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.....

Hanging In There

Just had dinner - this is the end of my second day and I am doing okay. I really like that I get dinner. At first, I didn't think that I got food other than the protein shakes - I'm glad that I was wrong.

I get a little bit of meat, veggies and starch. That makes me not hungry for the night. I get a little hungry in the afternoon, but I have a yogurt in the afternoon and it actually takes away my hunger.

I really notice food commercials now, I don't think that I noticed them that much before. I just do something else so I don't think about food. I think that the key to success in the pre-op part is to keep busy and not think about what you feel that you are missing.

All this is so worth it, I really can't wait for my surgery day and then beyond.

I have so much support from my family, co-workers and friends, every step of the way they are supportive - I think that really helps. My sister, Mona, and my friend, Franci, call to make sure that I am doing okay. I really appreciate all the kind words that everyone is sharing with me.

With their help, God and my own determination this is going to change my life. I am so looking forward to the journey.

Well, it is time to go walk the dogs. Have a great night.

Last day of food for a while.

This morning I went and had my pre-op lab work done. EKG and blood tests, hopefully that all goes well. The blood work part was a little painful. The nurse tried to get blood out of my right arm but said that my veins kept jumping, so she dug around for a little while, then I had a really bad pain and she said that she had hit my tendon. Youch. She switched to my left arm and had no problem. I now know to start with the left.

Today is my last day of real food for a while. I start the pre-op diet tomorrow. I will be having protein shakes and can have some food in the evening 3 ounces of meat and four ounces of vegetables.

I went to lunch with Karen today and we had Dos. It was my last time with chips and salsa for a very long time.

I am really excited that I am now starting my liquid pre-op diet - it means that I am that much closer to my surgery date.

I also did a video blog today and seeing it made me that much happier that I am going to be getting a new tool to help me lose my weight and keep it off. Man, it was not a pretty sight. Oh well, tomorrow is a new beginning and I am so excited.

Yeah, me. How blessed I am. Thank you to Dr. R. and his staff for giving me this opportunity. I will never be able to repay them for all they are doing for me. I will not waste this opportunity.

Had my pre-op appointment!!!!!

My pre-op appointment was on March 16th.

I went in and met with Karen, Dr. R's nurse - she is so nice and positive it is always nice to see her. I told her that I thought my blood pressure might be a little high since we were packing and getting everything ready for vacation (leaving right after my appt.); but to my surprise it was normal and so was my pulse. Thank you father for your genes in all that.

I then met with the nurse practitioner, Jeanine. She was so helpful in explaining the order in which everything will happen. We talked about food before and after and talked about success. That is what I am looking forward to. Being successful all the way to goal. Not being close, but slow and steady and winning this battle that I can't seem to win. She explained the actual procedure and where I would have cuts in my stomach. Also, told me my port site might hurt longer than the other incisions.

Sometimes, I feel that I need to be pinched. I can't believe that I won. What a chance for a new life for me - not that my life now is anything but wonderful, but free from the fat that has held me back for a long, long time.

I sometimes sit and think about all this and feel so blessed and then I think wow, do I have alot of accountability built into winning this. People will be watching and I don't want to waste this chance.

Food and me will have a totally different relationship when this is all done. I will be full on a little food and won't have to think about it nearly as much. I am sure that there will be head hunger, but I will get past that and work my way to a healthy relationship with food.

I also got my surgery time. I need to be there at 7:15 and my surgery is 8:00; the first surgery of the day. I should be home by afternoon and out walking a little by evening. I need to keep moving to help move the gas from the laparoscopic surgery out of my body and also to avoid blood clots. The more you move the better off you are.

Time to go out and enjoy this cold, windy Florida weather - who would think that it is warmer in Illinois than it is here. It is supposed to be much warmer the next few days, so here to warmer weather and sunshine.

Talk to you soon.