Banded 9-15-03... need some help from long timers

[Guest TrishaJ]

Let me start by saying I was banded on 9-15-03 by Dr. Spivak here in Houston. Anyone with an upcoming date with Dr. Spivak, don't worry your in the best hands!

I started at 241 and now a little over 2 years later, I was down to 195. Not great I know...and I have been too restricted since October, I finally made myself go into today to have some Fluid removed. I am at 203.5 today in Dr. Spivak's office, I had managed to gain almost 10 pounds. And what is really bad, I was keeping next to nothing down. This is bad, very bad I know this. So of course they removed all the fluid from my band for my stomach to rest. I had been through this once before last year. And had my fluid removed for a full month and gained 20 pounds in that month. I think I was totally out of control then. It wasnt that I was eating everything in sight or that I was eating to much, but I think my body was so used to not getting anything that when it did it hung on to everything I gave it. So anyway, here I am again, after doing everything I was told not to do. Going for months PBing 95% of what I ate. I have lost almost half of what I sat out to do over 2 years ago. I have heard of people that only lost some weight but I know there are many, many, I guess you could say most people that lose it all. I guess my question is what do you do to jump start yourself again. I love good food and had been dieing for just a good green salad... I couldnt even try to get a salad. So I plan on doing my very best. I think I will start all over again. Has anyone else had this problem. I know that part of the problem is myself. I know there are alot of people out there that are doing wonderful and don't have these problems. My best friend is banding and doesnt have this problem. Most people have to go in over time to get fills... for the last year and a half I go in to get unfills... i went from 2.7 down to 1.7. I have had them under fluro... in the office... both ways..I dont really prefer one over the other. I don't know if it is my eating. I do my best to chew well, I dont try dry meats or chicken, I know better. Only moist lean cuts of Protein. I have not had red meat in forever. I live off of chicken (when I am lucky) my daughter calls me a chicken killer. She hates chicken now and almost refuses to eat it. I guess after all of this rambling you can tell I am lost in my battle. Anyone out there have any advice, besides, chew, chew, eat slow, eat small, dont drink...( i dont have a problem with not drinking, that came easier to me than i thought it would). I need some help, some support, a swift kick in the butt something! Thanks for reading my rambling!

Thanks,

Trisha

9-15-03

Dr. Spivak

241/203/140?

[kellymoos 4]

I was banded a month after you and was recently unfilled totally due to a surgery I was having and I have gained about 5-7 lbs. I just went and had a total of 1cc put in and I am ready to lose the remaining weight that I need to lose. I got a treadmill right before Christmas and I have started to walk a mile each night. Maybe try to start some type of exercise. I know that is the last thing that anyone wants to do..but it will help....Good Luck to you!

[ReneBean 3]

My foot to your butt, girl!

You know what you need to do.

First, forgive yourself, a little. Sh*t happens.

Second, come here whenever you need help. That's why we're here. That's why we ALL come here - cause we can't do it alone, and not just anybody can understand what it means to be overweight in this world.

Big Hugs - but I am holding my foot at the ready, if you need another kick!!

:]

[SouthTX LapBand 0]

Hi, Trisha

You need a New Start. You need an INTENSIVE new beginning. I would strongly recommend a few months with SmartBandsters - a top choice. It is hosted by Jessie Ahroni, PhD RN/Nurse Practioner who has been banded since 1997, who happens to also be the long-time fill technician for a WLS practice in Seattle. Her PhD is in Diabetic Care, so her nutritional and metabolic educational background is top-notch.

There are many returning long-term bandsters who have been without good follow-up care, with weight gain or with little loss, over-restricted or under-restricted. Sometimes they used to be active, but drifted away and stopped losing weight.

GOOD QUALITY AFTERCARE IS CRUCIAL to LapBand Success. If your doctor doesn't provide an on-call therapist, an on-call nutritionist, a support group hosted by his RN, fills with a tech who can spend time teaching you what you need to know and asking questions, then ANYONE, no matter how motivated, no matter how disciplined, can end up not losing.

This is not your fault. But the rest of your banded life begins today. It's time to be pro-active, to take on the responsibility for your own aftercare.

From your doctor's website --

ONLINE SUPPORT WEBSITES:

LapBandTalk.com

ObesityHelp.com

SmartBandsters -- (my recommendation)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SmartBandsters/

local support groups:

BAYTOWN

San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, Classroom B

4401 Garth Road – Baytown

first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm.

HOUSTON AREA BANDSTERS

1:00 pm every third Saturday at H3-Health, Hope & Happiness.

9950 Westpark Dr, suite 425

also active online group - many of Dr. Spivak's patients

PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT:

Dr. Kevin G. Smith, Ph.D.

4318 Stanford

713-795 5151

Andrea Pucciarello, LMSW-ACP

4265 San Felipe, Suite 500

713-622-7002

Cindy Kilroy, M.S., L.P.C.

5810 Wanakah Dr.

281-798 5505