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I am down to a very loose size 16.  This morning the scales read 184.  This makes it official... i am no longer obese!  I hate that word.  I feel really good.  I spent the day in the closet clearing out the clothes I can no longer wear.  I still had size 24s in there.  It doesn't seem real... size 16... and I honestly need a 14. 
The stalls are killer.  I only lose weight about 1 week each month.  I just hold where I am the other 3 weeks.  It really messes with my brain. 
I have been exercising.  My sister wants me to start a Zumba class.  I still have a fat girl brain.  It's hard to imagine working out with a group.  I think I am going to give in and give it a try.  Wish me luck!

Sherry

4 days out from surgery
I feel unbelievably good.  I will try to tell my story in a nutshell.

Day1 :
I arrived at 6:30am, changed, and was stuck three times before they got an IV in.  My family (hubby & mom) came in a waited with me.  They didn't take me in until 10:30.  I remember being wheeled into the operating room.  I was crying and said "I'm ready for the 'I don't care anymore' shot".  There was a guy in scrubs that immediately gave me a shot through the IV and don't remember a thing until much later that day.  My family was given a pager.  About every hour they were given an update.  Surgery lasted about 3.5-4 hours.  I was finally in a room with the family around 2:30.  They say that I was pointing to my mouth and saying help. (my mouth was very dry)  The nurse helped them to swab my mouth.   I don't remember any of that.  I finally opened my eyes around 4:30. I was in and out the remainder of the day.  I was hurting but the pain meds were making me nauseous.  I was getting pain meds through the pump and anti-nausea meds through the IV.  All this kept me knocked out.  Too make things better, I was on my period.  I had no undies or pad on. uck! 

Day 2:
Husted changed the pain med to Morphine (this might have happed late day 1).  I was still getting nauseous.  I only pressed the pump 2 times.  I then got Tordol through the IV that afternoon.  This worked.  I felt better through the evening.  I also had the catheter removed.  Was not painful.  My IV stopped working.  After 2 more sticks, they finally got another working.  I was up about 4 times making a lap around the nurses’ station.  I was sore.  I had a lot of reflux.  I could only take very few sips of anything.  I was getting pepsid through the IV.  Still no pad or undies.  I don't think I could have showered.  I used my spirometer often.  Not quite every hour while awake, but almost.

Day 3: 
Reflux is really my only complaint.  I felt VERY good. I had a small BM that was quite messy.  I needed my mom to help take care of me.   I took a shower.  Put on undies and a pad.  I was up sitting in a chair.  I could get up from the chair without assistance.  I felt great except the reflux.  I was still only sipping very little.  My IV quit again.  3 more sticks and they finally put one at the bend in my elbow.  They tried to put one at the knuckle of my index finger.  OUCH!!  I used my spirometer every hour while awake.

Day 4:
Dr. Husted released me.  He suggested pepto bismol for the reflux.  I could have taken 20mL of lortab.  I only took 5 mL and 2T of pepto and left for home.  I was in the car for 4 hours.  We stopped often to walk.  The bumps were a little uncomfortable.  I was able to drink an entire protein shake with an extra scoop.  44g of Protein!!  Yeah me!

I have to say, I feel good again today.  I am SO MUCH better than I was at this point after my band surgery.  I was pretty sore when I woke, but took the pepto and 5mL of lortab and am feeling fine.  I can get out of bed by myself.  I can rise from lying.  I couldn't do this until about 2 weeks after the band. 

I think Dr. Husted has magic fingers.  I attribute a lot of my doing so well to his wonderful surgical abilities, my walking, and using my spirometer.  I am very thankful that my family was there.  They were an enormous help those first few days.  I would not want to be alone through that time.

I lost 16 lbs pre-op.  Now, I have to get rid of the 13 lbs I gained back through the IVs after surgery. 

What a ride so far - but I know it will be worth it,

I am two years out and have gained back about 60 lbs.  I have had trouble with pain when I eat.  I had to be completely unfilled.  When refilled, pain began.  The doctor can't find anything wrong.  He thinks it may be due to stress.  I am beginning regret my lap band decision.  I am looking into other options at this point.

Finally,I lost another lb.  I haven't lost anything since before Christmas.  I had a fill that was too tight and I began eating around the band.  Then I had some taken out just before Christmas... gained 10 lbs over Christmas.  I got a refill, but unlearning to eat junk again was difficult.  I yoyoed for several months.  I think I have it back together now.  Regardless, having my band placed was the best decision I ever made.

1 year out - down 81 lbs!

I am just about to hit my one year out mark and haven't lost my goal.  I wanted to lose 100 lbs the first year or at least get to onderland.  I am 6 lbs from onderland.  I am hoping too get there in the next 10 days.  If not, 80 lbs ain't too shabby.
I have been at a stand still for the past 4/5 months.  I have lost and gained the same 10 lbs over and over.  I keep letting my old habits creep back in and eat junk that goes down too easy.  I am still having a hard time with not being able to eat.  I guess I will probably have to work on the emotional eating stuff for a life time.
Anyway, it seems that posting helps me to stay more accountable.  

Down 80 lbs
Will be 1 year out in 10 days

Each month I go through a period of about 2 weeks where I lose nothing.  Then I drop  5 to 8 lbs in a week.  I assurme I do this because my body needs to readjust to the loss.  Whatever the reason, it makes me crazy during the time I am not losing.  However, I do love the week or so that I do lose weight.
Down 72 lbs in under 7 months.

I had my 5th fill on Monday.  I didn't kick in until Friday.  This is SO STRANGE!  I now have 2.4 cc's in my band.  
I am a little over 6 months out and down 65 lbs.

DOWN 50 LBS AS OF YESTERDAY!!

I had my 4th fill.  I now have 2.2 ccs in my band.  I had a 3 week stall in July.  That was REALLY tough.  However, now I seem to be back on track and dropping again.

I had my 3rd fill on 7/6/07.  I now have 2 ccs in my 4 cc band.  I just love that you drop 4 or 5 pounds right after a fill.  
Down 41 lbs in just over 3 months.  A few lbs were lost prior to surgery

Yesterday - I had one bite too many and slimed.  i don't think this would have been a problem if I hadn't started hiccuping.  I did not PB.  The sliming stopped immediately with the hiccups.

Today - I had a 5 oz ribeye for lunch and ate only about 2/3 of it.  (I recognized my 'stop' sign)  I warmed the remaining 1/3 in the microwave for supper.  After about 3 small, well chewed bites, I had pain.  I stopped eating and began sliming.  Slime went on for about 30 minutes and then the hiccups began.  I felt the most painful (like someone shoved a basketball down my throat) pain ever.  I truly thought I might be having a heart attack.  Suddenly, I did it.  I PB'd - twice.  I still had pain and sliming for another 5 minutes.  I burped and all was better.  

I have read all of the stories on here.  You REALLY don't have any idea until it happens to you.  My lesson has been learned.

I believe my fill last thursday helped to contribute as well.  I am now to 1.5 ccs.

A little over 2 months out
Down 25 lbs since surgery