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9cc and counting

I had a fill on 12/17/2007 and now stand at 9cc in my VG band. This journey has not been going the way I had planned but I am still determined.   I just wasn't having the same results as others and was beginning to think there was something wrong with my band. Did I have a dilation? WHAT?! WHAT?! WHAT?!   The doctor told me I just needed a fill. Some people have thinner stomach linings and would need much more than average. So here I am with 9cc and it is tight. My morning protein drink is going thru very slow, so slow I can not even feel it. I have to wait and then try and drink some water and see if the water hits the back of my throat. I know, I know... that sounds too tight. Not for me. i don't want to give myself an inch to work around the band.   It is going to be hard here on out. There is still food addiction issues (if you believe in that) I will have to deal with.
harlito

harlito

2
 

FINALLY!!!

My initial weight loss was 44 pounds, then I gained 10 back. But then I lost 4 pounds only to gain 17 more pounds by March 5. Needless to say I was a little bit frustrated. Had I made a mistake with the surgery?   On Tuesday, March 6, I went back to see Dr. Spiegel to get a fill from him directly. He brought me up to 6.5cc in my VG band.   FINALLY!!! I have real restriction!   Since Monday, March 5, I have lost 17.7 pounds! It looks like the real weight loss journey has begun.
harlito

harlito

1
 

Some restriction... finally

I had a fill a couple of weeks ago and now I feel like I am really starting my banded journey. The restriction is there but not necessarily all day long so I know there will be a couple of more fills to get to that sweet spot. The mornings are very tight and the band doesn't seem to loosen up until around 1:PM. But by the evening time I am open too much for my liking. After the first 8 days I weighed myself and I was down 6.3 pounds from the weight that I had gained back. I am feeling much better now and do not feel like I am "struggling" at all now. Let the games begin!
harlito

harlito

1
 

Struggling

The title says it all. I have had 3 fills so far and having the VG band doesn't make it any easier. Since everything is out of pocket now its very difficult to just continuously go in for fills. Unlike the weight, money does not grow on trees. I am getting more discouraged at myself (or is it anger?) since I really have no excuse. I have a great support group and I know what I need to do. But these bumps in the road to weight loss are killers. Every pound that I gain back is just getting me more and more down. Even with the knowledge that others have gone thru the same thing and have driven thru it to success - it is difficult. It is a new year and I am planning on getting back into it... It is a new year and I am going to get back into it... It is a new year and I am getting back into... Hmmm... doesn't help... keep looking forward! 421/401/357/361/357/369/362/370
harlito

harlito

2
 

still no restriction

Third times a charm, I guess... I feel some restrictions at times but never have that full sensation. It's been a couple of weeks since the last fill and there doesn't seem to be any restriction now at all. I feel like I am not really doing anything until I get to that point or "sweet spot" so I guess I'll be going in for another fill soon. I am not gaining, I'm staying around 40-44lbs lost so I am not in a serious panic mode but damn... I want some more weight off. It's all compulsive behavior - I see, I want, I eat. Hunger never plays a role. But that painful and loud talking band will help if I can just get it to just wake up!   And the holidays! Evil, evil time! Cakes, pies, cookies... UGHHH!!!
harlito

harlito

1
 

back on track

Been awhile... I weighed myself a few weeks ago and I had gained 3.5lbs. I was so upset. The realization that I needed a fill took about a week to get thru my thick head since I was so set on not getting one until the new year. So I went in for a fill and really started watching what I ate alot closer than I had been. Yet even with this first fill I was able to eat anything and not feel the band at all. But I did end up losing another 3.8lbs which brought my weight loss down to -.3lbs from where it was before the weight gain. This past Tuesday (11/14) I had another fill and I can definitely feel this one so I think I am back on track. Trying to eat some meat at lunch today and I could feel the band working. The support group I attend every Thursday has been very helpful as well. It seems like everybody is going thru the same issues at the same time and we are all getting fills. I don't know if I would have been so aggressively approaching all these problems without the group. Looks like I'll weigh again this Saturday (11/18) and update my numbers for TickerFActory.com. LATER!!!
harlito

harlito

1
 

First entry

I had my surgery on September 6, 2006. I had been working on it since about last October - insurance, doctor visits, psychiatric evaluation, Weight Watchers, etc. You know, the usual stuff. I had it done by Dr.Spiegel after getting a referral to him by a co-worker. It's kind of funny because with all the infomercials and billboards he has out now I think we'll be seeing him on cable with his own show soon. He seems nice and so far I haven't had any problems with him or his staff - they've been very helpful in fact. The hospital stay... ughh! That is another story. I guess hospital stays are not going to be pleasant no matter what the circumstances are. I was so glad to get home the next day. The following morning after surgery the hospital brought me breakfast - an apple-flavored protein drink, coffee, jello, beef broth and apple juice. Quite alot for someone that is only able to eat about 4 to 6 ounces at a time! I've made it thru the liquids and the soft phase and have started on "regular" yet restricted foods. As of Saturday, September 23, I have lost 33.5 lbs. I will weigh again this Saturday. I don't want to end up getting scale-shock from weighing too often!
harlito

harlito

2
 

Double takes

I am getting alot of double takes from people. The more places I go back to after surgery the more people are doing double takes. I can sense that they see something different about me but they can't quite figure it out. It's hilarious! The other day I walked out of my apartment and ran into my old neighbor who had moved back into the complex. He looked at me and said, "you look like you've... I mean... have you been?" LOL! He couldn't even say it! He couldn't bring up the subject of weight even if it would have been good. Maybe he thought I had an illness? Didn't matter to me. People can tell that the weight is disappearing and that's good. Keep the double takes coming.
harlito

harlito

1
 

Oct. 14, 2006

Had some beer... yeah... and the next night too. What a disaster that was! I became so ill at around 5AM that I thought I was going to vomit. I had to run to the local 24 hr. Walgreens for some Pepto and was up for another 2 hours trying to get my stomach from killing me. I was so scared and kept telling myself, "never again, never again" - not until the next time. NO! I don't think I will be doing anything like that again. A beer here and there will be no problem but no more over doing it. I also went out a few days ago with a friend to eat at IHOP. It was not so bad, I got the senior 2 egg plate. Eggs are not a problem and I was fine. I ate about 1/2 of what I would have usually ate before so I was happy that I could still enjoy going to dinner with friends. They seem to be happy about that as well. Life seems to be going OK with the band and - knock on wood - I haven't had any complications. I haven't even had any Pbs or other such episodes. Chew, chew, chew... Still losing around .85 pounds a day and I am very happy with that.
harlito

harlito

1
 

Oct. 7, 2006

I was a little worried this week. Would I lose any weight? The week before (9/27) I had weighed myself and could not get a positive reading on the scale. Each time I stepped up it would say something different, it kept fluctuating between a few pounds. So the next Saturday I was a little upset when I got on the scale and it reads -32.4. Had I gained from -33.5??? So today when I weighed and it read -38 three times in a row I knew - I had lost more weight. I AM DOWN 38 pounds!!!   PS - I went out to a bar last night with some friends... don't tell anybody. I even had some beer!
harlito

harlito

1
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