Kaiser Richmond Pre-op

[swrktp 1]

HEy everyone if you turn on MTV (kids channel I know!! LOL) there is a program called True Life...........it is all about a teen who had lap band surgery and his thoughts and feelings and his debating plastic surgery. Very informative!!! ALso a story about a girl who got RNY and how she lost 123 pounds but still saw herself as fat...........totally up our alley ladies!!

[swrktp 1]

Channel 70 if you have comast..........starts at 8pm.

I think it would be great Reggie to start talking about emotional/psychological issues. I know now that I have the surgery that is my next focus. I don't want to defeat my band with unresolved issues!! LOL. Ok, ok.......yes I am a social worker and do this stuff for a living. I work with addicts all day long and know the ins and outs of addictions. Sure does suck when I have my own addictions issues because I can't fool myself..........not that I always chose to follow through with what I know needs to be done or why else would be I be where I am at today with food issues and my weight. But for me I know I have to stay on top of my emotional issues or I will find way to "eat around my band"

Hear are a couple of things I do know..............for psychological addictions/head hunger you have to figure out your triggers, so you know.........if I am tired, stressed bored, whatever I am gonna want to overeat or snack. For me it is stress and boredom that do me in..........I am considering a new hobbie like exercise to deal with this..........I don't know what will work yet. The other important thing is to have a support system. That includes having an accountability person or group that will call you on stuff if you start to go back to bad habits...............another thing is to change friendships/relationships that pull you down or pull you into bad habits...........and yep journaling and counseling can help as well. For me I am realizing I have to deal with everything at the same time not just weight lose and dieting. I know myself too well I will do good for awhile but not forevr if I don't stay on top of this day by day..................anyone else in the same boat??

I think Kaiser needs to have more of a mental/psycological piece to the bariatrics..........I think that they want you to do that on your own. I just think the high failure rate of both surgeries is due to lack of dealing with the emotional/pscyh addictions..................

I work as an addiction specialist with addicts of all kinds. Mostly alcholics, drug and relationship addicts so this is just my personal bias from what I have seen and learned in my field the last 15 years, and also what I have learned about myself and my eating habits the last few years.............I just know I have to hit this all head on starting now to succeed. To be honest I started to deal with alot it of when I finally admitted to myself that I needed a drastic change in my life to get the weight off for good!!

It has and will be a crazy ride I am sure. I just get frustrated when I hear the RNY vs. Lap band debate because I think it is so much bigger than which surgery you chose. It is alot what is going on in your head...........didn't Liz say something about we fix the hardware you fix the wiring?? That stuck with me because it made me realize how big the whole decision for surgery was!!

Edited May 6, 2009 by swrktp

[AudsMom 2]

What is a Relationship Addict??

Are there ever people that are addicted to change?? Like they buy something use it a week then are bored and buy something else, then get obsessed on something, then after they achieve it get obsessed on something else??? Where they get an animal or something 3 months later they are bored with it, so find it a new home?? One day they want to move the next they want to stay put. Lol.. this is my life.

You know what ive realized after watching this true life show.. Kimberly didnt have flabby legs!!! ONE of my fears!!! So just maybe we wont:)

Ok BL time, so im going to close up here..

OHHH btw i asked my pcp for regular counceling, i don't want to do psychiatry.. and she told me they dont do that in kaiser!! Did anyone know that?

[AudsMom 2]

The meatloaf cupcakes!!! Anyone know what the recipe was??

I saw turkey meat, oats, vegies.. anyone else see anything

[swrktp 1]

Ah nicole you watched the show too!! I thought it was interesting. .......I think they will play it again. I saw the last half of it last night and was happy they were playing it again so I could see the first half. Crazy how they did the fill........sorta scared me I would rather lay down for it!! LOL.

Constant changes..........oh that is a problem with me too. I get so bored so quick. Than I create a situation that forces changes..........I think some people call that being a drama queen or a flighty...........for me I get bored and want constant change all the time. Again boredom does me in I do crazy things when I am bored. I know that. I don't think it is an addiction as much as a pattern of behavior. For me when things get to calm or to quiet I have to really think and examine my life.........good and bad..........sometimes if there is alot of changes and drama and takes away from me having to focus on myself and my own feelings............so for me I use constant changes as a way to distract from feelings..........usually painful or yucky feelings I don't want to deal with........but remember I eat alot when I am bored to........it all goes together for me!!

I also have ADD and am suppose to be on medication. The meds made me gain 40 pounds and made me sleep all the time!! So I won't take them again but I do have to do some behavior mod type stuff instead..............the psych eval at Kaiser asked me about this too...........I guess ADD people can't follow a diet well but I have done fine. I just don't want meds and weight gain anymore.

