Lap-Band Video - WARNING!

I ran across this video tonight... it is video of the actual placing of the Lap-Band. Maybe it's my past nursing back ground but I found it really cool to watch.

To be completely honest I don't think I would have wanted to watch it prior to my banding... but watching it post-op, just made me want to take better care of my band. It's amazing what surgeons can do... everything is so delicate and small yet they can go in and use these small tools to change your body. Crazy Stuff!

Now, you know your limits... don't press play if it's not your thing. I'm not forcing you to watch anything. : )

note: there really isn't much blood just mostly fats and organs

Holding Steady

Haven't lost any further weight. Just holding steady.

Which is fine by me for the moment. I can't officially exercise until six weeks post op and my band doesn't have any fill yet. So I am hungry and probably taking in too many calories to lose any weight at the moment. (I was told to not worry about weight loss the 1st month it's all about healing right now) I am eating mushy foods for two more weeks and I have my first fill planned for April 22nd.

I think I am going to start walking in the mornings because frankly I'm not use to being so sedentary. (These won't be power walks but just a get up and move kind of walk.)

What I've been eating:
Protein shakes, sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, soft boiled eggs, mashed potatoes, applesauce. And I love having a warm cup of light chocolate soy milk. Yum!

Anyways... it beats straight liquids. I am much happier now! : )

My Favorite Things

Just call me Vanna White!

I just had to give a HUGE shout out for the Magic Bullet!! If you are a new Bandster, I would suggest borrowing or buying one of these puppies. It has been a God send to my post-op diet.

The last few days when my hunger has gotten out of hand and another Campbell's soup or Protein Drink just sounded impossible to get down... I ran out and got a bowl of Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana soup, added a bit of milk, and blended it to a nice consistency... another favorite is Wendy's Chili... just blend it up and YUM!

Also, I LOVE that I can make a protein shake and if I can't eat it all at once I can put a handy dandy Magic Bullet lid on it and save it in the fridge for later.

Oh, and I can leave it on my counter and it doesn't take much space. But I guess mostly it's my favorite because it is SO easy to clean. I love it when I can find something that is practical and easy to use.

So, there you have it! I LOVE MY MAGIC BULLET!!!

Happy Easter

Me and the kiddos coloring eggs! (Cuddlebug and Explorer are the two next to me)

So does melted Chocolate Easter Eggs count as a form of liquid?

Just asking.....

O.K. so maybe I did have a couple very small pieces.......

BUT I WAS SO HUNGRY!!!!

O.K., O.K. so I know that Chocolate does nothing for my hunger... and I know I shouldn't have. Can we say... ADDICTION!!! sigh.

This week I can feel my appetite coming back with a vengeance. I am finding myself starting to graze on anything I can find that is partially a liquid. I really do have a mental problem when it comes to food. I know that as soon as I start getting fills that I need to be eating THREE meals PERIOD. NO snacking, NO grazing. In order to make this work for me... I need to dedicate more thought to what I put in my mouth.

Just working it all through my mind.... Happy Easter!!

1 week post op

1 week ago today I was having surgery. It's still all very surreal. : )

I am one week post op and today is the 1st day that I feel even a bit normal. Here is the low down on my 1st week.

1-3 days post op - Gas pains in shoulder, and a lot of burping and tooting, not hungry at all.

2-5 days post op - Felt like when I drank anything that it was hitting a big bubble somewhere in my middle (mostly at the start of a meal), When I talked alot I would have to to take a break because it felt like a big bubble of air was forming in middle of chest.

4 days post op - I felt hunger for the 1st time but it wasn't a normal hunger feeling more like an empty/achy feeling.

5-6 days post op - mostly off pain meds but every evening my shoulder and arm would hurt and my insides of my stomach felt "tender" to the point that I would medicate back up. Finding that about 1 1/4 cup of soup/protein drink fills me up perfectly. Eating about 4 times a day soup/protein drink... with other liquids filling in the day. (apple juice/water)

7 days post op - Just felt normal today... for the 1st time since surgery. Reminding myself that I need to take it slow. My stomach itches around the wounds in my belly.

The worst flight of my life!

I am home! Yeah!!! But in order to make it home I had to fly from South Dakota to Utah with a layover in Denver. Those flights were positively the worst flights of my life. I have never felt so sick flying. I think it was probably the meds causing the problem but I don't know. The second flight into Utah was horrid... I was so nauseated that I really don't know how I made it. Let's just say, that I was praying the entire flight that I would make it. With such a recent surgery on my stomach I think throwing up would have been very bad for me and my healing process.

A big THANK YOU to the Canadian Stranger next to me in 12D, you did so well having a sick seat mate. Thanks for your attempts at distractions. You were my personal angel. : )

It's good to be home. Glad I had a few days to recover before having to be mom again. But here at home is where I should be... I sure missed my boys. It's good to be home.

Just hanging at my In Laws home. I think I got rid of most of my gas last night... I still feel funny inside my body. Lots of unknown gurgling going on... but over all I am doing good. I need to run a few errands (or should I say "walk a few errands" There will be no running for me quite yet.) Anyways.. I'll take it easy and go for a drive and get a few drugs that I need.

Still not hungry... just drinking protein shakes/soups/applesauce/yogurt to keep me from feeling anything negative. It takes me about 25 mins to drink one shake... It just doesn't feel like I should drink fast... so slow and steady is what I am doing.

Belly Shot - Post Op

Sent this pic from my phone. I can't figure out how to turn the pic using blogger so you'll just have to look sideways at it. LOL! This pic is of me the morning after surgery.

Surgery is over...

Well I did it... I am 1 day post op from having a lap-band placed in me. Crazy stuff. Still can't believe I did it.

Surgery went good, the Doctor said it went so good that they didn't lose a single drop of blood. Crazy huh! I don't remember much of the Surgery, I remember saying "thank you" to the surgery room staff and then feeling sleepy and calm. The next moment I was waking up in the recovey room. Can't beat that! lol.

I arrived at the Surgery Hospital at 2pm and was wheeled into the surgery room at 3:30pm... By 5:30pm I was able to call my husband to say hi. The conversation didn't last long because I kept falling asleep and slurring my words but at least he knew I was o.k. At 7:40pm I was in the car with my Mother in Law headed to her home. I spent the rest of the evening out of it. One moment I would be talking and the next I would be find myself waking up. LOL!

Once I made it to bed, I slept pretty soundly. I'd have to get up and adjust my body pretty often. (I had gas pains in my shoulder and upper back) but for the most part it went pretty well. Getting in and out of bed is a challenge because the side where the port is hurts if I pull that side of my body.

So here I am... still sore and still dealing with gas pains, but it is all managable. I just went for a short walk with my mother in law and I feel even better. I'll keep you posted on the next few days... I am just glad it's over. My new life begins TODAY!