I love Christmas time and am always sad when it ends. Had a great Christmas and my kids are still enjoying all of their gifts. They got Xbox 360. They have been wanting it for a couple years now and I keep saying no as they already have several game systems, but Santa brought it this year as a joint gift and they are so excited and they loved it.
On the Band front. I've been trying real hard to stick to the protein drink thing, but I must admit, for Christmas eve and Chritmas, I had some mushie items. I had some mashed potatoes and gravy and made them very mushie and they were delicious and didn't have a problem at all. So, since then, I've been eating a few mushie items here and there and have discovered that milk chocolate is fine. I can suck on it and it turns to liquid. So needless to say, my Christmas eating has not been all that good, but I'm glad to say that I haven't had any pain or discomfort since my unfill. I also am happy to report that I still haven't experienced the Acid Reflux since my unfill. I have noticed my appetie is getting bigger and bigger everyday but I still feel like I have control (the holidays are a bad time to gauge this also with all the candy and food around).
I keep telling myself that all these things are good signs that my band has gone back into place. I sure hope I'm right.
My spirits are much better lately and I'm just hopeful that things will be just fine for me and my band.
I've been reading everyone's posts and so glad everyone had a great holiday and here's to a great 2010 for all of us!! Every year I make the same resolution to loose weight and this year makes me so happy that it's finally happened!!! Thank you Band!!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
GOAL!!! Down 62 and Keeping my head up!!!
That's right, I finally made it to goal!!! -62 pounds and weighing in at 160 (159.5 to be exact). I'm thrilled that I made it to goal!! My BMI is like 26 I think. I'm real close to be in the normal weight range.
As far as my band goes, I don't have the insurance I thought I had that covered complications. After fighting with the Dr. office, I was given incorrect information and never asked enough questions about it and basically no paperwork was filled out by me or the office. I'm letting it go, nothing I can do. I did talk to the Dr. about my feeling I was mislead when he called me personally and he is going to work with me and help me through the process.
Anyway, as far as my band goes, as you know it slipped, so we took all the fluid out and I've put myself on a liquid diet to maybe help things along to get it back to where it belongs (fingers crossed). I find myself disecting every single little pull and pain I feel, thinking something is wrong. I find that my appetite is not completly back, but it gets a little more everyday. I think I still feel restriction, but it's hard to be certain when I'm not eating solids. I went to a Cookie exchange party yesterday with friends who don't know about my band and decided I'd taste a few mushie items so I wouldn't be obvious and to see how they feel. Anyway, I had a little hummus and some cheesy dip (i know, not so diet friendly, but that was all i could eat) I loaded my plate with other items so it didn't look funny and sat in a spot where people couldn't watch me eat and then threw my napkin on top of the plate when I was done and no one was none the wiser. I also took a piece of fudge and took tiny little bites and let it melt in my mouth until is was liquid, so i even enjoyed a little dessert. Mashed potatoes is my plan for Christmas dinner along with my protein shake.
Everything I tried (not much at all) went down fine, I didn't even feel any restriction or fullness, but I wouldn't with my band tightened either because it was mushy and such a small amount. Nothing seemed to linger in my pouch or anything. But after the party when I went home, I had some small pulling sensations, wouldn't say pain because it was like a 1 on a scale from 1 to 10, but they worried me. I'm so afraid the band will slip further and it will be an emergency and unbearable pain. I'm also so afraid it won't go back into place and i'll have to have surgery again. I'm afraid of the surgery especially since i was talking to a lady in the Dr. office last week and she said she almost died during surgery, enternal bleeding. I know things like that can always be a risk, but i just didn't think i'd have to go through another surgery. I thought this would be forever. I also know that complications were possible, you just never think it will be you.
Sorry this post is so long....where do i go from here?? I have another appt on the 12th of Jan and we'll do another barrium swallow and see where the band has settled. If it is back in place, I'm going to leave it unfilled and see if I can do this on my own. I've gotten to my goal and hope that with diet and maintenance I can maintain it on my own. During this liquid phase, I hope to loose a little extra to give me some room to fluctuate during the process. I hope I can maintain 160. If I can't, then I might look into a very, very small fill way, way, way down the line and go slow and hope it doesn't slip again. If the Barrium swallow shows the band has not settled back into place, then I guess I have some tough decisions to make, replace it or take it out??? Surgery Again!!!
