Celeste H.

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Well, I'm there.....45 pounds BELOW my surgeon's surgery goal for me, and 5 pounds below my personal goal for myself!! I would still be happy to lose another 5 or 10 pounds, but I'm okay if I don't. I've lost a total of 153 pounds since my surgery, which is well over 100% of my excess body weight! 

I never thought this day would come...but less than 15 months post-operatively, it has!!! 

Well, I told my wonderful surgeon last week that I have a goal to lose another 50 pounds by the end of August, when I'm planning to go to the Caribbean to get married. He did some quick calculations, smiled and said "You'll have to work, but we can do it!" He then proceeded to give me a 2cc fill which, at 9 weeks post-op, took me to 7cc in a 10cc band. I immediately felt tight in my chest, and it got tighter as the weekend progressed. I could drink liquids and eat a bit during the day, but I was also battling heartburn 24/7 and coughing at night, resulting in very restless sleep. 

All week, I was exhausted after work, usually sleeping for hours each evening before my real bedtime. I just wasn't able to take in enough protein to keep my energy level up and there was no way I could even think about going to work out! Throughout the week, in the evenings, I would vomit up any food I tried to consume, which just made me feel weaker. Back and forth I would go, wondering if my band had slipped or if this was just what serious restriction was about. 

Finally today, 6 days later, I went to my doctor and admitted that I was too tight. I couldn't stand another sleepless night or another vomiting episode. He took out 1cc of saline and I immediately felt better---the heartburn was gone and I can now keep my appropriate amount of food down in the evenings.

I truly learned a band lesson---being too tight is no better than being too loose. Granted, I lost 10 pounds in that week's time, but it certainly wasn't worth the pain and misery I was feeling. 

Now, I'm back on track, feeling good, with energy  and ready to keep losing!!!! I only have 40 more to lose for my first goal then I'll be glowing in that wedding dress on the beach!

I'm at 5cc in a 10cc band after my first fill, and I'm down 50 pounds in 7 weeks!!!!