Start here
Where are you in your journey?
Choose the path that fits today. We’ll take you to the most useful discussions.
- GLP-1 medication Zepbound, Wegovy, access, side effects, progress, and support.
- Before surgery Compare procedures, plan ahead, and get honest pre-op answers.
- Post-op Recovery, food stages, symptoms, and support.
- Long-term Regain, labs, habits, and life after the honeymoon.
- Revision Explore revision options, complications, and next steps.
My story starts back in July 2005 when I was banded by Dr S at Cleveland Clinic Weston, FL. I did lose some weight initially but as I got used to feeling my band the weight loss stopped. I kep getting tight fills but always within two weeks was back to eating everything with no problem. I finally convinced my doc that I was leaking and not staying tight, so he checked and YES it was leaking and not holding a fill. Since I was self pay, I fought with them for months and finally got a brand new band installed in Feb 2007.
After all that I was getiing billed for evrything and had to fight more to get the charges finally dropped. I was so disgusted with the whole thing and going through a lot of other crap, divorce, financial problems, etc... so I just put it on the back burner since I couldn't afford the $800 they had raised the cost of a fill to.
About 2 months ago I decided to try fill center USA and went to a doc in miami(if you want to know who email me direct) and he could not access my port, I left a badly bruised pin cushion. Then went back 3 weeks later to try floro. Same thing, bruised pin cushion and he said my port was flipped and was impossible to get to.You could imaging how upset I was after all I had been through.
Sooo, finally yesterday I went to my original surgeon at Clev Clin, he accessed it in 30 seconds!!!!!! and filled me up tight.
I never felt this way before. Finally my band is tight and working!!!! I can only tolerate liquids, only Protein shakes, chicken broth, homemade veggie Soup pure and a few bites of yogurt so far. It takes me 2 hours at least to get down a shake. And I even had the yucky reflux last night when I went to lay down which I have heard so much about over the past 3 years. I never thought it would work for me. But now I am on my way!!!!!
I am glad I found this site, its full of great info. Looking forward to getting to know some of you.
Nicole