Todd H.
History
Mar 07, 2010
Highest Weight 1/02/2006 = 427 (Beginning BMI 59.6)
Pre-Op Weight 6/07/2006 = 381
One Week Post-Op 6/14/2006 = 375
Sunday Morning Weigh-In 11 Days Post-Op 6/18/2006 = 370 (Switching to Sunday Weigh-Ins)
6/25/2006 = 368.5 (Honeymoon is Over! LOL!)
7/02/2006 = 374 (Ugggh! Solid food with all that sodium led to a horrible week.)
7/09/2006 = 373 (made it through the 4th of July and two big barbecues and still lost a pound!)
7/16/2006 = 364 WOW! (Cutting back on sodium intake really helped!)
7/23/2006 = 363
7/30/2006 = 361
8/13/2006 = 361 (I have no restriction and have not lost weight for two weeks.)
10/23/2006 = 371 UUUUGGGGHHH! No restriction and not doing well on a diet! I need to find a way to get a fill!
11/5/2006 = 359 Got a fill on 10/30/2006 and man does it EVER make a difference! Like learning to eat with the band all again!
11/12/2006 = 358 Less weight lost than I expected. Only consuming approximately 1200 calories per day and sticking to band rules with my newly filled band!
Losing weight really isn't the problem, keeping it off IS! I have lost and regained the same 60 to 100 pounds ten times. I keep gaining it back and adding more! I am addressing the mental part of all of this with Masteringfood.com and if necessary will seek a "live in person" meeting with a Phsyc Doc., to help with this emotional, mental eating and regaining problem.
Time to regain the quality of my life back! I used to love Basketball, Tennis, Walking, etc. Now, I just want to be able to be physically active and have the ability to play with my young children! It is time to be held accountable and do what is necessary to live a long life, to its' fullest in... Happiness and Health!
March 30,2006
Well, after weeks of investigating all options I have decided if I am to do WLS it will be Lap-Band. There are just too many advantages over bypass and it is the right fit for me (not too mention it is WAYYYY less expensive for self-pay). I have purchased and read the book "Lap Band for Life" and a very generous and awesome member of OH (Post-Op Lap-Band) located in my home state was gracious enough to answer many questions... Your Awesome Andre!
I have taken the first step and contacted the hospital where I would like to have the procedure done. It is Sanoviv Medical Institute in Mexico (American owned and Operated). Measures up to any American Hospital I have ever visited and they one-up the American Hospital's by using all NON-TOXIC construction materials, glue, paint, tile, etc., etc., etc., all building materials are non-toxic. They even provide you and your companion with Non-Toxic Clothing and Shoes while you are there! It is a State-of-the-Art Healing Hospital that also looks and feels like a five-star resort to assist in the healing process. The cost will be $10,000.00 for the four-day Lap-Band program (Pre-Surgery tests, etc., Surgery, Nutritional Classes, Pshyc. classes, etc.). It is $15,000.00 for the seven day Lap-Band program with the additional days for a longer recovery and healing period at the resort end of the hospital. I have submitted an application and will soon speak with a physician and see if it is really what I want and if they feel I am a candidate.
4/2/06
It is amazing how life can pile things on you that can lead to your own destructive behavior. This morning I was notified that my older Brother passed away in the night, from an apparent heart-attack. He was 47 years young, thin and in good shape. I feel great sadness and for some reason I keep looking in the kitchen for comfort. Somehow, I feel like eating to numb the loss. How and when did food become my comforter? I guess it is like an alcoholic or drug addict, it comforts me and never lets me down. However, I am realizing that this comfort, this feeling of goodness is only temporary and after the high there is only depression and despair, which leads to more food.
4/4/2006
Today I was approved and accepted as a proper candidate for Lap-Band Surgery at Sanoviv Medical Institute in Mexico. They are waiting for my response. I have not responded yet. I have decided to attend a local Hospital Seminar on WLS (Mainly LapBand). This will be on 4/6/06 and then I will decide, Local or Long Distance, Four Nights in a 5-Star Luxury Healing Hospital or 14 Hours in a nearby Hospital and in my own bed that night. Surgeon that is 45 minutes from me or a surgeon that is 12 hours from me. Also, I have to decide to pay $13,900.00 for the local Hospital or $9975.00 for the Long Distance Hospital. I have applied for financing at E-MedicalSolutions. They will let me know if I can get the full amount tomorrow on my 42nd Birthday!
