Headhunter

"It hasnt been as easy as everyone told me." And it ISN'T easy for a LOT of people. If it was as easy as the weight loss industry makes it out to be in their commercials, then this forum might not not even exist. For many people, it's an easy ride. For some, there are some problems. For others, the whole process is an exercise in terror and pain. The Doctor that yelled at you should be shot. He's there to serve, assist, and encourage you. Not belittle and humiliate you. You need to change Doctors. You need to find one that will help you identify and isolate exactly where/what the problem is, and help you correct it. Many of the problems associated with the LB can be resolved, but you need an MD that is willing to work with and FOR you. Hang in there....you'll be fine! :thumbup:

DO NOT scratch those itches! I know, it feels good, but keep your hands off 'em! The last thing you want to do is scratch that port area, and create an infection around the incision. I developed that (not from scratching, it just happened because I had an idiot Doctor), and the port ultimately popped out of my stomach. Very Ugly. So ask your Dr for some cream or something that will stop the itching, and put several band-aids or bandages over the area so that you won't scratch it while you are sleeping.

Well, some people will throw up, some people won't. I'm not sure anyone really compiles stats on this. Some of the people posting here are just a week or two (or less) after their surgery, and they do not yet have a "fill". For me, that's when the fun began. Get some Fluid into that band, the constriction starts, and if you AREN'T CAREFUL and don't follow the Doc's instructions (if you are lucky enough to have a Dr that gives you instructions...I was not) then vomiting may be your new best friend....until you figure out HOW you need to eat.

Choosing the correct Dr is KEY in this process. I think that quite a few of them simply do not know what they are doing, or just don't give a damn. Best of luck in your new "bandless" life.....And, keep in mind that you CAN do it without the band, or any other WLS. The solution is out there for you, you just have to keep looking to find out what will work for you!

I think it really depends on the Hospital. I was in the Hosptial for 8 days, and I brought my Laptop and had no problems. They did not have WiFi, but I have the type of cell phone with which I could use it as a Broadband modem, so it all worked out well. As it turned out, because of the nature of my surgery, I was not able to even pull out my laptop until the day before I left the hospital. But for that day, it was a LIFESAVER!

A quick note; First, thanks for all the good wishes. My sugery went well. I'm still in the hospital, but shoudl be able to go home later today. This was the first time I felt like getting the computer out! They did have to cut me all the way open. So, I feel awful, and I think this may be a long recovery.... Once I get home and settled, I'll check in with ya!

Thank you so much for the good wishes, Shirely! It's tomorrow morning, and I am getting a bit nervous. The surgeon told me that it is unlikely that he will be able to do the whole thing laproscopically, and he will most likely have to "open me up". So, I'm not happy about that, But I do think I have one of the best surgeons in the country for this kind of thing. It was an interesting series of events that led me to him, so I think this was one of those "meant to be" things. I'm all nicely "wired up" with a new laptop and Wireless Broadband, so I may be able to post something within a day or two after the surgery. Actually, this was huge excuse for me to go out and buy whole bunch of new tech goodies so I can stay connected with my business while i am out. One of the bad parts is that the Hospital this is being done at is about 40 miles from where I live, so I won't be getting too many visitors. But, that's ok....I'm bringing plenty of DVD's and audiobooks, and I have a bunch of James Bond movies on my Hard drive! :thumbup:

I'd have to agree with Susan. I would imagine that it would depend upon what you mean by "not liking it". If there were some very specific problems with it, well, that would certainly cause you to not like it! Now, if by "not liking it" you are referring to someone being uncomfortable with having a foreign object in their body, well, that makes sense, and I'm sure that there HAVE been people who have experienced that kind of discomfort. It is a known psychological disorder that makes some people panic or react in some way when something is placed in them like that. Even things like earrings. So, I am certain that there have been people who have had the band removed for that reason, but I have never personally heard of such a case.

Hi, Smiley: Thanks for asking 'bout me! :frown: My surgery is scheduled for this next tuesday, so I'm spending this weekend making preparations, because I may be gone for a while. Perhaps as long as 14 days.... I do not know what the whole thing will cost me. I do have insurance, BUT this whole thing has been complicated by all the things that have gone wrong, and it may be classified as a "pre-existing condition", which means I will be in big debt for many years. This is more than just just a removal, because of the additional problems. I am detecting a "hint" from the surgeon that they MAY cover the cost, because he wants to do an extensive paper on my situation for a Medical Journal. He reiterated that what happened to me has not happened to anyone, to his knowledge. So, I really don't have an answer for you regarding the cost of removal. Just speculating, I would think that it may be in the same range as what it cost to have it put in, MINUS the cost of the actual Lap Band. I would think that it would cost maybe a little less to take it out than put it in, although the same medical infrastructure would have to be in place. I don't know....anyone else out there that has had your band removed want to comment on the cost?

