8 days post op.

It's been 8 days since I had surgery and honestly, besides the incisions on my stomach I feel great. (They're just a little tender) I went back to doing normal routine on Monday. (Minus the gym of course, blah)

The first few days were a bit rough in the food department. I wasn't hungry, but I did crave foods simply because I couldn't have them. When I would make dinner for the family and have to turn around and pop in some chicken broth it was really disappointing. I want to say that really started to go away when I was able to start drinking cream coups.

I'm not usually hungry but I try to keep hydrated with drinks.

My mina things are

water
v-8
cream soup

Though sometimes I have crystal light, popsicles, jello & broth.

My start weight was 250, went into surgery at 237 and I am currently 228. 29 pounds until Onderland!

I attempted coffee yesterday and it wasn't bad. Quite enjoyable. :)

Here is a link to what my stomach looked like 3 days post-op. (Don't really want to post it, just look it you want to, lol.

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae246/grrlnade/3dayspostopx.jpg

The bruises under the belly button are from blood thinner shots. I have 6 incisions total.

In all reality I think I had a text book perfect surgery. I am so very fortunate. I go to see the doctor on the 11th for my 2 week check up.

Surgery pushed back

So it looks like my surgery has been pushed back. My doctor will be on call that day so she would not be the one doing my surgery, but would like to be the one.

My new Surgery date is July 27th, 2010 @ 730 in the morning. It looks like I'm back to day one on the pre-op diet. One good thing is that I was supposed to be visited by the annoying Aunt Flo on the day of my surgery. Being pushed back 5 days really helps  in that aspect.

Also a friend from a few years back is coming to town and we've planned a get together/photo session :)

It sucks that it's further away, but kinda nice too.

At the S&W seminar

I attended the Scott & White Bariatric Seminar this evening. I'm a bit dissapointed to say at the least.

On the phone I was told I would most like have the surgery at the end of the month or the first week of July. After the seminar the staff told me there already booked up until mid August.

Also, he went over all of the types again. Lap-band, sleeve, bypass and I'm leaning more towards the sleeve or bypass now.

The lap-band is ideal except for the lifelong doctor visits.

I'm going to call the surgery clinic on post tomorrow and see what the wait times are for the sleeve and bypass.

I'd like the sleeve since it's only cutting the majority of my stomach. We'll see. Lots more research to do.

*sigh* I had high hopes of having it done before my daughter's 2nd Birthday.

I feel like I'm back at step 1.



Amanda
-- Post From My iPhone

Location:Killeen Civic Center

So is having lap-band cheating?

This is a question I'm sure a lot of people think of often when choosing weight loss surgery. You may even get remarks from friends and family about it being the "easy way out". So tell me, what exactly is easy about major surgery and changing your lifestyle? Well to me, not a damn thing.

I'll admit, when I first went in to talk to my doctor about weight loss surgery I felt SO guilty. It was like I was asking to cheat on an exam. I actually started to cry when I told her I felt like I was failing and I was a cheater for considering it.

Then my amazing, yes I love this doctor, explained one very simple truth to me. Not everyone is the same. That really struck a cord for me. No, not everyone is the same. People grow up differently, have different metabolisms, are taught eating habits different ways, some have medical problems, and some don't.

There are people with no obesity in their family line and people with a very long mine of obesity in their family. So when you break it down some people have more advantages over other people.

Can I lose the weight without the lap-band? Yes, is it effective? No. While I've lost weight in the past it wasn't by any means healthy. About the only healthy thing I was doing was exercising like crazy. Other than that I was eating little to no food.

So why am I having WLS? To be healthy. It will help me with portion control so I can still eat and enjoy life. Lap-band is a TOOL, just like any other tool, it's not effective unless you use it correctly.

So are people who have WLS cheating? No. You've found a medical advancement that is going to change your life, for the better, and you're ready to step up to the plate and relearn your life with food.

When someone treats you like it's cheating, remind them, not everyone is the same. And don't forget, you're doing this to become a healthier YOU. Don't let anyone try to tear you down for that.

More Seminars

Boo, so S&W will accept most of my things, but not the seminar. I have to redo that one on the 8th of June in Killeen. After that is done I have to submit a form to have al of my records faxed to their office. She said I probably won't see a nurse until the end of June, then it's just a time game after that. I am hoping by the end of July I'll be good to go.

Good news!

Tricare approved my refferal! I'm just waiting for a return phone call from the surgery clinic to get some of my questions answered. Questions like.

I've already done the seminar, nutrition, & mental evaluation, will I have to do it again for the new hospital?

How soon before I can start the pre-op process?

Oh man, good news!


Amanda
-- Post From My iPhone

Referral problems

I’m a bit disappointed. I’ve been waiting on the referral for an off post doctor to come in and I finally made a few more phone calls because it’s taken way longer then they say it would. Needless to say, the referral never made it to the referral center to be dispatched out to the insurance company.

Thanks to some nice ladies on the phone I was able to get another referral submitted and calling the referral center back right afterwards, I was able to get it submitted to the insurance today. While on the phone the lady told me I did not quality according to the standards they use for off post. I was 5 pounds under the cut off. Funny enough I weigh 5 pounds more than I do during the initial weight check. I asked if I could go back in and be weighed again and have the referral resubmitted. After a little hesitation she told me it was only a couple of pounds and submitted it for me anyhow. Let’s hope Tricare doesn’t still try to deny it.

I’m going to call Tricare tomorrow and see if they can speed up my referral since I’d be on the phone with them.

A friend of mine just got the lap-band last week and I am feeling very sad that I’m still waiting. I’m also a little jealous. (Stupid, I know.) She’s already beginning her journey, and I’m still just sitting on the sidelines waiting.

Have I mentioned I loved my gym? Gold’s Gym has been a great investment for me. I’m not using it as much as I should be right now because I’m a little fearful that if I lose to much weight I’ll be declined .I keep telling myself, if I lose enough to be declined maybe I just don’t even need the WLS then. Then I think about it, and I know it isn’t true because I’ve been TRYING to lose it on my own, I just need a little help to get it started. I think the lap-band will be good because it will be like a coach, and a helpful reminder not to overdo it.

Once I have the surgery I plan on jumping right back into the gym hardcore. I will not have any reason not to. I love going, and seeing the results will keep me going. I am so excited for the changes that will be coming this year.

Random thoughts.

I think I’m finally coming around to not feeling so guilty for having weight loss surgery. (side note: It’s finally dawned on me, that I am APPROVED, and just waiting. Just waiting for my turn on the list) But yes, in the beginning I felt sooo guilty for “failing” at losing the weight myself. I felt like I was a big fat loser. I still do sometimes, but I’m getting excited about the possibility of being a small person in the gym. I’m excited about my acne clearing up, excited about fitting in average sized clothing, excited about people looking at my because I look good, not because I look big.

I’m excited about running up my stairs and my knees not hurting. I’m excited about getting pictures taken, and not trying to dodge out of them. I’m excited about finally keeping a “family album” instead of a pictures of “everyone but mom album”.

I am really excited to get my life back. At least modify it to the way I want it. I keep “window” shopping for normal sized clothing. Thinking about sitting a savings account aside for “ after” clothing. I have been wanting to buy new summer clothing since I don’t fit anything from last year. (30lbs lighter) but I don’t want to buy anything big anymore.

I am a little sad about the surgery though. I figured this would be so, but I am so sad that is will disqualify me to ever join the Military. I guess there are worse things in the world. Just a little disappointed is all.

I promise to update with pictures and measurements once I get put on the waiting list. Until then, I’m just another blog on the internet.

-A.