KTBUGG

Had my 1st lapband done 2/6/08, started having small problems immediately after surgery got them under control, lost 134 pounds but was throwing up all the time, had horrible acid reflux and could not eat much of anything. I had already had one slip and told my band dr I was sure I had another he said it was just a really bad ulcer. Finally could not take the pain and throwing up all the time so I heard from a fellow lapbander of an awesome Dr in Cincinnati that fixes other drs screw ups and was highly respected. Researched him and made an appointment, drove the 2 hours there in less then 5 minutes he confirmed that my band had slipped and I got all my fluid removed. Did about another year up and down with some smaller problems. Gained 70#s back due to not being able to have fluid in my band and only being able to keep down liquids. Finally, my band slipped for the 3rd time, so my insurance will pay for surgery again. I got the date of my new surgery exactly 5 years to the day I had my original lapband placed. I had my new band put in 2/15/13. I found out I had a paraesophageal hiatal hernia and the original band was not where it should have been. My CPAP cause severe congestion and my asthma to be a little worse, so 4 days after my surgery I had a severe asthma attack and coughing fit after I used my inhaler. I ended up ripping open my port incision due to the severity of it and had to go to urgent care for 5 stitches. I had those stitches in for 10 days, went back to urgent care to get the stitches removed and once removed the dr looked and said " hmmmm, those really should have stayed in longer" so, I got 4 new stiches and left them for 10 more days. After all that mess heals I go back to my band dr on 4/4/13 for a fill, they can't hit the port! They call in a lady from home to try and she can't get it either, so down for a barium swallow and X-rays I go. My port was doing flips, from one X-ray to the next it was in different positions. Dr said the internal stitches around the port were infected. I got scheduled for emergency surgery the next day. Dr removed my port and kept the incision open so I could heal from the inside out, I'm allergic to all band aids so I had to use gauze to cover it and then press and seal ( worked great) took almost a month to completely heal up. So I had my port placement on 5/1/13 on the other side now. And finally healed great!! I am eating like a real person, I don't puke after every meal, I don't eat over 200 tums a month, I am losing weight well. I have not gotten sick or eaten a tums since my surgery 2/15/13 and I feel amazing! It's a completely different experience between this band and the previous one, I could tell immediately. I love my new lapband and can't wait to get back to a good healthy me. :0)