Help!!!!

Hello everyone my name is nicole and I havent been on in a longgggggggggg time but I do really need some advise! Its been since 2/15/2005 since my surgery and I have lost a total of 147 pounds and it was great until the end of last year it seems that I ave gotton off the band wagon and need help getting back on. I had started to regain about 20 poundsback off and on and that has become very scary for me. Has anyone else gone through this and what did you do to jump start things again? We really dont have any support groups here in saginaw anymore so it is hard to find help and answers. I did have an egd and I have a small hernia that is causing me problems and just January I was diagnoised with being serverly anemic and now I have iron infussion done on a weekly basic. Sooooooo I was woundering if any one knows of any type of procedure where they could go in and maybe tighten up the pouch or is it once its streched its to late. Thanks in advance for your comment!!!! Nicole~

Hi Nicole, I know just what you are going thru. I have even gained more than that, and it's really a struggle to get back on track. And the longer you are off, the harder it is to regroup. I had gotten myself in a place that was so hard to turn back from....you know, low self-esteem because I was failing, feeling ugly, etc. It can be a vicious circle. BUT, we must never give up! We didn't have this surgery just to throw it away, right?! I decided I am responsible for "myself", and with the help of boards like these and support groups which are always a plus. (a must really!), we can get back on track and be successful again. Toni Reese still hosts the Bay City Support Group...you'll see her posting often. She's a wonderful person and her group is terrific! I believe they meet on the first or second Wed. of the month. Toni, if you're out there, chime on in! I don't think that would be too far from you. You're right support is so important. We can't alienate ourselves from others, just because we've come to a bump in the road. I have found that out....it's the worst thing we can do. Just think, you are still 127 lbs lighter than you were before!!! You have done so well!! You just have to get your thoughts together and eat healthy. I know, it may be easier said than done, but we have to try. As far as jumpstarting things again?...I decided to pull out my weigh****cher books and slider and started counting points again. I decided I am a girl that needs some kind of structure...something to follow, ya know? So that seems to be working for me. I still make sure I make protein choices as much as possible, but stay within my points range. Also being religious about getting my fluids in. In the last 5 days, I have lost 3 lbs!!! So far, so good! I do believe my stoma has stretched, which causes me to never feel that "full" feeling anymore, which I believe is what started this gain of mine. I am now seeing a surgeon about fixing that, so if you are interested, I will email you the info I have on that. I just wanted to post and tell you you are NOT ALONE! Best of luck to you and be sure to post and try to find a support group. It does help! Hugs, Theresa