Finally made up my mind to have my band removed

taylorrae9 · July 10, 2006

Karel,

Thank you for your post. I left the boards last Feb and have been struggling since. I had my fill undone due to a lot of vomiting. Then over the next three months I slowly gained back 20 pounds. The I felt so much panic that I called the MD and I ran back for two more fills.

At this point I also eat liquids and on a good day soft foods. I have been at stage one except for when I had the fill removed. I was 303 in 11/04 and went to 232 in about a years time and now I am at 242. So I am happy about the weight loss but have been stuggling for months to loose the weight I gained. I feel like I have consumed so little food and can't imagine why I am not thinner.

Now I am being offered a revision which I wanted but I feel so conflicted. I will meet with the MD this week to disuss my options. I have three children (3, 8, 20) and am scheduled for the revision on Aug 21 but that is the first day of school. I was schedule a few weeks back but the doctor canceled due to the number od surguries pending and said mine was much more risky. I scared me...a lot.

This was a simple safe procedure which is so complicated now, It seems like the timing is off because of the little ones. I feel frustrated and am thinkinf I am doing well given I eat so little. I so want to eat a simple salad, a piece of fruit or a small peice of chicken. I am tired of the protien drinks and vit drinks but am afraid I'll just gain the weight all back. The MD has recommended the RNY.

I am so unsure with all that I am looking at. It seems like a lot of people are stuggling and it feels good to not be alone. (although I am sorry for everyone who is struggling)

I was wondering if there were struggling people like me and am so glad you shared your story. I hope you feel better soon and take the time to heal. It seems like in all of this that the message is all about self-care and support. take care and again thank you.:confused:

GeezerSue · July 10, 2006

Because I didn't want to go from one bunch of rules about what I "could" or "couldn't" eat to another, and because of other issues, I opted for the DS surgery instead of RnY.

So did Rachele. Others have had RnY and VG.

Learn all about ALL of the surgeries, pick the one that's right for YOU and fight for it if need be.

Good luck,

Sue

rachele · July 11, 2006

Just adding after 3 years of "I can't eat this, I can't eat that" (and not because I wanted junk food-that would ALWAYS go down, I wanted chicken, or a sandwich!) I am absolutely delighted with my DS. Do it again in a heartbeat. I am 1 pound away from my lowest band weight, and don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

I love it!

taylorrae9 · July 16, 2006

I am sorry that your incision is infected. It seems like this procedure was presented as an easy surgery but it has been real hard. I am finally able to eat now. I am going to work out everyday as well to counter act the food I am eating.

I have been in the same process as you. I went to the MD Friday and after trying for 18 months to loose wieght we desided I should have a revision. Something we have been talking about for a year although he wishes I would keep trying to make the band work. I have a choice but the revision is already approved. :think

I am just torn about my options. I asked for the Duodenal Switch and he thought I would have a lot of problems... long term and suggested the Gastric bypass and then we talked about the sleeve. I am scheduled for August 15 at 7 am. I am afraid if I do not do the bypass piece I might regret it. Yet, I weigh 242 most days and he thinks no matter what I do I will loose 60-70 pounds which is okay for me.

It was hard because I wanted him to take the Fluid out of the band so I could eat but the last time we did that I gained 20 pounds. He would like me to keep trying and talked about only taking a small amount of saline out and that we might hit the magic spot. I agreed because unless I wanted the band removed and no more wls he was clear loosing more weight would be ideal and that gaining so was not an option.

I ended up falling apart after the appointment. I don't cry often but today I did. I am so disappointed that the band did not work for me and that I have struggled so hard with only lost 60 pounds. Now, I will face another surgery. I am torn about which one. I am so tired and I feel so discouraged most of the time but I will move forward. The doctor suggested I might be consuming more calories than I think. I offered to write it all down and let him take a look next time we meet. It seems the story of my life is someone saying are you sure your not eating more...are you exercising.... He was nice about it but it was hard for me.

So for me I am facing surgery a week before school starts for my two girls and then my son goes a week later to preschool. The timing is a bit off but I am really tired of not eating and not loosing weight. We were going to put it off until they were settled in but not eating is really shoving me over the edge.

If I am going to suffer I should at least be loosing weight. It is so funny because I am doing all this so I can get a hip replacement. I just want to feel better and be better for my family. I want a better quailty of life.

Take care,

Taylorrae9

Karel M · July 16, 2006

I am doing Jenny Craig since I had my band taken out and I am loving it. The food is delicious and I don't feel deprived at all. I am one who didn't want to have to deal with the hanging flesh that rapid losing causes because I have chronic intractable pain. When I have to have any surgery, plastic or otherwise, the drs have a hard time controlling my post op pain. I see how miserable a few of my friends are who have the bypass. They try every food to see if they can have it without having dumping. Is that how you want to live the rest of your life? I certainly don't. I made up my mind that Jenny Craig is going to be the last plan I do. I made a rather hefty investment in being a lifetime member and I have lost 8 lbs in 3 wks with the setback of my incisional infection. I am on the mend now and feeling great. Good luck in what ever you do. Karel

GeezerSue · July 17, 2006

I am doing Jenny Craig since I had my band taken out and I am loving it. The food is delicious and I don't feel deprived at all. I am one who didn't want to have to deal with the hanging flesh that rapid losing causes because I have chronic intractable pain. When I have to have any surgery, plastic or otherwise, the drs have a hard time controlling my post op pain. I see how miserable a few of my friends are who have the bypass. They try every food to see if they can have it without having dumping. Is that how you want to live the rest of your life? I certainly don't. I made up my mind that Jenny Craig is going to be the last plan I do. I made a rather hefty investment in being a lifetime member and I have lost 8 lbs in 3 wks with the setback of my incisional infection. I am on the mend now and feeling great. Good luck in what ever you do. Karel

Just adding that the DS does not cause dumping. More poop every morning, for sure...but not dumping.

rachele · July 17, 2006

Is that how you want to live the rest of your life? I certainly don't.

I'd rather live it that way than obese.

I don't dump. I have a DS.

cathmo · July 23, 2006

Hi Karel,

I'm sorry to hear that you had to have your band taken out, but I totally understand. May I ask when you were banded? When did you start having problems.

I'm having problems even just a couple months after banding, and I'm considering having my band removed. I'm in pain everyday and I just can't live on mushed up or liquid food the rest of my life. This is no life to live.

Cathy in Arkansas

Ok, an update, my band is out and the surgery was much easier than the surgery to put it in. I feel so much better to be able to swallow and enjoy my food. For now I doing Weight Watchers on my own, but mom is going to join L A Weight Loss soon, and if she finds it successful I will probably join also.