On My Way....

[Lacar602]

Hello everyone. I am pretty new here. I have only been a member of this site for about a month, and everyone is so helpful. I enjoy reading about everyone else's journey, so I thought I would share mine.

I am 30 years old and I have been overweight since I was about 6 years old. I had a baby in May of '08 and because I have her, I am now commited to changing my life and my health. I want to be able to run around and play with her without getting out of breath so easily. I want to take her to Disney World and go on every single ride with her without worrying that I won't be able to fit in the seat.

In early January I decided on the lap band and here is what followed:
1/30 - Consult with the surgeon
2/10 - Cardiac Clearance and EKG
2/16 - Part 1 of Psych consult
2/18 - GI Series, Blood Work, Dietician
2/23 - Part 2 of Psych consult
2/24 - Pulmonology Clearance and PFT
2/27 - ECHO & Stress Test
3/9 - Surgeon received all the reports/test results needed
3/16 - Received Surgery Date of 5/5!!

The surgeon's office said that it usually takes my insurance company (UHC) 5 weeks to either approve or deny the surgery, so until then I am keeping my fingers crossed. I'll post again when I have a definite answer.
Hopefully it goes my way. I am so ready for a new me!! :nod:

[christie]

Hi Lisa! Congratulations on your decision! I'm glad you have a date to count on! I decided to get myself together for my daughter too. She's 6 now and getting faster than me by the day....I need to be able to compete!

[PhotoNut]

Hi Lisa! Welcome to b2g! So glad ya joined us! I was self pay so I didn't have to jump thru all the insurance hoops. I can only imagine how anxious you must be. We'll all be keeping good thoughts for you, and hopefully you'll get a positive answer very soon. Keep us posted!

[Lacar602]

Just an update, in case anyone is reading this and is wondering...hmm, I wonder how Lisa is doing?? LOL....

On Monday, the 16th, I got a call from my insurance company that my surgery date would be 5/5/09. I was super excited! I could barely contain myself. I wanted to run around my office telling everyone. But after careful consideration, I deicded against that.

Then on Friday, the 20th, I got a call from my insurance company telling me that they require a 6 month Dr. supervised diet. Well, let's just say that I lost it!!! I had called them two separate times to make sure that they did or did not require it. I was told by two different people that they DID NOT require it. But now here is this woman on the phone telling me I DO. Poor woman, she was so nice, and I was so upset. I felt bad for her having to hear me go on and on. So I tell her that I have called, etc., etc., etc. And she tells me that she doesn't know why they would have told me that. Then she asks me if I have done Weight Watchers in the past two years. I told her yes, I did it twice. She told me to send her the booklets where they stamp your weight for you each week and she will consider that in leiu of the Dr. superivsed diet. I'm surprised I even managed to process what she was telling me because all I kep saying the entire time on the phone was "I'm so upset" and "I can't believe this".

So I run home on lunch and the only thing I can find as proof of WW is one booklet with 7 weeks of stamps in it - THAT'S ALL! I was freaking out. I called my husband and my best friend crying. They were both trying to calm me down telling me that it's not like I got denied by the ins co, they just want you to do the 6 month diet, and in 6 months, you can have it done. My response was that I am 3 months into this already, I could have been 1/2 way done with the 6 month diet, if this Ins. co had given me the right information from the beginning.

I went back to work and faxed the little bit of proof to the ins company. She called me back about an hour later and said that she spoked to the director and they would deem that ACCEPTABLE! OMG.....I was so friggin' happy! I thanked her, and thanked her, and thanked her! I thought for sure they were going to come back and tell me it was no good, and I should start the 6 month diet now.

The woman at the insurance company is on vacation this week, but she will be back the week of the 30th, and she said that I should hear from her in 1 to 2 days after that. She also said that she doesn't anticipate any reason that I wouldnt be approved for the surgery. So once again, I will keep my fingers crossed that they come back with an approval and that no other problems come up!

[redgrldj]

Good luck Lisa..

[Lacar602]

MY SURGERY HAS BEEN APPROVED!!!!!:yeah_baby:

[christie]

Yay! Great job sticking to your guns, Lisa!

You'll be there in no time! Are you still doing WW while you wait?

[Lacar602]

I forgot I posted this thread, so I have updated it in a while. Sorry..I know everyone was sitting on the edge of their chairs waiting for me to post again LOL!

