Well. I had an interesting week. My surgeon, who is supposed to be a pioneer/genius of Bariatric Surgery, pioneering the one-incision technique, called me a band failure and is recommending the gastric bypass.

Long story short: The night of my surgery I was feeling a little odd and asked to see the dr. He shows up and says to me: What? Complaining already? two months later he gives me a 5cc fill in a 14cc band. I feel as if I have no restriction. I lose about 3lbs and then stay. He's not going to fill me b/c I "should have enough restriction." He tells me at the next visit that he can't access my port...it has flipped, but I'm subjected to two radiology visits before it's decided that I need to have another surgery to fix it. Now it's fixed, but I can't get a fill. We wait another month, then I go back to radiology and am told I have a prolapse. I'm unfilled and am told to have liquids for 1 months. Hooray. I go back after two weeks - I'm unfilled and throwing up! Never did when the band was filled. So, I go back...guess what? REFLUX. No evidence of prolapse. so now he's looking at me and says it's my fault. That it is "rare" for the band to cause reflux. I didn't have reflux at all before the band. We discussed my options and it was "decided" that he was not going to fill me until I could show him I could lose weight on my own. (um...Hello? we might not have been acquainted at all if I could have managed to do that AND keep it off!...) So now I feel like I"m being punished. I"m 42 and my dr. is talking to me like I'm a disobedient and willful child.:smile:

So, now I am unfilled and being extremely careful with my diet. I haven't gotten on a scale b/c I just really don't want to see "no change." I feel like I'm barely eating. I don't want to even think about food. I'm living on nectar, and foods that I know are not going to sustain me in the long haul -- I'm terrified of the gastric bypass, I have a young son and am not willing to risk the possibility of death to be thinner, so for me, this is my last shot. I do have an appt. with another Dr. later this month. Even though Genius-Boy is a great doctor (for everyone else) I think our rapport ended once he added me to his roster of patients. I have lost confidence in him and he,in saying, "you are the very definition of band failure" obviously has lost confidence in me.

I guess I need to speak with people who have had similar experiences 7 months out, or problems with reflux and the band, but managed to get on track and lose weight. I'm pretty discouraged.

Hang in there and dont get down on yourself, try out the new doctor and explain all your fears and concerns. I am sure with a doctor that you can communicate with you will be on your way.

hey! congratulations to you! Follow all your instructions and make sure you have a good rapport with your doctor -- so important. And go with your gut feeling.

I'm so happy I came back to the forum, it has helped strenghthen me and feel motivated to find out about my health and to spend less and less time feeling like I failed my band! :wub: