Love2Lose

Hi everyone! So I guess I should give an update as well seeing as how my 3rd bandiversary was last week. It's so great to hear that everyone is doing so well. I too am well for the most part. A month after my surgery, I slipped and fell on water at work and ended up fracturing a vertebrae. Unfortunately, I've been out of work for a little over 2 years now due to my back pain and it's been an ongoing struggle. I now have chronic pain and am pretty much at my wit's end. The reason I had the surgery to begin with was because I wanted to lose weight for a healthy pregnancy, but as you can imagine that's been put on hold as well. It just stinks all around. On a happier note, I lost all of my extra weight within 9 months after surgery. My surgeon always tells me that I'm in the 95th percentile for success. I even lost about 20-30 pounds more than my surgeon first suggested. I've lost a total of 110 pounds (10 pounds before surgery and 100 after). Funny thing is, due to my back injury, I didn't exercise much. Just a couple of walks a couple times a week, other than the physical therapy ofcoarse. I look and feel like a different person and I have never regretted my decision. I always say it's been the best decision I've ever made. About 6 months after I had my surgery, my husband went and got banded too and he's lost around 80 pounds. As you can imagine, people who haven't seen us for a long time get really shocked when they do! Also, one of our close friends had it done as well and we're hoping my Dad will be approved for the surgery soon! Just a couple of months ago, I had a similar situation to one of you. I was going through a very stressful time and all of a sudden, I couldn't eat anymore. Nothing would stay down and if it did, it felt like it was just "stuck" there, sitting on my chest. I went to see my nurse at the WL clinic and she had me get a swallow study done. Long story short, I was told that I had a band slip by 4 different doctors and was to be ready the next morning for a new band. I got there the next morning and my surgeon was pissed off at all the doctors and insisted that my band hadn't slipped. He had me get a endoscopy before he would agree to put me under the knife and it turned out that I had a really bad case of gastritis. (Thank God he did.) SO, the fluid from my band was taken out and I was fine a couple of days later! Just last week, on my bandiversary, I went under the knife once more to get my port removed and got a lower profile port put down lower on my belly. It was really protruding out after all the weight loss and was hitting my rib cage which was causing me pain so it had to be done. I have to say though, it was much more painful than the first time around. They gave me 2 longer incisions but they also did a great job with the stitches so I think they'll fade alot quicker than the original ones. (THAT always drove me crazy! I hated those darn scars!) SO, that's my story. I've gained about 10 pounds since this whole ordeal and I'm just waiting for my belly to heal so I can go back and get another fill. Not a big deal at all, I know I can lose it back within 2-3 weeks! That's the beauty of the band! WIshing you all the best of luck and especially to those who have been struggling. I just say to keep at it because you're in control now with your band and you'll get to your goal sooner or later! I would post a picture but no one really knows I got the surgery done to begin with other than my closest friends and family and I'd like to keep it that way. If you're interested in seeing one of me, send me a message and I'll send one your way! Take care all! xoxoxoxoxoxo

Hey there June Bugs! I haven't been on here in so long, so a big hello to everyone. I've lost 75lbs since June and I'm about 10lbs away from goal. I just ordered my wedding gown on Saturday for my wedding in October! I just hope I don't lose too much that the dress will need major alterations! Oh, and it's a tight, mermaid style gown...absolutely gorgeous....and I never thought I'd wear this style, but I'm loving it! As upbeat as I sound, I am having some other issues. I was wondering if anyone else is having self-image issues? I have good days and bad...ones where I look in the mirror and see my old fat self. And other days where I feel good. But the bad days are really bad, and I'm having a hard time dealing. Anyone else in the same boat?

Hey there June bugs... I haven't been on here in forever, so I thought I'd drop by and say hello. I hope you're all doing well and getting closer to your weight loss goals. As for me, I've been in Onederland for a few weeks now...I've lost a total of 75lbs since June and I've never felt better! I'm fitting into all my "skinny clothes" from 5 years ago and I only have another 20 lbs to reach goal! My hubby is getting banded on the 27th, so I hope exercising with him will help me get off the last 20! Almost there!

Hi there...I used Chantix and quit before surgery. It really does work and it's the best thing I've ever done (and ofcoarse getting banded)!! You can do it!

