hollyberries
Things R Slow But Happy
Jul 04, 2010
I haven't blogged recently but I am now down 57lbs since surgery on 2/1/10 and I am very happy with it. I am losing at a much slower pace now which Dr. Lautz admitted would happen since I had already had the lapband. However, I haven't started to add physical activity to my program due to no time. I work all the time and finding time is impossible. I did just get a new job that will allow me a lunch hour and ability to walk; so I am going to take advantage of that. I really think adding exercise to the mix will start things up. It still amazes me how much I can and can't eat...somedays more than others. Down a total of 114lbs since I started this journey in 11/07.
Be blessed today,
Cindy
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Be blessed today,
Cindy
100lbs Again!
Apr 27, 2010
Over the weekend I hit the 100lb mark again. After successfully losing 115lbs with the band and gaining back about 55lbs of it from eating slider foods because of the pain when eating, I converted to a Gastric Bypass and have once again hit 100lbs lost. 102lbs to be exact and I am thrilled. I have about 80lbs left to lose but I am over half way to goal.
I am so glad that I had the revision because I now eat the right things because I can swallow them. I love that I get full really easy and that I don't have to go every 4-6 weeks for a fill/unfill to find the sweet spot. My only regret is that I didn't have RNY first. Live & Learn. I want one of those 100lbs lost stickers now...must go hunting.....
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I am so glad that I had the revision because I now eat the right things because I can swallow them. I love that I get full really easy and that I don't have to go every 4-6 weeks for a fill/unfill to find the sweet spot. My only regret is that I didn't have RNY first. Live & Learn. I want one of those 100lbs lost stickers now...must go hunting.....
My Journey from Band to RNY'eR
Feb 05, 2010
As you have read on my blog I was a successful bandster. I lost over 100lbs with my band in about 7 months. However, I began to experience trouble with my band and gall bladder (didn't know for quite sometime). I wasn't always able to hold a tight band. I think the tightest I was ever was 3cc in a 4cc band and that was very troublesome.
I went through so many emotions with the band as I began to experience significant pain almost everytime I ate. I began to develop physological problems as well. I would open the fridge door or cabinet and go what can I eat that won't cause me pain today. It was a struggle everyday for me because I really wanted to eat the right things but I just had become gun shy with it. It was simply easier to just grab a cookie instead of a piece of deli meet wrapped in some cheese. The cookie would go right down but the I knew that I would get stuck and suffer for an hour trying eat. Eating out was impossible and I wanted to just eat a decent meal to fulfill my hunger. I must admit that my band was restricting even how much I could eat even it it was cookies but high carbs was not the way to go.
So, I started to see weight gain, my scale broke and the economy went in the crapper so I couldn't afford the "Y" anymore. I think it was at this time that I started to give up on my band but I didn't know what the solution was. I didn't see Dr. Lautz for about 6 months because I didn't need a fill because I was tight, why go? I learned later that I should have still gone because I suffered way to long without his help. According to my team, I was a superstar 100lbs with the band was a feat but little did they know I suffered to eat all the time.
It was during this time that my gall bladder started to cause me pain. I decided that I had had enough and went to see my primary physician about it. He kind of brushed me off and chocked it up to issues with the band (not used to it) and told me to see Dr. Lautz but he did order an ultrasound to rule out the gall bladder. I knew something was wrong but I needed confirmation. I went for my ultrasound and my physician called with 24 hours to say that my gall bladder would need to come out as some point because I had stones it would act up. I made an appointment with Dr. Lautz to get a grip on what was happening with me and the weight gain and the gall bladder.
Saw Dr. Lautz who ordered an Upper GI to see if the band was still in the proper place and the results show it was inflammed but because of the throwing up. We talked Gall Bladder, which he doesn't remove anymore only when doing Bariatric surgery. He did recommend someone at South Shore Hospital but that he needed to be very careful when removing it not to get bile on the band. Kind of scared me. At this visit he removed fluid from the band to see if this would help and that I would see him in a month. I saw him in the next month with no relief and it was this time we discussed revising to a RNY. He explained that some of his patients just could not tolerate the pain and physcological issues created from the pain when eating. He wanted me to think about it and let him know when is saw him the next month. We removed more fluid at this visit. It helped to cut down on the number of times that I threw up but I still had significant pain while eating and I had reflux like really bad. I had gained over 40lbs at this point and I was so disgusted with myself. I was a failure, I couldn't even get the band to work long term.
