]So here is my story......

I was banded in April of 2008 at my highest weight of 263. The lapband surgery was a breeze, life with the lapband has not been a breeze. I have a 10cc band. My first fill was 6 weeks after surgery and then there was many more until I was up to 7ccs. I remember asking the nurse "What happens if I get to 10cc's and no restriction?" Her reply "well then this surgery isn't going to work for you"! Needless to say that definatley was not the case...I found my "greenzone" and was doing pretty well. I was excercising on a daily basis. I was feeling good, anxieties were less, confidence was up and of course was losing weight. One year after surgery I was down to 219, which is decent considering it took months to get to restriction. In August of 2010, I had hit wonderland 198!!! I was so happy to be under 200lbs! By my calculations this is about the time I started having issue, although I have always struggled with days when I am too tight, vomitting, and etc. All in All since August of 2010 (by estimation) I have been totally unfilled 4 or 5 times. The most recent being in April of this year. The Doc said it was due to a possible slip and we were to remove all fluid and let it heal on it's own. June we added fluid back in (about 4cc's) I felt restriction but not too much. I was still gaining and admittedly not making the best food choices. In July we added 1.5 more cc's. This is where things became strange for me....I felt like I had adequate restriction, portions were small and what not, however I had this constant burning (heartburn) in my esophagus and it was much worse when drinking any liquids. Of course I was still vomitting here and there, but this many years out it had just became a way of life. so this past week I went in to the dr, we take out a half of cc and I drink the water and I can still feel the burning/somewhat pressure feeling. We take out another cc and decide to keep me on liquids until monday and see how it goes from there. At this point I am frustrated and just want to be done with the band. I also brought up the fact that I think my port sometimes bulges more than usual and doc felt around and said seems fine other than it feels a little loose! Which by the way doc had a helluva time getting the needle in!!! I'm thinking loose??? why would it be loose is this normal?? anywhoooo...I brought up the fact that I have been researching the sleeve procedure and doc pretty much said that we will see how the next few months go and start building our case for the insurance company.

I should add that in my opinion, I don't believe that it is heartburn I am feeling....I think it's due to my esophagus being inflammed from the vommiting but I guess I am not a dr...lol Also, I tend to retain fluids and take a BP/Water pill (HCTZ) to help with this. I have tried to tell my dr many times that on days where I feel I am retaining fluids my band is much tighter. I think she thinks I am quack as she has never really agreed with me! Makes sense to me, specially if women who are on their TOM feel more restricted....which by the way is the case for me also.

So i've rambled on..........bottom line this is not the life I want to live anymore! The food addiction is way worse now than it ever was before...but I'll save that for another post!