Monday 28 May 2007

Zero Kgs = 23 cms Loss

Well as I have just explained my weigh in today was a non event, I hadn't lost any weight in 2 weeks, and the dietitian suggested I do a measure which I intended to do at the 4 week make but needed a boost so did it tonight... the results are in and are as follows.

Height: same...go figure lol
Weight: -5kg
Chest: same... whoo hoo
Abdom: same....bugger
Waist: -4cm
Tummy: -5cm
Hips: -2cm
Thigh: -4cm
Knee: -4.5cm
Ankle: -0.5cm.... goodbye cankles
Up Arm: -2cm
Neck: -1cm... strange but true
_______________
Total: -23cm

That peoples is my 3 weeks achievement, and I have to say I am happy with that.

Tomorrow I start Curves and I hope to double that in 3 weeks time..... That is my 6 week (post-op) challenge ,to see if I can get that to say.

6 weeks = 8kg = 46cm

Fingers crossed !!!!

3 weeks Post-op and my Dietitan is a party Pooper

Today was my 2nd post-op appoinment with the dietitian. After 15 min of her talking about her sinus infection and allergy we started to get onto the subject I was there about..... ME. She then started a lecture on the cons of drinking Diet coke and other fizzy drinks while having the band , I tried to tell her that not a drop had passed my lips in 3 weeks, but she seemed on a roll so I grinned and beared it.

Finally she asks all the routine "what have you been eating" , "how where the mushies going" , "Am I counting my calories" , " Have I introduced different textures". I told her all the good things I had been doing and then the naughty things like the sausage, fillet-o-fish, and salt & vinegar chips while I was supposed to be on mushies. She was ok about it and said that this is going to be a "non diet" for life and if I want to suceed I should be able to have a few naughty things but just make it rarely and very small portions (Ithink she has dealt with fat people before..LOL).

I then went and got weighed and was the same weight as before, she must have noticed my disapointment and reassured me that the hunger I was feeling through the last week was definately fat burning hunger and that I should go home and do my measurements.

When we were discussing my hunger, and that I felt I needed more restriction, she said that they (her , surgeon & fills Dr) really beleive that the 6 weeks initial healing period is about identifying hunger, learning to chew, dealing with textures. She said that in their experience patients that are filled early have a higher risk of vomitting and irritating the stomach and band, causing displacement, and that they really use this 6 weeks period as an adjustment & healing period, not a weight loss period.

I found this frustrating and a little disheartening, but I had coffee with Trish my banded friend I met through a local support group and we decided that 6 weeks is a small price to pay for a band that hasn't slipped..... (Thanks Trish you are a sweety & my banded lifeline... mmmwwah!!)
So now I go back in 3 weeks for another appointment with ddietitian and then I get to see Dr Tony for a fill.....YYYYAAAAAAHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!


Bring it OOOOON......

Saturday 26 May 2007

26th May- 2 weeks post-op

I can't beleive how fast this time as gone, I have been fluffing around at home like Lady Muck for the last 2 weeks, and instead of the time being productive I have been very leisurely. I read a couple of books, visited a few friends, attended a few school things (education week and so forth) and basically rested. All in all it's been great.

On Wednesday which was exactly 2 weeks post-op i went back to work..... suprise suprise it was still the same, but nice to get back to the girls. Only 2of the girls know what sort of op I had, and when it came time for morning tea one of the untold calls out "i'm getting m/tea who wants some" A few eyebrows raised when I said no thanks. Typical nobody would think it was strange if the skinny ones said no, but when the fatty does... ok...ok.. maybe that has something to do with the fact that I never say no...... anyway the point of this story was to tell you that I didn't feel deprived or resentful at not eating (which I have in the past when on a diet) and I was satisfied with my tea untill lunch. Mind you by lunch I was starving and was near ready to eat the packet that the soup came in, and by dinner I was famished.

I found it better on Thursday, I wasn't anywhere near as hungry between meals, so I am hoping I can break the graizing cycle I had going while I was at home healing. That was another reason I was glad to go back to work (aren't I clever I have found 2 reasons for work) I found that because I was starting to feel the hunger quickly I was always looking for food, and at home its all to easy to eat and eat (graize).

