I Have A Date!!!

[mrs_christy]

YAY I have a date!!! So at first they told me Friday, October 13. I told Tricia about it, but man I just couldn't do it on that date...ya know? The whole "Friday the 13th" freaked me out. So....

My new date is Monday, October 23 @ 7:30 a.m. I am EXCITED!!! The doc says that since my BMI isn't too hight, I dont have to do the pre-diet liquid protein. WOOHOOO! Wish me luck!

[503-250]

Go Get Em!

[mrs_christy]

Thank you! So it looks like I have ummmmm 16 days left wooohooo! I went to Walmart yesterday and bought protein and more chewable vitamins, some new pj's (just cuz i can) and fuzzy slippers. Ok so I'm milking the surgery a bit with the hubby hahaha! Anyhow, I opened the protein and EWWWW it even smells nasty. :yuck: I got chocolate and vanilla and no I dont remember the brand.

I called and took some time off work, so I will be off for a total of 14 days (I only took off 5). Anyhow, things are lookin good. I go for my "pre-op training" day at Dr. Simpsons office next Saturday, October 14 @ 9am. This class is a day where I will weigh in, take pre-op pics, learn about dietary needs and restrictions, I get to watch a video on getting banded as well as fills, and talk to a dietician, etc. It should be a great class. I will also get to meet all the people I've been talking to on Dr. Simpsons message board, so I am really looking forward to it. Counting today, I only have 9 days of work before I am off for the surgery. So far everyone is very very supportive.

Yesterday I had to go get my pre-op labs done. I had them done before, but the good doc wanted updated ones that are less than 30 days old. So, I went in to get that done, and I've never had issues with anyone taking blood, but HOLY HELL did she jab me a good one. :Cry: She stuck the needle through the vein and had to pull back to get back in, it hurt like a MUTHU! OUCH! It made my entire arm sore all the way up to my shoulder. Hopefully this is NOT indicative of my surgical experience LOL! Anyhow, I woke up today and feel fine, my arm is still sore. Where did she go to school? Who was her teacher cuz they should be fired hahaha! I'm a big baby with needles. I dont think they hurt, but to see my own blood makes me want to pass out! I turn my head so I dont puke LMAO!!!

My big brother is 40 years old the day before my surgery (10/22) and we are throwing him a surprise party. I'm not going to drink cuz I'm thinking that even though the party is the Saturday before my surgery, I dont think its wise to taint my blood stream with liquor. A small sacrifice for such a long awaited goal.

I have to be at the hospital at 6am on Monday to check in, and the surgery itself is at 7:30. Should be an outpatient surgery, but the doc says that since I live in a town with no hospital facility, they may keep me overnight. Which is fine by me, whatever he feels comfortable with. My hubby took days off so he will be home for 6 days with me to help me and get me walking. I am grateful he is such a great man.

Before I close I just want to thank Tricia K for being such a devoted friend and such an inspiration through this whole ordeal. :love: You've been with me through the "i do, no i dont" phase of wanting this surgery and never pressured me or anything, you are such a good person. I love ya woman! Or should I say "wonder" woman hahaha!

[Kathy]

Oh Christy, it sounds like you got your head on straight and you are very truely and absolutely ready! Congratulations. See how it just all fell together?! Very cool. I had a margarita on the rocks the night before my surgery. Oops. I think you are smart to refrain though. Sounds like you have a great doc with a great program. I'm happy for you! Well done. Let the wiat begin!

Now, don't get too distracted by your post-op diet. Get what you need, but don't panic, because the post-op goes by pretty fast in the big scheme of things. It will be plenty. You can add banana and fruit to that protien drink yuck you got there and whip it up good. It will be yummy. And the protien is worth it.

AND, well done on jammies and slippers. :lol: You deserve it! Yippeee! Another pre-op goes down the banding road! Let's skip! Weeeeeeee!

[Clovermeg]

Congratulations Christy! The day you have your surgery will be the day I go back to work after having mine! I just went to Wal-Mart yesterday too and I also bought some teal blue pjs and a robe for the hospital!!! (Flintsone's chewables too!) I'm waiting to get my protein, I bought a sampler pack off the internet, so I'm working my way through those to see which ones I like and then I'll buy a big container. I can't wait, I know you're excited! I'll be thinking about you as I head back to work on the 23rd!!!

Cheers!

[JoyceGA]

Congratulations Christy and Meg! Goodness, y'all will be runway models before we know it!!!

Christy, I feel for you giving up alcohol for your brother's party. I gave it up after St. Patrick's Day as I started this journey. I swear they will take away my Irish membership soon.

[Momotrips]

Yay Christy, we can recover together. Mine is the 20th. I've been doing the pre-op shop myself. I was just thinking of new jammies this morning. My doc doesn't do pre-op diets at all - he doesn't believe that they shrink the liver enough to make a difference. He says he has all the correct liver retractors he needs, thank you. Surgeons (at least the ones I've chosedn in the past) have always tickled me - they are so sure of themselves and usually have a good sense of humor. I, however, have put myself on a diet since we had a celebration this weekend at several fine restaurants and I had more than several drinks - I don't hardly every drink anymore. I gained 8 pounds just in fluid retention! I can't get my rings off. Joy. Gotta get rid of this before my pre-op or he'll think I'm an insane binger!

