starting nova

Hi everyone, just wanted to drop in before I go to sleep and get the ball rolling. My surgery (Realize Band) was performed by Dr. Jeffery Hannon in Mobile, AL, January 2009. My story might be depressing to some of you just starting out, but the good news is that I'm here right now, taking the proverbial "bull by the horns", right!? Four months post-op, I was doing great! I had lost almost 60lbs and was going to be fitted for wedding gowns, and then life just laughed and said "oh, how cute!"-- I found out I was pregnant and Dr. H immediately had me come in to have a complete unfill. My son was born in February of 2010 and I had put on 35 of the 60lbs that I'd lost. This is really a long story but what ended up happening is that I had an adjustment near the end of 2010 (back to my previous "sweet spot"), and was not able to swallow anything-- not even liquids. I live too far to be able to rush back in for an unfill, so I dealt with the pain, vomiting, and discomfort for about 2 weeks. By the time I was able to get back in to see doc, I was swollen and had to have yet another complete unfill. A month or so later, I lost my job, and me being a self-pay patient, was unable to afford the out-of-pocket expense for any fills. I am still without cc's and without any restriction whatsoever. I'm back up to 245 and I'm fed up. On the bright side (there always IS one, you know), I now have a decent position making a decent income, and can now afford my fills. Yippee! And I am ABSOLUTELY going in Wednesday for a fill, no funny stuff this time. I'm not leaving that room until I know I am at a comfortable starting level. I MUST do this, and I feel it in my bones (how ironic) that now is the time. I'm more ready now than I was when I first got the happy mask on the operating table. Please, PLEASE, tell me someone else has filled these shoes before and has had to start over? Lie, even?

WOW! Thank you guys for the support. I am excited to get filled Wednesday, My husband made pulled pork for supper and I'm finding it very difficult to resist not eating as much as I want to, but I know that soon I won't have to worry about that. I'm staying strong. Tomorrow it's all liquids. I'm going in with an empty stomach, and not cheating-- I have normally gone to lunch after leaving from my adjustments. I know. That's terrible. Which is why I'm in the position I'm in, I'm sure. Haha-- here's to cracking down and holding myself accountable for my own health and happiness.