caesarac

These past five months have been nothing but hectic on my end. Trying to battle classes, work, and figuring out how I am going to pay for this next surgery, while still maintaining my sanity has been extremely difficult. At first the doctor decided that he wanted to get this surgery done as soon as possible and that he would lend me the money and I would just pay them $100 per month. Sounds nice.. but at the same time I'm already paying for the initial surgery and the port revision surgery payments each month. I agreed to it at first because I do want to get the problem fixed as soon as possible so I can get back on track, but then I just found out that I will be losing my job at the end of this month.. what else can go wrong, right? So I called back and told them that the surgery would have to wait because I can't afford to get in over my head and will have to hold off until I find a new job. After thinking a lot and talking to numerous people I came to the conclusion of why am I paying for another surgery when I was just operated on for basically no reason and when the band is obviously defective. So I decided to do something about it and had a conversation with my doctor about how this situation is not right. Turns out... there are good people in this world... he is willing to cover the cost of the surgery! I can't wait to get the new band and continue on with my journey to becoming thin. Just thought I would keep you all updated on what happened.. I scheduled the surgery for August 21st so until then... I hope all is well with everyone and happy weight loss! -Allie :cursing:

Because you have lost weight since your last fill, the restriction of the band has also loosened around your stomach. You probably just need a fill to tighten things back up. Keep up the good work.. you are truly an inspiration to all!

These past five months have been nothing but hectic on my end. Trying to battle classes, work, and figuring out how I am going to pay for this next surgery, while still maintaining my sanity has been extremely difficult. At first the doctor decided that he wanted to get this surgery done as soon as possible and that he would lend me the money and I would just pay them $100 per month. Sounds nice.. but at the same time I'm already paying for the initial surgery and the port revision surgery payments each month. I agreed to it at first because I do want to get the problem fixed as soon as possible so I can get back on track, but then I just found out that I will be losing my job at the end of this month.. what else can go wrong, right? So I called back and told them that the surgery would have to wait because I can't afford to get in over my head and will have to hold off until I find a new job. After thinking a lot and talking to numerous people I came to the conclusion of why am I paying for another surgery when I was just operated on for basically no reason and when the band is obviously defective. So I decided to do something about it and had a conversation with my doctor about how this situation is not right. Turns out... there are good people in this world... he is willing to cover the cost of the surgery! I can't wait to get the new band and continue on with my journey to becoming thin. Just thought I would keep you all updated on what happened.. I scheduled the surgery for August 21st so until then... I hope all is well with everyone and happy weight loss! -Allie :thumbup:

So I went back to the doctor Friday to find out that the leak is actually in my band.. something that my doctor has never had happen to any of his patients and has rarely ever heard about from other doctors. Luckily, the company of the Realize Band are willing to replace the band for free, but I still have to pay for the hospital fees and anesthesia.. another $2300 after the useless port revision surgery I had 2 weeks ago. I think that I am really just annoyed at the fact that I had no idea that these types of surgeries (ones that you have no power over) would cost a lot more money on top of what you already paid to have the initial surgery. Not only that, but when your doctor is wrong about a surgery I think he should reimburse you for it.. but I guess that's not going to happen. I pray that none of you guys have to go through what I have gone through because it's taking a toll on me.. I guess I just have to wait to see if I get approved for another loan to have this surgery as soon as possible and I will go from there.. Good luck to all! -Allie

I had absolutely no restriction all of a sudden.. I was eating more and I could eat anything including bread. Other than that, there were no other symptoms, but I knew there was something wrong.

My doctor always tells me this... eat 60 grams of protein a day, if you still hungry after eating your portion of the meat, then eat the vegetable or fruit that is along with it. Not only that, but also make sure you drink at least 64 oz of water every day.. it will make you feel fuller. If you think you are eating too much, maybe you should have your fluid in your band checked to make sure it isn't leaking. I was banded April 30, 2008 and I was able to feel restriction and eat small meals (sweet spot) four months after it. I pray that you don't have a port leak though because I am currently going through all of that and it's extremely frustrating! Keep your head up.. you will get through all of this and you will lose the weight if you put your mind to it!

Yes, you definitely made the right decision! It may seem rough right now, but in the end it will be all worth it. The only thing I suggest is getting up and moving around as much as you can. Even taking a short walk will help the pain and you will be able to recover faster.

So I went back to the doctor Friday to find out that the leak is actually in my band.. something that my doctor has never had happen to any of his patients and has rarely ever heard about from other doctors. Luckily, the company of the Realize Band are willing to replace the band for free, but I still have to pay for the hospital fees and anesthesia.. another $2300 after the useless port revision surgery I had 2 weeks ago. I think that I am really just annoyed at the fact that I had no idea that these types of surgeries (ones that you have no power over) would cost a lot more money on top of what you already paid to have the initial surgery. Not only that, but when your doctor is wrong about a surgery I think he should reimburse you for it.. but I guess that's not going to happen. I pray that none of you guys have to go through what I have gone through because it's taking a toll on me.. I guess I just have to wait to see if I get approved for another loan to have this surgery as soon as possible and I will go from there.. Good luck to all! -Allie

At the beginning of April I all of a sudden had no restriction and was able to eat anything. I went for a fill thinking that I had just waited awhile and that maybe the band just loosened after losing weight, but still no restriction. I went back the next week and got another fill, and yet still no restriction so they decided to check to see how much fluid there was. They were only able to pull out 3cc, when my chart said that I should have had a little more than 9cc. She gave me a fill of 4cc (which would bring me back up to 7cc) and told me to come back the next week. I came back and they checked the fluid again..... still only found 3cc! They told me that it had to be a port leak and that I would need to get a port revision. I freaked at the sound of $1550 seeing as how I am a self-pay and still paying on my surgery. Well I got the loan regardless and had the surgery on May 7th. When I got out of surgery, my doctor told me that he was not able to see the leak in the port. I was furious seeing as how they did not even offer me the option to have the barium to see if it was even a port leak.. they were just so sure that they knew what it was. I mean the barium would have only been $100 vs. $1550 for the surgery and for a college student I would have rather taken the lesser of the two and prevented a surgery that I did not need. So I went back to the doctor this past Tuesday to get a fill. He told me that during surgery he gave me a fill of 5cc and that he was going to give me another fill of 4cc on that day (which would bring me up to 9cc). When he checked the fluid after giving the fill, I only had 7cc! I have to go back tomorrow to see if the 7cc are still in there.. if not then it's something to do with the band, which is something he has never heard of happening! I'm beginning to get extremely discouraged because I am only 13 months banded and already running into problems when I haven't even reached my goal weight... not to mention all of these expenses that I am incurring on top of the surgery I am still paying for. I go back tomorrow to see if the 7cc are still in there.. I will keep you all updated! Wish me luck..

At the beginning of April I all of a sudden had no restriction and was able to eat anything. I went for a fill thinking that I had just waited awhile and that maybe the band just loosened after losing weight, but still no restriction. I went back the next week and got another fill, and yet still no restriction so they decided to check to see how much fluid there was. They were only able to pull out 3cc, when my chart said that I should have had a little more than 9cc. She gave me a fill of 4cc (which would bring me back up to 7cc) and told me to come back the next week. I came back and they checked the fluid again..... still only found 3cc! They told me that it had to be a port leak and that I would need to get a port revision. I freaked at the sound of $1550 seeing as how I am a self-pay and still paying on my surgery. Well I got the loan regardless and had the surgery on May 7th. When I got out of surgery, my doctor told me that he was not able to see the leak in the port. I was furious seeing as how they did not even offer me the option to have the barium to see if it was even a port leak.. they were just so sure that they knew what it was. I mean the barium would have only been $100 vs. $1550 for the surgery and for a college student I would have rather taken the lesser of the two and prevented a surgery that I did not need. So I went back to the doctor this past Tuesday to get a fill. He told me that during surgery he gave me a fill of 5cc and that he was going to give me another fill of 4cc on that day (which would bring me up to 9cc). When he checked the fluid after giving the fill, I only had 7cc! I have to go back tomorrow to see if the 7cc are still in there.. if not then it's something to do with the band, which is something he has never heard of happening! I'm beginning to get extremely discouraged because I am only 13 months banded and already running into problems when I haven't even reached my goal weight... not to mention all of these expenses that I am incurring on top of the surgery I am still paying for. I go back tomorrow to see if the 7cc are still in there.. I will keep you all updated! Wish me luck.. :cursing: