Nope, not Bandiversary - the real thing - my hubby and I have been married 43 years today. It seems like only yesterday that I was 19 yrs old and a size 5 walking down the aisle of our church. Ha Ha..OK, so you aren't buying that !!! Yep, 43 years of having 2 kids, gaining weight and ballooning up to a whopping 22W. Well, almost 3 yrs ago, I got my band and it has changed my life and my husbands. He gets less food now. He gets healthier choices now. He is loosing a few pounds (and he needed too). He comes home to a happier wife.

But, I am changed too...no longer a walking blimp at 268 pounds on a 5'3" frame. 124 pounds gone, no more prescriptions to lower BP or sugar or nerves. I walk, swim and am enjoying life. My husband asked me the other day how I could work the long hours I do, in a high stress job and still have energy..My secret is my weight loss...I feel so much younger and energized.

Sure, I fall off the bandwagon and go back to eating junk. Anyone that says they don't - well...they are much stronger than me that is for sure. My diets in the past allowed me to loose weight and I did great..then gradually..here came the pounds again. Well, not this time. the band says NO WAY Charlie !!!!

As I sit here writing this I do have a problem. My band is probably too tight. No refux, no PB, but real pain in my left shoulder and upper stomach area. I hate to tell my Doctor as he already thinks he wants to do a endoscopy to check for erosion. I cannot loose this band. It is all that stands between me and "whaledom" again. My doctor has moved his practice 300+ mile away so I would have to change doctors to have the proceedure done locally or drive to WPB. Neither one is a good option for me and I am scared. If anyone has had this problem before, please let me know what you did and what the outcome was. I have lapband w/plication which is supposed to keep erosion from happening. If he removes the band I would want revision right away but to what? Would my insurance allow it? I weigh in the 140's not exactly overweight anymore. I know I can't endure this shoulder pain much longer and I understand how dangerous erosion is but as scarey as that is..gaining my weight back is worse.

I know you understand..you wouldn't be here if you didn't. Have a great weekend and enjoy this lovely Springtime weather.

Regards and best wishes from.....

Melinda in Florida