What is the Lap Band?

I didn't take into consideration that most of you haven't researched the Lap Band like I have so, I've decided to post some information about what I have done. It may make some sense of my posts. I have borrowed some information from the LAP-BAND website.

The LAP-BAND ® System is a silicone elastomer ring designed to be placed around the upper part of the stomach and filled with saline on the inner surface. This creates anew small stomach pouch and leaves the larger part of the stomach below the band so the food storage area in the stomach is reduced, and the pouch above the band can hold only a small amount of food. The band also controls the stoma (stomach outlet) between the two parts of the stomach. The size of the stoma regulates the flow of the food from the upper to the lower part of the stomach. When the stoma is smaller, you feel full sooner and have a feeling of satiety so you are not hungry between meals.

The band is connected by tubing to an access port that is placed beneath the skin during surgery. Later, the surgeon can change the stoma size by adding or subtracting saline inside the inner balloon through the access port. This adjustment process helps drive the rate of weight loss. If the band is too loose and weight loss inadequate, adding more saline can reduce the size of the stoma to further restrict the amount of food that can move through it. If the band is too tight, the surgeon will remove some saline to loosen the band and reduce the amount of restriction.

I hope that makes more sense to those of you who haven't done tons of research like I have. I'm sorry I assumed that everyone knew what I was talking about.

One Month Out

Well guys and gals, my "good" computer's hard drive "died" and so I have not been able to post for quite a while. This will be quick because I am still without my good laptop. I'm down 13.5 lbs now and back to "regular" foods. I made the mistake of trying to eat bread the other night and paid quite a price. It apparently got "stuck" and I felt like I had eaten something really sharp and it had gotten stuck in my esophagus. Then it felt like my stomach was trying to throw it back up, but my body didn't want to let it come back up so I was there fighting this seemingly unending battle with my stomach. I was trying to throw up thinking this would end my pain, but my body had a different plan. I guess all those years of fighting throwing up caught up with me. I even tried sticking my finger down my throat with no relief. The pain eventually went away, but my stomach is still sore. Yesterday, I started with what I believe to be the stomach flu so my stomach still hurts, but I am really unclear if it is due to the food getting "caught" or the bug. I stayed home from work worried that I might have another bout of as Stewart calls them the Hershey squirts. I truly hope that this is a bug and not some side effect of my surgery. I will weigh again tomorrow, assuming that I am well enough to return to work. I should be, I'm feeling much better now. I had my 4 week post op appointment and my first fill on Thursday the 18th. The doctor said I was eating too many times a day, and that I should shoot for only three meals a day. At that point I wasn't sure what the band was going to do now that she has filled it, so I didn't really ask any questions. I wanted to wait to see what I could eat. Turns out I can still eat about 6oz and I am still getting hungry every 2-3 hours. I'm going to call her this week to see if she wants to do anything.

Two weeks Post op

Two weeks post op. I can now have mushy foods like mashed potatoes, soft fruits and veggies, cottage cheese, string cheese, soft meats like fish, imitation crab, canned chicken, soft pork, beans (with Beano), and so forth. Today was the first day. I had some canned peaches for breakfast. I am starting to get a little worried because I'm getting hungry every couple of hours. I don't feel like I should be getting hungry so often. I just don't know. I've put the question into the Obesity Help.com Message Boards to see if anyone has some insight. I am terrified that I am going to gain weight. I'll wait to eat something until I'm shaky and light headed because I'm afraid I'm "making myself hungry".

Cravings

The cravings are getting harder to ignore. I think if I could eat something besides liquids It would be easier to feel satisfied. After Tuesday I can have mushy things. I saw the doctor on Thursday for my first pre-op. While I was waiting for them to call me back, there were a few people that came in to the waiting room and were also waiting for appointments. One of the gals was sitting in front of me with her back to me. She was very loud and started talking to the lady on the far side of the room. The lady on the far side of the room was very slim and it was obvious that she was post op by quite a ways. The first lady asked the second lady about how long it had been since her surgery. She said it had been 13 months. She then asked her how much she had lost. She had lost 120lbs. with the Lap Band and was now a size 8. she said she hadn't been a size 8 since junior high. The first lady was then going off about how she didn't know if she could do it, that she didn't know if she was going to be able to lose her 80lbs. I thought to myself, "At least you only have 80lbs to lose". At that split moment I decided I was going to say that, so I did. The girl turned around and looked at me. She then asked me if she if I was post op and how far out I was. When I told her I was a week out, she says "Wow and you're up and about, that's AMAZING!" I wanted to say to her that I had been back at work since Monday, but I didn't. It made me realize that everyone thinks they have it harder than everyone else. I should be grateful that I only have 130lbs to lose and not 200lbs to lose. It's difficult to look at it like that because I have a long and hard road ahead of me, but I'm going to try.

First week post op

Well, I've made it to one week post op. I'm feeling pretty well. I only have pain when I move certain ways like when I sit down, or stand from a sitting position, bend over to the front or the left side, cough, sneeze, or stretch back. That sounds like a lot, but it isn't that bad. I'm getting better every day. I'm on what they call a "Full Liquid Diet". I can have cream soups that have been pureed if they have any chunks, yogurt, cream of wheat, grits, and things of the like. If it is semi-liquid at room temperature I can have it. That phase lasts for two weeks. I'm already looking forward to the next phase. This experience (the clear liquid diet the week before surgery, and the current phase) has really made me realize how much our lives revolve around food. It's everywhere. There are countless T.V. commercials about buying, cooking, storing, disposing of, and avoiding food. I am very thankful that they have not invented "smell-o-vision". Food rules our world. It is readily available in almost every setting. We surround ourselves with it on a daily basis. It's no wonder why 34 percent of americans are obese, and 32 percent are overweight. I think I am coming to realize that I have an addiction to food. Just like my addiction to nicotine, and just as deadly. They only problem is that I need food to survive. I need to take my time "without food" to figure out how to live my life controlling the addiction and not letting in control me. I already find myself wishing I could exercise so that I could eat more of what I want. Let's hope that dream comes true, and I learn how to do that.

Welcome!

People keep saying they want to keep up with my progress after this Lap Band Surgery, and I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to post on Facebook, so I decided to start a Blog. Now most of you know, and if you didn't before, you do now, that I am not the most "tech" savvy, nor am I the best at keeping up on these types of things, so bear with me. In this Blog you may hear and be privy to some of my deepest thoughts and feelings. Some of these thoughts and feelings may not be pleasant as this process is so far, and from what I've heard, not a pleasant one. I'll do my best to keep in mind that not everyone works in the medical field and is as "jaded" as I am. I am planning on posting pictures of my progress, so please be kind, and remember that my appearance and my health are the reason's I am doing this. While these pictures may not be pleasant to the eye, they are meant for educational purposes only. As things progress, I may feel more comfortable with sharing these pictures with more people, but for now, only those that have been invited to view my blog will see them. Feel free to post comments, insights and suggestions. Remember, I am still very uncomfortable with myself, so if my reply or comment seems "off" it's me, not you, and it wasn't meant to be rude. In closing, I'd like to say THANKS for visiting.
-Annette "Nettie"