I discussed my options with my friends and family and researched online. It amazed me how may band failures there were after 2 years out. I didn't see that when doing my research the first time around. I wasn't looking for failure I was looking for the final fix for my weight issues. I had to get a grip on why I chose the band over RNY in the first place. It was the malabsorption issue that pointed me to the band in the first place and why would I consider revising. What outwayed everything was the fact that I still had over 100lbs to lose and that I would never be able to do it on my own. I needed a tool that was going to help me and continue to help me even 2 years out. I looked at the amount of people having issues with RNY too! That discouraged me but I had to take control of that...I could and would not be a statistic and to go through weight loss surgery twice, I wouldn't let myself fail. I decided to revise....
My surgery was scheduled for 10/6/09 but prior to surgery I got a job that required me to postpone the surgery. I really wish I could have gotten it done in October but I needed the job more especially in this economy. I was rescheduled to 1/26/10. Dr. Lautz is always out far...he is really good at what he does and I didn't mind waiting. I got my self together started the pre-op diet and was ready to go...even saved up the money to get us through during recovery. Then I got a call that I was rescheduled to the following week. It was at my pre-op diet that Dr. Lautz removed the remainder of my fluid. I had actually thought it was removed at this point all of it but it wasn't. I was glad that he hadn't removed it all 6 months earlier or I would have probably gained all the weight back; so this was one time that I was glad to suffer further. Even when emptied, I was still tight. I think the band was just tight regardless whether it was filled or not and i was sensitive to it.
I had surgery on Monday 2/1/10. I went in for 5:45am for scheduled surgery at 7:30am. I was having the band removed, the gall bladder removed and a revision to RNY. I trust Dr. Lautz and felt very much a peace with my decision. Not to mention that my church was praying for Dr. Lautz and me. This surgery was suppose to be between 5-6 hours. Longer than the band for sure but Dr. Lautz completed surgery in 4+ hours.
I am ready to embark on my new journey as an RNY'er and looking forward to losing the rest. I am still wrapping my head around my whole lapband journey but one think I do know is that I lost weight with it and I was successful with it. It taught me to eat in smaller portions and it did stop me from overeating because I didn't like the pain when I did. I hope that my journey will help others along the way that feel like failures with the band that do revise. You are not always the one that failed but sometimes the band can just fail you.
God Bless,
Cindy
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
0 comments
I went through so many emotions with the band as I began to experience significant pain almost everytime I ate. I began to develop physological problems as well. I would open the fridge door or cabinet and go what can I eat that won't cause me pain today. It was a struggle everyday for me because I really wanted to eat the right things but I just had become gun shy with it. It was simply easier to just grab a cookie instead of a piece of deli meet wrapped in some cheese. The cookie would go right down but the I knew that I would get stuck and suffer for an hour trying eat. Eating out was impossible and I wanted to just eat a decent meal to fulfill my hunger. I must admit that my band was restricting even how much I could eat even it it was cookies but high carbs was not the way to go.
So, I started to see weight gain, my scale broke and the economy went in the crapper so I couldn't afford the "Y" anymore. I think it was at this time that I started to give up on my band but I didn't know what the solution was. I didn't see Dr. Lautz for about 6 months because I didn't need a fill because I was tight, why go? I learned later that I should have still gone because I suffered way to long without his help. According to my team, I was a superstar 100lbs with the band was a feat but little did they know I suffered to eat all the time.
It was during this time that my gall bladder started to cause me pain. I decided that I had had enough and went to see my primary physician about it. He kind of brushed me off and chocked it up to issues with the band (not used to it) and told me to see Dr. Lautz but he did order an ultrasound to rule out the gall bladder. I knew something was wrong but I needed confirmation. I went for my ultrasound and my physician called with 24 hours to say that my gall bladder would need to come out as some point because I had stones it would act up. I made an appointment with Dr. Lautz to get a grip on what was happening with me and the weight gain and the gall bladder.
Saw Dr. Lautz who ordered an Upper GI to see if the band was still in the proper place and the results show it was inflammed but because of the throwing up. We talked Gall Bladder, which he doesn't remove anymore only when doing Bariatric surgery. He did recommend someone at South Shore Hospital but that he needed to be very careful when removing it not to get bile on the band. Kind of scared me. At this visit he removed fluid from the band to see if this would help and that I would see him in a month. I saw him in the next month with no relief and it was this time we discussed revising to a RNY. He explained that some of his patients just could not tolerate the pain and physcological issues created from the pain when eating. He wanted me to think about it and let him know when is saw him the next month. We removed more fluid at this visit. It helped to cut down on the number of times that I threw up but I still had significant pain while eating and I had reflux like really bad. I had gained over 40lbs at this point and I was so disgusted with myself. I was a failure, I couldn't even get the band to work long term.
