Debbie R.
April 2, 2008 218 pounds I had a barium swallow on Monday to find out why after 8 months and 13cc in my 10cc VG Band and I still don't have restriction. Today I had my follow up with my new doctor and he said..... the band is not even around my stomach!!! He showed me the pictures and you can clearly see the barium in the esophogus and stomach and the band just sitting off to the side. Can you F***ing believe this!!! I don't know whether to laugh, cry or break something. For so long I have been depressed thinking i was doing something wrong. I have failed at almost everything I have done in my life and I just figured this was one more thing I messed up. My doctor is going to submitt the request to my insurance for an emergency revision and hopefully I can get a new band in 2 weeks. He told me he was going to remove everything, including the port and tubing and give me all brand new stuff, He said he will give me the new AP Band. He said the band replacement will be enough on my body and suggested I wait for the insional hernia repair. The insisional hernia doesn't cause me any pain so I guess it's best to leave it be and concentrate on the more serious problem.
March 31, 2008 218 pounds This morning I had my EGD. I had to bring the prints from the barium swallow I had a couple weeks ago for Dr. Clapp to see and the first thing he said when he saw then is "Look, your band is placed wrong, it's slanted in the wrong position"... The next thing I remember was waking up in recovery. Dr. Clapp visited with my sister afterwards and told her I have a hietal hernia.
So, it seems as though between the band position and the hietal hernia is the reason for my lack of restriction.
I have to go back to the doctors office on Wed. to discuss my options. I will probably schedule the hietal hernia, band repositioning and my insisional hernia repair to be done all at once. When i go in on Wed. I am gong to tell him to get this done asap. I am sooooo ready for my weightloss journey to begin.
I am so relieved to finally have some answers. A am excited to get this done and start my journey.
March 27, 2008 218 pounds I had my appt with Dr. Clapp yesterday. He is real nice. He is not sure what's wrong with my band. I have to go in Monday and get an EGD (yuk). He's afraid that the band has eroded into my stomach. If that is the case then he will admitt me into the hospital to have the band removed. Just for funzzies he wanted to see how much saline was in my band, he couldn't believe there was 13cc in there without any restriction, just like i told him, there was 13cc in there. He was going to put the saline back in and it started to burn real bad. very hot sensation. (i think maybe the needle slipped out of the port) So he just left it out. So now i am empty. I don't feel any different as to being able to eat any more, i was always able to eat more. I felt a little nausous after he pulled it all out. My sister said it was my stomach exhaling lol He said if he has to remove the band and depending on it's condition, he can put on another band or do the gastric sleeve procedure, he even suggested rny, but i don't want the bypass. I should just tell him F it, just take the damn thing out and that's it. He also said he will repair the hernia in my belly. I knew it was going to be a bad surgery to recover from, but i thought it was out patient, he said noooo, it will be at least 3 days in the hospital. He said the hernia surgery will be the worst surgery i have ever had. grrrr but it has to be done. So, I will post again on Monday
March 24, 2008 220 pounds In 2 days I go see my new doctor, Dr. Clapp. I am so nervous and overwhelmed with feelings. I am so anxious to get answers to the reasons for no restriction, but my fear is he is going to tell me he can't find anything. I want it to be something simple enough to just get "fixed". But with my luck, it will be something bad and require another major surgery. The waiting and the unknown is the hardest. I am not a very patient person. I hope the next time I post it will be the answers to all my questions and concerns.
March 12, 2008 218 pounds I am back from the barium swallow. I LOVE that doctor!! He was so thourough, unlike the other doofus who did the UGI in January. This one had me drink the barium a swallow at a time, each time he had me turn a different direction, he even had me swallow water while laying down. He gave me a barium pill to swallow so he can track it's path. He had me drink a swallow of fizzy stuff, it was supposed to "open" things up to get a better look. The screen he was looking at was behind me so i couldn't see it directly, but there was a picture in front of me and I could see his screen in the reflection. I didn't really know what i was looking at lol. When i was laying down i could see his screen, i saw my bowels LOL no poo poo lol ... He asked me to tell him about everything that has been going on in the last 8 months. He was so nice and really interested in my situation. He is going to ask the other place that did my UGI in January for a copy to compare. I asked him if everything looked ok, He didn't tell me anything except he is going to look everything over and send his report to Dr. Clapp today or tomorrow and then follow up with the comparason as soon as he gets the UGI report from January.. I don't know if I should be concerned that he is doing his report so soon, maybe that's routine. He just wanted to know when I had my follow up with the doctor. When i told him on the 26th he said good.. I guess I'm just being a worry wart lol.
