Servaline Savannah

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02/04/2008 PAT's ~ scheduled: 3 1/2 hr. After rescheduling my surgery to do more research, I opted for the Lap Band. The PAT consisted of 5 vials of blood, blood pressure, nutrition class, brief physical, chest xray, gall bladder sonogram, respiratory tests, and signing papers. They gave me the green flag. Surgery is scheduled for February 18, 2008. I am not scared. I took the four additional months to fully research and have complete confidence in this surgery. Surgery and follow up at Barix Clinics in Michigan. The staff were all very nice, efficient, and specialized. Although I was 3 1/2 hours time flew, not for poor hubby 'tho. He read the Barix Bible while I was finishing up some of the tests. I was surprised when they told me I will be able to go home the same day I have the surgery if all goes well!!! That is good news, since we live 3 1/2 hr. away and I have a cattery to attend to as well as working full time. I do plan on taking a few extra days off for the food training, and getting used to the when, what, and portions that I should be following on a daily basis. I have bought my magic bullet complete with lots of cups. 21 days of full liquid, which I believe won't be as bad as it sounds, considering protein will help the hunger. I'm sure I'll waiver before surgery with jitters, but as busy as I am I doubt if I'll have the time to spend worrying. That was the purpose of rescheduling and the time already spent researching.

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02/13/2008    Surgery ~ Hubby and I arrived at Barix about 7:00am.  Roads were atrocious, thank goodness we stayed the night in Ypsilanti.  They came and got me about 7:40am.  Took me to the Pre-Op room, undressed, tied in the IV, asked me questions about what I'd eaten, when I'd taken my ducolax, etc the day before.  Also asked questions that I had already answered in PAT.  The entire staff was very efficient, except for the fact that I had to continually stress that I am allergic to morphine.  All prepped and entering surgery around 8:15 am.  Hubby was in Pre-Op with me for a bit, but then he had to go to the waiting rooms.  Cool!  They gave him a beeper so he would know when I was out of surgery and he could come and see me again.  Neat idea!  Out of surgery around 8:45 pm and into recovery for a about an hour.  The worst part for me, as far as pain and becoming oriented was in the recovery room.  Once in my room the pain meds started working.  I realized that I really wasn't in that much pain except for one astronomical headache.  Duh!  Finally dawned on me that it was the anesthesia.  I still have a bit of a headache today, but it is wearing down to a slight (just letting you know I'm still here) stage.  I guess it takes around 24 hr. for the anesthesia to get out of your system.  During the time in my room I was visited by the routine vital check person, the dietician, the regular nurse on call, and Dr. Schram's assistance Dr.  (She is incredibly nice, as they all are), also the respiratory dept. lady (she is an absolute doll).  I was doing so well, no vomiting, no nothing, not even gas except for a slight uncomfortable feeling between my should blades.  I actually wanted to get up and move around as much as possible.

The hard part now comes with me and this head of mine.  I'm on a full liquid diet for 3 weeks.  I can handle this, since there was a time when my jaws were wired shut for a longer period and I learned how to improvise.  The improvisation this time will take learning, counting sugar, protein, and fat grams, which I'm grateful for as I move into the advanced stages of eating that learning will always be there in the back of my mind.

Realizing I'm a day out of surgery, my insides are swollen, and that I won't really feel the band until swelling goes down, I'm wondering how it will be then.  Right now I can drink pure liquides without recourse (proper ones that is).  I was starving and dry mouthed out of surgery, but as of last night, I haven't felt much hunger at all.  I used my magic bullet later last night and mixed a scoop of AnyWhey, with a can of Progesso soup, and some skim milk.  It tasted pretty darn good, but could only get in about 12 small sips, so today it will be trying to finish that off and also add additional protein here and there.  No trouble with the 64 oz of fluids at all.  However, I always was a lover of water.

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02/16/08 ~ Hmmm, lets see..... I have been reading OH non-stop and learning, learning.  I am being faithful to the fluid intake, vitamins, but have trouble getting all of the protein in.  The chewable vitamins have made me gag twice, so it must be time to learn to chew to mush.  I honestly thought that I had chewed them to a paste, guess not!  Not much pain, just lazy.  ..healing lazy that is ;)  I made hubby venison meatloaf and mashed potatoes last night for dinner and it didn't even bother me that I couldn't have even a taste.  I hoped the meatloaf was good, because I wouldn't know not tasting it and I never make meatloaf the same.  He said it was, so I am happy with that.  Tomorrow I plan on doing more housework and preparing for work on Tuesday.  I hope that my clothes won't hurt my incisions.  Work should be a breeze, since it is a desk job. 

~~GOALS short term~~~

a. loose 2 lb week

b. walk at least 30 min a day for the first 4 week, use the three flights of stairs at work at least once a day and building up to twice a day

c. check into curves and the local gym

d. continue the daily diary of diet, exercise, and management plans

e. finish the dresser I'm redoing for my Granddaughter, complete with wood burning, painted, and glossed pictures on the drawers

f. finish the wood burning of one of my servals

g. work into a relaxed healthy routine and gradually increase the activities

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02/17/08 ~ 5th day out.  The diet is fine.  I'm getting in all of my protein, liquid requirements.  The mental issues, and I don't mean being hungry issues, are boredom, initiative to get off my butt and start moving.  I seem to have a terrible case of laziness.  Maybe part of it because I needed a vacation, long before surgery and didn't take one.  I'm positively going to plan one for the coming summer however.  No pain to speak of, except a chronic migraine which radiates from the right side of my shoulder up into the top of my neck on the right side.  This is been going on two days.  I don't know if it is surgery related, stress related, or just plain the way I sleep related, (I thought perhaps gas, but have never heard of it going clear up from your shoulder to the base of your skull)???  I called my PCP and requested migraine med. 

I must move this lazy bod and start planning for work tomorrow, including meals.  Luckily my fridge in my office will accommodate and we do have a microwave.  Still following the liquid diet (full) and haven't had any troubles with it.  I'll get up early and have my breakfast allowance, take a couple sf jello's or snacks and a strained soup w/protein powder for lunch.  The clothes are what I have to try on and see if the swelling in the stomach is tolerable with my old work clothes.  I think so, as it seems I have lost about 4 lb so far, and without alot of exertion. 

Time to bite the bullet, get the housework somewhat caught up, iron, and start sorting clothes.   One day at a time, right????

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02/19/2008 ~ Ewwwwww, awful migraine for over 24 hours.  Stayed home from my planned 1st day back at work.  I called my PCP and she prescribed Zomig.  I can still feel a dull ache, (sigh).
On a better note, I checked my blood pressure, which had rocketed, nothing to do with surgery. I just have to monitor it, and get back with Dr. if it doesn't lower.  Regardless, tomorrow I am going to work.  Otherwise it is stir crazy for me.  My incisions are starting to itch (good sign of healing).  No pain from the surgery at all.  I am not hungry between my liquid meals and 2 snacks.  I do need to get moving 'tho!!!!  That migraine had me laying in bed with my eyes covered on top of a heating pad.  I know that we shouldn't be having any caffeine, but the warm tea is soothing so I continue to drink it.  I will make myself start sorting clothes, and ironing for the rest of the work week.  Since my servals eat raw meat, I have plenty of chicken here.  I boiled some yesterday, and will use the broth (after fat has been removed) to grind some up for my liquid lunches this week.  The rest I'll use to make hubby a chicken broccoli casserole.  I am also going to call our local gym and curves and get prices.  Between my cattery, kids (grown up, mind you) I have little cash to spare on myself.  The weather here in Mid Michigan is giving us break, and I do almost believe I see the sun starting to break through!!

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02/25/2008 ~ Wow! 12 days out.  The scales look like I've lost at least 4 lb.  I went back to work Feb. 20, and it wasn't bad at all.  Just have to carry my liquids with me.  I did join the local gym and will start March 4, 2008.  I am deciding if I will go at 6:30am or after work.  I want to get my butt in gear and go early morn, so that it doesn't interfere with my schedule.  I breed Savannah cats and own 3 servals, so as soon as I get home it is furbaby time.  Then supper and clean up. I'm certainly ready for bed at 9:00pm.  I have very little to no restriction now, but the protein addded to my liquids seems to satisfy me.  I have my first pre-op appointment the 1st week of March and then in another two weeks it will be time to start my fills.  I honestly believe the band will work for me just from the restriction I experienced after surgery from swelling.

