Preparation for one year surgeon's appointment

Jun 06, 2010

Today I requested an appointment for my one year check up with my surgeon. I have been thinking about what I will tell him and what I want from him.  

Here's the state of my band life from my perspective:

I have lost 40 lbs which is more than I have ever lost at one time before.  I was on a steady increase when I got my band and I think I would have gained at least 10-15 lbs in the last year without my band so you could say a net loss of 55lbs (lol).  

I feel much happier in my clothes and in my skin.  I was miserable everyday in my tight clothes and ungainly body one year ago.  I could be comfortable at this weight if it weren't for a couple of things: need to further improve my health and get off some meds, would love to wear normal size clothes some day as I never have, and even though I am content at this weight, surgery is too drastic a step to waste it on 40 lbs.

I have totally changed my eating habits.  I eat much less than I used to and I make healthier choices of foods.  I get my protein and my fluids in and don't drink liquid calories usually.   I enjoy an occasional treat but try to keep my calories around 1200 -1400 a day (per my NUT).  I don't use any added sugar and try to eat sugar-free, gluten-free most of the time and keep my carbs low because of my insulin resistance.  I try to stick to solid protein then veggie then carb if room but I always have room.

I do an hour of water aerobics twice a week, religiously and try to get in a third time a week on my own.  I started this 2 months before my surgery.  Before that I was not exercising at all.  I would like to be pain free enough to walk (other than in water) but am not there yet.

I think that my band is in good shape but I would like to get an UGI or at least a fill under fluroscopy. I have 7.2 cc's in my 10cc band and have not had a fill for 5 months.  I have only lost about 10 lbs in that 5 months (some of it was what I put on over the Holidays so only 5 "new" pounds since then.  I can eat almost anything except: dry chicken breast sometimes, dry roasted almonds sometimes, pizza with gluten free crust (tried it- regrettted it).  I can swallow a handful of pills in the morning and gulp my water if I want to.  I can eat 3 pieces of french bread with butter if I want to (fortuantely don't do this very often).  I get hungry ever 2-3 hours, physical, stomach growling hunger. 

I also eat because the clock says to sometimes or because I feel sorry for myself or because an Oh Yeah! bar is calling my name.  I am not in therapy right now as the therapist I was working with before surgery (who was very supportive) doesn't really work with eating disorders.  I know I have some head hunger issues to work on and am thinking about how to do that.

I am thinking of asking for a fill when I see my surgeon.  I have been afraid of being too tight and of maxing out my band.  I also have had several PB/slime incidents in the last 5 months but I think that has mostly to do with the fact that I can eat anything so I often take big bites and don't chew well.  It almost always feels like it gets caught in my esopagus above an air bubble that can't get out when I have to PB.  I really want to start losing again and having evaluated all this, I think that I need my band to be doing a little more and me to be doing a little more.  I am going to propose that to my surgeon and see what he says.

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