Crishell

I was banded 1/19/07-First, I let my hair grow out longer, then cut in a bob and I put gold highlights in it. Then, I cut it short and got rid of the highlights and went with a solid light brown. Now I want some highlights back. I now have two tattoo's. One blue butterfly on right upper arm and one blue butterfly on right upper back/shoulder. Butterfly was symbol of change and each tatoo equals 50 pounds lost. I am wearing brighter colors and clothes that are more fitted. Also, my shoe size has gone down from 9.5/10 to 8.5 & i am wearing higher heels and more noticeable shoes (strappy sandals in summer etc.). Also, have more of a desire to "date". Have not dated in forever. Just went out on a first date last week. Ended up seeing him twice within 5 days. So far so good.

God has blessed me by steering me in the direction of getting LapBand surgery and giving me the courage, motivation and will power to continue on this weight loss journey and being with me every day every step of the way. Also for giving me caring and suportive family and friends. He is giving me peace and favor in my life.

Since my surgery I have had the increased desire to actually date and go out more. It has been frustrating because no one really interests me & I am not the social butterfly. All the good guys seem to be taken. My mother says that I am too picky but I don't agree. At any rate, an old friend that I have known for many years before my surgery called the other day. I have not seen him in like a year because he moved about 2 hours from me for a new job but we talk at least monthly. I have known him for like 8 years & we went out occasionally but nothing serious ever materialized because I am not attracted to him in a romantic kind of way. He has invited me to come up to Northern Va. to go to a Washington Wizards basketball game with him Saturday and to hang out. Of course I told him that I would drive up. Then, I got up the courage to contact an old friend that I saw on Facebook. I have not seen him since 2005 because he moved to North Carolina & we just went in different directions and lost contact. Needless to say it has been two weeks since we "found" each other and we talk/send e-mails or texts daily. We have made plans to see each other next weekend and hang out. I have lost about 140 pounds since the last time he saw me. He has seen recent pics of me and I told him that I had lap band surgery. I am actually nervous about seeing him because I really did like him. Hopefully both outings will happen. Seems here lately my life has been work and worrying about gaining weight/not losing anything. I go out with my girl friends and happy hour type stuff with co-workers/friends but this is the first one on one with a guy since I don't know when. I need to have some fun for a change.

I had my surgery at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond. My surgeon is Dr. Bautista with Commonwealth Surgeon's. The office is at the actual hospital. Richmond Surgical is also affliated with St. Mary's. They perform weightloss surgery and fills as well.

I definitely can relate to what you are going through. I was freaked out too when I finally decided to clean out my closet and the overflow of clothes that had. Since the age of 18 (39 when had surgery) I was a size 26/28 and then graduated to a 30/32 for some items. Today I am a 16 and some 18's. Back then I never imagined it and now it is hard to believe I actually wore some of that stuff. I tried on some things that I remembered buying and wearing regularly. It actually made me cry when reality hit me that I really was that big for many many years. I hated to part with some of it but I made myself do it because I do not intend on filling those big clothes back out again. I shared a few things with a cousin but the majority of it went to Goodwill because it was too big for anyone that I knew.

When I first had my surgery, I was told that my port was tilted too. The nurse practitioner said that it had to do with how the surgeon placed it during surgery. She further told me that mine should have been placed a little higher. My first two fills were very difficult until she learned where my port was and how to position the needle and stick me for the tilt. She was constantly missing the hole and would require several sticks. Have not had any problems with it since and I am almost three years since surgery. So it seems it depends on how it was placed, the stitches etc.

On September 8th, I went in for a fill under fluoro. I had been at a prolonged plateau and the nurse practitioner wanted to do one under fluoro to see if she noticed anything going on. Plus, I had gained 4.5 pounds since April. I ended up not getting a fill because the x-ray showed that my pouch was very swollen and she said that my band was tilted and that it had possibly slipped. I am not sure if there are varying degrees of slippage or what. But she told me that your pouch width should not extend over the band and mine had. I was banded in Jan. 2007 so I have the old 4cc band. She took all of my saline out-3.5cc's at the time. It really hurt me to see all my saline go down the drain but I had to face reality that I did it to myself by not following the rules and watching my portions. She constantly preached this with every visit but i thouth i was doing ok. I was terrified that I would have to have more surgery or have it taken out and end up gaining all of my weight lost back. But, she told me to watch my portions & try do liquids to give my band a chance to "rest" and fall back in to place. I had appt to go back in 3 weeks which was just 9/29 to do another fluoro which would determine my fate. I really tried to do all liquids but it became very difficult and I did graduate up to soft/mushy foods with an occasional bad choice. I tried to watch my portions. I was so terrified to go back for the appt. because I was thinking the worse. I did not weigh during the 3 week wait. Needless to say, i had lost 5.5 pounds in 3 weeks. She said that my band looked good and she even gave me back 2.0cc of saline. So I am considering this my second chance to get it right and get to my personal goal of 195.

