Zana

There are no bariatric surgeries where I live, that is the problem. It is what it is I simply wanted to post this because it is something I never thought of so I thought it was a good idea for others to consider it. I am incredibly sick and it is something I never dreamed would happen. I don't think anyone does to be honest.

I have been to the ER and the doctors who have never even seen a lap band say there is nothing wrong and are looking at the size of my stomach. It has nothing to do with stomach size. The band is on my esophagus at this point anyway. Which is most certainly not correct. The doctors have no idea what to do and no surgeon will touch me because I have it. I am not sure what will happen? I am not saying they are I am simply saying that the fact they will not is something to think about. I never dreamed as a business owner that I would one day leave it to care for an ailing loved one and be faced with limited resources. Life changes and I wish I had considered that. My quality of life is far worse than I ever imagined it could be. I was not aware the surgery once healed could cause all of the problems it has caused? It is scary to think I may not find a doctor who can help.

Glad your surgery went well Nadine. It has been a while since OP posted. How are things going with your recovery?

I just wanted to point out to those of you thinking of getting the band that you should ask your lap band dr if he will remove the band or treat you if you have problems with the band and at a later date have no insurance. That is what has happened to me. I can not eat anything at all hardly. Some days I am in so much pain I barely want to be alive and there is nothing I can do. I can not find a doctor who will help me period. I am angered that (some of all of the ones I have contacted) are willing to take money from insurance companies and private pay patients but I can not find one willing to help a patient in agony who is banded. No I do not think it is another doctors responsibility to fix my problem. I understand I made a choice to have the surgery but at the same time you would think with all of the money these dr's are making they could help patients especially their own when they are having problems. So I suggest you talk to your Dr prior to surgery and get something in writing saying how he will assist you in the event of a crisis situation with regard to your band. I live everyday in fear that I will die because I had this surgery. Finally after a month I can drink Protein shakes, but things are still far from good. I just wanted to put that out there cause I think people don't think about 6-10 20 years down the road.

Just make sure you follow what you are told, There will be very scary OMG why can't I stop hiccupping is my tummy gonna burst moments early on when you call your doc to learn that if you just eat a gas x which you will be scared to eat it will all be ok It is a process. The best advice I can give you is to listen to your doctor! Buy an set of small forks and spoons and eat with those. I did that for years after and then once I was skinny mini I let it slide. Now I am in the hospital hoping and praying my health is going to be ok and I have not damaged my band. Good luck to you and if I can offer you any advice support or you simply need an ear please send me a PM. I will be happy to help. I wish I had stayed around here when I first had the surgery. But I am back now! Hoping a newbie can learn what to do right from what I did wrong.

The best advice I can give to either of you is that you MUST work through the issues that make you eat. If you don't nothing will make you lose weight without putting your life in jeopardy. Cause everytime you push that band you are putting your health in jeopardy. I am at rock bottom in this learning process. Follow the surgery with support here or a tops program or over-eaters anonymous. Or meetings through your surgeon. Be sure when you find yourself met with those who discuss how to cheat the band you confront them for you and them. This surgery is about staying alive for most people who have it. Let us know how you are doing on your journey and don't stop posting cause you think you have got it! You never will have it without support and staying on top of it! Once you get it pass on what you learn!

So glad you are feeling better! I hope you continue to do well and just remember when the scale goes up a pound (once you are healed) it is cause you made choices that caused it to, it is not to be ignored. I am learning this a very hard way and I hope you do well with your new body and always take great care of your band!!!!! Are you post before and afters once you are all healed up and the swelling is gone?

Glad everything worked out and your band is ok. What were your symptoms of slippage?

I disagree, if you are weight training without the proper amount of protein you are damaging your body. There are ways banded to get the protein. I used a personal trainer and he taught me how to get what my body needed. There are protein supplements that have only the amount of calories that they must have.

No joke it is so bad right now cause of the economy and everything. I no longer have insurance and it sucks it is terrible not knowing what is wrong with me? I am hoping being on liquids will help. It seems to be helping? I did it for a week and then went to quickly back to solids cause it felt ok. Then it got not near as bad as it was last time but it is irritated GERD I assume. SO back on liquids and hoping it corrects itself cause I do not have the money or the insurance to fix it. I am wishing all of you the best of luck too. Any of you when this happened have gas at all? Like lots of burping almost like it was when you got the band but add acid to the mix

Sorry to hear this. What were the symptoms if you do not mind me asking? I may be in the same boat except I now have no insurance so I can not even really find out:( But I seem to be doing better

I finally found where it went I could not find it for anything. Thanks

Glad to hear you are doing better. I can not even imagine what a painful procedure that must be I am glad you did well with it and are getting around much better Sounds like it has brought you closer to your wife. As will the confidence you are gaining in yourself BTW Happy Belated Birthday I know your surgery was that day and I wanted to tell you and forgot