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Hi, I am down about 84 pounds after 8 months and it feels great.  I placed a post on the Realize message board as I just had my first weird experience post-band: last night I ate dinner as usual - then an hour and a half later my son wanted more chicken, so while cutting it up for him I had a bite or 2, then got myself a little apple sauce.  After a bite of apple sauce I got a bad feeling in my throat & esophagus and my upper back.  I knew something was wrong.  I headed into the bathroom and - sorry in advance - spit up some foamy stuff for a couple of minutes then it was over.  However I still feel like something is "off" - I feel full after a few sips of liquid, I'm afraid to eat much.  I haven't had a fill for over 2 months (I have 6ccs), so why in the world is this happening now??  Did I simply overeat, or is this something more serious?  I am so afraid of a slip - knock on wood.  I am going to call my Dr. first thing in the a.m.  Please wish me luck.  Thanks for reading!!

It's been WAY too long since my last post.  Happy New Year to all!  I am now at 6cc in my Realize band and I STILL don't feel restriction - darn!  I am hopeful that when I have my next fill on 2/18 that I will get the sensation I am looking for.  I am doing well with the weight loss, but I still have trouble getting all of my water in.  Also, I have let myself eat a little chocolate here & there around the holidays which is a VERY slippery slope for me.  Chocolate is one of my biggest "trigger" foods - always has been.  I need to stop this, I don't want to think for 1 minute that I am able to eat chocolate at this EARLY stage of the game!  I have had such great success, I don't ever want to jeopardize my progress.

Thanks for reading!

Jen

Apparently I had a virus or some kind of stomach "bug" - that's the only thing I can think of that explains all of the stomach problems I had a couple of weeks ago.  They disappeared - thank goodness!!!

So I had my first fill about 2 weeks ago - I think he put 7ccs in there (is that right?) and I have to say that I feel no difference whatsoever.  I am surprised, disappointed, etc.  I go back on 12/10, and I am sure I will get more ccs to try and achieve some sort of restriction.

I have lost a total of 56 lbs., 20 pre-op and 36 post-op, which I am still marveling over.  Logically it makes perfect sense since I barely eat anything anymore   (wink, wink), but it truly is amazing that I have had this kind of success in less than 5 months.  I have noticed a big increase in my self esteem: I put more effort into my makeup & the way I dress where before I had a "who cares" attitude because I truly hated my appearance and avoided mirrors whenever possible.

Thanks for reading!

Jen

OK, I have had about enough of this nonsense!  It seems that I can't eat ANYTHING lately - I have had gas, stomach cramps and/or diarrhea just about every day for a week now.  I just wish I knew what was causing it, then I would STOP doing or eating whatever the root of the problem is.  This is SO frustrating!!!!!!

Can anyone else relate to this?  I just wish I knew whether this was "normal" or not.

Until next time.....

This week I have plagued with stomach ISSUES!  Twice this week I felt a little "off" - and woke in the middle of the night with a VERY loud rumbling tummy.  One night was a false alarm, the other night - not so lucky.  I was up at 4:00 this a.m. with a very upset tummy, then finally had diarrhea (sorry for being graphic!) from 6:00 to 6:30.


I was so afraid to eat today, so I had a 1/2 of a banana at about 8:00 a.m.  Then I got hungry again at about 2:00, so I had some ricotta cheese with cinnamon & Splenda - one of my favorites.  An hour or so later I heard some more rumbling.  I am now wondering if I am eating too much dairy...????  I really don't know what is causing this as it appeared out of the blue.

HELP!

I finished my second week at work, and also managed to get through a quick trip to Nashville with flying colors.  I am down a total of 44 lbs. (20 pre-op, 24 post-op) - 3 more lbs. until I am half way to my goal weight!!

Tomorrow I start on Stage 5 of the post-op diet.  I will move from pureed foods to soft foods - basically a lot of similarities, but I can add a few things like shrimp, scallops, ground turkey, etc.  Looking forward to some grilled shrimp!!


So there have definitely been times that I have really had a hard time being around certain foods & places.  My husband, son and I stopped on the way home at a great burger place called 5 Guys (HUGE mistake!!).  I was STARVING and I came very close to bursting into tears as I sat there with nothing to drink or eat while EVERYONE was eating burgers and fries.  I left to sit in the car and wait for them - I just couldn't take it!!  If I had my own food, it would have been tolerable.

Also, I still struggle with the rules around drinking my liquids - I try but I typically don't meet my daily goal for water, Crystal Light, etc.  I will get it one of these days.

My next appointment is on 11/12 - I think I will be getting my first fill that day.  I am looking forward to it, and hope that it's pretty painless.

Thanks for reading!

Jen

 

It will be 2 weeks tomorrow, and I already feel like I have come a long way.  Now that I have been advanced to the next phase of the post-op diet, a whole new world outside of protein shakes has opened up - cottage cheese never tasted as good as it does now! 

I go back to work tomorrow, part of me is glad to get back to the routine, the other part of me wants to stay home so I can take my walks around the neighborhood, wear my comfy clothes, etc.  I could get used to this!

On another note - is it normal to only "go to the bathroom" once in almost 2 weeks after WLS??  I know I existed on a basically liquid diet for the first 9 days, but I am starting to wonder what's going on....??

So, all in all, I am doing great and feeling good.  Aside from the occassional moment when I resent my husband for eating anywhere near me, and wishing I could accept my sweet son's offer of one of his mini "Chips Ahoy!" cookies, all is well.

Jen

I am banded and feeling pretty good!  I came home the same day - my husband took very good care of me, it was a rough 24 hours.  Each day I feel better and stronger.  At this point, it's not my stomach that hurts - it's my left wrist where they placed the arterial line.  My wrist & part of my hand are deeply bruised and it's painful.  YIKES!!

I have been walking each day - today it's raining so I will be walking around the house I guess.  I am doing well with my nutrition, but it's a challenge getting all of the water, etc. in since I know I have to sip and not drink too much with my "meals", etc.  I really think that my biggest challenge will be the liquid aspect.  I am so used to drinking lots of water, etc. all day long with no limitations - and nothing is better than drinking my morning coffee!  I know that I will have coffee down the road, but it won't be all at once.  Well, I know I will adjust and this will become second nature at some point.

I have my post-op appointment with my Doctor on Wednesday - I am actually looking forward to getting on the scale!

This is the start of my new life!

So many different feelings: excited, anxious, nervous, happy, thankful, hopeful, etc.  Next time I post I will be banded.  Will  post as soon as I can.

The clock is ticking - just 7 more days until I get my REALIZE band!  I had the endoscopy and pre-op tests at the Hospital on Friday - it was fairly uneventful (a very good thing!), but a LONG morning.  Got there at 7:30 a.m. and left at 12:15 p.m.  I was way past hungry at that point.  I was more "awake" for the endoscopy than I thought I would be, however now I remember so very little of it, so I must have been more out of it than I REALIZEd.  :o)

I have been on the incredible shrinking liver diet for a week now - bringing my total pre-op weight loss up to 16 lbs.  I am hoping to be down an even 20 by surgery day - I have a "thing" for multiples of 5.  A touch of OCD, I think.

So that's where I am - 1 week to go, feeling more hopeful & positive than I have in many, many years.  I have almost lost the daily fear of death that plagued me for so long.  I am so appreciative of this opportunity to make a real change in my life - I wish that all of us who have the desire and the need would be approved by their insurance companies with a minimum of red tape.  I know how fortunate I am.

Jen