nailgirl846

Had my band removed yesterday and I'm in a lot of pain. The worst is the left shoulder/neck pain from the Co2 gas (and the tummy area too!) The incisions hurt of course but where the port was it is sooo painful! From day one (back in 4/2007) they said the soreness where the port was would go away and it never has! I cant wait to have no pain there!!! I had the band removed because it has made my life a nightmare. I have had it unfilled for 6 years and I still cant eat much (unless its ice cream, processed, or fried foods) Almost everyday I have to throw-up to try and alleviate the excruciating pain from food being stuck. (then I cant eat or drink anything for hours afterwards) Some days, if I have any stress at all the band will just tighten up completely around my stomach and I cant drink or eat anything for hours (sometimes till the next day). I have become deficient in many Vitamins and in Protein (because there is no way meat can go down - ever!) I try to drink Protein drinks daily but it isn't enough and my hair is much thinner than it ever has been. I hate going on trips because I never know when I'll need to run to the bathroom to throw up - or if I wont be able to eat or drink anything at all and just be miserable. So I finally called my surgeon and their office said my insurance wouldn't cover it and that it would cost $3500 to remove it. I told them my insurance will cover removing it, if it's medically necessary. I only wanted an appointment with the Dr. to explain my issues and see what he recommends. They wouldn't let me make an appointment unless I paid with cash, just ridiculous! I knew my insurance would cover the visits and tests. So I contacted another Dr. and they got me in and did some tests including an upper GI scope and he said the band has slipped an should come out. So a few months later it was removed. My insurance paid for the removal and here I am.... hoping for the best outcome. As much trouble as I've had with the lap band - I cant see myself getting another bariatric surgery. I'm looking forward to living a normal life. Just hopefully I will make better food choices. (than ice cream, processed foods and fried foods - which was the easiest foods to eat/swallow when I was having trouble... which was everyday!) Of course I will continue to exercise and hopefully keep loosing weight...