kyotosong

I originally had lap band surgery in July of 2009. I was so excited! However, it was a rough ride and my band prolapsed. I lacked support with the surgeon's office after surgery. It was the recession and I was laid off, losing my insurance (I did not qualify for Medicaid). Eventually, I found work (temporary) and hoped I could have a revision surgery to another WLS. I had to wait for insurance, though, as I did not have the money to fund it myself. In total, i had lost 99 pounds. In 2011, I had my band unfilled completely and started putting weight back on. Also, in 2011, I found permanent work - and had great insurance which started day one! I planned to start the process for a revised WLS after a few months into the new job. My body had other ideas. A month after I started the new job, I had my band removed in an emergency surgery. The band had prolapsed and I couldn't get down the smallest sips of water. There would be no revision. But the good news was there was no erosion or other damage from the band.
It was a slow road to regain but eventually, I slipped back into that thinking of "I'm fat already, if I eat this bad food, what does it matter?" In summer 2015, I started seeing my primary doctor monthly to get back on track with getting approved for a new WLS while I decided on a new surgeon (I knew exactly what my insurance required). Toward the end of 2015, my mother passed away unexpectedly. My next doctor's appointment was the day after my mother passed. I cancelled it and didn't go back for over a year.
6 years post band removal, I had regained what I had lost (plus three added pounds to my highest weight). I had only gotten older, things were harder to do, and my knees hurt badly if I did more than the quickest shopping errands, not to mention traveling or concerts (the good stuff in life). It was time. In June, I selected a new surgery program and started in July. Almost 26 measly pounds lost ( ), I'm now on my bariatric clear liquid pre-op diet and my gastric sleeve surgery is scheduled for 12/18/2017.