Kaiser's regular counseling is through psychaitry. The name is deceptive but it all the same thing. YOu don't see a psychatrist unless the therapist or social worker sends you see one. I did counseling through kaiser and you go to the psychaitry department but only see a therapist. It is totally worth the time and money. I like it. Nicole they should have explained it better to you.

I am gonna try to get signed back up for counseling again. My other plan is to make the montly meetings at kaiser a priority and than meeting and keeping in contact with all you ladies. That has truly helped me alot the last few months...............

I really, really want this to work and I want to set up a safety net all around me so I CAN'T get tired and fail!!

Like Pam was saying after the newness wears off reality hits and I want to be ready for it!!

Nicole you might want to try the psychaitry thing but tell them you want a therapist not the doctor. I loved the therapist I had with kaiser.........rancho cordova area!! I am gonna try to find her again!!

[swrktp 1]

All addictions are about running away from something painful that would best be addressed.................no one want to deal with pain, painful feelings or feeling in adequate. But the only way out is through it. like they say you have to "wade through hell for hope."

For me my HOPE is that I can get this weight thing address once and for all. 20 years is just to much time to deal with being overweight for me.

Just I am not one to really volunteer to wade through hell!!! LOL. Although I think the minute I walked into Richmond Kaiser bariatrics orientation I knew I was taking a walk on the wild side............hell and all!! LOL.

Truthfully it has not been bad...........or maybe I haven't hit the "hell or bandsters hell" just quite yet...............If I start to fail at this I know I will be hard on myself and that is what I hope to prevent!!

Watching the show tonight I can see it is good to have a support group and they were talking about how only people who have been through the surgery will understand some of the struggles other bandsters have. I sorta liked and got that...............

Ah relationship addiction is when women/men constant pick partners that hurt or abuse them and they feel they deserve it. They leave one realationship and than turn around and find another partner the same as the last...........after doing that several times you realize they are addicted to a partner treating them bad they feel they don't deserve better.......but also it has to do with the constant drama and chaos that a bad relationship causes...........if there is constant dram going on..........guess what you don't have to think or feel what is going on in your head..............most of the relationship addictions focus around domestic violence and abusive relationships!! I have alot of those women in my office................and many times they are very overweight......not sure how that all plays into things but an observation.

Edited May 6, 2009 by swrktp

[InsideOut 0]

Hey Ladies! Thanks to Nicole I started a new blog:

RNY in 3 Weeks

[swrktp 1]

Ah Sheena I checked out your blog it is great. I signed up. Will be so excited to see and hear how it goes.............

Girl your looking great!! OMG you have lost so much weight since the first pictures. Seriously you are doing great!!

I hear ya about Sac State........I went there for four years and ah yea having surgery while in school would not have worked. Too intense and to much going on.............

Excited to hear how things go for you. 22 days now!!!

Hey Nicole you updated your blog too!! I just added on to yours as well. So fun to keep up with everyone!!

Edited May 6, 2009 by swrktp

[Desperate1 1]

Hi Nicole,

Thanks for the information – I love that you guys are so informative on here!

I’ve given up Diet Coke before and I’ll do it again – anything is worth feeling better! Down 20 is very impressive – I can lose weight – never had a problem doing so – my problem is KEEPING IT OFF! The sleep guy told me that my apnea is mild so..? It’s more or less the waking up so much that he said is the problem.

The psychologist I saw wasn’t for the bariatric program. They sent me to him because of my complaint of chronic fatigue & Migraines. Since there didn’t seem to be any better answer at the time they chalked it up to depression. That was my diagnosis for years! Finally I demanded a sleep study and here we are.

I hear you about flying thru this… I will try to go from desperate to patient. I’m just so tired of being tired LOL.

Hey Christine,

Thanks for the 411 on the carbonated drinks – I get it now. It’s well worth it to give it up! Caffeine will be a little more difficult but I’m positive I can do it without much difficulty.

Donna,

I will stop indulging; I will stop indulging, I will stop indulging (this is me convincing myself – LOL) – I would hate to go in to all this and come out with no band J. It is very inspirational to hear that your apnea & energy level is improving and I agree that all you Richmond ladies are incredible. Just reading the things you all say and the positive reinforcements that are given is wonderful. A refreshing break from the negativity that floats around on a daily basis!!!

Hi Reggie –

thinking of you too J EVERY DAY! Can’t wait to see you on the band side LOL

Tina,

You seem to have all this down to a science – smart lady! I love reading your posts

Candy, hope all is well and I'm looking forward to your next post!!

