My WLS journey!

MikesHAPPYwife · 12-15-2008, 08:39 PM

I am finally on the losers bench & loving it! Here is how I got there:

In July 2005, I was at my heaviest weight ever of 240 pounds, 20 of those pounds I had gained in 2 months. I had had issues with my period my whole life, was extremely hairy, & have always been overweight, however, never been DX with anything. It was then that I was dx with PCOS. The dr at the time was extremely rude about things & I went home crying just knowing I would be fat, hairy, & childless my whole life.

At that time I had only been married a year. DH & I decided to start trying immediately to have a child since it could take awhile. I went to see a fertility specialist who told me I needed to get down to 200lbs. She put me on metformin & I started to meet with a NUT. I exercised, I low carbed & I lost 40 lbs in 6 mons! Sounds wonderful doesn't it. However, what it does not tell you is that I was starving, I would cry I was so hungry. I was doing what I could to loose the weight to start fertility but there was no way that I could live like that forever..never..totally impossible.

Well, we (I) got pregnant on our first round of clomid & life was wonderful. Then I got gestational diabetes & was on a strick diet which did not work at controlling my numbers. The doctor then put me on insulin. I must say it scared me to death. I realized that diabetes was something I never wanted...ever!
I gave birth to my daughter at 212lbs in November 2006. I ended up gaining weight & ranging between 225-230. When DD got to be a year old DH & I talked about having another child. We had not prevented at all, and decided if nothing happened in the next 6 mons we would start clomid again.
During those 6 mons. we talked alot. I was scared of getting pregnant again at my weight. It was hard carrying my weight & a baby around. I was worried about my health during the pregnancy as well. As much as I wanted a baby, I needed to focus on ME & get ME healthy. Whats the point of having all these kids, if i fall of the earth dead at 30!
I was determined I was going to loose weight. At this point my IR was getting worse & my metformin was increasing again. I tried & tried to diet in a way that I was not hungry but yet I could still loose weight. It was so VERY HARD.
I laid in bed one night & asked DH what he thought of WLS. We knew some people that had gastro bypass & each of them have had some struggles mentally & physically since having the surgery so he vocalized those concerns. I explained to him the little I knew about Lapband & he wanted to know more. Gastro was just not an option for me. So, I researched. I read & read & read so much about it that I would even dream of the stuff. I started to get so excited the more I read because it seemed like a perfect fit for me.

Lapband has a little recovery time. I am a SAHM, so that was important to me. Lapband does not cut/paste any of your organs, which means its reversible. Lapband does not take off the weight as fast but with diet/exercise the weight will come off. Personally, I did not care about how fast it came off, I just want to loose it.
We talked, we prayed, and we finally decided to find out what insurance would do, etc. I contacted insurance & they did cover it. My out of pocket for the surgery was $100 & then $25 for any appointments. This was something we could afford. The hard part was deciding to put off having another child until surgery & then a year post op. We decided and as a team we were ready.
I called my local dr for an appointment to get a referral. I needed my annual anyway so it worked out good. She was so glad that I was looking at doing this for myself & supported me 100%. I got the referral the end of august. I called the surgeon for an appointment & was scheduled for September 23. The way the surgeon office does it, is that you have all your appointments that same day. Which meant you meet with the NUT, mental health dr, the bariatric coordinator, & the surgeon. A couple of days after making the appointment the coordinator called me to ask me some questions, etc. She asked my height/weight & I was only 39BMI. She expressed that my insurance requires a 40bmi or 3 years of being between 35-40BMI. Well, I would have qualified if I did not loose that weight to get pregnant. I was bummed. If insurance did not qualify me then I would have to pay for all those appointments out of pocket.
Me & DH talked again. Was I willing to risk spending $400 on just a chance?!?! We decided to go for it. Once again after lots of prayer. I actually put together a rummage sale asking God to supply the extra money we would need. We made just over $400 at the rummage sale so I felt I had the go head.
I went to the appointments. It was nice to finally be doing something. To finally be closer to knowing if I would have it or not. The appointments got me so excited. I was ready more than ever for this change in my life. The coordinator looked over all my paperwork & told me she would do whatever she could to get me approved. Even if I was denied the first time she would "fight back".

