marathinner

Hello my beloved VV's.. I am hanging my head in shame for not being on here in months! I am so sorry I checked out, but it's been QUITE a wild ride for me. Since my band replacement in August, I gained 20lbs:thumbdown:. I also went through 3 more rounds of fertility treatments which was HELL and all those meds certainly didn't help me lose any weight! After 3 failed IUI"s, I decided I was DONE!! I just wanted to get my life back, my weight loss back in order and not even THINK about babies. I got two fills and finally felt restriction again.Once I readjusted to band life, I lost 15 pounds:thumbup:. I was feeling good and felt a huge relief not having to be so consumed with fertility stuff. DH and I went to Maui in Novemember..and GUESS WHAT HAPPENED:w00t:. YES.....I'm PREGNANT!!!!! I am a little over 9 weeks now and everything is going great!! I've had no issues with my band and haven't had to have an unfill yet, but I'm sure I will at some point. This is beyond a dream come true for me and my husband. After YEARS of heartache and loss, we finally got our miracle. Just wanted to share the news. I promise I will be on here more oftern! Melissa...congrats to you, Momma! xoxoxo

Hi everyone! Been awhile since I posted too! Trying to catch up!. ckkj-im glad your removal surgery went ok and they are moving forward w/ life w/o the band. You NEEDED to gain back some weight, so it sounds like you're going to be just fine. Please don't beat up on yourself! You are already a winner ( I mean..loser:wink_smile:) STL-glad your surgery went well too! Aren't you so happy to be out of that pain and misery? You sound like you're doing great and CONGRATS on getting under 200:thumbup: Shiny-sorry you're having to move again, but you sound like you're keeping things on track and maintaining a positive attitude..keep it up! LilMiss- I've got my eye on you. You shouldn't be struggling so much with eating! Don't be afraid to get a total unfill. I don't want to sound preachy or scare you, but I suffered waaaay too long and kept telling myself I was ok..when I wasn't. Don't ignore your symptoms, sweetie! Please get checked out..you shouldn't be suffering in anyway, shape or form.:seeya: RSG-good for you and your photography. And good to see your sweet,happy face on here! tskelli- sorry to hear about your family crisis. I hope you're ok and know that we're here for you if you need support. ((hugs)) Jul-sounds like you're doing great too! Keep it up! Ezma-hope you're hanging in there. How's your kitty? Sorry if I forgot anyone! As for me, I've had a rough couple of weeks. I went through some fertility treatment that included injections and an IUI. It didn't work:sad:. The meds were REALLY harsh on my body, and I gained 8 pounds of fluid:thumbdown: I was also really depressed when my preggie test came back negative and started the ol' emotional eating habit. I haven't had a fill since my band replacement..but guess where I'm going on Thrusday!!! I'm ready to get my new band working for me and maintaining my goal weight. It SUCKED seeing that scale moving back up. I'm trying not to beat myself up, but it really has been hard. I'm going to take a break from the fertility meds and am not sure where we go from here. I'm still hopeful that I will be a Mom someday..and hopefully that day comes sooner than later! Love you all! -Amy

Ezma--with everything you have gone through...I think you're doing fantastic! Go easy on yourself, sweetie! You've come so far amidst grief and adversity and I truly don't think you've given yourself enough credit for being so strong and remaining committed to the band. We have ALL had challenges..sometimes for a few days, weeks or months! This is for a lifetime, so please don't beat yourself up if you hit a hiccup in your weight loss. You've lost again and are maintaing...that's what it's all about. Sorry about your little kitty..I hope he/she is ok! Have a great weekend and just remember you are fabulous!!!:laugh:

Oh goodness, I'm so sorry for the complications! I know the misery of the acid reflux and not being able to eat..utter agony! The band has done it's job for you and I have NO DOUBT that you will maintain your amazing loss and healthy lifestyle. Most importantly, you will get relief from the pain. I'll be thinking good thoughts for you and will look forward to your update!:thumbup: SLG!! I'm soooo glad you finally have a resolution to your problem and that your band is going to be replaced. In the month since my replacement surgery, I've been a new person! Ya..doing the post op diet again sucks...but it's so much easier the second time around. And like I said to ckkj..you will be soooo happy to be out of your misery!! Hang in there, honey...you're almost there!:frown:

My insurance paid for it because it was an emergency and deemed "medically necessary".

