Thanks for stopping by! I thought I'd use this post to address some of the biggest questions/fears I had about being banded, before I was banded. Some of these might seem silly, but they really did keep me up at night for some reason.
1. Will I be able to lay on my stomach after getting the Lap Band? The answer, for me at least, is YES, you can lay on your stomach. I was actually more comfortable laying on my stomach about 1 week post-op than I was laying on my back. I'm not sure why, and I had some major difficulty getting into, and out of, that position, but it worked for me.
2. Will I be able to feel my port throughout a typical day?
I don't, unless I want to, when I flex my stomach muscles and press on my port site with my hand. I was a little freaked out when I read that other Bandsters could feel their port (feel in terms of sensitivity) after a work out, climbing stairs, etc. Again, this is just my experience, but I really don't feel it, and when I do, it isn't uncomfortable, it's just there. Kinda like feeling your toes in your shoes. You don't really think about them in there unless you really want to. Hopefully that makes sense.
3. Will I be able to eat like a normal person?
Well, this one's kinda hard to answer. See, the whole point of the band is that you DON'T eat that way anymore, however, you CAN if you really really want to. It's a slippy slope, because these poor food habits that we've developed over a lifetime of eating are hard to break. However, the band does have some input in this, but it varies for everyone. I can eat bread, for example. Other bandsters can't. They get stuck, and end up with their head in the toilet. I can eat ALMOST everything I used to eat, although some days I experience more discomfort than others. Pizza? Goes down ok, but I usually order/make mine with little to no cheese and lots of sauce, so that may have something to do with it. Sushi rice, however, literally forms a dam in my esophagus.
4. What does "getting stuck" feel like?
I wasn't too sure what to expect with this. I think there are varying degrees of "stuck-ness". For me, the most mild form of stuck is just a constant watering of the mouth, and I am able to "force up" the blockage (kinda like concentrating really hard on pulling up a burp.) The most extreme form of stuck-age is this incredibly painful pressure in my chest and upper back. For me, it radiates down my arms, and makes my eyeballs feel like they are going to pop out of my head. Ok, maybe not, but it really hurts throughout every inch of my body. The pain lasts until I can PB (re: vomit up) the blockage. Vomiting itself is pretty unpleasant, but not painful. However, you have to be really careful, because vomiting every once in a while is one thing, but violent vomiting can dislodge your band, which can create some really serious problems.
These were some of the biggest questions I had that didn't relate to the actual procedure or mechanics of the band. If you have a question that I didn't address, you can always ask me. I'd be happy to provide any insight I can!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Hello, and welcome to Bandy-Land!!!
Welcome! My name is Laurel, and I will be your tour guide as we venture forth into this uncharted territory called "Life after LapBand". Well, maybe not "uncharted" in the direct sense of the word, but uncharted for me! Please keep arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times, and, remember folks, the wildlife WILL eat you if given the opportunity. This is a weight loss tour, after all. Them critters are hungry.
My Stats:
Here's the scoop:
I was "banded" (that's what we Bandsters call the actual surgical procedure of getting the lapband) on November 31st, 2010, by Dr. Alana Chock at NorthWest Weight Loss Surgery Center in Everett, WA. I weighed 254.4 pounds - my heaviest weight EVER. I had a wonderful pre-and-post op experience. The discomfort was mild (day 4 being the most uncomfortable, mostly due to gas pains that lodged in my upper abdomen and mid-back). I followed my doctor's orders regarding water intake, walking, and food consistency. I started actually feeling hungry again about 2 weeks post op, when I graduated from soups/broths to mushy food (canned chicken with fat-free mayo, egg salad, etc.) I felt really in control of my eating, and was beginning to see the results on the scale and in my face (I happen to show weight loss in my face first, which makes for some really great motivation!) At 2 weeks post-op, we headed to CA to visit our family for an early Christmas. I was nervous about flying after hearing some bandsters report swelling/discomfort during and after a flight, but I encountered none of this. I was still on mushy food at this stage, but was able to navigate my way around, eating things like tofu, home-made eggplant parmesean (baked, not fried), my trusty canned chicken salad, etc. At my moms house, I weighed myself and found that I had lost over 20 pounds so far! Granted, I was on a very limited diet, so I wasn't surprised, but I was still really proud of myself - I felt that I had made the right choice in getting banded, and was so pleased to see the positive reinforcement on the scale.
