Gypsykate

This is long...lol
I originally had a lap band placed in 2003. 
Yes, 15 years ago.
 I was 270lbs on a 5'3"frame. I had done a LOT of research and found a doctor in Hackensack NJ to perform the surgery. It worked at the time and I lost over 50lbs. Kept most of it off over the years as well. Yet as the years went on I did regain, and as I aged so did the band. The port migrated to just over my liver and under my right rib so at times I could feel the port digging in. My reflux became severe to the point I was hospitalized with, what I thought was chest pain, but was my GERD in full force. I had developed a hernia that exacerbated the reflux and the kicker, I started regaining the weight and stopped managing my health. I let this go on for YEARS, much to my own embarrassment and shame. I have no one to blame for the years I wasted not taking care of myself, but that's another story altogether and suffice it to say I gave myself a good kick in the ass. I had seen my husband, who was over 300 pounds and diagnosed a new diabetic get the sleeve and lose 80 pounds and have his diagnosis reversed. I watched my daughter who was also severely overweight go from over 300 pounds to 130 pounds and become healthy. I decided it was my time to try and go for it... again... I was finally tired of being sick, fat and tired. I have a few medical conditions that are worsened with the weight I carry. I have severe GERD as well. So I started out going to a GI doctor and was referred to a surgeon. I started my new journey in October of 2017. I had my surgery a year later on 10/11/18.
I had the Lap band removal with hernia repair and sleeve placement with Dr Samir Patel of EHT, NJ. The office initially was hard to get into. I had already been scheduled with Dr Russo in CMCH NJ and three days before surgery he "retired". This was in March 2018. I had been working on getting my lapband removed with the intent to have a sleeve placed in the future. When my surgery fell apart I nearly did as well. I had to change all my plans with my work schedule and find another surgeon.  It took a month to get in but I was finally able to see Dr Patel and unfortunately had to go through the whole process again. By May 4th I had completed the final visit with the psychologist and dietitian. I was told the office would then review my file and would give me a date for surgery. I waited and waited and 2 weeks went by. It was now June and I called repeatedly and had issues getting through to the office and being told someone would contact me. I decided to give up. I was at my wits end... Luckily I had an appointment in July with my GI doctor, Dr. Masciarelli who all but yelled at me that this band was bad, severely constricted and I needed to have it removed as there was nothing medically he could do to fix my severe reflux and hernia. I was going to call another surgeon at his request when, by some miracle, Dr Patel's office called the very same day. They had been having connectivity issues with the phone system etc... but scheduled my appointment to make a date for surgery with the doctor, for August. I went to see the Doctor and we set the date for 10/11/18. I had one further appointment, to take a test and a final review of the process at the hospital, then I was home free. 
My surgery day came and everything seemed to go flawlessly. I am home recovering and feeling pretty darn good for the most part. I am ecstatic about the weight loss and even more so about the lack of reflux. I can actually lay down flat to sleep. There is no pressure or pain, except for the post op sites, but all is really well. 
Now for the hard part...