Update on my Funk

I received a call this morning from the pharmacy with the automated message alerting me that my prescription is ready. What Rx?  I wasn't told one was being called in for me.

So I called them to find out what it was. Zithromax - aka - the Z-Pack.

I woke up this morning feeling a tiny bit better but still feeling that something is wrong.  However the weird white cornflake spots on my tonsils were gone?  What the?

I have no idea but I am NOT complaining.

I got off my conference call and rushed to the pharmacy with my bottle of water in hand. I paid for it and didn't even leave the store yet before I popped the initial dose of 2 pills.

Then I went home and had another Emergen-C and more organic chicken broth with my chemical shake.

I called the surgeons office and my PCP verifying it wouldn't screw anything up in surgery. They both gave me the go ahead to take it.  My surgeons office said I was a still "wait-and-see" mode. They will make the official thumbs up or down on Thursday at my appointment then.

Then the hospital called me and went over my Pre-Op instructions.

Do not eat or drink after Midnight
Be there at 7am
No Makeup (oh lawd)
Wear loose comfy clothes
Shower the night before

And then I asked the most important question of all..  Can I have nail polish on?  I was given a big yes. Phew!

So off I went and primped myself. I got a nice gel manicure, a pedicure and my eye brows waxed to feel like myself. Then promptly back home to rest and mend myself.

I am still mentally ready. I am still planning to go with it on Friday. I am making myself get better!!

Go Zithromax!!!

Worried , Sad , Deflated and Sick. Happy Monday.

I apologize in advance because I know the tone of my blog isn't perky and happy go lucky.

I woke up in the middle of last night with a sore throat and some dry coughs. Popped a few cough drops and woke up at 4am and downed some Emergen-C. I went back to bed and slept all the way thru noon. That never happens. I am SO happy I telecommute - that's all I can say.

Today has been a day of minor aches, sore throat and feeling under the weather. Nothing SUPER bad - YET - but my body is fighting something.

I had many cups of hot tea, organic chicken broth, more Emergen-C's, Echinacea, Zinc, and soup for dinner along with lots of other fluids.

I am keeping whatever is trying to pillage me at bay.

Then I went and took a looksee in the mirror this evening and saw big white thingamajigs on my tonsils and throat.   Motherf*&@^!

So let me back up....

I had a great weekend. Zack's sister was visiting us from San Francisco for a work conference. Her company is headquartered in Tampa. So she popped in last Sunday and stayed the day. Then she left for her hotel and came back on Thursday and stayed thru yesterday.  We went all over, Saturday morning market, a few bars, a nice restaurant. I was SO dedicated. I drank club soda and lime everywhere, I had salad with no dressing and cooked great healthy meals. I brought my shakes all over as well. 

Oh yah - and she was sick. Coughed the whole time. 

I lysoled all over and I did what I could but apparently it didn't flipping matter.  She said she had been sick for over a month so shouldn't have been contagious.  Yah? Well guess what?

Ugggg - for 3 months I have made sure NOT to get sick. I even slept in the other room and couch when Zack was sick for 2 weeks last month. Now I am 4 days out to surgery and it may be postponed.

I called my PCP and my surgeon today and told them my symptoms. Surgeons office said to see how I am by Thursday when I go in for my Pre-Op appointment. If I am sick, it will most likely be cancelled.

The worst thing I could hear.

I have poured a lot of tears today over this because I have worked so hard and am so mentally ready.

So I am going to call tomorrow and alert them to the white pockets in my throat and see if I can get antibiotic started. I have no idea if it's strep or whether I will have to wait weeks or a month.

Just a really crappy day... to say the least.

10 Things Thursday!

1)  This weather. Oh my lordy this weather. I live in St. Petersburg and it's springtime here in Florida. MILD winter so far and temps of high 70's and sunshine and breezes.  Sorry didn't mean to rub it in but it makes me SMILE a lot.

2)  I have my faux SIL visiting with us this week. She is here on business from San Fran. Her meetings ended today and she is staying with us until Sunday morning when she flies back home. I ended up telling her about the LB that I am having next week. She had never heard about it. She was concerned but supportive.  She is naturally small, extremely athletic and non judgemental. I adore her and want to be like her athletically one day.

3)  Tomorrow is my EKG, Chest Xray and Labs. It's real folks... one week away real!

