Hi. I was initially on here as Shrinking Violet, but I can't remember how to access that account. I was banded November 2004, and I had a fair amount of success. I went from 276 down to 156. I had stalled at 192 for almost 2 years, and then about a year ago, the weight started to drop again, but I also could not keep anything down. I had always had a lot of vomiting with the band and thought it was normal or that I just wasn't chewing carefully enough (that was always a problem for me). Anyway, from October 2007 to May 2008, I went from 190 down to 156.
Aside from the constant throwing up and heartburn, I was pretty happy about the weight loss. My comorbids were gone and I looked much better. I was pretty malnourished, though, so I guess I cannot say I felt better. I had anemia prior to banding, and the anemia progressed; I also became Vitamin deficient in other areas. I started undergoing intravenous Iron replacement therapy.
After the heartburn got severe, I saw my doctor and learned that my stomach had prolapsed. I had to have surgery, with the hope that the band could be repositioned. Unfortunately, the stomach had done something extremely weird (forming pseudotumors), and the band had to be removed, along with the fundus of my stomach.
I really don't know why my doctor did not give me a sleeve gastrectomy since he was cutting off part of my stomach anyway. I am guessing insurance might not have covered the lengthier procedure and hospital stay associated with the sleeve gastrectomy (versus the partial one that I had).
Anyway, my band was removed June 17, and I have gained 17 pounds since then. I do not believe I am seriously overindulgin , and I have even started exercising--something I did not do while banded because the anemia made me too tired. Supposedly, having the fundus removed decreases gherlin and hunger, but I feel hungry all the time. Even right after I eat.
I do not understand how anyone could gain weight this fast. My doctor said I could get rebanded 8 weeks after surgery if I decided to, but I doubt my insurance is going to pay for that now that I have no comorbidities and (had) a BMI of 24 (BMI is now 27).
I am going to join Weight Watchers on Wednesday, but I don't have a lot of hope. If I could lose weight by diet and exercise and keep it off, I never would have gotten banded in the first place. I had lost 80 pounds on Weight Watchers prior to getting banded and regained 100 pounds. I had on another occasion lost more than 50 pounds on Atkins, but I regained all that and more. I'm sure my metabolism is very messed up, too.
Anyway, I don't know if anyone has any advice. I am thinking about maxing out my credit cards to get rebanded, but I'm a single mom and doing that would be financially difficult and make me feel very guilty.
I am feeling pretty depressed today. I had thrown out all my 14+ clothes once I hit 12 (and even my 12s were big), believing that I would never need them again. I fortunately managed to find a pair of 16 pants at the bottom of my closet that missed the purge; otherwise I don't know what I'd have worn today.
Sorry for going on about this. Just figured if anyone would understand, it would be somebody here. A lot of people are offering well-meant advice, but I don't think they really understand how hard it is to lose weight and keep it off for some people. People who never had a serious weight problem always just think it's a matter of willpower, even though science indicates it's much more than simply willpower.
How much does it cost to pay for banding if insurance will not cover it?
Thanks.
CatM :smile2:
