Lap Band is coming out soon, possible revision to RNY after and I'm scared!!

I had my Lap Band placed in 2009 at a weight of around 340 lbs. It was a very painful, difficult experience which ended with them removing all fluid due to gastric ulcers, constant stomach swelling and inability to keep any food down without pain.

I lost about 20 lbs with the LapBand before it had to be deflated, but regained it all and am now sitting at 355, just 5 lbs under my highest weight of 360 lbs.

I have approached three different Bariatric Surgeons here in central NC about removing my Lap Band, one refused to even see me because of my history and complications, and one made me feel like a complete failure and refused to remove my band.
Yesterday, I met with Dr. Enochs who is with Bariatric Specialists of NC and this wonderful man is going to take this thing out, FINALLY! After almost 4 years of my body saying "NO, take it out." I finally have a doctor willing to listen and do it.
I'm super excited about this part, but I am in the position that I would really benefit from more surgical intervention and am researching RNY as an option. My doctor agrees and would like to do it after we give my stomach time to heal from removing the band and making sure there's nothing wrong with my stomach itself.
But, while my logic is telling me it has the potential of being the best thing I could ever do for myself, I'm simply terrified of going from an obese sick person to a smaller sicker person. I've spent pretty much my whole life as a sick person. Asthma, PCOS, severe allergies, HS (God awful skin condition), joint problems, severe depression, anxiety, acid reflux, Lap Band issues etc. and I just want it to stop. I just want to be healthy.

I guess I'm looking for people who are or have been in situations kind of like mine, where you have to make the decision between the known and the unknown and how it turned out or how you made your decision.
Thanks!

I am so glad you found a surgeon who is going to help you through this process. You've come to the right place here as there are lots of us who have been through this and are coming out the other side. Everyone's experience is different, so I can only share my own. I had several complications with my Band and after 7 years of feeling crappy, vomiting, not losing weight etc. I had revision to RNY 7 days ago.

So far I can honestly say that the pain and recovery from this surgery has been significantly easier than any of my previous abdominal surgeries - gall bladder, 2 C-sections, Lapband - the pain is more discomfort. I'm sore but it's not hard for me to move around. I'm mostly tired and weak from lack of food, but that gets better each day. I'm able to drink all that's required with no difficulties.

You might want to consider CBT therapy or OA to help you with the fear of being thin and to help you with your food issues. CBT therapy has been so helpful for me and anything you do now to prepare for the future is worth it's weight in gold!

Hope some of this helps. Feel free to stay in touch. Best of luck on your journey.

Ashley

We are sorry to hear all you are going through.  Please keep us updated

Thanks a lot, Ashley! (: Your input was helpful. Good luck with your recovery!

Glad I can help. Feel free to friend me or send me an e-mail if you have any questions or just need some support as you make these big decisions. One thing I've learned the second time around is that I can't do this on my own and there is no shame in holding out your hand asking for some help or just a reassuring squeeze!

Ashley

Before i had my revision i had to see a psychologist for 4 sessions.  I was the first revision that my surgeon had done.  I am so glad i did those.  I did not want the RNY when i had the lap band placed and was very against it.  My surgeon and i had a very loud disagreement but he helped me to understand that with RNY everything i eat would not go straight thru me which is what i was afraid of.

 

When i had my surgery we were not sure i would have the rny at the same time. My first words when i woke up was "did he do the RNY."  i am so glad he was able to do everything in 1 surgery. 

it is good that they are going to wait between so that your stomach can heal since you have had so much issues.

I do recommend asking Dr. Enoch's if he can recommend a psychologist that deals with weight loss.  I hope after surgery you are the healthiest you have ever been!!! i know that i am healthier now than when i was a skinny teenager.

 

Tamara

Thanks for the response, I have had one visit with a Psychiatrist that specializes in working with bariatric patients and she is awesome. I plan on seeing her several more times throughout this whole process. I still have some fears about RNY, but my logic is telling me that it's the best choice I could make out of the few options I have.

I stopped taking my PPI about a week ago now and I'm feeling all the pain, bloating, gas, acid, stomach swelling and gnawing and soreness that I did right after they banded me and I can't wait to never feel this again. I can't even articulate how tired I am of chronic hiccoughs and regurgitating food. I'm so ready for this part of my journey to be over!

 

Katie

Sorry you had trouble in NC. I live here and Dr. Yoo at Duke did my band to bypass.  My BF and her husband both had RNY with Dr. Enochs and say his staff and bedside manner are top notch.

Revision to RNY was the best thing I ever did. I only lost 27 pounds in 7 years with the band... I am down 76 pounds in 6 months with RNY.

Best of luck,

 

So glad to hear you found a surgeon to take the band out.  Those doc's that make you feel like you failed are full of it, this board is full of those that the band failed.  There is a whole group here, Failed bands, check it out.

I had the band removed and had to wait 4.5 months before getting sleeved.  I am doing so much better with the sleeve than the band.  You might also want to research the DS as an option.  Good luck with your surgeries.

Thanks for the support!

I have looked into DS, the sleeve and RNY as options and my biggest concern with the other surgeries is the acid reflux and the pyloric valve.  Would a DS surgery make my acid reflux worse or better?

Katie