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...

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.

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.

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

Hi All, Well, I've been on this site for a while now but this is my first actual post. I finally hit the required 15 lb weight loss that I needed to get booked for surgery a couple of weeks ago, quit smoking since Feb 25th, and I saw my Surgeon (Dr Nepomnashy, Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA) on Tuesday and he gave me the green light for June 5th (tomorrow!). Like most of you, I've been overweight most of my life. I am 26 yrs old, 5'9, 252lbs and I'm really looking forward to having this done. I haven't told many people about it...just my hubby, immediate family and my boss. I really want to keep this private. But everyone who does know has been really supportive. So I'm scheduled to arrive at 5:45AM for surgery at 7:30AM tomorrow morning and I've been sooo nervous since yesterday. Do I really want to go through with this? Am I going to regret this decision later? Am I going to FAIL? I think that's the part that's scaring me the most...getting the band and then FAILING. I just can't bare to hear anyone (my mom in particular) saying that even after getting banded that I failed because of lack of self control or whatever it may be. And then I've been reading about people getting the band removed due to erosion and gaining the weight back. I don't think I could stand to go through that!! To top things off...a gastric bypass patient that I met through a friend just sent me this long email saying how LapBand is just a "GLORIFIED DIET" and that she knows over 100 ppl that are struggling with it! She thinks I'm making the wrong decision and now she's got ME thinking twice! I'm so aggravated!!!:ohmy: I really didn't need this right now...especially right before surgery!!! I guess I'm looking for some words of encouragement from people who have been there, done that. I guess I'm just scared that I'm making the wrong decision. Did anyone feel this way before surgery? It's not the surgical part that's scaring me at all...it's the HUGE LIFE CHANGE AFTER or the possibility of failure! :cursing:

Hi all...I was just curious to know if everyone is really exercising. I have severe sleep apnea (which is one of the major reasons I got this surgery to begin with) and I'm sooooo sleepy and groggy all the time. It's hard to find the energy to do anything at all after work...much less exercise. I barely stay awake at work and while driving...so getting out there and exercising seems soooo unattainable to me right now. Are there ppl out there that had the band and didn't exercise and still lost weight? I'm curious to know... I really do want to exercise but with the lack of energy it's so hard...and even harder to get motivated. Any encouraging words would help! I've lost about 20 lbs since June 5th surgery and I've been teetering between a couple of lbs for the last 3 weeks now. I'm just frustrated and afraid I'm gonna fail the band. Had my first fill on July 17th and lost 6 lbs in 4 days and then completely stopped losing. Thanks for listening....

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:

Please point out to me WHERE I said that???? How does saying that my LIFE EXPERIENCES are on the level of a 50 yr old translate to all 50 year olds are inactive?????????? THOSE ARE YOUR WORDS, NOT MINE!!!! SO DO NOT PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH!!!!!!!!! I DID NOT EVEN USE THE WORD EXERCISE AND 50 YR OLD IN THE SAME SENTENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUBBLEBUTT....BUTT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU'RE AN INSTIGATOR AND YOU HAVE BEEN SINCE THIS THREAD STARTED. I DON'T NEED YOUR ADVICE...I DIDN'T ASK FOR IT AND I NEVER WILL. SO STOP ADDRESSING ME IN YOUR POSTS. I'M PRETTY FED UP WITH ALL OF YOUR NEGATIVE POSTS AND YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY TARGETING ME BY TAKING EVERY POST I MAKE WHETHER IT BE NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE AND ATTACKING ME. LEAVE ME ALONE!!! DO YOU BULLY EVERYONE LIKE THIS??? I NEVER ONCE WHINED ABOUT ANYTHING AND IF I DID WHAT'S IT TO YOU????????? I BELIEVE THIS IS A SITE FOR SUPPORT AND A PLACE TO TURN TO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'VE ACCEPTED MY ISSUES AND AM WORKING ON MY PROBLEMS. CAN YOU SAY THE SAME??? OBVIOUSLY NOT...BECAUSE IT'S NOT YOUR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE YOU NEED TO WORK ON MY FRIEND, IT'S YOUR INNER ONE. LONG2BTHIN, I DON'T NEED YOUR WELL WISHES..KEEP EM TO YOURSELF...ESPECIALLY AFTER THE WAY YOU TWISTED MY WORDS AND ARE DELIBERATELY LOOKING FOR A FIGHT!!!!!!!!!! YOU'RE THE ONES WHO NEED TO GET OVER YOURSELVES, NOT ME!!!!!!!!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!