I will get on that signature, ticker & photo – I believe it is nice to have a face with the name – I enjoy all of your faces – and that picture of you guys – it doesn’t look like anybody is overweight!!! Not any real size to speak of!! I hope to join you all in the thin category soon –

[riley4183 0]

Hey Riley does you port still hurt?? Mine is killing me still. I am wondering how long this lasts???

No, doesn't hurt anymore - but it did for 4 weeks solid! Then it stopped almost overnight at the end of week 4. In fact, I remember when I went in for a fill at 6 weeks I complained to Dr. Baggs & told him if I had come in at 4 weeks I would have spend the whole appointment whining about how much it hurt and stuck out, he laughed and said that's why we don't have you come in at 4 weeks! The he told me about how they "carve" out a plave for it and the body responds with a bunch of fluids, then they get re-absorbed by the body at 5 or 6 weeks and all is well.

[swrktp 1]

Ah well it must be the Fluid I am feeling than..........**whining to myself** .......It really hurts and is obviously sticking out.

I will anxiously wait until I can't fill it anymore...........also my incisions are all healed up but look fragile like if I move the wrong way they could split open!! Kinda gives me shivers to look at them.........so I try not to!!

Candra I don't have it all figured out!!! LOL. But I am trying to figure it out!! I still miss my diet coke but mostly just the carbonation now.................I think no soda is good for me because I lived on it and needed to give it up if I ever hoped to be healthy and lose weight. That truly was my addiction..........I walked around with a coke bottle all the time...........still have the bottle but now it is crystal light!! LOL. Tell us what you think of Richmond Kaiser once you get over there!!

[swrktp 1]

Hey Nicole your down again!! You are very firmly under 200 now!! Yea!!

So how did you get over the plataeu? I am on another one. LOL. Story of my life. The two days I ate a bit more than I was suppose to I lost 2 pounds. Now I am being so careful and it is sticking to me again............

[swrktp 1]

Hey Nicole asked someone at work and we decided that wanting constant change all the time is "chaos addiction"!! And than we decided to add shopping addictions or retail therapy to the list..............which I most certainly have!!

The thing is when you talk about addictions in an office of addiction workers we can turn anything into an addiction!!

So don't take it all to seriously................

People are people. There is no one without issues.........we all have something going on. Even the little skinny girls who might be taking meth to be that way.............oh dear did I just say that?? Of course not all skinnypeople are on drugs..........I know that but sometimes I wonder if that is how the other half lives!!! Ok, ok............where I work most of the skinny girls/clients are on meth and use it .........according them...........as a form of weight management!! And let me tell you it works, problem is it doesn't stop working and most of them end up looking like they are being eaten alive from the inside out!! Formaldyhead and embalming Fluid will to that to ya!! Using meth to get skinny is another whole topic about wanting to be thin in our society..............just I will take surgery anyday over bad teeth and the jitters and skeletal good looks!! LOL.

Gotta run ladies...........

Edited May 7, 2009 by swrktp

[reggie71 0]

Tina You are hillarious!!!!

[meandmyweightloss 0]

Hey ladies!!!!

Ok, day of surgery piece of cake.....everyone was so nice!!! I was scared and thought about running out a few times but honestly it all went so fast.....they took me back 06:30,then they were taking back to the OR at about 08:15, when I woke up I looked at the clock and it was 09:40...amazing!!!!!

So then yesterday I was really regreating my decision!!! I was in so much pain!!! I didn't sleep a wink from the pain no matter how much meds I took....at about 10pm I fell asleep last night then woke up around 1AM went to the restroom and felt so dizzy I thought for sure I was going down...I was clammy and felt horrible....took all my clothes off and sat under the fan....hubby got me some meds I drank that then had a sugar free popcicle....felt better then all the sudden I start having stomach spasims like I was going to throw up!!! THose passed I fell back to sleep and acctually woke up this am feeling better......

Its a little hard because I am not a home body so sitting at home has been a little tough.

I also started stage 2 today...just the Clear liquids I think were part of why I was not feeling well.

I talked to Christie today and she reminded me it gets better....my left side (I'm assuming the port) is the worst part now....and my back hurts more than I expected....

Anyway, I guess I'm glad I am past the surgery part.....just waiting for my sun ray!!!! :thumbup: Oh...and I started my period today...what the hell!!! 5 days early I might add and I'm an every 28 day girl usually!!!! RUDE!!!

Did anyone have a really bloated tummy at this point? My stomach is really bloated.....I have lost weight though!!! Day of surgery I was 223, left surgery and of course weighed myself I was 225...today I was 220.....

Hope you all are doing well!!!!!! I miss chatting on here....

By the way Tina Liz told me and my husband that once you had the surgery with Kaiser even if we lost our Kaiser ins I would be covered for that portion of my health for life