Hi Barb.. Right back atcha on the congratulations! Wow..you've done AMAZING with your weight loss! I couldn't agree more with you in terms of recovery being easier! It was waayyyy easier this time around! In addition to being in better shape, my surgeon went thru the same incisions and I think the biggest factor was he didn't have to replace my port. That was my most painful incision first time around. I did have to do the same post op diet which sucked, but again..alot easier this time around. I'm scheduled to get my first fill on Thursday although I actually have decent restriction totally unfilled! Like you, I plan on staying slightly restricted from here on out! Again, congrats on your awesome weight loss!

My band was replaced as opposed to be revised, because scar tissue had caused such extreme repositioning to the point it was adhesed to my liver. This is not typical. Most slips do end up with just revisions. I was just happy I didn't lose my band, which very easily could of happened! I'm doing so great with my new one and will NEVER let myself get overfilled...and if I have even the slightest symptom of a complication I will get to my doc ASAP!

Lil Miss...I'm SO proud of you! You are doing so awesome with WW..keep it up, girl!:sneaky: But...mmmm...chips and salsa do sound good! Hope everyone has a great weekend! Oh and Angie..that's the face of an athlete...you look awesome!

:biggrin: Oh yay...I'm sooo relieved to hear that! I've truly been worried about you!! Glad you're getting it resolved and your insurance will take care of things!:tt1: Everyone is doing a GREAT job getting back on track!! I've got alot going on this week. Hubby and I have been trying to get pregnant for quite awhile. I guess God works in mysterious ways since it would have been BAD if I had gotten preggie the last couple of months with my slipped band. Now that I'm fixed, I've been doing a cycle of fertility meds and am getting an IUI (yep..turkey basted..lol) on Saturday! There is nothing more than I want than to be a mommy, so I would love and appreciate your prayers! The band has given me the gift of health, and losing this weight is going to give me the best chance of fulfilling my dream. Thanks for letting me share, ladies. I'll update you on how everything is going:wub: Keep up the good work everyone!!!

Oh SLG--I'm so sorry. I am just SHOCKED that your doc even sent you home knowing you have a slip. Especially with the symptoms you are having:eek: I was in the hospital 2 hours after they diagnosed my slip! My insurance covered my band replacement because I was in an emergency situation and it was deemed "medically necessary". I am just awe-struck at how different doctors can be. Two weeks just seems way too long to not do something about this...especially if you're in pain!! PLEASE don't wait that long if your pain continues! I would demand more answers from your doc and get a resolution quick! I'm just so sorry you're going through this and I really hope you get taken care of SOONER THAN LATER! At least you got the tests done so you know what you're dealing with..but sheesh....don't let my sweet SLG suffer:mad2:!!

Wow, girls! Sounds like we're all starting to get our "mo-jo" back a bit! Shiny--you're so right about having support--it really does make us accountable, therefore successful. Good job on starting your new program. STL--good luck on the tests! I know you're nervous, but you will be so relieved afterwards. I hope you get some answers and some relief soon! ANGIE---YOU GO GIRL!! Congratulations on such an amazing accomplishment! What a fab picture too! There is NOTHING like seeing that finish line. When I trained for and completed my marathon in 2007, I will NEVER forget the feeling of seeing the word 'FINISH". I still can't believe I did 26.2 miles when I was 240 pounds:eek:..let alone all the training. I've been seriously considering training for another one now that I'm 90 pounds lighter. I bet I would finish in less that 8hrs 42mins...ummm...ya...that's how long it took! You have TOTALLY inspired me. You should be so proud of all your hard work, committment, dedication and transformation into a beautiful, healthy woman. What full marathon are you training for? Remember our mantra way back when....JUST KEEP SWIMMING!! :frown:

Hey gals.. Sounds like we're all on the same roller coaster! Now that I've healed from my band replacement, the scale has fluctuated. It sucked seeing my weight go up from my goal #..but then again I was on liquids and I knew it would probably creep up once I started solid food again. I'm not going to be a slave to my scale! It will just drive me nuts!! I have to hit the gym..which of course I've been procrastinating, but I'm not going to beat myself up or sabotage myself with self-loathing thoughts. I'm still completely unfilled, and will probably stay that way for a few more weeks. Just gotta ease back into things....you know what they say.."one day at a time". Shiny-hang in there, keep blogging...you're doing great Tap- good to see you back here..sorry you were having a rough one LilMiss-CONGRATS on the 2 inches. You're doing awesome with WW..keep it up girl! tskelli-you bring up a great point about tracking food! I REALLY need to do that again. Thanks for reminding me about fitday.com. I'm going to log on now!! St.LouisGal--I'm thinking about you!! How did your tests go?