Yep... I'm still here

Things have been going very well since my last fill. To date, I've lost close to 30 pounds. YAY!
I have to be very careful about what I eat. I have a lot of restriction right now, so I won't be asking for another fill at my next Dr's visit.
If I don't take small bites, and chew, chew, chew... I pay. Things get stuck, and it hurts.
The worse thing I can do, which is really rather instinctive, is to drink water to wash it down.
NOT a good idea, because instead of washing it down, it just sits on top of whatever is stuck, and it hurts even more.
We were able to get my mom and dads old treadmill, so I've been using that. My neighbor is moving out, and has sold us her elliptical. (for monthly payments)
On another note, we've booked another cruise! We had said we didn't want to do one this year, and we're going to do an all inclusive, but changed our minds.
We going on Royal Caribbean, which we've never been on, out of San juan again going to St Thomas, St Kitts, Aruba and Curacao. Can't wait!
So, at the moment... life is wonderful!

I'll be back... Caio!

Finally!!

I have restriction! I had 2 more cc's put in the band on Friday, and can now feel the difference. I am very careful about what I eat. Yesterday, I scrambled 2 eggs for breakfast. Tanner got about an egg and a half of it. I could only eat about a half an egg. Small meals several times a day.
Buffalo chicken salad is my friend! lol

I can even feel water going down a lot slower than before. No more big gulps.
This is what the band is all about. Up until now, I could eat anything I wanted. On the day of my first fill, I weighed 241. Friday, I weighed 241. The Dr seemed ok with that, so I am too.

This weight didn't go on overnight, so I don't have high expectations of immediate results. It will happen when it happens, and it WILL happen!

We moved 2 weeks ago, and we love the new place! I haven't been to the gym in awhile, but I am exercising at home unpacking, doing yard work and walking to Leslie Sansone DVD's.

Life is good!

It's been awhile...

... since I last posted. That's because not much is happening.
I don't get my first fill until Wednesday the 21st. Things will start happening at that point!
I'm really looking forward to seeing results.
We're doing some walking, but it's been so hot and humid, that I haven't done as much as I should.
We're planning on buying a new treadmill after we move into the new place.

I'll try not to let so much time go by between posts. :)

A few difficulties... but worth it!

Things could be better. I'm having what seems like daily diarrhea.
It also seems like every night I have pains in my stomach. The only thing that relieves the pain is to put my finger down my throat. I don't throw up, but just the retching helps.
Very weird. I'm eating some solids, and maybe that's my problem. I should only be on mushy foods right now.
Other than that, I'm down 16 pounds. Maybe more in the morning.
I'm walking everyday. Once in the morning, and again in the evening.
It's not an easy journey, but one I'm definitely up for.
I have an appt with my Dr on Monday, and hopefully will get my first fill!

When can I go???

So today kinda sucks. I've been constipated since last Thursday... yes, 5 days. I took some Milk of Mag last night, and again today. I haven't taken any pain med today, because it exacerbates the problem. As the day is going on, I which I could take something. The pain isn't real bad, but it would help.
If I don't "go" soon, I'm going to be in much more pain.

So, feeling miserable and just need some relief. :(

I'm also ready for something besides slimfast, pudding and yogurt.
I would love some soup or mashed taters or something tasty.
In time, I know.

By for now.

The Beginning

Day 2 of being home from the hospital. The Dr originally gave me liquid Vicodin. Unfortunately, Vicodin gives me headaches. So before I left the hospital, the gave me a script for liquid morphine. Surprisingly, it doesn't help. So, I think I'll go with the Vicodin and deal with the headaches.
The pain is moderate, but mostly when I get up from the sitting position.
The main area of pain is where they put the port.
The port is just under the skin, and allows the Dr to add or remove saline in the band.
I won't have my first "fill" until I go to see him on 6/21.
Right now I'm off clear liquids. I can have sugarfree pudding, applesauce and light yogurt. Can't wait to have pudding!
2 weeks from now I can have mushy food.... mashed taters, scrambled eggs.
While I was in the hospital, I had the Dr lance a boil I had under my arm. Now I have to have a visiting nurse come each day to change the dressing. She called and will be here at about 1.
That's it for now... the start of my new life!

Surgery Day!

Well, this is it. My dad will be here in a half hour to pick me up and take me to the hospital. John could only get one day off, and I asked him to take tomorrow. That way he could pick me up at the hospital and then be home with me the rest of the day.
I can tell he's a little worried. He's very quiet.
I'm nervous my own self. This is a BIG move. I took it with confidence though, and I know I'm doing the right thing.

Talk to ya on the flip side!

I love you VERY much John!

Getting closer... I did real good today. I've pretty much gotten used to not eating. lol
I called my Insurance Company and registered for Short Term Disability.
The hospital will be calling me tomorrow to tell me what time to be at the hospital.
Yes... nerves are starting to fray a little.
There's no way I would not go through with this now though!
It's what I want!

Chow for now!

Stop showing food commercials!!

I'm actually doing very well now with the liquid only thing.
When the food commercials come on, John says... turn your head!
One of us will mute the tv. lol
He's been very helpful. He won't eat in front of me, and races home to cook his dinner before I get there. :)
Off from work tomorrow, the back for 2 days.
THEN... I'm getting banded!!

G'night for now

Too much information?

