Debanded and depressed

[CatM 0]

Hi. I was initially on here as Shrinking Violet, but I can't remember how to access that account. I was banded November 2004, and I had a fair amount of success. I went from 276 down to 156. I had stalled at 192 for almost 2 years, and then about a year ago, the weight started to drop again, but I also could not keep anything down. I had always had a lot of vomiting with the band and thought it was normal or that I just wasn't chewing carefully enough (that was always a problem for me). Anyway, from October 2007 to May 2008, I went from 190 down to 156.

Aside from the constant throwing up and heartburn, I was pretty happy about the weight loss. My comorbids were gone and I looked much better. I was pretty malnourished, though, so I guess I cannot say I felt better. I had anemia prior to banding, and the anemia progressed; I also became Vitamin deficient in other areas. I started undergoing intravenous Iron replacement therapy.

After the heartburn got severe, I saw my doctor and learned that my stomach had prolapsed. I had to have surgery, with the hope that the band could be repositioned. Unfortunately, the stomach had done something extremely weird (forming pseudotumors), and the band had to be removed, along with the fundus of my stomach.

I really don't know why my doctor did not give me a sleeve gastrectomy since he was cutting off part of my stomach anyway. I am guessing insurance might not have covered the lengthier procedure and hospital stay associated with the sleeve gastrectomy (versus the partial one that I had).

Anyway, my band was removed June 17, and I have gained 17 pounds since then. I do not believe I am seriously overindulgin , and I have even started exercising--something I did not do while banded because the anemia made me too tired. Supposedly, having the fundus removed decreases gherlin and hunger, but I feel hungry all the time. Even right after I eat.

I do not understand how anyone could gain weight this fast. My doctor said I could get rebanded 8 weeks after surgery if I decided to, but I doubt my insurance is going to pay for that now that I have no comorbidities and (had) a BMI of 24 (BMI is now 27).

I am going to join Weight Watchers on Wednesday, but I don't have a lot of hope. If I could lose weight by diet and exercise and keep it off, I never would have gotten banded in the first place. I had lost 80 pounds on Weight Watchers prior to getting banded and regained 100 pounds. I had on another occasion lost more than 50 pounds on Atkins, but I regained all that and more. I'm sure my metabolism is very messed up, too.

Anyway, I don't know if anyone has any advice. I am thinking about maxing out my credit cards to get rebanded, but I'm a single mom and doing that would be financially difficult and make me feel very guilty.

I am feeling pretty depressed today. I had thrown out all my 14+ clothes once I hit 12 (and even my 12s were big), believing that I would never need them again. I fortunately managed to find a pair of 16 pants at the bottom of my closet that missed the purge; otherwise I don't know what I'd have worn today.

Sorry for going on about this. Just figured if anyone would understand, it would be somebody here. A lot of people are offering well-meant advice, but I don't think they really understand how hard it is to lose weight and keep it off for some people. People who never had a serious weight problem always just think it's a matter of willpower, even though science indicates it's much more than simply willpower.

How much does it cost to pay for banding if insurance will not cover it?

Thanks.

CatM :smile2:

[Malibureen 0]

I am so sorry hon. What a frustrating siduation. Even as I was reading I could feel your dissappoinment. Unfortunately I don't have any first hand advice other then I have been banded for 2 years and only lost 20lbs. So I am with you on the frustration wagon. I hope you find a solution. and PS. I had to pay for mine out of pocket 17K

[Nanook 2]

CatM,

I'm sorry to hear about your situation and you're obviously stressed and depressed about this. Have you every considered seeing a therapist to help you deal with this situation? I am one who did not do well with the band and am coming up on my one year anniversary and have nothing to show for it except for the few faint scars. I also understand the fear of gaining weight after a big loss as this has happened to me a few times. Finding someone who deals with eating disorders and women may be helpful to you before freaking out and spending money you don't have on another surgery. Good luck to you Nanook:smile:.

[lljpaisley 0]

I had a similar situation except i just had the band emptied. all of my issues (heartburn, reflux, back pain) stopped the second he emptied the band. Unfortunately i gained 20 pounds back in the 6 weeks the band was emptied. I guess it really is possible to gain that much weight that fast. My band is now almost back to where it was before he emptied it but i have lost nothing. I think i have learned to eat around the band. I am so frustrated.

[jacobsmomyatta 0]

:frown:so sorry! here in michigan @ great lakes weight loss the cost is right around $12k--

[MissMom24 2]

I am so sorry about your band. I hope things are looking up. Dr. Kirshenbaum in Colorado charges 9950.00 for everything.

[c7777christine 1]

I went to mexico with Dr. Rodriguez in Juarez. The whole experience was awesome. I paid 7700 for everything. They do take credit cards. This Dr has done over 5500 bands and is really experienced. He has low problem statistics. You don't want to gain back all your hard work! It's not your fault! Hang in there.

