MissBrandy

Hi....I originally lost around 65Kgs (approx150lbs?), about 13 years go - the natural way. At my heaviest I was about 145kg (approx315lbs?).I kept it off - eating around 1500cals per day, LOW fat meals for breakfast and lunch. Weighed my food/portions. Did not eat dinner, ever. At least not after the weight loss. I put weight on if I ever ate dinner. I HAD to be starving every night, just to maintain- which has truly sucked all of this time... I was a chef (along with also being a musician/singer in several bands, a fashion designer, and all round artist), and have studied nutrition extensively, so I know, a have been 'told' all the theories that go along with that method of wieght loss. But, it worked - where nothing else did. Its been hell keeping it off, but not compared to the hell it is, to have it on... I also had to do aerobics at least five days per week, just to maintain. If I did four days, even for a few weeks, the weight started coming back on. Even though my knees and ankles are riddled with arthritus - I always did aerobics, rain, hail, shine, illness, hangovers.... There were, (and still are, no excuses - for me, anyway...)
Then my ankles really started hurting far more than usual during 2004/2005. Incidental exercise (walking to work, talking the stairs, etc, was becomin excruciting, even though I continued my aerobic routine - I was increasingly unable to do that all important 'incidental' exercise. In 2006 I was eventually diagnosed witha a rare genetic bone disease in both ankles - which explained the excruciating pain.I could barely walk, when my Orthapedic surgeon decided he had to operate on the really bad ankle - inserting 4 screws in my left ankle - with the hope of fusing those particular bones together (there is a high possibility of the operation not 'working', leaving me in a wheelchair for life...) Luckily, after four months with my leg in a cast, and me in a wheelchair, we discovered the surery was succesful. This time...Then last Noember, I found out I was almost 7 months pregnant....! I had been on and off prednizone (cortico-steriod), for my ankle pain since the whole saga began - it really made me feel great, but messed with my Enocrine system over time, so hadnt had a period for about two years. I was/am always merticulous about safe sex - there was no 'broken condom', plus I had no other symptoms - I wasnt even showing! So it was a huge hock, an very distresing, since I'm single, somewhat disabled, (which gaining any weight -incluing pregnancy, drastically increases the risk of being wheelchair bound!), and 35 years old - with no family support at all really (I rarely see them) - just a couple of very good friends! I had been slowly gaining back some of the weight I ha so slavishly kept off over the last couple years anyway - and now I was in a very scary place...I had my little girl in February, and went for Lapband surgery 3 months later (as discussed at length with the surgeon the November prior). I was so scared of being a single mother - from a wheelchair. And already had the lifestyle habits needed to maintai an appropriate weight for my size, height, etc.Durig the lapbd urgery the surgeo accidentally 'nicked' a major internal artery. Two days after that itial urgery I washeomorraging internally - esentially I ws dying. I eeded 6 blood transfusions, then they rushed meback into urgeryto perform a fourand a half hour lifesaving surgery. The surgeon actually called my mother at one point - telling her he wasnt ure I was going to make it!Even though I hadnt seen her in months (I never thought putting her as my 'next of kin' would actully be used!)...I didnt knowI was dying at thetime. They dont tell you. I knew somethingwa wrong nd all I could think of was who would look after ylittle baby girl!? I rang everyone I knew - frantic to find someone she would be safe with (the friend who took her those intial first 2 days, was no longer available...)It was pretty hardcore.It wasnt until after I learned that I very nearly died... I still dont think it has fully 'dawned' on me - given being a new mother is something I'm stilltrying to get my head around...Anyway...... After all of that, and one 'band' adjustment later. I've lost nothing!!!In fact, I gained about 6kgs (14lbs?), the first 6 weeks after surgery! Thats come off now..but thats it.
I back to doing aerobics 5 days a week (my baby thinks its hilarious because I do it in front of her in a very 'animated' way, so she wont cry, lol). I cannot eat more than 1200-1500cals per day (except its spread over about 5 tiny meals a day now). So what the hell i happening? I'm going fora metabolism test tomorrow at RPA Hospital,here in Sydney My Endocronologist, Rhuemetologist, and surgeon are all puzzled. I would hae lost weight most certainlyby now eati the way I have to now  - before the band was put in.... So what gives?????
I'm at my wits end!  Not only that, but all the healthy foods and salads I could eat before - I cant really eat now...because it gets stuck, hurts like hell, and is just not worth the hassle...
Does anyone have any anecdotes? Ive researched this as much as I can... And I have freinds who've had this surgery - who have lost lots of weight - and they still dont even exercise!I want to cry for a year....*huge sigh*Thanks for listening...
Miss Brandy x