kyethra

I have some autoimmune issues (narcolepsy and fibromyalgia). I was told that it should be ok. Weight loss can be a big struggle for a lot of narcoleptics and many have lost weight with some sort of surgery. My biggest concern was making sure that this was just restrictive and wouldn't be malabsortive at all since I know I am going to have to be on meds for various issues. So the surgeon assured me that I can take the pills and not have the band affect their digestion.

I completely understand! Honest. I'm narcoleptic. You see, I do sleep all day sometimes. And all night too. After you check out all the various things you can like nutrition, vitamins and sleep hygene (that includes going to bed at same time and getting up at same time, good sleep environment, etc) if you are still having problems you should check with your doctor. Since you know you don't have sleep apnea you can still get some blood tests and so forth run to check on basic things that make on sleepy. Might also talk about hormones and stuff like that too- birth control dosages, interactions, all sorts of little things can make you tired. Good luck!

I love being morbidly obese, except for the morbidly obese part. The diet (or lack of one) is great. I think that is one of the reasons- I can eat whatever I want to eat whenever I want to eat it. When it comes to food I didn't deal with consequences. I had complete freedom. Of course the consequences catch up to you anyway. So for me it is both complex and simple. A large part of it is that freedom- that never having to say no or curb impulses of food or "be good". Another part is a lifetime of bad habits and patterns. I come from a dysfunctional family, abusive mother. And I'm sure there is still part of me that is rebelling in one way because now I get to eat wahtever I want to- so there. And both my parents were morbidly obese. My mother lost about 120 pounds three years with weight watchers. I'm proud of her. But she is now obcessed with food- what she can and cannot eat. What she will eat next. When she will eat, etc. I don't want to have to be like that- always hunger or left feeling like I am going to have to eat cardboard and so forth. My brother was also morbidly obese before he went on the Atkins diet for his seizures. I used to be the thin one in the family. We used to have bad eating habbits. I still do. Then my freshman year I gained a bunch of weight but I worked with a nutritionist and went to the gym and lost thirty pounds and kept it off for a year. I was both pround of that and also disapointed I didn't lose more- disapointed I didn't have more willpower, more control. I was still about 215, I still needed to lose 50 pounds. But food was so yummy! I got hungry, damnit. And then I got off my antidepressant that I had been on for three years (that was a big mistake) and I got depressed and I gained some weight- comfort food. And I was also treated for H. Pylori, the bacteria that can cause stomach ulcers. Now in some people it also causes weight cain. I finally found a study backing that up. I gained sixty pounds after they treated me for it. I swear my metabolism and stuff has never been the same since then. I just can't keep weight off. Plus I also developed fibromyalgia and narcolepsy my junior year of college following a long illness that involved big bad nerve pain in my abdomen. I felt sorry for myself- thats one part of it. Comfort food again. And I couldn't move much at all. I spent nearly a year in physical therapy and then another six months before I was strong enough to use the weight machines at the gym. I'm not as healthy or strong as I was before. And I'm heavier now. I also use food as a crutch sometimes. Maybe its a bad day and I'm sooo tired... well food can help me stay awake. Plus the sugar makes me feel better too. And it is satisfying, that big bite. If only it wasn't making my GERD worse, pushing on my joints, raising my blood pressure, and slowly killing me... I am learning a lot of accountability and great techniques and other things. But I have come to the conclusion that sometimes I need some extra help. I think the band could be a great tool to help me on those days when I'm not quite strong enough all by myself- it might be that extra shove I need. And it could help keep from having my tummy do its "Feed me seymore!" type routine too. Then after it does its little shove thing I think I can take over again. I don't think its going to be easy. But I think I can do it with the band. I think that will help me make it through when I am sleepy and maybe had dreamed about cake and pizza or when I am feeling sorry for myself. It will be this reminder in me to say "you have to eat better". "You have to lose the weight now". Now if only would also clean the floors and do homework...