I have been on mushies for a week today, I have been having scrambled eggs, porridge, fetticini cabonara, macoroni & cheese, home made fried rice, curry chicken & rice, and tonight I cooked some finely chopped bacon mushrooms and cherry tomatoes and waited till the tomatoes had formed juice on bottom of pan and had it on toast. I made the toast really soggy and it was DEVINE....now for the bad stuff, I have sucked a packet of salt & vinegar chips, and eaten a sausage, and the guts of a fillet-o-fish at Macca's..... My bad !!!

I go back to the dietitian on Monday and will have to tell her that my proportion sizes are growing, and feeling hunger, I am hoping she will start to consider bringing my fill forward to 4 weeks instead of 6 weeks. I feel fantastic, I have hardly had pain and mobility has been great since day 4. I have read on a few threads that some bandsters are filled as early as 2-3 weeks and one of them was 3.5 weeks and had her second fill, isn't that amazing... I hope I can get one soon.

Weight loss up untill wednesday was still at 5.2kg down which was the same as when I started mushies. ... I must have over used the damn scales because the battery up and died on me and I haven't weighed myself in 3 whole days... can you beleive it !!!! I was in danger of becoming a serial weigher, morning, noon, arvo, night, after number 2's and so on, but kalma has arrived and I can no longer weigh. Now I have to wait untill monday unless I make a mad dash to the shops and get some batteries... I think I will wait.

I'll keep you posted...

Thursday 17 May 2007

1 Week Post-op = 5.2kg loss

Well it's been 1 week already...... Everything is going really well, I can't believe how satisfied I am with the little amount I eat, we are talking 1/2 a cup at a time !!!! Earlier on in the week I was having half cup amounts every 2 hrs, I couldn't identify weather the growling in my tummy was hunger, wind, or just noise, and as I could take too much at a time I didn't want my energy levels to fade.

Yesterday I started having my 3 meals which consisted of optifast for brekky(just easy) soup for lunch and soup for dinner. In between I have fruit juice for morning and afternoon tea. I have made diet jelly and diet custard and diet cordial in case I feel I need something else, but I am making sure that anything else I have is calorie free. Of course I have about 1 litre of water also.

I saw the dietitian yesterday and she seemed really happy with how I was going, she wanted me to start mushies tomorrow, which is only day nine but I asked her is I could go till next Wednesday as I want to optimize my weight loss during this liquid stage, and I am feeling pretty ok with the soups and shakes at the moment.

here's the good part.... this morning I was 109.00kg. That is 5.2kg loss in 8 days. I am stoked!!!

Now for funny story;
....My husband who is about 15-20kg overweight, decided while I was on liquids he would do optifast (lazy shit just doesn't want to cook for himself)... anyway... he started it on Monday has a shake for brekky and dinner and a bar for lunch (can't let the boys see him have a sissy shake at work) and has also been having coffee, diet coke and 3 pieces of fruit a day. Last night (and that's a night time weigh!!!) he had dropped 5 kilo in 4 days.... can you believe it !!!! I am happy for him, and very proud, but now feel all my glory has gone and my cheer squad has abandoned me.

So now he wants a comp to see who looses 15kg first, and says I'm a chicken because I won't compete with him. I have told him that I am doing this properly, slowly and permanently, and he just (whilst elbowing me) says "Aaaawwww come on.... are ya scared I'll beat ya !!" like a yobbo bloke. While laughing I have to try and tell him this is about me "boyfriend !!" not you.. hehehe

men... can't live with them... can't live without them

Monday 14 May 2007

The Before Photos



Taken 8th May 2007
Ok... Now here are the UUUUUURgly before photos, that were taken the night before the op. I really didn't want to post these, but I think humiliating myself is part of the process of moving on to a new me and never wanting to come back. As you can see by my face I am not too comfortable about having these shots taken and yes I totally relaxed the belly in the 2nd photo which is normally 24/7 sucked in to look half respectable. I will endeavour to take photos in same position each month and post them.... and hope the progress is good !!!


