Mimi G.
Get this thing out of me!
Oct 06, 2012
Next month will be 5 years since I had lap-band surgery. I went to see my surgeon yesterday and on the questionairre they give you at each appt., where it asked if I had any requests/concerns, I wrote (in all caps GET THIS THING OUT OF ME...NOW! I have talked with him about it several times over the years, but as I have been unemployed and without health insurance for the past 2 years, there was little I could do about it. I finally asked what it would cost (he estimated about 2K) and I said let's do it! I just want this foreign, annoying, piece of crap out of my body. It has never worked for me. All the weight I lost initially was due to being on a liquid diet. Once I started eating solid food again, the band was either too tight (couldnt take my meds, food got 'stuck' which was painful and SO inconvenient and annoying (spending 15 mins hanging my head over a toilet with my finger down my throat trying to relieve the pain-- especially bothersome in restaurants-- Or too loose (no restriction at all). When it was tight enough to eat, the only foods I could eath without getting stuck were carbs (which make me gain). My family was patient, but I'm sure it got to be a source of resentment for them. Protein always got stuck. I was miserable. I tried a fill about 3 months ago (after being empty for 2 years) and it was the same story. I even gained weight, because the drive to eat SOMETHING was greater than I could bear, and carbs were my only option. I got unfilled a month ago and lost 7 lbs. As long as I stick to protein and veggies (NO sugar at all-- no artificial sweetner, no grains or legumes) I feel good and can slowly lose weight-- to a point. I still have a problem with portion control. So what I am pondering now is if I should have VSG surgery after the band is removed. Dr. Billy said he had no reservations that I'd be down to my goal weight of 150 within 6 months. (I haven't weighed 150 since I was 25-- actually my lowest was 155-- and I'm now 43). Oh, the temptation to have the weight fall off. I could reach my goal weight before I die. I really dont think I could do it on my own. So my big dilemma is, do I want another surgery? Do I want the expense, the drama, and more importantly, the risk involved in surgery. My mom recently passed away from a ruptured aneurysm and subsequent stroke (at age 62). My grandma died a month later from vascular dementia/a parylized esophagus, and a broken heart. My son has no one left but me... so do I have the surgery so that I can be healthier to take care of him longer? Or do I dare risk a post surgical blood clot or worse? God, I just dont know. For now I am working on gettting some type of health insurance to cover both procedures, and in the meantime, if anyoe has any words of wisdom for me, I will gratefully ruminate.
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About Me
Burbank, CA
Location
35.2
BMI
Surgery
11/13/2007
Surgery Date
Oct 04, 2007
Member Since
