angyl2314

Wow, the midterm did not go well. Good thing is I am in school for my masters in social work...so I can pull the empathy card. I had already left the professor a message from the hospital, and spoken with her last night. I thought I could pull it off. I thought wrong lol. I'm pretty sure I can make it up if I did as poorly as I think I did. But why did I get on the scale 2 days after surgery? You think by now I would KNOW better. I am up 8 lbs. I know it is all surgical bloat and the gas that is still comfortably attacking all of my muscles and every other crevice of my internal body. I guess the gas was more tolerable when I was heavier because there were more places for it to go. I ate 5 Ritz crackers today. No restriction. I'm nervous. This is gonna be tough for me. I have the nutritionist on Tuesday. Ugh...

Wow, what a journey! Ok, so i had the "emergency" surgery. I guess my doctor was worried about my symptoms and the fact that my port was all out of wack. The surgery was finally at 6 pm last night. I have no idea what he did to me but I was admitted and spent the night at the hospital...and I was in a great deal of pain. According to what my mom said the doctor shortened the cathedar because it was so long from having lost so much weight. He re-attached the port...again. And he completely unfilled my band. My mom said something about pushing stuff around. No clue what that means...she's super helpful! Good news is, even tho it's just Clear liquids, I CAN EAT. It feels so so good. I'm not worried about choking or getting sick or gross stomach acid. That piece of mind is worth the EXCRUCIATING PAIN I am experiencing from the trapped gas. I never had the trapped gas before. I was real lucky. This is so awful. I can't even do anything by means of pain relief because I have a midterm to study for that is tomorrow. I am in cram mode right now =( On the weird side the doctor told me he wants me to gain some weight. I think 5 lbs would be good. I feel like my skin is kinda pale and my face is looking a little withdrawn. I have to stop obsessing with the number on the scale, and be more concerned with how I look. So, let's hope this is the beginning to me being able to fully enjoy my weight loss. Thanks for the support...and for checking up, Lynn.

I went to see my doctor today. He put me under the fluro to check my band. The placememt is fine, no slippage. He did the barium swallow test and saw that it is taking me longer than normal to pass the liquid. He tried to do the unfill and couldn't get to my port because, not only has it moved to what seems to be a land far far away, it is also upside down. He is going to do the revision and cut the cathedar. Apparently since I have lost so much weight it is all curled around. It is outpatient, and I am going to sit patiently until he can squeeze me in. I'll keep you all updated!

I finally decided that I didn't feel like putting up with my doctor's schedule and that I needed to take control of the situation. I called him today and when I couldn't reach him because he was busy, I sent him a letter by fax explaining that I needed immediate attention and why. He called me back pretty quickly. I am scheduled for a barium swallow test tomorrow morning to check the placement of the band for slippage and whatever. From there he is going to determine what the next step is. I don't think I have slippage, I think I need the small unfill and want to have another port revision, but my insurance company pays him for something, so we'll see. On an amusing note...I found some old size 18 stuff so I decided to take a few pics. I was an 18 when I got banded, and am a 4/6 now. Putting these things on really blew my mind. I can't remember being that big...

I've lost all confidence in the organization with which I am involved. My surgeon is unreachable, the reception staff is incompetent, and the support staff is sub par. Oddly enough, I am sick AGAIN. My body's defenses are so weak. I haven't been eating much, if anything, and when I do eat I frequently get sick because my restriction is too much. I haven't been able to see my doctor for weeks and weeks...due to various reasons (he was on vacation/sick...). I'm a mess, even though I look good lol. It isn't much of a consolation though, I would rather be healthy. I really need an overhaul, and if my doctor/nutritionist aren't in the position to give me some immediate attention and effective action plans, I am going to a new bariatric speacialist. Someone from here private messaged me 2 weeks ago saying they were going to my surgeon for an initial consulation. I gave them my totally honest appraisal. Even after all of that they decided to keep the appointment. I truly hope they don't encounter problems like I have...and maybe I really AM Murphy's Law. My appointment is next Tuesday...let's see if I can make it. Keep your fingers crossed lol

Well I have a 4cc band, and have gotten 2 fills since banding. I guess in total I had 2 CCs. Not sure what is in there now with evaporation and stuff. Would love to have this conversation with my surgeon but he is quite unreachable. I have an appointment with him next week...impressive! I want to have a slight unfill because I hate that it takes me a few hours before I can drink in the morning. That makes me crazy. I am also supposed to meet with the nutritionist to come up with a new diet plan. She said we are going to increase my calories and change the kind of food I eat because with my band this restricted I have a hard time with certain solids.

