My 1st Lap Band Follow Up Appointment

Yesterday I had my first follow up appointment since having my lap band placed. I have lost a total of 18 lbs since surgery, which is a grand total of 28 lbs (I lost 10 lbs prior to surgery). They were very please with the weight loss that I have achieved.

The psychologist said that most people lose 1/6 of their excess body weight from the time of surgery til their first follow up appointment and I have actually lost 1/5 of my excess body weight, so I am doing better than average.

After talking with the Nurse Practitioner about what I am able to eat at one sitting we made the decision that I needed a fill, which means that some additional saline needs to be added to my lap band to make my restriction tighter and therefore my intake would be less.

The doctor came in and talked with me after the NP got everything set up and then they proceeded to do my fill. The process for this is that they find your port which is attached to your abdominal wall then they insert a long needle into your abdomen where your largest incision is from your surgery where the port is located. Once they successfully get the needle into the port they pull out what saline you have in there so that they can measure what is already there and then they put that back in and add an additional amount to it. I already had 3 cc of saline in my lab band and they added 1.5 cc of saline so now I have a total of 4.5 cc of saline.

I know I made that sound pretty simple and most of the time I am sure that it is and I was reassured that the first time is the hardest. The NP and the Dr actually had a hard time getting the needle into my port because they couldn't find the exact location of it easily and that was most likely due to scar tissue build up and a little bit of swelling still left at the incision site. The Dr was actually getting ready to take me down to radiology to find the port when he found it! As far as being painful, it wasn't, when the NP told me she was sticking in the needle initially I didn't even feel it, but as they were moving the needle around to find the port occasionally I would feel a stinging sensation, but other than that it was painless.

Due to having a 'fill' I am on liquids for 2 days, then progress to soft/mushy food for 2 days and then back to regular food. They told me to go ahead and start a regular exercise regimen so that is in the works as well. I will post more pictures in 3-4 weeks.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I pray that you have a blessed day!

Lori

8-15-09 2.5 wks post op 282 lbs – down 25lbs

I guess in the midst of writing all the good and wonderful things that I should also include the trials that I am also enduring. Although they aren't anything big it is all still a part of having the surgery.

My first complaint is constipation. I have never been constipated in my life, but over the weekend I discovered that I am now having problems with it. I believe that it is due to not getting in enough fluids so I am going to try and increase my fluid intake and hopefully that will help. I have also taken some medication to help everything along its journey!

Secondly, I am just ready for some food with some consistancy! I feel like I am going to turn in to a bowl of soup or broth. Although I know that this is all a part of the process it has still been a little frustrating at times. I have my first followup appointment on August 20th and I am hoping at that time they will tell me that I can start to move on to some different things.

That is all for now! Hope everyone is doing well! Talk with you soon.

Lori

Progress Note

Well today I had green beans for lunch. This is the most textured food that I have had since surgery. Up until now I have been having creamed potatoes, broths, creamy soups, jello, yogurt & pudding, so it was nice to have a little more texture!

My current weight is 282 so I am down 15 lbs from my presurgery weight of 297. Before going on the 3 week preop diet my weight was 306 so I would say I am making good progress.

Last week I went back to work for 3 partial days so today is my first full day back at work since my surgery. I am sure that I will sleep really well tonight!

I have my first follow up appt on August 20th and am excited about that. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for reading,
Lori

My Surgery

Today I am 10 days post op. I had my lap band surgery on Tuesday, July 28th. Everything went as expected and I am recovering well. Dr. Fuzz did find a hernia that he also repaired while he was in there.

The day after surgery I started on a clear liquid diet which lasted for 4 days and then I moved on to a full liquid diet which will last through August 20th. At that time I will be going for my first post op appointment and most likely will be allowed to move on to a pureed diet and gradually increasing to normal food again. I will have to say that this hasn't been the easiest thing that I have ever done, but I know that it will all be worth it. To date I have lost 13 lbs since surgery!!!

I will be sure to keep you updated on my progress.

Lori