Rebecca Peterson

After struggling with keeping the weight off for years - I finally decided to have lap band surgery in 2013. I knew I didn't want a bypass and my insurance did not cover a sleeve (if they had I may have chose it). Anyway, it went very quickly. I went to the seminar on May 5th, Approval on May 15th, and surgery day was June 17th, 2013. I was 198 pounds the day of my surgery with a BMI of 40.3. My surgeon said everything went great - no Fluid in my band at that time - my recovery went well. I went home and lost 13 pounds before my first follow up appt which was 2 weeks post op. He said I was doing great and would get my first fill at 4 weeks post op. My first fill was 3 cc's. I continued to lose pretty steadily. I went for another fill 4 weeks later and that was 1 more cc for a total of 4. I followed the rules to a tee and continued to lose. In the meantime - my husband had got out of the military and we made a quick decision to move back where we came from before he had joined, which was California - I let my surgeon know and he said as long as I was losing, there was no reason for another fill and to just continue doing what I was doing and consult with a surgeon where I moved as soon as I could. Flash forward 6 months - this was easier said than done, there are not many surgeons doing lapbands in the area I live now, Northern Cali, and the ones that do want a program fee and/or dont even take the insurance I had at the time (tricare). By one year post op, I had still not found a new surgeon but I had lost 39 pounds. I stopped actively losing at about 8 months post op actually. In November of last year I obtained a new insurance carrier and was finally able to get some follow up! When I went in to get a fill though, the doctor could not get any fluid in or out - this started a series of tests to see what was going on. Finally I was diagnosed with a kink at the port site. Boo. By this time it was January 2015 and I had already gained back about 15 pounds. I felt hungry all the time. I could now eat things I couldn't before. The doctor I was seeing referred me to another surgeon who did the most bands in our area. She had a program fee but it was 500 dollars, which was low compared to others in my area. I went ahead and paid it and saw her. She studied all of my tests, looked at my xrays, and tried to access my band. Others had no luck before. The previous doc and the interventional radiologist both thought maybe I had no fluid left! They thought I had a leak! Anyway, my lovely doctor, who is Ahhhhh mazing, was able to access my port and with some manipulation (to straighten my kink) she was able to withdraw the 4cc and then put it back in with one more cc. Yay! I was so excited! I have had two more fills since and have 6cc in a 10cc band currently. Dr. Machado said as long as she can continue to access the port, even though some manipulation is required, we are okay to continue. Obviously, eventually I'll need a port revision. Anyway, I think I may be approaching the green zone. I don't think I'm completely there, however, I have re-commited to following all the rules! My surgeons prescription for now is as follows: start and end my day with a Protein drink 2-3 small meals in between, 1 of these meals may have a carb (other than veggies) The other 2 meals should be protein and veggies Drink my liquids between meals Set a timer and do not drink anything until 30 minutes after my last bite of food I've lost 6 pounds since my last fill and I feel like I am on track again! It feels amazing to be back in some control. My surgeon explained that I was never even in the green zone and she advises her patients that if they don't have any loss for a whole month then to come in for a fill! I am excited again to be on this journey!

Wow - those links were really eye opening. I wish I had access to that information a year or more ago! Thank you!