just because chickadeedeedear requested it... thread number 3!!!!

congratulations, everyone!!!!

Hey guys, quick update. Went for G/I testing today. All my pre-op stuff is done. If all goes right, I will be banded by Dr. Kurian on 7/26.. Countdown to July 26, 2004.... Houston, we have T-Minus 10 days to banding... Phil.

Does anyone know the reason why people who have Crohn's aren't canidates for this surgery? Just seems like it only involves your stomach...it slows down digestion and you eat smaller amounts of food. Sound like it would be a chance for my digestive track to slow down and heal. Just wondered...I suffer with Crohns and have 90 pds I need to lose.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the new thread Jiffypoo. You are the best, but you already knew that, right?

Sorry Dallas, I have no clue about Crohn's. Have you asked at the Obesity Help Lapband message boards? Lots of knowledgeable people there.

So Phil, are you ready? Six days and counting! I'm going on vacation tomorrow and may not be able to check in, but I want to wish you the best of luck. The surgery really was a breeze for me and I hope it will be for you too. The main complaint I read from people is about the gas pain they experienced afterwards from being "blown up" during surgery. I had a little gas pain in my shoulder for about a week. Just remember to walk as much as you can and I hear Gas-X helps too. Since you're a guy, you'll probably lose at an amazing rate and I'll have to secretly hate you (just kidding - mostly!). Good luck, you'll do great!

I'll be gone for a week, we're going to Tucson of all places. Yes, that proves I'm insane because it's about a bajillion degrees there, but my family lives there and I love visiting. And, I actually get a birthday party this year. I'll be forty-frickin'-six on Sunday and my mom's so excited to be able to do a party for me. How fun is that? My parents, brother and family and my best friend and her family will be there. So, the party part's good, the age isn't. I figure I'm officially middle-aged now and I'm not real happy about it either, but, as they say, it's better than the alternative.

Later gators,
Chickadee

Hi Chickadee--Have a great vacation and Happy Birthday!!

Best of luck to you Phil!

dallas... sorry it took so long to get back to you, but i didn't have an answer. but i do now!!!! i went to see my surgeon today for the annual checkup [and i'm fine]. he does gastric bypass and was an investigator at one of the 8 centers that tested the lapband in the US.

his views: crohn's disease CAN affect the entire digestive tract, from mouth to anus. BUT having crohn's disease does not automatically exclude you from being considered a candidate. a lot depends on two major issues: the extent of your disease, and your surgeon's comfort and experience in performing the procedure. think about getting a couple more opinions from other surgeons, and perhaps figuring out exactly what's going on with your crohn's as well.

my view: if your crohn's is reasonably well controlled and not extensive, you're a better candidate than if you had extensive disease or had a lot of flares.

hope this helps!!!

oh. and one more thing: in my surgeon's view, the lapband is the ONLY choice that should be considered for someone with crohn's...

Chick, Misty, Jiffy: Well. I did it, or I should say, Dr. Kurian did it. I am banded. I am 2 days post-op and have a lot of gas caught all over, and some tenderness, but the gas is the only real problem. Simethicone and walking help but I guess just time will help. I am on the puree diet, and it is really not as bad as I thought it would be. I am full after just the amounts prescribed. Every day will, I hope, be a little better. Dr. Kurian and her entire team at Lenox Hill rule. Not one clunker in the bunch. I'll keep you updated as I go. Phil.

whew!!!! congrats!!!!! glad you're home and well. if a little... ummmm. uncomfortable.

kurian has always gotten rave reviews! and we'll just add you to her fan club.

we want REGULAR updates, ya know..

go rest. you need it

WOW Phil! Congratulations! Take it easy!

I'm so happy for you Phil. It's amazing how little food you will want for a while. Be sure to get those liquids and protein in! I had to be on liquids for two weeks, so you're luckier than I was. Try a little pureed chili over mashed potatoes. Good stuff!

You'll wake up one morning soon and feel amazing - I promise! The gas pain will have subsided and you'll feel like the surgery was a breeze. It'll all be downhill from there. You're on your way!

Chickadee
p.s. I agree with Jif - regular updates please!

Last week I had the most wonderful vacation! I turned 46(!) on Sunday and had an unexpectedly fabulous birthday party with my family and best friend. I also got to go to Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix and watch my beloved Colorado Rockies beat the Diamondbacks. It is so cool to be the obnoxious "away" fan. We took midnight swims, shopped, painted pottery and saw air-conditioned movies. Vacation rocks!

Since I had lots of driving time last week, I had a lot of time to think about all kinds of things. Here are a few of my musings:

1. I'm a much happier person when I feel like I'm in control of my life and have a hand in shaping my future. The out of control spiral that was my life has stopped since I had my surgery. Such a relief!

