NeedhamGal
I had lap band in October of 2004. I was very happy to have the surgery. I did well with it....My highest weight was 271--1st appt weight was 259 and day of surgery I was 240. I got down to 190 on the docs scale. I was wearing some 16s, mostly 18s from the regular ladies department. I did well and was compliant. around 18 months out I was having trouble with my band and the fill level. If I had any restriction I had acid reflux at night and had to sleep in the recliner. Many of time I got to the point where I couldn't eat before 1 pm and had to stop by 5 or I would have reflux. I had issues getting fluids down in the morning. I tried to have fills and unfills and would have kept trying. The last time I went for a fill there was no fluid in the band/equipment. They tried to fill me several times but for only the fill to disappear.
this is where I needed to make a decision. Several of my comorbids and aches and pains had gone away. My blood pressure was in order and not on any medication. My U I was terrific, my knees were great-I was walking and exercising. I had my bouts with headaches and they were slipping away as well. When these things are gone, you soon forget about them, but in the months following my leak...they returned. And it stunk. Especially knowing where I was, where I wanted to be and then here I was with a broken band.
As soon as Doc Lautz said I would need surgery I was shocked. Not-me...although I had read the statistics..this just wouldn't happen to me. However, considering all the fills and unfills I had..I didn't really want to go back to that. I said I wanted a RNY instead and he asked...how long have you been thinking of this. My response was...look at my record...I haven't been able to get a fill without an unfill for the past 18 months. He told me that many people have great success with the band, some people have moderate success with the band..gets them out of the danger zone,and some have no success. We agreeded I was the moderate success..that I still had weight to loose. He told me to think about it and come back in a few months. I needed to get some insurance issues squared away. I was back in his office in January, and saw Natalie the nutrionist in April and booked the surgery in May for July. Unfortunately, in the months since the leak was discovered and now (June) I have put back all my band-lost weight and I weight exactly what I did the day of my band surgery. I know this RNY will work for me, for I know I can be compliant with my tool.
The Life is Good--Yes indeed it good and will be even better after this surgery. I live in Needham, MA and the gentlemen who created the Life if Good product grew up in Needham. Although the business is in NH now, they can be seen around town and the house they grew up in is around the corner from where I live. They are nice people.
