Maybe the scale doesn't know it all!

I will be 3 weeks post surgery tomorrow and I haven't lost a lot (3lbs).  I was getting discouraged so I did my measurements.  I have... get this... lost 19 inches since March!  I am really thinking that my clothes must have been REALLY tight and looked horrible.  My 18s are getting loose, but not loose enough to not wear them.  I also wear 16W.  These are the sizes that I started with.  I am very happy with the inches lost.

One of my coworkers (all know about my surgery) commented this morning about my size.  I told her she was crazy because I felt "lumpy" today.  My pants were looser today though. 

I can't wait until I get a fill.  I have absolutely NO restriction.  The only thing that I have trouble with is doughy bread.   I am ready to get this show on the road!

Been so busy!

I have been extremely busy this week.  I think that the 20 lbs that I have lost have given me back a lot of energy.  Last week I purchased a jogging stroller at a garage sale for $5.  I figured I would try it because the sidewalks in our town are old.  Worked wonderful, but was a little ok a lot worn out looking.  On Sunday, we took my husband to a local state park for a picnic.  He threw the football with the boys and I actually got on the playground equipment with my daughter.  We had thrown the newly acquired stroller in the car in case we decided to walk around the park.  We got the ingenious idea to try a mile long trail.  On the sign it said "rugged terrain."  Anyone who has ever tried to hike with a regular stroller will know how difficult it is.  We have tried on several occasions because that is one thing that we always have enjoyed doing.  My husband is really into geocaching so we often find ourselfs in the woods walking.  Back to the story, We LOVE the jogging stroller!  It did wonderfully on the trail.  Up hills, down hills, over logs, up and down stairs on bridges, it did it all!  We have our lives back!!!  Needless to say, I want a new jogging stroller!  

How to justify a purchase of a new stroller?  Sell all of the old ones!  I decided on Friday morning that i would have a yard sale on Saturday to raise the money for the new stroller.  It was a lot of work, but well worth it.  I raised enough money for the new stroller and cleaned out the closets.  I can't wait until it comes in!  We have gained our life back!  Trails here we come!

Today I am refinishing some furniture.  It is hot outside, but I really need to get this little dresser done. 

On weightloss news, I lost only 1 lb this week.  I know that being a lower BMI to start, my weightloss will be slower.  I just get discouraged a bit.  Maybe when I get my fill, it will come off a bit faster.

Thankful for Insurance

My two week bandiversary was yesterday.  I am eating everything normally and feel as if there hasn't been anything implanted in me.  My doctor says that it is because I am so small anatomically that the band is just lightly around my stomach.  That being said any weightloss is still sheer willpower.  I do however have a $40,003.72 courtesy copy of the charges submitted to insurance to prove that they did something to me.
I am very thankful that most if not all of this bill will be covered by insurance.  I would have never been able to afford any of this without it.  My husband and I both are happy working as public servants, we just can't  afford much more than the necessities. 

I am having a hard time waiting for my first fill.  I would really like to see some results soon!

Thank Goodness!

All of my blogs came back!  I was seriously worried.  How would I ever find all of you wonderful ladies again?  Everything in my world is good now!

WTF!?

Did anyone else lose all of the blogs that they were following.  I open up blogger and it says "you are following no blogs"  WTF!?  I hope I don't miss anything!

Where did it go?

So as I sit here in bandster hell, I begin to wonder where the pounds have went.  I have lost 23lbs since February.  This is good I know, but my problem lies elsewhere.  I have not moved anywhere in my clothing.  I went to the basement this weekend to pull out my clothing that I couldn't wear after I had my daughter.  Still a no go.  WTF?  Was I so stuffed in my clothing that it looked that bad, or was I hiding two bags of potatoes somewhere in my body?  It really is a sick thought!  I wait for another 3 weeks before a fill.  Unfortunately I had to go and buy some shorts to deal with our heatwave.  I really wish some of those would have fit.  My luck they won't fit until it is winter!

Beautiful Blogger! Thank You TnT!

Thank You T for this wonderful award!  And a "GOOD LUCK" sent out to you for band day coming up! 

So I guess I need to post 7 things about me you didn't know.  These will probabaly be pretty lame, but here goes...


1.  I went to boarding school for a couple of years in high school.  My father worked as an engineer for a copper and gold mine in Indonesia and there wasn't a high school, so I was shipped to boarding school.  I started in Australia at Korralbyn International School but didn't like it.  I ended up on the big island of Hawaii and Hawaii Preparatory Academy for 2 years!  So much fun!

2.  I came back to my hometown to graduate high school and graduated with 19 in my class.  That was it!

3.  I have been married to my husband twice.  We married for the first time in 1994 (I was 19, he 21).  We had our two boys in 1996 and 2000.  We broke up and divorced in 2003.  In 2007, we decided to remarry and now have our wonderful daughter!

4. I am so like my mother that it scares my father to death!  We are the same height and we were the same weight (at my start).  She would really like a band, but insurance excludes. 

5. I work with all of my best friends.  It makes for a really fun work environment.

6. I love yard sales!  I can't help but stop if I pass one.  Even if I am running late for work!

7. I have always preceived myself as fat.  I look back at pictures and know that I wasn't, but always felt that I was.

Now to pass this on... 

Celeste
Lynda
Cheeseburger Girl
CindyLew
Shea
Ellen
Pamela
Bonnie

Post-op appointment

I went to visit my surgeon for my post-op appointment today.  I guess I must be looking good, because the first thing that he said to me was "You really don't look like I physically assaulted you last week!"  He felt around and said that swelling is way down and shouldn't bother me any more.   We talked about food choices.  I told him about moving to the softer foods so soon.  He said that wasn't a problem as long as I chewed well and took it slow.  He also gave me the go ahead to work my way to food food.  He said that because I am one of his "smaller" (his words not mine) patients, I will be able to tolerate a faster progression to food.  He also said that I really "deserved" a fill today (one week out!?) but he didn't want to miss the port with the little swelling that was still there and hit the tube.  I agreed that wouldn't be a good thing. 

I next met with the nutritionist (surgeon's wife).  I shared with her the same about the food that I have been eating.  She said that my choices are appropriate and that I need to eat at more times during the day.  I have only been doing shakes for b'fast and lunch and then mushies for dinner.  Sometimes a stick of cheese for afternoon snack.  I don't feel so bad about eating now.  They said as long as it doesn't cause me problems, it will be fine.  I do get full from a small amount of food. 

I go back on July 14 for my first fill.  4 weeks!  I can't wait!

Wow 70 followers!

I am really excited to see that I now have 70 followers! Welcome! Also, I like to follow my followers so if I am not returning the favor and following you please send me a link and I will!

Back to Work

I am feeling great!  I went back to work today...  not so much because I wanted to, but I had to get out of my house!  I only have one incision that is bothering me at all, that would be the port area.  All of the others are very small and closed to where they just look like little scratches.  I can't believe how well I am feeling.  I have however cheated a bit on this diet progression... :-(  I have been a bit hungry and have had about a tablespoon of egg salad, some scrambeled eggs, and half of a banana.  (not at the same time of course)  Nothing has given me any trouble and I have chewed really well.  I feel bad though because I haven't been able to stay on the full liquids completely. 

I do however feel great.  I haven't got any pain, just a tinge every once in awhile.  I am no longer taking the hydromorphone, just ibuprofin.  I am up and feel about 95%.  I am so glad that the recovery has went well!

Day Two

I am feeling much better today. The area of the port incision still is quite sore, but the others are feeling much better. I also slept better last night than the night before. Full liquids are much better than the clear ones. They actually feel like I am eating something. I am sure at this point I will be able to go back to work after the weekend. My left shoulder is sore, and I am not sure what that is from.




I do have to say that the recovery from this surgery is a lot like my tubal. Definately not nearly as bad as my gall bladder. I haven't been too terribly hungry, but these belches and hiccups hurt!

I have made it to the other side!

I would like to begin with a humongous  "Thank You" for all of the great inspirational comments yesterday.  My surgery went well.  I had the whole nursing staff in same-day surgery to myself.  It was great.  To those of you who don't remember, I was the first bariatric patient of this particular hospital.  My surgeon has done thousands, but just a new location.  The whole staff of the hospital had to come and see how I was feeling, and make sure everything was going well. 

I went to the hospital at 9am, I was in surgery by 10:30.  I don't remember going into the OR with any of my other surgeries.  I was wheeled in very awake, moved to the other bed and let them tie me down.  Next thing I know I am in recovery.  I was so tired.  I kept falling asleep.  I ended up getting home at about 4pm.  I went to bed at 7:30. 

For pain meds, I asked te dr. if I could have something in pill form, as I can't handle liquid medication.  He prescribed Dilaudid for pain.  It is a very small pill.  The pain hasn't been unbearable.  I am walking well, but getting up and down is still sore especially the port area. 

The surgeon chose the standard Lapband AP.  I am doing well on Clear liquids today and start full liquids tomorrow. 

Surgery Day!

I leave in about an hour to go to the hospital.  I am excited and NERVOUS.  My mom made it in safely last night.  The kids will enjoy her being here and they will let me heal.  I didn't sleep really well last night.  Oh well, that is to be expected. 

Next time I post, I will have crossed over!

The Before, The Bad, and The Ugly

I thought that since my surgery is set for tomorrow, I needed to post some before pictures.  I am not happy with the looks of these, but I do feel that they are a fair intrepretation of how I currently look.  I am really hoping that this band works for me.  

 

I have also taken some Amy W. style pictures, but I am not brave enough to post them here.  Maybe if I get skinny, I won't have any trouble comparing. 

