Happy Thanksgiving

This Morning I got up early and went to the track to walk. Walked over 3 miles. I'm wondering what emotion will appear today as I watch everyone eat Thanksgiving Dinner. I'm hoping I can just be happy being with my family and good friends. Take Care All And Have A Great Thanksgiving Day!

Post Op Appointment

Hi All, My Post Op went real good. I had lost almost 12 pounds. I was very pleased with that. They made me an appointment for a fill on December 15. The Doctor said I will 5 in my fill.... not sure what that means. I'm feeling really good lately. My Doctor says it's due to me walking so much. The Gas pains in my shoulder are subsiding and I'm Very Happy about that. Last night I was making sweet potato pies from sweet potatoes we grew in our garden. I wanted SOOOOOO bad to just taste the pie filling but I didn't. It smelled so good I know it will taste good.

I want to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your families and the time you have with them.

Post Op Appointment Tomorrow

I have my post op appointment tomorrow. I'm still having pains in my shoulder. I'll be glad when they are gone. I have been walking for an hour a day since I got out of the hospital. Maybe I can make that an everyday thing. Today I attended my brother in law's birthday party. They had a 12 layer cake. It looked sooooooo good. I was very strong, I just smelled it. Also went to the movies with my son today and he got nachos. I have had Movie nachos before and I know they are gross. I sat there listening to my son munch on those nachos and I wanted one so bad! Then he had to go to the bathroom and I had to hold them. I wanted to cry. I just kept thinking "these are GROSS, U don't want one" and sure enough it passed. The movie was great, the party was fun and I didn't have to eat anything. WooHoo, A Milestone.... I'm proud of myself. I don't think I have ever not cheated on a diet for this long. The next HUGE mountain to climb will be Thanksgiving. Keep me in your prayers.

Day 2 At Home

Slept good again. Woke up once in a little pain so I took some more pain medication and went right back to sleep. Felt pretty good again this morning so I went for another hour long walk. At first seemed a little short of breath but after a while it passed. I have started having the gas pain in my shoulder. It Hurts! I thought it would be gone by now. Its been 3 days. Nothing seems to help. I thought the walking would take care of it. It got so bad today I took the pain medication and used an ice pack. Didn't really help that much. I have also started to have (sorry) diarrhea. It's ruthless and sneaky. My husband has gone to the store to get me some liquid Imodium. Not really sure I can take it. Also I got on the scales this morning and I hadn't lost any weight. I'm still the same weight I was at surgery. That was a little depressing :( I'm sure it's fluids.... I hope it's fluids. If anyone else are having the same problems I would greatly appreciate some advice. Have a good night, Band-It Girl

Oh I almost forgot. Hiccups are very painful!

Hi All.... I was banded yesterday.... WooHoo... I had no problems. The day I was suppose to go home I developed a fever. It wasn't high but was a concern nurse for the. Late yesterday she called the Dr. and he said it was ok for me to go home as long as my temperature didn't go over 100. It's still in the 90's so I'm guessing I'm ok. While I was in the hospital I was very antsy. I told the nurse I wanted to get up as soon as possible. At about 4:00 they finally let me get up and walk. I felt soooooo much better after I walked. So I decided to walk every chance I got. After the surgery I had a pain pump with Diloted (spelling). I used it a few times but really didn't need it. After I got home I just relaxed and chilled out. When I went to bed I couldn't get comfortable. I wanted to and usually do, sleep on my left side but that wasn't happening. I guess sometime durning the night I woke my husband up moaning and groaning. He woke me up and I was in some pain so I took the pain medication. Slept pretty good after that. When I woke up I was very stiff and had some pain. Some of it was at the port sight and I think some of it was gas. I decides to go for a walk in the neighborhood. I asked a neighbor if she wanted to go too. We were walking and I lost track of time. We ended up walking for 1 hour and and 10 minutes. I felt pretty good but the pain was coming back so I took some pain medication. Now It's time for a nap :)

Banded Tomorrow!

Well, tomorrow's the day! This time tomorrow I will be banded! My bag is packed, my legs are shaved, I think I'm ready. Again, the liquid diet hasn't been too bad. If the rest of this journey is like this, I think I have got it made. I'm sure there will be some ups and downs but I feel like I'm mentally prepared. Wish me luck. I'll try to post tomorrow night.

Liquid Diet Day 3

Planned Food In The Refrigerator!

Liquid Diet going great! Lost 7.5 pounds!!!! I really haven't been hungry. I have been planning my liquid diet the night before and putting everything together in the refrigerator and only drinking that. I feel like it makes me accountable. Also, I'm keeping a diary of everything I eat and I don't want to screw up because I'll see it every time I look at it. I could just not write it down if I cheated but I'm not like that. 2 more days until surgery! I'm ready and being successful on the liquid diet has been made me even more sure that this is the right thing to do.

Day 1 Liquid Diet

Started the liquid diet today. Hasn't been too bad. Have a head ache but not too hungry. 4 More Days Left!

7 Days Til I'm Banded!

This is a Picture of the toilet in the Bariatric Wing of the hospital! How cool is that? Tomorrow I have my pre op appointment with my Doctor. I'm very excited. Things I'm going to ask him: When can I go back to work? Can he give me something to keep me from throwing up after surgery? (usually puke for a couple of days after surgery) Can I have a pain pump because I can't take pain pills? I'll check back in tomorrow..... Nite Nite

Lap Band Teaching Class

This is me, saving lives at work... Ok, so it's a Sea Gull, but it was hurt.

Yesterday I had my Lap Band Teaching class. It was interesting. We walked on the Bariatractic Floor and saw the big beds, huge toilets, (my favorite), the walking hall way. The teacher said on the day of your surgery they want you walking at least 15 laps and on the day after the surgery 25 laps. She said the record was 127 laps.... So I have to beat that. 25 laps is a mile. We talked about the pre op diet which I start on Saturday. This is it: Apple, Grape, Cranberry Juices, Clear Broth, decaf coffee and tea, Gatorade, Crystal Light. Only one protein shake a day. The reason for all this is to shrink your liver. She said protein makes your liver swell up so for 4 days it can shrink. Then we talked about the surgery and the fills afterward. I don't think it's really going to be that bad. There was a nice lady there also getting a band and she is very sacred of nettles so she is Very Afraid to get the fills. Things like that don't scare me. I want to take a video of it to share with my friends.

Also, found out I can't have nothing to eat and drink for 24 hours after surgery. She said the next day after surgery I will have an upper GI to check for leaks. If no leaks I can start on my 2 weeks of clear liquids. Doesn't sound too bad. One thing she told me is to go buy some Chap Stick 100% Natural and bring it with me. Since nothing to drink your lips will get dried out.

Tomorrow I have Pre Admission appointment and the Pre Op with my Doctor. Should be fun. I'll keep you posted. Take Care All My Friends! Lap Ban-It Girl :)

Self Pay

As I have said before, I'm a self pay patient. I borrowed the money from my retirement (which I already have). The Doctor's office is working with me so I can use my Carnival Cruise Credit card which has turned out to be a Big PAIN in the butt. My Limit is about $5000 so I have to charge a little bit at a time and then pay it. The problem is the credit card company is holding the transaction for like 5 days. I have to be paid in full by the 10th but with them holding the transaction for 5 day and declining the next transaction doesn't look like I'm going to get the 17K points. Boo! My husband and I are still planning to go on a cruise on the 28th of January. That should be after my second fill, so I think it will be ok. I have to learn to control myself. Good Luck to all my new friends who are getting Banded this month. :)