My Lap Band Weight Loss - Watch Me Shrink!

This Blog Continued on our new site...

2008-02-03T00:11:00.000-08:00

This blog has been continued at our new lap band web site: http://lap-band-weight-loss.com/my-lap-band/

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Easy Pumpkin Pie, HIGH PROTEIN!

2007-10-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

I made the yummiest recipe today! I just had to share.

Easy Crustless Pumpkin Pie
1 can Libby's Pumpkin Pie mix
6 Eggs
1 cup 1% Milk

Mix ingredients and pour into a casserole dish (no need for grease or non-stick spray). Bake for 60 min. at 325 degrees. Knife inserted in the middle should come out clean. Let cool 30 min. before serving.
Makes ten 1/2 cup servings
Calories: 140, Fat: 3g, Carbs: 21g, Protein: 5g

Next, I'm going to try this with eggbeaters and maybe even add more egg or unflavored protein powder. I'll keep you posted.

I'm always looking for new ways to get my daily protein in. Please share any recipies you have!

This blog has been continued at our new lap band web site: http://lap-band-weight-loss.com/my-lap-band/

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Week 5 Update

2007-09-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

Today completes the last day of week five of my Lap Band weight loss.

The first 24 hours following my fill I was on liquids. I had been warned that this would be harder the second time around. "Chris, you were right!" My stomach was still adjusting to the fill but was much better-- better enough that I was hungry and the liquids seemed to pass quickly.

On the third day I had mushies-- salmon patties and potato salad. It was fabulous! I had to be very aware of chewing well and taking small bites, but it sure tasted good and kept me full. It was the most "real food" I had in four weeks.

The next day I was on regular food again, but took it easy because I'm still getting used to my band and healing. Steve and I went out for lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant, El Sol de Mexico I was able to eat the chips, my favorite, and some of the beans and rice off of his plate. I'm such a cheap date now! LOL

I'm doing great! No more pain. I am eating normal food again. I feel like life is starting to get back to normal again!

This blog has been continued at our new lap band web site: http://lap-band-weight-loss.com/my-lap-band/

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My First Fill

2007-09-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

I went in for my first fill this week. It went great! I'm down a total of 27 so far! Dr Neal says I'm doing good, healing just fine, and can start my water aerobics again. I even got to hug him and thank him for the great job he did. It's a funny feeling to put your life in someone's hands and not remember any of it. I feel so good and the incisions are small, even and healing nicely. I didn't have any infection problems, or even oozing or splitting-- which I've heard is fairly common and normal. I highly recommend Dr Neal as the lap band surgeon of choice!

The fill was done under fluoroscope (like an instant mini x-ray). I was told it would feel like a pinch or bee sting but I couldn't even tell if the needle was in. The worst was the taste of the barium I had to swallow. Yuck! You'd think they would find a way to flavor that stuff by now. LOL Anyway, I watched on the screen and could see my pouch and stomach. It was very interesting. Because I drove so far and the barium on an empty stomach made me a little sick, I waited ten minutes in the lobby to make sure everything was going to stay down.

IMHO, I wouldn't get a fill without fluoro and the Iname special needle. I've heard several horror stories lately of fills gone bad and just don't see any point in risking it when the process I went through was so EASY.

"Thanks again Dr Neal!"

This blog has been continued at our new lap band web site: http://lap-band-weight-loss.com/my-lap-band/

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New Website

2007-09-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

I have gotten a lot of good information and support on the web about the Lab Band. However, I get a bit frustrated that everything is so scattered across the net, or worse: pearls of wisdom buried in unrelated content. I'm a Web Developer by trade. So, naturally my mind goes to an internet solution. I'm creating www.Lap-Band-Weight-Loss.com as an information hub for everything Lap Band related.

Lap-Band-Weight-Loss.com will primarily be an organized source: a great place to start your search for anything Lap Band related. It will also be my platform for Chris and I to launch our local support group, swap recipes, share any new things I learn or find, as well as blog my personal journey with the band.

I hope you will find this site helpful. Please feel free to email me with any requests and comments. This site is created by bandsters for bandsters!

This blog has been continued at our new lap band web site: http://lap-band-weight-loss.com/my-lap-band/

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Week Three Post-Op

2007-09-13T14:11:00.000-07:00

I'm doing great! I'm healing and feeling good. My incisions are healing nicely and the tape/glue has all peeled off. I will probably start putting a scar prevention cream on them-- I just haven't decided which one yet, maybe Mederma.

I got the OK to get in the spa again. That felt great! Now, I'm dieing to get back to my water aerobics, but have to wait for the approval at my four week post-op appointment with Dr. Neal.

I'm eating mushy food, but it's pretty normal stuff. So, I don't have cravings or miss any particular foods. However, I confess it's probably not the best food I could choose. I keep a daily food journal. It starts two days before my pre-op diet and continues through now. I was at well over 2,0000 calories to start, 1,000 a day or less for pre-op diet (lost 14 lbs in 2 weeks), about 300-700 calories on the liquid phase post-op, and I'm now heading back up to 800-1,0000 a day. I'm getting hungry again and looking forward to hitting my "sweet spot" of restriction.

I am counting down the days to my first fill: 4 days 23.5 hrs from now I will be back at Dr Neal's office for my first fill :-)

This blog has been continued at our new lap band web site: http://lap-band-weight-loss.com/my-lap-band/

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Two Weeks Post-Op

2007-09-07T17:45:00.000-07:00

I'm two weeks post-op and doing good-- half great + half hurting = "good".

GREAT... I started on my mushy foods this week. Refried beans are the best food on the planet right now! LOL Tomorrow I will be trying a Salmon patty recipe a fellow bandster posted. I have also eaten some macaroni salad with tuna and light mayo. Yumo!