It has now been a few days short of 5 months, and, while I still have zero discomfort in regards to my band (no pain, no tenderness, etc.) I am struggling with my weight-loss, and it is NO fault of the band. I "knew" before getting banded that it was only going to be a weight loss TOOL, not a miracle. However, the reality is that it really is JUST a tool. I call it my "Kenmore". Don't get me wrong. I am still so glad every day that I made the choice to do something drastic about my weight. Before getting banded, I had high blood pressure that was kept under control through medication. My knees hurt all the time. I was tired. I was out of control and unhappy.
As of today, April 17th, 2011, I have lost 29 pounds. I seem to keep bouncing around somewhere between 228 and 222. This morning I was 225.4. To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. However, I would like to say again that this is NOT the band's fault. If you are reading this and getting freaked out, please understand that this sllooooooowwwwww weight loss is a direct result of my own actions. I have a "fill" appointment (an adjustment to the band where a small amount of fluid is added to help tighten the band to reach a "sweet spot") this coming Wednesday to help further reduce my sense of hunger and my food cravings. But here is the thing, and this goes back to the statement that the band is a TOOL, not a cure-all. You CAN still overeat after getting the band. It's uncomfortable, but possible. After my surgery and recovery were over, I went back to eating almost the same way that I did pre-surgery. Meaning, I would eat a Big Mac (adding ketchup, of course) and a Fish-Fillet sandwich (no cheese, extra sauce) at night, several hours after dinner. Yep, you read that right, AFTER dinner. I thought that all of that would end as soon as I had my first fill. Unfortunately, when I went to see my surgeon at my four week post-op check up and fill, I found out that I had been doing all of this with 4cc's of fluid in my 10cc band. I am now up to almost 7cc's, and I'm still way over eating at all times of the day. The amount has gone down somewhat, however, the fact that I just put away 1 small chicken burrito, 2 regular sized tacos, and an order of fried hash-brown things from Taco Time means that I am STILL sabotaging my weight loss efforts.
I think I forgot to mention in all of this that I am a cooker. I love to cook. I think about recipes and food combinations/preparations all the time. At night, while trying to go to sleep, I think about cooking. I think about new ways to improve recipes, I think about fun ways to get my toddler involved in the kitchen, and I think about ways to copy-cat my favorite restaurant staples at home. To say that food still controls my life is sad, but its true. I'm a good cook. I like to use real ingredients, try cooking new things, and I love to hear feed back about my dishes. However, I am also a stay-at-home mom with a terrible eater. She is NOT a picky eater. To me, a "picky eater" means that a child (or adult, I guess) has only a few things that they like, and will only ever eat those things. My daughter is not like that. She loves all kinds of foods. But, she only likes them every once in a while. I don't have a "fall back" food item that I know she'll eat if she goes "on strike" with everything else. She loves broccoli, but only if she's in the mood for it. She loves chicken curry, but, again, only if she's in the mood for it. She's also pretty much non-verbal at this stage, so I really have NO idea what it is she wants to eat. She tolerates fruit, and rarely gets sweets, so whether she likes them or not, she's not getting them. Where this becomes difficult is that I pretty much have to keep 2 of everything in the house at all times. A low-fat/fat-free version for the Huz and I, and a whole fat, organic (or as close to) version for Picky the Kid. And I have really poor self control. We had to stop keeping whole milk in the house because I kept drinking it. It was supposed to be for my daughter. Now she gets whole soy milk and pediasure (for other reasons, besides just her fatty mom kept stealing her milk). Every time I cook I have to decide if I'm going to cook for Picky, and use whole fat ingredients, or cook for the Huz and I and use low fat ingredients. We are way short on funds right now, so I can only cook one version of a meal at a time. I'm also concerned about the chemicals and additives used to make fat-free foods taste decent, and I'm pretty much unwilling to let Picky ingest any of that crap if I can help it, especially since she eats so little - I have to work on making every bite as wholesome as possible, so there is little to no room for fake ingredients.
Sadly, there is no real solution now that we've reached the end of the this incredibly long introduction. These are the issues and hang-ups that I face every day as a bandster. I do get stuck quite often, mostly on breads and carbs (sushi is a love of mine, but no longer an option after an unfortunate "date night" at a local sushi restaurant where I spent the entire evening curled up around the toilet in the women's bathroom while the Huz made friends with the owners and tried to explain to them that it wasn't their cooking that was making me sick. Vomiting (sometimes called PBing, or productive burping, but it's really just puking) is uncomfortable, and I'm slowly learning my lesson and staying away from things that send me running for the toilet with my hand clamped firmly over my mouth. I eat too fast. I take too big of bites. And I graze ALL DAY. I have yet to establish a regular work out routine that lasts more than 2 weeks, although I'm working on it. The Huz and I joined weight watchers in an attempt to help us stay accountable to the things we eat, and when. It works, but, again, its just a tool. I know it might seem funny to get the lap band and join a weight loss program at the same time, but the band is about restricting the amount of food you can eat, and Weight Watchers is about being held accountable for the things that you eat. I think they go hand in hand. Other bandsters use other calorie-counting tools - weight watchers is just the one that we chose for us.
