PLEASE keep your fingers crossed for me

[skylily 7]

Hello, this is my story so far.

Four years ago I went in for a lap band. My stomach was perforated but they didn't pick it up and I left the hospital in some pain which escalated over a few days to a 'please just kill me' type of agony. I was rushed in for emergency surgery one night and they opened me right up, took out my band, and cleared it up in there. The next three days I was in ICU and nearly died, and then the next seven days I was on the ward. Those seven days were the worst.

I have pretty bad back problems and can't sleep on my back. Because of the abdominal surgery it was impossible to sleep on my side. I was hooked up to all these machines and a catheter and they took my blood every three hours. I didn't sleep for just about all that time I was in hospital. I could only get somewhat comfortable in a recliner chair and the one they scoured the hospital for was small and crappy and they wouldn't allow me to hire a good one in.

It was pure psychological and physical hell.

In the end I signed myself out waiving them of responsibility because I knew I had to get home and get some rest.

I was so sad I went through all that and had nothing to show for it but ugly scars.

I thought there was no way I could ever go back in to hospital.

But, four months later I went back in got a lap band. Why? Because I resented paying out a few thousand dollars, having scars, no lap band... most of all because I was SCARED not to. I needed help.

I have lost and gained thousands of pounds in my life. My heaviest was 165 kilos (363 lbs). I had lost 20 kilos leading up to surgery and so went in at 147 kilos (323 lbs).

Anyway, it was keyhole (THANK GOD) and was a walk in the park after all I had been through.

So now I had my lap band... and guess what... I didn't lose any weight.

Yes I did everything I was supposed to and didn't lose anything.

My body has got to a point of having the worst metabolism ever. It doesn't care when I drop my calories to near to nothing. I might drop a little in the first few days then it STOPS!

I was bereft. Then I thought 'f*%k this'.

So I went on a year long super low carb, going to the gym nearly every day, routine and I did drop another 20ish hard earned kilos. So now I was at 121 (265 lbs) and no matter what I did since I cannot get below that figure.

So after some time I put back on 10 kilos and then made myself get back into line and took it off and then hovered around 123 (270)for a couple of years... which in itself was an achievement. The band has NEVER helped me lose wight but I believe it did help me from piling it all back on.

Anyhow, I got it removed three weeks ago because it was more trouble then it was worth. It was a 10 ml band and the most I could ever get into it was 2 ml. I would choke at night and was convinced this was the way I would some day die. From choking on my own Fluid.

I have had GERD for 20 years but when the surgery was done the surgeon tightened up my stomach sphincter and that helped it not be so severe but the band caused its own problems in that regard.

So I still took Nexium every day.

Now, I have no band (which is bloody amazing lol... such a relief) , very little acid reflux, but I am scared to go too long without any tool at all.

The surgeon told me there was a lot of scarring around the band and I have to go back and see him in a week. I'm praying he won't say he won't do it because of too much scarring.

I've read that most USA surgeons wait for several months for scarring to settle down and then do it so hopefully he will say that, but because he is Australian, and we don't do as many GBP ops here, I'm not sure he will.

I CAN'T be left with no options.

There you go, there's my story, SORRY IT WAS SO LONG.

I know that there are people who have been through worse things, and I didn't want to sound too dramatic, but I'm just telling you how it was for me.

At this stage I am so scared and have found myself getting quite depressed this week. Had a good cry today.

I NEED my doctor to say the GBP can go ahead.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR ME.

xox

[oldoneyoungagain 200]

Hello, this is my story so far.

Four years ago I went in for a lap band. My stomach was perforated but they didn't pick it up and I left the hospital in some pain which escalated over a few days to a 'please just kill me' type of agony. I was rushed in for emergency surgery one night and they opened me right up, took out my band, and cleared it up in there. The next three days I was in ICU and nearly died, and then the next seven days I was on the ward. Those seven days were the worst.

I have pretty bad back problems and can't sleep on my back. Because of the abdominal surgery it was impossible to sleep on my side. I was hooked up to all these machines and a catheter and they took my blood every three hours. I didn't sleep for just about all that time I was in hospital. I could only get somewhat comfortable in a recliner chair and the one they scoured the hospital for was small and crappy and they wouldn't allow me to hire a good one in.

It was pure psychological and physical hell.

In the end I signed myself out waiving them of responsibility because I knew I had to get home and get some rest.

I was so sad I went through all that and had nothing to show for it but ugly scars.

I thought there was no way I could ever go back in to hospital.

But, four months later I went back in got a lap band. Why? Because I resented paying out a few thousand dollars, having scars, no lap band... most of all because I was SCARED not to. I needed help.

I have lost and gained thousands of pounds in my life. My heaviest was 165 kilos (363 lbs). I had lost 20 kilos leading up to surgery and so went in at 147 kilos (323 lbs).

Anyway, it was keyhole (THANK GOD) and was a walk in the park after all I had been through.

So now I had my lap band... and guess what... I didn't lose any weight.

Yes I did everything I was supposed to and didn't lose anything.

My body has got to a point of having the worst metabolism ever. It doesn't care when I drop my calories to near to nothing. I might drop a little in the first few days then it STOPS!

I was bereft. Then I thought 'f*%k this'.

So I went on a year long super low carb, going to the gym nearly every day, routine and I did drop another 20ish hard earned kilos. So now I was at 121 (265 lbs) and no matter what I did since I cannot get below that figure.

So after some time I put back on 10 kilos and then made myself get back into line and took it off and then hovered around 123 (270)for a couple of years... which in itself was an achievement. The band has NEVER helped me lose wight but I believe it did help me from piling it all back on.

Anyhow, I got it removed three weeks ago because it was more trouble then it was worth. It was a 10 ml band and the most I could ever get into it was 2 ml. I would choke at night and was convinced this was the way I would some day die. From choking on my own Fluid.

I have had GERD for 20 years but when the surgery was done the surgeon tightened up my stomach sphincter and that helped it not be so severe but the band caused its own problems in that regard.

So I still took Nexium every day.

Now, I have no band (which is bloody amazing lol... such a relief) , very little acid reflux, but I am scared to go too long without any tool at all.

The surgeon told me there was a lot of scarring around the band and I have to go back and see him in a week. I'm praying he won't say he won't do it because of too much scarring.

I've read that most USA surgeons wait for several months for scarring to settle down and then do it so hopefully he will say that, but because he is Australian, and we don't do as many GBP ops here, I'm not sure he will.

I CAN'T be left with no options.

There you go, there's my story, SORRY IT WAS SO LONG.

I know that there are people who have been through worse things, and I didn't want to sound too dramatic, but I'm just telling you how it was for me.

At this stage I am so scared and have found myself getting quite depressed this week. Had a good cry today.

I NEED my doctor to say the GBP can go ahead.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR ME.

xox

Skylily you are on my prayer list and I'm crossing my fingers also.:>)

[momlambert 77]

I feel for you Skylily. So sorry you've had to go through this. I didn't have the problems you had but I did have revision from band to rny 5 months ago. I'm so happy I did it. I feel so good and more successful than I've ever been. I hope the same for you. Good luck and keep us posted.

[skylily 7]

Thank you oldoneyoungagain. A double whammy.

[skylily 7]

Thanks very much momlambert. I appreciate your support xox

[skylily 7]

[skylily 7]

I feel for you Skylily. So sorry you've had to go through this. I didn't have the problems you had but I did have revision from band to rny 5 months ago. I'm so happy I did it. I feel so good and more successful than I've ever been. I hope the same for you. Good luck and keep us posted.

Skylily you are on my prayer list and I'm crossing my fingers also.:>)

Hell again, well I had the follow-up appt yesterday and yes, the bypass can go ahead. PHEW

Will probably make it November because I have a busy work schedule up till then.

I am so RELIEVED.

In the meanwhile I have been eating low GI and loving it. It's slow weight loss but very healthy. Hopefully I can shed some more weight before the surgery... which has to be open by the way... not pleased about that bit but he is very thorough and because I have had complicated previous surgery in that region he wants to be meticulous with sutures etc to minimise the risk of leaks etc. I can't argue with that

[oldoneyoungagain 200]

Hell again, well I had the follow-up appt yesterday and yes, the bypass can go ahead. PHEW

Will probably make it November because I have a busy work schedule up till then.

I am so RELIEVED.

In the meanwhile I have been eating low GI and loving it. It's slow weight loss but very healthy. Hopefully I can shed some more weight before the surgery... which has to be open by the way... not pleased about that bit but he is very thorough and because I have had complicated previous surgery in that region he wants to be meticulous with sutures etc to minimise the risk of leaks etc. I can't argue with that

Okay the first battle has been answered, but still have you on my prayer list until this is complete and I will continue to keep my fingers crossed. So happy for you right now as I know you are relieved. Sorry it has to be an open surgery, but from what you wrote, you have a very good doctor and he is doing everything the right way so you don't have complications. Just stay in touch. My band comes out Thursday, then should be able to get the bypass in a 2-3 months. In the meantime keep up the good work in trying to lose weight. Really think you will see quite a difference with the loss when you get that bypass.

[skylily 7]

Okay the first battle has been answered, but still have you on my prayer list until this is complete and I will continue to keep my fingers crossed. So happy for you right now as I know you are relieved. Sorry it has to be an open surgery, but from what you wrote, you have a very good doctor and he is doing everything the right way so you don't have complications. Just stay in touch. My band comes out Thursday, then should be able to get the bypass in a 2-3 months. In the meantime keep up the good work in trying to lose weight. Really think you will see quite a difference with the loss when you get that bypass.

Thank you so much, you're so kind. I will do the same for you... keep you on my prayer list.

Good luck with Thursday. Hopefully the removal will go as smoothly as mine went.

The only bad part was the awful Constipation afterwards, so you may want to be mindful not to let it get to crisis point

[snow25 188]

Good Luck, SkyLily,

I am praying for a much more successful... And un eventful surgery with the RNY.