Well, I thought someone may be interested in my progress as I head towards the Lap Band operation on 25th this month. It is very scary for me, but something that I now feel I have to do, to save my life.
I weigh 120 kg. and have a lot of problems with pain - neck, back, hip, knee. Also high blood pressure, a funny heartbeat, sleep apnea, and arthritis. Don't want to live like this. Have tried more than 20 different weight loss methods over the years, with little success. So I am taking it out of my hands now. And putting it in the hands of a lovely surgeon at Port Macquarie.
For those who aren't familiar with Lap Band surgery, it is becoming more popular in Australia to combat obesity (which is now the #1 health problem in our country.) It involves the surgeon cutting 3 holes in your skin below your ribs, and using laperopscopic surgery, placing a band around the top part of your stomach, connected to a small tube and a "port" which is inserted just under the skin at about waist level.
The port is used by the surgeon to inject saline solution into the surrounds of the lap band, to adjust the size so that not too much food can fit through. Food must be chewed well, so that it will pass through into the major part of your stomach. The saline may need adjustment until the right size of the opening is obtained. By the way, it is all reversible, if needed. Anyway, you can find details of this operation by Googling "Lap Band Surgery".
For two weeks up to the operation, and two weeks after, I need to have just a liquid diet, which consists of sachets of soups, desserts or drinks. This is to enable the liver to shrink, as the surgeon has to manoeuvre around it to get to the stomach.
So please don't invite me out for lunch over the next month or so!! Once I get this sorted, I will be able to eat as normal, except just small entree sized servings. I will be looking forward to getting back onto solid food.
I'll post a few thoughts ever now and again, if anyone is interested. Let you know how I feel, maybe a few photos, or details of weight loss. This is just a little starting point.
Bye for now. xx
Thank you for sharing your journey with me Ruth. I now have a better knowledge of how it all works. You have my full support in any way you need it!
ReplyDeleteHello Ruth. I'm friends with your daughter Linda (well, we've never met, only online) and she gave me your blog. I look forward to following your journey. Please feel free to come and read mine http://gastriclapbandjourney.blogspot.com/ - there are a few links to others there too. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck, it's the best thing I've done for myself. Hard, but still the best thing.