March 10, 2008 218 pounds I wish I was here to report good news but most of it is bad. Bad news... for the past 4 days, I have had reflux (havent felt that since surgery), a ton of burping and farting and real bad deep hiccups. I'm gonna blow up!! I have a lump in my throat like something is stuck. I don't know what all this means (maybe nothing) Good news.... I have found a new doctor, Dr. Clapp, in El Paso, just 45 miles away. He has ordered a barium swallow, I will have this done in 2 days. I have an appointment with him on March 26th. I sure hope he can help me find out what is wrong with my band. I have heard good things about him and I am excited to see him. So many days I feel like giving up and just want this damn thing out but I have to give it a try. It hasn't worked from the very begining. There has to be answers and help for me.
February 8, 2008 215 pounds I had a fill 3 days ago. I now have 13cc in my 10cc band. I am not sure if I have restriction but I don't think so. I am still able to take normal bites. I am really depressed about this journey. I am afraid something may be wrong with me or my band. it might just be the band is too big for me but that probably means another surgery for a smaller band and I'm not sure I want that or any other type of wls. I think I will get things checked out again to make sure there is nothing wrong and just keep this band in. I am not visiting the board as much and definately not replying or posting as often as I use to. I just don't have encouraging words to say. I think this surgery has made my depression worse instead of making me feel better about myself like I had hoped. I have failed at so many things in my life and this is just another failure.
I have called Dr. Frezza's office so many times to update them. Most of the time they don't return my calls but when they do they just tell me to get another fill and cll them back. I called them again and they told me I need to find another doctor. OMG now what do I do? I think it's going to be hard to find a doctor that will take on a patient with problems. I hope the next time I post it's with something positive, but for now, I think I will stop posting negative, it brings me down more than I already am.
January 27, 2008 217 pounds Well, NO restriction and the scale is starting to move in the wrong direction. I guess I will schedule another fill. This is really killing me. I have paid $1000 in the last 2 months for fills and to get nothing from it is very frustrating.
January 22, 2008 216 pounds Yesterday I had another fill. I now have 10cc in my 10cc band. I've been told the 10cc Vanguard band can take up to 12cc. I am on liquids until tomorrow. I hope I have restriction, I don't think there's room for much more fluid. Dr. Lewis ic baffled at the amount of fluid and still no restriction. He is not sure how much more he wants to put in there.
January 15, 2008 215 pounds I was concerned about the amount of fluid in my band and still no restriction so I asked my pcp to order an UGI to check what was going on. I had an Upper GI last week to check on the position of the band. The radiologist admitted he wasn't familiar with the band but said he would go ahead and do the test anyway. I got the results today and his report says everything looks ok. I will schedule another fill.
December 31, 2007 214 pounds Most of what I thought was restriction is now gone. I knew it was too good to be true. I will schedule a tiny fill in a couple weeks.
December 29, 2007 212 pounds The first 2 days after my fill I had a little tightness in my chest. I was afraid maybe I was too tight but I think my stomach was just irritated from the fill. The tightness is now gone and I think I finally have restriction. It's probably not as much as I should have but I am going to keep it like this and see how it goes.
December 26, 2007 215 pounds I had another fill today. I wasn't sure if the doctor would do another so soon after my last one but he did. On the 11th of Dec. my band was filled to 7.25cc, today when he pulled everything out it came to 6.8cc. He didn't seem to be concerned about the difference. He filled me to 8.8cc, I hope this gives me the restriction i have been hoping for. On liquids today and tomorrow.
