Beginning my Journey

[Lissa 2,631]

Howdy, all. I'm Lissa from Florida. I'm 44 and I've been heavy since I was 23. I did a major injury to my leg at 9 months pregnant and, since I was having a c-section, the injury went untreated. It's difficult to walk on crutches when you've been cut from hip to hip. So, I spent two years barely walking and gained a TON of weight. I've never been able to get it off and, instead, I've added a bunch more so that I'm now over 330 pounts.

I've been exploring Lap Band Surgery for about six months, including going to a seminar and talking to a surgeon. I lost 50 lbs on Atkins and then quit smoking. A week after I quit smoking, I ended up in the hospital with drug-resistant pneumonia. After steroids, russian roullette with antibiotics and enough other drugs to kill a mule, I emerged from the hospital still sick. I lost another 40+ pounds in about 7 days, then gained it all back in 7 days, plus more. THEN I developed blood clots in my legs and a couple of pulmonary embolisms. Now I'm on blood thinners to take care of the PEs and not allowed to do any exercise except "gentle" walking. Not sure what that is....

I finally got into the weight loss surgeon and he is agreeable to doing the surgery, even with me on blood thinners, but he wants to do VSG instead of the lap band. I'm cool with his reasoning and it makes sense, but I need more information abotu what happens after VSG, which is why I'm here.

[AutumnBlueCarmen 4]

Hi Lissa,

I'm so glad you are here. IMHO I think your surgeon is 100% right. My BFF had lap band surgery and she is a physician. She has had lots of problems with it. I was actually scheduled to do lap band on July 22 and backed out and changed to sleeve. If you look at a lot of peoples posts on here there are A LOT of people who revise the lap band to sleeve. I do not want to have to mess with that. In my thinking....the lap band is a piece of plastic...with bladders and tubes. It WILL at some point wear out...just like plastic does. We are talking plastic inside a body...our body doesn't just sit there either. This plastic is going to have to go through fills and unfills and the movement of our body. If you have the flu and are throwing up you have to have the Fluid removed so you don't make it move. Then after you are done having the flu you have to go and get the fills slowly put back in and pretty much start all over again. There are just so many possibilities of problems with the lap band. ((GEEZE I HOPE I DONT GET SUED))!!!! So anyway, that is my 10 cents. I hope that helps. Good luck with everything. I hope to see you around and hear more about your journey!

[Lissa 2,631]

Thanks, Carmen. I am allergic to latex tape, so allergic reactions and maintenance of the band were two of the topics the surgeon and I discussed in ruling out the band for me. I am also a little skeeved by the idea that I'd have to have that band maintained and adjusted constantly to keep me at a place where I actually lose weight. Not cool, IMO.

On the other hand, the VSG scares me because it is so radical about removal of stomach tissue. My MIL had stomach cancer and had about the same amount of her stomach removed and she's had nothing but trouble...nauseau, malabsorbtion, pain. My worry is that I'll end up in a similar state once I lose the weight.

[sugarmamma7 2]

Sweetie I am glad you are here this site is a wealth of information and wonderful support . The sleeve is hard to get used to in the beginning but after a few weeks and months the body slowly goes back to normal. It is a great tool for weightloss and it helps other health problems. I would go through this site and get educated as much as you can. We are glad you are here and welcome. Keep us postest of your progress...

[Sarah E. S. 6]

Lissa! Welcome! I am a youtube freak, so I would suggest watching some youtube videos about the surgery, That's what I've been doing, it's so incredibly informative to have it directly from someone's mouth what you experience and what to expect, and also how to prepare

Good Luck in your Journey!! <3

[Lissa 2,631]

Hello again to all. I now have a surgery date (Aug 30) and I start my pre-op diet tomorrow. I'm nervous and scared, but determined to keep moving towards my goal of a healthier me. My docs are all working together to get me through this and I'm really looking forward to waking up from surgery!!

[razrbakcrzy 9]

good luck on your journey!