Walking

I was really good about getting my rear in gear and starting a regular exercise program before I had my surgery. I accredit this exercise with the main reason that I lost most of my pre-surgery weight.

I purposely didn't want to ask Dr. D about when I could resume my exercise afterwards because I knew I was not going to like the answer. I do Cardio Kickboxing with my BFF Edie and I do spinning as well. I didn't even care that my butt was WAY bigger than that little seat, and the instructor is like a 100lb drill sergeant! I love to sweat.

So when I went in for my last appointment about 3 days before my surgery, the PA had to do it. She had to tell me that if I don't adhere to the exercise limitation/restriction, I could cause the port to flip and then they would have to open me back up. So I guess I will follow the rules....

I have been getting up early and walking for the last 5 days before work. I really like it!! I like it even though it isn't crazy stuff, I really like walking and looking around my neighborhood. Today I just felt happy to feel good about doing good things for myself. Some mornings my daughter Emma comes and meets me on her bike when I am coming home and that is a nice way to start the day. I also feel more alert and ready to tackle work.

I think I will keep the walking as part of my regular daily activity.

Are any of you treating yourselves better overall after getting banded?

What are some things that you do?

Amy

"Life is as extreme as you want to make it. (quoted from Sponge Bob, he is wise)"

Food

Things I have realized since I was banded.....

1. I dream about eating again, not a lot, just eating....

2. I think I know what feeling full means now.

3. I don't think I have ever recognized how uncomfortable being stuffed is before now.

4. I think about food too much.....

Ames

"Never look back unless youre planning to go that way."

Nesting - cleaning out my life.....

I am not pregnant, but honestly the last couple of days I have actually been "nesting". Wondering if this is a common result of banding? I have organized my junk drawers, my work desk, and even the dreaded cabinet-catch-all-from-hell!!!

I just want to purge everything that I don't need or absolutely love. I feel great throwing stuff away! The best part was that yesterday, my first real day back to work, I was extra motivated and got about 3 weeks worth of work done! I think my sales guy thought I was on speed. My boss (and really great friend) couldn't believe that I was telling him I really needed to stay focused and couldn't talk about Harry Potter at the Toronto/Ontario Science Center!!

Last night I was stuck to the TV watching a recorded episode of the "Messiest House in America" (or maybe some other name like that) and it just fed my obsession with purging..... I now want a new bed and couch. Luckily I can't lift either of them or they might be out on the curb....

Have a good day!

"Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true."

Talking, Laughing and Gagging....

Yesterday was a "band new day" for me....
I had some friends over for a pool get together and I discovered the dangers of having too much fun laughing and talking and drinking (clear liquids of course - no alcohol involved). I guess talking and laughing increases the amount of air you suck in and well I gagged and then puked. Luckily I got the warning signs that I remember from a bout with the flu or a night of too much fun, and I was able to casually get up and go to the bathroom with no one even knowing.

I am thinking that the bottle of Prilosec actually needs to be opened and taken. I did just that last night and actually have no heartburn this morning. My scale is still being friendly. I am on very near the point where I can incorporate some pureed foods and getting antsy. My incisions are healing up nicely I think. I am starting my first real day back at work. (Since I work from home, I guess I never took any time off, I just didn't do much...)

I think that I have discovered something that I didn't anticipate about my LapBand. (I think I will need to name it soon.) My dear friend came to visit yesterday and she was concerned about eating in front of me or what I will be able to eat when our families go away together later this summer. I know that eating is a one of our favorite things to do together. I don't expect that to change, just the amount for me. I was so ready for this change and had a lot of time to prepare, I just don't know if my friends and family are synched up the same way. Has anyone experienced issues where you have to assure people that you can eat?

I am going to walk today. I really am anxious to be able to get back to Kickboxing and Spinning (of course the scare about dislodging my port and having to be opened back up is keeping me from pushing any exercise like that until I am in the clear from Dr. D....) I worked really hard pre-surgery to lose a lot of weight and get exercise into my normal routine, it feels like I am missing something. Walking is going to have to do it for me for now I guess.

I did do a "cheaty" thing this weekend though. It was so hot and humid on Saturday, I got my babie's Daddy (sweet ex) to clean the pool and I had him hoist me into a floaty (where my stomach was above the water) and I floated around for a half and hour. I never asked him when I could use the pool, but assumed that the rules for taking a bath were the same, after the incisions were fully healed. This is a good place to confess my bad things I guess.

