hoover123

Sorry for the long letter....This is a great post! I couldn't say it better..I am having my band removed and getting the sleeve May 1st. 3 reasons..1) its leaking 2) my body seems to be rejecting the port and I have a lot of port site pain and 3) believe it or not because I get this second opportunity in the long run it won't be as costly due to the fills. I did very well in the begaining and after my port was fixed in June 2012 because it twisted everything went down hill but my weight! My anger was towards my doctor for not listening to me for seven months that there was something wrong. When you have a fill every month and a week goes by and your fill is no longer working there is a problem. So I say, i am not bashing the band, I am bashing the doctor that wouldn't listen to me. And yes, I am responsible for putting all my weight back on. I will admit I am at fault, but I also am doing something about it...looking forward to buying some new walking shoes and pants today..my motivation is coming back and it feels so good...again, your post is right on..the only trouble I do see though is when your band is working well your not hungry at all (at least I wasn't), then it stops and it feels like you haven't eaten in weeks. So that is the only bad part of the band failing, it doesn't help matters...thanks for sharing your thoughts and stories. Especially about the bypass and gaining it all back. They really blame the surgery? I didn't know the stomach made the choices of what we put in our mouths!!! Do you think we have more support these days? More things to turn too and docs or nurses are more educated on what works and are more supportive. WEll, accept my last doc that I fired I was thankful I found a different surgeon to help me. Same practice so a bit awkward, but my body and I want someone who will listen to me. When I say something is wrong and I am being true to myself, there is something wrong and your better listen. After my surgery, I am going to sit down with the hospitals patients representatives and talk to them about this matter. I did go thru hell and back with this. Emotionally, Physically and Financially I would like some answers. When a patient calls you up crying because their fill from that day is creating so much pain there is issues...I could go on and on but that doesn't change anything It just made me stronger and assertive in a good way. I deserve the best treatment just like everyone else. We are being proactive in our health and need that support and not made to feel like we are lying and fell off the wagon every time. I hear a lot of stories on this site and it scares me. Would've your doctor doesn't listen to you and you bleed out or something. YIKES. Did you read that one gentlemen s story? Lost 8 pints of blood due the band eroding a hole in his stomach. YIKES..I am sure this is rare, but this is why the nurses and docs have to listen! Ok, I am off my soap box,, I guess I am getting nervous for surgery too. I am so blessed though to get this second chance. I was banded in 2010 and have had a band in me for ten months thats doing nothing but causing me port pain...i will be glad to get it out. Thanks for listening. I JUST LOVE THIS SITE...

My heart aches for you. You are a wonderful daughter and I am sure they know that. Whether you are spiritual or not, god has a plan for all of us. 84 years on earth so far to be with your parents. WOW! In the end you can say I had the privlidge of having the most loving and giving parents. When I read this it makes me want to call my folks and tell them I love them. Think I will just do that. Use your faith to get through and time will heal. Ask for help and go to support groups. Yes, that "C" word sucks. I have lost many loved ones to it and it just sucks. I will pray for you and your family. God Bless.

The first two years of my lap band went great. Until the day I found out the port twisted and I had to have it fixed. The first red flag was I had a lot of cirus fluid draining from the port incision. I mean a lot!!! I called the office and of course they said it could be just fluid build up and its normal. The pain is just post operative. I did not have this pain or fluid the first surgery. The strange part is it is so painful and tender where the port use to be. When I look in the mirror I can see my tummy isn't how shall I put this, "hanging even". Yes, i am having a CT Scan on Monday. If they can't find anything wrong I may have to have the port moved again or have the band removed all together. Not something I want to do. I had the fill on Monday of 2cc so now 3cc all together and as of today no restiction. I had restriction at 4cc before. So there are many red flags going on. I know my body and somethings wrong. I just feel so sad because I worked so hard to get there. I once weighed 271, got down to 202 and now back up to 244. I am accountable for what I put in my mouth, but if the band was working I don't think I would be gaining so much weight back so quickly. Does one find it inappropriate to request a different doctor in the office. There are two other Doctors that work with my doc. I had one of them once and I really liked him. Will wait for results on Monday. I just wish they could start all over. I am just hurting so much....thank you for your support.

This is my first time using this site. My goal is to find support and I am having a horrible time with my port area. My port did flip and I had it fixed June 29th this year. Almost 3 months later I still can't bend over, hurts just to do house work. I can feel the soft tissue just pulling. He placed the port lower but the pain seems to be where the port use to be. I had a lot of ciurus fluid this time. Finally after 3 months I had enough and called again and told the nurses this needs to be checked into and I want some answer soon. My doctor has been blowing me off. I am soon going to blow him off and find a surgeon who takes this seriously. I have 3 young kids to take care of and I can't be laid up. I ice every day. I also gainned back a lot of my weight when he emptied my band for the last surgery and I feel like I can't recover like I did the first time. Yes, I am accountable for what I put in my mouth, but finally I had 3cc put back in yesterday and he was out he door before I could talk to him about the pain. I am very in tune with my body and I know something is not just right. No one should have to live with this pain as well as live with obesity. I have a high tolerance for pain and this pain is rough to deal with. I finally go for a CT scan on Monday and hopefully something will show up as far as the band. In the end I may end up taking it out. I can't live with this pain all my life. Any one out there understand???