jenslapband

Thanks so much Sunshine! Angyl, how are you feeling. I can't believe how much you have been through. At least through all my ups and downs my doctor has been awesome, available and one of the best in this type of surgery and practice. That I could always believe in. I can't imagine going through what you have and then realizing your doctor is icky! I hope you are doing better.

I have exciting news. Things went much better than I anticipated. I went to the hospital via the ER on Friday, was admitted but didn't have surgery until Saturday morning. I came home Sunday afternoon. I still have a lapband although it is a different "model" and a larger one. When Dr. Snyder got in there he couldn't believe it, my band had slipped again!! the same way it had when I had the emergency surgery in September. He repaired everything, took the old band out, put the new larger band in a different location and did some other stuff in there to make sure my stomach can't come through again. I had a lot of pain this time around compared to the other two surgeries but I was back at work by Wednesday. I am on liquids for two weeks and will see him Wednesday, the 25th. Physically I am still healing, just doing what I am supposed to and trying not to judge myself for having to rest sometimes. Mentally I have been depressed, feeling like all this time has passed and continues to pass without me really accomplishing anything. It's a weird place to be, I'm kind of disconnected and just going through the motions of day to day activities. I will write more later, I just wanted you all to know that I am okay and still have a band!!!

Lori, don't mess around with this. This was the symptom of a slipped band TWICE. Yes, I am one of the rarest of people who has had my band slip twice. You are either too full and need a slight unfill or your band may have slipped. It is important that you get this checked soon.

Thank you for all the support. Yes, I got pnemonia from aspirating at night with severe reflux. I have another update - I will have the band removed on Friday but there will be no conversion to gastric bypass (because of insurance.) I was so distraught, depressed, hopeless, scared yesterday I had to leave work. I couldn't stop crying - well, sobbing actually. I even, was suicidal for just a couple of moments. Don't worry, I got the help I needed and am doing much better now.

SElaine, my emergency surgery in September 07 was because my band had slipped. It is unknown why and it slipped in a way that my doctor had never seen before. I have to have it removed because I am full of ulcers in my pouch and no matter how much medicine I take we can't get rid of them and my esophagus is at risk of cancer, Barrett's disease, etc. Thank you so much for your support. I talked to the psychologist I go to once in awhile and he gave me some great feedback.

I can honestly say that reading your posts may have saved my life. I found out this morning that I have to have my band removed on Friday and my insurance will not pay for a conversion to gastric bypass. Since getting the news I have been severely depressed, hopeless and feel like a complete failure. I left work because I couldn't stop crying - well, sobbing really. I don't mean to scare anyone - I would have gotten help but I started thinking about suicide just for a second because I do not want to live as the huge person I was when I got my band. I am feeling better now and you have all given me a new outlook, perspective and I feel rather hopeful. I have also been sitting and journaling while being home from work. I haven't been able to eat well for months so I may go to WW to help me get into the swing or normal eating and portions for a person without a band. I also haven't been able to sleep laying down for several months (I sleep sitting straight up in a chair with one of those airplane pillows) so I think I will be able to think more clearly when the band is out and I can get some quality rest. My doctor, psychologist, nutritionist, etc. have all told me that this is NOT my fault, it is just a rare side effect but I am still feeling like a failure and am very scared. I am glad I read your posts, thank you for your positive outlooks. Jennifer

Hi everyone, I haven't posted in months and hadn't read many posts either. I have to have my band removed and it has been so depressing that I couldn't bear to come in here. I am having a rare side effect and have gone through several very uncomfortable tests to see if anything else could be done other than the removal of my band but it is the only option. At this point my doctor and his staff (they are SAINTS, Dr. Michael Snyder) have been dealing with my insurance company trying to get this surgery covered. My insurance has agreed to pay to have the band removed but won't pay for my doctor to convert me to gastric bypass, even though he will already be in there. Anyway, I sleep in a complete upright position at night with one of those airplane pillows. I am so sleep deprived it is scary...but I can't lay down. I got aspiration pnemonia a couple of months ago and I have numerous ulcers inside my pouch - they are saying stage 4 ulcers - which isn't good. I am so glad you are all doing well and are so supportive of each other. I will miss you since it will be best for me to go to a bypass website. I will check back as you all reach your goals and I thank you for all of your support.

Sula, Based on the class last night that I attended with my doctor's dietician/personal trainer we should NOT go under 1200 calories unless it is occasionally. She says it is more about tweaking what we eat - making it quality food, upping the type, intensity, amount of time and frequency of our exercise and getting our water. She said if we decrease our calories too much our bodies will shut down just like a fire with too little fuel. She also said it is very important to eat several times a day. She also says that after a large weight loss the body has to adjust and that is a time when we are to just be patient and focus on keeping it off - not additional loss. This all helped me to hear, maybe it will help you a little?

Hi everyone. I still haven't lost a single oz. I am getting a tiny unfill today so that might help. I have started a food journal and am writing down every morsel even if it isn't a good or correct choice. So far I am eating exactly the amount to maintain my weight BUT with my exercise it should be ideal to lose slowly. If I still don't lose, I will eat 200 calories per day less and see if that helps and just continue to try that. I'm not very motivated and very discouraged but not depressed like I was a couple of weeks ago. The food journal shows me that I certainly have room for improvement. Sunshine, Juno, Debbie, Mommi, 5jacks - you are my inspiration and it makes such a difference in my life to read about your victories, struggles, thoughts and dreams - thank you.

I am so mad! I haven't missed a day of exercise (I'm in the fitness challenge) and when I weighed this week I had gained two pounds. You would have thought it was 20 by the way my mood was affected, but still...why would I gain? So now I have gained a total of 13 since getting out of the hospital from my second surgery in September. I worked out even harder last night but I can't sleep because I don't understand what is going on. (It isn't my TOM, I don't have one.) Why has this become so difficult now?

I rode my bike 5-miles today just because I wanted to. WOW! I wish it didn't hurt my butt/front area so much. I even have a really nice seat. Maybe as I get smaller it will help. Owieeeeeeeeee!

I was a self-pay, too and also had to pay the majority of my emergency surgery after my band slipped in September but ironically, my insurance company pays for my fills. My insurance carrier is UHC. They are so wierd!!