cadezma77

Thanks for your reply Shayyt...It's good to hear when someone can relate to what I am going through, it helps confirm that I'm not crazy and there are just some people the band doesn't work for! I wish my surgeon would have suggested the sleeve to me! I am the one who sugested it. As it sits now I will be "waiting it out a few months, to see how things go and build a case for insurance" Although I agree on the having a case to present, especially since my insurance said it can be covered under medical necessity, I feel like my issues have already prooved my case....but I guess the doctor knows best...lol Did your doctor recommend the sleeve due to your throwing up issues or other issues as well? Congrats on your surgery!!! I can not wait to be on the other side of the fence!

Sometimes I wonder is it me?? Have I failed this band or is it failing me??Maybe its 50/50. I can admit that excercise has slowed for me, which tends to happen when you pack the lbs back on....it's hard to get back into that routine. I can admit to eating the wrong foods at times (slider foods), but in reality most fruits and veggies didnt work for me when I had decent restriction. Also at restriction I am usually not able to eat until about noon, so skipping breakfast left me overly hungry and I'm sure my body didn't appreciate going so long between meals. Sometimes I would try a protein shake in the am, but it too would take awhile to get it down, due to the restriciton in the morning. One issues after having the lapband is the constant thoughts of food. Not so much eating food, but the constant thinking about food situations. For example if we were going to be going out for dinner I would be thinking about what food I could eat. I usually look at an online menu before we go just so I can scope out something that usually would work. The constant worry about what is going to work and what is not going to work, possibility of vomitting, and the chance I might get stuck and not be able to get to the restroom in time. Any family get together, birthday party, celebration was always a struggle. Not only do you feel as if people are watching what you put on your plate, but I felt they were more inclined to watch me eat. I spose' it's curiosity to see just how much a WLS patient can eat, but it made me self conscious and stressed me out....which is yet another issue I've found with the band. I have noticed that when I am stressed out, things are much tighter and it is harder to eat. Being the mother of 4 boys, life is pretty stressfull so this too was a struggle. I found myself leaving the supper table to eat in private so that no one could bother me and I could just focus on eating/chewing. One of the biggest issues has been that a certain food may be a "safe" food one day, but the next it is a no go! It's very frustrating to have a WLS and then have your world revolve around food. I think about food much more than i ever did. Ironic isn't it??!!

I did the same thing before my lapband surgery! I think I had "my last meal" about 15 times! I wanted to be sure I got in all the foods I wouldn't get to have again. Looking back it probably wasn't the best idea, because I did gain some weight before surgery. I think alot of people do this....maybe not as many times as I did though.. lol Good luck on your surgery!!

]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!

I had my apt today and we removed some fluid and I am to stay on liquids through the weekend and start solids on monday and see how it goes. I mentioned the sleeve to Dr, and her response was "have you talked your insurance company"...in which I haven't. (thinking that's a bad sign).......She then said we should see how the next few months go and in that same time we would be "building our case for the insurance company". Correct me if I am wrong but a slipped band (never confirmed by xray), years of throwing up, and just the general inconsisitancy of the band arent enough?? There are days when food goes decent, there are days when things are too tight to even try, days when things feel wide open, days when fluids give heartburn all along with everything else you would think I have a pretty good case that this band failed. Maybe I am wrong! All I know is I want the band out!!! I am in the process of contacting BCBS to see if this will be covered......feeling defeated today......

So you have the same issues I have with the band and you're sleeved??? that's scary!!!! That is what I am trying to avoid, well that and the vomitting on a daily basis! you're right about my doctor...I guess I was just hoping she would say yes let's get this thing out today.....LOL no not really, but maybe I was hoping she would give me some kind of confirmation like "yes you've had alot of issues" or something to let me know I am not crazy. I do see her point as far as building a case. I did talk to my insurance and they said it would be covered if deemed "medically necessary"...so I guess we just wait it out and begin our case building!