Follow the "Band"

9/28/06: I'm guilty of not keeping this up to date, oh well. There's good news and bad news. The bad news is that I've been fighting with the same 5 pounds for the last several months. The good news is I've been maintaining(ish) the same weight for the last several months. I know, if not for the band, I probably would have put back the 70 that I'd lost in '05 and then some. I also know that I have to be more dilligent about what goes in my mouth. I will get myself back on track right after my birthday this Saturday because let's be honest - who diets on their birthday?. I am seriously considering Jenny Craig or NutriSystem - something where someone else makes all the food decisions. And I am hoping to have my knees replaced in Spring'07. Then exercising will be much easier to deal with.

It's been an unpleasant few months. After we lost my sister in law, I dove, head first, into comfort foods for about 2 weeks. Then I was sick thru most of January and early February, so more comfort foods. Now I know there are CFs that have lower calories and lower fat, but those weren't the ones I was eating. The good news is I did not gain 50 pounds (which is probably what would have happened a year ago). The bad news is I did gain a little. But I saw the doc today and we talked about my choices and mapped out a plan of attack. Also he added some saline to the band, which will make it easier to be satisfied with less food.

On the plus side, in early December, I tried on pants for the new chorus costume in 3X. They fit so loosely, I tried the 2X, which fit, but were snug. So I intended to order the 3X. But when the costumes came in at the end of January, the pants were 2X. I was concerned when I tried them on, but they fit as loosely (which is proper for palazzo pants) as the 3X had 7 weeks earlier. So, yay! And since I now stand smack dab in the middle of the first riser, I'm glad everything fits like it's supposed to. There will be pictures after competition this coming weekend.

12/27/05: Well, I've lost a few more pounds, but a lot more inches. I guess the numbers will catch up. The size smaller jeans I put on in August, that were just fitting then, are now loose. I've had two "fills" (the docs have twice added saline to the band to inflate it and make the "waist" of the "hourglass" tighter) so I feel even fuller with even less food. But December, or more accurately the season from Thanksgiving through New Year's, is a tough time to try to lose weight. In most years, I end up gaining 10 to 15 pounds. I suppose most people do. But I made myself a promise this year, to not gain anything, and whatever I lose, is bonus. I had to look at it realistically, and it's working. In fact, I've lost 2 this month. January 2006 is a few days away. I will be able to keep the most popular New Year's Resolution, and I will get serious about an exercise plan, too. Besides, the more I lose Jan thru March, the better my new chorus costume will fit. But you'll have to go to the Twin County site to see it. ;)

9/12/05: I haven't posted in a while - I've been busy getting back to normal. I've decided that the 2nd of each month is my official "weight reporting day" so I owe you. As of September 2nd, I have lost 19 pounds since the surgery. Now I realize I won't lose as much the second month, but any loss is welcome. In the meantime, I have started my execise plan - I got on the bicycle for 3 mintues this evening. It may not seem like much, but it's more than I've done in a verrrrrrrrrry long time, so it's a good thing and I expect to be up to 5 minutes per session and at least one session per day within two weeks.

8/26/05: coming to the end of week 4: I'm feeling good. I actually feel a little lighter. I know my clothes are fitting better. The total so far is 18 pounds. But now I've got to start exercising. I have no stamina, and if I expect to be on stage with the chorus in November, I have a lot of work to do on my energy level.
I still have a lot of work ahead of me. I still have to remind myself to take smaller bites, to chew until completely mushy before swallowing, and most importantly to drink all my water. But the band is making the journey easier. While my appetite may not have diminished any, my hunger level certainly has, and that goes a long way when it comes time to rely on my will power and common sense. I mean, I'd have to be an absolute idiot, after all the time, effort, and discomfort I went through, to willingly eat anything off plan.
The real test will come in the months ahead, when I get to the critical 3 month mark. But I am confident I will sail right through that storm.

8/17/05: week 2: Started back to work on Monday. It's a little wearying, but I am glad to be back in a normal routine. I'm a little hungrier this week, but dealing with it. And officially I lost 2 more lbs - that's 14 since the surgery!!! If I can continue at the rate of 2/week I will be an extremely happy camper.

