LizzieNJ

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I had Lap Band surgery 8 years ago. It was removed 7 years ago due to complications and slippage. I considered revision then - but my insurance at the time would only revise to Gastric Bypass/RNY. I would consider Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy but it wasn't an option without insurance help. I have spent the last 6-7 years helpomgymmandbrother through serious health issues and handlingmy mother's death and have seriously put my own health and well being on the back burner. I need to make myself a priority. Recently my work changed to insurance that will cover Gastric Sleeve and I am seriously considering it. I have been Weight Watchering for over two years without the kind of results I would like to see. I am just so tired of worrying about my weight and I need a hip replacement and haven't been able to get the weight off to have that done either. I feel stiff and don't want to continue feeling like I am in a never ending cycle of hip pain and not being able to move to help get this weight off. I amnow 51 and can't wait forever to take care of myself. 

 

I have my post op check up on Wednesday. I am so looking forward to telling them how great I feel. Still have 10 lbs off since surgery. I wish he had taken it out in June when he did the exploratory surgery. I am so happy to be bandless again.

Here I am a week out of surgery to REMOVE my lapband. It has defintely been an interesting 16 months. I feel so much better already. I can't explain.  As great as it has been to lose the 25 lbs since getting my band and the 27 before getting my band on I hope it stays off.

Amazingly I didn't gain any weight from fluids while I was n the hospital for surgery and have lost 10 lbs this week since coming home. I am at my lowest weight in over 3 years today. I am very pleased. I can only hope it continues. I can't wait to go to the grocery store and buy healthy foods I have not been able to tolerate for over a year. Not having any acid reflux for over a week has been a gift too.

So far I am very happy about having my band removed. I feel so much better.

It is with mixed emotions and sadness that I am writing that next Tuesday (9/15) I will be having my band removed. I have had alot of trouble with my band and have not been able to tolerate food very much due to back to back band slips. I had a surgery in June 09 to check on the band slip, which apparently looked fine so they left my band alone. Yesterday I went to the Dr and had an upper GI and the band is still slipped or has slipped again. Although I would prefer to keep the band in to help maintain the weightloss I have achieved & maintained. I never  achieved the weightloss from/with the band that I had hoped. I lost about 25 lbs prior to surgery and about 30 since the surgery. The struggle to eat and the feelings of acid reflux have been terrible.

I would still go through this process again. I would get a new band if I could. But the Dr doesn't believe that this is the right choice for me. He has talked to me about a revision to a Gastric Bypass but I am uncertain and unsure of that option. Although the band has failed for me - I am still a strong supporter of the band as a surgical option. Having had the band and it not worked for me and even with the complications, it is being removed and my "insides" will again be normal. This option would not be available if I had had the bypass. I would be altered inside forever - complications or not.

I am not completely ruling out the option of a revision to a bypass but I want to see what I can do on my own for a few months while I heal before I make that decision. The Dr wouldn't do a revision until 3 -4 months after I had the band removed anyway so it gives me plenty of time to work on myself and see what I can do on my own.

I currently believe that I have been able to eat so little food that my body is honestly in starvation mode. I hope that once I can eat a normal diet and consume proper portions that my body may lose weight again.

I am not trying to discourage anyone from having the lapband at all. I hope you try it and have at least as much success as I did. I would not change having had the surgery at all. I just hope that I can feel better and lose weight after this band is removed.

Well here I am 6 months since my surgery. I thought I would have lost more than I have -  but the good part is I have consistantly lost or maintained over the past 6 months. As od today I am 29.5 lbs down since surgery and 52.5 since my first appt with the surgeon. I have lost about 1.25 lbs a week on average since surgery.

I had a hard time a few weeks ago. I believe it was a bought with GERD again - I couldn't keep anything down over the a weekend so on Monday 11/3 I had a complete unfill. I thought I had 4ccs in my band but when they took the fluid out they only got 3ccs. I just had a 2.5 cc fill this past Monday and I have been soooo careful all week. Liquids up until yesterday and started mushies, so should be good to go very carefully by Monday or Tuesday with solids. Just in time for Thanksgiving.

I am afraid that I haven't gotten my band tight enough yet, maybe I am kind of afraid. I also choose easy foods sometimes that may not be good for me but go down easier. I am afraid of what it will feel like to tight.

I am going to be more focused on eating the right way and getting my fills and hopefully these next six months will be more successful. I am also going to try to excercise. NO promises but try for 15 minutes a day.

I think I need to be back on these boards to be more successful as well. I hope that the combination will prove a better formula for weightloss.

Yesterday after work I drove to meet Michelle F. We had such a great time. We talked for 3 hours without coming up for air. I had the best time and I am looking forward to doing it again!! If there are OH members near where you live, even if you have to drive a little bit. Go meet them. They are the people who understand what you are going through and are your real support. It was so great to meet someone who really understands me.

Michelle - I can't wait to do it again!!

My 3 month bandversary was yesterday. This past month has been a complete stand still. My first fill really did nothing except for the first few days, and now with my second fill, its been another week and still no movement of the scale. I am not thrilled. I know I am not doing everything right and alot of this is my fault, but I am not eating tons of food or even horrible things like icecream or candy. It is just a very frustrating time for me. I know things will get better and the scale will start moving again but for now.... not thrilled with myself or my recent progress. Thinking about the plateau busters diet to see if I can a. get back on the right track, and b. actually make the scale move. Just a thought for now,

Had my second fill yesterday. Another 2ccs. Now have a total 4ccs in my 10cc band.

I did 18 minutes on the ellipticle tonight. I'm doing something right.

I am having a hard time staying on track with my eating. I just can't seem to make the right choices or do the right things. I am not gaining but I am not losing. I should be doing better than I am, making better choices. I will try to do better tomorrow - 1 meal at a time. I may call the nurse tomorrow and see if I can schedule another fill in the not to distant future. I don't think my first one is doing enough.

I just posted new pictures. I am 8 weeks out and down 20 lbs. I have dropped one size. Yay!!