I think some schools withhold transcripts if all fees aren't paid. Nasty, but true.

Hi, Everyone; An LDS subgroup! Now, that's too cool! I kind of figured GraceUtah might be one of us.....:thumbup:

And, if you REALLY, REALLY want to get HEALTHY (and that should be your goal...) You should simply cut out the soda, period. Just drink a lot more water, and fruit and vegetable juices. Eventually, your taste for soda will go away.

Wow, Txbbwstrwbry; You and I have been down the same path. I wish I had posted my story in the same way that you did, and HERE rather than in another part of this forum, as I did. I came on a little stronger, and People didn't like it all that much. You are SO correct. The band is NOT for everyone. It works miracles for some, but it can be a nightmare for others. The commercials you see on TV are painting the band as a "fast and safe" answer to the problem of obesity. Again, true for some, NOT for others. I am having band removal surgery this next tuesday, and it's going to be very messy. The Tube from the band has burrowed INSIDE of my Colon, and there may be some other damage as well. They won't know until they get inside. The port popped out of my stomach a long time ago, and I have suffered ever since. But, I have also learned some other things as well. I was able to lose nearly 90 pounds WITHOUT the band being functional. I have come to the conclusion that I never really needed the band to begin with. I just needed to look a LITTLE further to find out what would work for ME. Txbbwstrwbry, you are SO correct. People need to exhaust ALL options before they go down this path. ANY WLS should be a LAST RESORT, rather than an elective cosmetic procedure, which it is becoming. So, I look forward to my life without the plastic noose around my stomach. And, I hope that my surgery will be able to correct the other problems. The outcome is a little unsure. One of the points I was trying to make in my previous posts (to those who did NOT want to listen) was that you really need to make sure you have the RIGHT doctor. Make sure you know what his actions will be if you encounter any problems. Again; The LB has been a wonderful thing for many, many people. But there ARE a group of us here for whom that has NOT been the case. Thank you for your well-spoken comments, Txbbwstrwbry!

.......which is EXACTLY what you need to be doing! You don't NEED the band anymore. It was a tool while you had it, but now you need to rely on YOURSELF. And I GUARANTEE that you have the power within to be able to move yourself to a place in your life where you don't NEED the band at all. It's all about what you described, my friend; slow eating, wise eating, and time at the Gym. I think that eventually, you will come to learn exactly what I did: You never really needed the band! Some of us needed the band simply to teach us that truth, that we had the power inside all along. Having the band and then losing it can be a powerful lesson in what we can accomplish. Keep us posted!

I'll be having my pre-op appt with the surgeon for my band removal and corrective surgery (all sorts of stuff went wrong with my band...) today. My band has not functioned at all for several years, so I have essentially been without one, which is fine. My surgery is going to be next Tuesday, 5/6. This will be an interesting meeting with the surgeon, now that we have all the scans and colonscopy stuff back. I'll keep you all posted, I hope you are all doing well. I have not been on the forum for about a week.

Please note that I said that "there are those" who have had success and it has come easily. This means that SOME people have had easy success. Not all, but some. For others, it has been a miserable experience. I would fit into that category. Mine was a resounding failure. :wink2:

Hi, Everyone; I'll assume that some of my comments won't be all that popular here, but if you want honesty about the Lap band, I'll be happy to give you my point of view. I have a Lap band. It was one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made in my life. I had it "installed" at one of the finest medical centers in the world, by a well-known surgeon. It has almost killed me. And, I am entering the hospital on May 7th for a 4th and final surgery that MAY be fatal for me. The lap band will be removed, the big hole in my stomach that it may have created will be repaired (hopefully), and my colon will be opened up so that they can remove the Lap Band tube that burrowed it's way inside. It's a long story, with lots of twists and turns. My purpose for becoming a member here and sharing my story is to let potential Lap-Band recipients know that there is a "dark side" to the lap band. It should not be a quick or easy decision. It's only one option. I hope my comments here will be taken seriously. David

I agree with the previous poster. If fact, that IS similiar to what happened to me. My port became infected, and it ended up popping out of my stomach, which was the beginning of a whole bunch of problems. Go to your Doctor RIGHT AWAY.

