I was thinking about the title for this blog maybe I should have called it lap band fills – finding my sweet spot once again in my fifth year. After being lapbanded for so long, and being one of those people who needed more than a few fills to find that place they call the sweet spot, I feel like somewhat of an expert on fills. I’ve blogged before about finding that place where I’m satisfied with a small amount of good quality food, and not obsessing about my next “fix” between meals.
It’s been a long time since I had a fill. I’ve been maintaining, but in the last few months I wasn’t feeling the same level of satiety after a small meal, I was getting hungry more easily and I found myself in search of larger portions. This was getting really scary for me – maybe even terrifying. I don’t know how much of what I was feeling was in my head to be honest, but I know I was afraid. Even though I’ve pretty much been able to maintain my healthy weight range, that wonderful gift of my lap band: finally feeling easily satisfied and not thinking about food felt like it might be slipping away so I scheduled an appointment to see my lap band surgeon and have a fill while I was back on the west coast visiting Sandi.
So in my fifth year, I found myself up on the exam table. Dr. Billy cleaned the skin, and felt for my port. I was surprised that I found myself feeling a little nervous and excited at the same time. Here comes the needle directly into my port – ouch that hurt. My doctor reminds me that I feel the needle stick more now because patients who have very little belly fat tend to feel the needle more. OK, please say that again, I love the reinforcement, I love when he tells me that I have virtually no fat cushioning my port. I watch as he pulls back on the syringe and am happy to see the fluid come out, giving me confidence that my lap band system is still functioning exactly as it should be. I’ve never kept track of exactly how much fluid is in my band. I learned years ago that what matters is how I feel, not how much fluid I have in my lap band. Dr. Billy adds a little fluid into my band, removes the needle, cleans the area, puts on a band-aid and that’s it. Even though I am a veteran I am still amazed at how adding a tiny amount of saline to the system can make such a difference. Now, I’m sent back to the waiting room to drink 3 cups of water before I can leave the office; then I’m on liquids for the rest of the day.
I love and early morning run on the beach when I'm visiting Sandi in CA
I was traveling back to the east coast the next day and decided to have a protein drink in the morning on the way to the airport since my fill was in the evening. As usual I packed food for my flight – a few slices of turkey breast, some grape tomatoes, a few olives, and some walnuts.
When it was time for lunch I felt a little cautious. I took out my food, laid it out on a paper plate, with plastic knife and fork in hand. The woman next to me commented on my healthy eating; I acknowledged her kind words with a smile, and proceeded to test my band. Protein first – a small bite of turkey, chewed very thoroughly, swallow. That went down just fine. Then I continued to eat my lunch, and voila, that feeling of I’ve had enough came much sooner that it had in recent months. I sat back and smiled to myself, I’m back in my sweet spot, and I love my lap band!
It’s been about 10 days since that fill, and I’m feeling great. I am more easily satisfied with smaller portions and I’m not thinking about food between meals. I’m just not having to work as hard and I am so grateful.
Yesterday a friend of mine who has been visting banded living and is trying to assess whether lap band surgery is for her asked me what happens to the band when she achieves her goals. Does the band come out? I know this is a frequently asked question, yet it still sends shivers up my spine, as I respond “not over my dead body.” She asked why, what would happen? My answer: I’d be hungry all the time again, and eventually it would be like I would need to come up for air; I’d regain all the weight I lost like I had so many times before. I am able to maintain my weight because I work hard to use my tool and when I use it correctly my lap band helps me with hunger, satiety and portion control; it makes me feel like a normal person, and that is a great gift for me, someone who has struggled with obesity since childhood.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for this wonderful rendition. I will be banded in Oct.. I am now looking forward to never again being obsessed with when my next meal will be. Yippee for the lap band and you Gloria!
Diana
I certainly can agree with every word that you have said! I was banded August 6, 2009 and have since lost 155 pounds. I have about 50-60 to go. I had quite a few fills from September – November 2009, and then didn’t have another one until September 2010. Even at that, I felt that I was still able to eat too much, so two weeks later, I went for another, and bigger fill. I’m **totally** at my sweet spot right now!
I’ve always had a problem with leaving food on my plate….. and yesterday, after eating my yummy salad for lunch, I still had about 6-7 bites left, and I was able to put it down, and walk away from it. That’s HUGE for me.
Working the band, and working it every day is a part of my life that I would never, EVER want to walk away from. It’s the best decision I ever made for me!
Karen T.
Thanks Goria,
I have had my band for 17 months and have not had a fill since last year. I was having the same feelings this past month or so. I found myself always thinking about food and started eating things I know I shouldn’t. Went in for a small fill and now fill satisfied with the small amount on my plate. I am so grateful to have this awesome tool to keep me on track.
I have been banded since Nov. 2010. I have lost 64 lbs and love my band. I am working more on portion control now and trying to be satisfied with less. When you state (and others) to eat protein first, does that mean to eat all of your protein first and then begin on your veggies, eat all of them and then your starches if able? I usually eat a bite of this and a bite of that etc. Which way is better? Thank you and I love your site
I was feeling so down until this last fill. I think I’ve hit my sweet spot. I do feel I can eat a little more food than what I should be, but I do get full quick and if Im not careful, I do throw up. It is a teaching took how to eat properly. I love it. I am forced to eat tiny bites very slowly instead of piling my mouth with food and never really chewing it up properly before I swallowed. This has been teaching me that I don’t have to gobble my food. I have learned the hard way by eating too fast, but throwing up is no fun and it sure is teaching me the right way to eat. I have lost weight slowly and I was becoming afraid that this wasn’t working for me. I started out at 209 and I am down to 171. It took me 8 long months to lose 37 lbs. but I am finally happy about it. I saw so many people losing 50 to 90 lb.s in 3 months to 6 months and I forced myself to realize that not everyone is the same and with me, I lose slowly, BUT I do lose and that is my reward for all of my hard work. Best wishes to all of those out there who have taken this journey. It is not an easy one.
A GIANT thank -you to everyone for sharing your life with me for the past two years! (when I was banded). I feel as if you are speaking directly to me. Im doing very well and a HUGE amt of my success is because of this site. I find myself wishing that I live in Canada so I could be with Clare ! I’d take anyone of you, any time!!! Thank -you soooooo much! (small town Iowa), Brenda
Im quite new to the lap band just being banded 8/8/11 had 2nd fill yesterday stilltrying to figure myself out