Swiftsue

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Well I am back and happy to be on the other side of the bench. I had a great hospital stay experience and they all took wonderful care of me. It was painful for me and I have had many surgeries but with determination and help from my Lord I was able to move forward. I noticed that I felt better everyday. I walked the halls and sat up in my chair on a daily basis. On the 3 rd day of my stay I had to eat pureed foods before I left the hospital. They served me 1 oz of pureed fish, potatoes and spinach. I could only eat a little of it and that felt so weird to me. I walk all day to help ease the gas so I can feel better. I now drink protein shakes, Powerade Zero, Vitamin Water, Crystal Light and Water. I eat pureed Hash, Potatoes, Egg, and Chili. Yesterday was my first day eating chili and my pouch did not like it at all. My stomach hurt me all night until I got up this morning. I feel so much better so I will do just liquids today. I am learning to listen to my pouch and follow directions. I have noticed that I continually look at food ideas for later when I can eat again. I want to learn how to cook healthy for my pouch and weightloss. Oh, I almost forgot to add that I have lost 19 lbs.

Well I am back and I have been keeping myself busy all day. I have purchased every thing I needed ahead of time so I just set them up for easy access for when I get home from the hospital. I am so nervous and I find myself just screaming from excitement. I can't believe how fast this day has come. I have pictured this day in my mind and finally it is really happened. Today I had to do an all liquid diet and 2 weeks before I had to do the liver shrink diet. It was so hard looking at my family eat their foods but being supportive they tried to hide it from me. I thought that was so sweet and I love them so much. Now I am looking forward to the new me and I will be at the hospital in the morning with the biggest smile on my face. Even though inside I will be screaming. My God will be with me thru it all.

It has been a long time since I have been back here. I made a decision last year to stop suffering with this band and get a revision. The last straw came one day when out of the blue I couldn't eat anything without it being stuck in my throat. This started the process for my revision. I did all of the work required by the insurance company until my letter was sent in. I still did not let myself get excited when I was told the letters were sent off to the ins. company. I was preparing for a denial letter because I received one on  my first weight loss surgery for the band. Once I got the approval letter from the ins. co in the mail I still did not believe it. I even got a call from the doctors office I was still in denial. Today I received my surgery date NOW I BELIEVE. I have been smiling and screaming all day. My surgery date is 4/24/13.

After my last fill of 4cc, I still felt no restriction. I tried my best not to eat a lot but gradually began eating way too much. My family and I went to St. Louis Mo to Six Flags and had a ball. I ate a lot of fast food and for the final ending to the vacation we stopped in Sikeston Mo and ate at Lamberts. We really enjoyed ourselves but I had a sad moment while at six flags. When I tried to get in the boat of one of the rides, the boat went to the side and the lady had to rearrange my family in the boat so that it would be even. While doing this I looked up and saw everyone looking at us and I was so embarrased. So as my comfort for being upset I began eating. I ran and got a turkey leg and funnel cake. I ate all the way back home. As soon as I got back I set up an appointment to get a fill. I got my fill Aug 3rd of 1cc with a total of 5cc. I am now going on a week tomorrow and this fill is different than any other one I have had as far as an eating standpoint. I have to drink liquids in the morning and yogurt because of the tightness. I am not hungry at all and have to keep reminding myself to eat. I eat a small lunch, after a few bites I am full, dinner is the same for me also. For example, I had 1 catfish steak, thinly cut and 1/3 cup of creamed spinach and I am stuffed. I am getting better at learning how to do this, over the weekend I began to have anxiety trying to come over me several times when I was trying to eat. My mind wants me to stuff my face and not chew throughly, my mind wants me to eat whatever I want, but the band is saying NO. Now don't get me wrong I am having a lot of will power because I am not grabing for sweet foods (my favorite) or fried foods. I have decided that this is my tool and I am going to work it. I have gotten laxed and just gave up for a minute but I am back and ready to work my butt off. I also purchased EA Active and love it. I realize that you must exercise and eat right. So  far I have lost 8lbs in less than a week. This was due to my fill diet I have to follow. This morning I weighed in at 297lbs.  

I got my refill again on Tuesday, June 16. I was so afraid that I would have trouble again, but everything went fine. I am looking forward to this new start and this time I will watch my fills better. I was way too tight and I should have enforced the amount of fill that I needed. I already had some good restriction but I thought that one more normal fill would do it, I WAS WRONG. Instead I made myself regret doing that. So here we go again. The good news is for that entire 6 weeks without a fill I only gained 1lb. I worked hard to not overdo it especially with a holiday and 2 birthday parties that I had to eat at.

