Samaura

Hello All!!! It's so nice to see all your stories, success and struggles. Thanks for giving us all a voice of a different perspective. I'm here to gain some inspiration as I'm currently banded since 2010 had great success but as of late a long and painful digression having gained almost half the weight I originally lost from complications. The band is failing me due to reflux and trouble swallowing food but insurance denied removal so we're in peer to peer review to appeal it. Maybe they would cover a revision instead but we'll have to see. Not sure how I feel about not having the band but it's not serving it's purpose anymore. Should I go the distance alone or opt for another surgery? Decisions......

Hey folks, just stopping through to get some encouragement for my day before the kids get up and I press play on the exercise video. I am at a vicious plateau--well i think it's vicious because I haven't lost a pound since I started on solids 10.6.10. I lost 52 pounds and then started on solids and gained 4 pounds back in 10 days!!! I was bloated last week from a little PMS and Water retention so I'm hoping this is just a phase but it's such a blow to my motivation. I think I'm actually eating less with the solids bc I'm afraid something will get stuck. I was banded 11.8.10 and lost some initial weight very quickly so I think I need to be patient with the journey. I have to stick with what was tried and true for me. I will hopefully be adjusted on 12.21.10 giving me some much needed restriction. Right now I'm hungry all day, exercising every other day and wondering what the heck I did wrong!!! I took for granted those early post-op days when it was easy losing 2-3 lbs a week bc I was full most of the day and just focused on healing. But now the novelty has worn off and I'm passed the phase of hiding behind Protein shakes and chicken broth. I have to start making those hard choices every day to do the right thing for as long as I can. I'm not perfect I just want to be normal though and enjoy the occasional treat here or there or a night out with a few drinks with friends but everything in excess is over for me. Well better press play; the kids will be up soon... [/img]

Hi ! My name is Samaura and I was banded on 11.8.10. This was a decision I never thought I'd make even though I've battled with my weight for most of my life. I've always been tall as a child and into adulthood now at 5' 11", I carried the weight differently but it also seemed like there was more room to pack on weight too! I was the baby in the family so my parents doted on me with food and other distractions and I never learned the right relationship with food. It was always my friend, never wrong and always there--killer combination; especially when I got to my teens. Once I got to college at around 235lbs I got down to 175 on Metabolife, a beer and pizza diet and walking everywhere I went. After school I had my first child at 24 and ballooned back and forth--up to as high as 316 lbs and as low as 250. Then I had my son 5 years later in 2009 and had reached a desperate 300lbs. I was an expert on how to lose weight but I couldn't keep it off. I was 30 years old with 2 kids and on medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression. I went to a seminar in June 2010 and discovered that my insurance covered the band for me and literally I saw this as my chance and took it. I saw my surgeon in July, starting losing weight in September, was approved for surgery in October and was banded in November. So far I'm down to 254....I started eating solids a week ago and haven't lost a thing since then but I'm going in for an adjustment in a week hoping to get back in the zone. I'm happy you all are here, I'm new at this and trying to find my place but I have a feeling I'm not too far off..just a normal, full time working mother of 2 little ones trying to give myself the best chance I can so I can be here for them. It's awesome to see so many of us taking it one day at a time and doing the best we can! [/img]

Hi ! My name is Samaura and I was banded on 11.8.10. This was a decision I never thought I'd make even though I've battled with my weight for most of my life. I've always been tall as a child and into adulthood now at 5' 11", I carried the weight differently but it also seemed like there was more room to pack on weight too! I was the baby in the family so my parents doted on me with food and other distractions and I never learned the right relationship with food. It was always my friend, never wrong and always there--killer combination; especially when I got to my teens. Once I got to college at around 235lbs I got down to 175 on Metabolife, a beer and pizza diet and walking everywhere I went. After school I had my first child at 24 and ballooned back and forth--up to as high as 316 lbs and as low as 250. Then I had my son 5 years later in 2009 and had reached a desperate 300lbs. I was an expert on how to lose weight but I couldn't keep it off. I was 30 years old with 2 kids and on medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression. I went to a seminar in June 2010 and discovered that my insurance covered the band for me and literally I saw this as my chance and took it. I saw my surgeon in July, starting losing weight in September, was approved for surgery in October and was banded in November. So far I'm down to 254....I started eating solids a week ago and haven't lost a thing since then but I'm going in for an adjustment in a week hoping to get back in the zone. I'm happy you all are here, I'm new at this and trying to find my place but I have a feeling I'm not too far off..just a normal, full time working mother of 2 little ones trying to give myself the best chance I can so I can be here for them. It's awesome to see so many of us taking it one day at a time and doing the best we can! [/img]

Hi Topazz, I'm almost a week post-op and the arm and shoulder pain on the left side I'm seeing is a common with us, may have something to do with either eating too fast or the pressure and pain of the gas on your diaphragm transfers itself to your shoulder and creates pain. But it shouldn't be hot to the touch, that may be a sign of infection--I'd check with ur doc. My shoulder pain seems to be a signal of fullness for me...

Hey guys I'm a 30 yr old mom of two kids--6yr old daughter and 1 yr old son. I was banded on 11.8.10. I've been home from the hospital 2 days now and I am sloooowwwwly getting back to normal, I thought it would be quicker but I need to be patient. I still have gas pains in my shoulders and trying hard to get down the recommended 60-80 grams of protein a day plus 48-64 oz of water??? I take a few sips of the protein shake and I'm full. Gotta focus on getting in more fluids but is anyone noticing that they can't burp? I keep feeling like I have to burp but the air just circulates back down through my diaphragm and hurts a little....any ideas???:rolleyes2: