Fat Girl Going Skinny

Progress…

nbroberts — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:33:21 +0000

So at my two week post op appt I was down 14 lbs since surgery!!! Yeah!!! So far pretty good.. Have had a few bouts with diarrhea again, and now have the flu. But overall, feeling good and getting closer to my new normal. Once the flu is gone, life will be good!

The dreaded “D”!!!

nbroberts — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:55:36 +0000

So doing good. The day I advanced to full liquids I started in with diarrhea and it continued for like 36hrs… So I ended up dehydrated and in the er to get fluids. But now I am feeling much, much better! Barely sore at all! Life is good!

I survived!!! Yes!

nbroberts — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:06:51 +0000

So I made it through olive garden with ease! I love, love, love olive garden so that was a true test of my hunger and control. And I made it! I had a little bit of soup with ease and felt good. I always feared telling the waitress no bread, like it would hurt their feelings or something, but it doesn’t. Amazingly they don’t care if you do or don’t eat bread or salad. Yes I realize it sounds insane, but that was a big obstacle for me. So I am happy to say that this is getting even easier than anticipated every day.

Also on a side note, I got a little freaked out today because that feeling like I badly needed to burp came back this morning. So I started thinking, is this what it feels like when I’m full now? Am I really getting full on like 2oz? After not being able to get ahold of anyone else I resorted to calling the dr. (it’s the nurse in me that didn’t want to call I guess.) and the nurse told me that my dr sometimes puts in a primer of 1cc and I might have to have it taken out. So I proceeded to freak out and tell her that I don’t want it out, I’m not hungry and I don’t want to be hungry! She then told me to calm down, go for a walk, and call her back if it didn’t get better. Amazingly, despite the fact that I didn’t really feel like walking, I did feel better! I wish I would have taken the advice and walked sooner. Yes I know, they know what they are talking about… So, I am better now and life is good.

I cannot believe my baby girl is 10 years old today!!! Wow how time flys!

So far pretty good…

nbroberts — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:35:04 +0000

So here I am, day three post op. Feel much better today than I did yesterday! Really haven’t felt hungry at all, which is great. Just this evening starting to actually think about food that sounds good. But still not like overwhelming cravings that I had before… I did however have some crazy dreams the first couple days. I kept dreaming about food. Dreaming that I was eating food I can’t have anymore, like rolls, or dreaming that I was eating food when I was supposed to be on liquids still…. Kinda freaked me out. But then a couple people that I know that have had it said they did the same thing. So I didn’t feel so weird then.

So I get to progress from clears to full liquids tomorrow and it’s my oldest daughters birthday. She wants to go out to dinner for her birthday at olive garden… I am trying to figure out what I can eat there. I am going to try soup, but I have to say I am nervous. I don’t want to have issues out in public, especially with some people that don’t know I got the band, and on my daughters birthday. So we shall see, I’ll let you know how it turns out.

But so far, so good!! Pain has been nowhere near what I expected, and I’m not hungry. So for now, life is good!

Surgery day!!!

nbroberts — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:25:27 +0000

So this is it!!! I will be in surgery soon. I am alot more nervous than I thought i would be. But here it goes!

I still have a grumbling in my stomach from the laxative I had to take last night…. Ughhhh. Or maybe from nerves or a combination of both….

Here goes nothin! I’ll keep you posted!

Hmmmph, liquids… I am struggling with the protein shakes!

nbroberts — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:04:05 +0000

Oh my gosh! I had NO idea how disgusting protein shakes were!!!! I have thrown countless protein shakes away over the last week. I have made some really gross concoctions trying to find something good too!! I also have found out that alot of the protein shakes don’t agree with my stomach, at all. The range from nausea to gas to diarrhea. I know, alot of information, but oh my gosh! I wish someone had told me ahead of time how terrible that can be. I don’t think that combined with post op discomfort would agree very well. All I can say is it’s a good thing I found out ahead of time how badly they would affect me so I can avoid them later! The worst side effects are from the Optifast shakes recommended by the doctors office. Sorry, but they hurt me bad! Didn’t taste too bad, but killed the digestive system!

I have found that the Atkins shakes are actually pretty good and tend to agree with my stomach better than any of the others. I tried a pumpkin pie shake tonight that I found a recipe for online. It is actually really good!

One of my projects that I have made for myself is to post some of the recipes for stuff that I like. I will be doing this soon… Maybe while I’m off work recovering for the next week or so!

Liquids here i come!! For the next 6 weeks…

nbroberts — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:44:46 +0000

So Sunday I start my pre-op liquid diet! I have started experimenting with recipies. I have found a couple that I really like. I will be getting on periodically and letting you know recipies for the good ones. I have been able to make an almost exact replica of one of my favorite, a Tahitian vanilla frozen latte. Wow! I never thought i’d be able to get that close. I am very happy about that because it will take me a long time to get sick of those!

The Journey to This Point

nbroberts — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:21:35 +0000

Ok, so I got the numbers and dates today and here is my Lap Band journey so far….

1/6/09 – New Patient Seminar

3/4/09 – Finally got preapproval from Ins. and had my 1st appt!! 235.3 lbs BMI 40.4 Pre-surgery goall 223 lbs.

3/10/09 – 226.4 lbs

5/18/09 – 223.7 lbs

5/19/09 – 220.7 lbs

6/16/09 – 219.7 lbs Completed all classes and surpassed wt loss goal!! Letter of Medical Necessity written and sent to insurance for final approval.

8/4/09 – 216.1 lbs GOT APPROVAL!! Final approval mtg with Dr. Koehler before meeting with Dr. Haughn (surgeon)!!

9/4/09 – 219.3 lbs (PMS is all I can say!) Met with Dr. Haughn and SURGERY IS SCHEDULED!!! YEAH!!!!

So this is it to this point. I am now scheduled for LapBand surgery on 10/5/09 at 7:30 am. I will update on the torture of the liquid diet for the week pre-op. Of course, then after surgery as well.

I am soooo excited!

Here goes nothing!!

nbroberts — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:35:18 +0000

So I started the Lap Band process about 7 months ago. ( I will get back to you with exact dates.) Now I finally have a surgery date!!! I amsoooo excited! October 5, 2009 is it, that is the day I get banded.

This blog thing is totally new for me. I have never done anything like this before. But in my journey, I wanted to read about other people’s journey so I could get an idea of what to expect. Now I realize (and I hope others do to) thateveryone’s experience is different. But reading those different experiences can help the rest of us wrap our heads around at least a little of what we are getting into. I also feel like I need a little outlet just to put all of this out there. I hope that my words can help at least a few people with their decision to start down the road to banding…..