4/6/2006
Good and Bad. I attended the local WLS Seminar at a local hospital and I didn't learn too much more than my past six weeks of research has taught me. Jolene the presenter was very kind and I believe a "real" person and her compassion for Obese people really shows and comes from experience as she is a post-op bypass person. One thing I believe I learned tonight was how important a local support group and team can be to your overall success. Now for the bad. E-medical solutions only authorized $5500.00 for the surgery. This leaves me $8400.00 short for the local procedure. I also learned that it is my COMPANY that I work for that is having Altius Insurance write a WLS Exclusion! Damn, I thought I worked for a company that had integrity. Hell, they keep telling us how unhealthy we are as a company and yet many of their policies and working conditions lead to this. In my ten hour shift I am only allowed 13 minutes for my lunch. Eat fast, chew very little and swallow quick! Then, when everyone is overweight they say, "sorry we aren't going to help you". Our company had more $1Million dollar hospital procedures (Heart Surgery, etc.) per the number of employees (percentage) than ANY OTHER company in Utah!! Anthony Robbins taught me that you should never quit. I found this site because I realized I hadn't tried EVERYTHING to lose weight. So, I will keep trying to put together a financial package to get help. If E-medical solutions didn't work then I will find another way. However, I can not put my family in financial peril.
4/9/2006
Saturday evening we had the service for my Brother's Death. It was an enjoyable evening and sad. I never knew my Brother had so many friends and was so well liked. I will miss him. In respect to my Brother there was no funeral, no viewing, only a get-together party with tons and tons of food and drink! My Brother despised funerals and wanted nothing to do with one. He loved parties and get togethers. I avoided soda as I have quit in anticipation of LapBand surgery. I ate too much! My Brother was a fit, thin, 47 year old man and died of a heart-attack or complete clogging of the artery leading to his heart. He had warnings as he told his son he was having bad chest pains everyday for four days before his death! Damn stubborn man, just should have went to the hospital! I need to re-evaluate my life and get healthier. I just had my 42nd Birthday and I weigh 400 lbs.! I wonder what my arteries look like... no I don't... that would scare the hell out of me! So long Brother... I will miss you and I will get healthy and use your experience of death to educate me... Thanks for Everything you did for me and my family! God Bless!
4/26/2006
Well, where do I start? Let's start on the Lap Band surgery front. I have spoken with the local Hospital that does the Lap Band here and after repeated attempts to negotiate a lower price and/or have them carry the remaining balance and allow monthly payments it has become apparant that neither is possible. In addition, not only would they not negotaite a lower price they informed me that the packet I received at the seminar was outdated and the price is $50.00 HIGHER!!! LOL!!! (Hey, we're going the wrong direction here!) It is really too bad, I really like those I have spoken with so far and I really see the benefit of having the local support group meetings and get togethers. So that leaves me no other option as I will not approach family members for any monetary support as I am keeping this to myself. It looks as though Mexico, here I come! It is amazing that a hospital will not negotiate with self-pay, but does it all the time with insurance companies. Their answer of course was this price IS the negotiated lower price. My response, PHOOOOEEEYYY!! WISH CENTERS in other states are charging $3,000.00 LESS!!! Enough on the greed of IASIS HEALTHCARE!! Now, on the homefront. It has been a 24 days since my Brother died of a heart disease and last night I got a call late in the night that my Wonderful, Beautiful, Sweet, Mother had a heart attack! Thank heaven's she is still with us and is undergoing procedures at the hospital (Not an IASIS Hospital...LOL!) and I am going to see her in a few minutes. My Mother is the ONLY person outside of my Wife that I have informed of my decision to have the Lap Band. My Mother has been the most supportive person in my life in this battle of obesity! I need her! I love her! It is not possible that I lose both my Brother and Mother to heart disease so soon! Damn, just five weeks ago when I was asked is there any history of heart disease in the Family I could say, NO! Not any more. I pray that my Mother is still with me when I have the Lap Band and lose this extra burden I have been carrying for many, many years! Please let her stay and be my support and charish in my victories and comfort and advise me in my struggles. God Bless her and please let her stay.
4/27/2006
SURGERY DATE! SURGERY DATE!
