Figuring out this tool.

Everything that I have read on forums and heard from the doctor is that the lap-band is a tool and I have to use it. What I have noticed is that I have to figure out how to use it. Right now I feel that I am failing miserably.

I was told that I could start eating food last Thursday and since then, I have had a heck of a hard time figuring out how much to eat and what size and how to make it not hurt.

The first thing that I learned is that when it hurts and it doesn't feel like something is going down DO NOT take a drink to try and wash it down. It just makes it hurt worse and for a longer period. I am sure that I was told not to do that, but common sense made me think that I could just help it along. It does not work and you would think that I would learn that after the first time, but no, I did it twice more. I guess that I am a slow learner.

The next thing that I am trying to figure out is how much is enough. Sometimes, just one bite more puts me way over the top of fullness, but I didn't feel full the bite before. So, now I am slowing down and thinking about each bite before I proceed. It is really hard fine tuning this thing and this is without any fill in my band.

I am also trying to figure out bite size. I think that I am still taking too big of bites and then it hurts right away. This morning one bite of scrambled egg had me spitting for over thirty minutes. It just wouldn't move and I was really not sure what to do. I couldn't even take Neal to school because I was afraid that I would have to spit out even more saliva.

Yesterday, I took too big of a drink at work and then for the next hour felt like I had to burp and couldn't. I guess that truly small and smaller are the way to go.

My point of all this - this is a tool, it is not an easy fix and I have to figure it out. I have to learn the band's personality and then go along with it. I think that once I figure it out I will be fine, but it is definitely baby steps on getting there. I have to pay attention to my body and the band and treat it with respect or it is going to kick me right in the breast bone every time.

I still am glad that I got the band, very happy actually. I just have to learn how to drive it. It's like I am learning to drive a manual transmission car all over again. You have to know when to let the clutch in and out and be coordinated - that is what I am having to do with the band.

Life is so good, I am so blessed. God is great, all the time.

First Post Op Visit

I know that I haven't been on for a while, but I am really feeling good now. It took me a couple of days, but I have to say it wasn't so bad.

I went off the pain medicine on Wednesday and stuck with Liquid Tylenol and the pain really wasn't bad. The protein shakes filled me up and I wasn't hungry at first. I didn't really start getting hungry until Saturday. And I have gotten hungry lately.

I can sleep on either side or even on my stomach and have no pain. It's been that way since Tuesday. I really like sleeping on my left side and that is where my port is. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to sleep on that side for a while, but it really wasn't very long at all.

So, I went to the doctor's office today for my post op visit. It went well. I have lost 20 pounds since my first visit at Olympian Surgical Suites. Yeah, me.

I still have to say that the staff there are the nicest I have ever met in any medical office. They go out of their way to make sure you are getting what you need. It is a wonderful place.

I get to move on to soft foods today. I am so excited. I have been REALLY hungry about 3:00 each day. I can't find anything that sounds good to eat and a protein shake just doesn't cut it. But now, I will have a protein shake for breakfast and maybe lunch and then I can have soft food for dinner. I am so looking forward to that.

I need to exercise more, but my foot is still hurting from the plantar fasciitis and the podiatrist sent off my orthotic to try and get it to fit better. I guess I will try riding my bike this weekend when it isn't raining. I will find something that I can do.

Lisa is coming down with Gretchy and Daisy and Rosy are going to get their exercise. My doggies sure love her doggy.

Talk to you soon.


D

One Day Post-Op

Yesterday was my big day. Got to the surgery center at 7:15 and was taken right back. The nurses Terry, Julie and Becky were the best. Calmed me down and Becky got my IV going on the first stick.

I was taken into the surgery suite at 8:07 and the next thing I know I am being told to take deep breaths my oxygen sat was low. It was 10:00. By ten after I was up and going to the bathroom. I was out the door on my way home by 10:30ish. Home in my recliner by 11:00.

I slept on and off yesterday and walked outside a little since it was such a beautiful day. Not too much, but enough to enjoy it.

At 10:00 last night I decided that I would try sleeping in my bed. Well, that didn't last too long. It hurt too much trying to set up and get comfortable. So, I went back to the recliner. I think that I didn't sleep well last night because of all the sleep I got during the day. Oh well, I made up for it today.

Today, I feel much worse than I did yesterday. I just feel achy all over, like I lost a fight or over exercised. I didn't take any pain medication after my 11:00 dose last night. I switched over to Liquid Tylenol. I don't like how those pain killers make me feel. I would rather be a little sore than feeling all weird. It also made my nose itch, which I can't stand. So, it has been Tylenol today and I am getting by.

I didn't get the pain in my shoulder that others have complained about. That is a true blessing. I have had that pain before and it really hurts. Dr. R. did a great job.

I am looking forward to feeling a little better each day. I really thought that I would be able to go back to work tomorrow, but I really don't see that happening. Maybe Friday.

I can't believe that I already have the band. I really don't notice any difference in drinking. I don't really feel any type of restriction yet. I will ask about that next week at my post-op visit. Or maybe I will be able to tell a little more tomorrow when I go on full liquids. Hard to believe that I am looking forward to soup. I really haven't been hungry yet. I am getting in my liquids as required today and will see how the next step goes.

Well, I think I am going to go relax in the recliner for a while.

Thanks for stopping by.

D

Hit a Wall.

Yesterday was my 10th day on the pre-op diet. It was the worse day ever. When I woke up I felt very lethargic and just not myself. I thought that I needed something in my stomach so I did my protein shake. Well, that didn't help.

I went off to work hoping it would pass, but it didn't. When I got off work I went to the grocery store on the way home and bought some fresh steak. I went home cooked it up and ate it hoping that it would help. I also had a small salad. That didn't help either. So, the only option left, was to take a nap to see if that helped. With the dogs barking I really didn't get much rest, there was too much going on outside for the dogs to be quiet. I laid around from about 3:00 until 4:30 and then got up. And.............. I felt a little better. Not the greatest, but it could have been much worse.

I didn't eat anything for the rest of the day. I just didn't want to chance it would make me feel worse. Went to bed and finally fell asleep about 11:00. Waking up this morning I felt 100 percent better. I am so glad.

When all this was going on yesterday I was questioning whether I could do all this or would this be how my life was. I could not imagine being tired all the time and having no energy. I am glad that is passed and hope that it doesn't happen again.

4 days from now I should be at home recovering from my lap-band surgery. Yeahhhhhhhh.....