PositiveChanger

Hello, Sorry for the long post, but I would like to get some advice. I am very new to the group, but have been hovering around for awhile. Thank you in advance for listening to me share this bit of turmoil. I am in Northern Indiana and I was a lapband recipient in 2008, since then I have not been compliant and now subsequently weigh 20 lbs more than I did on my original surgery date. I know I am extremely unhealthy and really worry about my health and how sedentary I have become and I worry that I will not be around to see my 4 and 6 year old grow up (they are adopted). My lapband is not really causing me many problems, though I have really bad gag reflexes and I get what I call "fat cramps" in my belly if I turn the wrong way or strain my abdomen. Part of me would like to start getting fills again, but I worry that it may cause longer term problems that I have seen addressed on this forum (e.g. scare tissue or slippage). I believe the sleeve may be a better option for me, since I have a disease called porphyria that needs a certain level of carbs to stay in check (as apposed to bypass). I have reached out to a Bariatric group (not the group that did my original surgery) because I wanted to talk to a surgeon about my options and it has been very challenging to get it. It has been a bit like Fort Knox, they won't schedule an appointment until the Dr. looks through my operative notes and determines if I am a candidate. They have not requested any other information. Mind you, I have been trying for about a month. If I am having this challenges now, what will it be like in the future? Also, why would you need to beg to see the dr? I may consider going to see my original dr, but I feel like such a failure going to see them. Also, now it is just the surgeon and an NP. There is no real dr. support outside of the scope of surgery. Plus I worry about the "see I told you so mentality". Supposedly my insurance company will cover both procedures (gave them the surgery codes), but I have to show 6 months of progress. For the lapband I paid out of pocket. Ideally I would like to use insurance this time but I am not adverse to paying out of pocket, if necessary. I really want to make a change, I have already started to make some basic changes to my diet but I really want to work with a bariatric doctor to ensure that all my health needs are carefully considered before taking the leap. However, having said this I need to make some sort of decision soon, something has got to give...preferably the weight. I don't want to take the quick way out, because I know I have to make better decisions about food prior to surgery so that I can maintain after surgery. Honestly, I really want someone who will work with me to make the best decision for my life. Does anyone have any suggestions or have you been through similar situations?