John, I posted bigger pics in post #549. It's on the previous page. You can check them out there. Thank you everyone for the compliments and continued support!!!

Thanks Tonya, I feel great...kinda

I have so much restriction ALL OF THE TIME, and I haven't had a fill since March of last year. I can not drink anything in the mornings for about an hour and a half after I get up. I am not necessarily PBing, but I get stuck a lot, and voluntarily sick because I have food "pooled up" in my little stomach. Sounds gross but I don't know how to explain it. It is like food that may have already been broken down but regurgitated. I have no idea...it's gross and I could do without it. I would prefer to know exactly what it was though instead of me trying to diagnose myself...lol. I just called my doctor...surprise surprise...he is STILL out sick. Yawn.

I remember you had the tummy tuck. I've been following your progress. You're my plastic surgery "go to" person lol. I am considering the tummy tuck and lower body lift. As you can see I have a lot of skin on my thighs that needs to be tightened. It makes me kinda uncomfortable. I was aiming at the surgery for like May so I can be bikini ready, but am pushing it off till fall because I want to use my time off for actual vacations.

Ha! Thank you. Now if I can just get up the nerve to finish the job off with the plastic surgery. Blah...

My most recent pics. The "before" pics are me at 240. The recent pics are from this weekend.

I was banded in January 2007. The first time it came up was probably March or April of 2007. I had revision surgery in August, which was a cinch. But...it came up AGAIN. I haven't even bothered to go for another revision because I have only had 2 fills, and have reached my goal. I am starting to reconsider though because I experience significant pain when I work out with my trainer.

I STILL HAVEN'T SEEN MY DOCTOR!!! He was on vacation and now he's sick. Ugh! I have been having a rough time getting fluids down first thing in the morning. It's like my band is so tight. It takes a little while before I can get stuff down comfortably. It really sucks tho. Hopefully I can get in with Dr. Reliable this week. Here are my most recent pics...my first "after 100 lbs" shots. In the bathing suit pics you can see the skin I need to have worked on on my legs. My friend did have a great time playing with the skin the other night while we were shopping. She said it was "relaxing" and that the skin was "like a stress ball". I laughed. Weird thing is that I play with my tummy skin sometimes when I am sitting in bed...haha

So now that I have hit my 100 lbs mark I NEED TO STOP LOSING WEIGHT lol. God, I never thought I would be saying that...EVER. I had a stomach virus yesterday which took me right over that threshold. By the way, the stomach virus sucked!!! I meet with the nutrionist tomorrow, and can hopefully get in to see my surgeon to discuss a slight unfill. I have to talk about my eating habits with my nutrionist, and my food journal. What??? I have never kept a food journal, and my eating habits are deplorable. Oh well, guess I have to face the music.

I was banded 1/3/07. I am 5'4". My highest weight was back in 2002 at 272 lbs. I lost 55 lbs on Weight Watchers, but through the years slowly put some weight back on. The summer of 2006 I reached my breaking point and decided something needed to be done and I was over struggling with my weight. I was banded at 240 lbs with a BMI of 40. I am not 146 lbs with a BMI of 25.1. 24.9 is "normal weight" so I decided that was good enough for me...even though I think I'll push to the 100 lbs mark (6 more lbs). I think I just keep changing my goal because I don't know what happens next. I am considering plastic surgery (lower body lift and tummy tuck), but have to become a little more comfortable with such an extensive procedure before making my final decision. So how do I stop losing weight? I have a tiny amount of fill in my band (about 1-1.5 CCs). Do I get "unfilled"? I don't feel I have learned any really good coping skills and positive behavioral eating techniques....meaning with no band I do not think I will be able to maintain my weight. I feel lost and confused. Anyone else going through this? Or is there any advice for me out there?

After 14 months I was able to read the numbers 145.2 on the scale, which probably have not been under my feet since 1991...PROBABLY. I tried calling my doctor to schedule an appointment with him next week, but it is snowing pretty badly here, and Mr. Reliable's office is closed. Shocking!!!