So as I was leaving work yesterday afternoon for my hour drive home, I thought it would be a good idea to take a bite or two of a slice of pizza to keep me going until I got home. Boy, was I wrong! I pulled over on the highway twice to PB and then finally had to stop at a gas station. I've had food stuck before and have PB'd as well...but it has never been this bad. So note to self...don't stuff your face with food before getting in the car! And make sure to always have extra napkins in your car as well! Lesson learned! :cool2:

Hey ajpink...I'm on my third fill as well and I feel like I can definitely eat way more than I should be able to. But I don't eat sweets and all the bad stuff either...you should really try to get rid of all of that stuff from your house. Create a "safe zone" where you know that you won't be tempted to have the junk that's setting you back. And if you need snack here and there, do what I do and get yourself some FF Coolwhip and have a spoonful...or even SF popsickles. The 100 calorie packs are a great idea too...I get the striped shortbread kind and it really hits the spot. Also, when I feel like I'm getting hungry again after a meal...especially after dinner, I have a South Beach Diet Protein Bar. They're really good and those hit the spot as well. As far as feeling that you should have had the bypass...well, that thought has crossed my mind many many times, but I keep telling myself that I want to be healthier and not just lose weight...thin doesn't necessarily mean healthy! I was also stalled for a few weeks...seems I lose a good 5-6 lbs right after a fill and then stop. So I've upped my exercise, I've been swimming! Are you exercizing? Hope you can get focused and back on track! We're all in this struggle together! Take care...

Jack, I went to the Chiro last night and it turns out that I have a popped ribhead. And possibly a ruptured disc. :rolleyes2: I've got to get some xrays done along with an MRI. But thanks for replying to my message...it ultimately made me go have it checked. Thanks!

Thanks Jack, will do.

Hi all, I'm 3 and 1/2 months post op and for about the last 2 months now, I've been having this really severe pain in my back, directly parallel to my port. It's really weird, feels like the muscle is pulled and every time I stretch I feel a crack in my back. But it's just so damn painful. I'm wondering if this might have anything to do with my band or the port. The position is just really weird. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? For the last 2 months I've been thinking that I must have just pulled a muscle, but it just hit me today that it might have something to do with my port. I'm going to call the clinic first thing on Monday, but in the meantime, any input would be helpful. Thanks all.

Hey kaytie, I'm 26 and I was banded 3 months ago. I've lost 40 lbs and I've had no issues with sagging at all so far and I doubt that I will. I think it also depends on where you carry your weight. Even when I was heavier, I was always very nicely proportioned and I have the height (I'm 5'9) to really mask my weight. Good luck to you in your journey! You're really lucky...I wish I could have had my surgery 2 years ago at 24! (Oh wait, I'll be 27 next month! Damn!) lol Take care! ~Love2lose

Good Morning to all my little June Bugs! :thumbup: No one has been posting on this board for a few days so I thought I would spark it up again! I've had lots of little NSV's since June and all were very similar to yours, so everytime I would read one of yours I'd just chuckle to myself. So here's one that I had this morning that just put a huge smile on my face...I have a pair of really sexy knee high boots that for the past 2 years I would have to leave half zippered under my pant leg because it would not zip up all the way for the life of me! Well, to my delight, they actually zipped up all the way with no trouble at all this morning!!! Yayayayayayaaa!!! :smile2: Since surgery, I have slimmed down all over, and not just in one spot so the loss is really coming along nicely. Hubby keeps saying how I'm looking sexier by the day and he can't seem to keep his hands off me! :smile: (I know, I know, TMI!!) So, I've lost 40 lbs total since the beginning of the year and 32 lbs since surgery!!! I think I'm doing great and seem to be right where I should be with the loss! People are really starting to notice lately and I've been getting so many compliments, which feels great! Also, I've had virtually no sagging or loose skin at all. I think that has alot to do with my age and my skin type (we have really great skin in my family) and also with the fact that I've been walking, walking, walking! Anyhow, hope you're all doing well! Does anyone have any good meal ideas that you'd like to share? I do get bored sometimes so I'd like to shake it up a bit! Hope to hear from you all soon! I also need to update my ticker and I can't quite figure out how to do it! Take care all! xoxoxo

LOL...you know I did that too, but I had people over visiting alot so I had to put a bra on. And even after my week off from work, wearing a normal bra with underwire sucked! So the sports bra really did help! Your incision sites will definitely be sore for atleast a few weeks. It took me a full month to be able to say that I had no more soreness or pain.

Tiffany, good luck with your surgery sweetie! I wish I saw this post sooner. Get yourself a good sports bra!!! It was my lifesaver as one of my incisions was right where my bra wire sits! Trust me, you'll thank me later! :smile2:

Hi Pati, I was banded at Lahey Clinic as well on June 5th. I'm planning on attending that meeting...hopefully we'll meet there! :smile2: