LoriLeeAnne

I had always wanted weight loss surgery, but didn't really like the idea of getting 'cut and pasted'.  When my husband and I got married, I got lucky to instantly have insurance that would cover most of the cost.  Blue Cross Blue Shield.  I only had a $2000 deductible!  This was a possibility!!  My husband is very healthy and exercises and eats right.  He's even a vegetarian!  So, his first thought was to try to find a way to incorporate his health values into my daily regimen and not consider surgery.  So, I knew the way to help him get his mind around the idea was to present it from a health perspective.  In the presentation for surgery was: 1)  PCOS- My hormones could come together and help me ovulate every month.  (Less cancer scare) and also the possibility of having children if I am able to ovulate.  2)  Diabetes-  I may not need to take any medicine for diabetes, and if I do, it will be drastically reduced.3)  Deep Vein thrombosis-  I have a wormy vein that would be uncomfortabe sometimes.  The thought of a blood clot dislodging and causing an anurism is pretty scary.4)  Sleep Apnea-  I had been prescribed a C-Pap machine, but couldn't stand to use it.  My sweet hubby was very worried about me not being able to use it, but if I could lose weight, I may not need to use it.So, after learning of these things, hubby was all for it.  I had to go through the usual insurance stuff.  The 6 months of documented diet attempts was the longest and hardest part of the waiting process.  But I got approved, and got a surgery date.  I was very excited.
During surgery, there was a slight mishap.  From what I understand, in order to secure the band and prevent slippage, the Doc must take the lower portion of stomach from just below the band and sew it to the part of the stomach directly above the band.  In doing this, there was a tiny puncture.  After surgery, I was great.  I was able to drink the necessary water in order to leave the hospital.  But a few hours after I got home, the puncture wound formed a hemotoma.  So the hemotoma (blood clot) formed inside my new pouch and esophagus.  I was admitted into ICU for an IV for 5 days until the hemotoma subsided, and I could drink those liquids again.  Home I went.  The recovery process was good.  I slept in an armchair to help me get out of bed in the morning.  If I were to lay down, my stomach muscles wouldn't have let me back up with the new port being sewn into them and all.  I was only disappointed that the surgery mishap meant that the Doc couldn't put a tiny amount of saline in my band.  I would have to wait.  At the six week mark, I went in for my first fill.  Most people have 3 cc's in by now, and I had none.  So, we added my first three.  A month later we added 1.5 more.  We learned that my body is very sensitive to the fills, and we would have to go a tiny bit at a time.  From that time on, I have gone in once a month and added only .25 cc's at a time.  Wow, I was worried about how slow the weight woud come off.  But, on the other hand, I don't care.  I'd rather take it easy and keep losing weight even if it is only 8 - 10 pounds a month.  I've lost 70 pounds in 9 months.  70 lbs!!  That blows my mind.  Yesterday I ran into someone at the dept store and she thought I was my younger skinnier sister!  Cool!  And the nice thing about it- now I honestly weigh what my driver's license says I weigh!!!!