angyl2314

Hmmm I wonder where everyone went? I recommend this site to people who are either considering the surgery, or have had it and are struggling, but it is so much more involved than it was when we first sttarted, I guess. I am way passed my weight goal, and should probably stop losing weight bc all I hear from people very close to me is that I am starting to look too skinny (who would have thought!!!)...but considering I haven't had any skin removal yet my brain still interprets that as "fat"...but unfortunately I can't afford sugery right now...so either I have to realize that losing weight just equals more skin and that I am at a fine weight, or I go back to therapy to help me work out my body image problems. I never thought I would have such a hard time accepting how much my body has changed. I actually want to talk to someone about starting up and running a local support group for people who are considering the surgery, or people who have recently been banded. Anyone who comes on here know of who or where I might look to get this going? Is there a thread on here perhaps?

I passed goal...now I just need a GOOD plastic surgeon. Any advice...lower Westchester, NY...or NYC.

Here are mine...

Hello to all my January 07 bandsters. It has now been 3 years since my banding, and I have been through it all!!! I am actually revisiting the possible malpractice suit I had tried to initiate on my original surgeon. He was a complete jerk, and really messed me up. I am now healthy, thank God. Kinda sorta at my 'goal' weight, hoovering around 152-155. Would really like to be closer to 147, but in time. The winters aren't good for me; I tend to eat more and be more lazy. Recently noticed that I have more tolerance and less restriction with certain foods, especially starches which I can barely eat. May be time for a fill, but it has been a year since my last one and with all I have been through the thought of being too restricted again makes me so nervous. Might try to channel some sort of discipline within myself. Maybe that will work. I am so happy to see the popularity of banding, but disheartened that these insurance companies make it more and more difficult for deserving patients to benefit from this life saving practice. I hope you are all well, and that the new year brings you much happiness!

Hey all..just wanted to check in. Since rebanding I have gained major weight. I stopped caring a while ago because I know I will lose it all again. It just feels really good to be healthy and not throwing up all the time. My new doctor is amazing. I feel so confident with him. I had my "first" fill last week. It's weird having to get used to having a band the "right way". I was always sick before so losing weight because of my problems rather than because of the effectiveness of the band. I am looking for a local nutritionist to work with on a regular basis. The one with my doctor is too far away for me...he is in the city, I am in the 'burbs. I have about 17-20 lbs to lose...again. Only real downfall is that I have to put off my plastic surgery for a while until my weight stablizes again. Oh well...it is what it is. My new band in 12 CCs rather than the 4CC band I had before.

I am feeling much better....making some decisions on what my next steps are. I had my first follow up with the new doctor. He was able to show me fluro pics of my old band and the new band. I don't want to say too much because I am considering legal action against my former doctor, mainly for the fact that he left me absolutely high and dry WITH COMPLICATIONS and no resources for continued care. I think that is deplorable. All in all, though, I feel great. I am healing well, which impresses me since I have been through 4 surgeries in the same incision sites. It's gross though, I can feel the scar tissue. Well, that's why plastic surgeons get paid so well lol. Good to hear you are doing well and happy, Jens...we have both been through a lot

Wow, it must be the name because I have been through similar things as you. I had my FOURTH surgery this Wednesday under the care of a new doctor, with whom I am extremely happy. He removed my original band and rebanded me. It was an emergency procedure, as was the last one in March with my former doctor. I wasn't able to swallow at this point, and I had awful pain in my chest. This was all brought on by tests my new doctor was performing to rule out potential problems with my old band. In my most recent upper GI the doctor determined that the band was not placed properly by the old doctor, and that there was a lot of gas in my stomach. He was able to access my port but not withdraw any fluid. I was only supposed to have had one fill since the 3rd surgery. In this test the doctor injected a contrast into the band under flouro to see if there was anything wrong with the cathedar. Unfortunately, he was unable to withdraw all of the fluid, which caused horrible reflex and vomitting. I went into the ER on Wednesday morning and surgery in the evening. They had to withdraw ounces of fluid from my esophogus before intubating me. After removing the band the doctor withdrew 2.5 CCs of liquid, and found debris in the cathedar, which is what seems to have been causing me all the problems. Since January I had strep throat, pneumonia, stomach virus and an ordinary cold. I started to get better after my surgery in March when the old doctor repositioned the port and shortened the cathedar, but I gained 19 lbs in 2 months. I found this new doctor about a month ago and feel confident that I am finally on the road to recovery. Before going into surgery though he was concerned that he was not going to be able to reband me because he could not imagine why the band was placed as it was. He said it was on a 90 degree angle. He figured it was something anatomical, and if that was the case it would make no sense to put a new band in in the same position. Apparently there was another reason for the misplacement of the band...I would love to know what my old doctor was thinking. Well, I went from 240 lbs to 138 lbs to 149 lbs to 157 lbs to 149 lbs and today I was 161. Oh god...I know this is from the IV and gas but I am close to throwing my scale out of the window. I am happy to have this new doctor. He is highly recommended, and the chief of bariatric surgery at the hospital where I was born. That's got to be good for something. Regardless of all my ups and downs, I still do not regret my decision. I do, however, regret not having researched my surgeon more adequately. Bad choice on my part. Sorry to hear your problems, Jen, but so you know there is someone out here who can identify with you. Message me if you need someone to chat with. Good luck.

