lisakayinWA

So here is my story....looking for advice, shoulders to cry on, etc... My band was placed in December of 2004. Since that time, I had a slow weight loss but managed to take off about 50 lbs. I moved to another state last fall and even though I needed a fill, was unable to get anyone to see me since I had my surgery elsewhere...in Seattle. In February of this year, I started getting really bad reflux, PBing, pain etc. I was not able to keep anything down, including Water. Thus began my fight to get seen by someone, anyone, here in Southern CA. I got an emergency appointment with Dr. Billy in Ventura...an hour and a half drive from home, who said that he could revise my band for me after an UGI showed that I have a Slipped Band. Got an unfill, which has made it easier, but still have a bit of restriction/discomfort. We have a POS insurance plan which means that I have to have a referral for specialty care and they said that I had to first see a general surgeon within their network before going to a Bariatric Surgeon...now this was told to me before I took it upon myself to go to Ventura to take care of the immediate problem of starving to death! In the meantime, the surgeon that they had referred to me had no appointments for me to even see him until May. They also were one of the offices that I had called on my own to be seen emergently...they refused to see me since I did not have my surgery there. So anyway, it is now two months later....I called to get a new referral and saw the surgeon today. He HATES the lapband...will not even touch it except to take it out. He thinks I should convert to a bypass, which I have to say is scary, but some of the things he is saying makes sense since I have seen so many problems with the Band lately from other patients. My first concern was the irreversibility of bypass and some of the nutritional problems I have seen in earlier GBP patients. My starting BMI was 39.6....now it is around 33. I know that it would go back up if I do not do something. I am really hoping to find someone here that has been there and done that, and would like to share their thoughts and experiences to help me make a decision. I have seen two doctors with two very different oppinions and my head is spinning. I think I got most of the details in here, but let me know if I need to explain anything further....Thanks for your responses! Lisa Kay

Hi Lisa, I am really sorry that I am just now seeing your post. I hardly ever check the email that was linked to this forum but just changed it to the one I do use now. Anyways, I was rebanded shortly after my last post....August 2006, I think. I have not lost any weight at all since the revision...slowly putting the weight back on and not sure what I am going to do now. I weigh in at 210...my original starting weight was 235 so 25 lbs down, 25 up from lowest weight. not worth the pain and suffering from two surgeries, that is for sure! I think i am going to go to my doctor here in VA and discuss my options soon. I would really like to just take it out and live my life but I know how unhealthy I am making myself by continuing to carry this extra weight around. Let me know what you decide. I will definitely keep in touch. I know there are a lot of options out there that were not available a few years ago and I have not done any current research...had my head in the sand, I guess, but the journey continues....

Thanks for everyone's replies. I already have an appointment scheduled with a different Surgical Center (USC). I was planning on canceling it, but will probably keep the appointment and see what this doc has to say before making any decisions. Lisa Kay

I too have been having problems finding a fill doc in the LA area and I had my band in the states. I moved here from the Seattle area and made all of the Inamed calls and found only one person who would even touch me...for $450 and not under flouro. Who is Dr. Billy and what does he charge? Thanks! Lisa

Hi! I am Lisa Natarajan and was banded on Dec 8, 2004 at the Wish Center in Renton, WA. I live in Redmond and would love to get together for coffee, walking and/or chat with others who live in the area! Lisa 229/209/135ish