Pam4438

Doing fine, Nicole! Thanks for asking. . . I am sorry I lapsed in my story telling. . . Will continue now. . .

Day Three

Was up most of the night. Still nothing to drink. Still a littls sore, but expected that. At 11:00 Dr. Ortiz came in to see me and we discussed yesterday's surgery and the plan for tomorrow's gastric plication. He says the results should be the same and can still be done laparoscopically.

Up and about. . .making phone calls home and emailing people. Emily, who is having a lap band should be here tomorrow.

Day Four

Am the last on the schedule again. 8 cases ahead of me. Nothing to do but sleep or watch tv. I have no idea what time it is, but on go the TED hose again, shoe covers and cap. Into the wheelchair and to the O.R. I greet everyone like they were my family. One more prayer for a successful surgery and I'm asleep.

When I wake up, I am back in my room. No pain, just continued soreness. IV's, meds, vital signs, blood sugars. Nothing to drink again. I'm getting used to this.

Up and walking around. Got up once during the night, got nauseated & started dry heaving. . .Back to be. That's it for me tonite.

Day Five

Early - Linda comes in and says she is moving me to a larger room. OK. I finally get to meet Emily. She's #3 on today's schedule. I get to visit with her off and on.

Maybe we will go shopping tonite. She gets to leave before I do. They will go shop and I will see them when they get back.

OCC offered for me to spend the night with them again, but I would be the only one, so I declined and was taken back to the hotel. After getting my stuff back into the room, I go across the street to buy water and hopefully to find one of those water heater thingys that heats up water by the cup as there is no way to heat water for my broth in the room. But no luck. Got the water anyway.

Once back to my room, I shampooed my hair immediately. Will take a shower later. It's now 7 p.m. and I am going to lay down for a while.

It's 0230 and haven't been able to sleep well. Am ready to get this drain out and am also ready to go home. Fancy that! Figured out how to do the self-timer on my camera. Took a couple of pictures of myself in the motel room. Or should I say, "hotel" room.

Day Six (2 days post-plication)

1205 p.m. Been to OCC and had my drain removed. Back to the hotel and found Emily & Co. in one of the restaurants.

Ordered broth. Went upstairs to change into some jeans and a tank top to do some shopping. Onward and upward. . .

3:50 p.m. Am exhausted! Haven't walked so much in forever. We were looking for the cultural center and I think we were dropped off everywhere but there. Finally, three of us decided to go back to our respective hotels and Emily & Co. decided to keep trying to find it. The taxi guy tried to rip me off for his fare, but I came out on top. Am now in my jammies for a quick nap. Then maybe I will go to the mall next door tonite. Am not hungry. Am having to remind myself to drink fluids. Didn't take near enough pictures.

6 p.m. Don't know if I ever slept or not. Have taken my evening meds including a pain pill for my back and hip pain. . . still no surgical pain. . . drank a little pediasure to counteract pain pill side effects. Went through and marked my calendar for my diet and when I can start certain foods. Read through my OCC packet again. Passing gas - that's a good sign. Not hungry. No word from Emily & Co. yet. I am feeling really good about my eating lifestyle change. Feel confident that it is and will work this time. Still dreaming of the day I can add mashed potatoes to my diet. Going to order the "Magic Bullet" when I get home.

Day Seven

Stayed in my hotel room all day. Overdid it yesterday. . . Again, this is due to hip and back pain. . .not surgical pain, as I have really had none.

Day Eight

My last visit at OCC for a final check by nurse Josepha. Everything looks good. Went to Costco and walked back to OCC. Dr. Ortiz wants to interview me. Spent all day at OCC waiting to get that done. I visited with patients, danced around the hallways, played on the computer. Finally got back to the hotel around 5:45 p.m. Got pictures of nearly everyone at OCC and Dr. Ortiz says he wants me to come back in 6 months for a check up. I am sure it is because the "plication" is fairly new and he needs data. Hopefully I will be able to make a new video while I am there so I can tell "my story" and follow it up with questions that Dr. Ortiz will have for me.

Today is Nurse Sophie's birthday and they were having her birthday party when I left. Although I am ready to go home, I am very sad to leave my new OCC family.

Day Nine

Driver here to pick me up at 5:30 a.m. It takes us an hour of waiting to get across the border. Flight to Houston, 100% full. . . Yuck! Only 12 passengers on the flight from Houston to Tyler. Arrive in Tyler feeling good, but tired. Hip and back pain still present. . . Get home and what has been planned???? My favorite dinner in the whole world and everyone gets to have it but me. . . .Wahhhhhh! I did chew on a couple of pieces of meat just to get the taste and then spit the meat out. . .

Day Ten thru Twelve

Off and on bouts of dizziness along with queasiness. Didn't feel well enough to get on the computer or to visit with anyone. Stayed at my folks house primarily. It was time to add drinkable yogurt to my diet, but my body was not happy with that decision. Sent an email to Dr. Miranda about that and asked that I be able to add creamed soup to my diet early in place of it.

Day Thirteen thru today, Day Nineteen

Continue to do great! Weight loss a lot slower than prior to surgery. But am losing, nonetheless. Continue to have very loose and liquid bowel movements. . .sorry guys. . . The Kraft Easy Cheese has become a friend of mine for an occasional pick me up. Magic Bullet came in and blending up my soups are so quick and easy. It also leaves the big blender available for my son and his milkshakes, etc. Have started making up my pre-portioned meals and putting them in the freezer for when I go back to work. A tiny piece of meat, cut up into even tinier pieces and a small portion of mashed potatoes or veggies. No way to over eat.Also, another hint. I freeze all my liquids that I am drinking during the day and this prevents me from over-drinking. It melts a sip at a time. . . And lasts nearly all day.

Hope my diary of my adventures will help someone. I will add to it one month after surgery. And will try to insert that weight ticker thingy to my signature. . .

Shari

Sheri, Are you still out there? I would love to hear how you are doing good or bad......

I'm a 6 month bandster who feels she has had wonderful success. I have dropped 67 lbs without the need for any fills. Unfortunately due to stress I beleive I have abused my band. Last week for the first time I broke eating correctly and "chowed down" on some potato chips. I have been paying since. Today I finally admitted my error and am thinking that I will go on a liquid diet for 3 days to give my band some recovery time. Please if someone can give me a thumbs up on my thought process or any other suggestion. Thanks in advance.

First of all congratulations on your weight loss. I think if you should definately give your band a rest. When you say you are "paying" what do you mean?

I was actually worried about the employees maybe taking my money I'm not trying to be rude but u hear about this kind of stuff happening.

Once you are at the Clinic I think you will understand that there is absolutley no reason to worry about your possesions. My husband was banded on March 9,2009. I was banded here in the US and have had problems so I am going to have my band removed and hopefully rebanded on Oct.27th. The staff at OCC are great...No need to worry.