Long2bthin, I honestly shouldn't even be responding to your message right now because your comments are just ridiculous. You're obviously just trying to pick a fight here, but this is one I'm going to just let go because although I did not even in the slightest way suggest that you are "invalid"....your comments definitely are. Take it how you want it...but I think everything I said and meant is quite clear. Maybe you should try reading the post for what it really is and not make assumptions of underlying implications. If you posting your message makes you feel better about yourself, then I'm happy for you. I guess you're also another person that feels a great satisfaction by belittling others! So congrats on being 50 and exercising! Good for you! "I on the other hand"....am not exercising as much as I should be, but I still feel great about my weight loss and there's nothing you can do to change that!!!!

Greyhoundmom, I just want to thank you for your post. It's because of people like you that I started coming to this site and will continue to do so! Level-headed, sound advice from people who care! Thankfully, my struggle is getting easier as the days go by. I had my second fill this morning and the nurse practitioner told me that the energy and exercise will come with time. She also said that I shouldn't be down on myself and to keep a positive outlook because I've already taken major steps to change my lifestyle! It's easy for people to be judgemental when they haven't walked in your shoes and talk is definitely cheap. So I've resolved to take what people say with a grain of salt. I can't tell you how much some of the postings that people made on here has bothered me for the last week. It just amazes me how self righteous and uncompassionate people can be. Yes, I'm 26 years old but my life experiences are at the same level as some 50 year olds! But life itself is a learning experience and I know that there's so much more to be learned still! I just try to keep my mind and heart open so that I can pass on some of my knowledge to others in need in a compassionate and understanding way...much like how you just did. Best of luck to you with your health and struggle to fight the obesity!! I know you can overcome your personal demons and obstacles...and I'm sure that I can too!!!

There's your sarcasm and patronizing attitude again! You know exactly what I'm talking about!!! Whatever...

Losinjusme...thanks for your last post and proving just how judgemental and patronizing some of you really are. Nice, really nice.

You know...you're really stuck on making this about a lack of motivation, but if you read closely I wrote that it's because of my lack of ENERGY that I have no motivation to exercise. Don't twist my words! And if I had that energy, believe me I'd be exercising alot more!!!! I'm not pissing and whining...I very simply posted a question and look at all the nasty responses I've gotten!!!! But have you thought for a moment that maybe my case IS a bit more severe than others? Believe me, I'm not downplaying anyone's struggles...and I sure as hell don't appreciate it when others disregard mine!!!!!!!!!! You said it very well because that's exactly how these other posters and yourself have made ME feel!!!!!!!!! You know what...I really don't need this crap. Thanks for your advice anyway.

