jess75

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It's been a while since I have posted anything on here....so here goes.  I am 4 months out and I am finally starting to feel some restriction.  I have had 4 fills so far.  6cc. 1cc. 0.4cc & 0.6cc   So I have 8cc in my 11cc Realize band.  I have lost between 14-17 pounds since surgery (depends on the day).  I have a compressed disk in my lower back so my exercise at this point  is pretty much nil.  I am feeling full usually at the beginning of my meal.  Gotta retrain my brain to be happy with such a small amount of food.  Overall, I am happy and waiting to finally reach my "sweet spot."  

I am five weeks out from surgery.  I feel great.  I am working on the new life processes that go with being a band owner.
I am learning to avoid drinking with my meals.  This is the hardest rule for me.  I have begun by not even bringing my water to lunch with me at school.  So there is nothing there to drink.  At restaurants, I order my drink in a to go cup..... I take it with me and drink when my half hour is up.  So, I am getting there in that regard. 

I saw the nutritionist this week when I went in for my first fill.  She scolded me thoroughly for not loosing any more weight since a week post-op.  I told her I was actually pretty pleased that I hadn't gained any weight, since I had absolutely no restriction.  She backed off a little after we discussed that I had lost 27 pounds pre-op.  I had already had my first "big" loss the first month on my dr. supervised diet.  I was already eating pretty normal- without huge binges. 
Then the nurse weighed me in- and she said- oh, you have done so great- you haven't gained any weight and you haven't even gotten any restriction yet!  That helped a little.. Dr. Hart was great- the fill was nothing like I had imagined.  I felt only a small pinch as the needle went in and a tiny bit of pressure- nothing like the stinging you get when you get a flu shot!  
He put 6 cc in my 11 cc band.  I go back in four weeks for another fill.  Can't wait to find the sweet spot that I hear about- as for now- I feel like I am only just beginning..... I'm trusting God for His grace on this journey! 

So here I am 4 days out from my surgery.... I have been on 3 shakes a day since Saturday (today is Tuesday.)  On Sunday night, my Dear Mom bought KFC for my family.... smelled SO good.  The kids ate very little so I picked at their plates, like usual.  Started with a few tastes of mashed potatoes and gravy...felt OK..... then progressed to some juice off of the baked beans-a few beans mixed in......chew, chew, chewed.....then some of the greasy crunchy off the chicken...not skin just the breading.... well Monday morning my stomach hurt pretty bad- first stomach pain I'd had past the nausea right after surgery.  I was really worried that I had totally messed this whole thing up.  But, I took some Pepcid complete, and had a shake for breakfast, lunch, dinner, breakfast today, and lunch today.  No more pushing it!  No solids until my nutritionist says so!!

I have lost 11 pounds since Surgery day.   I am happy that my incisions are healing... getting up and down is becoming easier.  I slept the best yet last night.  I discovered sleeping on the couch works best.  I can put my back up against the back and rest a pillow in front for support.  This makes any movement less painful.  I have discovered over the last 4 days that I cannot sleep on my back.  The gas settles down there and wakes me up!!!!!   The worst part about the whole thing has been just that- the gas they used to blow my tummy up with for surgery.  I had planned to take off 4 days from work- but am taking a full week.  I am too sore and tired to head back just yet. 

Well, I went for my required psych evaluation......It wasn't so bad.  I really liked the Dr. and she was actually funny!  She used to teach Pre-K so I think we may be on the same wave length!  She asked lots of questions about my weight loss history- which is probably a lot like many of you.  I have been overweight most of my life- but never to the point that I was unable to walk comfortably or be able to tie my shoes without difficulty.  I shared all the diets I've done and the success with them- just to regain that weight and more.  She wanted to know what I knew about the preop, post op, and what life was like with a band..... She told me that she thought I was an excellent candidate for lap-band.  This of course is pending the actual testing part.  But based on what she saw in that couple of hours with her.  Overall, this was a painless experience, and was actually one that I had really dreaded.  Just a little to document where I currently am!  Oh, there are only like 29 more days of school left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIIPEEEE!!!!!!  Once summer hits, the time between me and my band is sure to fly!

I went for an office visit with Dr. Hart on Thursday, March 26, 2009.  The folks at the reception area were so friendly and fun..... the nurse who took my vitals was very sweet and then in came Dr. Hart.  He was very nice and had answers for all of my bazillion questions.  He had seen my friend Teresa right before me (she is a hoot) and wanted to know if I was a teacher too.... I told him that I teach second grade and he told me about his Kindergartner...... He was very patient with my questions and gave me very thorough answers to all of them....we talked about the differences between the lapband and the realize bands....apparently the realize band has less rigid pressure around the stomach and is more forgiving and let's more foods pass.....that is actually appealing to me because one of my bigger concerns is getting things stuck in there.  So, overall I have a new perspective and some decisions about which band to choose....... happy to know that I am in competent hands!!!!

The seminar was great!  Very informative.  Dr. Hart seems wonderful- very personable, knowledgeable, and had a good sense of humor.  I am sure that he is the right choice for my needs.  The fact that he currently has a 0% complication  this decision- I'm ready. Now.   But I do want to get healthier before surgery- so I can try to look on the bright side!  rate with the lap-band gives me a great sense of relief.  I am dreading the 5 1/2 more months of "doctor supervised diet and exercise plan" and the "mandatory counseling" for the same amount of time....... folks tell me the time will pass quickly, I pray that it does.  Now that I have finally made the decision to do this- I'm ready.  Now.  I do want to get healthier before surgery though- so I am trying to look on the bright side. I am down 11 pounds from last Thursday....... so that is a start- the last time I start to lose weight- that in itself seems unbelievable!

I am planning to attend a seminar tomorrow- Emory Johns Creek with Dr. Hart.  I have read many others posts about him...... so I am expecting reserved but very thorough...... I am ready to see the "whats" that have to be done prior to moving forward.  I am ready to "get the ball rolling"