Janice R.

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Hi everyone! Well I made it through one year with my lap band!  Woohoo!  I saw my surgeon in Federal Way, Washington October 25th, had an Egd and barium swallow and my lap band is doing good.  I do have Barrett's Esophagus, but minor, just have to keep tabs on that.  Dr. Srikanth and Tina the nurse practitioner seemed real please with my weight loss.  On their scale I was down to 189, my scale at home 185~! I liked my numbers better!  So needless to say I'm happy with my weight loss.  I am in about a size 14, regular, and loving it.  My goal is 170 lbs, so I am getting close.  I didn't need another fill, so I haven't had a fill since February, 2010.  But I'm eating what I want, healthy foods that is, some complex carbs and weighing and measuring all my protein.  I love that i can eat salad and veggies...so that is part of my diet everyday.  I hope once I hit my goal that I learn how to maintain the weight, but I just need to keep doing what I'm doing now to be successful at it.  I also log my daily intake every day.  That keeps my honest!  I will need to post a current picture one of these days.  But I have to say, I love the increased energy, and just over all feel great!  My total weight loss as of this date is about 171 or so.  I can't believe it, but I'm happy to have it gone!  Well I could go on forever, but it's getting late and I still need to get some more water in before I go to bed...just wanted to share a little. 

Jan

 Boy, I can't believe that February is almost over!  The time is flying by quickly!  I recently returned from Seattle, Washington going  down to Federal Way for my 3rd fill and also taking Kiera, my granddaughter to see a pediatrician and psychologist at the Seattle Childrens Austism Clinic.  I didn't go to the first appointment, I had my fill to go to, so Robert, Kamala and Kiera went.  It sounds like the doctor really didn't have much to say about Kiera, all the tests had already been done on her, and she is severely autistic.  I guess I was hoping for some better news than that, but he did refer her to a psychologist that specializes in eating disorders.  Kiera is a high carb eater, likes crunchy things like chips and crackers.  She is going to have a definite weight problem if we don't get that under control.  It's in the genes unfortunately, my side of the family all has weight problems.  We met with the psychologist and she was very nice and easy to talk to.  Both doctor and psychologist told us that we were so lucky to have all the resources available here for Kiera for such a small town.  You couldn't get that down in Washington state.  So the psychologist is going to work with Kiera's case manager at school and us to help turn around her bad eating habits somewhat.  I can't wait, because I don't want her to have the problems her grandma/me have had.  We left Sitka on Sunday 2/21 and came back on Wednesday 2/24.  I had a fill appointment at 8:30 am and I met and talked with a few patients in the lobby.  One lady had had a baby and was going in for her yearly egd.  She told me that she was unfilled while she was pregnant and now she was going to start getting fills again to lose some weight.  She looked really good to me after having a baby, but it was interesting to talk to her. I like talking with other people to see how they are doing and handling life with a band.  Since Kamala had the rental car, I had to find a way back to the hotel.  I tried getting a cab, but they don't have one locally. So a nice young lady overheard my dilemma and she offered me a ride.  I really appreciate the help there, and even tho I can't remember her name, I want to thank her again for helping me out.  She had a gastric bypass, and was checking in with the doctor.  It was interesting talking with her as well about her weight loss.  She is almost at her goal weight, and looking,feeling good!  I also talked with another lady who was in the lobby, and she had the gastric sleeve done sometime in January, I think.  She said she had lost about 50 lbs already and she like the procedure.  She was just starting to eat again after going through the post op process.  

My fill went well, the nurse practitioner did it again, and I received over 1cc, but I couldn't drink the water down very well so she took out some until I was at 1cc and the water went down like it was supposed to.  She told me that I have a total of 5cc's in my band which I thought I had already, but I guess I didn't understand Dr. Srikanth when he did the initial fill.  Anyway, I do feel different, I definitely need to chew better, and wait in between bites.  So I guess I have some restriction.  I don't go back south until 4/26, I pushed it out intentionally because my miles are going down, and it's starting to affect the pocket book some.  Oh well, I knew going in that it wasn't going to be cheap.  

Kamala and I did have an opportunity to do a little shopping, and we went to Lane Bryant and got a few shirts and a t shirt she said I should get.  She liked what I bought, which is a first! So that was fun..like I need to be buying clothes, right?  

My husband Randy is leaving his job in a few weeks, I'm a little nervous about that, but he keeps reassuring me that we will be fine.  We just need to tighten up the purse strings a little bit.  But, I am happy that he won't be so stressed out any more from his job.  Life is just to short to be miserable in your job!  I am so fortunate to be married to a very supportive husband, who has been with me through it all!  I love him so much!  Well, as of today, I am down 108 lbs total, so I'm averaging a couple pounds a weeks so far.  I am happy with that, and it is a day to day battle, some days worse then others.  The head hunger is the worse, but I just do other things to get my mind off it.  Well, I better get busy and get something accomplished today!  