Saturday 12 May 2007

12th May - 3 Days Post -Op

That first day (day of surgery - day zero) I only had clear liquids, water and apple juice. Day 1 I had apple juice and a cup of black tea for breakfast, and lunch was strained chicken broth and runny custard (the sweetness was heaven)
I came home on Friday morning (day 2) my husband and boys had to go to Adelaide for a funeral and flew back Friday morning and came straight to pick me up. It was soooo nice to be home. I went straight to my bed (I love my bed) and slept for about 3 hours. I don't ever remember being soooo tired before. I think it's a combination of not sleeping well the week of the surgery, the anaesthesia, drugs and the nurses waking you in hospital all the time.
I'd like to add here that EVERY nurse I encountered at Warners Bay Private Hospital was absolutely beautiful, I have never had such a pleasant experience in hosp, or met such friendly, professional and caring nurses....thank you... thank you.... thank you......
Today is Saturday... I slept in... I got up as the family was leaving to go to play soccer and footy, I was little disappointed that I missed the games but was looking forward to just sitting and relaxing at home. Today has felt like it has revolved around food.
What to eat?....... When to eat?........ How much to eat?..... Am I eating too much?.....
I'm sure I will get used to it.
I'm writing this post tonight while the family is out at our friends 40th birthday BBQ, I have told everybody that I have a tummy bug and can't go. I'm just hoping my boys don't drop me into it. I have only told a selected few. 2 girls at work, mum & Dad, 2 close girlfriends, and my husband and boys of course. I'm sure I will tell others, but not just yet. Firstly I need to heal and start to loose weight to prove to myself I can do it.... then I can let others in.
Speaking of weight..... pre-op I weighed 114.2kg on their scales and I weighed myself as I was leaving and my weight was 112.1kg on the same scales, so that encouraging. I will wait till my dietitian appoint on wed to be weighed next...... don't want to jinx it..

Ok sitting in this chair is becoming painful, it must be time for more drugs..... Gotta go !!!

11th May - 2 Days Post -Op

Well... Its done... I am Banded.....

I had my op on Wednesday, I got up at 5.30am got ready and took my kids to my girlfriends place so that she could get them off to school. I then proceeded to the hospital and arrived there at 6.45am as instructed. The nurse took me to my room and admitted me, asked lots of Q's and told me to have a shower and hop in the gown and relax. She then came back about an hour later and took me to be weighed... 114.2kg was the outcome, and then put the T.E.D stockings on , I then went back to my bed unpacked my gear and read my book till the dietitian came by and made sure I was aware of everything, asked me what I liked and disliked food wise and filled out my menu for the next 2 days.
They came and got me for surgery about 8.45am popped me on the trolley and as soon as they put the warm blankie on me my eyes started to shut (the last couple of days were catching up on me). The trolley sat outside the O.R for about 15min while I snoozed, and at one stage I heard a nurse comment that the pre-op needle must have worked quickly, in which I answered Naaah just tired. She said I was the most chilled out (non drugged) patient she had seen in ages.
Before I knew it I was back in my room, and slept until later in the afternoon when I had a visit from my girlfriend from work. I was still terribly groggy, god knows what I was saying to the poor girl. I got up a little later and changed into my PJ's and started sip sip sipping water. The pain wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, but it was uncomfortable. I couldn't decide if it was wind, pain or pressure, but I just moaned and they drugged me up (gotta love the drugs !!)
I slept quiet restlessly the first night, especially as the painkillers started to wear off. They were giving me endone every 4 hrs, which made me sleep, but the best thing they gave me was the Zofran wafers for the nausea, even though I didn't actually feel really nauseous as soon as I had them the pain, pressure and yukky feeling I had seemed to go away.
Moving around wasn't to bad, I had expected it to be similar to when I had My Caesars, and it was nothing like it. Getting in and out of the bed and showering myself was fine, except when the drugs were in full swing....

Tuesday 8 May 2007

The last Post - Pre-op

Well its 11.30pm and I have finally finished everything, the house is spotless, everybody is packed, kids schoolstuff is ready, bathrooms and floors sparkling, so I thought I would post one last time.

We went to Wangi pub and had dinner tonight (the last supper) and Iwoofed down some gorgeous garlic prawns (the Dr's and nurses are gonna love me tomorrow hehehe) they were sooo yummy. It was just the 4 of us (the family), which doesn't often happen as we normally dine out with friend and their kids, and we had a lovely time, the kids were perfect and the food fab.