I discussed my options with my friends and family and researched online. It amazed me how may band failures there were after 2 years out. I didn't see that when doing my research the first time around. I wasn't looking for failure I was looking for the final fix for my weight issues. I had to get a grip on why I chose the band over RNY in the first place. It was the malabsorption issue that pointed me to the band in the first place and why would I consider revising. What outwayed everything was the fact that I still had over 100lbs to lose and that I would never be able to do it on my own. I needed a tool that was going to help me and continue to help me even 2 years out. I looked at the amount of people having issues with RNY too! That discouraged me but I had to take control of that...I could and would not be a statistic and to go through weight loss surgery twice, I wouldn't let myself fail. I decided to revise....
My surgery was scheduled for 10/6/09 but prior to surgery I got a job that required me to postpone the surgery. I really wish I could have gotten it done in October but I needed the job more especially in this economy. I was rescheduled to 1/26/10. Dr. Lautz is always out far...he is really good at what he does and I didn't mind waiting. I got my self together started the pre-op diet and was ready to go...even saved up the money to get us through during recovery. Then I got a call that I was rescheduled to the following week. It was at my pre-op diet that Dr. Lautz removed the remainder of my fluid. I had actually thought it was removed at this point all of it but it wasn't. I was glad that he hadn't removed it all 6 months earlier or I would have probably gained all the weight back; so this was one time that I was glad to suffer further. Even when emptied, I was still tight. I think the band was just tight regardless whether it was filled or not and i was sensitive to it.
I had surgery on Monday 2/1/10. I went in for 5:45am for scheduled surgery at 7:30am. I was having the band removed, the gall bladder removed and a revision to RNY. I trust Dr. Lautz and felt very much a peace with my decision. Not to mention that my church was praying for Dr. Lautz and me. This surgery was suppose to be between 5-6 hours. Longer than the band for sure but Dr. Lautz completed surgery in 4+ hours.
I am ready to embark on my new journey as an RNY'er and looking forward to losing the rest. I am still wrapping my head around my whole lapband journey but one think I do know is that I lost weight with it and I was successful with it. It taught me to eat in smaller portions and it did stop me from overeating because I didn't like the pain when I did. I hope that my journey will help others along the way that feel like failures with the band that do revise. You are not always the one that failed but sometimes the band can just fail you.
God Bless,
Cindy
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
7/10/08
Jul 10, 2008
Well I went to Boston today for a fill appointment. Imagine my surprise when they weighed me in at 247.5lbs. I am down 111 lbs since November 6th. I was so excited. I did not see Dr. Lautz today but his PA and she was great. I liked her alot. She told me that she felt that I did not need to get a fill at this point because I had lost 16lbs in the last two months.
What really made my day was that she told me that I was at the top of the tier for weight loss with the band. I have lost 52.2% of my excess body weight and anything above 40-45% is considered good. We both felt that my success has been switching to low carb eating and adding 5 hours of water aerobics a week.
I asked about my stomach pain and she thought that maybe it was Gastritis (SP) and told me to take Prilosec once a day before breakfast. She said that it should clear up in a few days but that if I was still having pain when I go back next month that we would need to look into some tests. I hope it is as simple as this.
I weighed in at 247.5lbs and have 2.25cc's in my 4.0cc band. I am a happy little dudette today.
Cindy
What really made my day was that she told me that I was at the top of the tier for weight loss with the band. I have lost 52.2% of my excess body weight and anything above 40-45% is considered good. We both felt that my success has been switching to low carb eating and adding 5 hours of water aerobics a week.
I asked about my stomach pain and she thought that maybe it was Gastritis (SP) and told me to take Prilosec once a day before breakfast. She said that it should clear up in a few days but that if I was still having pain when I go back next month that we would need to look into some tests. I hope it is as simple as this.
I weighed in at 247.5lbs and have 2.25cc's in my 4.0cc band. I am a happy little dudette today.
