tsmith

I went to the doctor today and I was told that my surgery will be on the 12th of this month. It has been a very long journey. I started off with the band back in Aug of 08 and in April of 09 It all went downhill. I had a fill done and I guess it was to much and I had left for vacation the next day and ended up in the ER after spending 3days vomiting. At that time they feel my band may have slipped but not enough to see it.... From that point on everytime I got a fill I eithier had to have the Fluid removed or I had eneded up vomiting the whole time. After every test under the sun my doctor finally gave me the option to eithier redo the band, do gastric bypass or do the sleeve.... After much research I picked the sleeve. I knew the bypass was not an option for me but I was open to the sleeve. When I first started my journey I was 298 and my lowest has been 201 in which now I weigh 221.... So now that I am approved I am ready to go. My dr office submitted everything to UHC on the 19th of April and i was approved on the 21st. I am thankful everything has gone through so quickly and now I am ready for the stage in my life. (I just want to say as this is my first time writing on here I am thankful for having found this website as it gave me alot of great information)

Hello everyone... I just wanted to send a update.... I got sleeved on the 12th of May. It was kinda different for me this go around. As many times as I have gone under I had never been scared but for some reason this time I was. I was scared to the point that I wanted to make sure my life policy was out just in case something was to go wrong. So that Wed I had to be there at 10 for a 12 start time. Ok well that wasnt bad but when 12 came and left that just had my anxiety go to another level. When 1 came I was down in the holding area just waiting, praying and crying... 1:15 is the last time I remember seeing. When I woke as usual I woke to vomiting. But this time it was nothing but blood. That went on for several hours even with them giving me meds for it. I really dont remember when I got to my room... I think it was around 5 cause my sister came at 6 or so. The rest of the night I had more vomiting with blood. They yet gave me more meds... Through the night I started breaking out. They gave me two does of benadryl. That finally helped but left my face feeling like it was on fire. The next morning they took me done for the swallow test. I failed... I could not get an of the drink down. Again more vomit with blood... They sent me back. So for the rest of the day was just spent in pain with vomit. Friday I go back down this time I get the drink down but it wasnt flowing out the way it should. It was stuck. So another fail. Back to my room I went. The doctors came later that day and told me I was having issues because of all the swelling. I had some blood/mucus stuff this time that came up later on in the day. Sat came and went with no Dr..Sunday comes and finally my dr came in. He asked me if I was able to drink yet and I told him I was not allowed to. I explained to him all that has been going on and he said great. He said he was coming to tell me that I had a blockage and that they were gonna have to go back in but because I had been getting so much stuff out he said lets see if you can drink anything. Yes... finally I had a few small sips and it felt good. He left and came back an hour later and said ok since that stayed down lets try you on liquids for the rest of the day. He told me if I had no problems than he would not repeat the test and that I could go home on Monday as long as I kept doing good. Well Monday comes and the residents tell me before I can go I needed to do another swallow test... Ugh... I just wanted to go home. Well I did it and passed with no problems so home I went... Now I can say I am feeling pretty good. No pain and lots of weight loss. When I had my preop on the 4th of may I was 221. As of today the 23rd I am down to 204. 17lbs wow.... A great feeling indeed. So despite some of the road blocks so far I have no regrets. I am not hungry at all and I have to remind myself to even drink. I can not wait to see what the future holds for me.... :001_smile:

Thank you everyone for the replies.... All is still good for the most part... I am having a really hard time getting fluids down. It is taking me all day it seems just to drink one bottle of water... I have no desire to drink and really eat anything. I dont like jello, it just to warm to do broth and tea is hit and miss... I can do popsicles for the most part. Im suppose to be adding the shakes in now but even that I am having a hard time drinking the whole can. I feel like I'm really having to force myself. I know that this is not good. As I know if I could get more in I wouldnt be feeling so tired. I am now down to 202... It just seems so much so fast but I know its cause nothing is going into me... I just feel like my body is going to go into starvation mode very soon.... I see the dr Thursday so we will see what he has to say.

