Went to Dr yesterday for migraine. She weighed me and their scale says 272. I'm eating regular food now. Just smaller portions. Was hanging clothes today and I put on a skirt I've not worn in 4 years. Its a 26 and its baggy on me. I was so excited I wanted to cry. Went to show my roomate but I guess he's downstairs doing something. I took a picture of me in the skirt and then I put on a cute shirt I had bought for .99 at fashion bug during a clearance. It fit too. I'm really excited. Today is my 1 month bandiversary and I think its going well. I go on August 5th for my first fill. Kinda nervous about that. Oh well off to bed I have to be up at 5 am. UGH.

Ok, so I'm scared. I feel like a first time mom. Every little thing scares me. I truly felt great the 2nd week. I was supposed to go back to work on Saturday. Well still didn't feel good and actually didn't sleep til 0300 Sat am. After taking a maxalt and a dose of tylenol for my horrendous migraine. By Sunday, I was dehydrated which warranted a trip to the ER for IV fluids. Today (Monday) I went to lay down (now mind you I have been sleeping on my stomach since about a week and a half after surgery. It hurts to sleep on my stomach today, Actually hurts to lay on my side. Feels like a dull pain and pulling. Whats sad is I've been in bed since 9pm, here it is after midnight, I have to be up at 5 am for work and I'm still wide awake. I can't afford to not work because I have NO time for leave. I don't get paid for this time. I've been off work for 3 wks now. I just wanna cry. I hate being a bother to the doctor calling them all the time. I just don't know if this is something normal or not.

7/12/09

So Friday 7/10/09, I went to see my PCP because I was not feeling well. She said I have a sinus infection and put me on antibiotics (zpac 5 day). Since Friday I've not drank a whole lot because I can't stand the taste of plain water when I'm sick. Watered down juice is pushing it for me but regular juice is to sweet. I've had a migraine since Friday too. Was supposed to be back at work yesterday but because of migraine I'm not sleeping at night and have felt like general ass. I have no energy, my head throbs no matter what i take and this morning I woke up w/ a temp of 99.9 which for me is high cause I average 96-97. Afraid to go to hospital cause I think they will admit me cause I'm dehydrated or at least keep me forever to pump me full of fluids. I don't like being sick cause I tend to feel like a baby when I am sick.

2 weeks

Well today is my 2 week bandiversary. I am down 13 lbs. Down to 273. I am actually eating normal food, I just chew chew chew to make it as mushy as I can. I do feel some restriction. It takes alot less food to get me full. Pain is almost gone. I did have to put new steri-strips on 2 of the incisions because they were starting to possibly open. It all itches like there is no tomorrow. Part of it is the liquid hydrocodone. I hate that side effect. Water is hard to get in but I'm getting my protien in with out protien shakes. (THANK GOD) First fill is August 5th. I go back to work Saturday. I have to admit its been nice being off for these last 18 days. After the first week of relaxing and recovering I've been able to do things. We have gone to play putt putt, I've visited family and friends. Hopefully if its nice tomorrow I'm going to watch the laser show at Stone Mountain Park with some friends. Hopefully the weather will hold off for us. Oh well its late and I'm gonna try and head to sleep. Hope everyone has a good night.