4)  We are scheduled to head to New Orleans Jazz Fest in May. I haven't been in a few years but this used to be one of my annual jaunts with friends. I am over the moon excited about the music lineup. I have been researching it like crazy today while I should be working.

5) We built a new closet system and moved into our new master bedroom. I donated 4 trashbags of clothes away and am now organized and anal retentively color coordinated. This change in my life somehow makes me feel like I will be more successful in my band journey. Less Life Clutter!

6) I am trying to decide what my fitness preference will be post band. I am thinking of joining the gym and hiring a personal training to tighten some of this business up. I would love to try pilates but am intimidated.

7) My TOM came one week early which this time was a massive blessing. Why you ask? Ok you didn't but I will tell you anyway. I was scheduled NEXT Friday on my LAP BAND SURGERY date to start. Nothing like cramps and a mess during surgery.  So while I feel like ass, have cravings and am a bitch.. it could be worse.

8) I laughed yesterday when I read a blogger hating on Pinterest.  It has becomes something I totally dig. It has given me a lot of inspiration for home projects, organization ideas and good recipes.

9) I started a new FB page for my lapband journey and was amazed by how many people did the same. It's like a secret society.

10)  I still want to infiltrate Boobs and don't know how to really be "in"?  Like, I realllly want to go to the Chicago trip one day and meet these superstars!!!!  Help me!!  LOL

Gnawing off appendages

Today was day 6 of Pre Op diet.

The first couple days weren't bad but by yesterday I woke up spotting for my TOM and felt like I wanted to gnaw off my arm. Even my fat poodle was starting to look tasty for the bbq. 
I was starting to go into espresso withdraws and felt like the people from Intervention should bust down my door any moment. Worse than heroin. 
Ok maybe I am a drama queen. 
I do however drink about 6 shots of espresso daily so this is TOUGH.  Take away my strong beautiful Italian espresso, pasta, ice cream, a good medium rare steak and push chemical shakes at me and then throw a period in the mix. Oh - I KNOW I am fun to be around! 

So after my two shakes and nothing in between, I had the wonderful mindset to run to my amazing gourmet grocery shop. Mmm gorgeous flowers, fresh brewed coffee smells, a case of amazing desserts, fresh baked bread, a cheese department which makes me drool... wtf was I thinking.  Not a good place to be bitchy and starving.

I avoided the desserts like gang-green but did one brief over the shoulder look at them.

I headed to the seafood department and was a good girl. I bought big, beautiful plump scallops, some fresh crab claw meat and some Ahi tuna steaks for my lean protein for the next couple of days.

Chicken is boring me to pieces.

Last night I switched it up with a beautiful spinach salad, grilled salmon, and lots of grilled zucchini and squash in the salad. I added one tablespoon of goat cheese which was divine. For a dressing, I mixed a tiny bit of zero fat Greek yogurt, fresh lemon juice and fresh dill. Was delish with the salmon and "wet" the greens.

It was so good, I made a similar salad tonight but added seared scallops instead and a few bits of fresh crab.

Some delish news about crab. It's soft. It's yummy. It's almost zero fat. It's zero carbs. It's MASSIVE protein. 

Yesssss - I know what my go-to lean protein post band will be often! 

A few hours later, I felt hungry again. My stomach should be SHRINKING but yet I feel like I could eat a Macktruck.   I discovered popping in a beef bouillon cube in hot water a few hours later was actually delish and held me for quite awhile. Not sure why I haven't done this the past few days.   - If only they had zero carb/fat chocolate bouillon cubes for the TOM cravings.

When I looked at my gorgeous and healthy salads, I almost had a second where I said to myself...  " why are you getting a band, you know how to eat and cook healthy".   And then my other internal voice said, "We didn't get fat on too much zucchini".  So no second guessing...   I should be FULL longer. I need this band. I KNOW how to cook beautiful meals filled with fresh and colorful veggies and lean proteins.

I need a fill now - and I am not even banded!! 

Add me!!

Hey ladies!

I started a new Facebook page to keep my journey private and seperate.

Please add me if you have a FB page or send me your info and I will search for you :) 

Link is:  saucybandster

I made an executive decision....

I may get frowns, scowls and anger but hopefully you will see it by my perspective.


My last post was regarding the Optifast program I was about to start.  After I blogged that I day, I made a call to the surgeons office and spoke to the nurse with the same questions I had here.