8/9/05: week 1: saw Melanie (Dr Geiss' PA) today. Everything is going along fine: my incisions are healing properly, the muscle soreness should subside completely in a week or so, and I lost a chunk of weight. I did the math in my head quickly and came up with 8, but in retrospect I think it's actually 12 lbs that i lost this first week. Granted most of that is the surgical swelling going down but still. But whether it's 8 or 12, I am a campy hampster!
I have another 9 days of shakes and pureed soup, then I advance to mushy foods (basic rule of thump is if it can be mashed completely with a fork, I can eat it). It'll be nice to have some tuna salad or a small piece of meatloaf. But that's not until a week from Thursday. Meanwhile, the A/C has cooled the house off beautifully (in fact it was very cold here Saturday morning) so pureed soup is a nice alternative to the shakes.

8/5/05 day 4: I get a good day, then a bad day, then a good day. The gassiness has mostly dissapated, but the muscles are still very sore - I imagine they will take a while to heal. I have a large bruise where the port is - that's where, when and if needed, they can inject saline and inflate the band to tighten the hole of the "hourglass" that is now my stomach. I got my A/C repaired today so YAY. Now I can have soup instead of yogurt or a shake. A little variety is nice. I cannot wait for my first week's weigh in when I see the doc on Tuesday

8/3/05 day 2: feeling gassy - but that's normal. According to folks on LIBanders who have been thru it, the gassiness can last as few as 3-4 days or as much as a week. I am thrilled. It's making me miserable. Today I am on clear liquids. tomorrow I start the diet shakes and pureed soups.
The doc just called and said the gas should dissapate in a day or two but since it's not really in the digestive track, there's really nothing I can take for it (bummer). This is a good thing I've done - I just have to grit my teeth through the rough patches.

8/2/05: I'm home from the hospital and feel good. My gut feels like it's been used as a punching bag - one of the docs said that's how they keep their upperbody strength up. Everything went well, as I deep down knew it would. Here's my official starting point picture. Sorry it's so out of focus, I had to leave the flash off because I was aiming at the mirror and the light in the room wasn't that bright
I will be posting pictures probably once a month so you can see the progress and be amazed along with me.

8/1/05 6:30am Nervous. Slightly freaked. and very very hungry. My ride will be here in about a half hour. I am really glad I'm doing this but I know the first few weeks are going to be rough. OK - I'm ready. I 'm freaked but I'm ready. (Is it too late to back out?) Shut up little voice.

7/29/05: Got the call from the hospital - I have to be there at 7:45 am - which sounded awfully early (i'm not a morning person) until she told me someone else has to be there at 5:30 am! Yowser!
So now one more day of the shakes and then Sunday I can only have clear fluids (apple juice, chicken broth, water etc) I check in Monday morning, they 'install' the band, then they send me back to the room, where they will feed me ice chips every two hours and make me get out of bed and walk around several times until "lights out".
Tuesday, they'll send me to radiology to drink some of thaat yucky stuff from the upper GI series, (but only a few sips of it) so they can look to make sure nothing is leaking; and most likely I will be discharged early Tuesday afternoon.
I'm exhausted right now, I've had a difficult week struggling along without my anti-inflammatory. But I am looking forward to Monday and to getting this over with so I can lose the weight and enjoy the rest of my life.

7/27/05: Yesterday I had my PST - very routine: bloods, medical history, etc. no biggie - until I met with the anesthesiologist who sent me for a series of neck x-rays, because i cannot tilt my head back very far. It was annoying to say the least. Then I saw my PP (primary physician) today, who took one more vial of blood and sent me on my way. Friday the hospital will tell me what time I have to show up on Monday.

7/25/05: One week to go! I started my liquid diet today <whine/whimper>. It's not that bad, but I miss my humongous coffee with half&half & sugar. Someone on the YahooGroupLIBanders said there is such a thing as "fat free half and half". Now isn't that an oxymoron? I have to look for it in the store; I suspect it's a chemical concoction like that International Delight flavored junk. As for the sugar, I can handle coffee unsweetened; I have to stay away from aspertame for a number of reasons, I don't like "Sweet&Low", I've not tried "Splenda" - I am wary of anything that the body doesn't actually digest.
I also had to stop my anti-inflammatory so I'm all creaky and cranky. I don't know how I am going to survive this hot & humid week without that med. I'll probably be taking a lot of vicoden...