I found that Isopure is okay - try not to smell it though, because it smells like yogurt, but it is a clear liquid. It doesn't smell bad, but the smell doesn't go with the looks and texture. Weird. I also like Spirotein and Carrot-tein protein powders. I make a smoothie with them (blending with the ice makes a big difference in texture) and I haven't found a flavor I dislike, yet. I particularly like the chocolate peanut butter and the carrot. If you add a little pumpkin pie spice to the carrot, I swear it tastes just like carrot cake! Yum! I got it at my local grocery. If you have a grocery with a large health food section, they should have it. Whole Foods has it I think, but not GNC. I have also purchased some organic juices - the kind that go by colors of veggies and fruits. Blue has grapes, purple carrots, blueberries, rutabaga. Red has apple, tomato, cherry, raspberry, rhubarb, etc. They are pretty good - a little goes a long way and they have loads of vitamins.

My doc also doesn't like to go overboard on protein - hard on the kidneys. So he likes Carnation Instant Breakfast (I buy the low carb kind in the little cartons) and "double milk" - low fat or fat free milk with fat free instant milk powder. You can add it to soups, too. I like that too, but I prefer a smoothy with protien powder for breakfast. It fills me up faster.

I also suggest getting a Magic Bullet personal blender. I got mine on E-bay for under $50 including shipping. My regular blender is great, but this chops up meats and things like that better and you can just use the cup you blend it in to drink!

Let's keep checking and posting to the October bandsters thread and keep up with each other.

Once again, yay Christy!

[HeatherGurl]

That is great Mrs. Christy!

[mrs_christy]

Ok Melissa ewww on the blended meat. I just dont see how that is even remotely ok with anyone. Yea sure it all goes to the same place, but if there's no chewing involved I think I would puke hahaha! I am picky picky picky for a fat girl, maybe that will come in handy when I get the band LOL.

I took off my days of work, my boss was thrilled...NOT. My doc wants me off for 10 days, but says I can go back sooner if I feel up to it. But if I already took the days off...why would I go back prematurely???? I only had to take 5 days off because I have a strange schedule. So, I take 5 days off but end up with 14 days off the way my schedule falls. YAY! Hardly a vacation I know, but lots of recovery time for me!!! That will give me time to get through the liquids phase before I go back to work.

Anyone have suggestions on portable mushies when I go back to work? Convenient stuff WITH the nutrition is good, but I dont know where to begin. Hell, if I knew how to eat healthy, I wouldn't be fat hahaha!

I love you guys, you're the best! (no I'm not drunk LOL)

[Momotrips]

Baked sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, soups, smoothies, fat-free sugar-free pudding, yogurt, polenta, mexican corncakes (yum), mashed carrots, malt-o-meal, grits, oatmeal, egg salad (lite mayo), mashed avocados, soft, moist fish like roughy or any kind that you can mush up with your tongue on the roof of your mouth (that was my dieticians rule of thumb). Someone had a recipe for baked ricotta or cottage cheese topped with spaghetti sauce - kind of lasagne with no noodles - that sounded really good. Since I don't have my band yet, I'm open to suggestions myself. I've been wondering about things like cous-cous or other small grains like quinoa.

I actually found some premashed and mixed sweet potatoes in the refrigerated section of the grocery store, but they do have brown sugar in them. Still, sweet potatoes are an excellent food.

You can order things at restaurants and bring them home and eat them for a couple of days. Things like the corncakes or favorite cream soups or other squashy stuff. I plan on getting some Wolfgang Puck's butternut squash soup, some corn cakes from either Cheesecake factory or a Mexican restaurant I know and some other things and freeze some things and eat some over several days. I just want to be able to shake up my menu a bit without having to cook too many different things from my family. Everything in moderation, though - not too much fat and sugar or sodium.

I wonder if anyone has ever written a cookbook for people without teeth...

Do you not like ground beef/hamburger? The bullet chops it up like that. It's not liquified or anything. I've just heard that people that really crave steak can actually eat it that way with some au jus. Ya still gotta chew! I really got it for smoothies and to mix up chunky soups.

I personally love all kinds of soup, so the full liquid and mushies stages will be good for me.

[mrs_christy]

Only 5 more days to surgery. I went to this great pre-op educational seminar on Saturday. The thing that sticks out most in my mind is kind of funny and something I NEVER thought of! She said that when you take a bite: 1 bite = 1 swallow. So, when I left I went to eat with my kids and counted how many swallows per bite. Can you believe it was 4-5!!!! OMG! I thought "ok, smaller bites" hahaha!

I can't wait for surgery. Things are going so great in my life right now I dont want to rock the boat...BUT...

