Band_Groupie's Post-Op Journey - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Band_Groupie · 05-07-2009, 08:16 AM

I'm taking a lesson from Av (love your logbook) and am starting a place where I can update the highlights from my journey that might help me (get advice from all of you) and someone else down the line. I post an almost daily blog (link below), but it includes lots of other non WLS shenanagans from my crazy life, so I thought I'd create a place for just my lapband journey.

I've copied and pasted my first 3 entries from my post-op "Surgery was Wed...." thread, because I was too stupid (or drugged up) to start this last week. Sorry, I didn't include all your lovely replies here, but this gets me caught up so I can keep updating.

4/24/09
I got banded on Wednesday 4/22; overnight in the hospital (pic below, me before banding...sorry no makeup or hairbrush obviously). Had a few small surprises; had to be catherized before leaving, had to get an insulin shot (not a diabetic), almost had to stay a second night as my blood pressure was so low (I have high blood pressure), and I did get sick (but I was expecting that as I get sick watching video games). Other than the roommate from He!!, and only a few hours of sleep because of her (chronic complainer/moaner...and she had a one incision lap procedure on her abdomen wall, not WLS), everything else went well. The doc loved my porthole site pic I drew on my tummy to show him where I wanted my port (pic below...OK, just you try drawing upside down and backwards on your own tummy!). If you want the details they're on my blog (read Tues.-Friday/today)....Link below. It's great to be in Bandlandia!!! I've been collecting all the WLS recipes here...sounds like my crockpot will be my new best friend! Thanks everyone for all the support!!! -BG
Attached Thumbnails (click for pics): Surgery was Wed., Woot!

5/5/09
I'm doing great now. Had a small gliche...sudden chest pain when breathing and trouble breathing 5 days out (not like the gas pain). Called the surgeon just to make sure it was normal. I could stand the pain and I'm used to breathing things with Asthma, but one sister has had 2 mini strokes, so I wanted to be sure it wasn't a clot. They sent me to the ER and I ended up in the hospital for a couple of days. They did some tests and found out that it wasn't a clot within a few hours (probably my ribs had been pushed out of alignment with the surgery and I reinjured them trying to sleep on my side that day...and they'll just take time to heal), but my EKG I had at triage upon entry to the hospital showed some anomalies as compared to the one I had done for my pre-op requirements. So they kept me overnight for more heart/stress testing...of course, everything was fine.

Bummer was I spent my 50th birthday overnight in the hospital (not like I'd have been partying with my broth and jello anyway). I'll be two weeks out tomorrow and the chest pain has improved. Other than extreme fatigue and feeling weak, I'm doing well. I'm only getting 400-500 cals a day on this all clear liquids with 3 8oz. glasses of milk a day diet and I still have 1 more week of this. I've starting cheating with a protein shake or 2 per day as I can hardly function now. We'll see if it helps!

5/6/09
Yep, I drew it on my belly the day before surgery (the whole OR thought it was a hoot).

My doc gave my initial seminar and told us we could pick our port site (within reason). I did some research and gathered opinions on where people would put their's if they had a choice and if they didn't like where their's is, then why (No third boob for this gal!...can't believe some docs put them on the breastbone). Mine's left, between the ribs and the belly button line.

I follow up with the cardiologist in a few months.

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Band_Groupie · 05-13-2009, 08:21 AM

I went for my 3 week post-op visit yesterday. I'm finally off that crazy clear liquids and skim milk 450-calories-a-day-makes-you-shaky-and-weak-diet. They changed their plan and now there's no pureed foods stage so I'm cleared for the lifetime diet and exercise. I'm a little confused as the new plan was 1/2 page of suggested foods, no amounts, timing, details. I've decided to take it slow and start off with purees then move to regular foods if I do alright. They showed a weight loss of 16 pounds, which doesn't jive with what I'd been tracking (more like 10 since surgery), but the total is all that counts and I'm now over 30.

