Tanya Strayhorn

I'm not making excuses about walking...there are some forms of arthritis that are seriously debilitating, and until you've lived it you can't possibly understand it. I do walk. 30 minutes is about as much as I can do at once, at a very slow pace. I'm lucky to make a mile in that amount of time. Some days are better than others, but I do what I can. No malls in my rural area. Looking for someone to encourage, not put me down.

I've had my band for almost three years. I'm a 43 year old administrative professional, married, with three children & one grandson. I love to ride motorcycles, boating, reading, music, and chasing after my granson. I've lost 30 lbs, which came off in the two weeks prior to surgery and the first three months post op. I've had two fills. Only two, mainly because my stomach is so sensitive to the restriction, I crave sweets like mad after a fill, and I feel the band is probably tight enough due to the fact that if I eat like I'm supposed to it works fine. I had the surgery because of escalating arthritis issues, I was 272 lbs @ 5'6" prior to the band, high blood pressure, & severe Gerd. All of which are still issues since I've limited myself to 30 lbs lost!!! Issues with my band: I resent the fact that I can't eat like the rest of my family. Bread, Pasta, rice & chicken are real work to eat, but it seems I work extra hard to be able to eat these. food in the morning is almost impossible. I have a hard time "feeling" full. I can't even really tell in the office after a fill how long cold Water takes to go down. I have to stand or sit in a very particular way or just about anything I eat gets stuck. I'm taking major Probiotics to stave off the massive amounts of gas that build up....I dealt with this issue alone until my Doc finally prescribed the probiotic. Apparently I don't produce enough gastric bacteria due to the amount of acid reflux medication I take....Oh yeah, and the Gerd(acid reflux) is twice as bad as before the surgery. I know this band should work for me, and I know I don't work with the band. I just need some real support or someone to knock me in the head once in a while so I will eat like I should. Exercise is an issue. The arthritis makes it hard to work out for long, some exercises like Yoga are almost impossible, and the trip to a pool to swim would be expensive on a regular basis, not to mention the gym membership. I know these sound like excuses, but I really do love to exercise and was quite the athlete in high school. Before the arthritis took over I was walking three miles a day at a 13 minute mile...and that was with some arthritis issues already. If anyone wants to take me on, I would be greatful!