Life is great!

[jennjarrid 14]

Almost two years ago I had my band taken out after having it for three years due to it slipping twice. I was able to get to my goal weight with it however, I've been struggling with weight gain. This morning I found out that my insurance approved my sleeve surgery. I feel so fortunate and grateful.

[*Lexie* 1,486]

That sleeve won't slip! Congrats!

[jennjarrid 14]

Thank you!

[Skylia 20]

I just got my band out too and got a sleeve. BEST decision ever! Fabulous decision and you will be so happy.

[jennjarrid 14]

Thank you. I'm really excited!

[Loonachick 5]

Good for U!! I had a band from 2007-2014 and it was all down hill after about 2010. My band didn't slip, but I started to either wake up an have vomiting episodes and develop these wicked stomach pains almost every month or 2 that lasted about 3 days each episode. Like I was literally waking up and holding my stomach to walk to the next room. 2013 endoscopy shows nothing! No erosion no slippage! Continued on, most things I tried to eat that had any real substance like steak, chicken etc would always make me have to throw it up. It always felt like it was getting stuck. I started eating loves good food and more bad food ( Cookies dissolved, icecreams, chocolate etc) since the bad food went down much easier without throwing up. I gained most of the weight back.... I joined a gym went 4-5 days a week n got back startin to lose 3-4lbs a wk. then one morning I had the wickedest of pains, was vomiting on and off and had bad lower back pain. I laid in bed and just slept and threw up all day. I are nothing and could barely hold down any drink either. This went on for a few days finally like by day 3 I was only getting worse I booked another endoscopy and once again no problems. They advised i go to ER. I did that and after lying almost 30 hrs in the ER being tested poked and prodded the doc tells me the scan shows that the cord tubing from my lap band port was entangled with my small intestines, and emergency surgery was needed. They had to cut me open down the middle like a coconut, took the band out along with 20% of the intestines, and also removed adhesions/lesions on my stomach and intestines. My dr said it was the most randoms freakish thing he's ever seen a band do! It's not even a risk or precaution of band surgery because it has never been something any dr has ever come across or has happened to any patients. I was in the hospital 1wk and it was pure hell! I couldn't even have a sip of Water or ice chips for like 4-5 days! Finally I got out with pain of course. I was able to eat anything I wanted to! I started with the stuff that l could never hold down. Eventually the NO restriction and even no vomiting caused me to over eat, gain weight and lose my energy and desire to excercise, or even go outside where people could see me and my fatness and weight gain. After months of back, knee and ankle pain and now multiple hernias from the 2 abdominal surgeries, I went back to my surgeon asked for help and recommendations on what to do. He recommended the sleeve, I agreed so in February I started my insurance requirements I finished by May and had my surgery date before Memorial Weekend. I was Sleeved June 3 and so far everything's great! Went to post op visit on Fri which was 9-10 days post sleeve and I lost 12 lbs since day of surgery! I did well on liquids so now my doc told me I can move on to purée's/mushies. So that's my triple stomach surgery experiences in a nutshell! I am trying harder this time around, I know this has benefits and the outcome can be great but I have to put the work in, it's not magic, it's a tool. The 1st few months weight loss is like a gift, or a big head start. This is where the fastest weight loss will occur! Once on all solids and regular foods It's kind of in my own hands, what I decide to eat and how much of it will make me lose or gain. I plan on keeping a balance of Protein Shakes and certain foods. If I allow myself to eat foods just cause I can now eat them then I will stop losing and either plateau or gain. Im not trying to do any of that! I want the body of 20yr old me back, and above all I need my health back! So failure is not an option!!!

Thanks for letting me tell my crazy story! If anyone has a question or anything feel free to ask!

[jennjarrid 14]

I'm sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience. But I'm glad to hear that you are doing better and was able to still get the sleeve.