Week 4 Post-Op - One month since banding!

Wow, what a week.  As my last post showed - the country was consumed with the tragedy of the Christchurch Earthquake.  Today almost a week later, there are still over 200 missing, 148 confirmed dead.  Many have fled the city either for a break or to start a new life some where safer.  The first funeral was today and tomorrow exactly a week after the quake, the country will stop and observe 2 minutes silence.  Help from the rest of the country and all around the world has been outstanding.  People can be amazing in a crisis.


On other things to happen during week 4 post-op.

I was back onto real food.  Wow, more flavours.  I had another sticking - when I grabbed a piece of chicken on the way to the gym (bit of protein) didn't chew it properly and of course it got stuck.  It was worse than the apricot - quite unpleasant and eventually threw it up.  I have been so much more vigilant since then with chewing....lots!  As the dietician said to me, you will learn the hard way.

I went in for my first fill - only got 0.5ml but feel a bit more restricted now and less hungry.  The surgeon was really pleased with my progress, and explained the whole accessory left hepatic artery to me.  Apparently this causes issues as it crosses where the band is.  Only 20% have this accessory artery while most others have the artery in the middle.  I may go back for a further fill in a couple of weeks.  I've now lost 29.6 kilos (65.3 pounds).  So excited to be only 400g away from 30 kilos! The dietician was also chuffed, and emphasised the learning curve in terms of eating.  Now have the post-op food guide to help me along.  It now also means that I have lost more than what my other dog Honey weighs at 29.4 kilos. 

Honey - am sure she was a fish in a past life ;)

At the clinic, I was shown the clothes rack which has clothes donated from other patients that no longer fit them.  You can help yourself on the condition that you also contribute as you lose weight and get new clothes.  Coolest idea!  It's like free clothes!  I found four pieces including an awesome long coat for Winter.  I have to say I have spent a lot of money on new clothes lately (not many new ones, but the trade me specials do build up over time!)  It is something I need to curb.  Funnily enough, I have noticed this is common amongst many lap bandits.  I guess I am swapping my food addiction for clothing.

Phyiscal activity increased over the last week aswell. Still two more weeks before I can return to weight training but was doing some decent walks.  Feels good, but certainly need to increase my fitness!  Looks like my new personal training programme will be like a boot camp (maybe not so military like though) so increasing fitness will be achieved!

I'm feeling a lot better, a lot more energy.  Stopped having naps, so good.  Went for a trip up the coast at the weekend, and enjoyed it immensely.  Felt like it was a good reward for making it through the first month recovery process.  Sun, sand, a great holiday house and company (and my dogs!) May have had a bit more wine than supposed to, but it was good! Especially playing Cranium  :)

View from the holiday home

Wine and cranium = fun!!

Me and Anthony :)

Week 3 Post Op

Onto soft foods this week - anything (within reason) that you could cut with a side of a fork.  So nice to eat something with substance!  Food served on a bread plate with special sections for protein, carbs, veges and sauces.  Its cool but so small.  However, I can't eat more than what is on that size plate, and with all the chewing and small portions I have to take in - it takes longer than everyone else to eat!  So different to before this all started.

Went to the surgeon on Thursday, and fortunately there was nothing wrong with the port or the nerves/muscles.  The pain was in the wrong place (which has got less everyday :) ).  Apparently it is one of two things - My digestive system getting used to more food or my ovaries started to work again (maybe ovulating).  Either way while I hope for the latter, I breathed a huge sigh of relief there was nothing wrong with my band etc.

Also weighed myself - no weight loss!!!  No weight gain either but I was not happy.  Asked the surgeon about it and said it happens and my body might be just catching up and getting used to having some nutrients.  He said I was looking smaller since surgery (apparently my tummy was flatter).  Hope this non weight loss doesn't last too long though, was quite gutting!

Am finding am getting hungrier.  Have got my first fill on Friday - can't wait!  As I get more hungry I feel a little powerless.  Im scared of falling back into old habits.  So Im hoping the fill will curb these hunger pangs somewhat.

Not long ago...minutes,  I was eating an apricot and didn't chew it properly, and I got my first blockage.  What a horrible feeling!!!  Makes you want to throw up and tried but eventually it went down.  Dont think was a major but very uncomfortable!  Live and learn and maybe skip apricots for a little while.  Kind of put me off!

Has been extremely hot the last couple of days.  For the first time in a while Im not struggling as much due to losing some weight.  Pretty nice :)

3 more weeks until I can return to the gym - craving some weight/resistance training!  Cardio is just a little boring.