Yesterday (Dec. 8, 2009), I got banded...again! I had Lap-band®® once upon a time, but had to have it removed due to complications. Nothing against the band. It was me and my surgeon being greedy and lazy. I got overfilled and my band ended up slipping or popping or something like that. Either way, it had to be removed. I could have gotten it replaced at that time, but my surgeon didn't know how successful he would be so I foolishly opted to go without the band. I say foolishly because I thought that I would be able to keep up my new eating habits and not gain my weight back. Not only did I gain ALL of my weight back, but I also gained an additional 40 or 50 pounds. I ended up weighing 110 pounds more than my lowest Lap-band®® weight.
After 2 years, lots of sweat and tears, and several phone calls to the insurance company, I was finally approved and able to get the Lap-band®® again! This time I am determined to have long term success. My band was placed on December 8, 2009. I am inviting you all to join me on this familiar journey to healthy living and a successful weight loss!
Today I finally went back in for another fill. After being reprimanded for seeing another doctor (who was unable to give me a fill), my doctor decided to continue working with me. I only went to see another doctor because his nurse ABSOLUTELY despises me and though she tries to hide it, I can sense it everytime I am there. Anyway, my doctor decided he was going to add 1 cc to what should have already been 5cc. I asked if he would take the fluid out to see if I actually had 5 cc because I had NEVER really fely any REAL restriction. He agreed and after struggling to even access my port for 15 minutes, he attempted to empty my band and realized that just as I had told him for the past 3 months, my band was pretty much empty!! I STILL managed to lose a total of 19 lbs by changing my diet and exercise. Anyway, rather than admitting that they had made a mistake all of the previous visits, they made up several theories as to why my band was empty...maybe my band had a leak or kink in it. MY theory was maybe you weren't actually accessing my port the past 3 visits! I came up with this conclusion when I went to another doctor and after nearly an hour and a floroscopy machine, he was unable to locate it. That made me wonder if my doctor's nurse had actually been accessing it. This time, my doctor gave me the fill, and I can actually tell it's here. It is actually too tight! I am afraid to go back, but I don't know how much more of this I can take. I am only on liquids today, but I am having problems getting them down. "If it ain't one thing, it's another!"
I called my doctor's office today. I have actually gained weight over the past few months rather than lost! I hve now had 3 fills and will go back in next week for another. The nurse (from the doctor's office) keeps telling me to eat less and exercise more. I do agree that I should take heed to her advice, but why did my insurance company pay them tens of thousands of dollars if I am doing ALL of the work. Again, I do respect and value exercise and healthy eating, but the band should STILL be doing something. I am a little disappointed in this new band. So far Inamed's Lap-Band is winning over REALIZE's band. I guess only time will tell.
A few days after Christmas and a few days before my first fill. I am definitely awaiting this fill. Although I've gone through this process before, I am still a little nervous and excited. I'm excited about the restriction (oddly enough) and nervous that I won't feel it after the first fill.
This Christmas, I ate some of the wrong foods and serving sizes that were probably not what my surgeon had in mind. Fortunately and unfortunately, my surgery was a few weeks ago so I could eat regular foods with only minimal restriction from swelling. I did take advantage of that! :thumbdown: However, I will NOT beat myself up this time. It's not too late for me to get back on track and get in to the gym. NO EXCUSES! My doctor calls the band a "crutch." Call it what you may, I am calling it "my motivation," because it is the little push that I need to do what will make me healthier.
I remember when I initially lost the weight. I was so confident, and that confidence led to happines...not because of how I looked, but because of how I felt. I approached situations differently and was more positive. My weight was one less thing "on my plate." :drool: The journey continues.
First stop on the journey--realization that this is really happening and that I have to do my part. I must exercise and eat healthy. Can't depend solely on the band, I have to rely on me!