icerobinmom

I had my lapband out 3 days ago. My band malfunctioned, and leaked, but it also caused a hernia & 3 esophogeal ulcers. Before it came out, I hadn't been able to drink or eat without throwing up, even just Water for 15 days, so my insurance considered this an emergency, and approved the procedures. So far my recovery is going great. I had a wonderful surgeon (not the same doctor that put it in), and he took great care of me. He also worked with a GI to ensure that everything wrong was corrected at the same time. My wound sites are tender, but I am walking, moving, and sleeping. I'm also eating liquids and keeping them down. My surgeon only takes lapbands out, he refuses to place them. He says he's seen too many problems - mostly because the offices don't make follow-up a priority. In Europe, where the band is successful, most primary care doctors know how to do fills, and take care of patients, whereas here, only the doctors offices that place bands do, and in my experience - they don't want to take care of you after surgery. I lost 64 pounds over 3.5 years. I am happy with my weight loss, and am hoping just to maintain for a while, then lose more through normal lifestyle changes. I won't have any more surgical solutions.

Hi everyone. I am so excited now that I have my insurance approval. It has been a long road to get here, that is for sure. I am 41 years old and a single mom of a great 11-year old daughter. I live in southern california, and love to hike, camp, ride bikes, and swim. Some of these have been very hard activities for the past 10 years. I logged in today to get more info from people who have been here.