Lapband Update at last

I have been slack in updating I know. I sort of haven't bothered updating cause I knew nobody would be reading it. But, thanks to my one lone subscriber (thanks for that!), it gives me the motivation to keep on typing... I also have a youtube vlog of my lapband journey (lapbandforlife if anybody is interest) which I have been keeping up to date. So today is Monday the 5th March and I am 3months and 2weeks postop. My current weight is 99.3kg - YEH, UNDER 100KG!!! I really can't complain about my weightloss at all. I have had weeks where it hasn't dropped at all and some where it has been miniscule but all in all it is going down and that's all that matters. Total weightloss is 19.5kg (since my 2 week optifast pre-op diet) which I started on the 5th November SOOOOO,,,, today being the 5th March means that it is exactly 4 months since I started this lapband journey. Wow, hasn't time flown - well no not really.... Although I am losing weight I have had terrible issues with my shoulder pain - like, really bad pain! The doctors thinks it is the band pressing on my nerve which gives me referred pain in the shoulder (not very nice let me add). It comes when I either eat too much (like more than half a cup) or eat too fast (which I do have a tendancy to do if I am hungry). Once the pain comes then it is really really hard to get rid of - like days and weeks!! My current stint has lasted about 3 weeks and it is really really getting me down. I want it gone, I don't want this pain anymore - it hurts like hell and affects my day to day living quite considerably. I need pain relief all the time as well as a heat pack on my shoulder. I am not sure if I mentioned it in my previous posts but it didn't start until about 2-3 weeks postop. I thought it was the gas pain coming late (everybody talks about that damn shoulder pain from the gas) but I wondered why I didn't get any gain pain until that time. Anyway, it has not gone, it is still around. I have googled it and found it to be quite common with lapbanders but the doctors don't really want to talk about it!! I am just hoping I am one of those that it eventually goes after time (crossing my fingers and toes for that one). Anyway, enough of the negativity but I just had to get that out there. If anybody has a remedy please pass me a line and let me know - I am willing to try anything at this stage. I was really hoping it would be gone by now as in 2 weeks time I leave for my European River Cruise with my husband (our 30th wedding anniversary next month). We will be going for 5 weeks - no kids, no work, no stress - can't wait. I really was hoping to not have to worry about this damn shoulder pain. I do go back to the doctors this Wednesday and she may take out some fill. Speaking of fills, I have had 2 fills so far for a total at the moment of 4ml. I asked Caroline (new doctor instead of Dr Skinner) who told me I have a 10ml APS Allergan band and 1.5ml was put in at surgery (my surgeon did not tell me that). He put another 2ml at my first appointment and she put another .5ml in for a total of 4ml. She said she usually takes some out for people going on long haul flights so I am thinking she will do that this week. I am not sure what to do. I think I do need a fill due to eating more than half a cup and getting the shoulder pain even more than normal but then I don't want to be all the way over in Europe and something happens. I think I will just go with what she thinks - let you know the outcome. Anyway, things going smoothly other than that. I have had no stuck episodes to date (touch wood) and can eat pretty much anything as well (as long as it is in small amounts). I do miss hoeing into bigs chunks of fresh bread, butter and jam (mmmmmm) but haven't had one since being banded. Ah well, do I want to be skinny or not (I choose skinny please). If you are reading this and have not subscribed - please do, and I shall recipricate and subscribe to your blog :) Sharon

