Splickety1125

Hi everyone. I'm a 31 yr old married mother of a 6 year old (7 on Monday) boy. I've always been a fat kid (body and soul). However, about 2 years ago I got a hole in my colon due to diverticulitis, and almost died from septic shock. I had to have an emergency colonoscopy, and live with a colostomy back for 4 months.
I went back and had everything reconnected as soon as I could. Well since my abdominal muscles were obviously not very strong to begin with, the strain of recovery caused me to get to gnarly hernias in my abdominal wall. It's all fat poking through, but it kinda hurts and looks terrible. My hubby said it looked like another breast on my abs (with my stoma scar looking like an areola!)
Dr. Said he could fix them, but no guarantee they wouldn't just bust back out because I'm fat haha sooooo, I began the lap band process. At my two month weigh in I was 282 (nobody gave me a diet so I was eating like no tomorrow!) I got my diet, and thanks to insurance rolling over, it took me about a year and a half to get through all the various visits and evaluations...and saving up for all the co-pays.
Well I finally paid up everything and had my surgery last Friday, Sept. 30, 2016. I had made it down to 252 at the last pre-op visit (thanks to pickle roll-ups and oyster stew....ask me about them sometime. Lifechanging!!) Now, after 6 days I'm down to 242 (I don't know why those two pounds keep lingering on. My little fatty buddies). I'm sure it's because liquids have like zero calories...or taste...or nutrients...So I downloaded this app so I could look around for anything that may make this transition easier and to meet people in the same boat to complain to and encourage haha
Sent from my VS987 using the BariatricPal App

Well, it's been over a month since I have posted anything on here and I'm a couple days away from my two month post surgery date. My surgery date was august 1st and I got my first fill on Sept 12. I weight myself this morning and I'm down 40 pounds which make me feel great emotionally and physically. I can eat anything I want and not have any issues except for pizza and bread which is fine because I try to do a low carb low calorie diet. The great part about the band is that I feel like I eat like a normal person now and not over eat until I'm sweating...The things that I have noticed is that now I'm the last person eating at the table which is fine with me. day of surgery two month after surgery
EliT

Day 5 post op.... I feel good/excellent, I'm still on my Protein Fluid post op diet for another two days. I cannot wait to get some real Soup broth in me :-). I started my pre-op liquid diet on July 29th and weighted 277 today is August 5th and I weight 263.... 14 pounds down and feeling great
EliT

Happy bandiverssary to me!!! I was banded in September 11, 2013. I'm almost 70 lbs down and I'm loving the new me.
Kelli

Kelli

Kelli

I went to a play tonight with my sister and found myself sitting between her and another gal who was also a large lady. If I hadn't lost all the weight, I would have never fit between them...and all three of us would have been very uncomfortable. Even with my sister and this other lady spilling over into 'my space', I was fine.
How many times can I say thank you for this band? How about every single time I fit somewhere that I used to not be able to.

I am almost at my 10 month bandiversary and fast approaching a year post op and I am sooooo happy with my results!
I have been lucky so far, that the road was pretty smooth, I did have two unfills following two really uncomfortable spouts of vomiting and not being able to eat or even drink at one point but I am back on track now
I am down 77 lbs / 35kilos
Gone from bursting out of size 20 trousers to jumping in size 10
Lost 5 inches from my bust
11 inches from my waist
10 inches from my hips
3.5 inches from each arm
7 inches from each leg upper thigh
And I cannot believe it, I would never have guessed I could be here in only 10 months.
Don't get me wrong I have worked really hard to follow exactly what my dietician and nurse tell me to do and I fight the head hunger and temptation and exercise daily but it is so worth it.
I hope this can be motivation to at least one person out there who might be struggling and feeling low right now. When I feel like that I get out there with my iPod and favorite songs and exercise, not to the gym I hate the gym but I go for a walk or jog or walkjog as long as I move and I am no sitting on the sofa thinking of food I don't care. I look at an old FAT picture and I think hell no I aint going back there and a few days later a pound or two may have come off. Happy Days!
Looking forward to the next few months and seeing what I can achieve.

I'm also nearly three years post band. Just like Sharpie, I'm glad to see you online Terry and glad that you are doing well. I've been trying to get under 120 lbs. but find myself fluctuating between 120-125. As long as I don't have any issues getting into my pants, I'm OK with this as a final number. Hell...at 267 before the pre-op liquid diet, I'm more than OK with being 120ish. LOL.

Here's a pic from a gala I went to with my husband at the Plaza Hotel. We were fancy fancy but inside all I could think of was wow I am actually wearing a size 8 dress! I was previously a 16 (on a good day)!