Sorry my posts are bummers lately, hopefully on the 12th I'll have good news!! Merry Christmas everyone, thank you so much for all your support!! It has been everything to me!!!
As far as my band goes, I don't have the insurance I thought I had that covered complications. After fighting with the Dr. office, I was given incorrect information and never asked enough questions about it and basically no paperwork was filled out by me or the office. I'm letting it go, nothing I can do. I did talk to the Dr. about my feeling I was mislead when he called me personally and he is going to work with me and help me through the process.
Anyway, as far as my band goes, as you know it slipped, so we took all the fluid out and I've put myself on a liquid diet to maybe help things along to get it back to where it belongs (fingers crossed). I find myself disecting every single little pull and pain I feel, thinking something is wrong. I find that my appetite is not completly back, but it gets a little more everyday. I think I still feel restriction, but it's hard to be certain when I'm not eating solids. I went to a Cookie exchange party yesterday with friends who don't know about my band and decided I'd taste a few mushie items so I wouldn't be obvious and to see how they feel. Anyway, I had a little hummus and some cheesy dip (i know, not so diet friendly, but that was all i could eat) I loaded my plate with other items so it didn't look funny and sat in a spot where people couldn't watch me eat and then threw my napkin on top of the plate when I was done and no one was none the wiser. I also took a piece of fudge and took tiny little bites and let it melt in my mouth until is was liquid, so i even enjoyed a little dessert. Mashed potatoes is my plan for Christmas dinner along with my protein shake.
Everything I tried (not much at all) went down fine, I didn't even feel any restriction or fullness, but I wouldn't with my band tightened either because it was mushy and such a small amount. Nothing seemed to linger in my pouch or anything. But after the party when I went home, I had some small pulling sensations, wouldn't say pain because it was like a 1 on a scale from 1 to 10, but they worried me. I'm so afraid the band will slip further and it will be an emergency and unbearable pain. I'm also so afraid it won't go back into place and i'll have to have surgery again. I'm afraid of the surgery especially since i was talking to a lady in the Dr. office last week and she said she almost died during surgery, enternal bleeding. I know things like that can always be a risk, but i just didn't think i'd have to go through another surgery. I thought this would be forever. I also know that complications were possible, you just never think it will be you.
Sorry this post is so long....where do i go from here?? I have another appt on the 12th of Jan and we'll do another barrium swallow and see where the band has settled. If it is back in place, I'm going to leave it unfilled and see if I can do this on my own. I've gotten to my goal and hope that with diet and maintenance I can maintain it on my own. During this liquid phase, I hope to loose a little extra to give me some room to fluctuate during the process. I hope I can maintain 160. If I can't, then I might look into a very, very small fill way, way, way down the line and go slow and hope it doesn't slip again. If the Barrium swallow shows the band has not settled back into place, then I guess I have some tough decisions to make, replace it or take it out??? Surgery Again!!!
Sorry my posts are bummers lately, hopefully on the 12th I'll have good news!! Merry Christmas everyone, thank you so much for all your support!! It has been everything to me!!!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Bad News......:(
Hi all...this is a really hard post for me to write and I've been avoiding doing it. As you know I went to the Dr. yesterday for another unfill and he suggested we do a barium swallow. I was happy he suggested it and so I went to another section of the hospital to do that and then went back up to his office and he said the x-rays are difficult to read but it looks like I have a pretty bad slip :(
I questioned the fact that I don't have any pain, that I just complain of the acid reflux that has actually been worse in the past and this is just a little annoying. I said "Doesn't a slip hurt real bad?" He said "Not necessarily". I also explained that I can eat and drink (not a whole lot, but about what a bandster should, i think) and he said that some is going through the slip. I honestly don't know how long it has been like this. I mean I went on a cruise for goodness sake and gained a little while on it. I did have some tight moments but they subsided.
Anyway getting to even worse news. I asked what do we do and he said that we need to do surgery again to replace (and I'm contemplating removing it). I told him that i have heard of people taking the fluid out and it can fix itself. He said we can do that and it will buy us time, but it will most likely slip again.
Even worse, worse news. When I choose this doctor, one of the things that appealed to me was that I was told that he is a Bliss Doctor and all cash pay patients are covered for one year for complications related to the band. My one year is up on the 18th of Jan, so I'm thinking this should be covered under the Bliss insurance. When I mentioned it, he kind of danced around the subject and then said it is usually for only 90 days and then that someone in his office had embezzled money from him back then and dropped the ball somewhere. He is going to have someone check on it an call me, he said to give them a day or two. I'm so pissed off, I'm not holding my breath on the Bliss thing.
