It's my Banaversary
Where was I and where am I now? I am miles ahead of where I was. I have lost 65 pounds, my waist is 7 inches smaller, my hips 8 inches smaller, I was a size 26 and now most of my clothing is size 18 with some 16's, I am on 1 shot of insulin a day instead of 3, blood pressure meds are way down, and I can walk for hours and miles. Finally, I could have lost the weight without the band, but I would have started regaining by now. Instead, when I gained a few pounds, I got back on track and lost them. I feel a million times better. Given that I didn't have a choice, I would get the band again in a New York minute.
Would I choose the band? I am not 100% sure. I had hoped to be many pounds lighter by now. I fear that my window of opportunity is closing. I have been unfilled twice and I only had really good weight loss for 2 month of all those 12 months. I had some good restriction after fills but it would only last a couple of weeks. I was unable to eat at all for 3 weeks. Currently I have some difficulty getting solid food down comfortably....of course sliders go down just fine. Since my last fill, I have more liquid or mushie meals than solid food. Some days things go down normally and the next, my pills get stuck. Staying away from sugary food when I am depressed is a big issue...I could use a little dumping syndrome! I still go out with friends to eat, though I sometimes have trouble finding band friendly food, it has not changed my social life.
I am feeling a bit discouraged at the moment because I haven't lost any "new " weight since the middle of December. It is hard to be happy with having lost the 10 pounds I gained......I have also decreased my body fat and increased my lean mass, but I WANT TO POST A CHANGE IN MY WEIGHT LOSS TICKER! I am frustrated with dieting everyday & not feeling really well...not sick, but my stoma often feels yucky.....and it seems to be for nothing... I know it isn't but.....
At the end of the day, I would be really upset if my band failed and had to be removed.
Before I finish with the post mordiem...I want to thank my friends here for all the support. You made the journey much more fun, informed, and at times, bearable. I have enjoyed meeting so many nice, loving people, both in person and on line. I hope to remain in your acquaintance for many years to come.
on 2/24/10 10:18 am - saint john, Canada
Did you ever think last year this time as a fresh post op with all that discomfort you had, that you'd be typing today this great message of better health and all those sizes smaller?
I know you've had a ***** of a time with ability to get your food in and that must really suck. I hope in the end it is all worth it. I believe you will continue to lose. I think it is the RNYers who only have an 18 month honeymoon and banders do not have that time restriction.
I applaud your tenacity with this. You definitely have held in there and fought the good fight.
Also Charline, as others have said before me, you are a super support on here. We would be so lost without you. You comment on almost every thread and you always offer positive knowledgeable support system for everyone. I don't know if you even know how appreciated your presence on here is.
Keep up the good fight Charline. We are here if you need a word of encouragement or someone to celebrate with. Hopefully Antonio Band era will settle down and behave and you can get on with the business of losing, (Maybe you should have named it bad-era instead)
Here's to the next 365 days Charline. Maybe next year the band will get itself sorted and you will lose a bit easier and have less liquid and mushie days.
All the best, Maggie
weight surgery day Feb 12 2009 251
Current weight 174
First goal 199 Onederland ( Reached goal Aug 8 @ 198lbs)
Second goal 193 Century Club ( Reached on Aug 30 2009 )
Third goal 180 pounds ( Reached on Nov.23 2009 ) (my personal goal)
Final goal 170 pounds ( reached Jan 5 2011) ( only stayed that weight breifly)
I'm still maggie from the grove
I LOVE MY RNY !!!2 years down, a lifetime to go!!!!
LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE, NOBODY GETS OUT ALIVE
Happy Bandiversary!
First off, I work with the girl who had surgery the same day as you with Dr. Beau (the young mother) and she has lost 70 pounds since her surgery up to date, so by no means are you behind or any different from another patient.
Second, your window of opportunity is NOT coming to an end. My friend, who was banded in 2005 with Dr. B, lost 70 pounds her first year, and only achieved her goal on the 3rd year. She now does not have an inch of fat left on her body. You would be shocked to see the before and after pictures! I know most statistics claim you lose the bulk in the first year, and in your case that’s true because you have lost the bulk with your 65 pounds, but by no means does that mean its over for you!
I agree that the band world is hard. You only really learn once you have one. It’s a very finicky tool and like you, some days only liquids/mushies will go down and others, everything will!
The other day for example, I was eating blended potato salad & slices of turkey for supper. My hubby cooked himself a garlic cheese finger from Pizza delight. Anyway, I attempted to eat my potato salad without success; it just was not going down well at all, so I put it away. YET, maybe ten minutes later my hubby came in the living room with his garlic finger, and I was able to eat 4 pieces without any problems! How does that even make sense? I couldn’t eat blended mash potatoes but I could eat bready garlic fingers?
You are a success because you know losing those 65 pounds without the band would have been harder and by no means are you done with your journey! You’ve experienced stoma irritation which caused you get unfills, so it was all just a few bumps in the road.
Keep your chin up and don’t give up! You are a success and you deserve to celebrate your bandiversary because you are 65 pounds down and that’s a huge success!
M
