SpEdTeacher

Oh, man! I have the story of all stories to tell...
I was always the overweight kid. By the end of my first year in college, I was around 350 lbs. Initially, I was to have surgery in 2001 after my sophomore year in college. However, the doctor cancelled it feeling that the after care would be too much being such a distance away from home. I went to college in Texas but home and the surgery would be in San Diego, CA. I went into a major funk and of course the next year was my 21st birthday which meant lots of partying. When I was nearing graduation, I went to visit the surgeon to see if he was willing to do the procedure now that I would be moving back home. I had ballooned up to 462 lbs. as seen in the picture about taken in April 2003. The surgeon was not too happy and originally was not willing to do the surgery. I had to prove I was willing to work at it. By the time, I went into surgery in October 2003 I was around 435 lbs. The doctor felt I should have the lap-band procedure due to my age (22 yrs. old) and the less invasive procedure.
The first year after the surgery was not without complications. From the start, I felt the port was not in the appropriate place as it seemed to rub into my rib cage and seemed to poke out. In February 2004, there was an outpatient procedure to try to re-position the port. In March 2004, my skin ripped open and my port was exposed as I had a staph infection and other bacteria from the previous surgery. The port was removed and I had to go on 4 weeks of home-health care for infectious disease including 2 doses of an I.V. of vancomicin. Two weeks into the treatment, it was discovered I was allergic to the medication and it had killed all my white blood cells. So I was given medication to build my immunity back up and then switched to a different antibiotic. After all was clear, I had the port re-installed in June 2004. For the next year and a half all things were good. There was a time when the band was tightened too much and I lost 17 lbs in one day due to water loss but for the most part all was working well. By January 2006, I was at about 295 lbs. Over the course of the next few months and years, I had lost a lot of motivation and made lots of poor food choices. By about January 2007, I had gained about 55 lbs. back and I was at 350 lbs. I did a few fad diets losing 20 lbs or so but then gaining it back. I pretty much maintained at that weight and then in June 2008 I decided to go back to see all of my doctors for a fill and more support. Over the course of the past 3 years, I have lost another 120 lbs. I currently weight between 230-235 lbs. depending on the day! :) So on my 30th birthday in March 2011, I was 230 lbs. which can be seen in the after surgery picture.
I'm not going to lie...it is a struggle. It continues to be difficult and it isn't easy. I work out 3-4 times a week at the gym. I still don't eat all that well but I know if I have a bad day I have to get it together the next day and not allow 2 weeks of cheating.
Even throughout all of the trauma and drama of the lap-band, people ask was it worth it. I say proof is in the pictures and in my health report. I am down to a low dosage of high blood pressure pills and treat for nothing else. I can ride a bike for miles and miles. I can buy clothes as stores like Gap, Banana Republic, Express and not the Big & Tall stores. It hasn't been easy. My ultimate goal has changed many times. Now I'm hoping to get to 200 lbs. but I keep smaller goals in mind so right now I'm working on 220 lbs.
Good luck to all of you!