December 11, 2007 215 pounds Had my 3rd fill. Went to the fill center in Albuquerque. The doctor put another 1.25cc, I now have 7.25cc in my 10cc band. (Dec. 17, no restriction)
November 21, 2007 213 pounds I had my second fill yesterday. My sister paid the $300. I went to a doctor in Albuquerque that is contracted through fillcentersusa. The doctor and his staff were real friendly. My surgeon told me in August that my first fill was 5cc. This doctor yesterday said there was only 3cc in there. He went ahead and filled me to 6cc. He had a hard time finding my port, he stuck me 8 times, ouch. I am on fluids until tomorrow and not sure about restriction yet. (Nov. 28 - No restriction)
October 17, 2007 215 pounds 15 weeks out, still no movement on the scale. My insurance changed from Presbyterian to Tri Care and TriCare won't pay for anything band related. My insurance will change again in January, so unless I can come up with the $300 to pay for a fill, I am on my own until January. I don't have any restriction so I guess I should be greatful that I'm not gaining. I am going to the gym 2 or 3 times a week, working out for 2 hours each time.
September 5, 2007 215 pounds 9 weeks out and the scale has not moved for 6 weeks. I don't understand. I am real hungry. My first fill didn't give me restriction so I am back to will power and self control (NOT), I hope i can keep from gaining any weight till my next fill sometime next month.
August 29, 2007 215 pounds I went in for my fill yesterday morning. It was a breeze. I went to the radiology dept of UMC and the radiologist does the fill. He gave me a couple of shots just under the skin of ladicane*, it numbs the area where he is going to put the needle for the fill. He poked me and i didn't feel a thing. He looks at your port with a fluroscipy* machine. It is a live x-ray.When the needle gets to the port you can feel it but it's just like someone touching you and pressing on your belly, no pain or discomfort at all. He inserts the 5cc of saline and pulls the needle out and your done. They gave me about 2 oz of water to drink to make sure it didn't get stuck and had me wait about 20 minutes and then I left. That afternoon i saw Dr. Freeza to make sure all was ok and he sent me on my way. Even though they filled my band 1/2 way (5cc in a 10cc band) I don't feel any restriction. But i haven't tried eating yet. I have to be on liquids for a couple days and slowly move onto regular food. Because i'm still drinking i won't know if i have restriction till i start trying to eat. He says he'll see me again in 45 days if i need another fill.
August 5, 2007 215 pounds Wow, One month out and what a month!! I was on soft food now. I mostly eat cottage cheese, egg salad, chili with cheese and yogert. I am not that hungry throughout the day except in the morning. I drink a 10 oz protien shake and I am usually good for a couple hours. I have alot of popsicles in a day but i am still having a hard time getting in my 64oz of fluid daily. For the first couple of weeks i had alot of discomfort in my port insision. At 10 days out i went to my PCP and she put me on an antibiotic because my port insision looked infected. Yesterday, 4 weeks after surgery, 2 little pieces of stitching came out of the end of the port insision. I'm sure that's why it was infected. It is starting to look good already. I am still down 25 pounds, i was worried i would gain some back once i went to "real food" but i haven't. I haven't lost anymore but thankful I haven't put anymore back on.
July 11, 2007 223 pounds I started my clear liquid diet 2 days before surgery. I had my surgery at 5:30 am July 5th. All went well. Of course there was pain but i was up and walking in just a few hours. I had a major panic attack around midnight, wow, it really freaked me out but was given xanex and felt alot better. Went home the next morning at 10:30. I was glad to get out of there. I had bad gas pains for 3 days. Gosh, never loved farts so much in my life lol. I was on clear fluids for about 4 days after surgery, then started on full fluids. I will stay on full fluids until i go back on the 17th for my follow up and I'll ask my doctor when i can start on soft mushies. I am 6 days out and my energy level is not where i would like it to be but i think once i start eating a little more i will feel better. 1 week on fluids has me down 17 pounds. I thought my scale was broken lol i didn't think i would lose so fast. I hope i can keep it down when i start on "real food". I didn't have my insisional hernia fixed at the same time. I will wait till I get to my goal weight and have it taken care of, hopefully at the same time as a tummy tuck if i need one.
