End of LapBand Journey

Sep 10, 2009

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.

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