Lap band surgery 101

Lap  band surgery, why am I doing the lap band surgery? Well as you may see above I am not thin, but being fat hasn't really stopped me from living a happy and fulfilling life, as you can see I wear what I like and do what brings joy. The thing is I now suffer from heart issues, and high blood pressure so now it's not a skinny issue but a health thing. I am what they call obese MY BMI score is 39 your normal BMI score should be between 18.5- 24.9 at 25-29.9 your over weight but not a biggie lose fifteen through twenty lbs. and you're okay now 30-39.9 you are in the obese category that is where I am. Anything greater than 40 makes you morbidly obese.

BMI stands for body mass index, here's the good thing there are three types of surgeries you can have the one everyone knows is Geriatric gastric bypass, this is when the disconnect one of your intestine to go to your smaller pouch they do not take anything out just disconnect and connect elsewhere the problem I saw with this surgery is you will lose over 100 lbs. it is great for the morbidly obese and no sugar no m& m's no sugar. Why because you go into some ind of distress that gives you fatigue and diarrhea major stomach pains while you won't die you will suffer. This happens do to your larger stomach or pouch relocated sugar when it breaks down it becomes a chemical that your blood takes in but the stomach is the ones that absorbs this chemical no stomach absorption major distress known to even cause irregular heart beats.

The sleeve is when the do cut your pouch into a sleeve shape making it smaller this surgery is not reversible and you can eat some sugar because you have the absorption process. Not a common surgery has been around for less than twenty years.

The one I am under going is the lap band what it is a small plastic like circular gadget is placed over the top of my pouch letting only a small amount of food in. The idea is that I eat less because I have less room, why I like it first it is reversible like the gastric but with less health issue and I can eat sugar, second I can play with my intact the gadget has an inflatable thing that makes my stomach smaller or larger all I have to do is make an appointment with my doc he inserts an injection that lets air in or out. I am in control unlike the other two that the patients have no control. The bad part is I lose from 40 - 60 lbs but for ma that is awesome I weigh 206 losing 50 lbs I will be 156 great weight less health issues.

Look up OAC www.obesityaction.org the obesity action coalition. If you live in Florida like me there is southfloridaobesitysurgery.com

Insurances since today it is a proven fact that thinner people live longer insurances see it as a way to save money in the long run they will spend more money on un-healthy people than on healthy thinner ones. Medicaid will pay for the gastric bypass, medicare pay for all three, and most private insurances pay but you have to check with your provider.

How long til surgery? Of course it all depends on your insurance anywhere from three months to twelve, why some insurances want proof that you have found ways to lose weight not just jump into the surgery that is costing them approx twenty grand. So make an appointment you will have to go to the seminar.

Today is March 28, 2011 and I will be undergoing surgery this upcoming wed, the 30th of Jan. Today I have to do a saliva test for my endocrinologist. It is really weird there is a cotton swab like thing that I have to put towards the back of my mouth then put it away in a plastic container the doctor's office supplies all that I need. Tomorrow morning I will be delivering this test to the lab and doing more labs on my endocrinologist orders. Then back to my main doc where he will be clearing me for surgery, afterwards i"ll have to head on to the hospital where I will be signing off and pre-registering for the surgery.

Now the lap band surgery is usually a few hours then you go home, but all insurances are not the same so I get to stay at the hospital for three days.

I really didn't want that, but I guess they can monitor me and show me how to eat the nastiest I have to endure the first week.

It's an all liquid diet, jello, juices light nothing citricy or too strong, and broth chicken, veggie, and beef but no seasonings just the liquid. No straws drink slowly and only 4 ounces at a time.

Must consume every 4 hours this goes for a week and a few days, but I have to go see my nutritionist on the seventh day and she will give me my new menu.

I am a baby again and will be starting all over slowly but surely. I am excited I will be posting pics and what I go through, the pains if any (hopefully none), the hospital stay the nutritionist advice etc. Stay tuned for my lap band diary

 Okay I will under go lap band surgery this month on the 30th, Doctor Sosa explained that I will be staying in the hospital for three days, and the diet that I have to start. Now my insurance will be paying for the procedure but the surgery goes for 12,000 dollars.

I will start my all liquid diet two days before the actual surgery. And a week after I see the doctor that will add new foods but very little so I'll be like a baby start slowly, most importantly I have to start my vitamins, and will be on a protein shake until I get back to the norm. The truth is that after these surgeries we won't be normal, we are pushed to be smaller portion eaters..

okay it is April 5,2011 about 2:00 a.m. I underwent lapband surgery this past Friday April 1st 2011 (April fool's day). Now though I was a nervous wreck the process was not that bad. I did wait because I was the last one to have the surgery that day so I went in at approx. 10 a.m ish. Hubby said I must have been there 20 minutes but I remember waking up late afternoon maybe four. Here is why I was nervous.

The Doctor's team explained the entire process and I was fine up until I they head nurse surgeon assistant explained about the breathing tube that will be left in my throat even after I wake up until I am breathing properly. That was it I was distraught a tube in throat while I am awake, oh no not part of the plan. Well I sucked it up and prayed to God almighty and his angels that this tube would come out ASAP.

God answered my prayers as soon as my eyes went open and thank God I was still groggy from anesthesia the tube came out slowly and I didn't feel a thing.

The hospital was stay was good I stayed one night which they administered pain medication some needles in the abdominal for blood clotting it was difficult to go to the bathroom, but my hubby was by my side. On Saturday at four I came home and was once more drinking the liquid diet now this my friends is the toughest thing I have ever encountered so get ready.
The great news is on Thursday April 7, 2011 i will be seeing my lap band doctor and nutritionist and  will be moving onto a puree type diet, mashed potatoes, split peas I can manage, yogurt, pudding yum yum. I can not wait.

As for today day four I am ravishing I can eat a cow and an entire five guys burgers. Good news I have two more day till I see my doc and I feel thinner already. As soon as I can I will be posting pics so you all can see me as I lose the weight. This hub will be like a diary with what I have learned, What I have under gone, and advice if you are brave enough to do the procedure.

Now don't look at the infomercials they all give you the skinny peeks my back is hurting because I am still in pain those that say they went back to work a few days later WOW...

No way. I am at home with my family as they help me do the necessities.

Like cooking do you know how hard it was for me to make pork chops, fajitas, and french fries for my babies, well it was really hard. I could see myself eating just a nibble that would lead to the next, but one of the last things my doctor warned when I was discharged he said and I quote "NO CHEATING".

They say if you cheat you might end back in the hospital and I don't even want to know what else, as for now I will suck it up.

I am still a work in progress but I weigh 165 use to weigh 225.

Goal weight is 15o though doc says I can go down to 132. at 150 I think I',m good. Don't be afraid today i went to buy some clothes because this weekend the pants i wore while dancing almost fell off. It's like you don't even notice the weight coming off. Take it from someone that has been their use to be afraid to shop and went out today and bought a medium top with medium leggings, I will add those pics as soon as I take them...