July 23rd Update

Hello again!

I hope everyone is enjoying the weather today. It has been trying to rain for two weeks and it finally did last night. I am also back at work next week so my boredom should be over by then. I really need help so that I can enjoy not working, apparently that isn't how I operate.

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday for my first adjustment. I was pretty frightened about the whole thing because I didn't know exactly how it was done. At work I heard that there was a big needle involved and I wasn't too keen on the idea after that. I begged my mom to go with me.

So mom and I headed to the doctor's office. She tried to explain that she didn't need to go back with me. I miss the time when I could lay on the floor, stomp my feet, and scream until I got my way. I had to come to terms with the fact that I am a grown woman and I need to suck it up. I went back with the nurse and he told me I had hit 34 lb weight loss! Woo hoo! I also found out I lost 5 inches in my waist! Then he told me that my neck stayed the same but I have a small neck anyway. Thank you? I asked him about good snacks for me to eat during the day while I am teach. He told me that string cheese, yogurt, and almonds were a good way to go. My heart rate was a little high. I explained to him that I was nervous and he told me that he didn't do well with needles so he couldn't help me with that. Thanks buddy!

The doctor came in and asked me how I was doing. I explained to her that whenever I squat or bend over I have sharp pains in my abdomen. She told me that it is most likely just pressure on my port where they inject the saline. I don't know if that lasts for ever but I sure hope not. Then she told me I had 3 cc's of saline in my lap band right now and that she was going to inject 2 more cc's for this adjustment. She had me lie down with a pillow below my lower back and she numbed my lower right stomach area. Then she had me do a stomach crunch so that she could feel the port. She had me lie back down and she inserted a bigger needle, I didn't look, and had me do another crunch while the saline went in. It wasn't nearly as scary as I pictured it in my head, most likely due to the fact that I kept looking at the ceiling. She told me that this adjustment wouldn't that big of a difference. It usually takes 3-5 adjustments to get to the "green" zone of happiness.

I had to wait in the waiting room until I could swallow a cup of water. Then mom and I took off. I was nauseous on the way home so mom drove. I am on a liquid diet for today and mushy foods tomorrow so that I can get used to the feeling of the adjustment. I haven't felt a difference but I am only drinking liquids right now.

So that is my update. Thank you everyone for all of your support. I will try to write another post in a week or so.

Update July 7th

Hello again! I know it has been a while since I did my first post but I wanted to wait and see how much change occurred in a couple of weeks. I am now down 32 pounds total. It is very exciting! I really can't tell a difference but everyone around me says that they can see it, especially in my face.

I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and he told me that he could tell I had lost weight since surgery. He probably tells everyone that but I appreciated it anyway. I just showed him the incision that worried me and he told me that it wasn't too bad and that it would heal eventually. It is looking better now but not completely healed. It is near my belly button and it hurts every now and then but I know it will get better. I asked about calorie intake and they told me that it is more about portion control but that a normal range would be between 1,000 to 1,300. I am trying to stay within that range.

I am currently house sitting for my vice principal and luckily he has a pool and a new treadmill so I have been taking advantage of that. I am using the treadmill every morning and night for about 30 minutes while I am here. It is always funny to me how much better I feel after doing so. During the school year a few other teachers and myself walk at the track at PVCC before work and I always have a better day after the exercise. My summer job is less strenuous but I am always stress free and in a better mood after I use the treadmill. I don't suppose I will ever be one of those people that LOVE to exercise but I want it to be my new obsession if that makes sense.

In terms of eating, I am on solid foods now. I usually start the day with a protein shake, mostly because my stomach is really tight in the morning. For lunch, I usually have yogurt, a string cheese, and some apple slices (minus the skin). For dinner I try to have chicken and a salad. I snack on sugar free popsicles and string cheese but I am trying to cut out the string cheese because I read that it was 80 calories for one stick! I couldn't believe it! I went to Sprouts and picked up some organic juice and crackers. It is so much fun for me to look at the calories and sugars now. It is like a math equation. I know I am weird but oh well.

I often feel really full after a light lunch. It is like I have eaten a thanksgiving dinner after a meal. It is like an internal alarm bell that I never had before.

I just want to thank everyone for their support. I am so thankful that I was able to have this operation and I feel loads better already.

I have an appointment on July 22nd for my first adjustment. An adjustment is when they inject saline through a port. The saline goes to air sacs around the lap band to make the opening smaller. I am very looking forward to that appointment and I will make sure to update my blog after that.