wifemomteacher

I have been having the same problems. They have been trying to figure out the problem for several months now. Just had a chest xray and upper GI today. Everything was okay, except I have reflux and an esophagus that doesn't move food as it should because it is weak. My surgeon thought it was not the band. My internist is now treating me for severe reflux. Nexium, reglan, and another med that starts with C I have to take four times a day. YUCK! I would be soooo happy to just have a real night's sleep. We'll see how this works...

Wow! Your stories are my stories! I too lost about 50 lbs. but then started gaining it back. :huh2:I too am trying desperately to get committed again. I had problems with my band and all of the saline had to be taken out for 6 weeks. I only have half what I used to, the band is still loose, and I am overeating. :glare:I am scheduled for another fill on the 6th of May, but want to get back to better habits now. My surgeon will only do very small, conservative fills since I was having trouble before. Let's all help each other, as it sounds like we are all about in the same place. I KNOW the band works and I want to be there again and get rid of the 40 lbs I want to loose!! I'm in if ya'll are!!

Thanks so much for the reply. It would be great to support each other. I haven't had to find new fill doctors as you have, but I can certainly feel your pain about the self-pay. Insurance will pay for the meds and doctor visits associated with obesity, but won't save themselves money by allowing treatment for it. Hmmmm...makes poor business sense to me! Today, I have really been staying aware of my commitment to getting back on track. I am doing only liquids and soft foods today and tomorrow as I had a small fill. After that, no foods after 5:30, measured small meals, small, slow bites, no red meat. Okay, and exercise. I'll let you know how it goes; I have your email address. Keep doing what you are doing!! I really do feel that being self-pay as we are is a true investment in ourselves and our health. That is always worth the money!! Just as you said, prayer and a sense of humor can overcome anything!!

Hi! I am a forty-five year old wife, mother, and high school teacher. I had lost a little more than 50 lbs. of my 85 lbs. goal. At that point I began having TERRIBLE reflux problems, two complete unfills, and trouble finding the correct fill level. It is still not over. I now have .75, had 1.5 for eight months that worked great until the reflux. Now I have a chronic cough even with very little saline and have gained back apprx. 20 lbs. So...my plan is to stop eating by 5:30 each night, no matter what; stop eating soft foods out of ease; measure my food each meal; and exercise. My life right now is especially stressful, i.e. two kids in college, a month to finish my doctoral dissertation; $$ issues, etc. I really need someone to share all of this with until I can get my focus, health, and success back. I live in the Atlanta area, was self-pay, have had my band for 1 and half years, and see my surgeon regularly. I am looking for someone who can assure me that people make it through difficult times. Thanks so much!!

I also have trouble, AM having trouble with stress. I have two kids in college, which translates to $ issues, have to finish my dissertation by June, and teach. Just typing it all makes me stressed. I am committing tonight to getting back on the boards to find support. I have gained some weight back, have developed serious reflux, and need to focus again on following the rules. Oh yeah, and fit exercise back in again. I planned on waiting until after teaching year was over and I had also graduated with my degree to get things back right between me and my band, but I feel so sick and tired at this point, I have to start now. I am looking for help, advice, support, comrades, etc.

Thanks for all of the encouragement! I hope everything goes well with your health issues. Like I said, I felt like a new person after my hysterectomy. I have to take very low dose HRT, but otherwise feel like I have a new lease on life! It is a great complement to the band and weight loss. My son is seeing a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. Also, his medical doctor started him on anti-depressants which are used to treat eating disorders. He is staying at home for a semester and caddying at a country club near our home while he gets treatment. It is almost surreal to talk so openly about eating disorder problems with my son who just a year ago seemed so completely on the right track. He was health conscious, active, successful in school, etc. Now it seems his focus and confidence are gone. Isn't it interesting and devastating how food plays such a defining role in every aspect of our lives, physical, social, and emotional?!?