I just got my CAREER job today! I am now officially a Purchasing agent for my company. That meant a MEGA money increase and alot of status recognition. I'm a ham so status is good hahaha! Surgery in 5 days, and going back to college. My life is good, hope I didn't JINX it by saying that.

Hope all is well with everyone!!!!:nod:

[Tricia K.]

I love ya too, girly. :hug: Congrats on the promotion! Woo hoo!! :blue:

[mrs_christy]

Ok everyone, I am off to Phoenix. The DH and I are staying the night at a hotel next to the hospital for some R & R before surgery. I have to be at the hospital at 6am. I am excited and VERY nervous, but all in all feel great about this. I am hoping all goes well, keep me in your prayers. I will let ya'll know how I am as soon as I feel up to it! :nod:

[Kathy]

Woot!!! You go, Christy! Prayers for a safe surgery and easy recovery. :)

[Momotrips]

Go Christy, it's your band day (almost). Good luck. You'll do fine - it's not so bad at all. 2 days out here and moving slow, but doing well. I felt a little empty and gurgly yesterday, but no hunger today. Just keep sipping.

Let us know how everything goes! We'll be thinking about you.

[Tricia K.]

*smooches* Christy. I'll be calling you tomorrow afternoon to check on ya. Love ya bunches! :love:

[Tricia K.]

I just spoke to Christy (briefly) and she said the surgery went fine and that she was on her way home. She has a 2 hour drive home and will be calling me upon her arrival.

:blue: Yay for Christy! She's in bandland now!! :blue:

http://www.triciakutz.com/misc/welcometobandlandchristy.jpg

[JDru]

You're officially a bandster now!!! I'm so glad to hear that you are doing well.

[PhotoNut]

Yay for you, Christy! Welcome to Bandland!!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Remember to take it easy, sip sip sip that water, and move around as often as you can.

Let us know how you're progressing!

[mrs_christy]

Ok here's the scoop...

The night before I had a dream the anesthesia (sp?) didn't work and that I was awake through the whole thing. It was creepy, but it made for a really funny story to tell my anesthesialogist, he thought it was funny. He said I watch too many movies LOL. I checked into the hospital at 6am and was being rolled into surgery by 7:30 and out by 9am. When I woke up the nurse said "how are you feeling?" I told her "how do you think, I just puked like twice". She had a puzzled look and said "ummm no you didn't, you must have dreamed that" LOL LOL LOL!!! Man, I just couldn't get a break with the terrible dreams.

I was in recovery for about an hour and then checked into my room. My mom, daughter, dad and DH were there. I was up and walking by noon and then released at 3:30pm. Filling my prescription was a nightmare that took 2 hours! We weren't familiar with the area, and it was less than desirable, so we went to the closest thing which was Walgreens and they had an issue trying to find our insurance card prescription number. The DH was sooo pissed by the time we left and then they ate Subway. I thought it would bug me, but it didn't...all I wanted to do was sleep really.

I woke up at 1am this morning in alot of pain and I tried to get up. It was painful, just like Tricia said it would be LOL. I drugged myself and slept for another 5 hours.

Today I feel very sore, a little hunched over but overall feel pretty good. I had the DH take before pictures of me and scar pictures too. I feel a little strange, my stomach is growling like crazy but I really dont care to eat. It's been hard to get my 1-2 oz of water down every 15-20 minutes. I'm trying. I took my chewable vitamin last night and felt really really sick, so I thought I'd wait a few days and try it again, maybe when I get to go on mushies. I start mushies on Halloween.

So, thats the story. There's a little port discomfort and some muscle soreness from walking funny, but no gas pain like I've heard. Thanks everyone for your wellwishes, your support is soooo appreciated. And for Tricia, I love ya girl!:hug:

[Tricia K.]

I love you too, sweetie! :love:

[DebbieChoos]

I wonder if anyone has ever written a cookbook for people without teeth...


What a freakin hoot!! You may be on to something!! I'm sorry that quote just stood out at me, I'm still laughing.

Congrats on your date, I probably would have balked at the Friday the 13th date too.

Debbie

[Momotrips]

dascjp1, I must have been on drugs when I wrote that - I didn't remember it! (Oh wait, that was BEFORE drugs - oops.) However, I do crack myself up on a regular basis...

Sorry about all your bad dreams, Christy, it gets better. Congratulations on being a bandmate!

My anesthesiologist promised me the giant plasma on the OR wall if I was a good patient - I swear, hand to God. I'm still waiting for delivery. Do you think he was serious? Was I hallucinating? Heh.

[Goannabanda]

Yay for Christie!!! Welcome to bandland darling! Jope that your recovery continues as well as it has for you to date!

[NurseTeresa]

Congratulations on your banding! Glad things went smoothly for you(minus the dreams lol). I had a banding patient come to the unit after recovery who the next morning swore I let her puke all night......lol she didnt get sick at all not even a burp. She didnt even remember me gettin her up and walking her in the halls 4 hours after she got to the unit. Anyways, continue the walking and hopefully you will never have to face those wonderful gas pains which can hit a few days later even. Keep us posted on how your doing! Oh yeah, congratulations on your promotion also!