Lap Band surgery recovery

I'm home!!!! It's been a crazy 24 hours let me tell ya!

I'm going to go into a little detail here so please forewarned. I want to try to give ya'll a clear understanding about this type of surgery if any of you are curious for yourselves or a loved one.

First of all I started my Lap band journey on May 29th, 2009. I've had to do a series of medical tests from a stomach biopsy, tons of blood work and a psych evaluation. Can you believe I didn't fail that one! ;-)

I had to do the 2 week clear liquid diet. Let me tell you that really pushed it, it really did. Thank goodness it was a short term goal. I'm good at those. I've lost 20 lbs so far. Woot! Woot!

Ok, so yesterday morning I was at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way at 8 a.m. I was taken back to a holding room for 2 1/2 hours. That's where they start the IV and change into those lovely open butt gowns.

Phoenix & Wendy went out, little man couldn't handle it. He was really really worried about me so I sent them to run errands and have breakfast to help get his mind off of the surgery. But I felt it was important to be honest with him. I don't think it's fair to lie to our kids about possible outcomes. One doesn't have to be blunt with cruelty but we can sit them down and tell them why we are making this choice which includes for our own health and so that we can have the energy to be better parents and so that we can stick around a lot longer. I had to be honest with him, I didn't want something to happen and all he knew was "Mommy was going to the Dr.'s office and she didn't come home." That's so cruel to kids. So, of course he was more nervous than I was. Poor guy. But he and Wendy did a great job running errands and distracting themselves.

Now don't think your going to die on the table, it's not like that. Gall bladder removals have the same amount of complications. Your chances of dieing of diabetes, heart attack or stroke due to complications of obesity by far out number a lap band surgery. Lap band surgery is "elective" where as a triple heart bypass is not. Personally (obviously) being preemptive on such life changes is something this control freak prefers. It also shows our kids we do what we can to take care of ourselves.

Ok back to the surgery part. So after waiting for about 2 hours a nurse came in and gave an antibiotic shot in my thigh. They do this within a 2 hour window of surgery. So I knew I was up on deck. She gave the shot in the thigh because typically it's in the stomach but because they don't know where the surgeon is going to do his thing it's safer that it's in the thigh. So make sure you ask your nurse about this.

After all the intake sort of stuff you do a nurse will then take you to the pre op room. I met with the anesthesiologist and went over all the risks and precautions. The surgeon came in and went over the chart and asked if I had any questions. Waited for maybe 15 mins for the surgical room to be prepared. I was wheeled into the room and there they splayed my arms and I was given something to relax a little. Then the mask was put on and well...that's all I remember. Thank great goodness!!

This was my first surgery so I had no idea the nausea after waking. I was so so very sick. I just can't even explain how much pain I felt. It lasted maybe 30 mins until the meds kicked in. I was very very sore and it felt like I've been in a car accident sort of sore. The incisions didn't hurt at all. I have 8 incisions buts that's because I had my gall bladder removed due to all the foods in high fats and sugars, it took it's toll on my body. I also had to have a haiatel hernia repaired. The hernia was due to the fact that I would over eat, often and would stretch my stomach so much that it slowly was stretching my muscle fibers to my diaphragm. So being over weight doesn't just have it's social complications or the obvious skeletal (back, knees and ankle) issues but there is a lot of internal damage we do to ourselves without even knowing.

After about 2 hours of sleeping off the anesthetics, I was feeling well enough to walk. And this is a MUST. The surgeons will fill you with gases to assist with the surgery and walking WILL help instantly that bloated feeling as well as rushing the burning off of the anesthetics. If you do have the surgery please please walk a lot around the hospital. It will improve your recovery by 100%. No lie.

I stayed the night at the hospital because some insurance companies require that. There are some hospitals that will send you home after a few hours. I'm really grateful that my insurance demanded the over night stay. I really needed it. Throughout the stay I was required to sip A LOT of water to make sure everything was working with the band and to again help expel the anesthetics. Which I was more than happy to do, those anesthetics kicked my butt!

I was released around 11am after a visit from the surgeon. Now I'm at home and I have no appetite what so ever. Weird huh. Its been 2 days since I've had a shake (food) and I'm ok with that. I am to be on a clear liquid diet for a week, no protein. The reason being is because after the lap band your stomach is very very irritated and sensitive so you don't want to make it even more upset. Also, if you have protein you can stretch the top of the hour glass of a stomach which you don't want to do.

So there you have it. I wanted to be sure to share with you all my experiences so far. Especially for those of you considering the Lap Band or are about to have it done. In the end all I can say is the Lap Band experience is like child birth...it's painful and you think this is the most painful thing you could endure and "what the heck was I thinking"...but once a little time has passed and the pain has subsided, you have your entire future to look forward to. And that this was the best life changing event you could have ever given yourself.

I'm so excited for the future, this pain is only temporary. I have done something that not only increased my life span for years but it will have increased the quality of life. And that makes this all worth it! I'm looking forward to being a fun athletic Mom and spouse. I'm looking forward to going on hikes and walks with my family instead of going out to eat. There is more to life than eating fatty foods restaurants. Sure that food is good but that shouldn't be the only reason to live.

Eat to live don't live to eat!

2009 Christmas Card

2009 Christmas Card
Originally uploaded by Sweet Pete & Wendy

I finally finished editing our Christmas card. Um, yeah it's the 16th of December and no cards have gone out yet. Hey, maybe I'll get them out in time for NEXT Christmas. ;-)

Now that's done, back to the scrap room to finish up some more projects. Next year I'm starting Holiday projects in March that way I'll be sure to be done with them by Dec. 1. Phew!!

Hope ya'll are having a great week before Christmas!!

Bad news friday

So, I had a really really bad day yesterday. Like ---- this close to saying "to hell w/all of it" in regards to this lap band surgery.

The story....

So yesterday I see the internal medicine doc. He says, "you have gallstones and will most likely have to be removed and the xrays show a small vertebrae fracture in the middle of your back due to the weight." Surprise! I freaked out. I thought I was just over weight. I don't have diabetes, sleep apnea...no other symptoms but I weighed almost 300 lbs so I'm fine right? Yeah right. I've been just fooling myself this whole time that my terrible eating habits wasn't going to bite me in the arse. I was so angry and upset with myself. But thought, that's ok because I've lost 8-10 lbs since Tuesday. Woot Woot me!

Next, off to the surgeon. They weigh me, I only lost 5 lbs. OMG!! That's it! My scale at home said I've lost more. Surgeon comes into the office livid at me because of it. He said that if I don't lose anymore weight he's not doing the surgery. I have to come in the day before my surgery, the 21st to weigh in and then he will decide if he's still doing it. I started bawling!

Then he says, if he does the surgery he's going to HAVE to take out my gall bladder & fix the hernia. OMG, I'm a mess. He keeps telling me that I have to lose more weight. I keep telling him I'm doing everything I"m supposed, heck I'm not even doing the broth so that I'm not saturated with salts. And he says I should have been working on losing weight even before the 2 week liquid diet. And I'm like, I tried but really....I obviously am obese for a reason. If I could lose weight that easily then why am I in his office. Then he told me don't cheat on the liquid diet and I'm just flipping out because I am not! Not one bit. I actually spit out a piece of gum the other day after biting down once when I realized it was not SF.

Ok, I'm done whining. I just had a really really bad day with the news about how I've failed my body. This is a beautiful machine we were given and I've done and screwed it up and now there is actual "proof". Then to have the surgeon threaten me with not doing the surgery if I don't drop more weight. I don't know what else I"m supposed to be doing. I'm just so frustrated....and HUNGRY!

But I haven't given up. Despite that after leaving the surgeon's office I really really wanted to get fast food and say to hell with it. Just like a recovering alcoholic would jump in a bottle of whiskey feet first at the first sign of trouble. But I didn't. I'm in this and I won't stop fighting for my health.

Lap Band, Not the EASY way out!!

Well....I'm doing it. I'm getting the LAP Band on the 22nd.

I've gained almost 75lbs since my thyroid went caput in 2006. I would lose 30 lbs in one month out of no where, then gain 30 in two weeks, that's crazy isn't it! I can't do this roller coaster ride anymore. Not to mention my overall health is going down hill quickly. My advice is to get your thyroids checked!! The sooner you catch it the better!

My decision to do the band wasn't easy. It certainly isn't the easy way out like most think. It's a lot of work and commitment. The first part is trying to get your insurance to pay or figuring out financing. Then you have to fulfill the requirements of the surgeon. My surgeon is Dr. Oh out of Federal Way, WA. He's one of the best surgeons this side of the country so I"m excited to have him on my side. He's very strict but also supportive. I have been required to do a psych evaluation, can I just say I was really worried the Dr. was going to confirm that I'm a real nutter. But he didn't say anything to me. ;-) Then I was required to see a nutritionist for 3 months, get a stomach biopsy and a ton of testing that I didn't even know existed. Phew.