Ok, so I've sat back for a couple of days and just watched this thread and have seen just how nasty people can be. I've really contained myself for the last few days but enough is enough....I will not stay silent any longer!!! I'm actually really disappointed after reading some of the posts on here because I've gotten such great feedback from people on here in the past. This is a support forum, not one to condescend and belittle each other!!!! Some of you act as if you've never been overweight, as if you've exercised your whole lives and have never had a problem with your weight to begin with!!! If you didn't, you wouldn't have gotten this surgery in the first place so you have no right to judge me or anyone else on here for that matter!!!!!!!!!!! This is the last place I would expect ANYONE to be judgemental but I guess after having that kind of weight loss, it should only be expected. Jachut, you come to this thread, bikini and all and sit here and patronize myself and greythope??? You had that exhausted feeling during your first tri-mester???? Awww, poor baby...TRY FEELING THAT FEELING EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR LIFE AND THEN COME TALK TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TRY FIGHTING TO STAY AWAKE EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF A 50 MILE COMMUTE EACH WAY TO WORK AND THEN COME TALK TO ME!!! TRY FIGHTING WITH ALL YOU HAVE NOT TO LOSE YOUR JOB BECAUSE OF YOUR TARDINESS AND ABSENCES AND THEN COME TALK TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND YOU FIND IT OFFENSIVE WHEN OTHERS SAY YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND??? FINE, BE OFFENDED, BECAUSE I AM SURE WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT YOU IN FACT DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!!!!! Like Greythope, this ILLNESS was the last straw for me as well. I was in such a severe depression because of this that I had to do something drastic....having this surgery. WHAT WAS YOUR REASON??????????????? Maybe it was because of your great eating habits or dedication to exercise????? Yeah, I highly doubt it. I was active my whole life, but once this sleep apnea kicked in it completely drained me. I even went to the extent of having surgery for a deviated septum back in September to correct the issue (which by the way did not work!!!!!) So say what you want...judge me, patronize me...but don't think I'm gonna sit here and take it. And congratulations on your amazing weight loss....maybe you could try using some positive encouragement to actually HELP people like me and Greythope...not the kind that makes people feel like shit. However, despite it all....I still believe your heart is in the right place...you just obviously haven't expressed yourself in the best way. For the other poster that said there's always lunch time to get outside...thanks for the advice. I've been getting out and taking a 10-15 minute walk whenever I've been able to. The summer in Boston this year has been pretty damn crappy and we've had torrential rains almost every day for the past 2 months!!!!!!!!!! (Not much of a summer if you ask any Bostonian) That 10-15 minute walk is great when I get to take it, but I was talking about some serious exercise...the 1 hour, sweat running down your forehead kind. So if that short walk is considered exercise, then I guess I should say that I have been exercising!!!! Anyways.... Greythope, congrats on starting your exercise...sooo proud of you babe!!! I can only hope that with a little more weight loss I'll start feeling better and eventually have enough energy to get more active!!! I know that day will come and I'm looking forward to it. For now, I'll keep doing my part with my band...eating right, slowly, and chewing like there's no tomorrow!!! I think I've been doing a great job so far and if I hadn't been, wouldn't have lost the first 30 lbs in 2 months!!! That being said, I sincerely hope that no one has taken offense...as much as I did anyway. I will continue to take what I can from the positive posts on this site and I hope that I can give some positive feedback to others as well. Take care and good luck to all....

Hi again...thank you all for your replies. Greythope, I'm glad there's someone who truly understands how I feel. People don't realize just how debilitating the sleep apnea is...my family used to think that I just LOVE to sleep and am a lazy fat ass. Well, that was never the case. I used to be quite active too...played soccer and basketball on teams well into my twenties. But I've always had this sleep issue and the weight gain has just exasperated it. I drive 50 miles each way to work and also worry every day that I'm gonna fall asleep and crash. People that haven't experienced this don't know how it feels....worrying about your LIFE being in danger...worrying about losing your job cuz ur always late...the list goes on. I had high hopes that this surgery would atleast help with my sleep and so far it hasn't done much. Jachut, I can really appreciate your enthusiasm for exercise, but our situations are like night and day. If you didn't exercise, you would have no excuse because you HAVE the energy. And don't get me wrong, I'm not using it as an excuse...but like Greythope said, you've never been in my shoes so you will never know what it's like. Making the time for it is not even as much the issue as even HAVING THE ENERGY to START!!!! Greythope, I guess we can only hope that with a little more weight loss every day the apnea will subside...even a little bit so that we can find the energy to start exercising. My life has been absolute HELL with this condition...frankly I'm sick and tired of being sick and TIRED!!!!!!!!! Good luck to you all and thanks for the great feedback...wishing you all continued success on this life long journey!!!