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3.5 years banded...no regrets.

ADJL

By ADJL, in Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories

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ADJL    685

ADJL
Posted

I started out in 2013 at 283 pounds. I had type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and I was miserable. I hated having photos taken of me. I couldn't go up stairs without heaving breaths, my kids were active little toddlers and I couldn't even come close to keeping up. I had no self confidence and no joy for my life. I banded in April 2013 and over the next year dropped about 70 pounds. It was like I was given a new lease on life. I felt like a completely different person and was thrilled with my health. Thats not to say my lapband journey was without complications...I had a miserable first couple of months with the band and was at a point where I asked my surgeon to remove it. I'm so glad he talked me out of it..

I disappeared from this site a few years ago because I felt like I was in maintenance...yes, I still worked to make sure I was making good choices, but other things started to take that #1 spot in my life that my lapband and weight loss had occupied for so long. Over the next year I dropped another 10 pounds and was over the moon to finally be back in "onederland."

And once again I was in maintenance...just chugging along happy with where I was and without any thought of those long ago far away health concerns like diabetes and cholesterol.

Then our family was sent to Africa for my husband's job. Wow...talk about life changing. And not just in the "developing country" way of things...all of a sudden my food and exercise "norm" was tossed out the window and I had to come up with something completely new. It was a good thing...and the change jump started my weight loss...30 pounds and counting this year.

To say I'm happy with my choice to lapband would be an understatement. I make so many good choices for myself these days. I use the band the way it's supposed to be used...as a tool to remind me to eat slower, chew longer, and make better food choices.

I took this photo on a work trip recently...I barely recognize the girl in this photo...I'm still getting used to how she looks...I know who she is and what she wants...it's the physical changes that surprise me sometimes.

I'm hoping to continue to my final goal weight of 135 over the next year...and when I reach that there is a Tummy Tuck and breast lift reward waiting for me...

I'm back online because with this new change in location I need the reminders of what going back to the basics means...I'm no longer content to maintain at 200 pounds...I want the bigger picture now.

post-146549-0-19983600-1476899893_thumb.jpg

Yadiordz and Louie'sMom reacted to this

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Subie66    6

Subie66
Posted

That is a wonderful story! Keep making those good choices.

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Treadmillwalker    486

Treadmillwalker
Posted

You look so happy. You will reach your goal and inspire those of us on our journey to reach ours.

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Go To Topic Listing Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories

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    • KeeWee

      KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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