I'm a cash pay patient and just can't afford another operation and if I replace it and put it higher on my stomach, I'm worried it will happen again and then I'll need yet another operation in a year that I can't afford or do.
We took all the fluid out and I feel fine, No acid reflux last night, but I felt it wanting to happen. It is better, but I fear that it will slip further and I'll be in pain and tight again without anything to take out. I haven't eaten anything. I asked about my diet now and he just said to go to protein drinks so I don't gain the weight back. I know I can't live on protein drinks, but I'm going to do them for now and if I must eat something, I will eat something mushie so that maybe the band will have a better chance at going back into place.
It doesn't feel like anything has moved yet. It feels looser but the same position.
Anyway, I'll keep you posted when things change. If anyone else has gone through a similar thing, please contact me, I'd love to hear from you.
I questioned the fact that I don't have any pain, that I just complain of the acid reflux that has actually been worse in the past and this is just a little annoying. I said "Doesn't a slip hurt real bad?" He said "Not necessarily". I also explained that I can eat and drink (not a whole lot, but about what a bandster should, i think) and he said that some is going through the slip. I honestly don't know how long it has been like this. I mean I went on a cruise for goodness sake and gained a little while on it. I did have some tight moments but they subsided.
Anyway getting to even worse news. I asked what do we do and he said that we need to do surgery again to replace (and I'm contemplating removing it). I told him that i have heard of people taking the fluid out and it can fix itself. He said we can do that and it will buy us time, but it will most likely slip again.
Even worse, worse news. When I choose this doctor, one of the things that appealed to me was that I was told that he is a Bliss Doctor and all cash pay patients are covered for one year for complications related to the band. My one year is up on the 18th of Jan, so I'm thinking this should be covered under the Bliss insurance. When I mentioned it, he kind of danced around the subject and then said it is usually for only 90 days and then that someone in his office had embezzled money from him back then and dropped the ball somewhere. He is going to have someone check on it an call me, he said to give them a day or two. I'm so pissed off, I'm not holding my breath on the Bliss thing.
I'm a cash pay patient and just can't afford another operation and if I replace it and put it higher on my stomach, I'm worried it will happen again and then I'll need yet another operation in a year that I can't afford or do.
We took all the fluid out and I feel fine, No acid reflux last night, but I felt it wanting to happen. It is better, but I fear that it will slip further and I'll be in pain and tight again without anything to take out. I haven't eaten anything. I asked about my diet now and he just said to go to protein drinks so I don't gain the weight back. I know I can't live on protein drinks, but I'm going to do them for now and if I must eat something, I will eat something mushie so that maybe the band will have a better chance at going back into place.
It doesn't feel like anything has moved yet. It feels looser but the same position.
Anyway, I'll keep you posted when things change. If anyone else has gone through a similar thing, please contact me, I'd love to hear from you.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Hi....Getting an unfill today!!
Hi guys. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Just super busy.
I have a Dr. appointment today and I am getting another unfill. My tightness has been sparadic, but enough to let me know I need more taken out. It's the reflux I hate the most. I'm going to ask for another 1cc and we will see where I am at after that.
Went away for the weekend with some friends to a great timeshare resort out in Newport Beach and it was so much fun even though it rained for the first two days, Sunday was beautiful and we had a nice time just visiting with friends while all our kids played video games and played nicely together. I love when kids just enjoy each other and no fighting occurs. My eating was good this weekend. Just small amounts, but no episodes or getting stuck, a little reflux at night, but not bad.
The medicine I take to get rid of the reflux does work, but it gives me pains in my stomach after about two days in a row, so I don't want to rely on that, just when it gets real bad.
Cross your fingers this unfill works!!
On the weight loss front, I am down to 161.8!!! That's 60 pounds down!! Yeah and practacally to goal!!! Although I would love to loose more. When I weigh in on the Wii, I am at the lower portion of the overweight section. I never ever thought I'd be here!!! I'm not going to shoot for being out of the overweight section, but I would still like to loose a bit more, but if it doesn't happen, that's okay. I just want to get my band in a good spot where I don't have these tightening episodes.
Talk to you all later. I've been reading your blogs and you are all fantastic!!
I have a Dr. appointment today and I am getting another unfill. My tightness has been sparadic, but enough to let me know I need more taken out. It's the reflux I hate the most. I'm going to ask for another 1cc and we will see where I am at after that.
