RobynB1989

7 years ago, almost to the day, my Lap Band was placed. I have hated my band for a long time. I was in between my junior and senior year in college and my mom was very insistent that this is what I needed to be able to get a good job on the other side of my Senior year. She talked about it non-stop and eventually I decided to just go ahead and do it, because if I didn't I would have had to face her disappointment. I did alright with it for a couple months, and I lost a little weight but at one point I stopped making appointments with my surgeon and then I just didn't go back. About a year after my surgery, I got a call from them that I needed to come in and have it checked so I did, but then not even a month later the surgeon was fired. Next thing I knew, 3 years had gone by and I decided I wanted to actually do something about it so I found another surgeon that some people recommended and I went to see him but my esophagus was dilated so he said there was nothing he could really do for me. I spent years abusing it and then I felt like I was a failure. I wish when I was talking about my band, someone had tried harder to talk me into the bypass. Jump forward another couple of years to this April, I was having severe upper abdominal pain and I was very scared that it was my band. I made an appointment to see the doctor that I had seen 3 years ago, just to look at the band, but the pain got too severe. I ended up going to the emergency room. Thankfully it wasn't my band that was the problem, but I did have a pretty severe case of pancreatitis caused by gallstones. The surgeon that took out my gallbladder is actually in the same practice as the other lap band doctor I was seeing. When I went to my 2 week follow up from surgery, Dr. Barker actually mentioned the idea of conversion, and I was very interested in it. The most important part is that my mom was not with me at the time, so any discussion about it was between my doctor and me and I didn’t even tell my mom about it until I had decided that I actually wanted to do it. At first I wanted to do the sleeve, but my doctor told me I should just got straight to the bypass because of how much weight I need to lose. For my insurance I have to do the 6 months of visits with my PCP, meet with a Psychologist, I had to have an upper endoscopy and an Upper GI, and meet with a dietician. My doctor also wants me to lose at least 50 lbs prior to surgery. My upper GI showed that I have gastritis and esophagitis, so now I am in the process of getting my band out soon rather than waiting and doing both things at once. I hate my band so much I don’t want to wait 6 months to get it out. I met with the dietician today and I have to immediately go on the liver shrinking diet and I will be on it indefinitely. I have to lose 20 lbs in 3 weeks and then my MD will schedule the removal surgery and then I have to stay on the diet until my bypass, probably next January. I am having a little anxiety because there is so much to do before I can actually have my bypass and I am only at the beginning. I know that the 6 months will be over before I know it and I’ll be happier on the other side, and that doing all this stuff beforehand will make things easier in the long run, but it seems so daunting. Any words of wisdom or encouragement would be greatly appreciated. 2 months ago I would have never thought I would be in this position, but now I am and I really don’t want to mess it up this time.

I also had the feeling of "why the hell did I do this" but after I started to feel better and saw the scale go down a little, I realized that I did the right thing for me.

I went for my first fill yesturday, and I didnt get numbing medication. i didnt even think to ask. i wish i had though. It was a little painful, and after he stuck me the first time, he told me he had to get a longer needle! The second time hurt worse. but it wasnt too too bad. I may have to ask about it next time.

Hey! i'm 21 and I live in Richmond VA. I got banded by Dr. Elliott, and he was very good if any of you live in Richmond or are willing to make the trip to Richmond

Unfortounately, I am at school which is 4 hours from my doctor, and I am in training to be an RA for the next 2 weeks, so the date that I set for my fill was the only day that I go home because I cant miss any days of training. It kinda sucks. Hopefully I will be too busy to think about food. Honk, I am in the solid foods phase, and my dietician told me that once i phase to solid foods, that I cant have yogurt anymore

I am almost 4 weeks post op, and I am struggling. I just moved back to school, and am hungry all the time, and I find myself either snacking or eating more at mealtime and i am really worried about stretching my pouch and ruining it after only having the band for a month. Can anyone give me any advice? I am not getting a fill for a little more than 2 weeks.

I was using Unjury with water and crystal light. You can get unflavored unjury and it isnt bad and has a ton of protien in it

you are right, it has been VERY hot here the past few weeks. What made you decide to come to Richmond?

Good Luck! I also spent the night in the hospital. I didnt really bring much with me. I brought a pair of shorts to wear under my gown while I was walking around the hospital, and pajama pants to wear when i was going home. I brought my toothbrish and toothpaste and a book to read, but I really didnt have time to read because of the walking, and when I was in bed, I was drifting in and out of sleep because of the morphine. I was literally taking a sip of Water, then falling asleep with the water still in my mouth while spilling the rest of it down the front of me. That happened like 12 times. Dont take any valuables with you. i brought my cell phone so that my mom could contact people to let them know how i did, but other than that, I didnt bring anything else. Good Luck again!!!!!

Good Luck tomorrow!!! (well technically today!) You will do great! I am 3 weeks post-op and feeling great!