I wish I had more of an opinion about plastics but I am such a lazy person that I just do what I think I should do without researching anything the right way. I am eager to hear the responses to your post though. Update on me: I saw a new doctor yesterday. He is affiliated with the hospital I was born at. Maybe that is a good sign? He seemed pretty good, and really knowledgable. I have him a run down of my history, and he had copies of the operative notes forwarded from my former doctor's office. Told him I had no restriction even though I had a fill on 5/5. He injected my port to check the volume in my band, and he came out with nothing, but said that my port had "a lot of resistence". Whatever that means. Now he is concerned that there may be a problem with the cathedar. Of course, why wouldn't there be with me? Other case scenario, my former doctor "missed"? Is that even possible? Although I had some issues with my former doctor, I do not question his ability. He was just not as available as I needed him to be considering my circumstances. Also, although a seasoned surgeon with regard to the bypass, he was relatively new to lapband when I came on board...and I came with a whole array of problems. I think maybe it is best that I have a doctor with a little more experience so maybe I can get everything together once and for all. On the plus size, I mean plus side... I have gained nearly 20 lbs since my emergency surgery in March. I really don't care that much. I have to remember how sick I was and how quickly I was losing weight because of it...and as long as the size 6 still fits I am a-ok. I have an upper GI series tomorrow to check my insides. Yay...barium. YUM!!! Ugh. I'll keep you all posted.

This particular person did not go back to the doctor and name drop me, according to what she said, but she did report I had said and considering that I had already said all of this directly to the doctor, INCLUDING that I would not be recommending him to anyone, he knew it was me. I guess hearing it and feeling it are completely different for him. Oh well...if you run a poor organization than you should be open to criticism to prevent situations like this. I went from being upset and frustrated about the situation to just down right pissed. I plan on taking further action, possibly even registering a complaint against him with the AMA. He is on vacation for the next 2 weeks...shocking. I'll keep you posted!!!

Ok, now how do I find a new doctor? I went on my insurance's website but there is no listing for bariatrics under specialties. I have to be honest, it's been so long since I started this that I don't even remember how I found Dr. Crybaby to begin with. Any resources you guys can point me to? I am sure I am fully capable of finding this information but I am just so frustrated (and lazy lol). Thank you

Here's one for the record books... I went today for my second first fill since my band was unfilled. My doctor told me he can no longer see me because a potential patient messaged me on here and I have her my honest opinion about the surgeon and his support staff. No idea what this girl felt the need to go into the office and report back to him what was told to her. "Is it true that you...?" I mean seriously, what was the point? What a dumb situation. Don't get me wrong, though, this is probably the best thing that has happened to me; I have been so unhappy with the quality of service I have received, especially considering the complications I have had, which I made clear in my email to this chatty girl that I do not attribute to the surgeon. I pretty much just made mention of my unhappiness with the reception staff, and lack of follow up I have had by the social worker and nutritionist. My situation now is that I have to find a new doctor, but one that is involved with my hospital. I am disgusted over the whole situation. See what happens when you try to be a good person. I should have let her go to the doctor and seen for herself. I also have a concern considering all of my past complications whether or not a doctor is going to be willing to take me on. Oh well, guess I am just venting. Otherwise, things are not that great...I have gained a lot of weight since my last surgery. I actually gained 9 lbs the day of the surgery, which I never dropped. I still think this is because I was malnurished and dehydrated. I gained like 5 lbs in addition to that, but my band was empty. I didn't have that much luck controlling my eating for the 20 yrs of being overweight before the band, didn't think I would be that lucky to be doing it on my own this time either.

Hey all...just wanted to check in. My band is still empty after my last surgery. I am scheduled for my (second) first fill on May 5th, thank God. I really have no control over my eating. I am back up to between 150-153, depending on the day. I was down to 138, then 140 the day of surgery...and went up to 149 the day after. I was never able to drop any of that weight. I figure it was because I was so dehydrated and malnurished that my body just hoarded everything it could. I have to be honest though, I really don't care much about the weight. As long as I can fit into my clothes and I feel healthy...finally. Glad to hear everyone else is doing pretty well. Keep up the good work!!