Hi Everyone,

I've been absent so long I almost didn't remember my log in.  I got an e-mail notification someone left a message on one of my pics and I thought I better get on here and see what's going on with everyone.

It has been since May of last year since I posted an update on my profile.  Since then I had my 1 year revision post op appt. with my 2nd surgeon, Dr. Deveney at OHSU.  He says I'm doing grand and to keep it up. My labs are all normal now too.  Says to see him again in another year.  He claims he doesn't want to lose track of me.  I think that is in part because he ended up giving me a gastric sleeve and he wants to see how it holds up over the years.  He said he made my stomach so tiny, and that is probably why I had such a problem with pain when I swollowed in the beginning.  I don't have any pain anymore.  He said I could expect my sleeve to stretch a bit over time, so I try to keep on top of my weight.  However, I only weigh myself about every 2-3 weeks now.  I still have reflux and take Prilosec OTC twice a day, and that keeps me in check.

As for my weight, I am just SO happy!  Prior to my first surgery, my goal was to be at 120.  And I am at 120 now, and have been hovering around 118-121 for over 8 months.  I've noticed some changes in my body as things settle out and I gain back all the muscle I lost while I was so underweight.  My biggest problem is I haven't made the time to really get into an exercise program yet and I'm feeling flabby with this extra skin.  I don't truly think I'll ever be happy with the skin, and will eventually want it taken off around my waist.  I'm hoping with exercise I could get my legs looking good enough to not need anything done there.  Problem is, I am still VERY surgery shy, and still WAY in debt.  So surgery would be WAY down the line if I ever feel up to it.  In the meantime, I try to reconcile my mind into being happy with myself just the way I am.  It's hard.

As for my eating, I can tell I can eat a bit more at a sitting now, but still usually never more than about 1/2 of anything served to me. And I'm fine with that now.  I still bring home leftovers and actually eat them.  As far as the foods I'm eating, I can eat anything with no problem.  No dumping, since I have all my intestines back absorbing again.  Luckily, I have lost my severe sweet tooth, and I'm not a fan of sweets and desserts like I used to be.  I'd rather have a nice turkey sandwich than a candy bar.

All in all, even though I lost a year to getting to my ultimate outcome, I am satisfied with my sleeve, the fact that food doesn't hurt me, my eating habits and built in portion control with my tiny stomach.  I'm SO glad I have my intestines back absorbing.  I feel NORMAL now!

And an update on Family...I'm still married to my wonderful hubby.  He is a doll.  We had our one year recommittment ceremony last July, and will be doing another one this July.  My kids are happy and healthy.  Hubby has a great job as an electrician and I still have  my same job in HR.  They actually held my position for the 5 months I was off. 

I finally got the insurance company to pay for my 2nd surgery on appeal, so those bills were taken care of.  What a relief!  I still have major debt for living for 5 months without pay, and hubby without work for 6 months.  But we are making a dent now that he has a good job.

I can't complain.  Life goes on as NORMAL and I don't think much about the fact that I went through this.  It's so nice that it isn't in the forefront of my thoughts all the time like it was.  I think the further I get away from my revision, the better I will continue to feel, and heal.  

Sorry I've been so absent.  I do hope everyone here is doing well.  I have some catching up to do.

A number of our members have recommended Dr. Kelly Fitzpatrick ("Dr. Kelly") for lap-band fills/refills/unfills.  She practices in Portland and Eugene.

She is a naturopathic physician (ND) who also specializes in fills with or without fluoroscopy.  She also specializes in Swedish and French lap-bands as well as American lap-bands.  She works with patients who have been banded in Mexico, South America, France, Spain, and other countries.

Here is the link to her website:
http://gastricbands.com/index.html

Hope this helps!

Congratulations!  O.K. so back onto liquids, but soon enough you will graduate to foods, and when you do each little addition will seem like a feast.  I kept myself happy with sugar free popsicles.  Being tired and weak or dizzy is very normal.  You would be experiencing that with any major surgery.  I felt that way for much longer when I had a hysterectomy, which seemed like a much more minor lap surgery.  There are little holes, but they monkey around a lot in there, and your body is healing.  Also, being under for four hours is a shock to your body for a while.

Like you, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why I felt so normal.  While there are differences in your feelings of being full, or not feeling too good when one more bite will be one too many, all the regular stuff (burping, pooping, just walking around thinking "gee I've got something new inside", etc.) never did end up feeling different.  I was so surprised I felt so normal.  I think we can be so scared of what we are doing, and so many people call it "re-routing your plumbing" which it is....but it never has felt different to me.

Worrying it's not going to work for you is a waste of your thoughts.  It's working!  In the first couple of months as long as you are following the guidlines and not feeling bad symptoms than it is working.  Thinking the scale is telling you that you are doing it wrong, or it's not working on you is not accurate.  Before you know it you will be feeling like your pants are loose, or you will see a difference in your face.  Drink your water, get your protein, take your supplements and move as you can.  Your surgeon really did do it and you are on your way!

Patty

I wanted to to share some before and after photos with all of you because I am really excited about my weight loss thus far.  While the last 6 months have literally been slow going...almost none-existent weightloss, I have still lost 99 pounds total.  I don't know how to post my before and after pictures in my posts, so I am hoping you will all journey to my photos in my profile so you can see the difference for yourself.

I would really love to hear from any of you who have had a massive weightloss "stall" for many months and I would love and welcom any advice as to how to jump-start my weightloss again.  I keep bouncing from 198 up to 203 and back again and have done this for months...literally!!  Please help me get to my goal of 175!!  Do you recommend a "pouch test" at this point?  I still feel restriction, just not nearly as much as I did 6 months ago!  I have never dumped on sugars (unfortunately) and probably have crept up on my carb intake more than I should have.  I still exercise 3-4 times a week but could concentrate more on strength-training.  Any advice from someone who has "been there"?

Blessings!
~katherine