Surgery Day----I DID IT!!!!

I was banded today in Phoenix at a little past 7am. We had to get there at 5am for check-in and we were staying at a hotel about 30 minutes away so we had to get up at 4am.....that is very early. Especially early for someone who took her cpap machine out of mothballs and tried it for the first time in 2 years and couldn't sleep because it was tickling my nose hairs and pinching my face. I finally gave up and got to sleep around 2am.


Got to the hospital and did the paperwork. Hubby and 7 year old son were out in the lobby and hubby put a movie on the DVD player so he could watch it and stay quiet. The nurse told me they would take me back and my family could join me after they were done poking and prodding me.

This may be TMI, but of course I started my period 2 days before my surgery. They wanted me to get completely undressed and I told them I HAD to wear underwear. So they gave me these mesh panties and a brick sized pad. Well, let me tell you something, the mesh panties and not meant for big girls. I tore one pair before asking the nurse for some scissors to cut the sides a little or I would have no circulation.

I had to share the pre-op room with two other people and the nurse gave the woman in the middle the remote. She put it on the news and all they were talking about was the DNC and I am so sick of politics right now. i would have rather watched QVC!

They gave me a shot in my belly. It didn't hurt at first but the alcohol they used to clean it after burned like hell. After awhile, it kind of ached a little. Then they gave me my IV in my hand. It wasn't so bad. They gave me cute little socks with grippers on the bottom and the compression things for my legs but they said they would put those on right before. I was kind of bummed because I wanted to know what it felt like.

In the meantime, my son is getting upset because he didn't pay attention when I went back and didn't get to kiss me goodbye. He demanded to be back there with me and they eventually got to go back. Not sure why he was so nervous. Maybe it was the fact that my husband joked to our 7 year old son that they were going to carve his momma up like a christmas turkey? Men!

Finally, it was time to go back. I got my kisses and got a little choked up at leaving them. What surprised me was the fact that I kind of got freaked out as they were wheeling me into the OR. I actually considered telling them never mind! I just started praying and God took away my fear.

It was incredibly cold in the OR and the bed they had me move to was really uncomfortable. That is all I remember until I woke up from the anethesia. They asked me if I wanted tea, something or something and the only thing that I could stand was tea. They brought me warm unsweetened tea(which I usually like sweetened with something) but it was the best tasting tea I ever had! I do have a bit of advice though for them: Do not hand a patient who is high as a kite and not in control of her motor skills a warm beverage. I spilled more than I drank.

BTW: Doctor informed hubby I had TWO hiatial hernias. He was able to repair one but I will have to lose some weight for the other.

They made me go to the bathroom and get dressed and then walked me out to the front. It was raining and Hubby busted it in his haste to get the car but he was alright. Just banged up his knee.

Got home and didn't have to use the wheelchair we borrowed from the hotel at all. I just used it to kind of hold on to in order to keep my balance as I wanted down the hall.

I was not in that much pain. I have four incisions and one of them has a major bruise on it. It is later in the evening now and I am really sore like someone punched me but it is not intolerable. I was even able to go out to dinner with hubby and son and I had some broth from some tortilla soup. We then went to Walmart!

Blessed be: NO GAS PAIN....yet. I felt what I thought was gas so I took a gasx strip but that was it.

Overall, I was pleased with my surgeon. It was sort of a wam bam thank you maam with not really a lot of fussing about but I kind of like that. I didn't really want to stay overnight and they said my surgery was perfect.

To top that off, when the nurse weighed me this morning, I weighed 289!!!! That means I lost 25lbs on my pre-op diet!

Believe me when I tell all of you future bandsters or even people just on a regular diet....if I can do it, anyone can!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Thanks for viewing and God bless!

Twas the night before surgery.......

