I arrived at the hospital at 5:45 am, did all the pre-op (went very smoothly). I met with the nurses and the anesthegiologist and the surgeon. My surgeon's last words, "this shouldn't be a problem I've done 2000, see you when you wake up". They rolled me into the surgery room, strapped me in and said goodnight....

The next thing I know I'm being rolled out of the OR and see my husband talking to the doctor, gave them a small wave and was looking forward to my life as a bandster.

I get settled in my spot in post-op and I over hear the nurse whispering while she's looking at my chart, saying ohhhhhhhhhhh.

The surgeon walks over at this point, while I'm totally out of it and says, "I'm sorry we were unable to place the band". My first thought was, is this a dream? Second thought, a sigh of relief, third thought - What the F????

He tells me that he couldn't get through a wall of scar tissue that was there from a gallbladder surgery I had in 1988. Apparently the scar tissue was so great that there was no way around it.

Now the fun begins...what do I think? what do I feel? all this prep, all the emotion. The surgeon mentions I could have a sleeve done and we can discuss at my post op appt. (not dying to go back to surgery also bad timing to bring this up).

Nurses then came over to me one by one and at least 3 of them said, oh that's too bad, I guess you'll have to do it the old fashioned way...at that moment I was completely defensive and could not believe what I just heard. It came across to me as they were a bit superior and I'm this diet/exercise failure. Which I'm not - I"m very successful at losing, just can't seem to keep it off.

So, now I'm home, experiencing all the pain, soreness and gas that I have prepared to deal with for months, but no band....I'm confused, lost, relieved, excited, sad, just a whole mix of emotion. I hope and I pray that I can turn this whole ordeal into a positive motivational factor to continue on my journey of creating a healthier life. And doing it, "The Old Fashiponed Way".

Thanks Holly thanks Moto - the worst part of all of this is I had the entire surgery, but no band....So, I'm still dealing with the recouperating part...which really sucks! Also, does anyone know if you gain weight by having surgery ? I assume it's water weight, but still not thrilled with the 5lb increase since I worked so hard on the preop....

Now I only have my c-sections to go by, but they pumped me so full of IV's during those that there was a ton of Water in my system. Your legs swell, your hands swell, heck, even my nose swelled...so there has to be weight accompanying that.

That's my very unscientific answer.

Steph (aka Twi)

Thanks Steph...I guess I'm waiting for it to go back down..I need to gain some patience. I had surgery yesterday and I'm thinking the scale should have been back down this morning.

i'm so sorry about what happened. i want to thank you for posting, i also have a big scar from an emergency spleenectomy. i guess i need to check on this too.

baby - thanks, it was actually the scar tissue underneath that you can't see and don't even know is there that developed into a wall the surgeon couldn't and didn't want to try to get through.

Carolk,

I have read on other sites that quite a few people have gained weight immediately after surgery, something to do with the IV's and gas that they fill you up with during the op, but usually drops off again within a week or two.

How are you feeling today?

Danna

DANNA - today I"m physically doing better, but emotionally very bruised...Last night all the emotion came to the surface and the realization that I did all this work and had surgery for nothing...I know all the rhetoric BS of this too shall make me stronger and it happened for a reason, but all I wanted to do was cry and cry I did....

Today I slept in late and woke up thinking..There's a book in this whole story. If I can drop 100pounds in a year I think there's an inspirtational story to be told...Oprah loves that stuff, so why not make my next goal to get on the Oprah show with my story....So, emotionally I'm better today trying to sort out how I feel about the journey I took and the journey ahead of me now. I'm still doing liquids, just because I can't wrap myself around starting real food yet. If I do I'm afraid I will resort to old behaviors....Plus I have 6 big canisters of powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury I purchased.

and how are you doing?

DANNA - today I"m physically doing better, but emotionally very bruised...Last night all the emotion came to the surface and the realization that I did all this work and had surgery for nothing...I know all the rhetoric BS of this too shall make me stronger and it happened for a reason, but all I wanted to do was cry and cry I did....

Today I slept in late and woke up thinking..There's a book in this whole story. If I can drop 100pounds in a year I think there's an inspirtational story to be told...Oprah loves that stuff, so why not make my next goal to get on the Oprah show with my story....So, emotionally I'm better today trying to sort out how I feel about the journey I took and the journey ahead of me now. I'm still doing liquids, just because I can't wrap myself around starting real food yet. If I do I'm afraid I will resort to old behaviors....Plus I have 6 big canisters of unjury I purchased.

and how are you doing?

Carol,

Let me first say that you are an inspiration - to go through all this and still come out with such a positive attitude - I don't know that I could have done the same. To be honest, I am probably a lot better than I think - I'm a real wimp with pain and such and being what my friends term a 'hospital virgin' (never having been in hospital before) I am making the most of being fussed over by DH.

The pain is a lot better today except when I bend in the middle - find it hard to get out of bed but sleep ok. At the moment I just feel tired all the time, but I'm told this is normal as not only have I just had a general anaesthetic but have just come off 4 weeks on a VLCD - so probably don't have as much energy as I normally would. Of course, now that I am allowed full fluids instead of just clear ones I will start to feel better. So tomorrow will start with a walk along my road and hopefully by Sunday a walk around the block.

Love your idea about Oprah - you would be a great spokesperson to let people know not only your own story but why people choose to have the band in the first place.

Keep your chin up - when do you see your Dr again - would he be able to perform a sleeve operation if he can't do the band - i understand they are much safer than a bypass op.

Danna

Carol, glad to hear you feel a better and have new goal...when life gives you lemons ..make lemonade.

I agree with Danna, you are truly an inspiration.

Ruth

Have you gone to anyone else for a second opinion??

Danna and Ruth - thanks for the support, but I haven't really done anything yet, but will hopefully do the right thing and start my new weightloss plan.

Danna - I have the same problem that you are having. I sleep fine, but it hurts when I bend to the left and sit on a chair. The middle of my tummy really is still sore...I'm still taking extra strenght tylenol and let my DH wait on me constantly...love it!!