7/11/05: nothing to report, really. Just waiting for this month to be over. I'll have to be on a liquid diet the week before the surgery, to cleanse and shrink my liver. (where's Hannibal when things like this are being discussed). It is important to reduce the amount of fat in my system (which the liver processes) to minimize the chances of complications. To be on the safe side, I may just start the liquid diet a few days early.
Then after the surgery, there are very specific diets I have to follow, each one adding a bit more solid food, until about the 5th or 6th week, when I will be allowed to eat almost anything (within reason) as long as it is chewed thoroughly first. Everything I swallow has to be mushy. It's a behavioral change, chewing like that. I've been practicing. It's not easy.

7/1/05: tick...tick...tick: one month from today. I am very excited and a little nervous. Had to file with disability insurance. Man, there's a lot of red tape involved in that. Plus, my surgeon has to fill out a form for my HR department. More and more paperwork - will it ever end. But the official clock is counting down to an end to my obesity. I can't wait to enjoy the rest of my life!

6/28/05: IT'S OFFICIAL!!!! all the paperwork is in, including my therepist's letter (yay) and my surgery date in DEFINITELY August 1st 2005. Now I'm getting excited! I found, on that YahooGroups site, a documentation of someone else's experiences from the day before to the day after. Very helpful to know exactly what to expect. Also got in contact with someone else from the group who is the same height as me, started at roughly the same weight, and used the same surgeon. Her, I'm going to keep in touch with. But YAY and YAY and YAY!!!!!

6/23/05: Getting down to the wire now - Supposedly my therapist has faxed his letter today - The surgeon has me pencilled in for Monday August 1st - so I have just over a month left.
Meanwhile, I've joined a Yahoo! Group called LIBanders: You have to apply for membership, but it's a great group of people who either have been through this or are about to (like me).

6/17/05: Ok - just waiting on my therapist to fax his letter over and that's it. Of course, I've been waiting for him to do that for several weeks now, but since in his other life he's a high school history teacher, he's gotten some leeway from me. But now I'm getting impatient. I've handed in ALL my stuff - he's the one holding me up now, and I REALLY want to get this thing scheduled so I can get on with the rest of my life!!!!

6/11/05: started a sort of exercise plan this week. Dr G's group recommends 5 mins twice a day to start. - I'm nowhere near that point yet - 5 mins once a day is all i can manage now - so I walked around my office, weaving up and down the cubby aisles. took about 5 minutes at my pace. After a week of once around per trip, I'll increase to twice around per trip. Also I promised myself I'd take the stairs once at week at least. It may not sound like much to someone who's reasonably active - but for me - it's a lot! and a pretty good start.

6/8/05 cont'd - I'm am PSYCHED! - I just found out offically I do NOT have sleep apnea! YAY ME. I was so excited that when i left the office (I work in a basement, a nice one but still) I took the stairs instead of the elevator!!!!!!!! (Felt like I had run a marathon when I got to the top - but it felt GOOD)
Tomorrow I will get the official results of the angiogram and then I can get my surgery date! The calendar is booked into July already - which is fine - but for the first time in months I really feel like it's really going to happen. Nothing wrong with my heart, my blood is clean, my respiratory system is good. I'm just fat. and that I can fix!

6/8/05: Attended my second class last night. The main topic was "what keeps you motivated". The PostOps replied "exercise", "looser clothing", "seeing the difference in the mirror" etc.
I'm thinking that's all very well and good but what about us PreOps? Then some of the Posts reported their progress: 100 lbs in 9 months, 40 in 2, 70 in 8, 115 in a year, 90 in 7!! That's the kind of thing that motivates me!

