MelissaGG

I am pretty new here but not new to WLS. I was banded almost 10 years ago and I was not successful at any point. Most of the time I was unfilled or mostly unfilled. I recently began to have p Robles and found a surgeon in my are who did a fluoroscope and said all seems fine. I am starting to get a little terrified thinking I left this in too long and perhaps it has eroded. I found another surgeon and will be calling to make an appointment soon. I am going to insist on checking for erosion and also consider revision. The only thing certain is that I want this freakin band out of my body and I am terrified of surgery and my son losing his Mom. Really, I know it seems far-fetched but it is how I feel. I am the sole support for my family, have a good career and need to stick around. I am a bundle of nerves over this. Secondly, I chose the lap band so they would not have to cut my digestive tract, If I was not having pain right now, I would leave it in and forget it existed and never look at WLS again. I am now hearing that they have a 10 year max expiration date...wonderful! So I am deeply thinking about VSG and I can't stop thinking that it is nuts. Please don't be offended, I do not mean any offense against anyone. I am just trying to wrap. My mind around the possibility. I rode the train home tonight and kept asking myself when does the "insanity" of cutting an organ in half to lose weight become not an "insanity" but a reasonable choice and reality? I know that is pretty deep but I can't talk to anyone I know about it. They are all like..."diet and exercise" and no wls. I have tried, and tried and worked out and ran and I already eat healthy food, no soda, lots of veggies. I can't spend 2 plus hours in the gym, I have compulsion to eat more food than I should. For example, last nights dinner was kale salad with cranberries and pumpkin seeds and I ate 3 servings, then I had 2 stuffed peppers with turkey and quinoa that I made. Not bad food, but far too much and I feel like I can't stop. So given that I can not commit to several hours per day in the gym at the moment, but I can commit to 4 days for an hour each time with room for the late meeting I think I need some help and perhaps the vsg is the way to go.? How did you think through it? Was it an easy decision? We're you scared? Did you feel you had any other alternative? I know the trade off is giving up or fooling myself into thinking that "one day, I will find the right balance and magic formula of exercise and diet" and that will be it and I will sustain for a lifetime. Would love your thoughts...and remember, I know that's chose some harsh words but they are helpful in me working through my feelings.

Iggychick, a few people have posted about almost dying but none have shared their story. If you are comfortable doing so, can you please share? As I see it, I am in fora minimum of removal of the band and would like to understand what some comp,citations might be. Was it surgical error or some other factor?

How are you feeling today? Did you contact you Doctor?

Hi there, I am Melissa from the Chicago area but originally from NY. I was banded almost 10 years ago and moved away from my hometown to start a new life here in Chicago almost 6 years ago now. When I was first banded, there was not much support and I found some folks online to help. I met with a nutritionist who did not have an office and I had to go to random locations to see her. There were no of ill schedules and I had only 1 or 2 fills total in NY. When I moved I found a surgeon to help and had another 1 or 2 fills and was unfolded just over 3 years ago when I was pregnant. I am now 45 and have basically ignored my band until I started gaining weight and started having pain. I have tried on my own to lose weight and have run in 5k races and regular workouts but I have yet to be successful. I am a career Mom and commute just about 3 hours per day and I have very little time to be thinking day and night about exercise and diet. It kills me to say this after making some serious efforts over the years. I am starting to snap at the seams so to speak and I am worried every day about the damage this band may have done. I feel internal pinching, I still can't eat chicken, fish or rice but Pasta and chips slide down pretty good. I eat and have no issues with veggies and eat them every day. I am not a soda drinker but I am never too far away from my last cup of coffee. I was in a great deal of pain this past November and I was having a particularly stressful time. I made an appointment with the surgeon here in Chicago and put myself on mushies. I think I may have done something while working out that triggered this all. I am currently 270 and put on 15 lbs in the past 3 months. My weight had remained at 257 since the day of my surgery 10 years ago, except while I was pregnant and I weighed 270 as I do now. I am very scared. I am scared to remove the band, I am scared to keep it in, I am scared to get a new surgery and mostly I am scared of not being here to raise and support my little boy who is now 3 years old and deserves a mom who can get out and have fun. I push myself but I balance too many things. I feel like I should lose weight and then have the band removed and keep it off by myself. That would take watching my portions at. Every meal, fully dedicating over 1-2 hours per day to exercise and keeping a perfect schedule where everything is in balance...my work, my son, my house, my husband, my commute...everything. I think that is unrealistic and I do not know where to turn. I did get to see the surgeon here who said that my band was placed well and that he saw the barium...so why the pain? No answer. I was STUNNED when he said there was nothing wrong and did I want to get a new surgery. Apparently I do qualify but I want a second opinion. I am not sure where to go from here and would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks, Melissa

