Home from surgery

I am banded. :)

We got to the hospital and checked in and eventually got into the pre-op room.  Lots of questions, IV started, medication administered, wrapped in the warm air jacket that kept me toasty all through the process.  I was surprised at how relaxed I felt.  Reading all about the process definitely made a big difference going in - I knew what to expect.   I woke up pretty slowly and felt shaky and sore, but really pretty good.  It took about an hour for surgery time and I was in post op another 90 minutes and in recovery 90 minutes before they let me go home.
After surgery, I got up and walked as soon as I could.  There is some shoulder pain and I have a little oozing from my stab incisions but, overall, I am feeling pretty good.  I'm getting up and walking in a few.  I've had a couple 16 ounce glasses of water (gotta keep hydrated!) a sip at a time and about 1/2 cup of sugar free jello.  The jello did make me a little nauseated so I've backed off on anything else.  I may have 1/2 cup of broth before bed...we'll see.

Surgery Today!

Good morning!
It's 7:45 am and I am ready to leave for the hospital.  I haven't had solid food for 24+ hours and nothing to drink since about 9:30 last night.  The scale this morning read 247.1, which means I lost a total of 30.5 pounds with all the pre-operative stuff that was required.  I was hoping for more, but I think I did well.  It took almost exactly six months for this process but I made good use of the time.  I think what I was most surprised about was all the pre-op testing that was needed.  Especially considering I had normal blood pressure, no diabetes (or even pre-diabetes), was able to do vigorous exercise and had been seeing multiple doctors regularly.  Oh well, it was their money (and my time!).

This morning, I mostly feel excited.  I know I am going to be very sore when I get home tonight.  I also know I will probably have a lot of trouble eating anything for a couple weeks.  It's that process I plan to write about here.  So, I'll talk to you again when I've been banded!

Tomorrow...

Well, tomorrow at 11 am I get banded.  I've been on a liquid diet the last 10 hours and feeling CRAZY hungry.  Planning a hot bath and an early bed.

Thought I would post a photo from today...this is me at 248# (29# down from day 1).

One more meal

I have breakfast tomorrow, then the pre-op liquid diet.  I am getting very excited!

Three days to go

I had a meeting at my church last night and before we begin we all sit in a circle and share what is going on in our lives.  For the first time I told everyone I was having a Lap Band surgery this Monday.  I haven't been hiding my plans, but I really haven't talked about it either.  I was surprised at how emotional I felt telling people about it! 
I was also surprised at the variety of responses I got from people. 
One woman was shocked that I would take such a "drastic" step just to control my weight!  I told her I was 100# overweight and had lost and regained the same 50# for more than 10 years.  A drastic step is called for, methinks!  I don't know that she was convinced, but at least she wasn't calling me crazy anymore.
Another woman thought the whole thing was too scary - she heard about lots of people who had recently died having the procedure and thought I was nuts to risk my life in such a "risky" surgery when I had a family to think about.  I did remind her I had nearly the same anesthesia about a month ago for a knee surgery and had no problems.  There are risks, I guess, of lacerating my liver, other bleeding, etc.  But I have no risk factors (normal blood pressure, no diabetes, etc) and it should help me avoid so many health issues in my old age!  Her I do think I convinced.
Most everyone else was very supportive - most knew someone who had the procedure and liked it.  I also did get some cautionary tales of people who gained all the weight back, but I knew about that.  The coolest thing was one woman, whom I admire very much, telling me that I was her hero.  She said I was brave to have the surgery, but even more brave to be so public about it.  Made me cry...

Four Days and Counting

Weighed in at 247 this morning.  That makes a total of 30# lost with the six month preoperative work...not too bad!  Should easily skate in under the 245 mark for Monday.
Getting pretty crabby from this diet.  Saw a photo of a tomato today and was literally salivating.  Really miss pasta and fruit.  And this zero carb diet will be followed with a week of a liquid diet.  I'm hoping for another 2-3 pounds off from that BUT I may get a rebound form this low carb thing...I don't know anyone who went from Atkins to low calorie...maybe it won't be so pronounced.  So my current goal is 240 to start the month of March, then try and lose 10# a month for a couple of months.  

Finally have a date!

I have had to jump through a couple more hoops (the aforementioned upper GI PLUS two unpleasant little cardiac tests) but I finally have approval from both the insurance company and the surgeon. I am currently doing the pre-operative liver shrinking diet...ugh!  It's about 800-1000 calories, minimal carbs, lean meats and non-starchy veggies.  With WW and this pre-op diet, I will be down over 30 pounds before my surgery.  I'm hoping for a pre-operative weight of about 245.  Right now I'm 249, and the surgery is scheduled for February 21...so it's not just possible, but likely.  I might even be under 240!
For now, I'm hungry and cranky and just wish it was the 21st already!