OK-it’s been a long time since I posted. This was brought to my attention by the thousands of, if not two, people who read my blog. In any event, I am quickly approaching the year anniversary of my Lapband surgery to lose weight. A year ago at this time, I was anxiously awaiting a call from Hurley Bariatric to give me a surgery date. A year ago at this time I also weighed close to 340 pounds, though that is a guestimate because I was afraid to weigh myself and for some reason the scores of doctors I had to see prior to surgery didn’t record my weight. But I believe it was pretty close to that. If you have read my posts from around that time you’ll know why I wanted to have the surgery and my thoughts at that time. Basically, I felt horrible had beginning diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, killer acid reflux, and various and sundry other problems. But mostly I was just tired of being so big.
People ask me if it was hard or easy. Others say to me “oh, you took the easy way to lose weight.” I understand what they mean, but there is nothing easy about any method of losing weight. Everyone is different but for me the lapband procedure was and is the best choice. But it was not and is not easy in some ways. In other ways it is easy. Let me explain.
It’s easy in the sense that the physical feeling of being hungry is not much of a factor with the Lapband. So the temptation to eat out of physical hunger is not much of an issue. And any time I do feel hungry (actual hunger, not emotional hunger) it takes very little food to make that feeling go away. In this regard it’s awesome. But we all know that most overweight people eat not out of physical hunger but for emotional or other reasons. That is what has been hard. There were times I just wanted (and still do occasionally) to just chow down to feel better. No can do! Or if you do, you’ll pay some pretty scary consequences. There was an emotional dependence on food that I always knew was there, but was amazed at how strong it was. I say “was” because it’s pretty much gone now. Not being able to eat and enjoy regular meals with family or with friends is kind of a drag. But I have learned how to deal with that. The other easy thing is that with the Lapband, keeping the weight off will be much easier. Really the only way to gain weight is if I get the band loosened, get it taken out, or drink too many Starbuck’s Venti Mocha Frapaccinos. But there is really no way to eat too much with the band tightened as much as mine is. I have heard of people who have lost very little weight, but those folks eat too much ice cream and drink too many other calorie laden foods.
But the Lapband is also not easy and is not an easy quick fix to losing weight. For starters, there seems to be little rhyme or reason to how much or what kinds of foods I can eat. One day I might be able to eat a fairly regular meal (small portions, of course). And the next day I will get sick trying to eat a dab of macaroni and cheese. When I say sick I don’t mean nauseous, but sort of a sick feeling when the food will not get down my esophagus and just sort of sits there. When this happens your stomach sends this thick, foamy mucousy stuff to try and digest it. This is particularly fun when you are sitting next to someone who is trying to talk with you or when this happens right before you are supposed to get up and speak at a banquet. When this happens there are only two options: Try and wait it out and see if it goes down or try to get it out. Both of which are horrible. This has not happened in a while because I am much, much more cautious. But it still happens. Not too long ago Lori and I went out after church and I just took a couple bites, chewed them well, etc. But I ended up in the bathroom at Ruby Tuesdays for over an hour trying to deal with my digestive issues. Interestingly, I learned some weird things with my extended bathroom stay. For instance, it’s amazing how many people talk to themselves while in the bathroom.
So that is definitely not easy. Also, trying to get all your supplements figured out is quite a headache. I have to take about 6 supplements a day plus i have to make sure I get enough protein either with regular food or with yet more supplements. The vitamins and the calcium supplements are ones you chew and they’re disgusting. I have not been the best about taking them. I have been diligent in my protein because I am worried about my hair falling out. But the vitamins and calcium have been hit or miss until recently. I have been feeling off and went to the doctor yesterday to get some blood workordered. I suspect it will show that my B 12 is off as well as other things. So I am getting on the stick about that. But it’s a pain.
Also, the Lapband can be somewhat discouraging for the first few months. LB patients do not lose as fast as bypass patients. The band can only be filled at set intervals and really until you get 5-7 cc in your band (depending on the size band you have) the restriction is sometimes very minimal. Also, for the first few months you’re still in withdrawal and maybe a little rebellion and it’s very hard to lose consistently. But for me around the 6 month mark (Christmas ironically) things seemed to kick in. Mentally I was stronger and I had a couple fills right before and right after Christmas that seemed to be the magic “green zone” they call it. Right now, I would be content to not try and eat anything because I just don’t think about it any more. My addiction to fast food is totally gone. Occasionally, I’llhave a little craving for something sweet but after a few tastes it loses it’s appeal and I’m done. In the past when i have tried to diet, I would get a voracious craving for sweets. Around this time of year I would down a whole pack of Reese’s peanut butter eggs and not think twice. But it can kind of be discouraging for the first few months as one goes through the emotional ramifications of a forced withdrawal from food addiction. It’s rough.
But when the weight starts coming off and people really begin noticing and telling you how much better you look, it’s the most awesome feeling. There is nothing better than putting on clothes that previously didn’t fit or were very tight and having them be loose. And then there is just feeling better. As I close in on the year anniversary date in about two months I have lost close to 70 pounds. I’m about half way to my realistic goal. But I feel a hundred percent better. My blood pressure is normal, I no longer have any acid reflux and haven’t taken Nexium in over 5 months. I don’t have sleep apnea any more and put away the dreaded CPap machine for good! I am awaiting lab tests but am sure that my blood sugar is in the normal range. I no longer worry about booth size at restaurants. I bought my last item of overpriced, junky clothes at the Fatguy store. Last night I raced my daughter home from church. There are just tons of ways that I feel better. Though i still have a ways to go, the ways in which a 70 pound weight loss is beneficial are astounding.
Last Saturday Lori and I went to an outlet mall. Usually there are no bargains to be found at outlet stores for overweight people. But I went into the Izod store and, right off the rack, I bought three awesome shirts which actually fit me. The total cost for the three Izod shirts was only 30 bucks. I used to pay twice as much as that for 1 shirt. A seemingly small thing for most people. But for me it was a huge victory and foreshadowing of many more to come!
Chris Higgins 