DESPERATE, Please Help
(deactivated member)
on 5/11/11 4:11 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
on 5/11/11 4:11 am - Califreakinfornia , CA
On May 2, 2011 at 9:45 AM Pacific Time, Tiffany B. wrote:
First, I want to apologize for the long post.I had lap band surgery April 2008. I was doing great, no significant problems or issues. I lost weight, felt wonderful, didn't need any medications anymore etc. In August of 2008 my husband (who was our ONLY income provider) abandoned me with no money, all the bills, and no more health insurance, for some woman he had been sneaking around with for a LONG time.
My last Dr. appointment and fill was in July of 2008. Since then I have been trying to work which is hard because of the economy. Im in survival mode, I have two kids, I do not have insurance and medicaid says I'm "too healthy" for benefits...
Food gets stuck CONSTANTLY, I have severe-wakes-me-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-choking-throwing-up reflux and horrible constant pain in my stomach and the middle of my back. I haven't eaten more than a 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes and a piece of fish (the kind you get in the bag at wal-mart 30 for $11) a day for the past 5 months and that takes me around 3-4 hours to eat. Anything else I try to eat I bring right back up...
Since Easter 2011 I have not had a meal-NOTHING-I am barely surviving on Ensure drinks and most of the time I bring those up as well. I burp constantly when I am laying down on my left side and when I lay on my back or right side I feel my throat getting filled with acid.
I didn't have my surgery in Jacksonville so the surgeons I have spoken to here will not even talk to me unless I pay a program fee. Because I have a balance with my old surgeon due to my ex leaving the way he did- I am unable to get any of my records other than a few pictures that were given to me post-op.
I can not afford program fees, I do not have insurance, I JUST started another temporary job. I'm a very hard worker but for some reason no one in Jacksonville is hiring permanent full time Project Coordinators/Admin Assistants but rather it is ALWAYS temporary. Therefore the whole "I will wait until I find a job with insurance and an income lasting an indefinite period of time to get my band fixed" excuse is killing me. Its been almost 3 years. I feel helpless and pathetic and overwhelmed.
I have no idea why I am writing this post besides to get this out there and relieve the added stress of all these emotions and fears that lack of eating due to inability to care for my lapband is going to send me to an early grave.
Does anyone know if there are options? I am sure I am not the only person to have loads of bad luck. I am so very sorry for my long rant. Thanks for reading, advice is MUCH appreciated