1st surgery is in the history books

I survived having the band removed.  I have to say that the nurses at AAMC are really awesome.  Just the best. So compassionate and caring. 

I don't really feel different yet without the band.  Other than I have noticed that the nagging little pain I've had in my left side where my port was is no longer bugging me.  I guess that little pain wasn't my imagination after all.  Things that make you go hmmmm....

A couple notes from the surgery... I know my WLS is very busy and I've only met him once, but really made me a bit nervous when we walked in and asked ME what he was doing that day. Maybe it was a test to see if I was paying attention.  I don't know.  But when I read the notes in my file today and it said he had done the gastric sleeve when that's not what we did yet, it just gets in my crawl. 

On the great news side, he was able to prep me for the sleeve so my surgery in January should be easier. He'll use the same holes which will be nice.  I should have a new target date next week when I go to him for my post op appointment. To say I'm excited doesn't do it justice.

The only remaining thing to do to get ready is see the psychiatrist to get cleared.  Seriously?  I'm not sure why they need to do that again since I'm doing a revision, but whatever it takes I'll do.

So far my appetite hasn't returned and God willing, I'll be able to keep things under control and not gain any more between now and January surgery.  I'm so nervous about that.  This is such a mental trip all over.

Thank you for joining me on this journey

Phase 2 of this journey begins in 3...2...1...TODAY!!!

It’s been a long time since I blogged.  I just re-read my last blog from 2012 and I can say a lot of it is still the same, but so much of me has changed.  I’m picking up this blog venture again because today is the day I being a new chapter in my Journey to a new Me!  After 4 years and 130 lbs, my Bandzilla is being removed.  I am so nervous and scared.  What if I balloon up again? What if insurance says I’m too thin to do a revision in January like we think will happen?  I can’t go back to being that girl.  So I’m going to use my blog to stay accountable and focused.  I want to share my story in the event I can help others realize they are normal too J

Last I left off, I was going to talk about July 4^th of 2012 and coming the realization that I had learned to listen to the red flags.  I dumped the guy (first time I did that in my life) that I had met at the Memorial Day dance and moved on to dating a guy I had known for years from work.  Long distance relationship at that.  OMG, the energy and excitement of finally dating someone who I secretly had a crush on and found out had one on me was just what I needed at that time in this journey.  I will be forever grateful for the time spent together, learning about me, learning that I should be spoiled once in a while.  I loved his family and was very sad when his mom passed away about a year after we broke up.  We still keep in touch and talk at work (yes, we were co-workers but in different offices).  The woman who snags him will be very lucky and very special.

Moving on to January of 2013.  That was the month I met Sam.  Sam and I started out as friends first but by March of that year knew this was going to be a permanent relationship.  Sam has taught me patience (most of the time) and most importantly he has taught me love doesn’t hurt.  Being in a healthy relationship is so different than anything either of us have ever known.  I’ll venture more into that over time.  For now I am so happy with my personal life.  Not always good when you’re trying to lose weight because you get complacent with your habits.  I have been complacent a lot lately.

I’m hurrying to write this because I have to finish packing my bag and taking a shower so we can head to the hospital.  I was so worried I would be starving this morning because I can’t eat anything before surgery and I’m not scheduled until 3:00.  I miss water and my coffee more than I do food this morning. 

So, join me followers as we begin Phase 2 of the journey to a new me.