I was thrilled to see the numbers 145.2 on my scale this morning. 14 months and 95 lbs later. It feels great!!! I am pushing for 5 more lbs though because I think it sounds better to say I've lost a hundred pounds instead of ninety five lol. Tonya- You always have such a good perspective on things. Through ups and downs you have maintained such positivity. Stick with it. It IS a huge struggle, but the pay off is worth. Mommi- CONGRATS ON YOUR NEW BODY! I guess maybe I should get myself in gear and start scheduling my appointment.

I have been a big barrell of complications. The first of which was my port came up from the muscle back in April. I had revision surgery in August, and surprisingly enough it came up AGAIN. I have always had very very tight restriction, but instead of dealing with my doctor and discussing possibilities and solutions with him, I just continue what I am doing. I am not starving. I just eat VERY VERY little portions, but a few times throughout the day. I supplement myself with Ensure and yogurts. (I didn't mention that my doctor is extremely hard to get in touch with. When I finally do speak to him it is usually me yelling at him for the fact that it has taken me so long). Most recently I had pneumonia, which the doctors figured I had for a number of weeks without symptoms. That had a direct effect on my eating. I thought my band had slipped, but CT scan proved otherwise. With regard to what I eat. Well, today I had about 1.5 eggs with yolk for breakfast. For lunch I had a small arugula salad with goat cheese (but was only able to eat very little of it because my eggs sat in my stomach for so long). I had apple juice in between. Tonight I am having some tuna and salmon sashimi. That is a typical day for me. It is just some days, like yesterday, I can tolerate a lot more food. Then today my digestion is very very slow. I have gone days without eating, but that was months ago, when I was struggling with food challenges, coming to learn what my body can and cannot tolerate. I lose no weight when I don't eat. I just want to get through the next few pounds and have a slight unfill. I think that will help.

You are my inspiration.

I was so happy to be able to eat today. There are maybe 7 days a month when I can ACTUALLY eat without feeling physically horrible. I plan on doing something for maintenance, but was considering working with a nutritionist. It's a 2 fold reason...for myself, and because my brother is obese and won't do any drastic weight loss thing. I figure he will at least see a nutritionist if I go. I am not thrilled with the level of follow up I have gotten with my surgeon and his associates, so I rather branch out on my own. I do lose weight consistently, rapidly even. Last week alone I lost 3 lbs in 3 days. They I plateau, and back to a losing binge. I think I will talk to my doctor about a slight unfill. I only have about 1.5 CCs in there now, maybe take .5 out? I'm sure with the fact that I have so little, even a little out would make a big difference.

wow, so close to your tummy tuck? How do you feel? I went for my consultation, but am so big of a chicken that I got scared and less motivated. I would be doing the lower body lift and tummy tuck. Doc said it would be like 5-6 hour surgery....yikes. I agree with the chocolate. God bless Hersheys!

I haven't had a fill in like 10 months but there are times that I get so tight. I swear our bands are affected by environmental factors like the moon and tides and weather...OR SOMETHING. I can't think of any other explanation. I stopped trying to figure it out and just deal with it, but my coping mechanism isn't great....I eat ice cream. It works, though! It's so frustrating, right? How have you been dealing? What have you been eating? I tried going back to mushies, which was hard since I kinda skipped that stage to begin with. Any suggestions?

It feels great to be "almost there". Today I am actually just ONE POUND from goal. Wow, so quick. But I feel terrible today, as I have over the last few weeks. As I have mentioned I have very little fill. I technically had 2 fills, the last of which was in April, I think. But I am not sure the first one even took because that was when I was having issues with my port coming up. So I guesstimate that I have maybe 1.5 CCs, but I have SO MUCH restriction. Truthfully, it sucks. I can't even drink today. I'd say there are maybe 2-3 days a week that I can actually "eat". Trade off is that I got to goal, but is the sacifice worth it? And I still have no idea what happens when I am ready to stop losing weight. Does my doctor "unfill" me? And is it REALLY going to make a difference to me anyway? These are all questions I would LOVE to ask my doctor, but he is really about as useful as a broken condom. I am so thankful for all the support on here. You guys are great. I really don't think I would have been able to make it without you all.

I was just posting pics on the before and after thread and I mentioned how I just saw a picture that was taken of me this weekend and it shocked me. I still have such a weird self image. I see myself as, not necessarily fat, but at least chubby, still. But I look really thin in this picture. It's all this dumb loose skin. Not that I have much but it is what skews my self image. Anyhow, for those who may be interested, this is what I look like now. I have my 1 year before and after pics on this webside: Before and After: One year later - a photoset on Flickr