Finally Free!

[Dara Levy 8]

It's out! No more band. I'm so happy. And surgeon was able to do the bypass even thOugh she said there was a lot of scar tissue and part of stomach is attached to my spleen. Going home from the hospital today. I highly recommend dr. Pratt at mass general in Boston. Surgery took 4 hours. I'm sipping liquids which seem to be going down without a problem. What's great is that I no longer feel like I have pressure in my chest. I'm so looking forward to losing weight and being healthy. The diabetes is gone too. Only have to take thyroid med from now on. It only Took five years to get the band out. I'm so happy. Feel free to ask me questions. I would love to know my experience could help someone else out.

[jodie1961 77]

Congrats Dara! I can not even imagine. I have my appt at the my doctor's office tomorrow. As of Friday, no word on authorization from the insurance company for my lapband removal and RNY bypass surgery. Keeping my fingers crossed that we will here by my appt time tomorrow. They said towards the end of the year the insurance companies get backed up, so three weeks is pretty normal.

Praying for a speedy recovery for you, keep us posted.

[Dara Levy 8]

Jodie, I do hope the process goes well for you. Stick with it even if it takes a long time. It took me a full year to get surgery once I connected with the fabulous surgeon I have now. I have to say recovery this time is so different from my previous two lap band surgeries. The pain is the same but my digestive habits are not. Sorry if I share too much but my experience may help prepare someone else. I have diarhea all day, am never hungry (this was the same with the other surgeries only much more intense), and have an aversion to all things sweet. I mean I can't stand the thought of chocolate anything or fruit flavored either. I only want savory food. I'm even more liking milk which has been my favorite food my whole life. So between the food aversion and lack of hunger I'm struggling to get my daily requirements in. I read up on the aversion issue and it seems to be specific to bypass and sweet tastes. I have lost 8lbs since surgery on Friday and can't wait until I can sleep on my side again. Hurts too much to sleep anywhere but in the recliner right now. Also for those who are either thinking of getting lap band or are converting from the Lapband, my surgeon basically had to do bypass as my stomach had folded up and adhesed to my spleen. She had a very hard time getting enough good stomach to make the pouch. I so regret ever getting the band.

[jodie1961 77]

Hope you are feeling better and getting much needed rest. Congrats on the 8lbs off. Will probably be much more by now. My upper GI Friday went well, no stomach flap or folded over above the pouch. Just terrible reflux since the band was unfilled. I will talk to my Dr this next week about the UGI results, and should have insurance letter by then. will let you know what we find out. Keep in touch, and take care.