Cindy
7/3/08
Jul 03, 2008
B: 2 Eggs & 4 slices of bacon
S: 1 oz. Cheddar Cheese & 5 slices of pepperoni
L: 4 slices of deli ham & 1 slice of swiss cheese
S: 24 Almonds
D: 1 1/2 deviled eggs
S: Atkins Crustless Cheesecake
70 grams of Protein & 9 Net Carbs
Did 60 min of Burn Baby Burn water aerobics tonight. With the 4th tomorrow not sure how I will do but I am going to try to stay low car if I can.
S: 1 oz. Cheddar Cheese & 5 slices of pepperoni
L: 4 slices of deli ham & 1 slice of swiss cheese
S: 24 Almonds
D: 1 1/2 deviled eggs
S: Atkins Crustless Cheesecake
70 grams of Protein & 9 Net Carbs
Did 60 min of Burn Baby Burn water aerobics tonight. With the 4th tomorrow not sure how I will do but I am going to try to stay low car if I can.
7/2/08
Jul 02, 2008
Here is what I ate today:
B: McD's Scrambled Eggs & Sausage patty
S: McD's ice coffee with cream & 3 splenda
L: 3 oz of roast beef with homemade gravy & 1.5 cups of tossed salad with Ken's Ceasar
D: I ate so late I am playing by ear tonight...if hungry 3oz of Turkey Sausage & Salad
S: Almonds & Atkins Crustless Cheesecake
I did my 1 hour of water aerobics this morning before work...my legs are killing me today.
Have a great rest of the day everyone! You can do it. I can't believe how good I feel. No cravings at all yet.
B: McD's Scrambled Eggs & Sausage patty
S: McD's ice coffee with cream & 3 splenda
L: 3 oz of roast beef with homemade gravy & 1.5 cups of tossed salad with Ken's Ceasar
D: I ate so late I am playing by ear tonight...if hungry 3oz of Turkey Sausage & Salad
S: Almonds & Atkins Crustless Cheesecake
I did my 1 hour of water aerobics this morning before work...my legs are killing me today.
Have a great rest of the day everyone! You can do it. I can't believe how good I feel. No cravings at all yet.
Low Carbing & Water Aerobics
Jul 01, 2008
This morning I was down 2lbs. I can't believe it...this really works for me. I did 2 one hour classes of water aerobics today. The Burn Baby Burn class kicked my butt again...I am in pain.
As for eating, my menu was:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with 2 tbsp of real bacon bits cooked in real butter.
Snack: Almonds & Atkins Crustless Cheesecake
Lunch: leftover BBQ Chicken and salad...ate only the chicken got stuck & PB'd.
Snack: Swiss Cheese and Deli Ham roll up & more almonds.
Dinner: 3oz Roast Beef, tossed salad and Ken's Ceaser Dressing
Snack: Atkins Crustless Cheesecake
I need to work on the water though. I seem to only get in about 40-50 oz. of water. I guess better than nothing.
As for eating, my menu was:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with 2 tbsp of real bacon bits cooked in real butter.
Snack: Almonds & Atkins Crustless Cheesecake
Lunch: leftover BBQ Chicken and salad...ate only the chicken got stuck & PB'd.
Snack: Swiss Cheese and Deli Ham roll up & more almonds.
Dinner: 3oz Roast Beef, tossed salad and Ken's Ceaser Dressing
Snack: Atkins Crustless Cheesecake
I need to work on the water though. I seem to only get in about 40-50 oz. of water. I guess better than nothing.
100lbs Gone Forever
Jun 03, 2008
I have been teetering with 100lbs for over a month now but I officially hit it today. Although I hit it barely I hit it none the less. I am very proud of this accomplishment since I got banded 7 months ago. Hitting 100lbs has been my only goal so far and it feels good to have accomplished it.
Things have changed a lot for me since being banded. I have went from a size 32/34 to 22/24, I started to exercise within the last month and am loving it. I know that sounds weird. However, I have lost 100lbs without exercising so I felt it was time to introduce it to my life. I have tried a number of things but have come to love water aerobics and lifting weights. I do water aerobics 3 days a week and lift weights 2 days a week. I take the weekends off for my sanity.
As for eating, I am not always good but I try to make the right choices daily. I relax more on the weekends but I definately can't eat as much as I used to. I love my band because it tells me when enough is enough and smacks me with a PB if I forget the rules.
