Babbs

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

 4 wks out and doing fine, have been back to watching kids for 2 weeks with help and down to 206 and the pre op visits said 239, so -33lb is good and I'll take it.  Still waiting for fat to "Fall Off".

 Ok, I have been on the pre-op diet for a week and surgery is in 1 wk.  
5 more days pre op diet Goal 800 cal 50 gm prot
Mine is like
2 wks pre op Diet to shrink liver for surgery

2 Atkins shakes per day
2 1/2 c skim milk per day
2 pc med size fruit 
2 c veggies per day, steamed frozen, plain

then on the day before surg, I do clear liq
Then June 12 Surg day

 Ok so the news is I went to a diff doc and it has been 6 mo of jumping thru hoops, I have a surg date of June 12 though, and I am excited.  I do hope I do ok.  I am still paying on the other doc band removal.  I felt so much better when I weighed less.
Waiting for a call from Ins for verification.  This dr wont fix the hernia or attempt the sleeve b/c of what all the other doc had done.  so I  can choose RNY or be referred to Barnes, no thank you, lets get this done!!!

 Ok now have gained all but about 25 lbs back.  Dr did nothing else, just dropped it.  No band, No weight loss, weight gain.  still want to have VSG or DS but I still am paying on my % of the bill at dr office for the band removal. Grrrrr

So far nothing has happened except that I have gained 25 lb back and I feel miserable about that.  Dr Syd sent a request for Gastric sleeve to my ins and it was denied.  He is suposed to decide what to do now.  I know that he just doesnt know what to do.  Carin is being very nice, but they don't move very fast at all. 

I am really bummed.  He decided at first to replace my band with the 10 cc, but when he got in there he found a hiatal hernia and ended up just removing my band.  So I have called every couple weeks but he went on vacation and I am still waiting.  I am dreading updating my blog, cause I have failed.  

I am finding that the band doesnt last longer than 5 years in the majority of people,  That is very discouraging to me.  And friends I have talked into the band

One new thing, I started Byetta to help get my blood sugar under control.  One side effect is decreased hunger.  It is helping a little.

Are u on Facebook?   Add me!!!

So I went to post op visit/revision consult yesterday and He (Dr Rohrscheib)  wants to wait 8 wks  for swellling to go down from band removal andthen do another UGI to see if there are any changes.  Then proceed with open hiatal hernia repair and VSG if GERD is improved greatly, and RNY if it is not improved.  He consulted with his partner, who agrees with him on this course of action.  And he  would also like to be present for my surgery also.   It is alot better since band removal so I predict VSG.  I feel so much better.  He took a great deal of time with me, drawing pictures and explaining everything.  I think he was surprised that I was so well informed.  I have a habit of finishing his sentences.  He prob thinks I am extremely annoying : ).

So I asked alot of questions and got alot of answers.  I need to have the surgery at the hosp since it needs to be open procedure.  And I will atleast need to stay over night if not a couple days.  

Ok so I was sched for Lap Band removal and replacement surg 12/1/09.  I came out without a band and news that I have a huge sliding hiatal hernia that will have to be repaired with an open surgery  in a few wks.  I am so bummed.  I now have no tool.  I expect to wake up +50 lbs any day now.  So my 10 cc band is kaput.   And he may consider a VSG.  Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.  He is going to seek advice from collegues and meet with me on 12/10.   I called to see what time my appt was and no one had entered it into the computer.  So my new appt is Mon 12/14 at Clinton. 

The truth is that the banders who are happily living and loosing or maintaing usually stop coming around the site as much.  Those of us who are having problems or are new are always here because it is the best place to get advice. ( besides your surgeon)

I have a slip right now and am waiting for my surgeons office to call me with a surgery date.  It is going to be fixed at the new surgery center as an outpatient.  He will leave the same port and replace the 4cc Allergan band with a 10 cc Allergan band.

You can see my profile as to what has been happening with me. 

All told I would do it all again.  You see this is the only surg that can be reversed.  I didnt loose any hair because I made sure to get plenty of protein.  It is a tool and has to be used to assist YOU in loosing weight.   

When I have proper restriction, I am not hungry.  Oh sometimes when it has been 4 hrs since a meal, I will feel a little, mild feeling that means its time to eat.  But nothing like the ravishing hunger I felt before surgery.

I have several friends who have the band.  One is very unhappy because she hasnt lost very much wt at all.  You see she is depending on her band to do all the work and she eats  everything she thinks of even if she is not hungry. 

You have to make healthy choices and not eat junk or you wont loose much wt. 

RNY gives you no choice.  You cant eat alot of things at first you even have trouble eating what you are susposed to eat.  Then in about 2 years, your pouch is stretched out and you have lost alot of wt, but then they start to gain wt back. 

With the band, you can get a fill when you start to eat more and stop loosing. 

I choose my band.

Doctor called today, I have a slipped band.  Its not an emergency thing and I dont need to be on a liquid diet or anything and I have an appt on thur for him to explain what happened, and discuss options.   stay tuned for more...........

So at my appointment he showed me pictures of what a slip is.  It just means that the stitches came loose and the band slipped further down on my stomach, causing a larger pouch above the band and gastric fluid pools there causing reflux. So my band needs to be replaced and  I am waiting for the nurse to call with surgery date.  It will be done at the new Surgery Center as an outpatient.  Cool huh?

I have been on a rollercoaster since April, 09.    Acid Reflux and coughing at night.  Stomach acid coming up and spitting or shooting out my nose.  Gross I know. I am taking Aciphex everyday.  (This liquid can be aspirated and cause bronchitis or even pneumonia )

 I have been back to the Surgeon every 4-6 weeks and at each time they removed like .2 from my 4cc band.  It seems my band was too tight. 

He feels the acid caused swelling and the swelling caused tightening and then more acid and so on.  This last time he removed all saline that was left .5 .  I still feel like I have restriction.  I was so afraid of an unfill.  I thought I would be hungry and gain.  I guess I still have swelling. 

I went back last Monday to get a floroscope.  But since I was still having no pain and problems were gone at night he wants me to give it some time.  Wait on the Xray and come back in 4 wks.  If I have more problems with Reflux, I may need to have the 4 cc band replaced with a new 10cc AP band.  (Which is the one I requested in the first place)

And the saga continues.................




New banders, Do not let them put in a 4 cc band with healing and scar tissue my band may be too tight even with no saline requiring another surgery.