Jim1967

Wow, I am so disconnected going by that list. I can say yes that's me to most of those things....

I can remember feeling this way. Just take it slow and introduce all new things slowly and take baby steps.

I wear a winter scarf and sweatshirt at work and I am still cold. I was actually was tested to see if I was anemic last time I saw my Doctor and when he gave me the results he said "yup, just as I thought (at which point I thought the worst) no anemia". "You're cold because well its cold and you've lost well over 250lbs of insulation. I recommend you put more layers on". Thanks Doc...any chance you could give me a prescription to go to St Thomas for a couple of months out of the year?

This winter in particular has been the absolute worse. Never before in all my years have I detested winter like I do this year. I was born and raised in New England and I hate the winter. Currently it is 14 but with wind chill it is -1. C'mon Spring!!

Try and not to compare your journey to someone else. That just adds more undue pressure on yourself. Everyone is different and everyone loses different. Even someone with similar physical characteristics will lose differently than you. It's not a race and just as long as you see that downward trend then you are golden. Patience can be tough at times and comparing yourself to others can just add to that. Best of luck!

Sounds like you are making excellent progress! Congratulations

I had sleep apnea and had it bad. I snored very bad and stopped breathing several times through out the night. When I got tested I was having over 2000 episodes a minute. I would wake up in the morning and feel like I never even slept. I have almost gotten into accidents while driving because of sleep issues and a few times I even dozed off at my desk at work. I never had any energy. I would get home from work and have dinner and then fall asleep watching tv just to wake up and go to bed. I was on a CPAP machine for about 3 years but was able to finally come off it this past October.

Congratulations! You look terrific

A lot of great advice already has been given Susan so in an effort not to repeat mostly what has been said already I will simply say do not let your high BMI dictate one over the other. I had a BMI of 78. I was 450lbs 20 months ago the day I had my band put in. This morning I was 214lbs. So you can lose a lot of weight with the band but it does take some work and a lot of patience. You can be successful with either surgery. It's just a matter of deciding which is best for you. We're all different and our bodies work/react differently with each tool. What ever WLS you decide is right for you we will be here to support you and cheer you on through and through!! Good Luck

I assume this post was for me since you said dad and I am the only male who took the time to respond to you. I am sorry if you took offense to my comments as well as take it as a lecture. I was merely trying to inspire you to think back on when you started the process and why you wanted the band. I truly meant no offense and sorry if it came across this way. I am happy you are motivated and I wish you much success.

Why buy a tool if you're not going to use it? Why put yourself through all that preparation for the big day? Like CG says remember why you wanted WLS and what you wanted to get out of it. If that is not enough to motivate you than maybe you're just plain happy where you are in life at the point in time.

I am another of those people. I did Atkins for 19 months and dropped 170+ pounds. I am sure if you Google and Lowcarber.org and search for my username you will see my old journals and posts. From 2003 to 2004 I went from 393 to 219. 8 years later I put all 170lbs back on plus an additional 90!! I loved Atkins and it was a real easy diet for me but the problem was maintaining and embracing that lifestyle permanently. In the end I was depriving myself and that was part of the problem. Now that I am close to goal with my band and I have re-lost all the weight I had gain from Atkins I do worry about history repeating itself. For this reason I get on the scale every day no matter what. For me its about accountability. Band has given me portion control and has helped my appetite but I also see stories on here every day about how people are starting over and that have regained weight. So I know that can happen just easily as it can with a diet if you let your guard down. I like to think I have fully made the lifestyle change but really have I? Or is a combination of the band and my very strong will power.

Good luck!

You're truly inspirational and have done an amazing job! I too was not excited to start my WLS journey but rather desperate. I was a walking time bomb and if it wasn't for the support of my wife I probably would've given up. For me I went through various thoughts of what if I didn't survive the procedure? How long could I continue on the path I was on if I didn't do something? It got to a point where I had to choose. Continue the path leading to early death or face fear head on and get control of it. I had reservations right up until I got into the OR and my Surgeon looked down and me and said "You ready to go?" I remember looking back at him and saying "well we're all here. Lets do this thing and hope we all have a great day" I never ever thought I would be where I am at today. I have no doubt WLS saved my life and I am forever grateful for everyone who helped me along the way and that includes many people on here.

That is an awesome one Sandy!! I was looking at those last Summer and said maybe some day.... For those who do not know what a Can AM Spyder is it is a 3 wheel motorcycle with the two wheels in the front.

Back in 2011 I set a long term goal which I hit just before Christmas. My reward is Christmas 2014 in Disney World with my bride

Sounds like you were too tight with what she put in so it's good she took some out. How are you feeling since that time?

Actually I think you need to re-read it. It was last month she went for the initial fill and had the issue. "Well last month I had a fill of 1cc put in totaling 5cc in my 14cc band . Within 2hrs of receiving that fill I could drink NOTHING I mean nothing not even Water. So I returned 2days later and he took that 1cc back out . I just went in today and he put that 1cc back in again. So far so good."

I re-read the original post again she did say it had been a month since the original fill/removal. It is definitely possible with the month difference her stomach was able to finally take that 1cc. Again, I wasn't being critical of you or your Doctor. I was just conveying that would've been a red flag for me to question the Doctor on his thought process. Hope this fill puts you in the green zone

Happy Anniversary and many many more!!

Why in the heck would he put 1cc back in when you clearly had problems with it originally? This is the point where I would be asking my Doctor the thought process behind that. I would think 1 in and 1cc out because of problems he would put less back in. Like a .5cc or something but not the full 1cc that you had issues with. I am obviously not a medical professional but that makes zero sense to me.

At the end of the day you are the one walking around in those shoes. How do you feel about it? That is the most important question of all. People can either get on board or just step off. If those naysayers really care enough about you then they're going to get behind you on this. If they don't then at least you'll know where these people stand and perhaps they're not worth having in your life. I got the support and encouragement from my Wife and Parents and that was good enough for me. My Sister does not have a weight problem and actually she works part time for Weight Watchers. She was not a fan of the surgery but she's never said anything negative (at least to me directly). On the flip side she's never really asked me questions about it. Of course, I do not know of your situation so this is coming from a guy who 44 years old and 488lbs didn't give a **** much about anything and that includes peoples opinions. It was a life choice for me and at the end of the day it is about me and no one else. Good Luck!

Hi Jenny, Please call your Doctor and let her/him know exactly what is going on so they can direct you. I agree with the others that progressing your diet without their consult can be dangerous to your healing and overall band health. I like yourself had to do 7 days of clear liquid and broth and it was hard...very hard but you need to push through it. This is part of the process and it is important you give your belly sometime to heal. Good Luck, Jim

Congrats!!

I run on will power sometimes during the work day because you never know what will show up. Donuts, cake and Cookies. Thankfully I was not here the week before Christmas cause I bet there was a ton of bad for me food. A long time co-worker had his last day this past Friday and they got him a cake. I drank coffee. LOL