piercedqt78

My band was placed July 28th 2005, I lived in Chicago at the time. My daughter was 4 at the time and I had high hopes of it being the best thing I could have done for myself and my family. I did wonderful the first year and then had some other medical issues that prevented me from using my band to it's fullest ability. I underwent a total hysterectomy , and then a total knee replacement. The knee replacement failed and I had to have a complete revision, putting my out of commission for over a year in the process. I decided to move to Florida in Aug of 2011. My band doctor was not comfortable with sending me to live 1,100 miles away with no follow-up care plan in place. So I moved with an empty band. I had been sick on and off and not really losing weight but not gaining any either. I called several surgeons in the area looking for after care, and to get a fill. Each one wanted a "program fee" ranging from $2000-$3500 up front and not billable to insurance. So I gave up. Fast forward 18 months, I start having issues with reflux, meds do not help, and my primary sends me to a GI doc. He does an upper endoscopy with the bravo monitor and says all is fine, even though my acid levels that should be less than 15 and well over 100. He states he can't even see the band when he did the endo, so it isn't eroded, and doesn't appear to be too tight or slipped. I don't like the fact that I have gone from reflux to vomiting. In a matter of 6 weeks I have gone from minor sore throat to not even being able to keep anything other than clear fluids down. I get a second opinion. This doc says I need to see a bariatric surgeon. I am sent for a barium swallow and we discover my band has slipped. I leave in tears. Knowing what this means. His office calls me and gets me in with him to discuss my options the very next day. He says the band must 100% go, no other options on that one. Then states that I can either remove the band and wait, or I can opt for a conversion to the Sleeve. I opt for the conversion, which my Insurance was more than happy to cover. They have some questions about removing the band that cause some delays. I am finally approved, and have the conversion. I spend 2 nights in the hospital due to a minor fever, and I'm released to go home. So I am rebegin my journey to a fit and healthy me, I decided to share it here, since I was a lapbandtalk member, it only makes sense to stay where I'm comfortable. So feel free to ask me band questions, and I will be sure to share as my journey moves onward and my weight moves downward.