There was a period of 3-4 months last year where I couldn't put on my own socks and shoes.
I had herniated a disc trying to lift stuff I had no business lifting....and used poor technique and was grossly out of shape.....pre-op. That injury and the pain that came from it was the final straw for me getting serious about weight loss and scheduling my sleeve surgery.
Post-op healing....back to work.....still needed help to finished getting dressed for work every day. That bending while putting on my shoes was a trigger for the stabbing back pain.
Surgery was in October 2015.
This socks and shoe assistance bidness continued into December.....until I was finally able to sit on the edge of the bed and do it all by myself....like a big boy. Always seated on the bed, though. Only way I could.
Well.....worked a 14 hour shift last night....stopped at the tanning salon on my way home (I know, right? Sasquatch looking dude in a tanning salon....WTH?).......stripped down and tanned......dressed......simply put my socks and shoes on while standing up.
Walked out of there grinning......and squinting like hell......seems I'd wiped some lotion in my eyes at some point.
As far as my reasons for tanning.......I've got a cruise coming up in several weeks and I don't want to get fried then.

I went shopping at stores I would have *never* been comfortable shopping at preop, or even capable of fitting in their clothes.
Paid ridiculously for a pair of size 8/10 jeans because i could. lol

Yes you will lose your hair, or rather it will thin a lot. I had very thick hair before my surgery. It is quite thin now. It has to do with the nutrients you lose from what I understand. I will say start taking Biotin as soon as you can start taking pills. It really does help. No, it won't happen overnight but I can tell my hair is beginning to get thicker. Even my hairdresser noticed when I went in January that my hair is getting thicker again.
Do I hate that my hair is now thin and that I can't keep it as long as I would like? Of course. Is my thin hair worth the 150 pounds I've lost? Hell yes! ????

Sorry for the loss of your Father. I'm sure he is proud and loves you so much.

That makes me feel better!

Ok people I have never had this numbing spray you all are talking about!! I feel I've been ripped off lol

My port is never in the same position. Usually takes a few pokes before he finds the sweet spot for it it. I've had about five fills now and it still freaks me out every time. LOL. Thank goodness for the numbing spray!

Approved and surgery scheduled for October, check!!! After being on hold for almost 20 minutes with the insurance company today, I expected to be denied for a third time in three weeks due to paperwork. You could have knocked me over with a feather when the guy came back on and said APPROVED! The Subway "sandwich artist" thought I'd lost my mind when I started jumping up and down midway through applying cucumbers. Hehehe! Their denials were starting to get pretty creative too! I was almost curious to know what the next one would be.
For the record, I have hounded the coordinator at my doctor's office and insurance company for a solid three weeks. Seriously people... all the advice is correct... you have got to make yourself a pest to push things through. I have been sugar-sweet nice and appreciative every step of the way, but never allowed myself to hit the bottom of their to-do list. Don't assume anyone is on top of things, because they aren't. Don't wait for the denial paperwork in the mail. Just keep calling and getting the updates so you can tell the doctor's office what they need to do next. Only one of the official denial letters has turned up in the mailbox yet. If I'd waited each time, it would have been Thanksgiving before we got things ironed out.
If a low-BMI gal like me can get approved, so can you. If you know you qualify, it's just a matter of endurance!
Did I mention I booked a 2016 Disney Cruise today too? And that was before I'd even gotten the surgery news! A very satisfying day!

Went for pre-op testing yesterday and per the nurse, I should be feeling much better in a few days post op. I can swim in three weeks, gentle exercise/walking/sex in two-three weeks.
The boyfriend is trying to get in as much nookie as he can now...lol.

Thank you.
Just got home I don't even want to look at food. LOL
I feel raw and my stomach is gurgling so bad. I guess all that air I was trapping in there as well is moving around.
As soon as it was loosened I felt it drop into my stomach. Kinda gross feeling lol
She took out all 4.5 cc s and put back in 3 until Monday or Tuesday.
Thanks again everyone.

I hit it! I now weight 198.8. Typing that 1 at the beginning of my weight is surreal to me. 14 months ago I weighed 337 pounds.
8 months ago tomorrow I had my surgery. I've lost 96 pounds in that time frame.
I'm not perfect and I've had my bad days. I hate that I can still have bad days but I ate the wrong way for many years. It'll take time and I get that. There is no way I can complain about losing 138 pounds and being in ONEDERLAND.
I have 32 pounds to hit the goal I set for myself. Once I get there I'll see how I look and feel and see if I want to lose more. For right now though I think I'll just enjoy my success so far and that big ole *1* at the beginning of my weight ☺️

I found a picture in my office taken about 6 years ago. I had a chance to meet someone famous, so I had to have my picture taken with him. Well, I showed my wife the picture tonight, and she asked, "Who is that?"

Thinking she meant who I was pictured with, I answered, "That's Brian Cashman, the GM of the Yankees"
"No, silly, who is in the picture with him?"
"That's me"
"No way"
So, my wife of 25 years has gotten used to my new look, to the point that she doesn't recognize me in old pictures.......

I use myfitnesspal and I consume like 1300 calories on average. I just measured myself today and took some scary photos lol! For any newbie, I would def track everything. I have good days and bad days. There are days I don't track, and I will admit I still don't give 100% to this lifestyle change but I am eating less then I ever would. I think once the summer fun dies down (I tend to drink a lot with my friends) the weight will come off even quicker. I don't eat bread or Pasta. If I have 1/3 of a cup of pasta I feel so stuffed. Like today at my deli job, I cut three slices of ham, provolone and salami... Put some lettuce Tomato and onion in it.. Rolled it up.. And dunked it on oil and vinegar. Normally I would have had a "12 inch hero and a whopping side of like potato salad..I miss bread. But I have learned to substitute what I used to love without those carbs! Thanks for the love everyone!