Went away for the weekend with some friends to a great timeshare resort out in Newport Beach and it was so much fun even though it rained for the first two days, Sunday was beautiful and we had a nice time just visiting with friends while all our kids played video games and played nicely together. I love when kids just enjoy each other and no fighting occurs. My eating was good this weekend. Just small amounts, but no episodes or getting stuck, a little reflux at night, but not bad.
The medicine I take to get rid of the reflux does work, but it gives me pains in my stomach after about two days in a row, so I don't want to rely on that, just when it gets real bad.
Cross your fingers this unfill works!!
On the weight loss front, I am down to 161.8!!! That's 60 pounds down!! Yeah and practacally to goal!!! Although I would love to loose more. When I weigh in on the Wii, I am at the lower portion of the overweight section. I never ever thought I'd be here!!! I'm not going to shoot for being out of the overweight section, but I would still like to loose a bit more, but if it doesn't happen, that's okay. I just want to get my band in a good spot where I don't have these tightening episodes.
Talk to you all later. I've been reading your blogs and you are all fantastic!!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Busy, Tight, Down...
Okay. So my title will explain most of my blog this morning. I have a lot to say and it's probably because I haven't posted in a while. My Internet was down yesterday, so I didn't post my weight.
My band tightened a bit on me over the last few days. This is something I'm thinking about...my family took me out to dinner for my birthday at a steak restaurant. I used to love steak, medium rare, lots of salt, mmmm....well, I tried to eat it on the cruise and it didn't go down easy and gave me pain and discomfort for an hour or so after I ate it and at my birthday dinner, I tried to go slow and small bites and I only ate about 1/4 of the steak and I had the same feeling. I don't think steak is a good for me anymore. It's funny though, it didn't taste so good either, I don't know if it was not so great steak or just me not loving it anymore since my band. Anyway, the point you say? The next day, I woke up kind of tight and tight throughout the whole day. I took it really easy and had mostly liquids and soup. Yesterday was a lot better, but still a little on the tight side. Same thing happened on the cruise after I ate steak. I'm thinking that when I eat something that has trouble going down, it seems like I tighten up for a few days. I'm still a bit tight, but getting better....worse in the morning and at night. Nothing near as tight as I was back in July or anything.
The good news.....I'm down to my lowest 164!! Yeah....I guess that goes hand in hand with not eating much huh???
A NSV....I went to Costco and they had some Buffalo Jeans on clearance and I need some new jeans. These jeans are by waist measurement and length. I'm so not used to buying clothes that way. I've always bought based on a number size 18. I was never able to fit in the clothes that went by waist and length number. So, I wanted to buy a pair (they were only $19.99, regularly $34.99 at Costso) I, of course, went for the biggest size they had (something I have always done and hoped I could squeeze in) which was a 32 waist by 33 length (I wanted them long to wear with heels, all my jeans shrink in the length and I look like I'm waiting for a flood). Of course, Costco doesn't have dressing rooms which I hate. I put them up to me and they seemed good. Took them home.....way tooooo big. Did you say what? yep, way too big!!! Can you believe that?? I don't know if I should go with a 31 waist or a 30. I think I need to go for the 30. I guess I'm making another trip to Costco today to exchange and hope they still have some 30's and also hope the 30's are not too small once I get home. This is why I don't usually buy clothes from Costco. What a pain in the ass, but how can I pass up a pair of $20 Jeans?
Another NSV....saw some of my family on Thanksgiving who haven't seen me since my Granny's funeral right when I got the band put in and they were like OMG, you look so good, you have lost a ton of weight!!! They don't know about the band unless others have slipped when I'm not around. I don't care though if they were to find out.
Some bad and a bit scary news.....I was in contact recently with a band friend that I met right as I was banded. She had hers done by the same doctor as me and had hers done about a week before I had mine done. Well, she had to have hers removed because of it slipping and she experienced a lot of spontaneous tightness similar to mine, but it seemed a lot worse. I feel sorry for her and a bit scared since I experience similar things as she. After talking with her and after this last bout of tightness, I decided to make an appointment to get another cc taken out. I'm about 1 1/2 months away from my 1 year and my free fills and unfills. I would like to get to a good spot before then. So I'm going to go in on the 15th and have 1 cc taken out and then if it's too much, I will have one more opportunity to have a slight fill before my 1 year Bandiversary.
