Quick lap band update...
I am in town for the holidays and decided to get a fill, because I can eat pretty big portions and have gained about 35 lbs. So I made an apt, went in and when they did the barium swallow the first thing Megan said was, "Oh Anjuli." Oh no. Then she put me on front street and asked, "What have you been eating? Be honest." So I had to tell her the truth that I have been eating all the no-no foods, and in no-no proportions... She tsk'ed me and then informed me that they were going to have to unfill me and that my overeating had caused the pouch to enlarge (concentric pouch dilation) and if I kept up the bad habits band slippage would inevitably occur, which would then mean emergency surgery to remove the band. That was enough to scare me. So I've been on liquids for a few days with little solids, and if I do have any solids, I liquify them before they go down. I'm basically not excited about this possibly foreboding future prognosis. And what I'm wondering is, how many people does this happen to? They said it was rare, but I'm really wondering if it's more common than they are letting on.

My emotions are echoed in this quote I found on lapbandtalk.com
"isnt the band's whole purpose to restrict portion size? i really am not anti band but when these problems happen it staggers me that people can't understand them and why they happen.
Everything about Obesity is = chronic over eating = bad food choices = not chewing properly = emotional eating = large portion sizes, I mean what makes the band change all these things? For some the changes are just really hard to make infact so hard if they could change they would change. thats why over and over again people fail with diets for some the band is just another diet thats hard to stick to. Its just not suitable for everyone and these complications should be half solvable by identifing who is likely to fail by lifestyle questions and monitoring."

Speigel has really changed his tune in the past years. In the beginning he essentially said that the band was a replacement for self-control, however during my past visit he likened it more to a diet, saying that if I can't keep to the diet I will ruin my stomach. If I could have kept to a diet, I wouldn't have needed the band. I'm just rethinking my choice to have this surgery.
Anyone have any encouraging words or personal experience with any of the above?
p.s. this is a very interesting article: http://www.haleclinic.com/ailments/obesity/

Wow, so much has happened since my last fill! Where do I start?

I got a call on Thursday, the day I was supposed to be filled, and Pam the office manager asked if I would reschedule for the next day, and said that if I would they would fill me for free. So I agreed and she said the only thing I would have to do would be to be in a commercial with Dr. Speigel promoting the band. I apprehensively agreed and showed up the next day all dressed in black, like they asked. We ran through some questions, rehearsed them, did a few takes and were done. It was pretty quick and easy, but it was a little uncomfortable sharing my story with that many people (camera crew, interviewer, producer, etc) who do not/have not struggled with weight issues. After we finished taping, Dr. Speigel gave me a little fill and I left.

I waited a week and half hoping that the fill would do something, but it was apparently not aggressive enough so I rescheduled another one. This time I was aggressive - I flat out told him, 'I am in a wedding in 1 month, and I DO NOT fit in the bridesmaid dress. BE AGGRESSIVE.'  (I still need to lose 25 lbs to fit in the dress) So he promised that he would, and he filled me up to 2.2 cc's. It's two weeks later and I have not lost a pound. I AM SO FRUSTRATED. Does my band just not work anymore?!!! So now I am resorting to the old fashioned ways: weight watchers, low carbs, no sugar, only drinking water, exercising and SPANX. If I can't fit in the dress in a month by doing all this then Lord help me.

Side note: On the day of the last visit I made to the office one of my coworkers stopped me and said, "Hey, I saw you in a magazine." That's a cool way to find out I was in a magazine. Apparently Speigel put my before and after shots in Health and Fitness magazine among others. Not only that, as I was sitting in the waiting room my neighbor, Meryl who inspired me to get the band walked back with an 8 1'2 by 11 poster of my before and after shots that was sitting in the front lobby. I don't know how I missed that when I came in. So, I'm mildly famous, lol. I just wish I could get back to the size that I was in those pics!
Here goes nothing, extreme weight loss challenge for APRIL. Send up a prayer for me!

P.S. Another of my close friends was banded this past month by a competing doctor, I hope she has success with him!!