn't having gastric bypass. It's not about looking better, even though I look forward to wearing pretty clothes again instead of stretchy pants and over-shirts all the time. It's about feeling good. I am so sorry I have treated my body with so little respect by overeating. I am not proud of not being able to just say no thank you to second helpings all my life. I accept the fact that for me, this surgery seems to be the only way to stop the cycle. After all I am 60 years old already!

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Jan. 7, 2011

I went on for gastric bypass on Nov. 29th, 2010. About 1/2 hour into the surgery, my husband saw Dr. Lord walking into the waiting room with some papers. Knowing this couldn't be could...He knew something was not right. It seems that after Dr. Lord put in the 7 poke holes and the camera, he noticed a very large ovarian cyst. It was too large to take out through on of the holes and he had to abandon the bypass and call in Dr. Sontag to do a c-section to remove the cysts. One was 15 lbs, and as large as a human head and the other the size of a golf ball. Dr. Lord said it filled a gallon bucket they put it in! Well, Praise God I had a camera in my belly that day and that Dr. Lord is such a good surgeon. Dr. Sontag wasn't my gyn but he is now. I am thankful Dr. Lord called him and he came while I was still under anesthesia and did the work. Everything was benign. This explains why I looked like I was expecting a baby, only it was purple and shaped like a football.

I am now scheduled for the lapband on March 7th, 2011. Will keep ya posted!

Cathy

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March 9, 2011

I came home yesterday after getting the band Monday morning. I was very surprised how much pain I have in the port area place. The hospital medicine (pump) must have been a lot stronger than the 7.5 liquid Lortab I came home with. I am very short waisted and it feels like something is stabbing my in the heart or ribs. Since I was only supposed to take the Lortab every 3 hours. I spent last night crying from hour 2 to hour 3!. Today has been better and I can wait 31/2 hours between doses. I wonder if this is how it is for other lap banders or is my pain tolerance just too low.

Do you have any idea how many days it takes to get all the air out of me? It sounds like a earthquake/thunderstorm all the time but the air seems to just go from place to place. Even my shoulders!

I didn't walk very much today but promise to do more tomorrow. We had rain storms and I couldn't get outdoors. Circling inside the house made me dizzy with the lortab going on too.

Cathy

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April 1, 2011 post on Lapbandtalk.com

I was banded on March 7th. Was supposed to do 2 weeks clear, 2 weeks full liquids and then mushies, but after 1 week went to mushy without a problem. I was so hungry and felt no restriction. (no fill until April 12)This past week I have eaten anything I wanted just ate small portions and chewed well. I lost 20lbs within the first 10 days but since I added real food 4 lbs came back. Not discouraged because I eat soooo much less than I ever have.

When I read about how well you all are sticking to the rules and not cheating I am kind of ashamed of myself. Am I really the only one who couldn't hold out 4 lousy weeks?

I'm not overeating, But I should have waited..

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April 1, 2011

I wanted to write down a few things from the past 25 days. My largest incision site has had an infection under the skin this whole time. Very painful to touch, red, swollen and feverishly hot. It is larger than the palm of my hand. I am on the 3rd round of antibiotics and I think this one will end it. At least I hope so! It has taken until this week to even lay down on my left side (very carefully). I noticed on the web sites that many people get fills before they leave the hospital. My doctor doesn't do that. I won't even see him until April 12th. (but because of the infection the office has been in contact with me via emails and phone) I hope to get a fill on the 12th because I feel like I could eat anything. Of course anything I have eaten is very well chewed and small bites since I don't want to take any chances. I would like to get that full feeling on less food for sure. Twenty pounds came off very fast, within 10 days. Then I was down 25 lbs. but 4 or 5 came back this past week when I started eating real food. I am still so happy to have already gone down to pants and tops that were too small before. My face isn't as puffy and I look more rested because of the weight loss. Oh man, the vitamins and supplements plus my regular meds take all day to take! Seems like it is always time for something. I do still have to take pain medicine but it is for my back and other arthritic joints, nothing to do with the lap band surgery. If I didn't have the back pain, I would be a new person! Started walking yesterday, just around the block but I spend at least 1/2 an hour. That's good for me, and it is a good start! I am so happy I had this done. I feel so much better!

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April 29,2011

I've been doing terrible! I weigh the same thing I did a month ago. Surgery was march 7th, quickly lost 20-25 pounds and no more. Even after my first fill. The 3 weeks since has made no difference. I am so mad at myself because I am eating good foods but apparently too many calories to go below the original loss. I feel like I have been here so long this is my fat self :-( and I will not lose weight! I called the doctor after a week of the fill and they told me to go ahead and wait for May 12th to come back.

Once I saw I had no problem swallowing anything I admit I ditched the soups and mushies and eat regular food. It has been stressful because of an elderly mother in law having to move into a nursing home but then I always have an excuse to eat. This is why I chose to have lap band because I admit if I could eat less by will power I would have done it years ago.

My breakfast is usually egg omelet with cheese in it and 2 thin strips of bacon. Lunch is a sandwich (which I can eat a whole sandwich) supper is veggies and chicken breast or cheesburger patty. Snack during the day may be a string cheese and an atlkins bar. A treat I have at night is luigi's frozen ice. Now that I write it down it is a lot but still its 1/4 of what I used to eat! Oh and I drink skim milk. I think I just told you all why I am not losing weight! I just have to vent. Confession is good for the soul.

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Today, 10:24 PM

June 23,2011

I went in for my 3rd fill today. I havent felt any restriction to speak of in the last month unless I took a big bite of something. Eating slow and chewing well, everything seems to go right thru the band. I had gained a pound so my official weight loss today on record was 24 lbs since March 7th. I am at 6.25 cc's in a 10 band now. Surely I will begin losing again now!...