I have an official surgery date scheduled. It is June 06, 2006 at Obesity Control Center in TJ., Mexico, with Dr. Arturo Ortiz Lagardere MD FACS (Author of "Lap Band For Life"). I decided in the end to go with the surgeon that I felt most comfortable with. There is no doubt when you research Lap Band that Dr. Ortiz' name comes up again and again. I would have loved to have it locally with IASIS Healthcare and SLRMC with the support group, but it's not going to happen. It is kind of funny, if my insurance paid 80% IASIS would bill me the remainder and according to them allow me to make payment arrangements, however because I am self pay, no amount of down payment will do, only payment in full!!! STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!! Well, IASIS it is your loss! I am excited and so far I am really impressed with the Obesity Control Center. Given the recent heart problems in my Family, Dr. Ortiz said he will not perform surgery unless I pass ALL Cardiac testing, EKG, X-Ray, etc., etc. Good!
5/27/2006
Well, it is just ten days away and I will be undergoing surgery in Mexico. Nervous? Not yet. I have to deal with other things before surgery. Two weeks ago I reaggravated my herniated disc and I have been in great pain for the past two weeks. In addition, I caught a cold. Well, this morning I woke up feeling very ill and in pain from the herniated disc and the sciatica (sp?) that it has caused. If you ever get a herniated disc... God Bless you! It is a pain that doesn't go away and they (Doctors) really aren't prescribing pain medication for it... the whole we don't want you to get addicted thing. So the Medical Professionals prefer you to be in constant, severe pain and you'll like it!!! LOL!! So, feeling very ill this morning I decided with surgery ten days away I had better find out what is wrong. Well, it turns out I have the Herniated Disc, Bronchitis, Strep and Bleeding from the Navel! Oh, but other than that I feel great!! LOL! I have lost 10 pounds in the past two weeks to prepare for surgery. So... I am on Antibiotics for the next ten days right up to surgery time. Dr. Ortiz hasn't responded with a "No-Go" on surgery due to my current conditions so I guess he feels confident about it. The only thing he was concerned with is how much weight have I lost leading up to surgery? My Mother is recovering and has fluid in her lungs. They will decide what they are going to do on Tuesday the 30th. God Bless her, 73 years old and a real tough woman! She doesn't want me to have surgery, especially in Mexico because of recent US/Mexico Immigration tensions. I have no problem about it. Mexico and the Mexican people are wonderful people and having grown up spending one week of every month in Mexico until I was 22, I do not blame them for coming into America. If you have spent time anywhere else in the World (I have spent time in many, many countries) the US infrastructure is the best on the planet. Opportunity is available to all that want to work hard. Back to surgery... ten days and counting, I am excited to have this tool to assist me in becoming healthy and live a more full life.
6/14/2006
Well, It has been a while. I am banded and was banded on 6/7/2006, delayed by one day to treat me for respiratory problems left from Bronchitis and Strep. I didn't update right after surgery, because it probably wouldn't have been too positive. The pain of surgery is moderate, however for me the discomfort from the surgery was pretty intense. It really caught me off-guard! In fact, today is day seven post-op and only now am I starting to feel the discomfort lessen. I have not enjoyed the CO2 getting out of the body, but more I have really not enjoyed the gas/air that has come into the digestive system. It seems to compound itself when I drink liquids, even the smallest sips as instructed. If I do not drink liquids for a while I get very painful hiccups, that feel like they are going to shoot my band right up through my throat. If I do drink liquids as instructed, I get painful burps with a golf-ball feeling in the middle of my chest. Today, I was allowed to introduce Fruitless Yogurt Smoothies (4oz) and that has gone down better and has lessened the gas/air problem. My surgeon's dietician said I would NOT have Physical Hunger for the first 7 or 8 days... for me this was totally WRONG! My stomach has been grumbling, growling and shaking and I am Physically Hungry and when this grumbling starts it hurts an already sensitive system from surgery. Do not believe all that is told to you by surgeon's dieticians unless they have experienced the surgery themselves. Until day 4 post-op I had "Buyers Remorse", wondering what the hell did I do to myself. I must admit those first four days post-op, no weight loss was worth that discomfort... until I looked at my beautiful children and realize if I don't do something I will not be here to see what they become. WLS is serious business folks and should ONLY be done if it is your last and final avenue for weight loss.