Life certainly does have a way of affecting how we treat ourselves, or in my case it does. I have a son in college who is really struggling with the transition to adulthood, and we are in the middle of picking a college for my daughter next year. My son was a very successful athlete and student in high school, but learned terrible weight managing habits from wrestling, which if you don't know is rampant in the sport. He has dropped forty pounds in less than a year at college and looks really unhealthy. He has moved home for a semester to see an eating disorder therapist and nutritionist. I feel in many ways responsible. Really, I didn't lose weight on my own by eating healthy and exercising. I too had to turn to other means, the band. I don't feel like the cause, but now I wonder if we had an unhealthy reltionship with food and body image in our house without realizing it. Hmmm...pretty deep questions for a weekend! I am really trying to not allow the stress of everything to undermine my progress, but I am one who likes to turn to chocolate! I haven't gotten back to exercising yet because of this darn asthma. I am so tired from not sleeping at night because I cannot breathe. I thought the Singular was working, but after watching a football game in the misty rain it has only been worse! Enough of that whining...tomorrow is a new day. That's the beauty of it, isn't it. Good news...my weight was 178 this morning, mainly because I cannot stop coughing to eat! Ha! I am still committed to exercising this week. And a new goal, I am going to try to eat lean Proteins and vegetables, rather than starches.

Sorrrrry! I have been sick this week and off work since Monday afternoon. I am back at work now, but not feeling much better. All of a sudden in my mid forties I have fairly severe asthma show up. Go figure... I have been doing okay on my eating, but not great. I still have not gotten back to exercising as I should, but if I can breathe I will be out there today. Oh, one good thing to report...officially per my doctor appt. this week, my weight is no longer a risk factor for me and my blood pressure id perfectly normal without the medication that I have taken for 13 years!! So, even though my weight loss is at a plateau right now, my goals for the band and my health are certainly being realized. I was VERY excited! I agree...keep active on the thread. It really helps kepp me focused! That sounds a little selfish, but ya'll do help me!:biggrin2:

I have a tendency to sabotage myself as well. The good news is my band does a fairly good job of keeping me under control. I was a TOTAL diet coke addict before surgery. It was a joke around school how much I drank, along with coffee. As I was getting prepared to have the band surgery I made my self stop. I don't drink carbonation at all any more, but still miss it sometimes in the morning. My downfall is chocolate, and I haven't conquered it yet. It ouwld be okay if I just could eat a little once in a while, but I eat alot of it too often. And really you can eat as much of that as you want. It's definitely a problem...:crying:I do understand the sabotaging yourself thing...I really have tried to looked honestly at why I do it as well, but I haven't figured it out yet!

Sorry I haven't logged on for a few days. I have really been crunched for time. It's the beginning of the school year; I work in special education and with our system's new teachers. Both are crazy at the first of the year. Yea...they are excuses but true! Ha! I have been doing pretty well, but not feeling well still...coughing really badly at night and feeling sorta heavy in my chest like bronchitis or something. I am making an appt. with the doctor Monday morning. I was doing only liquids for three days to give my esophagus time to "rest" in case the coughing was because it was irritated, but that hasn't seemed to help. So, maybe something has changed with my fill level or band...or maybe I am sick without really feeling it. To update, my weight is about 182. I haven't started back exercising, but hope to this weekend. I am back to eating solids. I did eat school lunch two days this week, BUT I had a salad one day. The other I had fried chicken and squash casserole! :thumbup: My goals for the coming week: Post here once in the morning and once at night. Stick to lean proteins and vegetables See the doctor about my cough. Stay out of the school cafeteria!

I am trying to log on once during the day and once in the evening. I am now at my desk, swamped with work, and practicing avoidance! Ha! I have heard that many people exchange addictions; before my banding the psychologist I saw warned me about it. I haven't noticed it being a problem for me YET. I don't really feel that I had a food addiction, just a love affair with it! I am on my second day of liquids today. So far it hasn't been too bad. Of course it is only 8:54! I can't usually eat before lunchtime anyway. Welcome! We will get motivated and focused together!! Weight this morning:182.5 (only 22.5 pounds to go for my "realistic" goal!)

That is a tough one. I feel like I would have a really hard time managing without my band filled. As tough as it is, I can tell you that I had a complete hysterectomy one year ago..about five months before I was banded, and it is like getting a new lease on life. I feel wonderful and only regret not doing sooner! After that is behind you and your band is refilled you will feel so much better and regain your focus! I am trying three days of liquids this week. Today was not that hard, but I am sure tomorrow will be. I have been having some trouble with my band feeling really tight and some coughing at night. I know elevation changes can affect the band and I traveled in the mountains this summer. before I go to the doctor about it, I am trying this along with Pepcid to make sure it is not irritation of the esophagus. So to record my daily progress: 650 liquid calories (not enough I know!) No exercise (GRRRRRR!!) :wink2: Pretty good attitude though! Ha! :biggrin2:

Thanks so much! I was making it much more complicated than it had to be! Have a great week!