The letter was sent in & what do you know. In 2 DAYS insurance had approved my request. I WAS GETTING LAPBAND. I screamed, I danced, I called my mom, my hubby, my best friend and then started to scream/dance again. It was going to happen...Praise the Lord.

I never knew the process would be so short here was Oct. 10 a month & a half since my first phone call. I had plans to go to my brothers out of state & to fly to my parents in the upcoming months so scheduling the surgery in Oct or Nov did not work. MY (yes mine..no one elses) surgery date was Dec. 11. The day before my 29th birthday. I thought it was neat to have my new life begin then.

The day after thanksgiving I started my 2 week pre-op diet. I had some lows those days as it was so hard but I made it without eatting my arm off. The day of surgery I weighed in 22 lbs. lighter at 212 lbs. (the same as the day I gave birth to my DD, must be my weight for having surgeries LOL) I was excited not nervous, untill they started to do the IV & give me a blood thinner shot. Then it hit..I am about to have surgery. I got nervous. When I get nervous I start to joke. The nurse was going over the after surgery info. & told me no sex for 2 weeks...i actually (how embarassing) asked her if she could leave me & DH alone for a minute. Then it was time to take me to the operating room. I was alone with strangers all around & just said "I am getting pretty nervous". Then I heard a guy say he was about to take care of that for me. Next thing I know Iwas waking up. I could not feel anything so I thought they decided not to do the surgery on me & I asked the nurse. She told me I did wonderful & asked how I was. I told her that I was not sick & wanted to get up. She told me to wait & started to push the ice chips. DH was gone to get my meds & the list of things I wanted him to pick up @ Walmart for my post-op diet. They were shocked I was feeling so well & within the hour I had passed all the test to go home & was just waiting for DH. Boy was he ever shocked when he showed up & I was completely dressed & ready to walk out the door.
Its been 4 days since surgery. I have some discomfort when picking up or bending over, BUT THATS IT! I feel absolutely wonderful. The post op diet does not have much on it, but it keeps me satisfied for now.
Getting the Lapband done was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself. I am greatful for a wonderful, supportive husband who has been here for me along the way, and my 2 year daughter who has been wonderful. She picks things up for me, kisses my boo-boos, & even tells me to take a nap LOL.

I look forward to updating everyone on my progress!

terilynn112 · 12-22-2008, 06:22 PM

Very well written. Welcome to the loosers bench. You are such a great addition to our group.

Teri

MikesHAPPYwife · 01-14-2009, 01:52 PM

And what a month it has been!! Getting the lapband was just small part of the equation to get healthy. Alot of what needed to change was my BRAIN. I needed to look at food differently & think before I ate. This was a whole new concept for me. Diets have come & gone throughout my life but this is a complete change. Getting restriction & eatting less will not help if I am eatting the wrong things.
Week one after surgery was all liquids. It took alot of willpower & alot of positive thoughts but I did it. Week two after surgery was pureed/mushy food. That was like Heaven after having to drink liquids for 3 wks. straight. It was nice that it started on Christmas & I was able to enjoy the holiday with some pureed lasagna...yummy!
Week three after surgery was transitioning to solids. This you would think would be the easy part but thats when it got hard for me. I had NO restriction which means (as my friend would put it) I could swallow a turkey whole. Plus, not having food for so long you wanting to have a little bit of everything. So, this is where I just had to seek the power of God to overcome my addiction to food. When eatting to eat what would benefit my life & then quit. I had some points of weakness like nibbling on chex mix while playing cards or what not but over all I never fully over did it & still stayed within my protein/carb quota for the day.
So, where am I at now? I am 34 lbs down sitting at 200 lbs. Whoever thought someone would be so happy to be 200 lbs. I have met with the nutritionist & have gained much wisdom on how/what to eat. I am now able to up my exercise & best of all I got a fill. I now have 4cc's in my 10cc band. I go back in a month & will have another fill & another meeting with the NUT.
I feel good about myself & about my future. Even though my life has not changed my drastic measures I feel good about myself & feel like I am willing over my addiction. This is something that I NEVER could have done without my band. Its the little tool that I need to get over & beyond the struggles of living a healthy lifestyle.