6/18/2006
I am now 11 Days Post-Op and I am feeling much better. The incisions are still sore, but the internal part is feeling much better. I can even sleep on my side for short periods without too much pain. I am still on Liquids and have been allowed to add Protein Shakes and Fruitless Yogurt, although I have had some fruit in it. I just make sure I chew the fruit to a paste. I am feeling much better than a week ago. My hunger has lessened and I feel pretty good. I am much more positive now. I have noticed that this is still going to be up to me, the band is NOT a magic bullet. You must win the game in your head to eat healthy and exercise, however the band does help with portion size... too much and it feels like it is coming right up your esophigus. I have hope for the future and look forward to rediscovering the thin me from my college days. My cellulitis in my legs looks better and is less painful than it has been in years! I am down 35 pounds since scheduling surgery and I know this will slow as I transition to solids, but it is very exciting. I am 1/6th the way to my goal!!
6/25/2006
Well, the Honeymoon is OVER!! LOL! Yes, the transition from an all liquid diet (approx. 600 calories per day) to a liquid, plus pureed or mushy foods has slowed the weight loss. Although, this is right where they say it should be with the band (1 to 2 pounds per week), it is still a bit of a let down. I take comfort in knowing that I am down 36 pounds in the pre & post-op diets and can now fit into a 4XL shirt, down from the 5XL. Healthwise, I feel really good. I still have a little incision tenderness and when I move too fast in bed I can feel a little port discomfort. My appetite has also returned with a vengeance(sp?)! I know I am eating too much at a sitting with the mushies, but hopefully I will get a better sense of when I am full. I get a pain under the left brest area after eating, I am assuming this is from over-eating, because if I stop after 4oz or less, I do not get this pain. The pain lasts about a half-hour to an hour before it is gone. Also, the band does nothing to curb your appetite for "bad" or "junk" food. When you smell or crave these foods it is back to the old will-power or fail. If you like junk food, ie: fast food, chips, fried foods, candy, icecream, chocolate, pie, etc., etc., the band does nothing to help you in this battle. It is simply up to you and how badly you want to be thin! Basically, the band is a DIET. People will tell you that success with the band is NOT a diet, but anytime you are restricted from food you desire; like it or not that IS a diet! The fact is, that most over-weight people (especially me) must make changes in our everyday diet in order to become thin, this includes having the band!
7/02/2006
I am now on solids. I had a horrible week. My appetite is back. Although, I have been monitoring my calorie intake, my sodium intake has been through the roof! It is hard to eat 60+ grams of protein without quite a bit of sodium/salt. This has led to water retention... BIG TIME! I can see it in my hands. I just can't stand the taste of chicken without some type of seasoning, like broth or something like this. Most, even the low sodium are high in sodium and is far more sodium than the liquid post-op diet. Soups are my favorite and are loaded with salt. I will try to watch this closer, also I have ordered a Whey Protein Supplement Powder to put in a low calorie liquid smoothie to help with protein requirements and lower my sodium intake. I feel good and other than the water-weight gain, I feel good about my food intake, although my choices need to be improved.
7/09/2006
Made it through the 4th of July and two big barbecue parties and still lost a pound! I am thrilled because I did make some pretty poor food choices on those two days!
7/16/2006
I had a very good week. I lost 9 pounds this past week. Bye-bye water retention and a few pounds of excess FAT!!!(LOL) I decided to be more aware of my sodium intake and also increased my protein through a high fiber, meal replacement with added whey protein for a total of 35g of protein per drink. I mix it in a blender with distilled water, ice and a banana. I follow the drink with one Whole Wheat, Multi-Grain Toast, this helps with the fullness as the drink can pass right through the Stoma. It keeps me satisfied for four or five hours. (Warning: this is what works for ME, and is not following Inamed Band eating rules. Because protein drinks/shakes pass right through the band and usually result in additional eating and calories as we can get hungry sooner.) I just can't stand flavorless food and trying to get in the amount of protein required; I was consuming 2000 to 3000mg of sodium on all the meat I was eating. Well, it worked and I will stick with it until it stops working. It really is trial and error with the band as I have learned already. My water intake has been excellent this week as it has been near or over 100 degrees everyday this past week. Remember, this eating pattern with the band is for life and not a hurry up and lose weight before the window of opportunity is gone type of deal. So, IMO (In My Opinion) you should follow the Inamed eating plan as closely as possible and stick to the three meals per day, but it is YOUR Band, YOUR Life, YOUR Success, YOUR Failure... so do it YOUR WAY! You will QUICKLY learn what works and doesn't work for you and then make necessary adjustments. ALso, the cellulitis in my lower calves is looking great, even some of the scar tissue is disappearing. I feel great, I have gotten a few comments about my weight loss (that always feels good). In addition, I actually have loose fitting clothing without having to buy a LARGER size for the first time in many, many years! I am down one shirt size and three inches smaller waist in clothing. See, Honey I told you I was keeping all those thin clothes for a reason!(LOL) Gosh, we went through my closet and I had $1200.00 worth of clothing (NEW) with the tags still on them that I NEVER wore! I guess down deep I have always been hopeful to get control and lose the weight. Now, only if BELL BOTTOM PANTS would come back into style, I will be SET! (LOL)! PS. I really look forward to the day when I can go to a NORMAL Department Store and purchase a pair of my favorite Levi's 501's without having to go through a Big & Tall.