If you've made it this far, I hope you stay tuned as I try to chronicle my weight loss journey. My goal weight is 154.4, exactly 100 pounds down from where I was before getting the Lap Band. I had originally hoped to reach this goal by my one year "Bandiversary" (which would be equal to loosing 2 pounds a week, just in case you think I'm crazy). I'm not sure that time-frame is still valid, but I'd hedge a bet that I can do it by New Years Day 2012. Stay tuned, and wish me luck!!!!
My Stats:
- 5'6.5" tall
- Overweight my whole life, except for almost 12 months during 2005-6 when I was taking Phentermine and doing Pilates, where I got down to a comfortable size 14 and felt like (and was, in my opinion) a total FOX. But I suffered from heart palpitations and a strange "thump" in my chest every once in a while, which I now know was my heart skipping beats. After stopping Phentermine, I gained all the weight back, plus a lot, but I never again felt the irregular heart beats.
- My food weaknesses are anything salty, crunchy, spicy, exotic, or within reach. I'm not much of a fan of sugary foods, but I'll readily eat 5 tacos without thinking about it. I would never have classified myself as a soda addict, although anytime I drove through a drive through I had to have a jug of Coke/Pepsi. Oddly enough, that was pretty much the only time I ever had soda, but I drove through a lot, so it was a pretty frequent beverage for me. I don't drink alcohol, so that has never been a source of empty calories for me. I don't drink coffee, but I would gladly hook up an iv line to a vat of unsweetened iced tea. No lemon. That hasn't changed for me throughout my banding experience, and I really don't see the harm. It's basically calorie free flavored water, and I'll bet that I drink at LEAST a gallon of fluid a day between the iced tea (fresh brewed, none of that crap from a soda fountain or bottle) and water.
- I have a husband who also struggles with his weight (he's not banded) and a 2 year old daughter with a health problem, so we have to struggle to get her to gain or maintain her weight, an issue I'll talk about in a little while.
Here's the scoop:
I was "banded" (that's what we Bandsters call the actual surgical procedure of getting the lapband) on November 31st, 2010, by Dr. Alana Chock at NorthWest Weight Loss Surgery Center in Everett, WA. I weighed 254.4 pounds - my heaviest weight EVER. I had a wonderful pre-and-post op experience. The discomfort was mild (day 4 being the most uncomfortable, mostly due to gas pains that lodged in my upper abdomen and mid-back). I followed my doctor's orders regarding water intake, walking, and food consistency. I started actually feeling hungry again about 2 weeks post op, when I graduated from soups/broths to mushy food (canned chicken with fat-free mayo, egg salad, etc.) I felt really in control of my eating, and was beginning to see the results on the scale and in my face (I happen to show weight loss in my face first, which makes for some really great motivation!) At 2 weeks post-op, we headed to CA to visit our family for an early Christmas. I was nervous about flying after hearing some bandsters report swelling/discomfort during and after a flight, but I encountered none of this. I was still on mushy food at this stage, but was able to navigate my way around, eating things like tofu, home-made eggplant parmesean (baked, not fried), my trusty canned chicken salad, etc. At my moms house, I weighed myself and found that I had lost over 20 pounds so far! Granted, I was on a very limited diet, so I wasn't surprised, but I was still really proud of myself - I felt that I had made the right choice in getting banded, and was so pleased to see the positive reinforcement on the scale.
It has now been a few days short of 5 months, and, while I still have zero discomfort in regards to my band (no pain, no tenderness, etc.) I am struggling with my weight-loss, and it is NO fault of the band. I "knew" before getting banded that it was only going to be a weight loss TOOL, not a miracle. However, the reality is that it really is JUST a tool. I call it my "Kenmore". Don't get me wrong. I am still so glad every day that I made the choice to do something drastic about my weight. Before getting banded, I had high blood pressure that was kept under control through medication. My knees hurt all the time. I was tired. I was out of control and unhappy.
