McKenna M.

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I am the biggest loser, because not have I failed at every "diet" and gimmick imaginable, but I have failed at the lap band too.  I just couldn't take getting "choked" all the time, and not being able to drink when I ate, and not able to do this and to do that!  Sure, i have gained my weight back, but just thinking of those choking days, and it didn't mattert if I had 3 cc's or 8 cc's, it was the same.  I had to have a complete unfill at one point, and my biggest scare was to get "choked" someewhere where I couldn't get to a hospital or Dr.'s office.  It is said, the key is diet and exercise, and I just don't exercise and probably never will.   am now 74 years old, and I would like to live to be 100, so who knows what "gimmick" I will try in the future to get to that goal, so far I've made it this far - ha ha 

It is now alamost the 1st of Feb.  I am 10 months out, and I just reached 189,  I was in the 190's for 6-7 months.  Well, I can see why, with all the cruises, not eating properly, etc.  I have another cruise coming up in May, so I hope by then I will be at least in my 170's.  I hate exercising and I don't do any.  Even thought I belong to a gym and have to pay for it every month.  What a waste huh?  My clothes are starting to look good on me though, and I am starting to get compliments - tht is always the way it works - I have to lose around 50 lbs, for people to start noticing.  It is around 50 lbs now.  So, hey that is better than a sharp stick.  I probably am at my "sweet spot" now.  I have 9cc's in my 14cc band. 

Sept. 20, 2008 I am back from France, which I totally did myself in as far as over eating all the wrong things, but boy 0 boy did I have a good time. Back on the stick now. I am still in my 190's, so will try and get this thing going again. Hopefully when I post again I will be down 20 more lbs. I don't know when that will be, but maybe by December when I go on the cruise to Mexico.

January 14, 2008 . . . Had my consultation appt. with Dr. Robert Korn. He suggested the lap band for me, and that I needed to get clearance from my cardiologist. I was scared that Dr. Bathena, my heart specialist might not agree to me having major surgery, and also I wouldn't qualify with Medicare because I didn't think I was a 100 lbs overweight. But, according to their charts - I am. I weighed on their scale - 235, and I should be 135 or up to 150. I was also worried I would not qualify for Medicare to pay for it. But, I guess they will. (Yipee) Primarily, because I have sleep apnea. The Dr. doesn't bill Medicare until after the surgery.

End of January of 2008 . . . In the next few days I will know if I am going to be able to have my lap band surgery  . .  just depends if my heart can take it!  So after the heart tests, hopefully, I will be able to get this show on the road.  I want to record all of this so I, and others can read my journey. I am really anticipating this new adventure, so if it is meant to be . . . it will be!

March 1st. . . . I am so thankful my heart checked out to be okay.  I had a nuclear stress test done at the hospital in Caldwell. I also have had my Nut. and Psch. appts. done. The paperwork has all be submitted to Dr. Korn's office and now I have a date - Yippee Calle . . . I have about 21 days until surgery which is set for March 25th, (first scheduled for March 20, but postponed it until 5 days later, which worked out just great, because I don't think I would have been able to attend Christ's Memorial Service on the 22nd unless it had of been moved up.) I am thinking about it constantly . .  I am sure everything will be just fine.  I have confidence in my surgeon and of course I pray a lot for a good outcome.

March 20 . . . Five more days until surgery - getting all psyched up.

March 26 . . . It's done, and now I am an offical bandilite. Since I have to name everything, i.e., car, plants etc. my band will be known as Bandi. Everything went well, and the hospital treated me excellent. . . didn't want to come home - ha ha (because I fet so babied which I truly love, since I don't get any babying from anyone.) They kept me overnight. I think because I couldn't pee. They wanted me to pee first before I left. And since I didn't, they put a catheter in me. First three days were the worst, especially since I had to wear the catheter and have a stupid bag dragging around with me. Each day got better, and after one week, I felt pretty good, but still got awfully tired. I did manage going to Walmart shopping, and by two weeks, I felt a lot better. I am still not a 100%, but I can sleep on my side very comfortably now. Had my 2-week appt with Dr. Korn. Everything seemed fine, he will see me in another month. That is about the time I will be starting on solids. I am still in the liquid phase, and it will be another week before I can get into the mushy phase. Which will have a little bit more variety. I will be good and sick of protein shakes and soup by then. I think I have some restriction now, maybe 2cc, but it takes about 8 oz of liquids to make me feel full. Then I am hungry every 3-4 hours. The protein shakes last longer with me.

April 9 . . . I joined the Idaho Athletic Club, which is a state-of-the-art gym if you ask me. They have a very large pool, steam room, hot tub, suana, and all the other gym equipment. I am only interested in the pool right now. I went today for a 45 min swim, and it felt wonderful. I hope to do this 3 times a week. I have lost 22 lbs since Feb. 26th, the day I started my pre-op diet. That has been about a month and a half ago. So doing pretty good I would say!

June 20 . . . I still go to the gym for swimming, but not as much as I should. I am lucky if I get there once a week for a 30 min. swim. But, hey that is better than nothing. I was 200.5 this morning. Can't wait to get to be under 200. I don't think I have much restriction, only just dieting. I hope when this is all said and done, I won't be able to eat much at all. I don't crave sweets at all. But, then I never did when I cut out all sugars. I am big on my SF custard, and my fritata. They are the staples of my diet. I have only got stuck once - that wasn't pleasant. It was on fish of all things. It was pretty dry, and I don't dare eat chicken. I haven't tried steak yet. I did have a taco salad today made with ground beef - it sure tasted good. I would never know that I even had a band put in me. I go for my 2nd fill in about 10 days, lets see how that works out.

July 1st. I had my 2nd fill yesterday, and today I got stuck and slimed after eating my beloved fritata. It must be the eggs in it. I am finding I am tight in the morning - so just sticking with a protein smoothie agrees with me quite nicely. Chicken, I am having a hard time with. I eat lots of jello and Cool Whip. I will have to hit and miss until I find what foods I can tolerate. But, I do have pretty good restriction now. I have to eat very slow and chew a lot. It seems to come automatically.