ObesityHelp

Hi Everyone!

My Name is LuAnne Stroke. I had my band placed on Feb 8th 2005. Although my journey so far with the band has not been like I had planned, I am still very happy that I made the decision to have the lap band surgery. After I started getting my fills I had complications with my port. Each fill was harder and harder to access...and I was getting stuck many times....until they could no longer give me a fill. My port was completely flipped upside down...so I had my 2nd surgery in October 2005. After healing from the 2nd surgery i began to get my fills again....accessing the port was fine...it was fixed and doing well...but i was either overfilled and throwing up or I felt no difference with the fill. I struggled to lose weight but was doing it very slowly. In June this year, 2006, after being "too tight" again and throwing up until i needed an unfill they ran some tests and found out that my band had slipped! That was tough to hear...and i must have cried alot of tears....but i had my band repaired on July 17th, 2006 and now I am much better. I am feeling what I should have been feeling with the band back when i first had it placed. What a difference!!! I am very happy to be where I am at now . I am back losing again....I have lost 73 pounds now....and even though it is coming off slow now it is still coming off! I am really enjoying going to the gym...who knew??? I didn't ever think that I would look forward to going...but i do...and when I leave I am so proud of myself for keeping my commitment to myself. This board has been a wonderful help to me... and many of you have helped me when you probley didnt even realize it. I just want to say "thank you" for all your support...and kind words. I am a Grammy and have 2 beautiful Grand daughters...Ava is 22 months and Lacey will be 7 months old this week. I can now run and play with them and do things that I could not have done before the surgery. To me this is what it has been about..to be healthier and to live everyday doing what I want to do. My husband Nik and I have spent more time together in the past year and a half as well...I feel better about myself and our life together. I am so much happier now because I feel better physically...and that means so much to me.  I would like to lose another 50-60 pounds...but this is a lifetime deal for me...so as long as it is coming off then I am a happy camper!!!