I guess I should introduce myself.... (long)
My name is Tonya... and I am hoping to revise from band to sleeve this year. My story is somewhat long and sometimes depressing, but I guess it's made me who I am - so it's worth telling:
1974: I was born. Lol… I am not planning to give a day by day, but my trouble started soon after!! I was born underweight.... so, my mother decided to "fatten me up" and by 6 months old I was a butterball. It got worse from there! Now, fast forward -
2007: After a lifetime of weight issues and every diet you can imagine, I had gained to 312. So, I decided I had to do something to change my weight. One of my BFFs had RNY in 2006 and did well, but had a lot of minor complications and just overall never felt well (still doesn't). So, I was not even interested in considering RNY. I was determined to get the Lap-Band, despite what the doctor's said about it's success!
2008: After a job (and insurance) change, and some issues with doctors/insurance, I finally had my consultation. The MD required me to lose 40 pounds prior, which I did on OptiFast. I finally had Lap-Band in October 2008 w/ no complications from surgery itself. Not a lot of pain or problems with recovery.
2009: My first fill, the end of 2008, was uneventful. I had another in February 2009 and it caused a lot of pain and regurgitation. I went back for look under fleuro…. Everything appeared to be fine. Struggled with being stuck and throwing up, but MD did another small fill a couple months later. Again, problems. I could eat all kinds of “crap” but chicken and other healthy foods were a nightmare! Unfill… Fill… Unfill…. Fill…. Unfill!! You get the point. It has continued this way ever since!! I can either eat nothing or everything! Hardly any weight loss!
2010: A lot of the same, but with slow, steady weight gain.
2011: Struggled to maintain and at least not gain, with very little MD follow-up. Had back surgery in January. Developed a staph infection and was home bound for 11 weeks. No activity and a lot “boredom” snacking added about 20 pounds. On a positive note, in August, my hubby & I signed a contract to build our first home. In September – my best friend died three days after a brain aneurysm. My world completely fell apart. Weight, food, whatever – really didn’t matter. I just spent each day on auto pilot & I ballooned to 317. Over 30 pounds above surgery weight.
2012: January – we found out my Mother had an ovarian "mass" and my FIL had cancer. Within a month, he was gone. Our family was again devastated… I had re-injured my back… and our house was complete and ready for us to move. So, in February, we lost and buried my FIL, moved into a new house, and I had back surgery #2. Thank God, I didn’t have any complications this time!! But, five weeks later, my Mother had surgery to remove the ovarian tumor. She did okay initially, but soon started having complications. She was in & out of the hospital 9 times from April to June. She finally had to start dialysis. She did great at first, but in August, developed sepsis from an infection in the dialysis port. She was in the hospital from August 29 until I lost her, October 4. The day before my birthday. These major life stressors and situations make life with the band very frustrating. With my mom so sick, I was with her in the hospital 24/7 for over four weeks. It’s hard to make healthy choices (even hospital food is not healthy) when choices are so limited and you never know what will go down. I didn’t have much of an appetite anyway, but when I did want something, and I couldn’t get it down – it just brought me to tears!! Everything in my life was so far outside my control and I couldn’t even control my own eating!! My band was fighting against me. It all made me feel so helpless!!!
2013: So, my hubby and I claimed 2013 would be a better year!! We had both lost a parent and it made us really stop and look at our lives and our health and how we want to spend these next (hopefully) decades of our lives!! We had a serious discussion about him having VSG and me trying for a revision to VSG. RNY still scares the poop out of me, as does failing…. AGAIN!!! I want to be healthy – for myself, for my hubby, for my critter babies, for my friends, to make my Mother proud… and, for that little baby girl in my avatar photo. That is Sumi!! She is our God-daughter… the granddaughter of my friend who died from the brain aneurysm. She was born one month & one day after “B” died. She was B’s life, even though she wasn’t here yet. She is the reason I was able to get through that loss. She has captured my heart & my hubby’s heart!! It is my heart’s desire to love her even HALF as much as B would have. To do that, I have to be at my best and healthiest!!
So, that’s my story!! That’s what has brought me here… I am still scared! Scared I will regret it, scared of surgery and recovery, scared I won’t be able to do what it takes, and once again let food defeat me! But, I guess I will never know until I try!! My hubby and I see the surgeon on Tuesday!!
Hope I haven't thoroughly bored you all!! If you read all this, thank you for taking the time to get to know a little about my journey. It has been a rough one - but I hope success is just around the corner!!
Tonya
Began journey in 2007 at 312, had Lap band 2008, lost 40 pre-op then 24 post op, regained to 319. Lost 39# on my own, then revised to VSG 4/29/13 @ 280.
I want to read your post, but the light green script doesn't make it easy...would you mind changing it to black and verdana or tahoma, this is an ongoing issue for anyone trying to read off a tablet device.
6-7-13 band removed. No revision. Facebook Failed Lapbands and Realize Bands group and WLS-Support for Regain and Revision Group
Did it myself...ok, now to read.