Thats to bad UHC wouldnt cover your surgery.... I guess I need to be thankful.... Both times they approved me with no problems and within a few days after paperwork was submitted. Good luck with your surgery.

I am 5'4... short....lol.... I remember when I once said I loved my band.... That was short lived though.... Really I didnt lose much with the band... I lost most of my weight before surgery. My first appt I was 298... When I got approved I was 275 and when I went in for surgery I was 254... and even though I got down to 201 that was only for a week or so while I was going through a two week period of not being able to hold anything down. and than I quickly put the weight back on and I have been between 215 and 221 for the last 7 months or so.

I only have 50 to 60lbs to go. My dr wants me around 150 to 170. I am ok with the amounts they have set for me. I dont want to be lower than 150 if possible.

Thank you everyone for the repies.... I do not really have a preop diet to follow... He said my weight is low enough where I dont need to do it... All I have to do is be on liquids the day before but I think I will start it on Monday so that I can clear my system out. I will keep everyone posted.

I did my lap band surgery Aug of 08. I started of at 298lbs and I am currently at 211. My lowest weight was 201. In the beginning it was great. I was losing weight getting my regular fills and all of a sudden I started having problems. April of 09 I went in for a fill and went on vacation the next day and was severely sick. My band was way too tight and I was unable to eat or drink. I ended up in the ER in which they drained all my fluid. I did a follow up with my Dr. a few weeks later and we started filling the band once again. I did well until my visit in July in which I went in had a fill and the next day left again on vacation this time on the plane. I was very sick the whole trip. I followed all orders about not eating or drinking prior to flying but it didn’t matter. Whatever was still in my stomach still came up. Needless to say the whole trip I barely ate and drank. When I came back two weeks later I had the fluid removed once again. This time we gave me a little break and than started doing fills again very slowly. Well from that time on I have had several Upper GI’s, two endoscopies, nuclear scans, some other test with the tube down my nose, have had my gallbladder removed and been to a specialist. My band is currently empty once again. Every time I seem to hit 3 to 4cc’s I end up getting sick. Not being able to eat or drink most of the time. And this go around with my bad being empty I am still getting sick. Which is weird? At this point I really hate having had this done. And the fact that I am getting no answers is making me more frustrated. I feel like my band has been more empty than full since getting this surgery. Including only being able to eat more soft foods / liquids. I don’t know the last time I had a normal meal. I would not wish this on anyone. All the co-pays, gas, hospital bills, time off of work and time spent going back and forth I ask myself was any of this worth it. Has anyone had similar issues?

I did my lap band surgery Aug of 08. I started of at 298lbs and I am currently at 211. My lowest weight was 201. In the beginning it was great. I was losing weight getting my regular fills and all of a sudden I started having problems. April of 09 I went in for a fill and went on vacation the next day and was severely sick. My band was way too tight and I was unable to eat or drink. I ended up in the ER in which they drained all my fluid. I did a follow up with my Dr. a few weeks later and we started filling the band once again. I did well until my visit in July in which I went in had a fill and the next day left again on vacation this time on the plane. I was very sick the whole trip. I followed all orders about not eating or drinking prior to flying but it didn’t matter. Whatever was still in my stomach still came up. Needless to say the whole trip I barely ate and drank. When I came back two weeks later I had the fluid removed once again. This time we gave me a little break and than started doing fills again very slowly. Well from that time on I have had several Upper GI’s, two endoscopies, nuclear scans, some other test with the tube down my nose, have had my gallbladder removed and been to a specialist. My band is currently empty once again. Every time I seem to hit 3 to 4cc’s I end up getting sick. Not being able to eat or drink most of the time. And this go around with my bad being empty I am still getting sick. Which is weird? At this point I really hate having had this done. And the fact that I am getting no answers is making me more frustrated. I feel like my band has been more empty than full since getting this surgery. Including only being able to eat more soft foods / liquids. I don’t know the last time I had a normal meal. I would not wish this on anyone. All the co-pays, gas, hospital bills, time off of work and time spent going back and forth I ask myself was any of this worth it. Has anyone had similar issues?