justwant2lose

I had my surgery in September 2007. I lost 60 pounds, down from 252 to 192, felt and looked great even though my weight was still over what was recommended for my height. I'm 5'6". In the last two years, I have had a few setbacks that contributed to me gaining almost all of my weight back. My mother died and I found out that I have hypothyroidism and am going through menopause also. I take full responsibility for what I eat...I know that I am an emotional eater. I have been having another issue though. I now have reflux at night while I am trying to sleep. Also, I cannot eat! I PB almost everything I put in my mouth! So, I am not sleeping and not eating. I know...go back to the doctor. I am going to. I just wanted to vent and to see if anyone else out there has had any issues similar to mine.

I was banded in September 2007 and have since gained back all but 20 lbs. Why? Not because the band wasn't doing its job. But because of me. I made poor choices. I let it happen. I put on my big girl panties and made an appointment for a fill. My nurse practitioner was very forgiving, and we decided on a fresh start. She gave me a good fill, reinterated the rules, and I left with a renewed sense of purpose and inner peace knowing that I am going to do this. My band is just fine, and has treated me well. I just didn't reciprocate. Now, I appreciate it again and am doing everything in my power to treat it right. I would recommend an appointment and possibly taking part in a support group to get back on track. Good luck!

Thank you, and good luck to you. It does help to have a focus for motivation.

Cherylita, that makes total sense. We are the ones who put the fork to our mouths. We have to accept responsibility for our actions. For me, food is a drug, my best friend, my worst enemy. Yesterday, I took control. Today, I am still in control. To me, feeling good about myself is more important than food. My mother passed away on January 1 of this year from a heart attack. She was 59 years old. She had no idea that she had heart disease. My father has had 3 heart attacks. If I do not get this under control, my fate is sealed.

I could have started this thread. I was banded in September 2007, and lost 60 lbs. Since then, I have gained 20 lbs. No excuses, I simply did not follow the rules to the tee. I go through periods of time when I am so tight that I cannot even swallow my own saliva. The last episode had me up all night because when I fell asleep I would choke. I had to go for a 1cc unfill. Anyway, I have also had a very bad problem with fluid retention from what Google suggests is my vericose veins and poor circulation in my legs. Aside from all of that, I feel out of control with my eating. I am going to take the advice here, and try to adhere to a mostly protein/veggie diet. My goal is to get back under the 200 lbs, and then I will focus on smaller goals, say 10 pounds at a time. I am aiming to lose 2lbs per week...I woke up this morning and exercised and I felt great all day. Now all I can do is take it one day at a time. Good luck.

I wonder if stress has anything to do with the function of the band. My mom passed away on January 1 of this year, and ever since, I have been too tight. I had my surgery in September of 2007 and have gone through a few phases when my band would just tighten up on its own, and I would PB every time I put a bite of food in my mouth and when it go to the point of not being able to drink liquids I would go for a slight unfill, which worked. Now, I am wondering if at those times I was stressed out, and that was what was causing my band to tighten by itself. It is so frustrating. I am going to try a liquid diet for a few days to see if it helps.

I was banded on September 19, 2007 and I could have started this thread. I started out at 252, got down to 192 and am now hovering around 205. I cannot let this get out of control. For the past three days, I have been eating a low carb diet - no added sugar and it has really been working well for me. We are doing a biggest loser contest at work so I am curious to see what the scale says on Friday when we weigh. Unfortunately, the truth is it will be a neverending battle. I am just glad the band helped me lose the weight I have lost.

I am on my second day of eating low carb, and I must say, I am pleasantly surprised. Now, I have done the Atkins diet in the past and did okay with it. Of course I only made it through the first phase and then I gobbled the first piece of bread I could find...but I have been reading the "Metabolism Miracle" and I must say it makes perfect sense. I am surprised because I feel very satisfied, and it's not nearly as difficult as I thought it might be. I feel better already just on my second day. Is anyone else reading this book? It's just amazing.

THANK YOU for your replies!!! I went to the doctor this morning and had a slight unfill (.3 cc's). What a difference! I was able to eat lunch today, and drink my coffee! The NP said that this happens sometimes, and they do not have an explanation. She did say that it was a good thing that I came in because the band could have slipped eventually from all the PBing or vomiting I've been doing. She even said that sometimes getting your period could tighten it, but I don't have that problem anymore!

I was banded in September 2007. I haven't had a fill in quite awhile...even gained about 10 pounds over the last 9 months. Over the past week, I have not been able to eat ANYTHING during the day, and sometimes it's questionable at night. Even liquids sometime turn into slime and I have to throw up. I am getting worried. I know I am supposed to have restriction but this is ridiculous. Has anyone else had this problem and what did you do about it? I am going to call my doctor and see about getting a slight unfill.

Hello Little Miss Diva! I am SO glad I found you! We do need a place where we can get support and not negative feedback...I agree that is the last thing we need. We are hard on ourselves enough already! I think we should just realize that we need to take this journey one day at a time. I tend to get overwhelmed thinking about the "big picture". And, like you, I know what I am capable of and I do not want to return to that dark place. Reading your posts has made me put things into perspective and realize that even though I have gained some, I did not gain back all of the weight I lost. My biggest problem is emotional eating...I am sure most of us have that problem. I am going to exercise more, eat better, and not be so hard on myself. I was at a place not too long ago where food was the last thing on my mind. I want to go back to that place. I want to be held accountable to someone other than myself..it used to be my doctor. I just feel totally alone as I do not know anyone who has had the lap band. I need a buddy! It sounds like you have been doing really well the past couple of days. Life seems so much easier when you can control your eating. I don't know why, but it does. All I have had today was two cups of coffee. I can't eat in the morning, usually til at least noon. For lunch I am planning to eat a lean cusine. I was looking online last night for a good Protein shake. I haven't really been following the rules for eating with the band, and I want to start so that I can get to losing again. I hope you have a great day and let us know how it goes!