notateechanow

Hello, I read your profile feed and am very inspired by your journey. I wantd to know how things are going for you now? I am scheduled to do the Sleeve and am looking for encouragement. thanks!

Well.....I scheduled a tummy tuck for Dec 2010, over a year after that post. Ironically, my band slipped a week before I was scheduled to have it. I had emergency surgery after 4 days in the hospital to unclamp it. The doctor on call tried to get me to revise and have GB instead. I was 10 pounds from goal---130 pounds less than where I started! That seemed illogical to me. I had it re-clamped in April of 2011 but struggled to keep the weight off. I gained nearly 20 pounds that I couldn't lose, no matter how hard I tried. I was married in April of 2012. I became pregnant with my first daughter in June of 2012 at age 40. I delivered a healthy baby after gaining only 15 pounds during that pregnancy in March of 2013. During my pregnancy, my port flipped. I had my band pretty much drained early in the pregnancy to insure there wouldn't be any issues....since my port would have been a challenge to access. I lost 35 pounds in less than 2 weeks after having my baby and was back to my lowest weight. I had surgery a month after my c-section to reposition my port. I then got pregnant again in June of 2013! This pregnancy I gained only 7 pounds and again lost over 25 after delivery. I'm 3 months postpartum now. I'm at my lowest weight and only 10 pounds above goal. I have not had any fill put back in my band. I would like to think I have finally learned proper eating habits. Prior to my 2nd pregnancy, I was working out 2-3 times a week with a trainer and walking my dog close to 15 miles a week. It has been such a challenge with two babies to make it to the gym. So now I just push my big double stroller and get in as many miles a week as I can. The girls love it as we live on the water. My body composition is very different from the last time I was at this weight. I'd prefer to be muscular again....but that requires more 'me' time. SO....a VERY long winded response to your question? I had EVERY complication possible with my band. My port has since flipped again during my 2nd pregnancy. I haven't been back to my surgeon. I'm comfortable with my ability to eat properly now---rarely getting stuck but still filling up fast. I'm nearly 6.5 years post op and very happy with my results. Most of my friends who had surgery with the same surgeon (from his support group) have gained all of their weight back. This isn't a quick fix. It's a lifestyle change. If you have always buried your feelings in food or made it central to socializing, etc...that won't change. It IS possible to be banded and not lose weight. If you are confident this is a lifestyle you WANT---that losing weight and changing your life is worth the gains---I strongly suggest it. I walked away from an unhappy relationship a year after my banding. I was married 4 years later and now have two healthy babies. Was it worth it for me? ABSOLUTELY. The 'new' sleeve surgery (Not offered when I had mine) has fewer complications. I'm told it has good results and definitely requires less maintenance. This journey hasn't been easy or at all what I expected, but it is a life I have constructively chosen. It is finally a life that I feel like I control......good luck! I wish you the best.