7/23/2006
Just a quick post. I lost one pound this past week. I haven't got any real restriction as the swelling has gone and the band has not had a fill yet. I can eat too much at one sitting. Also, I went with the Family and we went out to eat for the first time in MANY weeks! I ate too much food... UUUUGGGGHHHH! I am deep into a remodeling project and will not be spending much time online or at OH until this enormous project is done. Unfortunately, this also delays my first fill as I am spending several thousand dollars on this project and I am self-pay for fills and it is over $500.00 locally or take a trip to Mexico. So, it is up to good ole' will-power and going a little hungry if I am to lose weight.
7/30/2006
I had a bad week, even though I lost 2 pounds. I was back at the hospital for my cellulitis in my lower legs. It was nearly (90%) gone from the successful weight loss and improved diet, even most of the redness was gone. However, this week in a 48 hour period in came back with a vengeance and it HURTS!! It was bad and I ended up in the hospital for antibiotic treatments. The Doc's can't explain why it came back so fast and after losing weight and better diet. They're only response was, "Bad Luck"! One Doc had a theory that I had somehow eaten "bad" food with a bacteria (food poisoning) which is why I had a high fever and extreme body aches the day before my cellulitis went crazy again. I hope it clears up soon so I can resume my regular activity level and continue to lose this weight. I am on the strongest anitbiotics for ten days and water pills for the swelling and then I will get re-evaluated. I tell you these comorbidities from obesity are a real pain in the @$$ and makes the band very worth while!
8/13/2006
It has been two weeks and no weight loss. I have absolutely no restriction and can eat almost anything I want. I am not eating as much as I did pre-op, but I am eating too many calories and too much to lose weight. I need this band working properly to win this battle with obesity, especially the battle in my head. I have lost a total of 43 pounds since the second week of May with pre-op and post-op, but my goal is 60 pounds for the summer of 2006. I had better get my first fill… ASAP!!
11/12/2006
WOW, it has been two months since I updated. Well, I finally got a fill after a couple of OH Members checked up on me with an e-mail (Thanks, Andre and Kathy!). I realized after they sent me an e-mail that I was making excuses for not getting a fill, no money (self-pay), no local Doctor to do it (The ONLY downside to having surgery in Mexico, IMO). So, I simply took two days off from work and went back to Mexico and the Obesity Control Center and got a fill! It really does work and it really makes a difference. I was really relieved to see that the band and port were just fine in the Flouro! I find myself a little uncomfortable with the newly tightened band and occassionally find myself trying to drink with my food! I will continue to work on this. The first seven days with the newly tightened band I lost 12 pounds. Of course, the three days liquids-only following the fill did most of that. I have to start paying closer attention to my water intake and increase it, also I need to start reducing the sodium intake as this will help with the weight loss. If you are new and looking into the band, I want to tell you this thing is amazing. When adjusted properly, you can eat a small amount of food and NOT be hungry for hours! It has to be the right kind of solid foods, chewed very well and no liquids with or immediately after the meal. I am finding that chewing Dentyne Ice following meals helps with the thirst and slight discomfort from eating without liquids. Halloween came and went and I have only had five pieces of candy!! That is a total NSV (Non-Scale Victory) for me! Usually in the past I would eat a ton of the left-over Halloween candy! Until next time... Todd