I know I have been missing in action for a minute here. I had to get myself time to recouperate from my whole ordeal and depression. I went in to get a fill on May 11th. I had gotten use to the routine so I wasn't at all nervous about the fill this time. I did feel more restriction from my last fill but I felt like I need a little more since I could still eat a good size dinner. I could barely eat breakfast, but lunch and dinner felt like normal meals to me at the time. So after I got my fill I went to the waiting room and starting sipping my water. All of a sudden I felt a tightening in my throat and could barely sip the water without it feeling uncomfortable. I felt like I was too tight. So I ran to the receptionist and told her I was too tight and need an unfill as soon as possible. While she was telling the NP, I felt this sudden urge to throw up I ran to the bathroom and out it came. I couldn't even swallow my own spit. I went back into the office and can you believe while I am looking sick, walking and pacing the floor waiting for them to call me in the room ,a patient wanted to have a conversation with me about the band. I could barely speak to her and she turned to someone else and started talking to them. Finally I was called in the back and she unfilled me 1/2 of what she put in the band (1cc was placed in band). As routine I sipped my water and left the office. I went to work and as soon as I walked into the door I felt sick. I sat at my desk and suddenly had to run to bathroom and throw up again. I did this several times. I finally called the surgeons office and told them I was still having trouble. They told me to come back immediately. When I got there my unfill was the .5cc, so I was back to where I was before I came into the office that day. I didn't feel well enough to go back to work so I went home. I felt like laying down and getting some rest and hopefully I would feel better when I woke up. Well that didn't happen. When I layed down I could barely lay still without cough and trying to throw up again. Nothing but foam keep coming out and I couldn't stop. After doing this for 30 min. I said enough is enough I have to get back to the doctors office quickly. I called them and explained what was happening and was told to come back NOW!!!  My biggest nightmare happened when I layed on that table she took out all saline and I had to wait at least 6 weeks for a refill. "There may have been a slip and we need to check" is what the NP told me. I felt like crying on that table but I knew it was best for me. I was scheduled for a GI that week. I went to my GI that week and was told that my fluids were going down well and there wasn't a slip. I was so relieved and happy about this news. I was struggling with my eating because I felt hunger again and was free to eat anything. I started feeling depressed and then I realized I couldn't wait any longer so I called the doctors office to see if it was ok to start the refill process again. I was told to come in the first week in June. I am so thrilled but at the same time scared of that happening again. This time I am going to stay on my fills better than I had before. I know my body may not be able to take in a full 1cc than most and I have to deal with this and take it slow. What I am saying is I was already at a good restriction and should have informed them that I only needed just a little. I knew I could barely eat breakfast but in my mind I wanted to feel that sweet spot so bad I was willing to take what ever they gave me. Also I have reflux and putting in smaller amounts like .5cc was better for me. I will report back after my first fill AGAIN. But at the same time I feel blessed to have the opportunity to do this over again.

I had my 3rd fill on April 13. I still only lost 5lbs. My weight is coming off slowly. I will make some new changes this go around. Due to my unfill last month, she said I will be getting just .5cc again. I feel more restriction but I will not know how much until I eat. I am still on liquids at the moment, I will start mushies later today. I am now going to hold myself accountable by  promising to add exercise starting this week. I will start out working out 3 X a week.

I had my second fill yesturday. I was hurt by what the scale said when I got off of it. I understand that I did this to myself. I only lost 5lbs.  That SUCKS!!!!! We had a wedding to decorate for over the weekend for a family member and I just ate everything in site. I knew better but just did it anyway. I feel bad for not doing the right thing. So this time my fill didn't hurt at all. Just a little pinch and it was over, she put in 1cc.  I tried to drink my water but was having a hard time getting it down, I knew I was to tight. I asked the Nurse Practitioner if this was normal and she said No. So she took me back into the room and unfilled me. Now I am at 4.5cc in my band. Immediately I felt so much better. She put me on acid reflux medicine and off I went until next month. I am feeling a little under the weather right now, It is my sinuses. I will start exercising as soon as I feel better.

On Feb 11th, I received my first fill. I thought it would be easy but it took some poking around first until it was finally filled.My doctor gave me 4cc in my band. I didn't feel anything when it went in. So on my 5th day I was able to eat soft foods. At first I had some reflux everytime I swallowed. What is that? Anyway I was OK and nothing got stuck. I weighed myself and I was 306lbs. My weight is moving slowly but I hope it will move better when I start exercising.

Thursday, I was feeling so good about my weightloss I decided to walk. So I walked and walked and had toward some stairs and decided to go up them. I felt like I was burning more weight by increasing my heart rate. I felt my right leg burning but thought to myself, this is normal it will  be OK. Well, I got up Friday morning and my right knee area was swollen. I went to work but the pain just got worst. I ended up in the ER and had Xrays and Vascular ultrasounds to check for blood clots. Turns out I have osteoarthritis in my knee. I am feeling better today, but my leg is still swollen. The lesson learned here is take it slow and not to push myself to hard. I shouldn't be exercising anyway until I see my doctor which is in 4 more weeks.