1st fill

Well, I have to apologise for being soooo slack in updating my blog! I have been doing youtube videos and forgot totally about updating this blog. I do want to do both and need to ensure this blog gets updated as needed. I tried to update a Week 3 blog last week but it didn't upload and I lost all the typing and uploading of photos - damn it!! I gave up and thought to come back later and well - here I am!! Had my first fill at the surgeons office yesterday (my surgeon is Dr Stewart Skinner from the Centre of Bariatric Surgery in Melbourne at the Glen Iris Private Medical Centre). I asked him (as I have been dying to know) what size band I have and he said it holds 7ml. Does that mean it is a 7cc band??? He then found my port (after a few minutes) and said he added "a couple of mls" - does that mean he added 2ml?? A couple to me is 2 so I shall go with that. He wanted to see me in 2-3 weeks for another fill as he said it will take a few fills before I feel restriction and they like to do it every 2 weeks so the weightloss can start. When I told the receptionist I needed to make an appointment with him for 2 weeks she just looked at me as if to say "you got to be joking!!". She said I couldn't get in at 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks or even 5 weeks - what the!! She said it was because of the close during the christmas break that has caused such a backlog as everybody wants to see him in the first few weeks back. As Dr Skinner did say to me on the way out if I am having trouble getting an appointment that I could see Caroline (one of the doctors - not a surgeon though at the Centre). He said she can do fills. I told the receptionist Dr Skinner had said that to me and thankfully she was able to make an appointment for 3 weeks (so my next appointment and hopefully fill will be th 11th January - rather than like February!!). I hope she is as quick at doing the fill that he was. I was actually quite surprised that he put the needle in so far away from my port incision site. As you can see by the photo above, the bandaid is where he placed the needle and just above the biggest scar is the port incision site. I measured it - it is like 8cm away. I really really thought it would be an inch or so as I have seen quite a few youtube videos of where their port is from the incision. I have to say this blew me away. I don't feel any restriction though I am on liquids for 2 days so I may notice a difference when I start on solic food again - just in time for christmas!! My last weighin (week 3), I was 108.7kg so it was a loss of .7kg for a total of 10.1kg in 5 weeks. Can't say I can complain about that. If I continue on that track I shall be at goal in about 14 months. I don't think an average of .5 to 1kg should cause too much saggy skin (here's crossing my fingers anyway). Christmas is coming and I don't feel the least bit "christmassy". I have bought all the presents now (my kids, my husband, mum, mum in law, neice and nephews) so at least now I can relax (sort of). Having christmas with my family on boxing day and it will be here (we take turns). We supply the meat and everybody else brings salads, desserts etc. So far I have got a huge ham (Bertocchi), 3 chickens (nobody likes turkey at all), a leg of lamb. I am thinking of getting some prawns and possibly sausages for the kids. I have made it for 1pm so we can put it all out straight away and eat pretty much straight away as well. That way we won't fill up on crap like we do every other year. You know, the dips, chips, peanuts, cheese. Not sure how much I will be able to eat and whether or not I will feel a bit left out but I shall keep you updated - I PROMISE. Well, that is if anybody decides to subscribe to this blog. At the moment it is still at ZILCH!!!!

Week 2 Post-op Weighin

Well, halleluyah I lost weight, though not as much as I wanted (I was hoping for 1 kilor), but I can't quibble over 800grams - it is still a loss. My total now since my pre-op diet is 9.4kg. I now weigh 109.4kg and with another kilo lost I shall be the lowest I have been in 2011. As I am going overseas next March my goal is to get below 100kg by then. I would like to sit in the airline seats without feeling squashed and uncomfortable and also there will be alot of daily walking up hills and I want to have lost weight and be fit enough to cope with that or I shall be bringing Wayne down with my moaning and inability to continue with any of the tours.

Can't wait for my holiday. It is our 30th wedding anniversary and this will be the best trip ever - 5 weeks on a European River Cruise going through 10 countries - wow. I have never (orWayne) been to Europe. I did go to England in 2001 with my mum with my dad's ashes but that was hardly a holiday and it was mostly relative visiting and that is it. I will still not be able to go to England so that is definately another trip altogether. Can't wait. I must say I am a bit thingy about my lapband and being so far from my surgeon and help so I hope nothing happens.

Anyway, hallulyah to me for another weight loss.