My name is Tonya... and I am hoping to revise from band to sleeve this year. My story is somewhat long and sometimes depressing, but I guess it's made me who I am - so it's worth telling:
1974: I was born. Lol… I am not planning to give a day by day, but my trouble started soon after!! I was born underweight.... so, my mother decided to "fatten me up" and by 6 months old I was a butterball. It got worse from there! Now, fast forward -
2007: After a lifetime of weight issues and every diet you can imagine, I had gained to 312. So, I decided I had to do something to change my weight. One of my BFFs had RNY in 2006 and did well, but had a lot of minor complications and just overall never felt well (still doesn't). So, I was not even interested in considering RNY. I was determined to get the Lap-Band, despite what the doctor's said about it's success!
2008: After a job (and insurance) change, and some issues with doctors/insurance, I finally had my consultation. The MD required me to lose 40 pounds prior, which I did on OptiFast. I finally had Lap-Band in October 2008 w/ no complications from surgery itself. Not a lot of pain or problems with recovery.
2009: My first fill, the end of 2008, was uneventful. I had another in February 2009 and it caused a lot of pain and regurgitation. I went back for look under fleuro…. Everything appeared to be fine. Struggled with being stuck and throwing up, but MD did another small fill a couple months later. Again, problems. I could eat all kinds of “crap” but chicken and other healthy foods were a nightmare! Unfill… Fill… Unfill…. Fill…. Unfill!! You get the point. It has continued this way ever since!! I can either eat nothing or everything! Hardly any weight loss!
2010: A lot of the same, but with slow, steady weight gain.
2011: Struggled to maintain and at least not gain, with very little MD follow-up. Had back surgery in January. Developed a staph infection and was home bound for 11 weeks. No activity and a lot “boredom” snacking added about 20 pounds. On a positive note, in August, my hubby & I signed a contract to build our first home. In September – my best friend died three days after a brain aneurysm. My world completely fell apart. Weight, food, whatever – really didn’t matter. I just spent each day on auto pilot & I ballooned to 317. Over 30 pounds above surgery weight.
2012: January – we found out my Mother had an ovarian "mass" and my FIL had cancer. Within a month, he was gone. Our family was again devastated… I had re-injured my back… and our house was complete and ready for us to move. So, in February, we lost and buried my FIL, moved into a new house, and I had back surgery #2. Thank God, I didn’t have any complications this time!! But, five weeks later, my Mother had surgery to remove the ovarian tumor. She did okay initially, but soon started having complications. She was in & out of the hospital 9 times from April to June. She finally had to start dialysis. She did great at first, but in August, developed sepsis from an infection in the dialysis port. She was in the hospital from August 29 until I lost her, October 4. The day before my birthday. These major life stressors and situations make life with the band very frustrating. With my mom so sick, I was with her in the hospital 24/7 for over four weeks. It’s hard to make healthy choices (even hospital food is not healthy) when choices are so limited and you never know what will go down. I didn’t have much of an appetite anyway, but when I did want something, and I couldn’t get it down – it just brought me to tears!! Everything in my life was so far outside my control and I couldn’t even control my own eating!! My band was fighting against me. It all made me feel so helpless!!!
2013: So, my hubby and I claimed 2013 would be a better year!! We had both lost a parent and it made us really stop and look at our lives and our health and how we want to spend these next (hopefully) decades of our lives!! We had a serious discussion about him having VSG and me trying for a revision to VSG. RNY still scares the poop out of me, as does failing…. AGAIN!!! I want to be healthy – for myself, for my hubby, for my critter babies, for my friends, to make my Mother proud… and, for that little baby girl in my avatar photo. That is Sumi!! She is our God-daughter… the granddaughter of my friend who died from the brain aneurysm. She was born one month & one day after “B” died. She was B’s life, even though she wasn’t here yet. She is the reason I was able to get through that loss. She has captured my heart & my hubby’s heart!! It is my heart’s desire to love her even HALF as much as B would have. To do that, I have to be at my best and healthiest!!
So, that’s my story!! That’s what has brought me here… I am still scared! Scared I will regret it, scared of surgery and recovery, scared I won’t be able to do what it takes, and once again let food defeat me! But, I guess I will never know until I try!! My hubby and I see the surgeon on Tuesday!!
Hope I haven't thoroughly bored you all!! If you read all this, thank you for taking the time to get to know a little about my journey. It has been a rough one - but I hope success is just around the corner!!
Tonya
That's better...I think you should investigate VSG, and see your bariatric surgeon to check out your band and see exactly what your situation is. An Esophogram, and EGD are a good start. Sorry for your losses, keep us posted!
6-7-13 band removed. No revision. Facebook Failed Lapbands and Realize Bands group and WLS-Support for Regain and Revision Group
My goodness Bug you've been thru the wringer and then some! I only know of a very few people that aren't happy with their sleeves and they are people who probably wouldn't like any surgery that says they shouldn't eat ice cream and cookies, ones *****ally don't want to have to change their lifestyle. The band taught you how to eat better but the sleeve will actual;ly help you do it. Everyone I know *****vised to the sleeve says the sleeve works the way the band was supposed to but didn't. I think as surgeries go the first few weeks are kinda rough for some but it gets better eventually. I have a BIL who had a partial gastrectomy for cancer and that was over 20 yrs ago and he's still going strong. I'm really hoping tpo to get the VSG in a couple of years when I hit medicare age until then I just pray my band doesn't cause any problems. Mine is empty now and has been for over a year so I'm just doing the old time dieting, so far I'm holding my own but would love to rid of the band and revise to the sleeve. I wish you and hubby the very best and it certainly is time for a good year!!!
