Not looking back

Tiffykins · June 1, 2009

I started my WLS journey over 3 years ago when I still lived in Texas. My research began, and as life happens, things obviously changed. I met my now husband in March 2006. He's active duty Air Force and was stationed in Massachusetts at the time. Fast forward , I relocated myself and my son to MA in Aug '07, we married in Feb '08 and then we got orders in April 2008. We pcs'd to Florida and I started my WLS research again once we got settled in.

I met with 2 different surgeons. One was cold, he was new to the area, and I just didn't click with him. The other, a little abrasive, but I had spoken with several of his patients, did my research, had consults, and felt good about my decision. I was approved by Tricare within 7 days of my referral submission. I had decided on LapBand, and was pleased with my choice. My mother had LapBand in '07, and was a great support to me.

Surgery scheduled October 01, 2008. My starting weight was 271lbs. My problems/issues with the band started the day of surgery. I am only 5'2", and couldn't get my hiney in the hospital bed even though it was lowered. A nurse had me lift my arms over my head, and physically pull myself into the bed by pulling on the bedrails while she held my ankles. I felt a shredding, ripping pain across my abdomen. I was told it's just some stretching, don't worry you'll be okay. I woke up the next morning with an enormous bruise across my abdomen under my port. I believe with every ounce of my being that this is where/when my port flipped/twisted or at least this is when my port sutures were weakened. I went home and managed to do quite well with weight loss until it was time to get fills. I had a few other complications with lap site infections, and other port issues from day 1.

I went through 3 fills, and still no restriction. I lost 30lbs the first 2.5 months. But, started gaining when the surgeon refused to give me a fill. He has every lapband patient on the same fill schedule and he isn't willing to waiver. Okay, fine so I let it be known that I was dissatisfied. I never wanted the band to ballooned out with a max fill, but I would like my surgeon to take my individual needs into consideration. To no avail, he wasn't going to budge.

Late February, I went in for a fill. He could not access my port, and after gouging on me for 10+ minutes, he finally gave up and scheduled me for fluoro fill. I went in a couple weeks later, and after 20 minutes of gouging around on me again under fluoro, he couldn't access it again. I was devastated. . . He tried to imply that I probably flipped it having sex. UMMMM NO, the husband is at pre-deployment training, and yeah, I've told you about my port pain since late December.

Least to say, I decided to leave his practice, and am currently going through a revision to VSG with a military surgeon. I have had nothing but issues with my previous surgeon. Trying to get my medical records has been a chore in itself, and now my records are not even complete. He never documented my flipped port, my complaints of port pain, nothing.

I have surgery on Wednesday, June 3rd. I have a clotting disorder that is now being treated. If I would of never decided to get away from the old surgeon, I would of never found out that I have this clotting issue.

I am at a pain level of 6-8 daily, and have been dealing with this since February/March when the port literally moved. Luckily, all of that issue will soon be resolved, and I can move forward in my WL journey. My in-laws are flying down to stay with me since the husband is deployed, and will be staying with me for 12 days. . . I can't wait for Wednesday to get here. I am not really all that nervous, and I am just praying for a smooth surgery and recovery. I know it's going to be tough, but I have survived the band, I'm positive I will survive the revision. There's alot of the story that I left out to try to condense, but I wouldn't let someone put a band back in me if they paid me. My new surgeon wanted to just do a port revision, and I just told him that I was not going to deal with the band anymore. It's more than just a flipped port, every time I bend over, or twist from side to side, it feels like a the tubing is pulling/ripping across my abdomen and actually pulling my band that is attached to my stomach. NOT GOOD, get it out of me. . .

Eyfura · June 1, 2009

Wow...I hope you reported the Dr. to the board in your area. That is serious business him not keeping good records! I can't believe that he has not been reported before if you had so many problems! Do a favor for anyone else that may be thinking of using him and file a complaint. Best of luck Wednesday!!! Keep us updated!

alegna242 · June 1, 2009

Wow- Flab2Fab4Ever you've been through a lot! Just goes to show that even with years of planning the band still fails. I hope that you have a speedy recovery. Thanks for sharing!