6/2/05: SO GLAD that's over. I got to the hospital a half hour before my appointment. And waited. And waited. And waited. I waited over 5 hours before they called me in to the prep area, and another half hour at least before they actually prepped me. They gave me a Xanax and a Benadrel, so I went in a little anxious but mostly relaxed.
What they didn't tell me is how much the @&#%$ing catheter would HURT!!!! Even tho he shot my wrist with novacaine first, it still hurt a lot! And even more when he was removing it. Then he bound my wrist with gauze and a plastic thing like they say the cops use instead of handdcuffs. The good news is (and I already knew this would be the case) there's nothing wrong with my heart - no blockages.
Then I rested a bit, slept a bit, ate a little (it was after 9:30pm and I hadn't eaten since breakfast) and walked around to prove to them I was okay to go home.
I'm so glad my friend Marianne was with me. Not just to dirve me home (and I think I drove her crazy while she did) but to keep me sane thru those 5 hours of waiting. That's the real reason they say to bring someone with you.
It was karma too, the long wait. Also waiting was a guy whose daughter-in-law had just had gastric bypass two weeks ago. So she and I had a nice talk about that.
So now, I have to wait for the results of the sleep apnea test to come in, for Tuesday's results to be sent in, and then I can get my surgery date. YAY.

May 27 2005: So, Tuesday is the angiogram. They say I have to take it easy for a day or two after the procedure, I shouldn't exert myself at all, no lifting, no stairs, no working out. No working out and no lifting I can do. But "no stairs"??? Just where am I supposed to sleep when i get home, in the garage????

I guess now would be a good time to tell you about my plan. First, I have the lap band "installed". Then, sometime in late '05, I will have my knees replaced with the same marvelous material that keeps my hips functioning. Then in '06, probably late in the year, I will have my right shoulder dealt with. I know not to expect fully restored range of motion, but anything will be an improvement over what I have now. Next, the bunions on my feet will be removed, and by that time I will be ready for whatever reconstructive or cosmetic procedures may be needed. Then who knows, maybe Lasik?

May 17 2005: Went to NorthShore Manhasset. While in admitting someone said "angiogram" which upset me, no one had ever said that it's the same thing as a cathaterization. Got that straightened out, went thru the pre-testing (bloods, EKG, etc) and waited. And waited. And waited. And found out they couldn't do the procedure because I didn't have anyone to drive me home. No one anywhere along the way EVER mentioned that I would not be allowed to drive myself home. So it's been rescheduled for the 31st. I'd be more upset, but the sleep apnea results won't be in til that week anyway so, what can you do? Waiting to hear from Marianne if she can help me out that day.

May 15 2005: They put electrodes all over me, including my hair, which I just had done yesterday afternoon! (Guess I'll have to go back tomorrow.) I had wires all over me and a thing on my finger to keep tabs on my oxygen level. I don't feel like I slept, but I must have because the next thing it was 5:30 a.m. and they woke me up to kick me out. Well, not that abruptly, I had to fill out another questionnaire and they had to take my vitals. I had a cup of coffee and drove home in my PJs, got in to bed by 7:30 and slept, deeply, until 2pm, It's only 7pm but I'm ready to go to sleep again. Dreading Tuesday.

May 5 2005: In spite of my back pain, I kept my appointment with the cardiologist. He siad he can't clear me until after he's had a chance to really see what's going on with my heart and circulatory system. Since I can't tolerate a standard stress test, he scheduled me for a cathetarization at NorthShore Manhasset. Great. One more thing for me to stress over.

May 3 2005: my first class. Dr Geiss wants all his patients to attend this monthly group. Usually it's all aboiut nutrition and exercise and the like, but tonight 2 plastic surgeons gave a presentation on what most people who lose a lot of weight quickly will have to contend with, and how it can be fixed. Some very graphic photos and descriptions of the various procedures, but I won't even have to start thinking about that for at least a year and a half.

April 28 2005: After a couple of reschedulings, I finally had my pulmonary function test. Normal. I would have been surprised by anything else. So that's two down and how many to go? I sure didn't have to go thru all these test prior to my hip surgery. But I know it will all be worth it

April 11 2005: Met with Lisa Gentile, a nutritionist associated with Dr Geiss' office. She presented me with a plethora of information, including diets to follow the week before the surgery and the first several weeks after it. Now I'm starting to get excited about the surgery and good everything is going to be once I'm on the right road.

March 7th 2005: Upper GI: I had to drink this horrible substance so that the Endocrinologist could take pictures of my digestive system. If only they would add a little banana extract and some Splenda it might be palatable. My advice: stick close to a bathroom for at least a day after one of these tests.