reflecting on my journey so far............

Let me start by saying, I see the doc on Wednesday 12/28. I will tell him everything. I just need to get my thoughts in order and share what I am going through.

As the year comes to an end, I have been reflection on my journey. I am just pat 6 months post-op. My highest weight was 317. I was 312 at the start of this process. I am currently 265. From my highest I am down 52 pounds. I have has several wonderful NSVs including being able to wear my wedding band and most recently buying a size 22 pants in Kohl's. I can shop in a regular store again. My docs have been wonderful.

All the above are wonderful things but at this point I would say I still have mixed feelings about the surgery.  I had me second fill in September and lost  several pounds right away in the two weeks following the fill. I gain a few back and lost them again before my next appt. At that point I was still feeling okay. I had my third fill on Nov 2. The next two weeks I could barely eat. I ended up at the ER 9 days after that fill thinking I was having a heart attack turned out it was from swelling and being to tight. The next day I had .5 cc taken out half the fill I received on 11/2. Since that time I have gained 4 pounds. I am not sure how I gained any weight considering I am still having trouble eating. I eat Greek yogurt 6 days a week for breakfast and lunch, 3-4 days a week I eat dinner and am fine the other days  I try to eat dinner and I get stuck and throw up. The vomiting has just started when getting stuck over the last two weeks. I end up in pain almost daily when trying to eat dinner. I often have to leave the table and eat hours later by myself. I am now afraid to go out to eat with my family. I am in pain at least 4 days a week. 

I am frustrated that I never know what will i can eat. One day I can eat something the next day the same food makes me sick. 

Thanks for listening.

Hello, I understand your frustration, I have been there a few times myself. Somedays I can eat anything in sight other days I can't eat hardly at all. When you have a stuck episode are you going to liquids for the remainder of the day? Anytime I have a stuck episode and try to eat again it only gets worse. I learned that the hard way, I ended up in the ER with a complete unfill because I was so swollen so now when I get stuck, I go to liquids for the rest of the day and then attempt to eat the next morning. Normally by morning, things have calmed down. If its certain foods that are questionable, you could keep track of them and just avoid them, I know some people recommend making a list but I just keep a mental note. It wouldn't hurt to ask for an Upper-GI when you see your surgeon on the 28th just so they can check how things are going through the band. Good luck at your appointment! And congrats on your weight loss so far!

You are doing amazing! Thank you for your thoughts. I know I can't eat pretzels at all that is the only this that is consistently a no. I have eaten a pretzel or two here and there in the car or at work.  My frustration is that some days scrambled eggs or chicken is a no go while other days I have no trouble eating them.

If I get stuck really bad for a long time or I vomit I do liquids for the rest of the day. If it is something that passes in a few minutes without slimming or vomit I can do eat later. If I didn't I would be skipping many many meals.

I understand your frustration, that is exactly why I got mine emptied a few months ago it was just getting too ridiculous to even try to eat. I've gained about 5 lbs. but I still have restriction even empty and it seems to be enough to keep me from gaining. Plus now I can eat healthy foods again! I never lost much anyway but it just got to the point where I'd rather stay fat and happy than suffer thru dealing with the band anymore. I hope your doc is able to help you out so you can enjoy life again!

I hope so. I wanted so badly for this to work. I will talk to him and see what he thinks. Maybe if he takes a little more out so I can eat normally, I would feel better and be able to exercise. Right now I am not eating enough to have energy to workout.

I would talk to the people at the support group but I stopped going about a month or so ago. No one knows I had surgery and I am a local teacher and so many "parents" are with the office now that I don't want to go to the group.

 I hope that your doctor can get things right with your band.  Congrats on your weight loss.  For me, I still do not have restriction, even after one fill.  I hope it happens after the second one.  I have still lost 35 lbs.  I just go hungry.  Blessings to you.  Michelle.

Michelle,
You are doing great! I have read most people don't get restriction until after the 3 or so fill while other get it with no fill.