As of today, April 17th, 2011, I have lost 29 pounds. I seem to keep bouncing around somewhere between 228 and 222. This morning I was 225.4. To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. However, I would like to say again that this is NOT the band's fault. If you are reading this and getting freaked out, please understand that this sllooooooowwwwww weight loss is a direct result of my own actions. I have a "fill" appointment (an adjustment to the band where a small amount of fluid is added to help tighten the band to reach a "sweet spot") this coming Wednesday to help further reduce my sense of hunger and my food cravings. But here is the thing, and this goes back to the statement that the band is a TOOL, not a cure-all. You CAN still overeat after getting the band. It's uncomfortable, but possible. After my surgery and recovery were over, I went back to eating almost the same way that I did pre-surgery. Meaning, I would eat a Big Mac (adding ketchup, of course) and a Fish-Fillet sandwich (no cheese, extra sauce) at night, several hours after dinner. Yep, you read that right, AFTER dinner. I thought that all of that would end as soon as I had my first fill. Unfortunately, when I went to see my surgeon at my four week post-op check up and fill, I found out that I had been doing all of this with 4cc's of fluid in my 10cc band. I am now up to almost 7cc's, and I'm still way over eating at all times of the day. The amount has gone down somewhat, however, the fact that I just put away 1 small chicken burrito, 2 regular sized tacos, and an order of fried hash-brown things from Taco Time means that I am STILL sabotaging my weight loss efforts.
I think I forgot to mention in all of this that I am a cooker. I love to cook. I think about recipes and food combinations/preparations all the time. At night, while trying to go to sleep, I think about cooking. I think about new ways to improve recipes, I think about fun ways to get my toddler involved in the kitchen, and I think about ways to copy-cat my favorite restaurant staples at home. To say that food still controls my life is sad, but its true. I'm a good cook. I like to use real ingredients, try cooking new things, and I love to hear feed back about my dishes. However, I am also a stay-at-home mom with a terrible eater. She is NOT a picky eater. To me, a "picky eater" means that a child (or adult, I guess) has only a few things that they like, and will only ever eat those things. My daughter is not like that. She loves all kinds of foods. But, she only likes them every once in a while. I don't have a "fall back" food item that I know she'll eat if she goes "on strike" with everything else. She loves broccoli, but only if she's in the mood for it. She loves chicken curry, but, again, only if she's in the mood for it. She's also pretty much non-verbal at this stage, so I really have NO idea what it is she wants to eat. She tolerates fruit, and rarely gets sweets, so whether she likes them or not, she's not getting them. Where this becomes difficult is that I pretty much have to keep 2 of everything in the house at all times. A low-fat/fat-free version for the Huz and I, and a whole fat, organic (or as close to) version for Picky the Kid. And I have really poor self control. We had to stop keeping whole milk in the house because I kept drinking it. It was supposed to be for my daughter. Now she gets whole soy milk and pediasure (for other reasons, besides just her fatty mom kept stealing her milk). Every time I cook I have to decide if I'm going to cook for Picky, and use whole fat ingredients, or cook for the Huz and I and use low fat ingredients. We are way short on funds right now, so I can only cook one version of a meal at a time. I'm also concerned about the chemicals and additives used to make fat-free foods taste decent, and I'm pretty much unwilling to let Picky ingest any of that crap if I can help it, especially since she eats so little - I have to work on making every bite as wholesome as possible, so there is little to no room for fake ingredients.
Sadly, there is no real solution now that we've reached the end of the this incredibly long introduction. These are the issues and hang-ups that I face every day as a bandster. I do get stuck quite often, mostly on breads and carbs (sushi is a love of mine, but no longer an option after an unfortunate "date night" at a local sushi restaurant where I spent the entire evening curled up around the toilet in the women's bathroom while the Huz made friends with the owners and tried to explain to them that it wasn't their cooking that was making me sick. Vomiting (sometimes called PBing, or productive burping, but it's really just puking) is uncomfortable, and I'm slowly learning my lesson and staying away from things that send me running for the toilet with my hand clamped firmly over my mouth. I eat too fast. I take too big of bites. And I graze ALL DAY. I have yet to establish a regular work out routine that lasts more than 2 weeks, although I'm working on it. The Huz and I joined weight watchers in an attempt to help us stay accountable to the things we eat, and when. It works, but, again, its just a tool. I know it might seem funny to get the lap band and join a weight loss program at the same time, but the band is about restricting the amount of food you can eat, and Weight Watchers is about being held accountable for the things that you eat. I think they go hand in hand. Other bandsters use other calorie-counting tools - weight watchers is just the one that we chose for us.
If you've made it this far, I hope you stay tuned as I try to chronicle my weight loss journey. My goal weight is 154.4, exactly 100 pounds down from where I was before getting the Lap Band. I had originally hoped to reach this goal by my one year "Bandiversary" (which would be equal to loosing 2 pounds a week, just in case you think I'm crazy). I'm not sure that time-frame is still valid, but I'd hedge a bet that I can do it by New Years Day 2012. Stay tuned, and wish me luck!!!!
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