Hello everyone! In 2008 and 2009 I underwent Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for a rare form of cancer. I was placed on high doses of steroids to prevent certain complications. Much to my dismay, I gained over 100lbs which they told me would happen with the steroids. What they didn't tell me was that after being taken off of them I would struggle to lose the weight and could possibly maintain the same appetite. After trying everything, my Oncologist felt it was best to seek a weight loss surgical solution. After visiting with a doctor in New Jersey I decided the Lap Band would be the best alternative for me. I had my surgery September 9, 2011. A few days after my surgery, my husband received orders to California. My surgeon decided he would not do anything more than the surgical follow-ups. No fill for me and no fluid was placed in the band at surgery. Fast forward to December 8, 2011. Finally settled in Cali and found a new doctor here who performed my first fill. So far I am handling it well. I am down a pound this week and am still struggling with the sugar cravings (mostly because I am sad I am so far from home)...but I am going to start therapy and nutrition again to help with that! So I can't wait to share my journey along the way!

Good luck to you, I get my band tomorrow and I can't wait. I'm sure once you get back on track you'll do fine. Did you lose any weight since September? Keep us posted on your journey

See what you think of the '5 day pouch test'. A lot of folks here have tried and been helped by it. It seems like a good way to get started back.

http://www.5daypouchtest.com/

Welcome! You have come to the right place. The people here are wonderful and informative, and the best part is, if you have a question, they have been there, so everyone has an opinion to offer. I would like to congratulate you on what sounds to be successful treatment of your cancer, and your determination to press on and lose the weight, even though I am sure you're really tired of doctors appointments. Even though you are far from home, you can always talk to us, your lap band family

I'm glad to hear you're doing well post radiation. My dog was on prednisone recently and he of course gained weight and I had hopes his appetite would go back to normal when I got him off of it. Much to my dismay his appetite is still humungous and I keep thinking. Great now my dog need a lap band. I'm sad to hear his appetite may never go back to normal.

Glad to hear you're ok and hope the band helps you towards success. I'd been banded for five years when I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in August 2010. I had chemo and radiation, followed buy a bowel resection and an ileostomy for nine months. I had six months of chemo earlier this year and then had my ileostomy reversed in July. I had my band unfilled the entire time and really feared gaining so I continued to run daily and go to the gym during treatment and eat as if I ad a band. I had 5FU with no steroids, my problem was getting too thin.

I will warn you, I really didnt give enough thought to the demands treatment would make on my body. I felt relatively Ok so i pushed myself hard with exercise, blieving it ould help me to recover, radiation of course was to my pelvis putting me into instant menopause, and a brutal on at that. On year on I was suffering terrible depression and anxiety despite having been cured, my onc and gp ran a whole lot of bloods and tests - I am completely Iron depleted and anaemic, definitely post menopausal and have ostopaenia, ironically I broke a rib a few weeks ago doing not much at ll. So take your supplements And make sure to eat super duper well, its SO important. You ve needs above and byond the ordinary person. I had to start HRT (instant depression cure), Calcium, iron, super multi etc.

Very best of luck to you!

@ Germine F...despite not having any Fluid in, since the surgery I actually did lose 15lbs! So it's defintely mind over matter I guess! @Horsegirl31 ...thanks so much! I have been on the chat a few times and found it encouraging! @ Jess55 ... you made me laugh but yes I hear dogs and people have similiar issues when it comes to steroids! Poor baby! I have two dogs of my own who are definitely more human than dog so I understand your frustration!

@Jachut....WOW! I have a rare form of vaginal cancer that actually found it's way to form a stalk between my rectum and vaginal walls. I was fortunate enough to not have to have any ostomy surgeries (knock on wood). I underwent a hysterectomy at age 29 (unrelated to cancer) so I also was put into surgically induced menopause which only worsened after radiation!! I underwent pelvic and abdominal radiation and I don't know about you but I would take Chemotherapy anyday over radiation...that was too wicked for words and put me in the hospital three times (actually died twice and came back to life). I still suffer from the hot flashes, sweats, etc.. and my vaginal wall and rectum have atrophied despite all of the dialators (UGH)...but the alternative for me was not much of an alternative! Thankfully we are alive! We definitely will suffer through the side effects! I know what you mean about the cracked rib! I stepped into a gopher hole and broke my ankle and tore every ligament in it. I was in a cast and boot for 9 months because my body is now very slow to heal and my bones are brittle! I also developed neuropathy (Chemo induced) on my left side so I literally had to learn how to walk again because I cant feel my foot or leg. After that I learned to take my supplements!! I can't take HRT unfortunately because it will aggravate my cancer so I have to suffer through the hot flashes and other miseries that come alone with menopause! I'm only 38 so it was definitely strange when my mother came to me for menopause advise!!

Best of luck to you as well! If you ever need to talk, I'm here!

These stories definitely make me realize that my aggravating aches and pains due to obesity are only minor inconveniences - thank you for making me realize how lucky I am to be otherwise "healthy."

@Stacie I never discount how someone else feels! The aches and pains from Obesity are serious and cause issues in life too. The great thing is that we are positively overcoming all of our issues and thankfully there is a place like this for us to be able to come onto and find encouragement from each other!