Progress Report....

Tomorrow, it will be 3 weeks since I had the surgery that changed my life.  I have passed the liquid stage thankfully.  For me, that was the worst part of all this surgery.  I tried doing too much too quickly and my port site quickly slowed me right back down.  There is nothing like feeling a pain in your side that feels like a hot knife stabbing you to slow you back down.  This past Wednesday, I went back to my surgeon and he was pleased with my progress.  I will go back in on June 29 to be evaluated to see if I need my first fill.  I am hoping that I do get one.  I am getting hungry again within a couple hours of eating and my weight loss has slowed to a crawl.  Yesterday, I started walking on the treadmill and doing weights again.  Today, I walked on the treadmill this morning and then walked my dog around town this afternoon.  I am hoping that the exercise boost will start the weight loss back up.  I also started getting b12 shots in order to boost my energy that the new way of eating is sapping from me.  I highly recommend that anyone on a weight loss journey of any kind keep a food diary.  You will be surprised at how quickly calories can add up in a given day.  For those of you who read this and are just starting this journey, remember, the first few weeks after the surgery are not about losing weight anyway.  They are about allowing your body to heal.  Make sure to get in the 64 ozs of fluids each day and 60 to 90 grams of protein.  I have found that if I keep a water bottle with me all the time to sip on, i surpass the 64 ozs of fluids easily.   I have been asked if I would do this all over again and, at this point, I can definitely say I would.  Due to a side effect I have encountered from the new way of eating, I will be having another surgery in the coming weeks.  This is not something that everyone would encounter and I'm thankful that I am going to get this problem dealt with now.  I have dealt with it for years.  I so appreciate all the prayers and kind words and thoughts....all the support from LBT....God bless each and every one of you!!!!!!

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The Soup That Saved Me During Liquids and more....

Potato soup was my lifesaver during the liquid stage, but I mixed it up a bit fom the way I usually make it.  First, i peeled and diced 7 potatoes and put them in a medium sized pot of water along with one onion.  This is much less potatoes than what I would usually add, but they are plenty for this recipe.  I boil this for about a hour and then I added chicken base.  Chicken stock will also work.  I continued boiling all of this until the potatoes were almost cooked away.  I then added a can of cream of chicken and 1 cup of finely shredded cheddar cheese....both of which up the protein count.   I continued to boil it until the cheese was melted into the broth.  For any potato chunks that are left, you can simply pick them out or put them through a food processor or blender to liquify them. 

The second recipe I want to share was given to me by a friend.  It is for a strawberry/banana protein shake.  Both strawberries and bananas can be blended down to liquid form.  After you do this, add in 8 ozs of skim milk and one scoop of vanilla protein mix.  Blend until smooth.  You can drink it like this or you can add some ice and blend to make a yummy smoothie.

I hope these two recipes help.  God bless and best of luck on this journey we are all on!!!!

Surgery Day and Beyond

I attended my presurgery class and went through preadmission on May 12, 2011, and it was very educational.  The therapist went over issues we could face mentally after being banded.  The nurse went through our procedures step by step and very graphically.  There was no reason after the class to even wonder what was going to happen.  It was very helpful.  The weekend following brought about my body being a bundle of nerves.  I think I went through every emotion from extreme happiness and excitement to being so scared I cried.  Once we arrived at the hospital on the morning of May 16th, that all faded away.  A peace came over me that was and is undescribable.  I knew I was doing the right thing and was so happy to finally be at the end of the preop journey.  For those who have not been through this, I am going to go through what I remember of the day to help you prepare for your day.  My husband and were checked in at the surgery waiting area and within a few minutes I was called back.  They checked my vitals and gave me a gown to put on.  Blood was then drawn and an I.V. started in my hand.  The anesthesiologist came and asked a dozen questions before describing what gases they would be using on me during surgery.  My surgeon came in, went over final details, and impressed me beyond what he had before.   My husband asked him if he would be willing to pray with us before he left and he agreed.  I was rolled into the operating room and transfered to the operating table.  My arms were stretched out from my sides on a table that completely reminded me of the tables you see them use in executions.  My anesthesiologist put on an oxygen mask for a few minutes and then put another mask on that was to put me to sleep.  She told me to breathe deep and I remember thinking....hmmm...this isn't making me sleepy at all and the next thing I remember is the nurse talking to me in recovery.  There is a period of not really remembering what all was going on.  I remember talking to my nurse and then I remember being in my hospital room, but I do not remember the transfer to my room at all.  According to my husband, they had already told him my room number and he had brought in my bags before they wheeled me in.  The first thing I remember asking in the room was when I could walk and her telling me that I could walk whenever I was ready....which I did.  I walked the halls every couple of hours.  I was told to do this by various friends in lapbandtalk and they were so right.  The walking helped with the pain and to rid my body of the gas used during surgery.   I had no hunger after surgery and as of 4 days out, I still have no hunger.  I have barely felt any of the incisions, of which I have 4 total, except for the port site incision.  That one has been extremely tender and I have certainly used the pain and nausea meds they gave me.   The best piece of advice that I could give any bandster for right after surgery is exactly what I have just said...walk, walk, walk!!!!!!  All the fluids given to me in the hospital did cause me to gain 10 lbs, but the fluid left quickly upon returning home.   Do not be too easily embarassed after surgery as you will be passing gas from mouth and rear.   Make sure all of your questions are answered before you leave the hospital.  Be prepared to feel really tired.  This comes from the remnants of anesthesia and that your body has just been through a major surgery.  I am told the tiredness can last up to one month but does become more easily dealt with.  Before surgery, make sure you have your foods at home ready for when you come home.  I suggest you start experimenting with protein shakes and find one you enjoy.  I am required to consume 64 ozs of fluids per day and to have anywhere from 60 to 90 grams of protein.   It has now been 18 days since I started my preop diet.  I have lost 14.3 lbs and 2.5 inches.  I am now anxious to get released by my doctor so I can do more strenuous exercise and activities to up my metabolism even more.   I am very happy with my decision and I would do it all over anytime.  I see my new life in the horizon and I am running to it as quickly as I can.