I also got cleared for exercise so I broke out the new Wii Fit and watched as my cute little Mii I created ballooned up to look like Mimi from the Drew Carey Show and then yelled at me "That's OBESE!"...nice to know...like I didn't have enough body image problems! Then after taking some balance tests it berated me with "You're unbalanced! Do you often find yourself falling down and tripping over your own feet?" Yes, I'm officially an obese clutz. I can hardly wait to get back on today.

Band_Groupie · 05-26-2009, 01:53 PM

Hope you all had a great weekend (from the 2 extra pounds on my scale this morning, I know I did)! After the mulching marathon DH decided yesterday we needed to go buy the few annual plants we were still missing, so off to the nurseries we went again. We got a few flats and as I was out front watering them I saw my next door neighbor (someone I rarely see in the winter) out watering too. I shouted out greetings and then it came…“You look skinny!”…totally caught me off guard…awkward long pause as I'm in shock... “Thanks! Not SKINNY, but I’m working on it!” Then we had a chat about dieting vs. making lifestyle changes, slow loss vs. fast (told her I’ve been losing since last fall), exercise, etc. (she had a TT a few years back and has started exercising/losing weight). I was thrilled! My first NSV! No one else has noticed yet that I’ve lost 35 pounds. I guess it’s not as noticeable to people who see you all the time (and in fairness I carry most of it in my lower half, so I look pretty much the same from the waist up). Plus I’m up and down so often they probably can’t remember if I’m losing or gaining at any given point...I can barely keep track!

I did have an unofficial NSV (since it was my kids and they know I’m trying to lose weight) on Friday. I was in my favorite pair of blue jeans (can’t remember size 24 or 20?...yep it’s all in my a$$) to take the boys to their Dr. appointment Friday (reg. appt./not sick). I noticed I now had to put my belt on the third notch to keep me from having that ‘low crotch’ look. Let me just tell you that before my surgery that skinny belt (skinny as in the height of it) was on the last notch and I’m ashamed to say I actually broke the belt leather from top to bottom a few weeks before surgery (I remember mentioning in a blog that belt flipping over into my skin every time I sat down and making a small bruise on my stomach)…now the only thing holding the end of it together was the backing…and NO WAY was I buying a new ‘fat belt’. I came downstairs and one of my kids told me my pants were getting baggy…then they all gathered around to point it out…my DD was grabbing the excess fabric in the back and telling me I needed some pins at the top, or better yet, some new jeans…all three of them went on and on about how much weight I was losing…I’m just sayin’…it was nice.

Another band first; DH made me a sandwich for lunch while I was out working in the garden yesterday. It was on a soft un-toasted bagel (I know, not on the plan, but it was nice of him to make it and I wasn't turning it down). Now remember that I have 0 fill, have had NO restriction, and don’t have to chew anything more than I used to for the past two weeks. I was in a hurry to get back outside so I started eating quickly and when I was almost done it felt like I got a piece of the bagel stuck just inside my throat…in my esophagus…it hurt. I did the stupid thing and without thinking did what I normally would do…I took a couple of big swigs of water thinking that would soften it and push it down. I’m now screaming “Barf Bowl!” as I hold my hand across my mouth…NOW I’m thinking… ‘Whoops! Bread! Stuck! What did they say??!!…oh...now I remember...NO drinking on top of the stuck bread! WHAT HAVE I DONE??!! What was that yogo position??!! Downward facing dog? OK, I'm way past needing that!!!’…The barf bowl arrived just in time…up came clear water and then mushed up bagel…TMI, but seriously they were still separate. I’m guessing that was my first PB. Stuck on bread…no more bagels…

First posted on my blog, link below

Ms. Readytobehealthy · 05-26-2009, 08:13 PM

Wow, BG I am so happy things are going so good for you. I know you have had some WOW moments. I miss you on the 6 month thread however I am sooooo happy for you. Please continue to keep us posted.

Band_Groupie · 06-07-2009, 06:40 PM

OK, the good news first…I’ve just guillotined another head! That’s right, 40 pounds gone! It’s coming off slowly, but I knew it would. I’ve lost at least 1 pound a week since surgery, which is great! I really expected to have some ‘gain’ weeks by now (probably just jinxed myself, didn’t I?).