In August of 2008 I had hit my highest point. I was 324 lbs. Standing 5'5.5" I didn't know which way to turn. I had been looking into the lap band system and decided to go to a seminar. We drove from Lawrenceville to Cumming and went to the meeting. We were lucky, the only 2 people there so I got all my questions answered and alot of 1 on 1 personalization from the doctor and the nurse. At the time I had Kaiser Insurance. They cover nothing towards weight loss (however they do cover for me to become an man). So knowing that I would have Blue Cross Blue Shield of GA in January I started my 6 month Dr supervised diet. It started out like any diet, I went to my doctor once a month and weighed in and talked to my nurse practitioner about my weight and diet. By January I had finished the long questionnaire ,for the Lap band surgeon to review and decide if I was a good candidate or not, and had mailed it in. After not hearing anything for 2 weeks I called the Dr's office. They had gotten it however the most important part was missing. All my contact info. I finally called in March and made my first appts. Started out going for Orientation (down to 299 at this appt), then the following week I had to go see the surgeon for a consult visit. In April I set up my Sleep study, Psychological and my Dietitian appt. I was fortunate on the sleep study since I had had a sleep study done 2 1/2 years ago and it said I had severe sleep apnea I didn't have to take that part again. I only had to take the CPAP study. A few weeks later I got my CPAP machine. After I had all my visits taken care of I called the Surgeons office and they submitted the paperwork to Insurance. Less than 2 weeks later I had my approval letter. I scheduled my surgery for June 25th. 2 weeks prior to surgery I was to start on a liquid diet. The liquid diet was to shrink the stomach and the liver to make putting the band on easier. In order to get behind the stomach they must lift the liver out of the way. The smaller it is the safer the surgery is and the easier it is on the doctor. The liquid diet included yogurt, Sugar free jello, SF Popsicles and fudgesicles, and healthy request tomato soup (or cream of chicken strained). I also started drinking protein shakes (blech). The day before my surgery I was nervous and scared and excited. I did all my last minute cleaning and laundry. One of the best things I did the day before my surgery was to treat myself to a massage. It was so beyond worth it. I was fortunate not to have to take anything to clean me out for surgery. I was on clear liquids only the day before surgery. That itself cleaned me out plenty.
The morning of surgery my roommate and I arrived at the hospital at 545 am. My parents showed up at 6 am and we all walked upstairs together. I was really nervous when they called my name to go back. I was shown to my room and told to go across the hall and scrub my stomach for 5 minutes with an antibacterial soap. They let my roommate come back with me while she did my IV (I'm petrified of needles) and he stayed with me for a little bit then went and got my parents so they could come back with me. I met the anesthesiologist and saw my Doctor. My Parents and roommate kept switching out so everyone could see me before the surgery. At 815 I was wheeled back into the OR. I was moved to a really skinny table and strapped down. Oxygen was put on me and in no time I started feeling sleepy. I woke up a little after 10 am in recovery with a nurse calling my name telling me to breath. She put my CPAP machine on me at this time. I asked her if they put the band in me, she said yes. I remember getting a smile on my face and going back to sleep. They moved me to another recovery room after this where my parents and my roommate was allowed to come in and stay with me. Everyone was awesome about switching out and letting the other person come back. I was only allowed 2 persons with me at a time and I had 3 support persons with me. They told me the Dr came out and saw them after my surgery was over and he said it could not have gone better. (Surgery took right at an hour as family was notified at 925 that it went well) My liver was awesome. I had a small hiatal hernia but the doctor fixed that while he was in there. They gave me meds for nausea and pain (liquid loratab). I got up and walked to the bathroom with the assistance of my step mom and my nurse. At 145pm a nurse came and got me and wheeled me down to the Xray room so they could take an xray of the band and do a barium swallow. I had to drink this nasty lemon stuff but I got to see the fluids go down the band into my stomach. The nurse that wheeled me back up told me she had the same surgery back in Sept of last year and she looked awesome. My Dr came in to see me at 245pm or so said everything went great and looked great and I could go home. I don't think I could have gotten dressed quicker. (not hard since I wore sweatpants and a tshirt that was 4 sizes to big and my comfy slippers) The ride home was not bad. I called some friends to let em know all went well and we were on way home. I got home and went straight to bed. Today is 1 week post op. I feel great. I have had minimal pain. Just achy. Like I had done 200+ sit ups. I'm down to taking pain meds at night before bed only. 5 days post op I went mattress shopping and bought a new mattress. 6 days I had my post op check up then went to grocery store. Today I went and ran errands this morning then this afternoon played 27 holes of putt putt golf and got my nails done and my toes done. My roommate has been so supportive. He has been there for me every step of the way. He has gone to every doctors appt with me and even dealt with my family the day of the surgery for me. My best friend came up and has been staying with us to help me out. We play Wii, we talk, we have had fun. I'm so fortunate to have such awesome people in my life that help me and are there for me through thick and through thin. The first week post op I had liquids only. I pretty much stuck with clear liquids. After post op I have started mushy/soft foods. I eat egg salad, hummus. Tonight I had 1/2 a cheese quesadilla and was full. I definitely feel restriction. It is however tough getting in enough fluid and protein. Good luck to everyone partaking in this journey. I hope that my posts can help encourage and help people through this. Feel free to ask any questions you may have and I will answer them to the best of my ability.
Next Dr appt is August 5th for my first fill.
Sorry for any spelling errors, its past my bedtime and I took my pain meds a little while ago and they have kicked in full force by end of this. :)
My starting weight in August of 2008 was 324.
At this time 7/3/09 I am 276.
Goal 160