The Day I Have Been Waiting For.....

Yesterday, I received the call I have been waiting for since last September.  My surgery is scheduled for May 16, if everything goes as planned.  If my insurance approval is delayed, I am also scheduled for May 23.  I was told to begin my preop diet immediately...so much for that last supper, lol.  My preop diet consists of 1500 calories per day, low fat.  I have decided, in an attempt to prepare myself for after surgery, to do liquids for two meals and food for the third.  Since my surgeon requires that I stay in the hospital overnight, babysitter arrangements have already been made for my babies (Alisha, I cannot thank you enough).  My husband will be staying at the hospital with me so we still have to make arrangements for someone to check on our pets while we are away.  I am currently going through the bariatric version of "nesting".  I am getting my house as clean and in order as I can before surgery.  For the first 6 days after surgery, I will be allowed to only walk from bed, to bathroom, to chair, and around the house as much as I can stand in order to lessen the pain from the gas used during surgery. I will be on a liquid diet for the first two weeks after surgery.  At that time, I will go back in for a check up and if I am healing properly, I will get to move on to mushies.  Thankfully, I will not be very hungry in the first little bit anyway according to most of those who have gone before me. I am a bundle of emotions...nervous about being put to sleep...excited about what the future holds for me...scared of so many things, but most of all, I'm happy.  I have worked so hard to get to this point and I am mentally prepared for the work that I have in front of me. I complained about having to wait so long, but I am now somewhat thankful.  It has given me time to talk with other bandsters.  They have been my support...my educators.  To my friends at LBT, you know who you are, thank you will never be enough to explain what the last few months of talking to you has meant for me.  I felt secure in my decision before I even met you, but you all have given me not only security, but more optimism than I have ever had that I will be successful in this.  Now, time to pack, get my groceries ready, get my house ready...and MOST of all....jump headfirst into my new life :) This time next year, I plan to be in a pair of leather pants on the back of the Harley with my husband in my arms and wind blowing through my hair :D

Begining a New Life

I have deleted my older posts in an attempt to start afresh for those who read my blog.  I kind of got out of the habit of writing here and decided to start over.  I am a 37 year old woman who is married and has 4 biological children and 4 step children.  I have one step grandchild.  We share our home with 10 of God's furry, feathery creatures.  I bake and decorate cakes, cupcakes, and candy. To say my life never gets boring...well, that would be an understatement.  Unfortunately, due to medical problems, for the past 3 years it has been a constant struggle for me to keep up with my life.  Three years ago I found out that I have multiple herniations in my back.  This past year, the number of those was up to 7.  I also have hypothyroidism, depression, and aura migraines.  I live in pain 95% of the time.  Since my back has become so bad, I have gained 80 lbs.  The weight gain adds extra pressure on my back thus causing more pain.  I have decided to have bariatric surgery because of this.  The hope is that between weight loss and attending the pain clinic, my pain will become bearable and less of a hinderance on my life.  Last September, after several years of research, I made the decision to get banded.  This started the long process that has led up until now.  My insurance required six months of diet counseling with my doctor.  I had to see her once a month for 6 consecutive months.  If I had missed even one month, the 6 months would have started all over.  I completed my 6 months in March.  During the 6 months, I had a sleep study done to determine if I had sleep apnea.  According to those results, I do not.  Four months into my 6, I mailed in the presurgery packet to my bariatric center.  After they received my packet, I was scheduled a date to come in to meet the dietician, psychologist, and to view videos on the surgery.  I also chose my surgeon at this visit.  A few weeks later, I went back to meet him and he gave me a list of all the other presurgery testing I would have to get completed.  I have since had an intravenous doppler test, a pulmonary function test, an EKG, and a heart echo.  I had to be cleared by a pulmonologist and cardiologist for surgery.  At this time, all of those tests are complete and this Wednesday, I will be returning to my physician to go over the test results and finish the final paperwork to FAX to my surgeon.  Then the waiting will begin.  I can guarantee that my phone will never be far from my side after I know the paperwork has been FAX'd.  The next phonecall I should receive from them will be the one telling me when my surgery date is.  The day I have been waiting for and was beginning to feel like would never get here.  After the surgery date is set, I will have two more steps to complete.  I have to attend a workshop led by my dietician and psychologist and I have to get one more set of bloodwork done.  I had someone ask me the other day if I was scared and I would be lying if I said that I wasn't a little.  I'm scared of being put to sleep.  I'm worried about how long it will take to heal...we all know mommas can't be down long.   I am more anxious than anything.  Anxious to start the new life that I have prepared myself for.  Anxious to be healthier not only for myself, but also for my family.  I am anxious for the pain in my back to decrease so I can complete more of everyday activities.  The journey has been long but the end is in sight.  I could not be more thankful for the friends and family who have supported me along the way and who I know will be cheering me on in the future as I become a bandster and BEGIN A NEW LIFE!!!!!!