I am nervous about tomorrow, but also excited.  My mother will be arriving this afternoon to help me (by cooking for my family I bet... she probably thinks I will starve them).  It is my last day at work.  I hope that I stay busy, although the Court that I had scheduled got continued so I have a free afternoon.  That probably isn't a good thing as my mind tends to wander. 

I purchased a Wii Fit for my birthday.  I have been very happy with what I have done with it.  It seems that the whole family is having a good time with it.  I am thinking that the stepping will be good post surgery to get me moving as I don't want to try and walk and get to far and have trouble getting home. 

I will leave you all today with the photo of me that truly influenced me that I needed to do something about my weight.  This picture has not been seen by anyone except my husband and myself, but I think that it is a great before intrepretation.  This picture was taken last summer.  Yuk!

Confused!

So I had a great weekend.  I walked around all day Saturday with my husband and boys and a lot of our scouting friends.  It was great to see friends that I haven't seen in a while.  There were about 25,000 boy scouts at this event!  The boys had fun. I re-discovered how hard it is to push a stroller in tall grass.  The confusing problem I am having is that I am on my pre-op diet.  I did not waiver from it all weekend.  (Boy did I get the looks when I had my protein shake for lunch at camp)  We walked and walked for about 9 hours.  It was 90+ degrees.  Here is my problem...  When I left for this weekend, I weighed 188.  I came home weighing 192.  WTF!??   That would only put me 3lbs down on pre-op diet.  I don't get it.  Oh well... getting really excited.  I only have 2 days of work this week.  My mother has left for her 3 day drive home to stay with me. (It wouldn't take 3 days if she didn't stay at the casinos, here's to hoping she does well as always!)  She will arrive tomorrow evening.  I almost have the house completely clean.  I went to Wal-mart yesterday and bought toilet paper, dishwasher tabs, trashbags, and laundry detergent.  That should tide me over for a bit of being out of commission!

BYOC

1. If you could live anywhere in the world - where would it be and why?


I have lived in Australia & Indonesia.  I have lived in Hawaii.  I have to say I like the good ol midwest the best!  Nothing against the Australians on here, but I really didn't like Australia.



2. How old were you when you got drunk for the 1st time?

I was 15.  We were living in a "company town" on the island of New Guinea on the Indonesian side.  The teenagers had nothing else to do.  Unfortunately, my "friends" left me on my parents couch.  I don't remember walking home!



3. What was your favorite toy growing up?

I had a little arcade frogger game.  It looked like a real arcade game only smaller.



4. What's your favorite season and why?

I love fall.  Something about the crisp air and the smell of the leaves



5. Repeat question....which blog or comment spoke to you or stuck with you the most this week?

 I really love all the blogs I follow, I can't pick one this week

TGIF!

I have again made it to the weekend with this pre-op diet.  It is getting easier and more tolerable.  I haven't even thought about looking at the vending machine at work!  Today however, we have a staff meeting in which our bosses will be buying in lunch.  I wasn't sure how I was going to handle that situation, so I took the afternoon off, so that I could say I had to leave before the eats.  It's my birthday and we are heading out of town, so I guess it all works out then. 

On the homefront, we are preparing for our trip this weekend.  I have all my protein shakes packed and ready to go.  I just can't seem to believe that my surgery will be next week.

I have been working really hard to get all of my work ahead before I leave for a couple of days.  I have only taken off for Wed (surgery day), Thurs, and Fri.  I am planning on going back on Monday if I feel like it.  If not I will call in sick I guess.  My work is pretty flexible about that.  I do however need to work on Tuesday.  I have a couple of kids in Court, and my co worker can't seem to handle the workload if I am not there.  I am not too concerned though if I am not back, and if I don't feel like it I won't be.  I handled 10 kids in Court one afternoon when she was out for gall bladder surgery (for 3 weeks!) without any problems a couple of weeks ago.  Guess that just makes me different!

One WEEK until I am banded!

I am really getting excited now.  This time next week, I will be getting ready to head to the hospital.  I am so ready for this.  The pre-op diet is getting easier.  I have lost 5 lbs on it so far.  I am still a little worried about traveling on the pre-op this weekend, but I will have to do it.  I already paid for the hotel, so I am going.  Actually it will be a lot of walking which will be good for me.  I can't believe how excited I am about letting someone cut me open.  That is really sick! 

I did get a call from my PCP yesterday stating that my labs that I did on Friday indicated that my liver enzimes were a little off wack.  Could that be this pre-op diet?  He took me off my cholesterol medication and will repeat labs in three weeks.  I will be banded then and maybe those labs will show that I don't need that med anymore? 

Well I had better get going... the husband has overslept again and I need to go wake him up.  Then, I need to get ready for work.  I start my day with the stinkiest client I have.  Yeah me!  I will make sure I am armed with the Oust!