Is anyone else dealing with Lap-Band induced bulimia?
I had the Lap-Band surgery more than four years ago. I was about 60 lbs. overweight at the time and because I did not "qualify" for the insurance to cover my surgery, I paid cash for it. I have since lost all of the weight and to outsiders, I appear to maintain a healthy lifestyle (regular exercise and healthy food choices), but I'm still struggling with constant overeating and purging. Granted, the overeating I'm doing is limited because of the restriction that is provided by my band, so the amount of food isn't what a non-banded person would consider "a lot," but I'm still purging every time I eat, and engaging in binge/purge cycles when alone.
I've had my band evaluated by my physician to ensure that it's not a surgical complication and I have been in counseling for several months to try to get at the mental issues that may be contributing to my compulsive eating behaviors... At the end of the day, nothing is working. My eyes are bigger than my stomach, as the saying goes, I want to eat more food than I can handle and then I feel guilt (and not to mention the physical pain from the band) when I do.
Prior to my surgery, I know that I did not have a normal relationship with food. I would eat to the point of being uncomfortable, I would snack on foods when I wasn't hungry, then I would be angry at myself for being "fat," and I would swear to never do it again... This cycle still remains.
Is anyone else experiencing anything like this? If so, can you please share what you're doing or have tried to do to get "better."
Thank you in advance!