quiltlove

[font=comic sans ms, cursive][size=3]I am a soon to be 63 year old lady going on 30! LAPBAND has given me my life back. I have been married twice, divorced once and then widowed. My loving husband wanted me to live after he died and encouraged me to have the surgery so I started the process two months before he died and he never got to see my success but I know he is watching over me. I had 3 children by my first marriage and when I was 40 years old my youngest was 19 he took his own life over a brake up with his girlfriend. I gained 80 pounds that year trying to stuff my grief and pain. We adopted 2 more children so I raised 5. I worked most of my life in accounting, over 42 years while raising a family and taking care of my disabled husband that was crippled in a construction accident and then had mulitple cancers and open heart surgery over the last 10 years of his life. I used food as my drug of choice............I didn't drink or smoke and food became my comfort and my enemy. I tired every diet out there and would lose 10-20 pounds only to put back 15-25. It was a constant yo-yo for 20 years and not good for my health. When they told us my husband had 2 years to live I retired and we sold everything we owned to move to the coast of North Carolina so we could spend every day together enjoying life. The sicker he got the more I ate. He made 3 years instead of 2 but it was important to him I get my health back and go on. I dieted myself up to 281 pounds just before he died and couldn't hardly wait to have my surgery. I had the LapBand proceedure on November 22, 2010 4 months after I lost my husband. It was an emotional time but I was ready to take care of myself now. I didn't know they won't tighten the band for at least 6 weeks so I was disappointed I didn't start losing right away. In Jan 2011 I had my first fill. Nothing happened. Feb I was freaking out because I felt it was 4 months since surgery and I only lost like 4 pounds! Dr. Johnson was so patient with me and told me it takes time for my body to adjust to the fills. Each month I went back and started losing 10-12 pounds a month. I was so excited. From Feb to Christmas I lost 100 pounds!!! I remember going north to visit my kids that had not seen me since the surgery and everyone was shocked and excited for me. I was so proud so look so normal even though I still weighed 181 pounds I felt "skinny". I have continued to lose each month and a few times had to go back and have Dr. Johnson remove some fluid from the band because I got sick to much. I love how they can adjust the band just for you so you can be successful. I am almost at goal I weight 156 and my goal is 140. Can't wait, I'm so HAPPY!![/size][/font]