Tomorrow is the day!  I am excited, nervous and just plain jazzed.  I am hoping I will be able to sleep tonight.  The surgery is at 7pm and I have to be there at 5am!  I don't even want to think of what they will do to me for 2 hours.
Anyway, I look at this as the night before the first day of the rest of my life.
Wish me luck and I will see you on the flip side!
TTFN

Day 13 preop diet

So my surgery is a week from tomorrow in Phoenix.  I have been doing this stupid diet for two weeks and have lost some weight but find it really hard not to go out and get a cheeseburger.  That seems to be what my mind and stomach focuses on....the cheeseburger.  I called my weight loss center today and told them I am having a hard time controlling my hunger between lunch and dinner and that I really crave meat.  Instead of giving me permission to have a cheeseburger, she gave me permission to have another protein shake.  Thanks a pantload, lady!  I know it is all going to pay off in the end but this truly sucks!  I went to a work meeting the other day and had to cart my little blender and stuff for my shake along with me.  In the meantime, my co-workers got to enjoy some pretty good vittles AND what looked suspiciously like Paula Deen's "Not Yo-Mama's Banana Pudding".  I didn't asked if that was it because I was afraid of the answer.

On a positive note....I have fallen in love with all things turkey.  Turkey bacon and Turkey sausage are awesome!  I also love Greek Gods Yogurt.  It kind of tastes like cream cheese.  Sugar free fudgcicles and popcicles are good too.

Tune in tomorrow....or whenever I find the time to post next.

Day 4 pre-op diet

So I am on day 4 of my pre-op diet.  It turns out I can have snacks but only veggies with no dip.  I am doing okay other than feeling a little like I am walking around in a fog.  My hunger is kind of a dull yearning but it isn't too bad.  The worse part is the smells.  Cake baking in the oven.  Pizza being eaten by my kids.  French toast being cooked by my hubby for the kids.  I really want a cheeseburger and a Dr. Pepper.  I had my pre-op appointment today and the doctor told me that if he gets in to do the surgery and my liver didn't shrink enough because I cheated on the diet, then he wouldn't be able to do the surgery.  That is incentive enough for me to stay the course but, believe me, it sucks greatly.
Luckily, I have 12 kids who keep me busy and help keep my mind off of the fact I can't eat anything great.  Tonight's dinner consisted of baked salmon with garlic and basil and a small salad with low fat italian dressing.  My hubby and kids had Papa John's Pizza becaue my crock pot decided to go out shortly after I turned it on and we didn't discover it until 4 hours later.  My then my Cream Cheese Crock Pot Chicken Chili was ruined.  Will try again tomorrow I guess.

TTFN

Day 2--pre-op

Well, after having a shake for breakfast and a shake for lunch, I had a grilled chicken breast and some steamed zuchini and squash for dinner.  The chicken was store-bought and already grilled.  I did not like the taste of it so have decided to grill my own.  I decided to practice taking small bites and chewing thoroughly and started with the chicken first.  It went well but, by the time I got to my veggies, they were stone cold! 

Oh well, it wasn't the most exciting meal on earth, but it wasn't intolerable.  I am thinking I can actually do this and not try to eat one of my kids.=)

The Journey Begins....Steps to a Healthy Life

So since my last post, we have moved to Tucson, Arizona and we started working for a group home.  We currently care for 11 children in foster care as well as our biological son, Eli.  I cannot believe I haven't posted anything this past year since they always seem to give me something funny or new to write about...I will try to do better.
In June, I decided to get gastric lap band surgery and, once I jumped through all the hoops my insurance required of me, I have a surgery schedule September 7, 2012.  Today begins the first day of my pre-op diet.  I am allowed a protein shake for breakfast, a protein shake for lunch, and a small meal of proteins and veggies for dinner for the next 3 weeks.  I bought whey protein from Wal-mart in vanilla cream flavor.  This morning I poured 8 oz of lowfat milk, a scoop of protein powder, 5 ice cubes and a 1/2 teaspoon of orange extract.  What I got was a yummy thin milkshake that tasted like an orange creamsickle.  It was awesome but we will see how much it fills me up.
Last night I had my "last meal".  It was parmasan crusted chicken with spinach and ravioli at Olive Garden.  It had been discontinued on the menu but the manager granted my request to have the cook remake it.  It was a very nice last meal and I am excited about starting a whole new lifestyle.  I just have to get past the "head hunger".  My plan is to stay busy(with 12 kids that should not be a problem) and try not to think about it too much.  3 weeks seems like such a long time from now.

That's all for now but I plan on posting updates as long as I can.  Wish me luck!
TTFN