monymony
My weight loss journey begins very early in my life. I have been a yo-yo dieter since I was a teenager. I have been heavy my whole life. I have lost and gained enough weight for at least 3 or more people. At age 37 I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes and high blood pressure.I weighed about 250 pounds. I had lost about 60 lbs and my diabetes was a little better. My hunger was always an issue. I could lose weight but I could never maintain my weight loss. My hunger switch was always on overdrive. It was so frustrating and depressing not to be able to maintain my weight loss. I felt like such a failure. I finally resigned myself to be fat and not try to lose weight anymore. I felt defeated. In July 2001, our hospital started performing lap bands. I am an RN in the recovery room and I took care of these patients immediately following surgery. The patients looked good and I liked the fact the surgery was done laparascopically. I started to have hope I could win the weight loss battle. I started doing some research. I got a letter of referral from my internist and made an appointment to see Dr. Jeff Holloway.
That same year Dr. Holloway gave a presentation about the lap band also stating that hunger was a primal drive. My inability to keep my weight off wasn't because of me and lack of willpower. It was an appetite disorder. It was such a freeing thing to know. It was like he was telling everyone how I was living.
In November of 2001, I met with Dr. Holloway and he explained all about the surgery and his program. I had to see a dietician and wait for insurance approval. In December, my insurance approved my surgery and my surgery was scheduled for January 22, 2002. My weight was at an all time high of 260 lbs.
I was so excited and nervous on my day of surgery. This was such a new procedure and it was tough to find information on the lap band. I also didn't want my intestine rerouted. I didn't want to deal with the malabsorption and possible complications of gastric bypass.
I made it through surgery well. I had some pain but it was very tolerable. I was a little nauseated that night and had to get extra medicine for it. I have always been a little pukey from anesthesia. After my xrays were done to verify placement of my band I was given my small cups of clear fluids. I looked at the plate and thought I will inhale this and be ready for more. I started drinking and after a couple of tiny sips I was full. What a feeling! It was great to feel full for the first time.
It was wonderful to get full on a small amount of fluid. I went home and started the liquids for 3 weeks. It was hard toward the end of the 3rd week. I wanted to crunch on something so bad. At the end of the 3rd week I had lost almost 30 pounds. I felt great. I saw Dr. Holloway on the 4th week and got a fill of 1cc. I have a 4cc band. I went back to see Dr. Holloway a month later and I got a fill of .5 cc. My hunger was so much less than what it was. It was also so wonderful to crunch and eat real food. I ate healthy and ate slow. Eating slow was the hardest thing for me to master. It was also a struggle not to drink with my meals but I got it done. When I hit the 200 lb mark, I went into a major plateau. I would go from 203-198. I thought I could wait and the weight loss could start again. I also didn't see Dr. Holloway. He caught me in the hall and asked how come I haven't been to see him. I thought I could ride out my plateau. He said to come see him. I did and he gave me a small fill of .25cc. I lost 5 lbs. In the future I was faithful about seeing him and getting proper adjustment of my band. I was continuing to eat healthy and exercise as he recommended. I was using my treadmill as well as going dancing with my husband. My husband has been my biggest cheerleader and supporter.
After a year and a half I was at 170lbs. I was starting to consider plastic surgery because I had major hanging skin on my belly and thighs. In june of2003 I could'nt eat anything solid. It would come right back up and would hurt. I went to drinking fluids thinking I was tight. As the next day came it hurt to drink fluids and I felt extremely tight. I talked to Dr. Holloway and had the fluid taken out of my band. It was better for awhile but the chest pain came back with a vengeance. I had to have a barium swallow to see where my band was. It was hard to see where my band was. As the day ended, my pain worsened along with being nauseated. I couldn't swallow my spit. Finally I called Dr. Holloway and told him I couldn't take it anymore. I was admitted to the hospital and was dehydrated. The next morning I had surgery and my band had slipped and was constricting the blood flow to my esophagus. After surgery I was pain free. It was wonderful. I had to drink like a new bandster but I was back to work in a week. I have had no problems since. In January 2004, I had plastic surgery for a abdominoplasty and thigh lift. I got 8 lbs. of skin taken off. I lost 2 jean sizes. I was at 160 when I had plastic surgery. I lost the last 10 pounds with the surgery. Anesthesia kills my appetite. I also had gallbladder surgery that summer also. I felt like I had purchased my own hospital room. Since then I have been able to maintain my weight loss. I go back and forth about 5 lbs. but I am committed to keeping the weight off. I still eat healthy and exercise. I see Dr. Holloway once a year so my band can be recalibrated. The most amazing thing to me is how I have been able to maintain. The band makes this possible by shutting my appetite down. It makes it easier to eat healthy. I am not good 24/7 but I get back on track with the next meal. I try not to beat myself up when I gain. It is a learning process in this journey.