You need to get back to your surgeon. That is NOT normal. A little swelling is normal, but if you've got a bulge the size of a small african nation under there, well, somethin's goin' on.....

It is indeed unfortunate that so many of the Surgeons involved in WLS do NOT give the patient whatthey need to know to make everything work the way that it should. GOOD communication between patient and doctor is CRUCIAL. And yes, you are in the RIGHT place by being on this Forum. If you feel at all uncomfortable with the information you are getting from your Dr and his/her staff, then you need to consider looking at other providers.

Excellent! And it's not just a small victory....it's a BIG one! Exercise is a hard habit to get into, but it is KEY in this journey you are on. One thing you have to keep in mind, and something that a LOT of people miss is that you are NOT trying to get slim....you are trying to get HEALTHY. If you are truly healthy, then your body weight will be normal. Think of it in those terms. And a BIG part of being healthy lies in exercising. So, it is an important component of the entire formula. Exercise can be hard at first, especially if it is something you have not done much of before. I used to listen to music when I exercised, and I still do. But, you kind of get tired of listening to music after a while, so one thing that really helped me a great deal is listening to audiobooks. Virtually anything in print is available in audiobook format, and you can actually get an education in some things just by listening. Get an MP3 player, and get walking! But DO keep exercising. It's CRUCIAL to your weight loss and overall health.

Different people respond in different ways to the surgery. In my case, after my surgery I was up and around right away. I went to large trade show within a week after I got out of the hospital, and I did just fine. But, other people have taken a lot longer to heal....It's very individual. Besides, the "one day at a time" is a great way to live your life anyway! Give it time, you'll do just fine. :smile2:

Chelsey, get to your Doctor and have him look at it right away. Post infections are BAD NEWS. I had one, and the port eventually ended up coming out of my stomach. It's not like a zit or a rash that will go away with a little TLC. You need to have someone look at it very soon!

Making sure that you have the RIGHT surgeon is oh-so-important. Not only in that he has plenty of experience, but that you have a firm understanding with him as to what he will do to help you if there ARE problems. And it sounds like you DO have problems. I think you really need to have a consultation with ANOTHER doctor who is well experienced with the LB, and try and determine what the real problem is. Maybe you already answered this, but why does he refuse to entirley unfill you? If there is NOT a good reason, then INSIST on it, and if he won't, then see someone who will. Again, I think that it's high time you see another Doctor. THIS one is not treating you right.

There was a point when each one of us decided that we HAD to have the surgery. I think that there was a single "moment" for most of us when we decided that we had had enough, and that we WOULD have the surgery. I'd like to hear about YOUR decision moment....here's mine: It was at Knott's berry Farm in Orange County, California. I was there with my wife and young son. We had spent the day doing all the usual stuff (the log flume ride is great fun, went on it 15 times!). We went on most of the rides, but then we decided to go on the Ghostrider. This is a HUGE wooden rollercoaster. It is very well-regarded by Coaster Enthusiasts. I'm not a huge coaster fan, but it's my understanding that people that love wood coasters LOVE this one. So, we decided to go on it. It was a long wait, as is normal for Knott's. When we got up to the point where we got into the car, and I stepped into it, I knew that there would be a problem. I was too big to fit into it comfortably. But, I sat down anyway, and tried to get the seat belt around me. It wouldn't go. One of the attendants came over and tried to assist me. She stood up on the side of the car and tugged and pulled the belt until she was able to Snap into the other end. this whole process took a few minutes, and EVERYONE was staring at me and snickering. It was holding the ride up, too. I cannot tell you HOW embarrassing that was; one of the most humiliating moments of my life. Then the ride left the platform. I was in AGONY with that belt cutting into my gut. I couldn't breathe. And the motion of the ride was making me sick. I almost passed out several times. It was 3 of the most miserable minutes I have ever experienced. When the ride returned to the platform, I could not wait to get out of there. I stumbled out of the car, and I fell to the ground. My wife helped me up, and we went downstairs to the exit. I found a tree planter with a bench around it, and I sat down...fell on it, actually. I sat there for a while, and for the first time in my life, I thought I was going to die, right then and there. I wondered if I was having a heart attack. I was sick, my heart was racing, I was sweating....it was awful. It was there, at THAT moment that I decided I would have to have the surgery. I had been discussing it with family and friends and clergy, but I had not made anything NEAR a decision. I was just THINKING about it. But there on that concrete planter, I decided I would have the surgery. So, what was YOUR decision moment?