Sharon

Hunger starting

Well it is now day 13 post-op lapband surgery. Tomorrow will be my week 2 weighin so shall update my blog tomorrow - I'm hoping for a kilo which will get me under 110kgs. My post title today is "hunger starting". This is due to the fact that my hunger is slowly returning. Yesterday I felt it for the first time. I have had no hunger pangs whatsoever up to day 12 even though I've only been on liquids and mushies. Yesterday, I was actually hungry between meals which is a first (post lap band) and had to have snacks. As I am still on mushies the snacks still have to be mushy too of course so I ended up having some crushed pineapple with yoghurt. Not much mind you, still only 3/4 cup all up but as big as my main meal would of been. I was still hungry an hour later and had the most I have eaten for dinner yet. I ended up having the beef and vegies (1 serve) along with some leftover chicken and vegies (about 1/2 serve). My stomach was actually rumbling. I did like not having that hunger feeling. Oh yeh, forget to mention - I also snaffled 2 potato gems from my husbands/kids dinner as they came out of the oven. I did mash it but still - I doubt potato gems are classified as a healthy option. Oh well, I knew it was gonna come and here it is. One thing I need to remind myself is that although I am hungry it is still nothing like I was pre lap-band when I would eat a horse and still go looking for something else....

Anyway, back tomorrow for my weigh in results.

Sharon

Start of Mushy Stage

Started on my pureed/mushy stage today - woohoo, looking forward to egg salad and something with a bit of texture at last. This morning for brekky I had 1 vitabrits with 1 cup of milk (see photo) warmed up. I waited a couple of minutes for the vitabrit to break up and it basically turned to mush (hence the "mushy" stage!). Must say it was a nice change to my optifast for breakfast. Another thing I am trying to do and have started today, and that is to eat at the table and not in front of the TV. I have a very bad habit of sitting in front of the TV or computer while I eat - Well, no longer! Sitting at the table makes sure I am sitting up straight and my stomach isn't crunched over.

I must say I haven't really done any exercise yet, apart from maybe walking around shops while shopping. I do have a treadmill in the garage and the first couple of days home I managed to get on there and do 5mins at a time. I shall get back onto that asap I think. I want to be able to take my dog for a walk but at the moment my stomach is still a bit sore and she has a tendency to pull. There have been a couple of times in the past I have actually fallen down and grazed my knees so I don't want to risk that at the moment.

Can't believe it is already past 1 week since lapband surgery - it seemed to go soooo slow waiting for it to happen but it has now passed and I'm on my way to a healthier, slimmer me - can't wait.

Shaz

Week 1 Post-Op

Thursday the 1st December 2011 today, exactly 1 week since my lapband operation. Weighed in this morning at 110.2kg (242.44Ibs) which is now down 8.6kg (18.9Ibs)from my preop diet started on 4th November 2011 - so can't compalain about that.

Have been on my liquid for the past week having Optifasts, Up N Go's, V8 juices, homemade soups (ie pumpkin, tomato etc) and have had no hunger at all which is great. I know this isn't going to last but I shall enjoy it while I can. Love this no hunger feeling and have to remember how this feels cause apprently this is the
"Green Zone" I will need to aim for when I am having my fills.

Don't go back to work till January 3rd next year so I am going to have a nice, relaxing time off doing stuff I normally don't get time to do cause I am normally at work (including travel time) for 11 hours a day. Not looking forward to that again!! I have photos going back years that need to be put into albums, I have drawers that are overflowing with junk (who doesn't have the odd junk draw??) that I can go through and cupboards to clean. At the moment, I can't bend so they will still need to wait another week I reckon BUT I have promised myself I will get around to it and get these jobs done. Plus there is christmas coming up and I it is my turn to have christmas at my place this year for my family. So there is all the food to prepare for and I can only thank god I shall be at home to organise that as well.

All in all, I have had a great week, am feeling pretty good and the weightloss is happening...

I'M BANDED!!

Well today is day 3 post-op. Was banded Thursday 24th November at The Avenue hospital in Windsor by Dr Stewart Skinner, Anaesthetist was Steven Smith (I think I got that right??). I am now at home now recuperating and looking forward to my new banded life.