Ok, so here's the update: Surgery was May 7th. I am feeling good, just very sore and with a lot of gas pain in my upper abdomen and shoulder. But I am down 12 pounds so I am VERY happy!

I took before pictures on my way out the door to the hospital on Thursday and they were so horrible. I need to get the courage to post them. I hated taking them, but I know I will love looking back at them as I lose weight.

[503-250]

Lisa....NO SCALES!

That pain will go away the more you walk...i'm really glad to hear you are doing well.

[Lacar602]

Thanks. I am trying to stay away from the scale, but it is hard. Weird, since I've never wanted to weigh myself so much before! The pain is getting a little better. I'm just wondering how much longer it's going to last. It really sucks! And I am a WIMP!!

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Lisa,

Congrats on your banding. Glad it went well. I'm sure you will be pain-free in no time. Until then, enjoy the drugs!!! LOL I agree with Ralph, throw away your scales. Can't help but think we'd all be a lot better off if we didn't place so darned much importance on what the scale says. Follow band rules, including getting plenty of water, and start back exercising as soon as your doc gives you the go-ahead. You will know by your clothes getting looser & looser that it's working !!! Best of luck on your journey.

[503-250]

Get used to not focusing on weight vs victories. Weight will shift around and effect your moods and potential, it's a horrible way to judge your work.

I don't have a great point that will help drive home that reality other then the truth that you yourself can confirm...if you gain a few pounds or don't lose as much as you think you should....you will be sad, pissed, emotional, angry...whatever...meantime thats not going to help you at all.

Ther other important piece of this is that especially right now...you are not focused on weight. Many people gain in this phase, your body has shutdown from the starvation liquid diet you are on, you are probably slightly dehydrated and you need to focus on one thing and only one thing. Healing.

[Lacar602]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I have decided that I am only going to weigh in once a week, like if I was doing WW or something. For me, I just need to know where I am at. To know whether I need to change anything that I'm doing or not doing.

So this is my second day back at work and it is going well except for some pain in my tummy when I am sitting. It takes me a few seconds to be able to stand up completely when I get out of my chair. I'm making it a point to get up once an hour and walk around the office so I don't get so stiff. My stomach is way bruised, though. One BIG dark purple bruise close to where I think the port is. IS THAT NORMAL?!?! I go for my post-op appt Tuesday, so I'm going to show the Dr. then.

AND...some good news to report: my husband who was completely and totally against the surgery has been soooooo supportive since I've gotten home from the surgery. He was just worried about me, but now that I'm OK, he's OK. He even told me the other day that it looks like I've lost some weight. That felt really nice to have him realize.....

[MoOrLess]

Congrats Lisa...I just read this whole thread -- good job on fighting for the right to be banded without an additional 6 month diet. You're doing a great job already - smart indeed to get up each hour and move around. I made the mistake at about a month out, to go to a movie with my sweetie. I could hardly get out of the chair when the movie was over. I agree with the others -- don't worry about weight loss - just make sure you're getting in lots of liquids. As far as the brusing, yes some people bruise more than others, and it probably is by the port site. Glad all is going well and hubby is seeing your weight loss - give him a big hug! :)

[Want_2_B_Free]

Hi Lisa. Glad all is going well. Hey if they give you a hard time at work for walking around every hr. or so, just show them your briuse. I bet they will help you out of the chair. LOL...
Have a good day. Keep on working hard.

[remmi]

Hey! Congratulations. The bruise is normal. I'm 17 days post op and still have some bruising, nothing major. Just keep taking in liquids and moving! Good luck!

[Lacar602]

Today I am 9 days post op. I am doing well. I don't have any pain at any of the incision sites except for the port site incision. The gas pain has gotten better.

The "bruise" that I mentioned in an earlier post seems to be spreading a little, and I feel what almost feels like a bulge underneath it. It is sensitive to touch at times and it hurts when I am laying down and try to sit up. I was worried that something was wrong so I called the Dr. yesterday. I described what was going on and they told me that it is most likely a hematoma, not a bruise. It is caused by bleeding under the skin and the "bruise" is a result of blood pooling together in that location.

I have my post-op appointment on Tuesday, so I'll have them take a look at it then. The PA said that if I wanted to come in yesterday to have them look at it, I could have, but I was comfortable with what she was telling me. She was actually explaining more to me about my "bruise" then what I was explaining to her.

