Like most of you, I've battled with my weight forever. I was actually able to get through high school at the perfect weight for me (120)...but only by being TOTALLY obsessed with it. I dieted and excercised constantly.
The real battle began after getting married and when I became pregnant. License to eat!! Whoohoo! And so it began...over the last 30 years, I've tried every diet, gimmick, pill and plan. And just kept getting fatter.
When I first thought about WLS, it sounded SO drastic! Surely, I wasn't THAT bad. But I went ahead and had the bariatric clinic send me all the papers, etc. As a part of their program, I had to provide a weight history. What an eye opener that was!
I've spent my entire life thinking about food and diets. I've been in a self-imposed prison...denying myself so many outings and events, just because of my weight. Or rather, my perception of my weight. I say that, because even when I'd get down to a reasonable weight, I still thought I was too fat.
Anyway, after doing about a year of research, I decided if I was going to have WLS, the band was the only way to go. My insurance company gave me the runaround for about seven months...long enough for the new year to begin when I received their letter saying, as of 2004, they no longer covered any WLS!
Thought I'd have to wait years to save up the money...then my dear mother passed away. And left me enough money to get the surgery done. I think of it as her last gift to me.
Off to TJ with my daughter on 4/22/04 to be banded by Drs. Ortiz and Martinez. Everyone was so kind and professional! What a great team they have put together.
My surgery went just fine. I had some pain the second night...trouble getting comfortable, but nothing I couldn't handle. The trip home was a little rough. In retrospect, I probably should have stayed another night in Mexico.
I had surgery on a Thursday and on Tuesday, I went to work (half-day). Again, probably should have given myself a few more days off. Nothing major, but I got tired VERY easily.
I had my first fill in TJ on 7/3/04. It was a dinky fill (.4). I think I was still tight from my period, because I'm able to eat quite a lot right now.
I will continue to go to Drs. Ortiz and Martinez for my fills. I prefer to rely on their expertise when it comes to my band.
It's not a hardship for me to get to TJ. I live near Sacramento and have family and friends to stay with in So Cal.
I'm learning how to work my band every single day. I've lost 32 lbs in the last three months and for the first time in my life, I'm not worried about gaining it all back!
This is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I LOVE MY BAND!
Marylou
4/22/04
240/208/125