Melisca24

I've struggled my entire life with my weight...In 10th grade, I was 220 lbs.  I was fat then, but lord I'd love to go back to that at this point.  I got married, had 2 boys (11 and 13 now) and through the years, my weight creeped to an all time high of 380 lbs.  December 2010 I decided that I needed to do something.  I went to a weight loss seminar in January 2011 and decided the band was for me.  I wasn't really comfortable getting my stomach and/or intestines cut up and rearranged, and looking at the studies of 5 years down the road, most of the WLS end up at about the same weight loss...the band is just a little slower.



That same month, I had a tragedy occur with my niece...she went into cardiac arrest and suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen...at the time she was 5 years old...this put my plans on hold as we all waited for months to see what would happend and be there form my sister's family.  Finally, after several months, it was clear my niece's situation wasn't changing and I had to start moving along with my plans.  I then started my 6 months with the nutriionist, the sleep study, met with the psychologist, and completed all the required testing (EKG, UGI, chest xrays, urinalysis, blood work, etc).  The doc office sent all my info into the insurance company and after several weeks, I got my approval!!!  My surgery date was set for 1/17/2012!



Two weeks prior to my surgery, I had to do the optifast diet.  This consisted of 4 shakes, 1 soup and a bar a day.  It was so bad, but I knew the importance of shrinking my organs and getting ready for surgery.  By my surgery date, I was down to 351 lbs.  Surgery went well and I went home the same day.  That night I got an awful cold!  I mean stuffed up and coughing my guts out!  And believe me, my guts were sore!!!!  The next morning, I started my cycle...I felt like God was out to get me!  I couldn't believe it, I was miserable.  I slept in the recliner for 2 weeks and still felt some discomfort when I tried to get back to sleeping in the bed.



I did the liquid diet for about 2 weeks and had gone back in for my 2 week post op.  My weight then was 346.  I was hoping for more loss, but was glad I was down 5 lbs. from surgery.  I then scheduled my app't out 5 weeks.  During that time I was on mushies.  During this phase, I realized I could eat just about anything!  I still tried to control my portions, but I was hungry and had no restriction.  I started chewing less and eating faster.  Not too mention I could gulp down my water and Crystal Light.  



I went for my first fill today, 2/21/12.  I weighed in at 348 lbs... UGH!  I gained 2 lbs.!  What kills me is that I eat way less than I used to and I GAINED!  I keep telling my body that it was shocked by 4 weeks of liquids and that i am down overall 32 lbs, but GEESH!  Anyway, the lady came in to give me a fill and damn near poked me to death.  I could feel her hitting the port, but she couldn't find the soft spot to inject the liquid.  I almost cried!  SHe asked if I could come back about 3 hours later to have the surgeon try to do it.  I had to kill 3 hours thinking my port had flipped already and I was going to be further delayed in my journey!



I go back to the dr. office and he seemed to find it right away.  He filled me 4 ccs.  He took a little out to make sure he got it in okay, it came back out so he put that back in and was satisfied.  I hung around the doc office for about 30 minutes drinking to make sure I tolerated the fill.  Everything seems fine, I don't feel any different...I have to do 48 hours of liquids and then I can go back to normal foods/solids!  I hope this first fill makes a difference for me!  I have heard other people say it took a few fills, but I am trying hard to be optimistic!  



Wish me luck!  I'll keep you updated and please pray my scale readings start going in the right direction!!!!