Where to begin? In 2010 I was 340 and miserable, felt as though I was standing on a cliff hanging on by my toes. I decided to check into bypass surgery as I had a friend who had been successful with it. My insurance covered a local dr and clinic. Well, this is where things went wrong! The Dr. was interested in treating me with the tenants newest, safest, fasted and longest lasting, easiest way to lose weight - the lap band. As many patients would do, I got behind the Dr. and was all in, gastric bypass was left in the dirt. So I went through all the meetings, the appointments, the counseling etc, then it was liquid Pre Op diet and a loss of 25 pounds through that, surgery was in October 2010. I followed the guidelines exactly, but something was wrong, I could feel it. I went in for a check and met with nurse practitioner not the Dr. I was given and adjustment, actually a fill, i found out much later it was filled too full. The next day I called the clinic and said nothing was going down at all. 5 cc's were removed and at clinic I drank some water and it went through ok. A few weeks went by with a me thinking I was just eating wrong, things would get stuck and I couldn't breath, I would have to drink water fast to either push food through or bring it to back up. While this was happening I received a letter from the clinic informing me that my Dr was leaving the clinic immediately, but the nurse practitioner would be there for a month or so still. I felt betrayed, my lap band wasn't working properly and the Dr and the clinic were now abandoning their patients. I called my insurance and no providers were found within 60 plus miles. I gave up, lived with the band in and learned how to defeat the band, still having things get stuck but most times I could push it through by drinking water. My family hated eating with me because it usually turened into a barf fest and ruined dinner for all. 2014 rolled around and I found a Dr closer, only 45 miles away, I made an appointment and went. The Dr was rude and told me I was eating wrong and so on and so forth. He removed all the fluid from band and told me when I was serious, then come see him again. There were no x-rays or exam of any type done. I left feeling low enough to crawl under a dime. I scoured the Internet for information, went to a soft food diet even. But things were so bad I would throw up with cold water even. December of 2014 I went to the Dr because I just felt terrible, weak, dizzy, tired all the time and intermittent chest pains. The Dr told me to lose weight. My wife got very upset and made an appointment at a different clinic with her Dr. January 2015 my wife and I went to my appointment. I told him of the chest pains I was having and was having right then in his office, they took an xray and an ekg. The ekg was not right and the xray showed possible blockage. Before I could finish the testing I got sweaty, dizzy and next thing I know, I woke up in the back of an ambulance. They suspected it was a heart attack. I spent three days in the ecu unit getting tests. It was found my lap band was positioned wrong and was causing issues similar to heart attack. It just so happened that a gastric specialist was working in the hospital for the week from mayo clinic. As the hospital had a policy of no gastric bypasses or weight loss surgery, he attempted to get a needle in my port which was turned, he pulled 6 cc's of fluid out on a band that was supposedly already empty. He told me I needed to have it removed as soon as possible. When my insurance company was contacted, they said that the UW Hospital was now in our network, I made an appointment, got in immediately and well.........here I am, 7 days away from having roux en y surgery and lap band removal. The education and nutritionists and Dr's and support has been overwhelming to me, I am so happy to know that I will now get this foreign body out of me, have the bypass and move on positively with my life and extending the time I have to live with family and friends. Sorry for the long post, but this morning when I weighed and realized I had broke the 280 mark I was extatic and felt free of the lap band monkey on my back.

Wow. I mean... Wow! You've definitely been on an unpleasant journey. So happy to hear your revision is only a week away. Congrats on making it through the fire and back out into the world. Best of luck!

Wow, you have been through the ringer! I cannot imagine living with your situation for so darn long. You must have the patience of a saint.

I hope that everything goes well for you. I am guessing with what you have been through bypass will be like a walk in the park.

I have been so happy with the results of mine and have never felt better. (Ok, that's a little white lie, if I were 20 again I felt better then, LOL)

Keep us updated on your progress and certainly reach out if you have questions or need help.

I say WOW too!

you've been thru so many unnecessary hurdles and complications!

When I had my band, I NEVER had more than 1 cc - that was even too much... so I cannot imagine having as many cc's as you did! I can't believe that d*ck doctor you had that told you to come back when you're serious... I would go back to him and tell him a piece of my mind and tell him what is happening to you now! I would also file a complaint against him. I hope all goes well and perfect and keep us in the loop!

take care

Heather

Well, I had the conversion surgery on 10/26! I woke up 5 1/2 hours after start of surgery in excruciating pain. My left shoulder felt as though it had been dislocated due to the position it had to be in for surgery, and the time length. There was a lot of scar tissue to deal with from the lap band, so i was quite bruised around the incisions. The left two incisions had so much swelling around them that they both looked like inee belly buttons! Talk about emotional, whew! I felt like the hoover dam had opened the first two nights. Then all of a sudden I had a smile, they let me walk on my own, I was able to pee without getting cathed, and fluids were going in me on my own. The next day they said I could go home, day 4! I was so excited! Just as we were getting in wheelchair to go down to car, nurse nasty shows up and says, we have two shots to give you before you go. So, boom, left arm, wham, right arm and a here sign this. What am I signing I ask, realizing was already too late! Consent and understanding risks of flu and pneumonia vaccine! Oh no you didnt? I already had this conversation prehospitilization and refused both shots. I refused to sign and was pretty upset. Got down to car in tears and told my wife, she went in and conversed with nurse who delivered me to car. I live 50 minutes from hospital. By the time we got home I was sick, temp over 101. Called Dr pager number and he called back within 10 minutes. Told him the problem and he too was not pleased. He or a nurse called every 2 hours as my temp spiked to102.5. Then after 4 days it broke and I was weak but felt good. This morning I stepped on scale and was 251lbs. I see dr. tomorrow morning and I'm happy happy happy! I hope the devil has realized he lost and moves on. I finally feel good!

Wow! you have had quite a journey thus far and are an example of commitment and courage. I wish you speedy recovery from the surgery and wild success!