Went down to Seattle/Federal Way on 1/19/10 for my second fill.  It went well,had .8cc's put in my band.  This time the nurse practitioner did it. I can't remember her name, but she did it well, didn't really feel a thing.  Drank the 3 little cups of water and it went down fine.  I feel a little different, but not a whole lot.  So I have a total of 5.8 ccs total in the band.  I weight myself today at my own scale and I'm down to 259.5.  It feels so good!  The doctor's scale is about 5 lb's difference then mine.  The trip went well, the weather was good, and Linda and I saw the movie Blindside.  It was a great movie.  I thought it would be hard not to eat at the theater, but I tried to drink the Vitawater, but it was frozen solid.  I had a NSV which I liked, I didn't need a seat belt extension on the way home!  I was so thrilled.  It's been years since that has happened to me, it was such a great feeling!  I'm happy with my progress so far with the weight loss.  Anyway, life is good, I need to keep pushing my self to exercise more, but spring will be here soon and I enjoy walking outside more than the treadmill.  Went on a several mile walk yesterday with my husband and it felt great!  I even did the castle hill stairs, which were so taunting to me before.  It wasn't easy , but i did it.  

Well, I'm about seven weeks post op from the Lap Band surgery and I can't tell you how things have changed for me in that short amount of time.  I'm still adjusting to my new life and eating.  I ate healthy before, but portion control was always my biggest challenge.  I now eat 1/2 cup or 4 oz three meals a day with 3 protein shakes per day.  I can finally say I'm feeling really good!  It took a while, I was pretty tired for several weeks after surgery, but I'm on iron pills so they are working.  I found out before surgery that I was pretty iron deficient.  I had always thought it was I wasn't getting enough sleep that was causing that.  Anyway, I'm currently on soft foods, graduating from liquids which was such a blessing!  I had my first fill on 10/10/09, and that went well.  Dr. Srikanth put in 5 ccs of saline and asked me did I feel any restriction.  I didn't feel any different, and I drank the 3 little cups of water, no problem.  But nothing felt different, and still doesn't.  From the very beginning since surgery I was not ever real hungry.  So that was a bonus in itself.  But today, I am starting to feel more hungry, which is a little change, but it's not overwhelming, so I'm happy with that.  

I was hoping to not have to ask for a seat belt extension while flying to Seattle, Wa. for my first fill.  I had thought since I was down about 70 lbs (that weight loss includes the 1800 calorie diet I was on before surgery, and the liquid diet I was on pre surgery) that just maybe I would not need it.  But, alas, I still needed it.  But not too much longer!  

Thanksgiving was crazy.  I usually have a big family celebration with my brother's family and my best friend Linda and her family.  I actually thought I could pull it off and have another big celebration, but the closer I came to the holiday I realized I couldn't do it this year.  So I called my brother and told him that we weren't going to have the big family dinner this year, and my girlfriend Linda thought I was crazy to even try.  So we just had a small little turkey breast, with some trimmings, and I had broth and jello.  But we made it through, and now Christmas is coming.  I don't think it will be quite as hard as I'm going to be able to eat soft foods, so I plan on making some healthy appetizers.  It's so nice to see the results so far, going down in clothing size, and losing some of my big stomach.  I sleep so much better too, and like I said before have a little more energy.  So life is good!  I'm so grateful for my husband who has been so supportive of me through this difficult time and all of our life together.  I don't think I could accomplish the things I do without him.  I also have a great friend, who I feel is more like my sister that is so special!  She too has been one of the cheerleaders who has been there for me.  Linda, words cannot express how much I appreciate all your support.  She also bought me two beautiful jackets with matching tops to wear, a few sizes down from where I used to be!  They are awesome!  My children have been great too, I'm hoping to be an inspiration to them someday.  Well, I better get busy, and drink some water and get moving!  Five more days and Christmas will be here!  I believe!

Hi, I'm excited and nervous about the upcoming band surgery.  I have my final consult tomorrow and then the big day is Tuesday.  I'm excited about this new journey I'm about to undertake.  I will be glad to join that loser's bench! I'm so glad my doctor's office told me about this website.  The support and information from all of you has been so helpful.  Thank you.

Hi out there!  Just wanted to say hi and introduce myself.  I am from Sitka, Alaska and scheduled for surgery on 10/27/09.  I've been reading all the info I can on presurgery and post op on this website.  I am having it done in Federal Way, Washington.  I'm a little nervous, but more excited about starting my new life!  I've been preparing for this for several years.  Finally taking the giant step.  I was amazed how fast my insurance approved the surgery!  I went to Federal Way on 10/1 to meet for the first time my surgeon, also had to have a preop cardio evaluation and stress test, echo, etc.  Returned to Alaska on 10/7 and heard this morning that I was authorized for surgery.  Any tips to get through the first month will be appreciated!  Take care.