I am having a really hard time on the full liquid diet. I have to be on it for another week, but I am dying to eat actual food. It's not so much that I'm hungry. It's more me seeing food and knowing how it tastes and wanting to taste it. But I don't necessarily want to eat it, because the hunger isn't there. It's more psychological than anything else, I think. Has anyone else had this problem?

Ohhhhh....I can't wait until next week so I can have mashed postates!!

Even with the pain, bruising, and cravings, I'm so glad that I did this. My daughters 1 year birthday is in 2 weeks, and I feel like I've given her the best gift ever - a healthy mommy!

[remmi]

That's right...and your daughter will be so grateful!

My port incision did the same thing. It's much better now. I have the same mental cravings, too. They pass...but wow, sometimes it's tough. Last night I had refried beans because I'm such a wimp about mushy foods. I wanted more than I could actually eat. I took 3 bites and waited a bit. Then I wanted more. I took another bite and realized that was it for me.

Even though my mind wanted more, I rinsed the plate and walked away. I am going to have a hard time learning the ways, but that's why I did this!! We are undoing all of our bad habits...it will take time!

Do you add anything to your protein drinks? Bananas, protein powder, ice? Those things really do help. I've even combined yogurt with protein. It helps a lot.

[Lacar602]

Do you add anything to your protein drinks? Bananas, protein powder, ice? Those things really do help. I've even combined yogurt with protein. It helps a lot.

I haven't added anything because I am having a hard time getting all the food in without adding anything. I'm really not hungry, it's just these cravings that are killing me! I see people eating things that I know taste good and it makes me want to eat it, just for the taste. My nutrionist told me that in the pre-op diet phase, you may feel the need to chew something, and I thought that was crazy. But I've been on liquids for 2 weeks tomorrow (pre & post diets combined), and now I understand what she meant. I feel the need to actually "eat" something, instead of just drinking.

But like I said......a week from tomorrow, I will be very happy with mashed potatoes!

Thanks for your advice and help!

[Lacar602]

Today I had my 2 week post-op check up, even though it wasn't exactly 2 weeks. The PA said that everything looks good, even the hematoma. She felt the bulge underneath it and said that it is normal, just part of the hematoma itself. She also took out some of the "dissolvable" stitches that haven't quite disolved.

She also told me that I can start soft foods today, instead of Friday. I was very happy, but I'm also very nervous. I don't want anything to get stuck! Right now I'm eating chicken salad, very, very slowly. I'm chewing it, and chewing it, almost to the point where it's like a paste. YUMMY!!

It's really a challenge to remember to chew, chew, chew. I'm going to have to break some habits in order to live with the band and make it work, but I'm sure it will all be worth it.

[MoOrLess]

congrats Lisa! You're on your way. It IS a big adjustment - but you seem to have it under control ...just keep chewing carefully and don't drink before and after (or during) your meals and you'll do well!

[Lacar602]

Right now I'm just over 2 weeks post op. I'm doing well on the soft food portion of the post op diet. I'm a little hungry in between meals, but once I eat I'm fine until right before the next meal is due. I'm not really thinking too much about food because I've been really busy planning my daughter's 1st birthday party which is this Saturday. It's crazy to think that she is a year already. Last year at this time I was getting ready to go into the hospital to be induced, and this year I'm trying to plan her party. How does a one year old have 65 people coming to her party?!? I feel like I still have so much to do in order to get ready for it. I've been shopping for weeks and I'm still not done. But it's for my baby girl, so it's all worth it!

[MoOrLess]

wow Lisa...a one year old's big birthday bash AND just after band surgery - congrats on both! I think you have to be young to do all of this lol....sounds like things are perfect with your band right now - getting hungry when it is time for the next meal is just what you want :)

Happy Birthday Lisa's one year old! :)

[Lacar602]

I've haven't posted in a while. I was so busy with my daughter's birthday party, which by the way, was a complete success. Everyone had so much fun. Today I am 5 weeks post-op and I haven't lost any weight in almost 2 weeks. I go in on Tuesday for my first fill, which is great because I am STARVING. I have no restriction at all and I am always hungry. I'm hoping the fill will help me to feel not so hungry all the time and my weight loss will continue. I'm tolerating most foods well. It's really a challenge to take little bites, chew a lot, and eat slowly.