Changes
It's been a long time since I was last in here and nothing much has changed in terms of weight. I seem to maintain those 20-23 kgs lost once I had the gastric band operation. Ups and downs, downs and ups.
I used to vomit a lot, then my surgeon visited me before Christmas and removed some fluid from the band. That eased things up a bit after an initial adjustment period. I had a nice Christmas in the company of Esther but when she left, I fell into dark depression. All my problems were there and there was not much I could do to sort them out.
With things getting dangerous, I booked us two tickets to Athens and we flew there in February. It was good to have a break, even though it was not your traditional holiday. I continued to exist, but instead of being home alone with my daughter, I was at my mom's home, alone in the presence of the family. My back was killing me so I went and bought some new mattresses from IKEA. Mom was not keen on spending money on new mattresses but with me covering about 1/3 of the cost, she was persuaded.
My daughter was running around mom's spacious home like mad. She was chasing the dog, being chased by the dog and got into all sorts of mischief ending up with my mom and my brothers complaining about 'how naughty' she was. I told them 'I told you so!' but nothing much changed. LOL
We got back and although I ought to fall into dark depression again seeing as once again I was cooped up in 4 walls, alone with Miss HereComesTrouble, I fought it. Yes, the problems are still here and multiplying but I have done what I can do about them and there is only so much one can worry about stuff.
Anyway, back to the gastric band...
Whilst in Greece, I had an X-ray of the stomach to see if the band was doing its work. The surgeon said it was fine and proceeded to fill it by 1 ml even though I had been to see him because the vomiting had started again and I was unable to keep food and water down!!! So I went home with his reassurance that I'd be fine and instead of being fine, I had my first acid return (sorry can't think of its proper name right now). With my throat burning, my heart beating like mad, I spent the rest of the night sitting up and had a few more returns. The next day I went back to the hospital and had some fluid removed. It still wasn't enough but the surgeon was gone and he told his secretary that I should go home and come back in the evening if the burping continued.
Well, the vomitting went on... I flew back and vomitted in the airport toilets, then in the airplane, then at home... I was so miserable; hungry, but unable to eat or even drink! I hated my doctor for it.
I saw my GP and told him my problems and I am booked to see a specialist at the Whittington Hospital in London. I can't wait for the day! I don't know what he will be able to do but at least he can check the condition of the band properly, not in a 2-minute-two-gulps test and hopefully he can check my intestines out as I have been having a lot of pain on contact with my belly, swelling, and an endless circus of constipation and diarrhoea. Maybe he will even be able to fix my hernia, too, as that may have something to do with my troubles. One can only live in hope :)
Apart from that, life goes on. Washing machine is broken and the landlady won't replace it as she wants to sell the house and has no use for it. Which leaves me with 3-4 piles of clothes to take down to the local laundrette... Argh!
Yesterday I went out to look at washing machines and was given a makeover at the Lancome stand in John Lewis. I had a pleasant time with Jonti (if that is how her name is spelled) and left looking rather nice. Spurred by the change in my face, I went across to Evans and had a quick look for clothes but ended up buying costume jewellry instead. I am attaching a pic showing the makeup and new jewellry.
I used to vomit a lot, then my surgeon visited me before Christmas and removed some fluid from the band. That eased things up a bit after an initial adjustment period. I had a nice Christmas in the company of Esther but when she left, I fell into dark depression. All my problems were there and there was not much I could do to sort them out.
With things getting dangerous, I booked us two tickets to Athens and we flew there in February. It was good to have a break, even though it was not your traditional holiday. I continued to exist, but instead of being home alone with my daughter, I was at my mom's home, alone in the presence of the family. My back was killing me so I went and bought some new mattresses from IKEA. Mom was not keen on spending money on new mattresses but with me covering about 1/3 of the cost, she was persuaded.
My daughter was running around mom's spacious home like mad. She was chasing the dog, being chased by the dog and got into all sorts of mischief ending up with my mom and my brothers complaining about 'how naughty' she was. I told them 'I told you so!' but nothing much changed. LOL
We got back and although I ought to fall into dark depression again seeing as once again I was cooped up in 4 walls, alone with Miss HereComesTrouble, I fought it. Yes, the problems are still here and multiplying but I have done what I can do about them and there is only so much one can worry about stuff.
Anyway, back to the gastric band...
Whilst in Greece, I had an X-ray of the stomach to see if the band was doing its work. The surgeon said it was fine and proceeded to fill it by 1 ml even though I had been to see him because the vomiting had started again and I was unable to keep food and water down!!! So I went home with his reassurance that I'd be fine and instead of being fine, I had my first acid return (sorry can't think of its proper name right now). With my throat burning, my heart beating like mad, I spent the rest of the night sitting up and had a few more returns. The next day I went back to the hospital and had some fluid removed. It still wasn't enough but the surgeon was gone and he told his secretary that I should go home and come back in the evening if the burping continued.
Well, the vomitting went on... I flew back and vomitted in the airport toilets, then in the airplane, then at home... I was so miserable; hungry, but unable to eat or even drink! I hated my doctor for it.
I saw my GP and told him my problems and I am booked to see a specialist at the Whittington Hospital in London. I can't wait for the day! I don't know what he will be able to do but at least he can check the condition of the band properly, not in a 2-minute-two-gulps test and hopefully he can check my intestines out as I have been having a lot of pain on contact with my belly, swelling, and an endless circus of constipation and diarrhoea. Maybe he will even be able to fix my hernia, too, as that may have something to do with my troubles. One can only live in hope :)
Apart from that, life goes on. Washing machine is broken and the landlady won't replace it as she wants to sell the house and has no use for it. Which leaves me with 3-4 piles of clothes to take down to the local laundrette... Argh!
Yesterday I went out to look at washing machines and was given a makeover at the Lancome stand in John Lewis. I had a pleasant time with Jonti (if that is how her name is spelled) and left looking rather nice. Spurred by the change in my face, I went across to Evans and had a quick look for clothes but ended up buying costume jewellry instead. I am attaching a pic showing the makeup and new jewellry.
Don't you just hate it when necklaces twist? I took that pic myself, using the mirror to center the image in the screen of my camera - well, one can only be so perfect! LOL
The biggest change this season is that I have joined Weight Watchers. I am still following the points system but my first week I put on weight instead of losing which means I am doing something wrong. However, when I went there last week, it was impossible to talk to the leader as my daughter was acting up and we had to go after she gave us 'the look'. *sigh* So now I am using their website and tracking my meals into their excellent programme - try it for yourselves.
Must go wash those clothes now, but will keep you posted to developments. Be well, everyone.
Labels: depression, gastric band problems, weight watchers
posted by Tania at 1:54 AM
2 comments
