2nd Banaversary & still a fat lady waiting for surgery

How do you celebrate your second banaversary? mmmm...I know....Have another band installed! Yep!  Dr B decided today that he is going to do another surgery within the next 6 weeks. The flouro did not show a band slippage but he is sure the only explanation for my problems is a hernia. Since the band has not slipped the surgery is not urgent, but I am at the top of the wait list. I am very relieved that the problem will be corrected- finally.

I also had an appointment with Amanda. We are going to are going to kick the sh*t out of my sugar addiction. I did really well without the sugar when the band was working, but I am going to take advantage of her services while I can, just in case my band fails again.

Well, I guess it's time to review the last 2 years. As bad as things have been for the past 18 month, I still want my band. I have had some terrible trouble, but mostly I would have months of no restriction, then some restriction with my stomach slowly swelling to the point where I could not eat, then not even drink. I would have a huge unfill & start over. I would lose pounds like crazy when I couldn't eat only to pile them on within a week or two of the unfill. Since my unfill in August I have gained a bunch of weight, most of it during an episode of depression in Oct- Nov. I am more than ready to resume losing this lard!

I know the band can work really well for me, because I have experienced it. In the summer of 2009, I had close to 3 months of good restriction & easy weight loss. Of course I had to follow the rules, but it was not all that hard....not compared to any other diet  have been on. That is what has sustained me all these months. I have had times when I was ready to throw in the towel....heck there were a couple of times when I was tempted to take it out myself!! This was when I had gone weeks on liquids or had severe acid reflux. Basically when I was feeling sick, tired & discouraged. That was not often. I still feel better that I did before the surgery and I am looking forward to starting over.
I hope this doesn't discourage anyone, because I am not discouraged. I am ready to dust off those size 16s & finding 14s then 12s.

Congratulations on your 2nd anniversary!  OMG Charlene, where do you find the energy for all of this? You must be one strong willed lady! 

I am sorry your band has failed but it is looking hopeful that you are getting a new one. I don't envy you another surgery but hopefully, as you have said before, this one will not be as painful  Pain is temporary but the results are permanant!!

I wish you all the best with your new band and I am definately sure that once the problems have been taken are of, you will be right back on the losers track. Off and running!

I well remember your posts when you were losing 2 years ago. I seem to recall massive walking excursions and geo casching. I remember best you buying those new clothes and my being jealous of you because I didn't lose enough inches to buy new clothes for over 6 months. I lost pounds but did not go down one size for months.
 
Looking forward to your shopping sprees again my friend. All the best!. 

Thanks mother.
I have only gone up to a size 20 (well I suspect they are stretched 20's but oh well). At my slimmest, I was in a mix of 16 & 18 and close to a few size 14. I have done very well resisting buying larger clothing, to me buying larger clothing is tantamount to giving up.

I am  still geocaching. I snowshoed about 3 kilometers this morning & picked up 7 caches in the UNB woodlot. Then this afternoon I walked my neighourhood canvassing for the Heart & Stroke Foundation.  I am aching tonight, but I looked after me & did my bit for a good cause, so what if my laundry isn't done!! LOL

I don't expect to go on a shopping spree anytime soon because I have clothes galore down to size 14 and my goal is a size 12. When I hit size 12, I plan to treat myself to 3 or 4 outfits at the NyGard store in Moncton. I don't even plan to wait for a sale! I am going to have figure out how this leopard can change it's spots first! Value village will go into shock! LOL I am going to have to lose fast if I am going to buy work clothes because I am counting down to retirement - 2 years 10 months & counting.

I have high hopes for  my new band.  I just hope that the hernia repair holds this time.  The band didn't really fail, it was my stomach that failed, by going places it shouldn't!

Thanks for all your support Mary.

You are a FORMER fat lady who just needs a tweak! You have done amazingly well considering all your setbacks and troubles! I hope this next 6 weeks flies by for you and you start spring with a brand new band and get back to the program that worked so well for you! Glad you aren't discouraged! Keep you chin up and keep us posted!

Oh I am currently a fat lady, but I am still a smaller fat lady than I was 2 years ago. I am not discouraged now that my hernia is going to be repaired & I will soon be able to put this band back to work. One thing for sure, I will never fly again without getting some out of my band!
Thanks for your support.

Hi Kitty this is my first day back on the computer in 3 weeks or so, I took a break! Anyway I have to say, you are my Wls hero. You haven't given up and are still exercising and encouraging others. I sincerely hope this hernia repair gives you all of your WLS dreams, you so deserve it! Thinking of you and hope you get a date really soon so you can have restriction once again. Keep up the great attitude..Trish

Thanks Trish, but I am blushing. I did get my date today- April 12th. I work at both the supporting (actually that is easy) & the positive attitude. Every once in a while I have a pity party & I usually vent it right here. I vent it & do my best to forget it.

Gee (blush) Thanks. I am much better at being positive when I write, because I have the time to process everything.  In the end, life is much happier if you look to see what is in the win column, not just the lost column. There are only a couple of things in my life that I can`t face & find something positive.

 I think you're great Kitty.  Even when you're venting, it isn't negativity coming from you.  You have a plan of action to fix the wrongs.  You have perseverance and strength, and always have a positive outlook.
I can only hope that I can embrace some of those actions myself over this journey.  It's been a long, uneventful, disappointing journey for me so far -- but I come on here to keep hope.
Reading comments from most of the people on here keep me hanging on...   You've been one of those people for me.
I wish you all the best, time will go by so fast and April will be here before you know it.
I hope this is the fix you need to live pain free : )