ARKMom

I had a revision from Lap-Band to Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass on September 25, 2017. I had the Lap-Band surgery in 2009 and at first it was successful. Over time I begin to have issues with my band causing severe reflux and I battled pneumonia and bronchitis on a regular basis. I was told I was aspirating into my lungs because of my Lap-Band. If I removed part or most of the fill it would get better but every time I tried to utilize the band the problems would start back up. I developed several health issues that we felt were all related to the lap band. I finally was tired of worrying about what my Lap-Band was doing to me and made the decision to have it removed and Gastric Bypass done. After I completed all my test and 6 months of visits I was finally able to have the surgery 3 weeks ago. I no longer have reflux or issues shallowing like I did before. I was excited to be able to take a pill without feeling like it was stuck. The Lap-Band was removed during the same surgery as the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass was done. I was off work 1 week, returning to work with restrictions on October 2nd and completed released no restrictions on October 11th. I am finally able to eat some food and after 3 weeks of shakes I was ready to taste anything. I am excited to start this journey. I am currently down 25 lbs and very excited to start this process!

I actually gained 8 pounds in the hospital from fluids. It seems like the first week was just losing it. I am 1 month out and have lost around 28 pounds. This past week I haven't lost anything which is frustrating.

I always felt like food was stuck in my throat after the lap band. It was very difficult to shallow pills. I no longer have problems swallowing pills at all which is great! it has been a month since my surgery and I have had no problems. I went back to work one week after the surgery and actually attended my son's football game the day after my surgery. Most of the pain I had was gas pains after the surgery. The more I walked the less pain I felt. I was walking several laps every hour around the hospital halls. My weight loss has seemed to stall but I have to confess I have not done a lot of cardio like I should be doing. I plan to start back with a personal trainer next week so maybe I will get more dedicated with that. The first 2 weeks I was never hungry and would rather have just not eat as to drink another shakes but I managed to get through them. I was never hungry, the protein probably helped me with that. Now I do get hungry and want to eat. I don't really feel the full sensation I thought I would feel but if I eat one bite to many I will get a sudden pain in my chest. So I have to really measure what I eat. I would rather have it this way then the constant feeling of something stuck in my throat. I would get sick a lot with the lap band but with bypass I have only had a couple instances where I felt sick. I mostly eat fish and chicken right now. Trying to get as much protein in as I can without having to drink a shake. So far my experience with bypass has been great! No reflux, no constant feeling of something stuck in my throat, and no constant vomiting. I am glad I decided to do the revision from lap band to bypass!