It's been a while since I've blogged, but the past 66 days have been just a matter of waiting, and waiting, and waiting... But now, it's just about here.
I went last Friday for my pre-op testing- Barium swallow (disgusting), x-rays, blood work, etc. Best part was the classes in what to expect with the surgery, and how to eat pre and post op.
Pre-op diet started yesterday. All the clear liquids I want including broth, sugar free popsicles & fudgsicles, sugar free Jello. 1 cup of fruit a day. 2 cups of raw veggies (if my allergies would let me eat them). 3 servings of dairy: nonfat yogurt, cottage cheese, sugar free pudding. 1 cups of juice. 2 cups of milk. 2 nutritional shakes (low carb) Yep, that's about it for the next five days.
I'm not going to lie, this pre-op diet is hard... really, really hard! And it SUCKS! It's a necessary evil Without the pre-op diet the liver is too heavy, and can make it difficult if no impossible for the surgeon to place the Band. I'm following it to the letter! I didn't come this far to screw this up.
Yesterday, the first day of the diet, I wanted to rip people's heads off for... well, it didn't have to be for anything. I was starving, my blood sugar was out of whack, and I will in a pissy mood! Today, I'm still starving, my blood sugar is still out of whack, but I have TONS of energy! I like that part :)
The nurse giving me my allergy shots said the energy is adrenaline because I'm hungry. I don't care where it's coming from, I'm keeping it! Came home from work today and instead of curling up in my chair or taking a nap I changed clothes and took the Sultan for a walk. Earnee, also known as the Sultan of Southtown, thoroughly enjoyed the walk. He's passed out in the middle of the living room floor, however, I'm trying to get some calories in me so I can do laundry, clean the house, and possibly run laps around the house. LOL
I also weighed myself, even though it's not advised to do it every day. Since yesterday morning, I've lost 6 lbs... IN TWO DAYS! Just cracks me up.
Well, I'm going to try to update this daily, at least for a while. I want to keep a journal of the experience so when I'm at my goal weight I can see how far I have come.
Until next time...
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
68 Days and Counting
Well, here's the official day - March 31, 2010... 15 days after my 35th birthday. My surgery is schedule for 7:30am, Louisville time. My whole life is going to change that day. The surgery changes everything about my life, and I'm praying that they will be good changes. It's going to take some big adjustments in how I eat and drink, what I eat and drink, when I eat and drink, but if it allows me to stop taking 10 pills a day, and gives me the energy I so desire, it will be MORE than worth it.
I realized today that I have no idea what's it's like to NOT be overweight. That's also going to be an adjustment. I've always been the biggest person in the room. I don't remember what it's like to shop in a section or a store that isn't for plus-size. I've never really crossed my legs. Maybe I'm thinking too far ahead. I'm just curious about what life is going to be like in my post-op world.
The other think I got to thinking about today is all the "what ifs" that might go wrong. It's not that I'm worried about living a life with the Lap-Band, but I'm worried about what if there's something wrong in my pre-op testing and they say at the last minute, "Oh, sorry, no surgery for you." What if I'm being selfish in doing this and God punishes me? What if I go through all this and I'm the one person who sees no results? What if I go through this, and still no man finds me attractive? Am I cheating by getting the Band? Am I failure because I can't lose weight with diet and exercise alone?
There's just so many questions going through my mind that no one can answer. In my heart I know I'm doing what I need to do to get healthy. I'm going to lower my blood pressure, cholesterol, get my hormones in check, straighten out my blood sugar, and stop my acid reflux. I know it's all going to work out as God has planned, I'm just nervous and excited and thinking about what the future will hold.
Until next time,
Jenn
I realized today that I have no idea what's it's like to NOT be overweight. That's also going to be an adjustment. I've always been the biggest person in the room. I don't remember what it's like to shop in a section or a store that isn't for plus-size. I've never really crossed my legs. Maybe I'm thinking too far ahead. I'm just curious about what life is going to be like in my post-op world.
The other think I got to thinking about today is all the "what ifs" that might go wrong. It's not that I'm worried about living a life with the Lap-Band, but I'm worried about what if there's something wrong in my pre-op testing and they say at the last minute, "Oh, sorry, no surgery for you." What if I'm being selfish in doing this and God punishes me? What if I go through all this and I'm the one person who sees no results? What if I go through this, and still no man finds me attractive? Am I cheating by getting the Band? Am I failure because I can't lose weight with diet and exercise alone?
There's just so many questions going through my mind that no one can answer. In my heart I know I'm doing what I need to do to get healthy. I'm going to lower my blood pressure, cholesterol, get my hormones in check, straighten out my blood sugar, and stop my acid reflux. I know it's all going to work out as God has planned, I'm just nervous and excited and thinking about what the future will hold.
Until next time,
Jenn
Thursday, January 21, 2010
They Said YES!
I got a call this morning from the Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Bariatric Program. My insurance has approved my surgery, and now it's time to schedule it. My stomach is full of butterflies, but I am still confident in my decision. I want to laugh, I want to cry, I want to shout it from the rooftops! I am fully aware that it's not going to be easy, but I am willing to make the sacrifices necessary to live a long and healthy life. When I have word on a surgery date, I'll let you know.
Until next time,
Jenn
Until next time,
Jenn
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Send Off
Finally, after seven months of waiting, my paperwork has been submitted to my insurance company. Now it's just a matter of waiting for their decision. According to the surgeon's office, it could be a month to a month and a half until I hear something.
I did my 6-month, doctor-supervised diet... lost 22lbs in the process. Also had to have a psyche evaluation and a dietary evaluation. I don't know if the insurance wants to see me lose weight in the 6-month diet, or not, but I know that losing the weight evened out my blood sugar, blood pressure, and got me back into a smaller size pair of jeans.
I'm really wanting to start hitting the gym. Planning to start that this week.
Until next time,
Jenn
I did my 6-month, doctor-supervised diet... lost 22lbs in the process. Also had to have a psyche evaluation and a dietary evaluation. I don't know if the insurance wants to see me lose weight in the 6-month diet, or not, but I know that losing the weight evened out my blood sugar, blood pressure, and got me back into a smaller size pair of jeans.
I'm really wanting to start hitting the gym. Planning to start that this week.
Until next time,
Jenn
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thinking Back
This blog will chronicle my journey through having Lap-Band surgery. The before, they during, and the after. So many changes lie ahead, but I can't help but look at what brought me here. Why go through all this?
I don't know if they still do it, but when I was in elementary school, we got weighed and measured twice a year in the nurse's office. I hated it! The height and weight was then recorded on your report card... for posterity, I guess. Right there on my kindergarten report card shows when it all began. Fall semester I was the same as every other little 5-year-old little girl... but come spring, I was almost 80lbs. My clothes had to come from Sears because they had was was so lovingly referred to as "pretty plus" for the full-figured six-year-old. By third grade I was at 100 lbs, and wearing the same size as my mom. By 4th I was in the plus-size, women's department, and I've never left.
Oh, there have been times when I'd lose enough to get down to a 16. I even squeezed into a 12 once. I've counted calories, counted fat grams. I've done Weight Watchers, I've exercised like a maniac, and still here I am... nearly 35 years old, just under 300 pounds, a size 22, diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, acid reflux, and 10 pills a day! No, not any more. Something has to change.
When the doctor put me on my second blood pressure pill, and increased the strength of my cholesterol med, and added a diabetic pill twice a day, I started researching weight-loss surgery again. I delved into researching it like I never had before. See it's not that I'm emotional eater. My biggest problem is I eat because I'M HUNGRY. It won't go away. I don't get full very easily. I don't like it, but that's the way it is. I would LOVE to order off the kids' menu at restaurants and know it would be completely filling.
I see Lap-Banding as a tool to be the size I want to be, and to be active like I want to be. I want to be able to exercise without my stomach getting in the way. I want to take my dog on long walks without getting winded after the first block. I want to be confident in my appearance, and to be able to wear whatever I want. Let's hope things all work out.
Until next time,
Jenn
I don't know if they still do it, but when I was in elementary school, we got weighed and measured twice a year in the nurse's office. I hated it! The height and weight was then recorded on your report card... for posterity, I guess. Right there on my kindergarten report card shows when it all began. Fall semester I was the same as every other little 5-year-old little girl... but come spring, I was almost 80lbs. My clothes had to come from Sears because they had was was so lovingly referred to as "pretty plus" for the full-figured six-year-old. By third grade I was at 100 lbs, and wearing the same size as my mom. By 4th I was in the plus-size, women's department, and I've never left.
Oh, there have been times when I'd lose enough to get down to a 16. I even squeezed into a 12 once. I've counted calories, counted fat grams. I've done Weight Watchers, I've exercised like a maniac, and still here I am... nearly 35 years old, just under 300 pounds, a size 22, diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, acid reflux, and 10 pills a day! No, not any more. Something has to change.
When the doctor put me on my second blood pressure pill, and increased the strength of my cholesterol med, and added a diabetic pill twice a day, I started researching weight-loss surgery again. I delved into researching it like I never had before. See it's not that I'm emotional eater. My biggest problem is I eat because I'M HUNGRY. It won't go away. I don't get full very easily. I don't like it, but that's the way it is. I would LOVE to order off the kids' menu at restaurants and know it would be completely filling.
I see Lap-Banding as a tool to be the size I want to be, and to be active like I want to be. I want to be able to exercise without my stomach getting in the way. I want to take my dog on long walks without getting winded after the first block. I want to be confident in my appearance, and to be able to wear whatever I want. Let's hope things all work out.
Until next time,
Jenn
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