I must admit that dealing with the head hunger has been the most difficult part of this journey. I still can't say no sometimes to just eating even when not hungry but I am trying. I realize more than ever that this band is forever and that I will get to goal at some point and that it doesn't have to happen tomorrow. I am satisfied with the pace that I have been allowed to have with the Band and know that it will be slow going for the last 80lbs. I figure that if it takes me another 1 1/2 years that is OK with me.
I have set my next mini goal of 220lbs. This is just 34lbs away but is significant to the fact that it is my pre-wedding weight. Over 18 years ago I got married at 220lbs and was looking and feeling pretty good. I really don't ever remember weighing less than that so I am looking forward to smashing my next goal. I have not set a time limit just that I want to be 220lbs next.
Enough of my soul searching but thanks to all you folks here. I have read your posts on a daily basis and even post now and then but for the most part I have been lurker that has benefited from this site.
Things have changed a lot for me since being banded. I have went from a size 32/34 to 22/24, I started to exercise within the last month and am loving it. I know that sounds weird. However, I have lost 100lbs without exercising so I felt it was time to introduce it to my life. I have tried a number of things but have come to love water aerobics and lifting weights. I do water aerobics 3 days a week and lift weights 2 days a week. I take the weekends off for my sanity.
As for eating, I am not always good but I try to make the right choices daily. I relax more on the weekends but I definately can't eat as much as I used to. I love my band because it tells me when enough is enough and smacks me with a PB if I forget the rules.
I must admit that dealing with the head hunger has been the most difficult part of this journey. I still can't say no sometimes to just eating even when not hungry but I am trying. I realize more than ever that this band is forever and that I will get to goal at some point and that it doesn't have to happen tomorrow. I am satisfied with the pace that I have been allowed to have with the Band and know that it will be slow going for the last 80lbs. I figure that if it takes me another 1 1/2 years that is OK with me.
I have set my next mini goal of 220lbs. This is just 34lbs away but is significant to the fact that it is my pre-wedding weight. Over 18 years ago I got married at 220lbs and was looking and feeling pretty good. I really don't ever remember weighing less than that so I am looking forward to smashing my next goal. I have not set a time limit just that I want to be 220lbs next.
Enough of my soul searching but thanks to all you folks here. I have read your posts on a daily basis and even post now and then but for the most part I have been lurker that has benefited from this site.
5th Fill
May 14, 2008
Thank God! I thought that I was going to gain everything I lost back but I got another fill today so I am hoping this will get me some good restriction.
I met up with my Doctor in the Elevator today! We had a nice chat. I told him that I have to travel 2 hours to see him but he's worth it. LOL!
I asked Dr. L about my goal weight and he said that he doesn't like to set a goal weight because he doesn't want you to get discouraged if you don't get down to it. He indicated that there are specific guidelines and I told him I knew that my ideal weight is between 155-175 and he thought that for my height that it was to low. He said go until you feel good. Which is what I was planning to do anyway. I also told him I don't remember ever being under 200lbs and that would be my next goal. I want to get to onederland. 60lbs away from it....with the extra 3lbs that I have gone up in the last week. Hopefully, I have that gone in a few days with being on liquids.
I am feeling a little different with this fill. I don't know if it is just me or what but I feel fuller even without eating. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I weighed in at the Doc's office at 263.50lbs. I go by my scale which is 3.5lbs lighter. So my real weight today was 260. I am at 2.25cc in my 4cc band.
I met up with my Doctor in the Elevator today! We had a nice chat. I told him that I have to travel 2 hours to see him but he's worth it. LOL!
I asked Dr. L about my goal weight and he said that he doesn't like to set a goal weight because he doesn't want you to get discouraged if you don't get down to it. He indicated that there are specific guidelines and I told him I knew that my ideal weight is between 155-175 and he thought that for my height that it was to low. He said go until you feel good. Which is what I was planning to do anyway. I also told him I don't remember ever being under 200lbs and that would be my next goal. I want to get to onederland. 60lbs away from it....with the extra 3lbs that I have gone up in the last week. Hopefully, I have that gone in a few days with being on liquids.
I am feeling a little different with this fill. I don't know if it is just me or what but I feel fuller even without eating. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I weighed in at the Doc's office at 263.50lbs. I go by my scale which is 3.5lbs lighter. So my real weight today was 260. I am at 2.25cc in my 4cc band.
About Me
Carver, MA
Location
33.2
BMI
Surgery
02/01/2010
Surgery Date
May 25, 2007
Member Since