I HAVE A DATE... JULY 05, 2007 YIPPPPPPPPIE
Start weight 240 pounds
June 29, 2007 I emailed Krista amd asked what was taking so long to get a date. I reminded her that i was approved last week, how much longer do i need to wait to hear my date. She emailed me back and told me there is another lady trying to choose her date and when she does the office will call me with a date. This kind of errrkked me, thinking how selfiish this lady is taking so long to choose. I sent an email to Krista on June 25 and told her that she was waiting so long, i was approved 2 weeks ago and i am still waiting for a date. Krista emailed me back and asked if i wanted my surgery next week.... Hell Ya, I want it next week!! So we scheduled surgery for July 5th
June 18, 2007 I went to my insurance web site and looked up any referrals. I found the auth#s for both doctor and hospital. The dates requested were Aug. 9 and 10. I emailed Krista and told her we had the auth#s. She said she needs to get with the doctor and the other lady in the office to get me a date. I have a insional hernia (too many lapro surgeries). Krista will see if the surgeon will repair that at the same time.
June 11, 2007 I called my insurance company to make sure they received my paperwork. I spoke to a woman who told me my surgery was approved. I sent an email to Krista at my doctors office, she is wonderful. She emailed me back and said She called the insurance company and they told her my case was still being reviewed. Krista said she needs an auth#. She is hoping to hear something soon. I am a little dissapointed, i guess my roller coaster is begining. boooo hooooI emailed Krista amd asked what was taking so long to get a date. I reminded her that i was approved last week, how much longer do i need to wait to hear my date. She emailed me back and told me there is another lady trying to choose her date and when she does the office will call me with a date. This kind of errrkked me, thinking how selfiish this lady is taking so long to choose. I sent an email to Krista on June 25 and told her that she was waiting so long, i was approved 2 weeks ago and i am still waiting for a date. Krista emailed me back and asked if i wanted my surgery next week.... Hell Ya, I want it next week!! So we scheduled surgery for July 5thI went to my insurance web site and looked up any referrals. I found the auth#s for both doctor and hospital. The dates requested were Aug. 9 and 10. I emailed Krista and told her we had the auth#s. She said she needs to get with the doctor and the other lady in the office to get me a date. I have a insional hernia (too many lapro surgeries). Krista will see if the surgeon will repair that at the same time. I called my insurance company to make sure they received my paperwork. I spoke to a woman who told me my surgery was approved. I sent an email to Krista at my doctors office, she is wonderful. She emailed me back and said She called the insurance company and they told her my case was still being reviewed. Krista said she needs an auth#. She is hoping to hear something soon. I am a little dissapointed, i guess my roller coaster is begining. boooo hoooo My doctors office sent everything to the insurance company. I hope to hear something soon.
June 5, 2007 My doctors office sent everything to the insurance company. I hope to hear something soon.
May 25, 2007 I have been in touch with my doctors office. They have recieved my tests results and will send off the letter to the insurance company next week. I hope i get an answer back soon. This has been a rough week. I was fired from my job on Monday. I am still in shock. My boss of two and a half years had no real reason when i asked why. I am devistated. I am all my kids have. I have rent due in 6 days and i dont have a penny to my name. Something good will happen soon.
May 4, 2007 238 pounds.... I have finished all my pre-op testing. Everything went great. I guess i am unhealthy enough to need surgery and healthy enough to get surgery. If that makes sense. Next week I should have all my results in and I will fax to Dr. Frezza. Not sure how long it will take him to submitt everything to the insurance company but i know the insurance company takes 2-4 weeks for their answer. Now all the worries come into play. I am not worried about the surgery as much as i am worried about recovery and how long it will take to return back to work. Being a single mom of 2 boys still at home, income is low and that is a big scare to me. I need to stop worrying and start thinking everything will work out.
March 28, 2007 233 pounds... I had my first consultation with Dr. Frezza. He is very knowledgable in his field. Everyone in his office is very nice and helpful. He talked to a group of us about the types of surgeries he does and answered questions. He then took us by ourselves to his office to discuss the right surgery for me. The Lap band is the surgery that we decided on. The nutrionalist talked to all of us as a group, she gave us alot of important information about our diet and some helpfull ways to make our journey a pleasant one. Then each of us went in and spoke to a pshycologist. He asked very basic questions. Just getting a basic feel if we understood what was going to happen. We were given a list of pre-surgical procedures that need to be done before submitting everything to the insurance company. I am hoping to get all my tests done before the end of April. They said it takes about 3 weeks to hear back from the insurance company. If the insurance company approves then the doctor will schedule surgery. I would like to have my surgery sometime this summer, maybe June or July.
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Miley Cyrus - The Climb