Once that was done and I got the insurance approval, the clear liquid diet begins. Oy vey. I can only have 3-4 protein shakes a day, no milk. And jello and sugar free fruit pops. That's it. Oh and chicken broth but *blech*!! And the worst part is I have to do this for 2 weeks!!!! OMG!!!! I am day 3 and I have a massive headache, I'm tired and real bitchy. My poor family. I'm about to rip their heads off and kabob them. Seriously. I'm so hungry.

The reason for the clear liquid diet is that the first place we put weight on is our liver, thus this is the first place we lose weight. To decrease risk of damaging my liver during the surgery trying to get to my stomach the liver needs to be as small as possible. So, it's not crash diet for no reason. It's to help my surgery go with little complication as possible. That's my motivation when I'm about to go crazy and dig into the fridge. I don't want to jeopardize my liver or risk my surgeon refusing to do the surgery because I refused to stick it out. This crash diet is temporary and in the end it's worth it because it's to give me a wonderful future in a healthy life!

So, please follow me, I want to share my journey with you. Especially if you are struggling with weight, and wondering if the LAP band is for you. I will be posting photos as I go. I do have to say that I've already lost 8 lbs in 3 days. It's mostly water weight because I'm not taking in any salts. But that's just the beginning!

Now I need to prepare for all the protein & vitamin regimen that I *have* to adhere to the rest of my life. Because I will have a stomach the size of an egg, my body will not be capable of absorbing the vitamins & nutrients that I need to sustain a healthy body; therefore all the vitamins. I will share the list when I have a little more time so those of you considering weight loss surgery will have a better idea of what will be required of you.

Off to have some jello! Yes, it's only 9 am but I'm allowed to eat my weight in Sugar Free jello and believe me, I'm trying! ;-)

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

the most wonderful time of the year
Originally uploaded by Sweet Pete & Wendy

Happy Holidays frineds!!

Well, it's that busy time of year. Don't forget to take tons of photos! You never know which ones will end up being your favorites, and heck it's free thanks to modern technology! Gone are the days of film camera's where we coveted it like gold. Do ya'll remember when we'd get mad if someone wasn't smiling nice or paying attention, "hey, smile dang it!" LOL Not anymore, so click click click away! You can always delete once you download them. You never know what gems you find when you take a closer look.

Today was our local parade. Here is little man and I. Oh and "Bob" of course. Build-a-Bear has made a lot of money off of us; evidence is this cute little elf outfit. Bob has a better wardrobe than I do! ;) Phoenix brought Bob to the parade and carried him around all afternoon. We were really surprised he did that. This is the first time he's taken Bob out of the house.

We really had a wonderful day! I hope you did too.

Christmas Mini Album

Happy Holidays...Happy Holidays...

It's that time to start creating this years holiday goodies.

I made this little album and fell in love with it!! I just love the santa on the front cover! He's so dang cute.

I just posted this album on Etsy.com along with some Snowman magnets. I have more coming! I'll keep ya'll posted!!!

As promised...

It's Halloween time!!! Ok, I know it's only Sept. 17th but in a scrapbooker/paper crafters world; well it might as well be Oct. 30th. LOL By Oct. 15th we'll be working on Thanksgiving and Christmas stuff. Isn't it crazy but we're just ahead of the game. ;)

Here are some cutesty stuff I worked on. It was for a swap on 2peas. It was the handmade Halloween embellishment swap. I made these great pumpkins from Martha Stewart punch by the way, that punch embosses as well. I'm so happy I bought it. I think used her glitter to give it a sort of vintage feel. I also used her Haunted House punch and her Onyx glitter. Making these little bags was fun although M. Steward glitter is really really hard to get out of the carpet, floor, skin, hair, eyes and the dog. =0 LOL!!!! At least Sophia sparkles inside and now out. ;)

I also made a bunch of little layer flowers as you can see from another one of the goodie bags.

There is more to come!! I'm just warming up. Now off to get a cup of coffee and try to get most of the glitter off of Sophie before it gets in her eyes. ;)

Getting ready to create Halloweenie stuff

Hi all!

So Halloween is coming and it's time to start creating!! As a lot of you know, I just love Halloween and the fall. I love creating stuff that makes me feel all warm and cozy and a little spooked! ;)

I'll be posting all the stuff that I'm creating for either swaps or to put up for sale on etsy.

Thanks for checking in!