sandraberrechid
Hi, here's my story: I wasn't big as a toddler/young child, but from puberty on, I just kept getting bigger. At age 30, I lost almost 100 lbs with optifast, which put me in the "normal" range. It took me longer than most to regain it (around 7 years). for a long while I exercised, practiced my new eating habits and thought I'd won the battle of the bulge. Got married at @ 200 lbs, but at 5'8" I was OK with that. Always effected me deep down, but never outwardly; well educated, lots of quality friends, good job, etc. I always LIVED, traveled. Fast Forward to 2001-2002 when I endured @ 1 year of IVF meds and treatment. Unlike what I've heard from others, my reproductive doctors NEVER discouraged me and never told me to loose weight; I/we had undiagnosed infertility, so it wasn't another medical issue at play. My weight was increasing, but not until my baby was born, the IVF meds, etc, that it really ballooned. THANK GOD my son was born healthy, through IVF in May of 2004. From 04 until my surgery on 8/15/06, I was alternating between the joy of being a new mom to being a terribly out of shape one. Carrying my son was difficult and by the time of my surgery I was almost 400 lbs. I thank God for the technology/medical profession and the band. I would be dead without it. I started quite large so my loss has been large; I still have lots of weight to loose, but for the first time in my life, I feel that the food doesn't control me. I can carry my son for longer periods of time. Right up to my surgery, I experienced what lots of you do; I stopped flying, was terrified if I went to a restaurant that I couldn't fit in the seats, etc; I was lucky in that I had no co-morbidities. I feel so much better, physically and emotionally and I pray and work my band that this way of life and weight control will continue. Right now OH is my primary source of support. I promised myself to join the support group at the Brigham and Women's Hospital come September. I work my band, I walk, I don't drink carbonation, I don't eat bread or pasta. There's still room for improvement but primarily, there's so much improvement in my head that I do have some peace of mind. Thanks for listening and thank you all for your support. Updated on May 15, 2008. After doing so well and losing almost 140 pounds within 14 months, I started having symptoms. Four months, 2 UGI'S later, I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and a slip. Thank God for Dr. Lautz and B+W; they're the best. After @ 4 months of tests, back pain, vomiting and no weight loss, I had my hernia repaired and my band replaced. This is week 5 post-op. I feel great, but my band was either not working, unfilled, for 5 months and I am eating horribly. Next week will start getting fills and I pray my band prompts me to stop putting food in it. Though I know I'm responsible for what I eat, I am back to being hungry ALL the time and I need help. So grateful I didn't lose my band and waiting for restriction.