I am supposed to fast from 2am, so having my last diet coke.. (ppft I just wrote diet cock..... I wish... hubby is snoring) while the last load of washing is going through. Now that everything is done and ready, I feel very calm, I expected to be nervous tonight. I think me having a meltdown yesterday got all the pent up crap out of my system. I nearly had an accident yesterday morning on the way to work. I endedup getting there 10 min late after sitting in the car having a mini anxiety attack. When I went into work and one of the girls asked if I was ok, I just lost it, ended up crying and feeling sorry for myself for about 20 min. With Dave and boys going to Adelaide and trying to organise that (planes, hire car, credit card paid and cleared in time, clothes packed and so on) and unorganising the existing plans, as well as feeling a little let down that Dave wasn't going to be there was just all to much. And nearly going under a truck just topped it off. It's amazing how much better you feel after a cry. It was also hard because only 2 of the girls at work know about the op, and after this episode they were all hovering about while I was mentioning operations and hospitals, so I ended up telling the others I was having Gall bladder op. At least this allows for the 2 weeks recovery... the "girls stuff" wouldn't have cut it.

I am going to drive myself to the hospital in the morning and yeasterday was feeling awfully scared about flying solo, but after yesterday I have felt so much better, and now ready to stand up and take it like mother (men aren't as strong as mothers).

The next post I do will be in a few days where hopefully I can fill you in on the op and afterwards... just hope they don't refuse to do the op because of the garlic breath... lol
Cheers........

Sunday 6 May 2007

'Twas the night before......

1 more sleep...1 more sleep doo dah...doo dah...

Well lets just say I am... excited, nervous, scared, anxious, excited, overjoyed, soo ready.. and did I mention excited.

I have spent the last 3 weeks organising people to have the kids morning of surgery, my parents to have them to stay over night, someone else to get them after school the next day till hubby gets home, all their clothes, frozen food, house neat as a pin, and hubby to have a couple of hours off tomorrow morn to take me to hosp, and a hundred other things. And then on sunday my husbands uncle (who was like a grandfather to him) passed away, and his funeral is on Thursday in Adelaide. So monday night we had to book flights for him (and he decided to take the kids) to leave on wednesday to fly to Adelaide, he decided he is leaving straight after work as he doesn't want to take too much time off as its a new job, so he can't go in late on wednesday.

I now have to drive myself to the hospital tomorrow, and leave my car there until friday when he gets back and asks a friend to take him to pick me and the car up. It's all seemed like systems go, changing all my plans and having to play "big tough Tarnya, who can go through this all by herself" I am now sitting here shiteing myself because I have to go there alone and then not have my "rock" to come in tomorrow night to give me hugs and kisses and tell me its all ok and the pain will go away soon.

I feel like a big sook, this has been planned for 2 months now and I'm just pissed that it's not going to plan (sorry uncle Keith, I know it's not your fault). I certainly don't want David not to go, I couldn't do that to him, and I really would have liked to go and see the family myself.

I thought about ringing Dr Wright, but I just DON'T WANT to put this off again. I was supposed to have the band done on the 18th April, but because Dave was starting a new job and we were uncertain of his starting date and what sort of shifts he would be doing, I put the op back 3 weeks, and it was sooooo very hard to get to the 18th and know I could have been having it done. I didn't want to do that again.

Ok... I am over feeling sorry for myself now.... and back to the excitement. I can do this, they will be back friday to take me home...

Wish me luck !!!!!!!
'Ciao'

6th May2007 - 3 More Sleeps

I went to see the anaesthetist on thursday and all was well, he was very nice and aparently only 4 days younger than me , and as our birthdays were only 2 weeks agao, we chatted away and got along famously. Has anybody ever wondered why surgeons are so ummmm... non talkative and often distant and every anaesthesist that I have ever met are beautiful, lovely people with wonderful bedside manner. And they deal with sleeping people... I don't get it....

He was saying that the downside to laporoscopies other than the gas/shoulder tip pain is the nausea that it causes, so they now put in with the sleepy stuff, some zofran, something else and cortisone(has antinausea properties) to reduce the nausea and chances of vomiting afterwards, which was quiet reassuring.

Well I am mostly organised, today I got my bag packed, and made sure I put in the degas, peppermint tea, chubba chups, earplugs, lip balm, and all the other things that I have been advised I my need (special thanks to all those on Yahoo lapband message board for all their input). So at least thats all set... oh and of course I did pack Pj's and undies too.

Only 3 sleeps to go now and a little anxious and nervous, but just trying to keep busy. Trying to keep the house intact (despite the hubby and 2 kids...grrrrr) and in my wisdom pulled my front garden to pieces this morning, so I am knackered and already sore from using the maddock and shovel. I ended up with 4 barrows full of weeds/clippings/cuttings ... what was I thinking.... got rid of some frustration and stopped me annoying the family about making a mess..

