Appointment follow up....

I checked in with my surgeon again......

My band has not slipped. I am thankful for that. I am again not able to hold any food down. I have to have only liquids. Being as warm as it is everything is cold. Its a good thing.

Apparently when I moved onto meats I got something stuck and the band area swelled up. I have to spend time babying it and going back to fluids to let it heal, and then try again.

I was very disappointed in not being able to get a fill but I don't want to do any more damage than I have already done. I have to step back and start again.

One day at a time...one step at a time....one meal at a time.....

Until next time.....

~Kasey~

Check In Day...1st Fill Perhaps?

I see the doctor this morning. I am excited...nervous...ready....I have some questions....

Without being able to keep food down what signs should I look for that there is a problem other than I can't keep food down, which is sort of a BIG ONE! I am concerned about a slip.

If my band has slipped what can I do to correct it without having another surgical procedure. I have had enough of those for one life time. :)

Will I get a fill today? Will they watch what is going on? Like I said I have questions....

This has been a huge learning process....I keep moving forward....

I did get a compliment from a friend the other day. I am down some weight....and as I was helping him clean his garage he commented, "You are looking rather svelte." I smiled and thanked him for the compliment.....

Now not often do I have to run home later and look up a word in the dictionary, but this particular one I wasn't certain I knew the meaning of.....so the first thing I did when I got hom was to go to dictionary.com (one of my favorite websites) and looked it up. I was correct in its meaning; it means to be slender. I just had to be sure...It had me bugged.

It was quite the compliment coming from a friend I have known for a long time.

I will post again the update on my weight and appointment a bit later today!

I am excited about the weightloss and the fill. I am nervous I won't get a fill with what has been going on....which will in turn thwart some of the weight loss if I don't. It's a catch 22 but when you want something bad enough you will do what you have to do (at least without harm to myself or anyone else) to achieve the desired goals.

Again, one day at a time, one step at a time, one meal at a time.

Until next time.....

~Kasey~

Optimism...

Even with all that is going on I am filled with optimism. A new light dawned, a new life is beginning. With the weight loss I am noticing the differences. My health, energy, and NSV (non scale victories) are increasing every day.

My health is getting better. I am hoping within 6 months to be completely off all medications but one.

My energy is increasing, I am up and doing things all the time. Rearranging, organizing, putting things away, doing laundry, dishes, playing games with the kids, getting involved more rather than being on the side lines full time.

NSV's - this list is longer than some....

Jeans that I could not wear 3 years ago I was able to put on and button up, even though they were tight I was able to wear them. My comfy jeans and shorts are currently all too big and I have to wear a belt...My underwear are too big. Nothing like going to the bathroom and having your underwear come down on their own. My shirts actually cover my stomach now not ride up.
People look at me and say, "Wow, you are looking good."

I found the scale Wolfman hid from me so I wouldn't weigh myself all the time. I started this journey at 306 and I am down to 272 but I want to know what the doctors scale says :)

I am excited and working towards what I want in life. We will see how things go again.....one day at a time, one step at a time and one meal at a time....

Until next time......

~Kasey~

Safe Foods.....

I am six weeks out from surgery and having a really hard day. I can keep fluids down; water, iced tea and such. When it comes to solid foods the only item I have been able to keep down is canned chicken.

I thought working through foods was going to be easy. I am very limited in what I can or can not eat. Canned chicken does not even taste good. I tried some potato salad and as good as it has been for the past few weeks it is no longer a food I can stomach. It has now been 3 days since I have been able to keep anything down at all.

I see the surgeon on Friday. I am a bit concerned about having a slip...or having some sort of complication. I am not worried about not eating, I am worried about the damage that could be done to the band with the not being able to keep food down.

I will update with what is going on as time goes....I am not upset but concerned. I keep getting my fluids in and some protein as I can. Whats funny with all of this is my meds stay down.

I do not regret getting the band at all and starting this journey...its one day at a time, one step at a time, one meal at a time.

Until next time....

~Kasey~

One More Day....

I would not change my decision to have the lap band at all. The positives far outweigh the negatives.

Today, however, has been challenging....I haven't been able to keep anything but water down. My usual saving grace food of potato salad was not an option. Even the hot dog I ate yesterday was good but eating a hot dog today was out of the question.

Its one day at a time and one step at a time with the band...It is a good thing and I am well on my way to losing the extra weight I have carried around for years. I am thankful....

I get to follow up with my surgeon on Friday to see how much weight I have lost and where I am at....

My NSV for the day...the pants I have been wearing for the last six months are too big! I had to put on a belt today....Wooohooo!!!

Until next time....
~Kasey~

BBQ Challenge....

What a challenge! Of all the food I used to be able to eat. I am not able to eat nearly as much at all. I was so careful in what I ate and how much. Being that I haven't had my first fill, I can still eat quite a bit.

I was able to have a hot dog (only one with no bun), a small portion of potatoe salad, a small piece of watermelon and a cheese dip of sorts.

It was still alot less than I usually can have but still in my opinion it was still too much.

I have been careful all day in order to plan for this afternoon get together.

I am counting down the days to my weigh in this week! I am excited!

We will see what happens.

Until next time....

~Kasey~

Weigh Ins!!

March 31, 2009 306 pounds - 1st surgical visit

May 28, 2009 296 pounds - Gall Bladder Surgery

June 11, 2009 292 pounds - Lap Band Surgery

June 30, 2009 279 pounds - 1st surgical follow up

July 18, 2009 270 Pounds - At home weigh in.

July 24, 2009 Next follow up appointment.

Woohoo!! Total of 36 pounds down!