I have to rely on birth control pills to have a regular period. Otherwise I would have about 3 a year. I have been on pills for like 15 years and during this time, my periods have been consistantly regular, last 3-4 days with a little cramping. I have continued to be regular after my surgery but they are only lasting like 2 days and are rather light in comparison to what they were before the band. I also have more cramps and fluid retention. My doc has checked me for cysts, fibroids etc. and she says everything is ok. I was actually anticipating them lasting longer and get heavier with weight loss but I appear to be drying up.

I agree. Tell your doc about the lightheadedness. I used to get like that. When I first had surgery, my port was very hard to find. Turns out it was tilted and got better with weightloss so that now, I do not experience that problem. All the poking and prodding to find the port would cause my blood sugar to drop (along w/ not eating beore the fill) and that was why I was lightheaded.

I have said a prayer that you all (myself included) stay strong and get what we want. Satan is always busy trying to play tricks on us and keep us unhappy. I'll pray for you, you pray for me....and watch God change things!!

I am beginning to feel that way too. I saw pictures of myself from 2 weeks ago in Myrtle Beach and even with shorts and tank top on, I looked "droopy". Not as concerned with my stomach as I am my thighs and back. I feel like I have alot of back fat and it is driving me crazy.I have not shared my thoughts with anyone and people commetn all the time on the "new" me. I know/feel I look good, most of the time, in my clothes and I am still grateful for the weightloss but I am not liking this droopy look at all.

When I tried it 2 weeks ago, I survived through Day 4. On Day 5, which was a Friday, we had a Pizza Party for our clients and staff at lunchtime. Needless to say, I blew it. Since it was my first attempt, I actually did better than I expected. And it did help to curb my carbs into that next week as well although I did not follow the plan the next week. I want to start again this Monday.The weekends are always hard for me and that includes Friday evening/night.

As i have surpassed the 2.5 year mark since receiving my band 1/19/07 I have a question- what are your long range expectations and how often are you still going to the doc for appts and fills? Do you think that is it possible to just max out of what the band can do for you? Are there people out there who were banded way before us who still go to the doc for appointments and fills?? I have the "old" band which is 4cc. I had my last fill April 2009 and I have about 3.25 cc in my band. My doc gives fills in .25cc increments. My last fill showed some reflux and she took some out so I know that they are not going to give me any more anytime soon b/c I am still experiencing some reflux & just a little bit of fill makes a difference. I have been on a prolonged plateau-many many months. I have tried every combination of caloric intake vs. exercise i can think of and nothing has made a difference. While I am grateful that i have not gained, I feel that I am doing too much to just be maintaining. I need to see some downward movement. Is becoming harder to stay motivated but I am afraid to totally give up b/c I don't want to fail and go back to what I was. I try to focus on the NSV's such as overall improved health, blood sugar and blood pressure good, cholesterol going down, even better clothes etc. But it is getting harder every month that the scale does not change. My doc says that I have been 'fat' for so long that my body is fighting it. All I want to see is 199 after an all time high of 368. My body will not let me stay under 220. So my question is what I stated in my opening. Will there come a time where I will totally drop off and not go to the doc for follow ups/fills and that be the end of the road??

I am 40 soon to be 41 and I bought one. My boyfriend and I were browsing JCPenney (in the Misses not Plus dept) and he saw it. Told me "this would look good on your 'new' body". I was skeptical at first b/c it did look to be rather short on the hanger. But I tried it on and while it is slightly above my knee (not extremely short), it looked good. Couldn's see any flabbiness. I've worn it a couple of times.

That's great. Congratulations. You are definitely an inspiration.