monkeysnana

I can so totally relate to this. 185.00? OMG! I thought my 60.00 was bad. I had my band unfilled in May 2012 when after my husband was diagnosed with cancer, I started having a lot of issues. Stress was the cause for me. In order to not damage myself I had to do that. I try to fill enough to make it worth it the cost, but I don't know what is good. The water always goes down just fine, it's food later I have issues with. I can relate to your entire post. I am going back Wednesday to finally fill again, and I am nervous as heck. I hope to follow you and check in with you more. Good luck, we can do it!!

lisacaron, I did call another bariatric surgeon office, and because I "live" close enough to my original surgeon office, they will not take me on. Conflict of interest type thing. Had I just moved here from out of state and needed to be seen, they would take me on. I even tried that route. Pretty frustrating I know. My surgeon is a highly recommended bariatric surgeon, but if they can't make office hours good for everyone, what good are they really. So still not sure I will get filled next week. It's a struggle to take time off from work. Is this a sign?

It never has been the surgeon. I have not seen the surgeon since my first post op appointment in April 2009. It's always been the nurse. They now don't do them Tuesdays-Surgery day (understandable), Fridays (yes so that if it needs adjusting it can be done understandable) and now Wednesdays-no specific reason given. I was just told we just won't have anyone here to do it. I work and live over 70 miles away, so it isn't a "quick trip". I did call back and the lady said no they can't make an exception. I told her I had already asked for that time off and had already scheduled it and couldn't they just do this one. She said no. So I guess they won't do it. It's not that I have to make two trips to the same building in two days, it is the financial end. With a husband with cancer, money isn't exactly growing like wild fire on the tree. Not only is the co-pay costly its expensive with gas prices. I even asked if they had a location or doctor up here that could see me and she said no. I guess it is what it is right. I tried though. 20 minutes of trying. She ain't budging.

Hello, My journey began in March 2009. I had researched weight lose surgery for quite awhile before choosing to have the lap band. I wasn't really a candidate, according to most, for the gastric, so this seemed like the most logical choice. I had my surgery 3/9/2009, weighed in at 211 lbs and am 5'1" tall. I was pretty short, so I was pretty round. I didn't have any major complications, most everything was right on track. I lost quite a bit of weight in the first 6 months, by 9 months I had been down 63 lbs. I felt great and I looked great. Then, all heck broke loose. In April 2012, my husband was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He began chemo and then in November under went a stem cell transplant. We basically lived in the hospitals most of the year. With all the stress and chaos, I began having severe blockage issues, and things were not going well. I had been suffering for awhile, severe heartburn, so they had to remove all my fluid and recommended that until things settled down, not to refill. I was risking damage by things constantly getting stuck. Living in the hospitals didn't have the best nutritional options. So that was in May 2012, and since then I have gained back all but 11 lbs that I lost. I feel miserable, I look awful and I am not happy. I am scheduled July 9th to refill, and I am scared because of all the issues. I tried to wait until life "settled down", but that doesn't look like it will ever happen. Hubby was in remission, but we just found out this month he has relapsed. There aren't a lot of options for us in his cancer, so I guess there's no good time. I have a hard time being motivated these days. I have a lot on my mind, but I know they way I am now is only bringing me down further. My hope is to find others here that I can relate to and find support and motivation with. Well that's my story. Thank you for letting me share. Wendy

I so very much appreciate all the support you have all given me. Lisacaron you really hit so much on the head with that hammer. I am so consumed with caring for him that I forget about me. I even feel guilty because mine is just weight and his is cancer, but deep down I know better than that. I am going to read and reread this post again. Thank you. I am very scared to refill but I did this surgery for a reason and I need to just do it. I had so many issues and they worry me. Again, thank you ALL for your encouragement. Wendy

Thank you ladies. I did SO WELL the first time. I lost 60 lbs in 9 months, and I felt amazing. I'm just in a funk, and I thought that maybe if I took this step and started losing weight again, I'd feel better. And I know that my feeling better will benefit my husband because I will be a better caregiver. I was on a lapband site on Facebook, and OMG what a disaster it was. They were so negative and it just was awful so I am glad I found this site. So far it is way better than that was. Thank you for taking time to chat. I've learned that support is big, and even though I don't have a lot, the people I have are worlds of good.

Wow! Reading your post, I felt like I was reading something I wanted to write. Ditto!! I am starting all over this week. Had my 43rd birthday yesterday and decided it was a good way to celebrate...getting back on track. I plan to follow you and I am very excited for you. I hope you have lots of success and good health.