Trying to change but unsure what to do....

[PositiveChanger 0]

Hello,

Sorry for the long post, but I would like to get some advice.

I am very new to the group, but have been hovering around for awhile. Thank you in advance for listening to me share this bit of turmoil.

I am in Northern Indiana and I was a lapband recipient in 2008, since then I have not been compliant and now subsequently weigh 20 lbs more than I did on my original surgery date. I know I am extremely unhealthy and really worry about my health and how sedentary I have become and I worry that I will not be around to see my 4 and 6 year old grow up (they are adopted). My lapband is not really causing me many problems, though I have really bad gag reflexes and I get what I call "fat cramps" in my belly if I turn the wrong way or strain my abdomen. Part of me would like to start getting fills again, but I worry that it may cause longer term problems that I have seen addressed on this forum (e.g. scare tissue or slippage). I believe the sleeve may be a better option for me, since I have a disease called porphyria that needs a certain level of carbs to stay in check (as apposed to bypass). I have reached out to a Bariatric group (not the group that did my original surgery) because I wanted to talk to a surgeon about my options and it has been very challenging to get it. It has been a bit like Fort Knox, they won't schedule an appointment until the Dr. looks through my operative notes and determines if I am a candidate. They have not requested any other information. Mind you, I have been trying for about a month. If I am having this challenges now, what will it be like in the future? Also, why would you need to beg to see the dr? I may consider going to see my original dr, but I feel like such a failure going to see them. Also, now it is just the surgeon and an NP. There is no real dr. support outside of the scope of surgery. Plus I worry about the "see I told you so mentality".

Supposedly my insurance company will cover both procedures (gave them the surgery codes), but I have to show 6 months of progress. For the lapband I paid out of pocket. Ideally I would like to use insurance this time but I am not adverse to paying out of pocket, if necessary.

I really want to make a change, I have already started to make some basic changes to my diet but I really want to work with a bariatric doctor to ensure that all my health needs are carefully considered before taking the leap. However, having said this I need to make some sort of decision soon, something has got to give...preferably the weight. I don't want to take the quick way out, because I know I have to make better decisions about food prior to surgery so that I can maintain after surgery. Honestly, I really want someone who will work with me to make the best decision for my life.

Does anyone have any suggestions or have you been through similar situations?

[Pauliegroup 26]

If you are near Chicago you should see suburban Surgical Associates part of Kane baristric center.

I had the band in 2008 and did great until about 2014. Then weight came back. I had a revision last month. Gastric Sleeve. Dr. Paul Guske did both procedures. Go see him.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using BariatricPal mobile app

[ZinNH 173]

Are there any other programs near you? If you need to go back to the original surgeon, there's no need to be embarrassed. Trust me, you are not the only lapband patient for whom the lapband didn't work. I was in the same position, where I was too ashamed to go back to my surgeon after I failed. I sucked up my pride and went to her and asked to have the band removed. She didn't even flinch. She just said that it obviously hasn't helped me, and it was time for it to Come out.

For my sleeve surgery, I went to a different program, one that is closer to my house Around here, most surgeons seem to understand that the lapband didn't live up to its promises, and very few of them are even doing the surgery any more, since they want their patients to be successful .

hang in there. You'll figure it all out!