My 6 Yr Story, and good news

I had surgery over 6 yrs ago. I did lose a good bit quickly, alot prior to surgery.  I had issues and had the band loosened, tightened,  Which is a normal thing for many bandsters. I moved out of State from where my  surgeon is.

I decided to get my band loosened after so many issues, mainly not being able to keep good food in, but eating poorly. My doc, (not the one that performed ths surgery), left .50 cc in my band.

In 2010, I decided to go for it and have the band tightened. I was tld I had about 1.48 added. About a week later, there was no difference in restriction. Because I traveled out of State and the effort, money, etc., I contacted the doctor, (who is part of the practice but a different location), said to come back and re did the fill. H said he put about 1.80 cc, or close to that in. I was very concerned because the fluro showed the barium going down very fast. Understand, at this point, I have had the band a long time. At one point I gained about 20 lbs back while super loose. I had got about 20 off on my own after that.  In a week, I had no restriction and not sure I had any.

Last week, I went back to the Dr. that did the surgery. He was my surgeon, and he himself has the band. I was 4 lbs lighter than the previous yr. I was glad about that, but he said, don't depend on the band. I'm very familiar. Then he removed what I had in the band, and it showed .50cc. He said it may have a leak, but wasn't sure. He put about 2.4 cc's in my band. He told me I could not know if it had a leak right away.

It is continuing to work. I have had many years of learning to chew food with the ups and downs of tightening and loosening. I truly believe that the 2 adjustments were not done. I did not believe that the place the dr. had done the previous fills were the right place for the needle. You get used to knowing where your port is. My band does tend to open up more at night and tighten in the morning, which is usually due to swelling. One week down and I do feel some restriction, enough to help. Now to continue learning to eat the right thing. I lost about 7 since last Monday.

I hope this is an encouragement to anyone that may have given up. I haven't and although for me it is a long journey, I am not as heavy as I was, or where I may have been today. I am on my way down, heading for the 100's and can't wait to continue on this journey, knowing that I have to do the work, but have a help to help me eat normal amount of foods.

Ps having no luck with my weight ticker, so HIGHEST 271, Saturday 208.

You go girl!!! You will be in onederland soon. What a feeling!!!! Keep on trucking. Renea

 Thanks so much!

i'm so glad that you shared your ups and downs.  Nothing is 100% and most of it is the head work.  I so admire your tenacity because that is the key to success!  Never ever give up.  You have this wonderful tool to use.  I don't know if you have ever heard of the placebo affect?  It is where there may be no direct affect of something, but, your brain is tricked into thinking that just because it is there, it is working.

I find even if I wasn't filled, just the fact that I had my band, I was helping myself.

So proud of you.  Thanks for sharing.

 Thanks so much. Only another bander can truly understand another bander. Appreciate the encouragement. :)