Doing really good today... just tired. Big day... I get to have soup now!! YUM!! So, I had some tomato soup for lunch and it was sooooo good! Basically, any cream soup... no chunks. It's not a good source of protein, but I have a great protein powder that gets me the majority of the protein I need for a day. (goal is 60 grams per day and 1200 calories).
I would say that I am about 70% back to normal.
I have 2 appointments this week.... Wednesay with the dietician and Thursday with Dr. Versman for a 1 week check. Will keep you posted on those!

Wow, what a difference a day makes! I am feeling so much better this morning. I put an ice pack on my belly most of the night and it really helped with the swelling. It is still swollen quite a bit but it feels like the swelling inside my stomach has gone down. It's not as painful to burp anymore. I start back on my protein today too which I think will help me feel a lot better. I haven't really had any nutrition since last Wednesday. Still haven't had to take any pain meds since I've been home. That makes me really happy. After yesterday, which was not a good day at all, I feel like I am on the upward swing now. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers please..... I appreciate you all so much!

Not feeling very good this morning. For whatever reason, my arms are killing me. I have been outside already walking around the pool trying to get this gas moving on out of my body. I am sure that is why I am so sore. I feel like someone stepped on my stomach really hard.... imagine that! Anyhow, today seems to be my worst day yet..... I didn't really anticipate this much pain. I am still not using any pain meds though and I am very happy about that.

I am keeping all of my liquids down. I get to start back on my protein shakes tomorrow. That will be good. Countdown now to October 8th when I get to start on some mushy real foods like mashed potatoes and gravy and refried beans! YEAH!

So, here are all the details.... everything went really well. I am extremely sore right now and swollen but I am not taking any pain meds. It's more or less just really uncomfortable. I have 5 small incisions in my belly. I have an elastic type band that goes all the way around my waist to help with the pain. The hardest thing for me has been drinking. I have to be on clear liquids for today and tomorrow. On Sunday I can start back on my protein shakes again. I think that will make a big difference too. Give me more energy. Right now my stomach is so swollen that it is really hard for me to drink anything. I know that it is exremely important though so that I do not get dehydrated.

The hospital experience was awesome. I can't say enough good things about all the people that I had contact with there. I was treated so kindly and with the highest respect. They have an excellent bariatric team at Borgess and I would highly recommend it to anyone! The rooms were new and modern. The care was above what I ever would have expected.

Well, I am home now and I plan to spend a few days just resting and recouping.

I survived the surgery and am doing OK. Having a little bit of an issue getting my liquids down... who would have thought that 4 oz of fluid would take me an hour to drink~!~ Anyhow, I am hoping to be home later this afternoon and I will post about the entire procedure.

Thanks again to all of you who sent good wishes and prayers my way! Love you all!

So tomorrow is my big day..... I am so excited! Today has been not so nice. At noon I had to drink a "potion" to clean out my bowels. Let's just say that I haven't gone too far away from my bathroom. Anyhow, on a little bit nicer note... everything is in line. I have done everything that I was suppose to and I am getting my overnight bag packed and ready to go. We have to be at the hospital in the morning at 8 a.m. My surgery is at 10. There is a specialist coming in from the west coast to assist in the procedure. Although my surgeon, Dr. Versman, has done hundreds of LapBands, he has never used the Realize Band... which is what I am getting. It seems that the research shows that there is less slippage with this band and also allows for food to pass a little easier than the LapBand brand.

The procedure itself only takes about 20 minutes. It is done laprascopic, just a few small incisions. I will have to spend just one night in the hospital. The recovery process is suppose to be quite fast. This is the best part... I will get to start eating mushy foods with texture on October 8th!

My plan is to take my laptop with me to the hospital. I will write and let you all know how it goes as soon as I can!!

I am getting so excited... I can't believe that it is almost here!! It makes the 14 days that I haven't had anything to eat so worth it!!

Today has been a good day. I have to work tonight and tomorrow night. That actually makes things a little easier for me. I can keep myself busy and not think about how hungry I am!

Thanks again to everyone for all of your encouraging words!

So, I'm not gonna lie... everyday is getting harder and harder for me. I am getting grouchy because I am sooo hungry!! I know that I am almost there. 3 more days of this nasty liquid stuff I have to drink. I will still be on liquids post-op but I am hoping that it will get easier....

I started on the new shakes that are called Impact. I only have to drink 2 a day and then a protein shake. Might I add that they are so gross! I have all I can do to just get them down. It cuts my caloric intake back to about 850 and I have really noticed the difference. I am starving. It's been really hard for me at night. I am trying to keep busy to keep my mind off from eating but it is so hard. So far so good though. I am on the down swing now... only 6 more days!

Today was my appointment with the dietician. Nothing major... just making sure that I am getting in enough protein and that the liquid diet has been going well, which it is. Tomorrow I start taking the protein drinks called Impact. 2 a day and a protein shake until next Wednesday. More later....

I had all of my wonderful preop appointments this morning. First thing was the Upper GI. It was pretty bad. They give you this really thick, nasty, contrast to drink while this grumpy old man takes pictures of your stomach. I guess it was OK. They said that I would have another one after my sugery to make sure that the band is in the right place. They warned me that the barium I drink for that one is alot smaller amount due to the fact my stomach won't hold very much... however, it smells and looks like PineSol!!

I also had a chest xray, EKG, lab work, and an appoirtment with my surgeon, Dr. Versman. We went over the procedure again. He wanted to be sure that I didn't have any new questions. He will be putting in one of the newer bands called Realize. He has done many, many bands before mine, but I will be one of the first ones to get this particular one. It is a bit wider than the other one so the slippage rate is a lot less. It also has a different type of band so it may allow for foods to pass a bit easier without getting stuck. Other than that, it is the exact same procedure... they place the band at the top of the stomach to make a pouch; about 4 ounces. The band is attached to a line line and a port that is placed under the skin in the abdomen area. This is where saline may be added to "fill" the band at future appointments.

So everything is on the right track so far. I start my lower calorie drinks on Thursday.... getting really excited now!!

Hello! I had a good weekend. It was a little rough because the weather was so rainy and I didn't feel like doing anything. I have discovered the power of the TV. It is amazing how much commercials infuence us without even knowing it. I can sit and watch a program and begin to salivate at the sight of some awesome looking food and I am not even hungry!! I have pointed this out as one of my trigger points.

Tomorrow is my upper GI, labs and Dr. appt... will let you know how that all goes!

Saturday September 13

I am on day 5 of my all liquid diet. It is getting easier every day. I still would really like something "real" to eat... you know, like a big juicy steak! :O)

4 more days of the carnation instant breakfast, then I get to drink some special shake that the doctor requires.... 2 of those a day and a protein shake. So, I just keep telling myself that it will really be worth it in the end.

I really appreciate all of the support that I have been getting from my friends and family. PLEASE... keep the encouraging words coming my way! You have no idea how much it helps me.

So this week I have the pre operative tests; lab work, appt with the doc, and and upper GI test. Sounds like fun huh?

Oh, I am down 7 lbs as of this morning too!

Thanks for checking out my blog and hope you will come back again and follow me on my journey.

Love you all!!