Ames

5 Days Post Banding - A little history

On July 20, 2010 I had LapBand surgery at Rochester General Hospital by Dr. A. DiBenedetto. My kids and I went to Jamaica from July 9-15 and had a great time! We stayed at an all inclusive resort, but thankfully we were very active and I actually came home 2 lbs lighter. The travel day home on July 15th was Day 1 of the 5 day liquid prep before surgery.... but all went well.

I had a secret goal to be in "onederland" prior to surgery, and this really kept me in line and on track. I made my goal and on surgery day I weighed 199 lbs. My dear friend Kathy brought me to the hospital and my sweet babie's Daddy helped hold down the fort at home.

To get a little history, without all the boring details I am going to give a quick bullet list of all of the steps to get me to where I am today:

• 12/09 - severe depression about the state of my weight, visit to PCP and she recommended exploring LapBand surgery (first time a Doctor ever had the guts to confront me about the giant elephant in my life) P.S. I love my PCP!!!
• 2/10 - Informational meeting at RGH about the procedure, blasted out of meeting to make first Dr. appt with Dr. D.
• 3/10 - First meeting/appointment at Dr. D's after submitting a VERY LENGTHY and detailed history and recommendation from my PCP, my weight was 231.5 (although in December, I weighed 240 lbs. !!!!) Given orders to lose 5% (11.5 lbs.) of my weight before my next appointment with Dr. D. in April.
• 3/10 - Started going to monthly support group at RGH and met my friend Donna who was a couple of months ahead at the time and got her surgery date for 4/20/10!! Lucky me gets to see all the things to expect on my journey.
• 3/10 - Psychiatric evaluation - Yikes! (I am luckily only a little crazy...)
• 4/10 - Sleep study - subsequent diagnosis of Sleep Apnea. (I am a weirdo and love my CPAP machine, sleeping is good, being rested is good.)
• 4/10 - Appointment with Dr. D and I have lost my 5% and even more. Dr. D. approves me!! Tells me to keep losing weight since the goal of the surgery is to be a tool to keep it off and I am on my way!
• 4/10 - Appointment with Nutritionist to go over "what to expect".
• 4/10 - Enter first big road block. My company announces it has been sold to another company and guess what? I won't know what my new insurance coverage will be. :-( First major setback and I was really in a funk. Without knowing what my insurance coverage will be, I am in a holding pattern.
• 4/10 - Almost forgot this, I had to have an EKG because one of the many weight loss efforts I tried in the past was Phen-Fen... (I checked out fine).
• 5/10 - Insurance options are announced and I have coverage with new company that is "bariatric surgery friendly" (BCBS Anthem) Yay!! I am relieved and Lori from Dr. D.'s office submitted for my approval on June 1 (first day of my new insurance plan).
• 6/10 - APPROVAL!!! I got a call from Lori and I was approved about 1 week after submission!!
• 6/10 - Appointment with Dr. D. and Millie to schedule ALL the next steps: endoscopy, class, lab work and SURGERY, also, follow-up and even first fill!
• 6/10 - Endoscopy - that was quick and no issues. He did say that he would be fixing a hiatal hernia. I went out for lunch with dear friend Kathy right after and felt fine.
• 6/10 - Class - good review and met some nice people who were having their surgery right before me. We all had our pre-surgery lab work and chest x-rays (plan on 2-3 hours).
• 7/15/10 - started pre-op liquid diet
• 7/20/10 - My surgery date!! My surgery was at 11:00AM and I was back in recovery by 1:00PM.

That about wraps it up for the process up to surgery. 5 days out and I am feeling GREAT!! I weighed myself yesterday and was 195.5 lbs. and have been up and about since the day after surgery. I had a nice roommate, Rachel, who had a very similar experience. I have not even taken any Tylenol since coming home, that is how good I feel. Now, I am not going to lie, the hospital is no place to rest.... So when I came home on the 21st at about 5PM, I went home and slept and slept and on the 22nd, I slept almost the whole day. 5 days out, I feel completely normal. My incisions (5 tiny ones) have never oozed and now are starting to itch (my nurse sister-in-law says that means they are healing!! I really have not been hungry at all! I find warmer liquids are easier to go down than cold ones, but I am feeling great!

I only had one mental melt down!! On Friday, I went to the grocery store and became overwhelmed with all the visuals and smells.... I really don't recommend anyone going to the grocery store until at least you are getting something more than clear liquids.

I love myself for doing this for myself! I now know that I have a chance to be happy and healthy for my kids and not hold back on anything I want to do. I am very blessed to have have great friends and family supporting me through this. Let me know if you have any questions.

Ames