Hello everybody,

I'll be getting my VSG in exactly three weeks on Aug. 31 in Houston, although I live in Atlanta. I'm very optimistic that this procedure will be longer lasting and easier to manage than my Lap-Band, which had to be removed three months ago.

I lost about 50 lbs in 15 months with the band, but something went very wrong in those last couple of months. I could hardly keep any food down, occasionally even vomiting into a napkin at the table. Nothing is more embarrassing and disgusting! I thought I just had horrible acid reflux, but meds never seemed to help. It got worse when I couldn't even keep liquids down and was notieably dehydrated. Losing 8 lbs. in one week was also a big clue.

I went to the emergency room three months ago anticipating getting all of the Fluid in the band removed. It didn't quite work out that way. They took an X-ray and discovered my band had slipped and that my stomach was herniating through my band. They were worried about necrosis, as they couldn't hear the normal stomach sounds through the stethoscope. I had to go into emergency surgery within hours to remove the band. I had been self-pay, so I asked that my doctor take that into consideration when they got in there to see what was going on. Well, he just took it out.

I was extremely depressed for the next week, feeling like I was right back where I started. I have type II diabetes and hypertension, and my mother died at 45 with these same conditions. Doing nothing special about my weight and health was simply not an option! Finally I spoke with my original surgeon in Houston, who told me about VSG. I went online to do the research and started feeling hopeful again.

My surgeon's office also told me about Care Credit, so I can make monthly payments over 5 years to pay for my VSG. Clearing the time off with work was the last obstacle. It's finally happening Aug. 31st. I'm thrilled!

travelchick

Travelchick,

Your story sounds alot like mine but my stomach actually got necrotic. You will love the sleeve. I got mine 3 months to the day they removed my band. That is as soon as I could get it. I was self pay also and used care credit. Man.....the interest rate and still paying on a band I dont have.

Hi and welcome to VST! You will find many of us here who have revised from the band to the sleeve. I did mine at the same time and have not regretted it once. It was like getting my life back. You will be so happy not to have to worry about whether you are too tight or too loose, if you are going to have to run for the bathroom while out with friends to bring up your meal, etc. It really is a completely different lifestyle, one that you will love.

I had my band removed and was sleeved after suffering severe slippage twice. Both times the slippage occurred after bouts of vomiting caused by terrible reflux. It was a nightmare and the band had slipped down a third of the way down my stomach when it was removed. I am now just over a month out and have no regrets whatsoever. I am glad it's out!

Good luck with your future surgery.

Helen xxx

I am thrilled to have that band sitting on my dresser and not wrapped around my stomach.

Life is so much better with the sleeve. I wish I had known about the sleeve from the very beginning.

I feel so bad for people who are so excited to be getting ready to have band surgery.

I feel like they don't know they are having a ticking time bomb installed inside of them.

:001_smile:I too am using care credit for my surgery. I have had many insurances and have always been denied. My surgery is Monday and I am on my liquid diet, after reading all these stories I am glad that I did not have the band. I thought about it and talked to my surgeon about it, but even he said there was a big failure rate. I don't understand why doctors are still doing band surgeries.:biggrin2:

That's a really good question. I was just at my support group tonight and I felt so sorry for all those people who were so excited to

that they were going to have band surgery. I wanted to tell them they were all making a big mistake, but unfortunately, the ins. companies are paying for bands these days and not sleeves. That is definitely going to change.

It's so comforting to know so many of you have found success with VSG after a band complication or failure.

After getting some family help in addition to my own money in order to pay for my band, I'm not thrilled to buy a whole other surgery. However, I can't think of a better investment than my health. A monthly payment to Care Credit will be tough, but worth it.

travelchick

Congratulations on your surgery date!!

I've always been curious as to why people got the band?

It never crossed my mind to get it done...I guess it's because I knew if I was going to have WLS it was going to be PERMANENT. It was between the sleeve and Duodenal Switch, and that was because I had so much to lose, but am very happy with the sleeve!

I know you will be too!