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03/02/08 ~ Sunday morn.....weigh in....WOW!  I've lost 14 lb's.  Now I know the scale will go up during the day, and that you are the lightest in the morning.  I choose to weigh myself at the same time each week.  My weight can fluctuate 5lb's over the course of morning weigh in and night weigh in.  I have always been that way.  No matter I'm thrilled.  I've stuck to the diet, but have cheated with caffeine.  I always make sure to get my protein in, if not more and my liquids.  Protein and liquids make one remarkable difference not only to your body, but also to your appetite.  Hmmm...I'm thinking why I couldn't have just done this on my own.  Well, simply because I could have, but I would have put it back on eventually.  With the Realize Band I am very cautious.  I want no complications....I want no PBing....I want no vomiting...I want no heart attack, stuck in my chest pain.   At this point, I wouldn't even try to eat real food w/o it being pureed.  When I think of the time span of the pre-op liquid, pureed, soft foods it will match almost perfectly with my first fill time, then on to regular foods.  Why I didn't see the connection before is beyond me.  This coming week I'll be going to the gym and start a new routine.  Every bodily action seems to help as far as exercise.  Yesterday I washed walls in the sun room, until I couldn't stand it anymore.  That is the first real exercise I've gotten in months.  Yessssss...more energy.  Also, reading the different message boards and belonging to the online community promotes better weight loss through support.  I don't single out any side of WLS, but rather read as much as possible on the good and the bad sides.

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03/11/2008 ~ Not happy......hungry.....drank diet vernors ..carbonated!......flipping between 5lb's.  Thursday is my first Dr. appt since surgery, since I had to reschedule to 1st post op.  I am going to be insistent on a fill.  I feel like I'm losing my will power. 

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03/13/2008~ 1st fill, 4 weeks post-op.  I have the Realize Band and Dr. Schram put 2.5cc in today.  A matter of a few seconds and pop all done!  Simply amazing.  I was very pleased.  I met with the the nutritionist also.  Total time was less than 1/2 hour.  I have been keeping up on the Realize my Success software and printed my entire food diary out for them.  It is a wonderful software program, where the Dr. and nutritionist can look in on you also.  They will receive alerts, when you seem to get off track or may need to come in sooner for a fill.  The trick is to be truthful to the program.  I did cheat and ate steak, and drank carbonated beverages when I was not supposed to.  They didn't shame me, but rather welcomed my honesty and reinforced why I should not step forward until it is time.  I was quite surprised by the reply on the carbonated beverages, as they said it won't hurt you in the least, but as you get your fills you may end up with bubbles coming out of your nostrils.  YUCK!  Knowing myself as I do, I'm one to push it to that point.  I know I can go without it, and have no problems by avoidance, however I still have to wonder at the wisdom in eliminating it completely.  I do understand the carbonation adds to retain water intake.  Ahhh we will see.  I have always been one to drink at least a gallon of water a day regardless of where I'm at or what I'm doing.  My folks thought that I was diabetic when I was young because of my thirst for water, but no I am not.  Just love that h2o!!!  I have noticed that the protein seems to dry my mouth out more than usual.  Oh yeah.....I found out today too that I shouldn't take in any more than 75 grams of protein per day, because of possible kidney damage.  I love skim milk and must cut back on that.  Water will do, ok.  Now I'm just waiting to see how this 2.5cc's do with food.  I'm still in the soft food stage for a week.  Hoping that less than a cup will satisfy me for at least a couple hours.  I can get fills every two weeks, but because the Dr. won't be in my next fill is for April 4....three weeks away.  The rest is entirely up to me.

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03/29/08 ~~~ Scheduled to go for my second fill April 4, 2008.  You know, I believe that this tool is working.  Not that I've lost that much weight, but knowing that I will, as long as I follow the instructions, he he he.  I am still having a hard time exercising.  I really don't like it.  Now that nicer weather is coming I will focus on getting outside and taking long walks with my labs.  I can't exemplify the wonderful after care you receive with the REALIZE BAND.  You have everything at your finger tips.  The software that keeps you on track, and notices if you are not following a healthy lapbanders schedule with every phase.  It ain't easy.  One must make changes in their behavior as well as, their schedules.  A tool won't work unless the operator knows how to use it!

~~~ 04/20/08  Third fill 04/18/08....really, really feel the restriction now.  Love it.  I can only put enough fuel in my body that will satisfy my daily requirements, unless I cheat w/liquid, mushie, calories.  I just love Barix Clinics and Dr. Schram!!!!  You can't get better experienced after care, or for that matter pre-op care.  I noticed the restriction difference on the way home, (3 hr drive), I was just drinking water which I usually have to fill up (48 oz) at least once before I get home, but not this time ;)  I still had 2/3's left.  I tried to eat meat that night, definitley a no no after this fill.  So  I have been doing mostly liquids, until today.  I have not PB'd, vomited, nor had acid reflux.  Love this Realize Band, love it, love it, love it!!!
I forgot to mention that since 02/13/08 I have lost 21 lb's. with only slight restriction.  For this reason alone I can see that hated fat coming off faster.  Whoo hooo I am on a lifetime ride of health.