I have more to say, but have to run. I'll try to post again later.
My band tightened a bit on me over the last few days. This is something I'm thinking about...my family took me out to dinner for my birthday at a steak restaurant. I used to love steak, medium rare, lots of salt, mmmm....well, I tried to eat it on the cruise and it didn't go down easy and gave me pain and discomfort for an hour or so after I ate it and at my birthday dinner, I tried to go slow and small bites and I only ate about 1/4 of the steak and I had the same feeling. I don't think steak is a good for me anymore. It's funny though, it didn't taste so good either, I don't know if it was not so great steak or just me not loving it anymore since my band. Anyway, the point you say? The next day, I woke up kind of tight and tight throughout the whole day. I took it really easy and had mostly liquids and soup. Yesterday was a lot better, but still a little on the tight side. Same thing happened on the cruise after I ate steak. I'm thinking that when I eat something that has trouble going down, it seems like I tighten up for a few days. I'm still a bit tight, but getting better....worse in the morning and at night. Nothing near as tight as I was back in July or anything.
The good news.....I'm down to my lowest 164!! Yeah....I guess that goes hand in hand with not eating much huh???
A NSV....I went to Costco and they had some Buffalo Jeans on clearance and I need some new jeans. These jeans are by waist measurement and length. I'm so not used to buying clothes that way. I've always bought based on a number size 18. I was never able to fit in the clothes that went by waist and length number. So, I wanted to buy a pair (they were only $19.99, regularly $34.99 at Costso) I, of course, went for the biggest size they had (something I have always done and hoped I could squeeze in) which was a 32 waist by 33 length (I wanted them long to wear with heels, all my jeans shrink in the length and I look like I'm waiting for a flood). Of course, Costco doesn't have dressing rooms which I hate. I put them up to me and they seemed good. Took them home.....way tooooo big. Did you say what? yep, way too big!!! Can you believe that?? I don't know if I should go with a 31 waist or a 30. I think I need to go for the 30. I guess I'm making another trip to Costco today to exchange and hope they still have some 30's and also hope the 30's are not too small once I get home. This is why I don't usually buy clothes from Costco. What a pain in the ass, but how can I pass up a pair of $20 Jeans?
Another NSV....saw some of my family on Thanksgiving who haven't seen me since my Granny's funeral right when I got the band put in and they were like OMG, you look so good, you have lost a ton of weight!!! They don't know about the band unless others have slipped when I'm not around. I don't care though if they were to find out.
Some bad and a bit scary news.....I was in contact recently with a band friend that I met right as I was banded. She had hers done by the same doctor as me and had hers done about a week before I had mine done. Well, she had to have hers removed because of it slipping and she experienced a lot of spontaneous tightness similar to mine, but it seemed a lot worse. I feel sorry for her and a bit scared since I experience similar things as she. After talking with her and after this last bout of tightness, I decided to make an appointment to get another cc taken out. I'm about 1 1/2 months away from my 1 year and my free fills and unfills. I would like to get to a good spot before then. So I'm going to go in on the 15th and have 1 cc taken out and then if it's too much, I will have one more opportunity to have a slight fill before my 1 year Bandiversary.
I have more to say, but have to run. I'll try to post again later.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Weigh in day and up a pound....Not bad!!
Okay, so today was my weigh in day and I weighed in on the Wii and it showed up a pound. Not bad...I'm totally thrilled. I mean, not bad for an eight day cruise!!
I went walking yesterday and plan to go again today. I hope to get through Thanksgiving and my birthday without gaining.
I'm going to try to sit down this week and go over the cruise details. Just wanted to post on my weight status.
I went walking yesterday and plan to go again today. I hope to get through Thanksgiving and my birthday without gaining.
I'm going to try to sit down this week and go over the cruise details. Just wanted to post on my weight status.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
I'm Back....
Hi everyone. I'm back from the cruise. We got back today and had the best time. My band cooperated and did it's job while still allowing me to indulge in the delicious foods they had on board. It did tighten up a couple times, but relaxed a bit fairly quickly. I'm not going to weigh in today since it's so late in the day. I'm going to see what I weigh in the morning and then I'll do an official weigh in on Monday. I hope it's not a lot, although I feel a little bloated at the moment, so we'll have to see.
I'll tell you more about the cruise later.....I need to catch up on every one's blogs. Hope everyone had a good week.
I'll tell you more about the cruise later.....I need to catch up on every one's blogs. Hope everyone had a good week.
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