Surgery day: Wayne (hubby) woke up at 4am to have a shower and his usual cup of tea etc. I got up at 4.20 as I had a long bath just before bed, washed my hair, shaved my legs etc. We left at 5am, having to be at the hospital by 6am we weren't sure about traffic and parking. We had done a dry run the night before to check out the parking siutation and if we could get one there was all day parking right along the street of the hospital with no ticket machine so were hoping to be early enough for one of them.

Was I nervous - sort of but I would say more excited than nervous. It had been a long wait (8 weeks) from when I booked it so I was just glad to have my lap band day finally get here. Arrived at the hospital at 5.30 and were able to get the good parking spot - whew. We sat in the car till 5.45am and then walked into the hospital, although the doors were open there was nobody at the desk yet. A lady came by and asked if I was to be admitted and I told her I was (it was like 10 to 6 at that stage). She said they won't be open till 6 and just sit in the waiting room. A couple more people came in and were also waiting in the waiting room and at exactly 6am the lady came over and said as I was first in she would see me first. We went into her office where I signed a billion papers and paid the $500 excess for Medibank Private and the $20 for incidentals at the hospital. They also took my credit card details to have on hand.

She then told us to go to the end of the corridor, get in the lift and go to the 3rd floor. Well we got out at the 3rd floor to the operating theatre with signs all over saying only operating theatre staff only. We couldn't see where we would have to go, both Wayne and I were totally confused. Somebody came up to us and said we probably needed to be in the other lift. Back down to the ground, I went back and asked at the admissions desk and she said it was the 1st floor I needed!!!

Back to the lift, 1st floor and saw Helen at the desk. She took me to Room 138 (we were in the Mackellar Ward), I was right at the end of the hallway. Room all to myself (bonus). It was still like only 10 to 7 by this stage and was told I was first cab off the rank and surgery booked for 8am. I was given the lovely paper undies to put on (just stretched over my stomach) and the back to front gown, not to mention the blue hair cap. I was sitting in the bed, Wayne in the chair just waiting.

The anesthestist came to see me to ask the usual million questions. Nurses came in and asked the same million questions. Then I was wheeled off to surgery. In the pre-op room Dr Skinner came by to see me and tell me everything would be fine, patted my shoulder and smiled at me. Was wheeled into theatre and moved over to the theatre bed myself. My left arm was then put onto its own little stand where Steven put in all the necessary lines needed. Mask went on, I was asked to take a couple of deep breaths - woke up in recovery room. Don't you just love general anaestesia! Don't think I was long in recovery, they just asked how I was, I nodded okay. Still had the oxygen mask on.

Went back to my room about 10am, Wayne was waiting for me. He said Dr Skinner went down to see him to say it all went well (nice of him).

I must say painwise I felt fine, no shoulder pain that I was expecting from the gas -still haven't had any shoulder pain.

The rest of the day I just had water with 2 1/2 cups of apple juice through the day. Not hungry in the least. Had a little pain in my stomach but told the nurses it was only a 2 out of 10 so can't complain. Just needed normal panadol. Had to walk down to xray for my barium xray to ensure the band was in place properly. Everything fine and it was nifty to see it on the xray machine.

Wayne left about 5.30pm and although I was really tired I didn't want to go to sleep to early in case I woke at like 2am. I watched a bit of TV and went to sleep about 9pm. Woke a few times to go to the toilet but otherwise had a good sleep, was hard to get comfortable as I usually sleep on my side and although I was able to it was a tad uncomfortable.

Day 2: Woke up about 6.30am. Going home day today. Wayne came by about 7.30. Breakfast came by - chicken broth (like water), apple juice and a peppermint tea. Luckily still not hungry. Still drinking water as well so in the toilet every 10 seconds!! Had a shower, they came and checked my blood pressure, changed my dressings and signed my discharge papers. We left about 9.15am.

Had an Up n Go at home for dinner - filled me up good. My brother and his girlfriend came around with flowers (surprise). Had a couple of hours sleep when I got home as well as I couldn't keep my eyes open!! So far so good, not much pain, think this is going to be just fine.