Jennifer G.

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You can see pictures of my weight loss trail if you click on the Web Site section above.  :-)

About me:  I'm 36 years old, single, and live in North Saint Paul, Minnesota.  I'm a director of a men's correctional halfway house. 

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2001.  After about a year, I was put on insulin.  I started working out at Curves in February of 2003 and lost about 25 lbs.  Once I was put on insulin in June of 2003, the weightloss really slowed.  I kept working out at Curves, but only managed to lose about 10 more pounds by 2005.  My doctor explained that it was extremely difficult to lose weight while on insulin. 

While in Cancun in January 2005, I had such a bad case of plantar faciitis, that when I got home I seriously contiplated WLS for the first time.  I've always been a very active person and love to travel.  However, my weight was beginning to hinder me from doing a lot of things I loved.  I was always leary of having and RNY, so when I heard about the lap band, I thought... BINGO, that's for me!

My highest weight was 338 in February of 2003.  I started working out at Curves and got down between 310-302 when I started to consider WLS.  At my last pre-op appointment I was 310, so that's the number I picked to start subtracting my weight loss from. 

2/28/05  Today I went to my informational session about WLS provided by my clinic.  It was very informational.  It reaffirmed my hunch that I wanted the lap band surgery over the RNY.  It just seems so much safter and it doesn't rearrange your anatomy.  I really love the fact that it is reversible if needed.  I have decided to start the process. 

3/17/05  Today I had my fist meeting with a bariatric nurse.  I really felt she was trying to steer me towards the RNY surgery.  I really didn't like that.  I decided to switch nurses just because she rubbed me the wrong way. 

5/10/05  Last night I had my sleep study to see if I have sleep apnea.  Good news... I don't!

5/19/05  I had my 4 hour appointment today with the dietician, dr., physical therapist, psychologist.  Went well.  Weight was 310.

6/16/05  Today I met my sugeon, Dr. Wetherille.  I was really impressed with him.  He made me feel comfortable and answered all my questions.  He was the first medical professional that told me he believed I picked the right surgery for me!  He said that if he ever had to have WLS, he would also choose the lap band.  That made me feel really good.  I had been feeling like an outcast up to that point.  I really felt everything was geared toward RNY. My surgery was set for 7/27/05.

7/17/05  Today I started my liquid diet.  It was also the day of my sister's 6 month old fetus' funeral.  It was a very stressful day to have to be on liquids only and especially since there was a big food get together I had to suffer through.

7/27/05  Today is surgery day.  Everything went very smoothly.  They used the larger VG band on me.  I am sore, but not hungry at all.  I try to get all my liquids in though.  They took me off insulin after the surgery (and I've never had to go back on)!  I am only on glucophage now, instead of 3-4 meds and insulin.

8/4/05  One week after surgery I go to meet with my nurse, Kurt.  He was very happy with my progress.  I have lost 23 lbs since I started the liquid diet.  Weight 287.

8/29/05  Met with the dietician today.  Lost another 5 lbs.  This is my 1 month post-op appt.  I am able to eat a lot of food.  Not more than before the sugery, but I really don't feel any restriction.  They get me in for my FIRST FILL today also.  I met my dr. at the hospital and they did it under Fleuro.  I was filled to 5 ccs in my VG band.  It wasn't painful at all.  Weight 282.

10/14/05  I met with the nurse, Barb today for my 2.5 month appointment.  Things are going really well, but I can still eat more than a cup of food at a sitting.  Next fill scheduled for 10/17/05.  Weight 269.

10/17/05  I had my second fill today to 6.5 ccs in the VG band.  This one was done in the dr's office.  It was a little bit harder for them to find my port when not under the x-ray machine, but they did. 

10/28/05
Yesterday was 3 months post-op and I lost 46 lbs.  I still go to curves about 4 times a week and am getting fitter and fitter.  Weight 264.

11/10/05
Today I am 256!  Yay!  I have lost 82 lbs. total and 54 since surgery.  My goal was to lose 55 post surgery pounds by Thanksgiving.  I think I'm going to have to up that to losing 60 lbs.

12/27/05
Today is my 5 month bandiversary.  I weighed in this morning at 241.  That's 97 lbs. lost total and 69 since the surgery date.  I am now in a size 22 pants and a 24-26 top.  Yay!  I started at size 30-32. 

1/14/06
After a 2+ week plateau, I finally hit 238.  That's 100 lbs lost from my highest weight!  72 lost since surgery almost 6 months ago.  I am so happy I finally hit this goal!

