Surgery Date, Butterflies, and an Old Molina Band

I've lurked here since beginning this journey in November.  I had a small insurance mishap when my doctor's office coded my procedure wrong. I figured that had set me back a month or so .....but nope!  I got the call this morning.  Pre Op is tomorrow and surgery is April 6th.  Suddenly every irrational fear out there is in my head:(  I know in reading these forums that this is normal, but I'm scared.    I'm revising an old Molina Band that was put on in 1995 to a bypass.  My endoscopy revealed that Dr. Molina put the band on my esophagus instead of my stomach.  No wonder I've struggled with eating anything except slider foods.   In the early band stages, the surgery was a 6" open cut and the doctor went in basically blind.  Those old bands ended up being placed just about anywhere.  I already know that this surgery can have more complications due to scar tissue, etc. And I've been told by my doctor that my intestine might have to be attached to my esophagus instead of my pouch.  However, there's an 80% chance that it won't be.  So, I'm going with that 80%!   I'm just ready to get this 20 year old band out of me and start the journey to a brand new me!  I would appreciate some good thoughts and a few prayers as I undergo this procedure.  

Good luck on the upcoming surgery.

If I may offer a bit of advice. Try and add an avatar, a picture and some more info to show us who we're talking with.

It will help us to witness and garner interest in your journey, as well as share our's with you.

All the best.

Thanks for the reply.  I'm very new to this.  I think I was able to add my pic and added some bio info.  

I'm sorry you had such a hard time with your band.  Honestly, I've heard nothing but bad things about the band since I started doing research.  Of course, back when they started it they didn't know what the complications were.  I'll say a prayer that your revision is uncomplicated and they get to actually make a pouch out of the stomach and not have to hook directly to your esophagus.  

I know I was really nervous about having surgery, and the closer I got the more nervous I was.  Please stick around and share your experiences.  I know there are people who come around asking about revisions all of the time and they would learn a lot from your experience.  Also, check out the revision boards here if you haven't already.

Good luck!

Glad to have you join us here and look forward to sharing your amazing journey with you. Your nerves are totally normal. I had to keep reminding myself of the risks of continuing on my current path. I already was diabetic and had high triglycerides,high cholesterol and uncontrolled high blood pressure. Both my parents died young from complications of diabetes so I knew where I was headed. At my highest I weighed 272 and had been obese my whole life. I lost my weight I  about 9 months and now weigh 120 to 123. I've been this weight for about 3 years now. It's still work to keep it off but this forum helps keep me accountable. I'll be praying for a complication free surgery,speedy recovery and an amazing weight loss journey for you too!

Best wishes on your surgery!

I had the Molina band done in 1993. By 2001 I lost hearing in my left ear. By 2002 I started losing the hearing in my right. I fought saving my hearing with huge dosages of Prednisone (60 mg) for months at a time. I also developed Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's after I had the surgery about 1994. I had the band removed by the Dr. who assisted Dr. Molina back in 1993. When Dr. Molina passed away Dr. Horacio Oria took over his practice. In 2005 Dr. Oria agreed that the band could be causing a immune response. Low probability but it could happen. The surgery after 13 years went smoothly. He said the band was perfect and a easy removal. With in a month my hearing returned and has been stable! Just wanted people to know my story. I hope it helps!