I’m pretty sure I have a tiny bit of restriction now after that first fill (3cc’s in total). I don’t get that ‘hard stop’ (hurt feeling in your chest) that I had immediately post-op, but I definitely have a very ‘full’ feeling after eating about 1C-1.5C. It’s a little delayed, so I’m still figuring things out. I eat within the 20-25 min. like I’m supposed to and then sometimes almost 15 min. later I get that ‘whoa…Thanksgiving full’ feeling…almost nausea, like when you just binged on everything good in the fridge. I just got that after eating 2 scrambled eggs with a few bacon bits for breakfast. I’ve only been on solids for a day so I’m going to start measuring closely today and see where I’m at. It’s hard with the delayed reaction to know when you’re full, and I’m supposed to stop eating after 20-25 min. so with eating time I might not know. I think I’ll try just 1C of food for lunch and see how it goes. If this stays for awhile, it will be great! I’m thankful for any help I get.

DS1’s Graduation was perfect. It was a beautiful evening outside in the stadium. I wore my sunglasses to hide all my tears and had my tissues handy. DS1 was so happy. We got lots of pics with him and all his friends…what a great group of kids they are (a bunch of well rounded smart kids with great futures). We went out as a family afterward for a late dinner at DS1’s work place (fancy Italian restaurant) and it was a lovely end to the day. The place is huge and packed, but so many co-workers came over to offer their congratulations and tell us what a great kid/worker he is.

By the time we got to dinner I was starving. I drank a bottle of water on the way there, but it didn’t help. We had drinks at the bar while we were waiting for DS1 and DD to arrive (separate car, they stayed later to get a few more pics). When we got to the table we ordered an appetizer and the bread came; it’s the best warm herb bread they bring with a plate of herb infused olive oil…I think I had 3 small slices of the bread and then 3 fried ravioli with a marinara dip appetizer…really bad carb choices…I’m blaming it on the glass of wine…it weakened my willpower…like I had any to begin with. When my dinner came I couldn’t eat it…seriously! I was disappointed, and mad at myself that I couldn’t eat because it was a beautiful, delicious meal. I made myself eat about 3 tiny bites and pushed around the food so it would look like I ate more (tilapia with crab topping, roasted veggies and mashed potatoes) and that’s it!!!! Surprised the heck out of me!!! OK, time to start realizing that I have to make the 1C of food I’m going to eat count, no matter how hungry I am. A bite or two before dinner would have curbed the hunger and allowed me to eat more of the dinner/protein. Old habits are going to be slow to die.

Now here’s the hard part. I realized that I now weigh exactly what I did last May when I dieted and exercised down for our family trip to Paris. I realized that even at this same weight that’s where I had my ‘moment’ where I decided to start looking at the Lap Band surgery. How sad is that?! Of course, as usual, I put all the weight back on over the summer, without wanting to, as I waited for my PCP check-up appointment in Sept. Gaining it back just reinforced my wanting the LB. I’ve lost 40-50 lbs. so many times and 20-30 pounds more times than you can count. I can recite to you which years I was down big weight, heck 9 years ago when we moved here I'd dieted down to 160 for my youngest sister's wedding (I think I was that weight for a day)...that's a mere 12 pounds above my goal weight!!! Depressing. The longest I’ve stayed the same weight in the last 20 years is when I was on my 6 month ‘diet’ for insurance LOL. It’s a little depressing to think I was right here about a year ago. I can’t tell you how many times this has happened…starving myself to get the same weight off that I’d lost the year before. Of course that’s why no one is noticing my weight loss, although another neighbor and one of my best friends here noticed the other day.

It’s so much harder for someone like me who’s seen these numbers so many times before not to feel like I’ll be back up again. Others are reveling in the fact that they haven’t seen their numbers since their teens, or at least since the first time they passed it years ago…what a great feeling that must be to see a number again for the first time. I’ll tell you that I’ve been very cautious about lopping off my 10 pound heads. I’ve been waiting a few days to a week before I’ll take them off just to be sure I don’t start gaining. This time, I weighed in Friday and I’m changing my ticker this morning. I need to start believing that this is the LAST time I will see these numbers.