Ok, so this will fall under TMI, but this is my blog, soooo... lol

The liquid only diet made me constipated, so I took the advise of people on lapbandtalk.com and took some Milk of Magnesia. Now I'm dealing with the complete opposite problem. :/
I've lost 7 pounds. I cheated one time. I had 3 crackers. lol
I needed to actually chew something, and needed some salt!
But, that was once and that has passed.
I need to say, that I wouldn't be able to get through this without the full and complete support from my loving husband John.
He is my rock!
I've only got 5 days left before the surgery, and the excitement for me and the nervousness are building. Nervousness of the unknown.
My life is going to change completely... but for the good!
I can't wait to shop for clothes in normal stores.
I can't wait to feel my hip bones and my collar bone.
I can't wait to cross my legs.
I can't wait to be able to wear dresses and heals without feeling self conscious.
I can't wait to feel comfortable in my own skin.

5 days! Here I come work.... the NEW me!

Meltdown

Well, day 4 and I had a mini meltdown today at work.
A lot of stress going on. Month end at work, trying to find a place to live, all the stuff with the upcoming surgery. It was bound to happen.
Cried for a few minutes and then sucked it up buttercup.
Hoping things will get better now that month end is wrapping up.
Got my fingers crossed.
Oh yeah.... got on the scale this morning, lost 5 pounds already! :)

This sucks

Wednesday was a very difficult day. No food, no caffeine, head ache and month end at work. I'm surprised I didn't break down, because I really felt like it.
Came home and wanted a cheeseburger. I didn't have one. I stuck to the plan.
Today is going to be tough to. My boss is buying pizza for everyone in my department.
Guess I'll take a walk during lunch.

It's getting easier. Still kinda hungry, but I'll get through it.
I've stuck to what I'm suppose to eat, and I'm very proud of myself.

First Day of all Liquids

It actually didn't go too badly. This morning was more difficult than the afternoon.
I had a slimfast for breakfast, a yogurt for a mid morning snack, a slimfast for lunch and another yogurt in the afternoon. I'm going to have to take my lunch a little later though I think, because I was pretty hungry by 3:30 or so.
I haven't had my slimfast yet tonight. I'm gonna wait until I'm really hungry.

I think I'll do just fine.

This is John and I on our cruise.
I am 256 pnds in this picture

I'm going to do this and Succeed!

So, here it is. May 23rd and tomorrow I start my liquid only diet.
Let me give you a little background on how I got to this point.

I have always been on the "chubby" side. When I was little, I would gain weight in the winter, but i was so active in the summer that it all came off. I think the time I really started to have difficulties was when we moved from NY to CT in the mid 70's. It was a difficult time for me, because we moved while I was still in high school. I came to CT not knowing what to expect.
I think my comfort became food. It was the only thing that was familiar to me.
In my 20's is when I really began to notice the weight problems and began to experiment with different types of diets. I had no problem taking weight off, but I could not keep it off.
I tried weight watchers, slimfast, all sorts of fad diets. I even used dexatrim for a long time.
I was happy, but still continued to have weight issues as I got into my 30's.
I had 2 failed marriages, and during my 2nd one, we tried to have a baby. I was told that I probably couldn't conceive because of my weight.
That turned out to be a blessing, because that marriage ended in 1997.
It was at that time that I met the man of my dreams, John and I couldn't be happier.
We met on AOL in '97. After talking online and on the phone for 6 months, John came to visit me. It was amazing and 1 month later he quit his job, loaded up his car with his belongings and 2 kitties and drove from Colorado to CT to be with me. 13 years later, we are happier now than we were all those years ago. We were married in 2002. That was a bitter/sweet time for me, because I was at my heaviest. 263 pounds. We had a very informal wedding in our apartment with our families and a couple close friends.
When I saw the picture of myself on that day, I cried. I was completely disgusted with myself.
Because of that picture, I started dieting, bought a treadmill, and lost 50 pounds.
But, as usual, it didn't stay off.
John has been my rock. He completely understands and supports me in every way.
In 2009, one of my co-workers had the Lap Band done and when I saw the results, I knew it was something I needed to look into.
I went to the required seminar in April, and decided to do the surgery.
I began to have 2nd thoughts on whether or not I could actually stick to the diet after surgery, so decided not to do it. The surgery always stood in the back of my mind, and in June, after doing much more research, I made an appt to see Dr Papsavas at The CT Surgery Center in Glastonbury.
At the time I weighed 228 pounds. The Dr told me he hoped I would qualify for the Insurance to pay, because he didn't think I was heavy enough. After going through the tests that were required, it was discovered that I had acid reflux, type 2 diabetes, and had already been diagnosed with depression. I also had arthritis that I think was exacerbated my weight.
I went through all of the testing, the psych evaluation and 6 Nutritionist appts, and then came the time to submit all of the findings to the Insurance Co. That was on Feb 18th. A couple of weeks later, I received a letter from my Insurance Co. My surgery had been approved!!!
It was time to see the Dr again and schedule a date for my surgery. Although I was very anxious to get the ball rolling, we had a cruise planned for May 1st. I considered doing the surgery before the cruise, but then came to my senses. I wanted to have a great time on the cruise, and didn't think I would be able to get the foods I needed on the cruise, so I decided to delay it.
The job I work at requires me to be there for the end of the month, so my logical choice was the beginning of June. The Dr's office scheduled me for June 3rd.
One of the requirements prior to surgery is that I go on a 10 day liquid diet prior.
That starts tomorrow and I'm NOT looking forward to it. However, I want this whole life changing journey to be a success, so I will do what I need to and it will be over before I know it.
I have always been an optimist, and that won't change now.
I can conquer this diet, and this weight issue and be better for it!
I will try to post on a regular basis and would love for you to come along on this journey with me.