HURTING... It's my own darn fault. I was feeling so good on Sunday and overestimated my healing. School started for our kids this week. So, I went out rushing around for last minute soccer cleats, school supplies, etc. I over did it and was out of commission all day Thursday. I took some pain meds and slept most of the day. My port is still sore, but I'm thankful to be doing much better.

Hubby and I went out for movie and lunch today. It doesn't take much to fill me. About one cup of food and I'm STUFFED! ("stuffed" is not good when recovering BTW. Oops!) Cool! I have leftovers to last me for days!!! Instead of eating my favorite meal once and paying the price for "bad calories". I can enjoy it again and again, for only 200 little "bad calories". LOL!!!

This blog has been continued at our new lap band web site: http://lap-band-weight-loss.com/my-lap-band/

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CPAP and recap

2007-08-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

Last week was so crazy that I didn't have time to post. So, I thought I would do a little recap today. Long story short... I had to go in for a second sleep study because the first one was flubbed by the technicians at the hospital (an awful experience). If I didn't get a sleep study and CPAP right away I would have had to reschedule my surgery. Oh no!

I found Mt Scott Sleep Medicine. They were SO AMAZING! They got me in for a sleep study that night and loaned me a CPAP! Kendra helped coordinate with Drs, insurance and got me the appointment. The sleep study it self was like having it done at the Hilton or something. I had a soft queen sized bed, TV, private bath with basket of hygiene goodies; and the next morning the technician (a very nice gal) served me breakfast in bed!

The CPAP was a bit annoying at first but I love it now. I get much better sleep and it has helped me to breath deeper and clear my lungs since surgery.

To top it all off, I started back to school last week. This is my first term at University of Phoenix. When our two oldest daughters started college, I figured it was about time I got back to school. So, needless to say, I haven't had the time to enjoy it, but have been trying to keep up with weekly assignments. I'm off to go do some more work now ;-)

This blog has been continued at our new lap band web site: http://lap-band-weight-loss.com/my-lap-band/

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I'm Banded!

2007-08-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

Yippee! I'm home from surgery and finally have my band!!!

The surgery went smoothly. The only snag I had was a bout of horrible nausea when I woke up in the recover room. The nurse gave me every anti-nausea med they had on hand and it finally passed. The pain was so little at first I wasn't even sure if I had surgery. LOL

I can't even feel four out of my five insisions. I have a bit of pain in my port area and have to be careful getting up and down. Dr. Neal did a great job!!!

I wish I could shout from the roof tops how wonderful everyone was! The nurses, at both the surgery center and Dr. Neal's office, were so sweet. Several of them have been banded by Dr. Neal and had many nice things to say about him. I got calls from the nurses the day of surgery as well as the two days that have passed since. Dr. Neal called the evening of the surgery to make sure I was doing good and wanted us to know that even though we were from out of town we weren't left high and dry-- he then gave us his home phone number! I've met very few doctors that were this caring. Dr. Neal is wonderful!

I'm on liquids for two weeks and will go to mushies for my 3rd and 4th weeks. I am enjoying every unique minute with my new band! I'm so happy to be with the band!!!

Pre-op

2007-08-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

Dr. Neal is GREAT and so are his staff! I had a really good pre-op appointment with him and am now on my two week Medifast pre-op diet.

The diet has been tough because the taste of the Medifast makes me gag. So I have been using Slimfast and V-8 in replace of it and sticking with my one lean and green a day, as I'm supposed to with Medifast. I have been tracking every bite, lick and taste at FitDay.com and plan to buy the full version soon. I have stayed under 1100 calories a day for the last five days! I'm feeling thinner. We'll see on Thursday how much I've lost-- when I have a follow up and weigh in with my local Dr.

This blog has been continued at our new lap band web site: http://lap-band-weight-loss.com/my-lap-band/

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Dr. Neal, Olympia, WA

2007-07-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

I have my pre-op appointment set with Dr. Neal next Tuesday. I'm very excited!!! I am researching my little fingers off, talking to bandsters, watching surgeries and video diaries, taking notes and saving links like crazy. I will be posting lots of good stuff soon.

I spend time at LapBandTalk every day and have made lots of good friends there. A few of us have even started a local support group. I highly recommend it as a source of information and support.

I was originally going to go to Dr. Patterson in Portland, OR. I even attended their seminar. I have heard a lot of good things about her skills as a lap band surgeon, but my own experience with her staff, as well as other complaints I have heard and read about them, motivated me to find a surgeon that was a better fit for my life and personality. That's how I found Dr. Neal.

I haven't met Dr. Neal in person yet, but LOVE his office staff and he has a fabulous reputation as a surgeon. They are an ASBS Center of Excellence. Chris, a local bandster friend, went to Dr. Neal and has wonderful things to say about her experiences. She even showed me her tiny, pretty little, pink, 5 week post-op scars. He does beautiful work! Thank you, Chris!

Being the researcher that I am, I've done some research on the good Dr.
Their website is very informative and includes credentials, success stories, etc. However I know it could be a bit biased ;-) My favorite outside links are...
Patient reviews: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+reviews+William+Neal+knq.html
News interview: http://www.theolympian.com/456/story/61835.html
Hospital links: http://www.masongeneral.com/lapband.html
Info on other hospital he does lap band at (my fav): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence_St._Peter_Hospital
One more patient singing Dr. Neal's praises: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=41861248

I'll keep you posted about my pre-op appointment.

This blog has been continued at our new lap band web site: http://lap-band-weight-loss.com/my-lap-band/

COME SEE ME THERE!