1/27/06
Today is my 6 month bandiversary, so I thought I would give you an update. As of today I have:

1. Lost 76 lbs. in my six months since surgery and 104 lbs. total.
2. Gone from a size 30/32 top to a 22/24.
3. Gone from a size 30 pants to a 22. (and one pair of 18/20's)
4. Gone from a 46DD to a 42DD bra.
5. Gone from a 9W shoe to a 8-8.5 shoe.
6. Stopped taking insulin completely.
7. Only take glucophage for my diabetes now.
8. My A1C for diabetes is a 6.8 and that's WITHOUT INSULIN!
9. My plantar fasciitis has gone away.
10 My knee and joint pain has disappeared.
11 I work out faithfully 4 times a week at Curves and am seeking out more exercise on top of that.

I'm sure that's a partial list, but I am so happy with this band. My goal was to lose 50 lbs. in the first 6 months and I've exceeded that. My next goal is to lose 100 in the first year... only 24 more to go!

Yes, the weight loss really slowed at about 5 - 5.5 months, but it is still coming off, just a little slower. For anyone who is pre-op.... this really works if you work it! I am someone who was never able to lose more than 20 or so pounds by myself.

I was having a kinda down day/week and when I just typed up all that I accomplished in the last six months, I FEEL SO PROUD OF MYSELF and that feels good!

3/9/06  229 lbs.  For the past few months, my restriction has increased unexpectedly on it's own.  At first, I thought I would just wait it out because as I lost weight, the restriction would loosen.  However, it never loosened.  It seemed to get worse.  I was PBing at least once a week and usually on not very much food.  I was only able to eat about 3 bites of protein and a bite or two of something else.  I decided to go in and get a little un-fill. 

I went in today and my PA, Amy, did the un-fill.  I was supposed to have 6.5 ccs in my band and she pulled out 5.6 ccs.  She said this was common and to not worry.  Since I was at 5.6  actual ccs and still so tight, she re-filled to only 4 ccs.  This worried me a little bit because I thought I would have NO restriction.  But she said if that was the case that I could come back and start re-filling in a couple weeks.  She also wanted to schedule me for an upper GI just to make sure my band didn't slip and that was what was causing the unexplained increased restriction. 

3/13/06  I went for my upper GI today in the middle of the snow storm.  It showed no slippage and the band was perfect.  WHoo! 

4/10/06  I am still at 4 cc's.  A couple of weeks after my slight un-till I made an appointment for a fill because I thought I needed one.  As I got closer to the appointment, I realized if I ate a solid banster meal, I definitely didn't need a fill, so I decided to stay put for a while.  I have the rest of my life to fill up my VG band and I am in no hurry to run out of fill room!

PS:  220 lbs. today.  That's 90 lbs. lost in 8 months since surgery and 120 total!!! 

6/6/06  Well, the weight loss has definitely slowed, or halted.  I have been losing the same 5-6 lbs. for the last 3 months.  Today I was at 214.5 this morning.  That's only 5.5 lbs. in 3 months!  That is frustrating after losing so quickly in the beginning. 

I had a fill last week on 6/1/06.  I was at 44 cc's and when she took it out, there was only 3.6 cc's.  She filled me back up to 4 cc's since I did so well at that level for so long.  She said I may need another fill in a few weeks, but to see how that goes.  I made another fill appointment for 6/29, just in case.

6/29/06  I had a fill today and went to 4.6 cc's.  My weightloss has slowed and hopefully this will help kickstart it again.  I got down to 211.5, but I am currently up to 216.  Oh, that century mark is hard to get to!!!

7/5/06  211 today.  My lowest weight so far!  Come on.... Century club!

7/10/06   I FINALLY did it! I hit the Century Club this weekend!  208 lbs.  As of today I have lost 102 lbs. since surgery almost 1 year ago and 130 lbs. total from my highest weight. I NEVER thought I would hit this milestone. I was a little skeptical that the band would work for me, but I went into it thinking I would be happy if I just lost 50 lbs. from the lap band. I've never been able to lose weight in the past and this band is truly a miracle. Doing the happy dance today!!!  

7/27/06  1 YEAR POST-OP TODAY!!!  206 lbs, -104 and -132 total!  Yahoo!!!  I'm so happy.  :-)

12/17/06  Wonderful Onderland!  Yes, I weigh 199.5!  I finally made it into the one hundreds!  I honestly never thought it was posible, but here I am.  I LOVE THIS LAP BAND!