AuroraBorellis
Lap Band to Rny
Dec 13, 2014
I started inquiring about wls in the fall of 2009. Unfortunately, like most people, I had to do the 6 month physician monitored diet to please my insurance company. After that, my doctor's office mixed my records up with someone else's and the insurance company denied me based on my diet records, which were actually someone else's diet records. After 100 annoying phone calls to my doctor and insurance, I made ZERO progress and was stuck with an additional 6 month diet monitoring required by my insurance. I was so frustrated! I gave up, and a few months later, I switched doctors.
My new doctor only did the Lap Band. I felt shafted. I was 320 pounds and really felt like I needed the Rny, not the lap band, but he promised a quick insurance approval, so I went with it. The insurance approved me, and not long after, I had my surgery on 9-20-2010.
I did not lose any weight. Not a single pound! My band was filled at 7/11 cc's for the max fill and to be honest, it hurt so bad for the first year, there was NO way I'd have agreed to put more fluid in it.
I honestly do not believe in the lap band for the morbidly obese. In my experience, all it does is create two stomachs when it divides you, and honestly, the lower stomach was STILL HUNGRY. Hunger is difficult to fight. We all know this. I'd bypass my band by eating food that I knew would slip past my band so I could relieve the hunger. Besides this...in the beginning...at the time, I did not know I had Lyme disease. My surgery further activated the disease, and the bacteria kicked in twice as hard and contributed to my weight gain (this happens!)
After feeling like a complete failure, in 2014, I decided to try for the Rny. I switched insurances and was approved within days! No diet! No crazy waiting! The staff at UPMC Magee Women's Hospital took care of everything! I had some general testing...but that was it! Yay!!!! They took the fluid out of my lap band and let me tell you...pure joy...pure blissful joy. I felt so much better that I KNEW that I had made the right decision.
I was up to 397 when I went in for the surgery and 411 when I was discharged afterwards (due to fluid retention). I am 5 weeks and 3 days out and have lost weight! I'm down to 369 and already feel so much thinner, even though I'm still enormous!
Don't give up on your dreams, people.