20 Weeks

So here I am 20 weeks out of my lapband to Sleeve procedure. I feel like I could have done better at this point. But I wont dwell. My size 14 jeans are getting lose. I am able to squeeze into my 12's. Before my band had the leak I was wearing size 12. So I am at least back to that point, kind of.

So um why do I feel like I look the same as the picture on the left. 😖 #WLS #VSG #Sleeved #RNY #DuodenalSwitch #VerticalSleeveGastrectomy #lapband #Selfie #PhotoOfTheDay

A photo posted by Erica (@calierica) on Apr 1, 2015 at 7:58pm PDT

Transformation Tuesday On a Wednesday

My journey hasn't been an easy one. It has taken years. But slow and steady wins the race, so I've heard. I used to stand sideways to try to hide my fat. Obviously it didn't work. I am proud of the person I have become during this journey. Sure I may eat shitty from time to time but it's no where near the way I used to eat. #WLSStrong #WLS #LapbandToSleeve #Lapband #VSG #RNY #ExtremeWeightLoss - I used to LOVE that size 3 (from torrid) shirt! I wonder how it would fit now....

A photo posted by Erica (@calierica) on Feb 24, 2015 at 7:17am PST

Whoever says Weight Loss Surgery was easy...

can eat a fat one! I have lost about 40 pounds since November 17th. This has been super hard. It is hard to get enough protein in. It is hard to choose "healthy" foods. Sometimes I just want to throw in the towel and say fuck it. But I wont. I want to get to 145 ASAP! So I will start going to the gym once I find my sports bras. haha I wish I was one of those patients who lost all of their weight within the first 6 months, but that is not me. I am a slow loser. :(

VSG

Well I did it. It has been 8 very long weeks of hell. I never in a million years thought recovery would go horrible for me. It has gone so bad. I had to take off 6 weeks of work and I am still feeling messed up. However here is an update picture:

A photo posted by Erica (@calierica) on Jan 1, 2015 at 2:48pm PST

I am having a hard time eating. I dry heave all the time. I just feel shitty all the time. But hey, I am losing weight. *sigh*

I just wanted to update since I had not posted in a month.

Love to all...

November 17th 2014

That is my revision date. I am having the band removed and they are doing the gastric sleeve.

Thank.

You.

Jesus!

I am a bottle of emotions. I can't wait to see the changes that will happen over the next few months. I need to lose 100 pounds. My doc says goal weight for me is between 135-150. I will be happy with 150, i think. But I am aiming for 140.

Before:

A photo posted by Erica (@calierica) on Oct 10, 2014 at 9:21am PDT

The only thing really bothering me is that my boyfriend is leaving to go to visit his family shortly after I have surgery. I told him to go because if he didn't go for thanksgiving, he was going for Christmas. I really don't want to be alone during this time. But it is what it is. I will have 2 weeks off of work. Which will be nice. Some quiet time to deal with the new way of getting nutrition in. Three whole weeks of liquid and three weeks of puree foods will be my diet. Eeeek!

Here is to a new beginning!

WLS Classes

And here we go again. So last night I had my first "class" regarding the revision. So in this class they pretty much tell you what is going to happen and how the surgery works. Well I already know. All of the people in the class were band to sleeve/bypass patients. Not surprising. I was baffled by one lady, mid 50's. Still way overweight. We were talking and she says "I love ice cream. I get stuck when I eat food so instead I just eat ice cream. That is why I want to be revised so I don't get stuck anymore." Well, that's a pretty f'd up way of thinking. If your mindset is not ready for Surgical Weight Loss, you wont be successful with any of them.

My insurance requires me to attend a Psych Evaluation, which I happily scheduled on August 20th. A Nutrition class, August 26th and a Doctor talk which I ended up doing last night so I could get that out of the way. Also I need to complete a structured medically supervised diet and weigh in every 2 weeks for at least 3 times before I can even submit for approval. So I was given Bariatric Advantage Protein. Has anyone ever tried this stuff? I am to replace one meal a day with this. And weigh in every 2 weeks 3 times. Lets hope this helps. So it will be at least 6 weeks before I can even submit to my insurance. And once we do, who knows how long it will take them to approve it.

I am still considered morbidly obese by my height and weight. I just really wish I was normal at times and did not have weight issues. I know I shouldn't think that way, but it is hard.

I really enjoy blogging so I am unsure why I do not do it more often.

Until next time....

Erica

Lapband to Gastric Sleeve

The fill under flouro did not show a leak, however we put 9cc's in my band and 2 weeks later I was back down to 6. The PA said "So do you want to fix the band or do you want to revise?" Duh I want a revision. Now don't get me wrong, I loved my band, when it was working! He wrote a long note in my chart and went over all of my information with me. I still qualify for WLS per my insurance. So we are going to go ahead with trying to get me revised to the sleeve. I am so excited for this ordeal to be over. The case manager came in, explained what I needed to do before we submitted the paperwork to my insurance. I need to redo all of the classes I did with the lap-band. The intro class, nutrition, support and the one on one with the doctor. The only thing I do not have to do is see the shrink! Thank Goodness!

She said due to my BMI and that it is not my fault that my band has an obvious leak I should be approved the first go around. Please say a prayer for me. They will call me within a week so I can start my classes. I keep looking at my phone wishing it would ring so I can just start them.

XOXO

Erica