Almost 9 years... Stay aware, stay on track

[lcmillie 6]

I had my band surgery in October 2007 at 278lbs. Overall, I have been very successful. In the first year and half or so, I lost about 150 lbs. My last fill was four years ago. Over the last for years I maintained somewhere between 118-120. I still haven't had any other plastic surgeries to remove excess skin, but it wasn't terrible since I got a trainer who understood the band and helped me shape up as I was dropping the weight.

I had issues here and there, but most of them occurred if I made a bad food choice or happened to be sick or stressed. It seems the band is sometimes affected by any little thing that cause physical or mental stress. At least that's been my experience.

When I had my last fill four years ago, I actually began having issues with not keeping food down, having a lot of reflux, and even sometimes waking up in the middle of the night having to throw up. Honestly, up until that point I had tried to do everything right, but after the last fill I let things go too long. I probably should have had some solution removed a long time ago, but I think I went somewhere in my head, and because I was finally in a size I wanted to be in, I didn't. I was living mainly on ice cream, coffee, smoothies, tortilla chips, mashed potatoes, as Beans. Only slightly occasionally I might have a good day and be able to keep down a piece of chicken. Most foods did not agree with me. I was throwing up at least three times a day most days, and many days even more than that. I reconciled myself to thinking this was just life with the band. I was at a healthy weight, a lower BMI, and I looked good in my clothes, but truthfully I was not getting enough quality nutrition. My potassium was always low, I was dehydrated and fatigued, and this past February I was sick with different viral infections for about two months. I was hospitalized twice during that two months. I started to really think about the kind of nutrition I was putting in my body, and really I wasn't getting any because my body was rejecting everything. I think my body was actually starving, even though I was maintaining at 118. I finally decided the best thing to do would be to remove some solution and see if I could start living on proper nutrients and foods, and not a steady diet of ice cream.

I had 1cc of saline removed. Almost immediately, I felt better. I was able to eat actual Proteins and vegetables and keep them down. I did had to re-find my limit- I hadn't felt that sensation of fullness in so long, that I had forgotten what it felt like when the band was actually doing what it's supposed to do. I passed it once or twice, but I can tell it's working they way it was supposed to all along. I am taking in proper portions and eating better food, so in that respect, I'm back on track again.

On the flip side, I'd been starving my body for nearly four years, and in two weeks after the adjustment, I had gained 20 lbs. of course I freaked, and two weeks later, I have still gained another 5. I'm not actually eating bad foods or even eating more than I should. The difference is I'm actually keeping it down, and my body- in starvation mode is holding onto everything! After researching and asking questions, it seemed like my body is responding similarly to how a rehabilitating anorexic's would. I'm bloated, swelling, and I gained rapidly. My body is rehydrating and resetting at this point. My metabolism has been weak, and I'm readjusting. That's the frustrating part. However, the band IS working, and my metabolism is moving towards equilibrium again, so over a few more weeks, this will taper off and some of these added lbs will go away with the bloating. The rest will go with increased activity.

So I do still consider myself a band success story, but I share this to say you have to pay attention and take care of yourself. The band is a tool, not a magic pill. I should've taken care of the problem four years ago- but this weight loss thing is a mind game too, and I let it beat me. Fortunately my band and stomach is ok, I have no damage, but I did let my system down.

So pay attention, take care of yourself. If there's something wrong ask question and get it fixed. Don't let it go too long. I'll have to work this weight back off again, but at least I'll be doing it right this time.

Good luck!

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