Bariatric Surgery and Me

So I thought I would also use this space to talk about recent changes to my life.

I had bariatric surgery on 11/13/09. They installed the "lap band" device on my stomach. For more information on the actual device and how it works - click here.

To recap what has happened since Insurance Approval:

On 11/03/09 - they told me I had to go on a liquid diet - this consisted of 3 - 4 protein shakes per day and one salad. In this process I found out, the hard way, I was a bit "lactose intolerant." So I felt like crap for a week and a half. However I lost 9 lbs during that time frame.

11/13/09 - I worked that morning until noon. I arrived at the hospital at 130pm and wasn't taken for surgery until after 4pm. I remember on my way to the surgery room having a mild panic attack thinking I had lost my mind for doing this...I woke from surgery feeling like I had been hit by a mack truck a bit after 7pm. The procedure for a normal Lapband is about 45 minutes. They said that mine took a bit longer because I had a bad "hiatal hernia." By the time they got me into a room it was after 9. Darren was a trooper and stayed with me until after 11 - which I told him to go home as I was in and out of sleep by this time. I walked some, slept some and was in general pain most of the time even with the pain killers they were giving me.

The next day after they checked me for "leaks" (much less common in a lapband proceedure) I was able to have "food." They gave me 2 tbls each of broth, crystal light lemonade and diet jello. This I was barely able to tolerate. I luckily was released at lunch time. Which Darren took me home and I was able to repeat my 2 tbls each of the above and promptly hit the bed.

Sunday 11/15, I took some loratab (liquid) and had Darren take me to the grocery store to walk (and buy our essentials.) I really was questioning what I had done to myself since I felt like such crap.

Monday 11/16 - I called out of work and took it easy this day. I went back to work on Tuesday, I was sore and my shoulders and neck felt like they were in bad need of a massage. They say that is because of the gas they put in your belly to be able to do the proceedure.

The rest of the week was uneventful, from not feeling well I was not drinking enough water and by the next week, felt run down and beat up. I managed to get through Thanksgiving - had a tbls of the things I liked. but was bad when it came to the left over goodies, I picked at my birthday cake and the pies over the weekend. So I threw them out on Sunday.

When I returned to work on Monday 11/30, I was taking extra special care to eat small portions. I had (and still use) a scale by my dinner setting each night.

Last week I bought a couple cases of water to have at work since my skin dried out, my legs broke out and I generally was feeling crappy. I had no more soreness from the surgery.

This week marks that I am down 24 lbs since 11/03/09. I am down a total 39 lbs since my heaviest weigh in this year, back in February.

From here out I will let you know how I progress. Right now my focus is - DRINK WATER!