So! I did it! I reached my first goal. March 10, 2014 I had my lapband surgery and I weighed in at 343lbs. This weekend I weighed in at 298.2 and that is a number I haven't seen in probably 4 years. I had been over 300lbs for quite some time so I ate my first goal to loose 44lbs, to make me less than 300. I'm loosing on average about 2lbs a week. It is slow and steady but I am super happy with my lapband decision and everyday is a new day to learn and grow into a better, healthier me. I am down a pant size or two and I am loving all the compliments that I am getting. I feel like I am glowing! My next goal is to loose another 20 by September 6th! I have a wedding to go to so I am setting my standards high and reaching for the sky!!!!

Well, I am coming off my summer hiatus and am returning feeling successful after 11months with lap band and plication.
My time away this summer has given me time to reflect and revise my plan as to where I want to finally be as far as my WLS journey goes.
I just returned from a trip to Hershey Park with my 4 & 7 year old and am measuring my success in all new ways now. This is the first real get away vacation since I had my surgery last September. I went on rides and was much less fearful of the ride restraints not fitting….they ALL did! I was happy not to be that "fat mom" that I saw get off the roller coaster before the attendant came over to check that the restraint was locked….she could not get the restraint to lock and left her son to ride alone. I silently cried for that mom because that was me a year ago in Disney….but unlike her I was not brave enough then to even try that for fear of being embarrassed or embarrassing my kids. I am not judging her at all but I am glad that I am no longer in that situation, for myself and my kids.
I often find myself looking at people (especially ladies and moms) and thanking the stars that I am no longer at "that point". I see myself in others now (the old me)…and although I am not judging anyone because I lived as obese for so so so many years but I find myself thinking…that was you….that is what you looked like…that is how you moved…that is how others saw you….it makes me feel sad at times.
But as I look to the successes I've had Im happy to have lost 93 pounds in the past 11months. I look now at reaching that goal number I picked out of the air…off "those" charts that say what i "should" weigh given my age and height and I wonder if 140 is realistic for me. Although I haven't been online on this site I have been lurking around and reading all of these posts about stalls and not reaching your goal and its made me think….I've held the same weight for the past 3 months. I haven't been the poster child for lap band surgery….especially this summer….Im off for the summer and with that comes off schedule. I've enjoyed my summer SO much. I've eaten (sometimes too much and have felt it), good choices (although not always), I've even gained a pound….at first i cried and beat myself up over that pound than I got a grip….in the past…that would have been 10 pounds….i've basically maintained my weight for 3 months while eating and enjoying….what a success that is.
People tell me I've lost enough and I look great. What they don't know is Im still about 190 lbs (almost 50 lbs from THAT goal number) and when I tell them that they all say "WOW--you look more like 160. I even had the plastic surgeon tell me how narrow I was…that was nice to hear. I watch people here torture themselves about getting to THAT number…and then they go below it and that is all and fine…but I realized that I am still successful w/o reaching THAT number. I want to eat like a real person and not worry that every morsel of food is going to put 5 lbs back on me. I want to live with food and enjoy it and not be in a constant state of panic….in my opinion there is WAY MORE to being successful than just reaching that number we assign ourselves.
My successes lie here…..
93 pounds off my 5'4" frame
Biking 12 miles
Walking w/o knee or back pain anymore
Going on amusement rides (even kiddie ones) with my kids and not feeling panic.
Able to walk around museums/zoos etc for 6-7 hours w/o having to sit down every 10 mins.
Looking in the mirror and LIKING who and what I see
Fitting into size 12 pants and size 16 shirts
Feeling ok w/myself to go consult w/ the plastic surgeon to remove the excess belly and skin
Eating….good and bad at times
Normal BP
Not obsessing with the scale everyday
Liking to shop for clothes
Believe me…I could go on and on.
Its been an up and down journey at times. And I don't beat myself up as much over my choices but its all still a learning process for me….and Im guessing it will be for quite some time.
But it was nice to go off and live this summer…just to be me, and appreciate me, and cut me some slack….Im not perfect and I never will be….
BUT I AM A SUCCESS!! And it does not matter that i haven't met that ridiculous number that some chart tells me I SHOULD be.
SUCCESS LIES HERE:
  

I think that's great. I was getting off my motorcycle at Walmart and a lady asked me how such a tiny lady held up such a large motorcycle. I walked on cloud 9 for the rest of the week. Things like that keep us going.

Guess who's a tiny lady? Me.
Yup...that word was used to describe me. The pic below is from my mom's birthday dinner and yes..the tiny lady is me. When we were out the day before at the Chinese restaurant, the waiter taking care of our large table was doling out hot and sour Soup and describing us as he was doing it. So he called my mom 'pretty lady' and he called my aunts 'blonde lady' and 'smiling lady'. When he handed me my bowl, he said, 'for the tiny lady'. Yes...I am pretty small these days and loving my life.