I had my band placed 09/2008 and had initial weight loss, but then wammo!! had a slip, an unfill, regained all I had lost +10 more, started having re-fills and have never lost any more weight or ever found the "sweet spot"! I currently do have Fluid in my band and now am too tight! This was my "last ditch" effort attempt with this band, i.e. trying yet another fill. I can't seem to eat solid foods! Maybe every 2-3 days, I can tolerate a few bits of chicken breast...maybe, if my band can keep it down that is! Anyway, I'm done! I have had a miserable 3 yrs with this band! I think the only thing it has caused me, other than severe aggravation, is a very poor diet! Only crap foods seem to go down without pain! I can't eat veggies or fruits and most meats! It has just not worked for me....AT ALL!
Anyway, My surgeon says it is time to revise. She initially said to RNY, but I speak with her again on the 28th of this month and she is now performing VSG, so I will be discussing this with her. I am still just not comfortable with the whole re-arranging your bowel! I don't know why I'm soooo afraid of this, but I am. I also am just as afraid of staying 100-110 pounds overweight for the rest of my life too I might add! I also have some feelings of failing with WLS and scarred feelings of "what if another WLS fails".... probably all the normal fears everyone has going through a revision.
I wish I knew the right answers and automatically knew the right surgery for me. I'm so afraid of picking the wrong surgery out of fear and then it not working! I know my ins. is soon changing to include a "once in a lifetime" WLS per person... so this revision is probably my last ins. covered surgery chance! My hubby, God bless him, said to me last night... "is this surgery new? and considered expiremental? and you might not lose the weight??" And I don't know how to answer that!
I am currently 246 pounds at 5'6" tall. I am turning 40 yrs old this summer. Can I lose my weight with VSG? My bariatric program director had RNY and refers to it as the "gold standard", actually so does my PCP. Are they right? Is VSG too new and not tested/proven?
I did lose iniitally with my band, until it slipped, but band life is not something I could ever tolerate for the rest of my life. The whole stoma thing just is a miserable way to go! I really just wanted some help with my portions and I wanted the ability to be able to decide on my food choices! I never expected to have such a limited diet with the band! I know there are going to be times, i.e. birthday parties or "special occasions", where I might eat something sweet. That's life. I just wanted that "choice". I also know I need to make a lifestyle change and have recently started attending some therapy groups with other women trying to lose weight and make better food choices. I feel like I have in place things to help enpower me on this weight loss journey! I just now have to chose what "tool" surgically to utilize.... and it is a tough, tough decision. I don't want another failure! It's my biggest fear!
Please any insight / advice would be sooooo appreciated!