[bandayed 0]

Hi Cat -- I think I remember you. I haven't logged on myself for a couple years. I find my situation alot like yours currently. I was debanded June 4th. I went in to have my band repositioned b/c I had severe gerd, had a swallow study and my Dr diagnosed prolapse. When the Dr got in there he found that my body had made lots of scar tissue around my band. when attemting to move it, the scar tissur punctured my stomach. What was supposed to be a 1 day hospital stay and lap procedure turned into an open procedure and 7 days in the hospital. To top it all off, I lost my band. Aside from the gerd though, I loved my band. I lost 80 lbs and was very close to my goal weight. I was not prepared to lose my band. I can no longer get a band b/c of the scar tissue, so my only future option is a sleeve (that my insurance doesn't cover) or GBP which makes me nervous, and I also won't qualify for at my current weight. I have gained weight like you -- 15lbs, and don't feel like I am eating that badly either. I exercise as well. I just feel like I worked so hard to get here, and I don't want to go back to being fat. All my size 12s are skin tight and I don't even have any 14s left. I feel like I am trying to be pretty good about it, but it's almost inevitable that I gain weight. Like you i am thinking of maxing out the old credit and heading to Mexico or something for a sleeve!

On good days though, I know how hard I worked to get here and how much I don't want the old me back so i am encouraged and know that I'll find the strenght to stick to it. It's just so hard to have been so successful and close to goal to see it all slipping away slowly. I know EXACTLY how you feel. Hang in there though! I think for now I'll try to just stick to diet and exercise and not crazy surgery ideas -- I think my body needs time to heal. I think the large losses and gains we've put ourselves though screws up the metabolism. Gotta give everything a chance to settle down then see where you stand..........keep fighting the good fight sistah!

[Donna113 2]

Please don't get discouraged and feel it's inevitable you will regain the weight. Here's a famous quote by Ford "Whether you think you can or you can't, either way you are right."

Remember, your life is what you make of it and you make of it what you believe. Both of you have worked way too hard for way too long to let it all go downhill now. I believe in you and admire you for what you've already accomplished. I know you can keep it off.

[rockbandster 0]

The LapBand company offers finnancing on the band, up to 7 years through a company called Care Credit.

I suggest going to see an expert on Lap Band complications such as Alan Geiss in Long Island NY to see what can be done.

[juliegeraci 7]

Hi sweety, sorry to hear about your troubles. The best advice I can give you is to rejoin Weight Watchers and do the core program. It is helping me take off the weight. I have lost 8 lbs in 3.5 weeks on core and I eat high Protein, fruits and vegies. If you are always starving you will have to eat more fiberious foods as well as protein. I go to my meetings on Tuesday a.m. My leader is great $15k on a new band. I would try WW for a couple months and see how you do. I was plateaued with my band for 7 months until I joined WW and followed core. I am now 13 lbs from goal with a stretch goal of 28 lbs. You can do it. We are here for you. Congrats on getting back into your exercise routine. Julie

[Paula08 0]

So sorry for your loss of the band. I can say that I definitely understand as i too lost my band during a surgery where my doctor tried to reposition my band. I was beyond sad when I found out it had to be removed. I knew going in that there was a possibility of removal but had kept my positive outlook and neglected to consider it may happen. Anyway, I have struggled too with my weight after removal. Fortunately, I am having a revision done in Sept. where I will be doing RNY surgery so that I can continue to loss weight and get healthy. Keeping weight of permanently has always been a problem for me so I felt it necessary to do something that would keep it off for good. Afer all the changes I made having the band, I think I can easily master what is needed for gastric success.

I would ask your doctor about a revision as some insurances cover it.

Hugs

Paula

[starrgirrl 0]

Dear Cat-

I'm afraid that I don't have any solutions... However I am here to tell you that you're not alone. I was originally banded in 2/2004 and had my band removed on 7/3/08. I haven't had the courage to step on the scale, but my clothes are all tighter on me.

The experience of hunger is scaring me. For most of my banded time, I stopped eating around 5 pm... I wasn't able to process food later in the day and if I did try and eat an evening meal, I had to stay up past my bedtime.

Now I'm getting hungry again around 6pm and need to eat an evening meal.

I was uprepared emotionally to feel that kind of hunger again. Just typing this makes me want to cry. People are giving me well-meaning advice, but I just can't seem to make them understand how terrifying it is to think that my only option right now to control the number creeping up on the scale is something akin to Weight Watchers. Well, shucks, if that had worked in the first place I wouldn't have required surgery.

Due to scarring, I'm not a candidate for rebanding, at least not through my health care provider.

I'm sending lots of prayers to all of us experiencing this challenge!!!

[privatedancer7 1]

Hello. I forgot how to post this message so all that I can do is reply. SIne we were debanded about the same time I wanted to ask you if acid reflux is common after debanding. It has been two weeks and it just happened. It appears to be hard to manage.

Private Dancer7

Banded 3/21/08

Debanded 8/8/08