First posted at my daily blog (link below).

suebry05 · 06-07-2009, 06:51 PM

Band Groupie your doing great... dont worry about what your neighbors notice if your family is noticing you know you are doing WELL. As people you see everyday would have a harder time noticing the weightloss.
Some days you will make bad food choices but be aware of them and move on to better choices again later in the day or if you had a bad choice of foods force yourself to go out and exercise longer (sort of punishment)

keep up the good work!!

Tmac · 06-08-2009, 10:03 PM

Band Groupie,

You're an inspiration. Thanks so much for posting your story here. I just had my lap band put in last week and your stories help me so much. I really enjoyed the story of going out to eat. I just had my first venture tonight for my wife's birthday. We went to have sushi (her favorite) and I was so starving when we got there that I had a small salad. I could only manage 1 piece of sushi before I hit tilt. I was great to be full, but emotionally dissappointing to not be able to enjoy the fish. And, while salad is nice, I know I didn't get my protien in today. Anyway, please keep the posts coming. I really enjoy your stories and your lovely prose.

Tmac

Band_Groupie · 06-10-2009, 08:31 AM

Thanks Susan!

Tmac- Congrats on the banding! Hello Columbus (most of my family is still there)! I grew up in Worthington! I've been doing a daily blog since last Nov. when I started this journey (linked below). That's great that you could eat out a week post-op, you must really be recovering well! Yeah, I took my meal home and had 2 more meals out of it LOL. Hang in there...we're in for a bumpy, but exciting ride! ....so much still to learn.

Tmac · 06-11-2009, 10:22 PM

Thanks, Band_Groupie. I look forward to visiting your blog. I've only been in Columbus a few years, but I'm liking it. My wife grew up in Clintonville and we're now living in Westerville. It's nice to have the kids near family. I head to the doctor tomorrow for my first check up since the surgery. I'm DYING for a fill. The last 3 days have been really hard. My hunger has returned and I'm eating normal food with no problem. Well, there is a problem - I'm not getting full like I was a week ago. I sense that now my body has healed and I'm ready for an adjustment. I just hope he doesn't make me wait another 2 weeks. Keeping my fingers crossed. Take care, Tmac

Band_Groupie · 06-12-2009, 11:46 AM

Well it finally happened. I had my first gain week since surgery. I’m trying hard not to be disappointed because I knew this would happen eventually. My lovely restriction disappeared as fast as it came. I lost three pounds last week with the liquid diet and little restriction I had right after the first fill and this week I put the same three pounds back on. OK, deep breath…reminding myself of how it’s been all up to me since 9 days post-op when I entered Bandster Hell and how I’ve lost weight every week up until now…trying to stay positive. I think I got depressed this week when my restriction disappeared. I really didn’t binge at all, but I gave into my evening hunger and ate more than I should have each night and started eating more carbs.

I just got off the phone with my surgeon’s office. My next fill wasn’t scheduled until July 21st (seven weeks between) and there’s no way I’m waiting until then. I’m not sure how many weeks he’s away in July because she wouldn’t tell me, but she said his schedule is full because he’s leaving (and since the 2nd doc left the practice his schedule is tight anyway). She found me an appointment next Tuesday morning though. I’m a little afraid he’s not going to be happy to see me so soon…wish the appointment was a week later. I have a strong feeling he’s not going to give me a fill because it will only be two weeks since my last one, but I’m going to try and talk him into it. He’s so conservative I’ll bet I get a lecture on how I need to wait longer between fills. Worst case scenario, I just gave up my July fill appointment, he won’t give me a fill next week and I won’t be able to get another appointment until August. Best case, I talk him into a small fill. I’m going to put together my ‘argument’ for him and make sure I weigh in ‘heavy’ at the appointment (I’m proficient at that). Wish me luck.

First posted at my blog, link below