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Another 12.5 lbs. down since last Dr. appointment 6 weeks ago...a total of 83 lbs. so far. It has been a long 2 years but results are finally happening! Got to keep plugging along!

When I first got banded in April, 2013 I had what I called phantom hunger pains. I had some problems with the fills, choking and throwing everything up. Finally things calmed down and have found the right fill amount. I have lost 80 pounds which is slow but considering I am a diabetic on 2 insulins, it is still progress. Remember the band is just a tool and you will find the right amount for the fill to satiate the hunger pains...phantom hunger pains ...It also helps to plan and measure your meals...Best wishes! Carol

Hi everyone! It has been awhile and thought I would sign in with an update on how things are going for me. I have lost a total of almost 80 pounds since my Lapband procedure. It has been a slow progress but I am still losing so I cannot complain. I am seeing an internal medicine doctor who is working better with me than my endocrinologist did. He prescribed Invokana which has helped with my blood sugars and weight loss. I am taking metformin and have cut my Humalog intake immensely. Feeling better which is the goal! I am wanting to start exercising more so that will be the next step! I appreciate the comments I received when I originally posted. It is encouraging to know so many people understand and care. Thank you! Hope all is well with everyone!

Hi all! It has been a few months and have finally started losing weight with the help of my Internal Medicine doctor. He has been working with my diabetes and we are trying Invokana and it is helping break down sugars that my body is not able to. I will be starting a once a week injectable medicine that will help with after eating blood sugar spikes.I have lost approximately 17 pounds since beginning the meds and my A1C is down to 9.3 which is considerably lower than the 11 and 12 previously, even after the lapband procedure. This whole journey has been an experience. The lapband is a tool just like the knowledge in your head, work with it and you will succeed, just don't give up. I will keep you posted on my progression. It really does feel good to be successful for a change....frustrating if you are following the suggested rules and not losing though. Keep asking questions. Thanks for being here! Carol

Thank you to all of you for your support. I have been going to my doctor's appointments religiously and following the diet plan. Just recently though I have been eating slightly more and have had more cravings. I have discussed concerns with my doctor. He wants to check to see if there may be a leak in the band. We talked about hormonal issues with premenopausal symptoms and such. So many things and all I can do is keep my head up and move forward. I have lost inches just not weight. I am trying my best but have moments of relapse with being so dependent on food for comfort it is not an easy solution to let go of. Being diabetic does not help either. Can I add more? Please don't think that my situation is all "whoa is me"! it isn't by any means! So many have it worse and I empathize with anyone that has issues with losing weight. I know that we all have different ways of dealing with things and just wanted some way of communicating and maybe finding new means. Once again, thank you to those who took the time to read my blog and reaching out to me! It is very much appreciated. I have so much to be thankful for! Carol

I am in need of encouragement at the moment! I feel as though my journey with the lap band procedure is not going well. I had the lap band surgery at the end of April, 2013. So far I have lost approximately 40 pounds. Not so much considering how much I want to lose. I am a diabetic and have cut my insulin intake in half. I don't gorge and eat like I used to. Still the weight will not come off like I thought it would. I am pre-menopausal and I am sure that hormones are a contributing factor. I had problems with the first few fills, choking, sticking, and vomiting. I plateaued for the last few months with very little weight loss and am now ready to move forward. I have to get back to measuring and walking away from the snacking. I was having so many problems with certain foods not going down that I picked up bad habits of eating things that would easily go down like shakes and sweets. Whew! It doesn't take long for things to go haywire! Emotionally I am ready to move forward but I need a strong support group to help motivate me. Here is a little background on my life the last few years. My father-in-law passed on March 29, 2010. He suffered with prostrate cancer and battled it for 9 years. At the end his wife and 11 children were with him. I admired him for being so patient and kind. I miss him dearly. The following year on Jan.2, 2011, my father passed away after fighting an infection and bladder cancer. It was quite unexpected and took an emotional toll on me. I became the caretaker of my 80 year old mother. This was challenging as my Dad did everything for my Mom. She wanted to live on her own and would not be talked into moving in with me until the following year in August, 2012. Little did I know that she must have not been well for a while as she passed away in my home 8 days after moving in with me. So emotionally I have pushed so much aside. I did not deal with my Mom's passing well. My husband has been truly wonderful through all of this! I am so very fortunate to have such a supportive person to share so many good and unfortunate things with. I quit my job of 17 years as a manager in June, 2012 to take care of my Mom. Yes, it took 2 months to talk her into moving in with us. I am still dealing with estate stuff so it feels as though the pressures will never end! I have to admit though that things are falling into place and all will be taken care of this year. My goals are to stay as positive as possible and take care of my health and move forward. My husband keeps telling me to look at the things I have and how fortunate we are to have two wonderful sons...I have to tell myself this even though there are times that I don't feel I will live through these boys being teens. I have two sons from a previous marriage that are in their twenties, I lived through their teen years so, yes, I will live through this! LOL! I am going through a career crisis as well. I want to start a new career outside of retail...this is not easy at 54 years of age and not knowing which way to turn. It will work out! I have so many irons in the fire that I am not sure which one to pull out, ha! Thanks for taking the time to read this and any encouragement would be appreciated! Carol