2. Just because I had surgery doesn't mean losing weight still isn't a lot of hard work. I ate way too much crap and didn't get in my usual exercise. The scale told the story today when I finally ventured onto it. I paid the price with a couple of extra pounds (and there is that extra PMS water weight too). I'm so happy to be back on track now with eating, water and exercise. Again, such a relief!

3. Here's the big contemplation: How is it that I got so big and was in so much denial about it? In the same vein, it's amazing how much denial I was in about how much crappy food I consumed and how little I exercised. I never let myself admit just how big a problem it had all become. I never let anyone take my picture and somehow was able to convince myself that the weight didn't show too badly (yeah right!) and that I carried it pretty well. What a load of crap!

So, my contemplating lead me to some serious soul searching. Can I trust myself not to revert back to old habits? How can I maintain my healthy habits? What can I do to see myself realistically and not let the veil of denial creep back into my mind? I think (for now anyway - maybe forever?) the answer to these questions is to truly be accountable to myself. I need to keep doing my own checklist every single day. Have I eaten correctly, moved my body, taken my vitamins and had enough water? I honestly can't say I'm perfect every day, but it helps keep me on track to go over these things. As a matter of fact, I'm going to start keeping a record on my calendar to keep track of it all. I want to have a visual reminder of what I am doing and know what areas I can improve to keep me accountable to myself. I think that's a good, positive step to keep my heading in the right direction and keep me honest with myself.

Oh boy, another novelette post from Chickadee, but driving for hours really does give you some good thinking time!

Later gators,
Chickadee

Thanks for all your good wishes. I love your novelettes, Chick, and am glad you had a nice vacation. I am 5 days post-op and feel good. I think. I am not supposed to know WHAT to feel, though. I have hardly any discomfort, if any at all. I do feel my body acting differently inside, though, and I don't know if it is the affect of the band, pureed foods, or both. I eat my pureed meals, which don't bother me at all (OK, not THAT much). I still get hungry in between meals and late at night, but I drink water. Watching an hour of cooking shows today did have me biting on the bottom of my shirt, so I'll watch HBO next time -- I have a love affair with food, or in reality, a FATAL ATTRACTION to food. I love it, I want it, I crave it, but it WILL destroy me. It's actually pretty sick when you think about it!
I think Dr. Kurian leaves the band loose in the beginning and then tightens it on the first visit, so that may be the reason for the rather easy going, right now. I have not had that pain from overeating or eating too fast (but I haven't done either) that I have read about and dread. My "firends" still invite me to go drinking with them; I have gotten that look from people when I tell them the type of surgery I had and I know they are thinking "what a weak person you are, why don't you just stop eating"; my family, though, is so supportive and that makes it much easier. Returning to work on Monday and seeing how I do this during the day away from home will be interesting. No more winging what's for lunch -- everything has to be planned.
Sorry for rambling, thanks for your support and I will check in again real soon. Have a great weekend. I am going for a WALK! Phil.

Phil, so glad you are over the hump and on the way to a much thinner you. Keep up the good work, and remember we are all pulling for you. And Chickie, we love your novels!

phil, don't ever let anyone say your weak and took the easy way out!! they are brain dead if they think you are lazy and weak. we all know they this isn't easy any way you do it. it's only weakness and false pride that makes a person not seek help. keep up the great work. I'm working on getting a lap band too. ...kat

Hi y'all,
So in the name of being honest and forthright, I suppose I should talk about the bad along with all the good that goes with being banded.

The worst is that I'm stuck! My weight loss has come to a standstill for some reason. I've been stuck at the same weight for about a month, but am trying not to get disappointed. I'm working out a lot and am losing inches, just not pounds. It has to come off, right? I'm eating well, so I'm thinking it's just my body taking some time to catch up. Still, I will be thrilled when the damn scale budges. This is a weight I was at for a long time a few years ago, so I'm wondering if there's some validity to the set point theory. I keep a photo comparing 5 pounds of fat to 5 pounds of muscle on my
fridge to keep me movitvated.

I have an appointment at Dr. Johnell's on Aug. 10 so I'll have to see what the powers-that-be can tell me about this. I don't think I need a fill, but I'll talk with them and see what they think. The good thing is that I'm not feeling over-the-top depressed about this stall. In the past, something like this always caused me to just say "to **** with it" and eat crap, but I know this is working and will just take it's sweet time. But, I am so ready to be at minus 50 pounds!

The only other bad thing I can say about the band is that it really lets me know who's boss (in a very painful way) on occasion. Things like dry chicken, doughy breads and anything eaten too fast don't work well. Most of the time I have the bandster rules down pat, but every so often I forget and eat something wrong, and pay the price. You'd think I'd learn - I'm just hardheaded in some ways I guess!

Would I do this again? Yep, in a heart beat! Is it always easy? Nope.

Keep on keepin' on my little banded buddies! It's an amazing journey!

Chickadee
p.s. Phil - since you're one of those Y chromosone types, you'll probably lose weight at amazing speed and I'll have to hate you! Just remember all the little people who cheered for you along the way, all right?