I have had my band a long time and got it also at 35 years old. In that time, I got married, had a baby 3 years ago and dealt with some medical issues. The only thing I did not do was lose weight. I basically watsted 10 years. I have not yet committed to another surgery but I do want the band removed. 10 years is too much and I am scared of the damage it may have caused. I recently started having some issues and I am just starting to consider a sleeve. That said, there are some people who love their bands and would not change a thing. I think if you can train yourself to form good habits and can fit a healthy lifestyle and all it takes to maintain weight loss into your life, then your behavior modification takes over where the band mightr fail you. I will say, that wahtever you decide, please keep in mind that there is another surgery in your future if you chose the band. What I DID NOT know is that it will be required to be removed in10 years time. Its the boat that I am in right now. My family is having a hard time with this too and I am working on thinking it all the way through. Good luck to you , whatever you decide. .

Lol, I had a typo above

I am new to this site and not sure where to post sorry if you may see it twice.... Hi there, I am Melissa from the Chicago area but originally from NY. I was banded almost 10 years ago and moved away from my hometown to start a new life here in Chicago almost 6 years ago now. When I was first banded, there was not much support and I found some folks online to help. I met with a nutritionist who did not have an office and I had to go to random locations to see her. There were no of ill schedules and I had only 1 or 2 fills total in NY. When I moved I found a surgeon to help and had another 1 or 2 fills and was unfolded just over 3 years ago when I was pregnant. I am now 45 and have basically ignored my band until I started gaining weight and started having pain. I have tried on my own to lose weight and have run in 5k races and regular workouts but I have yet to be successful. I am a career Mom and commute just about 3 hours per day and I have very little time to be thinking day and night about exercise and diet. It kills me to say this after making some serious efforts over the years. I am starting to snap at the seams so to speak and I am worried every day about the damage this band may have done. I feel internal pinching, I still can't eat chicken, fish or rice but pasta and chips slide down pretty good. I eat and have no issues with veggies and eat them every day. I am not a soda drinker but I am never too far away from my last cup of coffee. I was in a great deal of pain this past November and I was having a particularly stressful time. I made an appointment with the surgeon here in Chicago and put myself on mushies. I think I may have done something while working out that triggered this all. I am currently 270 and put on 15 lbs in the past 3 months. My weight had remained at 257 since the day of my surgery 10 years ago, except while I was pregnant and I weighed 270 as I do now. I am very scared. I am scared to remove the band, I am scared to keep it in, I am scared to get a new surgery and mostly I am scared of not being here to raise and support my little boy who is now 3 years old and deserves a mom who can get out and have fun. I push myself but I balance too many things. I feel like I should lose weight and then have the band removed and keep it off by myself. That would take watching my portions at. Every meal, fully dedicating over 1-2 hours per day to exercise and keeping a perfect schedule where everything is in balance...my work, my son, my house, my husband, my commute...everything. I think that is unrealistic and I do not know where to turn. I did get to see the surgeon here who said that my band was placed well and that he saw the barium...so why the pain? No answer. I was STUNNED when he said there was nothing wrong and did I want to get a new surgery. Apparently I do qualify but I want a second opinion. I am not sure where to go from here and would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for responding, Did you have this done in 1 surgery? What was your recovery like and did the band.do any internal damage?

No, there were no more tests done but I am very concerned. Can you please point me to your experience as I was unable to find the location after looking at your profile. Thanks for taking the time no respond.

That sounds scary. I am still banded after 10 years and I fear that I may have complications. The band did not work (for. Lot of reasons) and I am still not sure if I want a new procedure or just a removal of the band. I am not sure if I read your post correctly but did you mention that this is the first sleeve he did, aside from the other obvious issues surrounding your case. This is scary, is this a regular surgeon or someone who specializes in bariatrics?