Here are some websites that help with calorie intake. Its great for ANYONE!
www.dietfacts.com
www.cooks.com
www.thedailyplate.com
www.sparkpeople.com

Its interesting to see the little changes that you can make while cooking that will help you not eat as many calories.

amandarhed · 01-15-2009, 03:25 PM

Congrats on your WLS success! I am having the Lapband in March~I can't wait. Hearing your story is a great motivator

MikesHAPPYwife · 01-26-2009, 07:52 PM

these are some before pics of me at the pumpkin patch. I hated these pictures then but glad to have them now to compare myself too.

terilynn112 · 01-27-2009, 10:09 AM

Gosh Laura, you're a beautiful woman (even Brandon agreed). You have a beautiful family too.

amandarhed · 01-27-2009, 10:16 AM

I agree with Teri

MikesHAPPYwife · 01-27-2009, 11:50 PM

awh thanks...dont get me all emotional girls LOL I will post updated pics on my 2 monthaversary

MikesHAPPYwife · 02-11-2009, 12:23 PM

I will add a picture soon promise!!

Its only been 2 months! I feel like "Lucy (band) & Ethel (port)" have been with me forever. We have become pretty close friends these past 2 months but there have been moments where I was ready to kick them out or start charging rent

I am proud of me!! Not very often you will hear me saying that but I guess thats what life changing experiences are about. My new life motto is: Without change there would be no butterflies!! Well, this butterfly is soaring. I have been attending the gym 4 days a week. While there I do 30-40 mins of cardio & the same in weights. Its amazing the power that you gain & how what you could not do one week you can do the next. I am very greatful for having a workout buddy to keep me accountable. I must admit some days I would just stay in bed if I didn't have plans to be there the next morning.

As for the weight. I hate the scale!!! Its crazy how the little gadget works & frankly its frustrating. So, it currently reads 193, which is a 41 lb weight loss since Thanksgiving. Its kinda stuck around this number but I feel the inches fading off.... which to me is more important. On Thanksgiving I wore a size 22 pair of pants, today I sit here & type this in a loose size 18. Its weird how the 18's are loose but the 16's take my breathe away, literally! I cant wait to be an official size 16 because I only own 1 pair of pants & 4 shirts in that size...Can we say shopping!!!!

With the lapband you SLOWLY get fills. I currently have 4cc's in a 10cc band. This in English means I still don't get full fast. This has made things kinda hard but I am looking forward to getting a fill on 1/17, which will give me 6 cc's. This month has been an emotional roller coaster with some sad events occurring. I had many battles with emotional eatting & did not always win. We all have our moments, and its all about getting up & starting fresh next time around.

My goal was 50 lbs in 3 months so hopefully next email you get we can celebrate together in a joyous occasion. Did I mention I have not been this small in 10 years? Well, its not really small but ya get the drift. Nothing is better for the ol' self esteem then to be a LOOSER!!

MikesHAPPYwife · 02-11-2009, 04:04 PM

I had made the pictures lighter & added text but forgot to save changes but here you go!

terilynn112 · 02-11-2009, 05:09 PM

You look amazing. You are rocking this wls stuff!

I'm proud of you!

amandarhed · 02-16-2009, 03:46 PM

You are doing a great job

What an inspiration!!!

magiccitymama · 02-16-2009, 04:05 PM

Congrats, Laura Beth. You look great. Before you know it you'll be in a baggy 14. It is funny how large one size is on you and then the next smaller size cuts you off at the waist.

MikesHAPPYwife · 02-20-2009, 12:51 AM

thanks girls!!!

I got a fill on Tuesday Feb. 17. MY, my what a difference 1 cc can make. I made my plate & before I was finished I felt kinda full. YIPPEE!!

Katie~n~Hans · 02-24-2009, 10:05 AM

Thanks for sharing your WL journey. Your looking great! Congrats...and I hope I'll join you on the losers bench before long~