Whoo hooo.... I am SOOOOO excited..

Thursday 3 May 2007

7 Sleep

I'm so excited.... and I just cant hide it
I'm about to get a band and I just won't fight it
WHOOOO..... HOOOOOO
7 sleeps TO GO
Just thought you'd like to know ...hehehe !!!

1st May - 1 Week pre-op

1 week to go.... (1st May 2007) ...My 14th wedding anniversary

I received the money from the Super Fund yesterday, and I paid my Surgeon today :( bye bye 4 grand....AND... HOPEFULLY... :)hello new me This week I have been madly cooking and cleaning... cooking soups for me and meals for the family... I am not under any circumstances cooking for them for a week... so its fend for yourselves or loose more weight than me... I have also been cleaning out clothes, kitchen, and O.M.G the linen and tupperware cupboards (last cleaned out ummmmm can't remember) I think I am nesting, maybe its nervous tention. Hubby is worried look slied on me all weekend with a weird look on his face... and asked me if I was going to hospital or runing off with an internet lover (maybe I'm spending too much time on the lapband threads you think !!)I've topped up all the supplies and half packed a bag (probably with crap I'll never use) 1 night= 2 PJ's and 1 nighty and 3 pairs of undies.... a girl can never be too prepared. So now all I have to do is try and get some sleep, i have just had trouble turning off at night...very wakeful... still looking at the clock at 2.45am the mind going 100km/hr. I'm working full time from now till next wednesday and the lack of sleep is KILLIN ME (zombie !!!) And the silly thing is I'm not scared, not of the op anyway, I think it's just all the after stuff, especially since all the stories differ so much. The fear of failure doesn't help either... "Is this realy going to work for me" sort of thing....Okay...now for some shut eye...8 more sleeps (semi-sleeps).

25th April - 2 weeks pre-op

AAAAGGGHHHH..... I am so sick of myself. I feel I've been on an eat fest. The last 3 weekends have been really social for us and I have eaten and drunk WAY !!! too much. I feel like a glutten. I have purchased some optifast and Celebrity slim and will start that on Friday (thursday is my birthday... come onnn !!). The Dr hasn't suggested going on this prior to the op, he said I didn't need to, but I feel that I need some prep for 2 weeks of liquids post-op, and HEY every kilo lost is a bonus.I heard from Guild Super today, they have approved the release of funds and will deposit the amount after the ANZAC holiday, so maybe I will have $4200 in my bank for my birthday...2 weeks tomorrow !!!!! yeeeehaaa

23rd April - Early Release of Super Funds

I now have 16 days till my surgery, and am very impatiently waiting... I am excited as well as nervous. I'm not nervous about the surgery as such but a fear of the aftermath... what if I fail?.... what if I don't loose weight?... What if I'm one of the 1% that gets slippage/complications?On a lighter note, I got my approval from Apra to release my Super Funds to cover the cost that the health fund doesn't cover.... I was so relieved... I have sent the forms off to The Guild Super and am just waiting to hear from them... so fingers crossed.

March 07 - 1st visit to the Doctor

I had my appoint with the Dr and the dietician, all went well (apart from the fact that I had to get on the damn scales). I was 112kg and my BMI was 42. I booked in to have the op on the 18th April, but when I came home I realised that it was the school holidays so rebooked for the 9th May. I am sooooooo excited. Its going to cost $4200 out of pocket after health fund (but that includes all visits to him and the dietician and all fills free for 12months) I have been told about "early release of super funds" to help pay for life threatening illnesses, so I am going to pursue that. If they pay all well and good, if not well I sure I'll save that in my lifetime of dieting hairbrained schemes........................... Did I Tell you I am EXCITED !!!!!................................

Feb 07 - Thinking about Lapbanding

I am just totally sick of being overweight. I have tried to do something about it numerous times, and usually do really well. I lost 26kg the first time I did Weight Watches, 12kg the second time, 15kg with Jenny Craig the first time and about the same the second time.The only problem is I just put the weight back on, and usually some more as well (wow what a bonus... not)I have made a decision to look into Lap banding. I rang a few Dr's and looked up a few web sites. I attended a seminar with Dr Wright and found out about the proceedure. I will make an appointment with him ASAP