To add more fuel to the fire, I was pretty grossed out when I opened the box of Optifast.  The ingredients list is deplorable.


The first ingredient is water. The second is SUGAR. The fifth ingredient is CORN SYRUP SOLIDS. The rest has several chemicals.


Pretty gross. I banned Corn Syrups 2 years ago from my diet and my house. I won't buy any product that has any in them. So it was pretty gross to find it in this tiny box of meal replacement.


Fat:  3 g
Carbs: 20g
Sugars: 17g
Protein: 14g
Fiber: 0g


So back to the phone call. I spoke to the nurse and asked her why the other surgeons allowed their pre-ops to substitute a lean meal and veggie and why I was subjected to this. I wasn't snarky or a complainer but I was honestly curious.


She explained to me, that while she couldn't technically tell me it was ok to add the lean meal and veggie instead of a shake at night, she verified if I chose the other surgeon I would be allowed. She also stated I was a big girl and do as I saw best. She also agreed that Optifast wasn't the choice she would advise. I was reading between the lines in her tonality and how she was explaining I was ok to do this.


So ahem, I made the executive decision. I am on day three.


I have a chemical shake in the AM.
I have a chemical shake in the Afternoon.
I have 3-4 oz of lean meat, no sodium and good green grilled veggies.


My body is happier. My body is regular. My body is content and feels better with green things.


I am down almost 7 pounds in 3 days so I think I am ok in my decision. This diet is to lose weight to shrink my liver and not "clean" me out I was told. So as long as I am losing weight, I think I am on the right track.


This also has eliminated the "need" for added sugar-free chemical foods of jello and popcicles full of artificial colors and flavors.


My dinner repertoire has been thus far:


Grilled grouper
Grilled chicken
Ahi Tuna rare
Roasted Broccoli
Fresh Green Beans
Grilled Zucchini


Less sugar and carbs. More protein. Same amount of fat.

Twas the night before Optifast...

Twas the night before fasting, when all thru the house

Not a crumb cake in sight, not even a tollhouse

The cupboards were cleaned with love and with care,

Eliminating carbs and sweets as the lap band would soon be here

Lisa was nestled all snug in her bed,
While visions of Protein shakes danced in her head

The table was lined with broth and with jello

Hoping a 2 week fast won't stray me from mellow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The part I have been dreading the most is officially here tomorrow.  Two weeks of Optifast, SF jello and broth. I am going out with a bang this week and having cocktails and dinners with friends and the mister.  I am not going overboard in food choices but am definitely enjoying my week a bit.  Tonight, for the official "Last Supper" - we are heading to our favorite French Brasserie in downtown. Thursdays are always hopping so hopefully will be fun.

I picked up my 2 weeks supply of Optifast and realized when I was home, it's enough for 5 shakes a day. I am only allowed to have 3 a day however. So I had to pay $230.00 for 3 cases of this stuff which I think is a money making scam.  They said I can use it after. By then, I will be on different shakes if needed and not this tasty crap in a box.

Anyways - just venting. I think while my surgeon is fantastic and he is part of the center of excellence, I think he nickels and dimes you as often as they can. 

I am also curious as to why there are SO many variations of a 2 week PreOp diet. Some are allowed a healthy dinner at night, others no PreOp diet at all. Myself, I am not allowed any real food. 3 boxes of Optifast which are the size of a juice box and as much delightful low sodium broth and sugar free popsicles and jello one can handle. 

So many variations of this, I wish it was more streamlined.  Would make the process easier.


I will give you a for-instance.
3 surgeons who perform the info sessions, are all partners and are all part of the COE. 
2 surgeons offer Protein Shakes variations which are super cost effective and cheaper. They also allow a sensible dinner each evening of 3-4oz of grilled chicken and green veggies.
I already stated what mine does.
So why the difference?  I am just curious?  The point is to shrink the liver and lose weight. Optifast nutrients have a lot of sugars so that is strange. I think maybe if I knew all of the data upfront, I would have chose the other surgeon. I think they should give you all the details and all the costs up front.  I noticed a few posts on their message board for someone asking about other options if they couldn't afford Optifast.  Noone from the staff replied.  It's mandatory. Once I put my deposit down, I was then told that it was a necessary evil.


Oh well...  What were your PreOp diets 2 weeks prior to surgery?