vickyh985

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I went to buy some new work pants today.  Right before Christmas my husband told me my current work pants were beginning to look like clown pants....so you know that was an invitation to go shopping.  I really hate to go clothes shopping.  Number one, I don't know what size...number two, I don't know where to shop.  For just about all of my adult life I have shopped at Lane Bryant and Romans, it is hard for me to imagine shopping somewhere else.  Well, I went to Dillards to look for work pants.  I was able to get into a SIZE 16.  Not a women's 16....a normal people's 16.  Amazing.....  When I began this journey, I was in a size 32....now a 16....I don't actually remember the last time I was in a size 16.  In high school I remember being in a size 18, but I don't remember a 16.  High school was a long time ago...I'll be 49 next week.  I think this is a wonderful early birthday present to me.....STILL LOVE MY BAND!!!

After my last fill July 19, I lost 15.5 lbs in 2 months.   Then I went between 197.5 and 199.5 for the next 2-1/2 months before I decided I better go back for another fill.  In October, I had gotten a piece of turkey stuck.  I had to go to the office, the NP removed my fluid, with the needle still in my port, she had me drink water to wash it down, then put the fluid back in....all except .2.  I was fine after...able to eat just fine.  

I went to get a fill on November 30, after 2-1/2 month plateau.  It took a week for the fill to kick in.  The first week, I stayed the same weight.  BUT, the 2nd week I lost 2-3/4 lbs.  

I don't know why this 2nd year I wait so long to go get a fill.  I had been knowing I needed it.  I guess I just don't like to admit it to myself that I really need it.  But once I get it, I begin losing again.  Still eat the same things...but I know obviously I eat less.  Eating more kind of creeps up on you because you get hungry all the time.  Restriction is awesome.  I know if I didn't have this band and it was not restricted properly, I would definitely gain all 137 lbs. I've lost.  I made an appt. for the end of February, so I don't have to think about if I need a fill or not.  I'm more likely to keep and appt. than to take the time to make one.  Of course if I'm not hungry and still losing, I can always cancel it.  But it seems, my fills are only lasting about 2 months.  We'll see.........

Finally after almost 17 months with my band...ONDERLAND.....I have waited so long and yet at times doubted it would ever come....  Life is beautiful.  I LOVE MY BAND.

After being on a plateau for a couple of months, my scale is finally moving again.  This morning I was at 200.25.  So close, but yet so far away from under 200.  Hopefully I can have a good week and finally get under 200 for next week.  When I went for my first prenatal visit with my first child I weighed 199.  My first child will be 27 on October 5th.....that is a long time.  I can't wait. 

While I was on my plateau, I was starting to think, maybe this is it...maybe this is all I'm going to lose, maybe this is all the band is going to do for me.  Now that I am finally losing again - 12.75 lbs. since July 19th, my confidence is renewed that I can lose all the weight I want.  

No matter what, I absolutely LOVE my band.

Vicky

Went to see Nurse Practioner Monday to get a fill.  This was my second fill since my unfill in March.  When she unfilled me, I was at 2.4.  At my first fill, she gave me back 1.8.  I kept that for 6 weeks, but it was a long 6 weeks.  I should have gone back sooner.  It was a big struggle.  I was starving all the time.  I had head hunger all the time.  My mindset was back where it was before I had surgery.  I was always looking for something to eat, whether I was hungry or not.  When I had effective restriction, I was never hungry nor was I ever looking for food between meals.  Monday she gave me .4, which brings me back up to 2.2.  Not quite where I was before, but hopefully it will help.  I will definitely not wait 6 weeks this time if I need more.  In the past week I have had to get back to basics and just fight with myself.  I have been eating more protein and cut out the carbs pretty much completely.  It has helped because last Friday when I weighed I did lose 2 lbs.  Of course in the 6 weeks since I had been to the doctor's office I only lost 2.5 lbs.  But, I guess it is better than gaining.  This tells me I really need this tool that I have been given.  Without proper restriction, all the old demons come back or are still there.  I have got to work my tool.  Thank God and Dr. Thomas for my Lap Band.  I love my Lap Band.

1-year anniversary - April 20, 2007....so many changes.  I am down 119.25 lbs.  I have lost a total of 45.75 inches.  I no longer have high blood pressure.  I no longer have high cholesterol.  I no longer have sleep apnea.  I feel like a human being again and not a big fat nobody.  I am still amazed every single day that I have come this for in one short year.  The journey has been incredible and it is not finished yet.  Even though when I began I went in full of hope and anticipation, this is beyond my wildest dreams.  I have my life back. 

3/27/07
Woke up with chest pain.  It felt to me that it was band related so I immediately became very afraid and was crying.  I had diahhrea, but figured it was because I was so scared.  Called Band Dr. on call at 6:30 a.m.  He told me to get to local ER (Band Dr. is 1-1/2 hours away) to make sure it was not either a blood clot or heart related.  Of course that made me even more scared.  I could not even drink a sip of water without it hurting tremendously.  Went to local ER, had EKG, chest x-ray, blood tests.  They found nothing.  Said my heart was good and it was probably band related.  Call Band Dr. office, which was now open.  They told me to come in.  It took over 1-1/2 hours to get there with me being in horrible pain the entire time.  The NP came in and did a total unfill after she heard my symptoms.  IMMEDIATE relief, plus I could now drink water.  She diagnosed a stomach virus, which obviously made my stoma swell shut.  I had not had a fill in about 4 months, so I was not overfilled.  Now I have absolutely no fill in my band, but I was so relieved after the unfill that it really didn't upset me.  I have to wait a couple weeks to let my stomach heal.  I have an appt. on 4/13 and I will begin the process of getting fills again.  On a happy note, I am down 115-1/2 lbs.  Will post update stats on my one-year anniversary on 4/20/07.

Surgery date 4/20/06.  As of 12/22/06, I have lost 98.5 lbs.  For the new year, my first goal is to hit the 100 lb. mark.  Then my next goal will be to hit the under 200 mark.  I will have to lose 33.25 lbs. to get under 200.