Question:
Not adjusting to having band removed
I am having a horrible time with hunger pains after having to have my band removed. Long story....I LOVED my band and since it has had to be removed, I can't cope with life. everything sets me off, even though I am still taking my anti-depressants. I am ALWAYS hungry again. I wake up at all hours of the night starving, I can't do this again. I was so succesful with the band and now have gained almost 25 lbs back in just a little over 6 weeks. I know i am still down 105, but I put everything I had into making the band work. Now because incompetent doctors wouldn't listen to me, I am headed back to where i started. The depression is killing me. Being unable to work for almost 3 months, the medical bills, now im behind on everything almost 3 months, I can't cope. Im ready to loose my house, my business and everything that we have worked for for so long. We are on a very strict budget and have always made it work, but I feel like I am drowning, I could care less about the bill collectors feelings, but I hate that my kids are taking the brunt of this. I love my family more than anything, they are the reason why I did the surgery in the first place, I was tired of being the fat mom, and tired of feeling embarrassed for my family every time we were out in public together. I want to be A NORMAL size again, I was so close and now I feel like once again...just when I was so close to having something go my way, Ijust got kicked to the ground again. I can't accept this, every attorney I have contacted either was too busy, or they didn't think that the case would be worth their time. basically they are telling me it isn't a multi million dollar suit, so they arent interested, besides, there is only one chain of hospitals here in our area and pretty much through out the whole state, so how do i know who is not afraid to go against the only health care facilities in our state. Besides, I can't wait until a suit could or couldn't be over with, I HAVE to find a way to get my band back asap. Im sorry if I seem like a whiner, but, dang it....I can't take any more. the stress is killing me, literally. when there are days i just feel like checking out permanantly, I thank god that i have my family, great kids and a supportive husband.....like I say, I 'd like to graduate from the school of hard knocks, I think that I have my masters by now, just give me a few years sabatical, and then I will go for the doctorate, but I've been in this school for 38 yrs....when is enough, enough... thanks all, and I know that "life really is beautiful" i just need time to be able to see the beauty again... — mccabesmom (posted on October 13, 2007)
October 13, 2007
Bonnie, you are going through a very difficult time. I too suffer from
depression so I can feel your pain and frustration. As I am Canadian I am
not familiar with the American medical system. You obviously had to have
your band removed for medical reasons perhaps having it removed has saved
your life? Have you thought of alternative WL surgeries? Will your
insurance cover you for this? Are you able to get counselling to help you
through this difficult time? Do you need a change in medication. I know
when I was struggling my Dr. increased my dosage and things leveled out for
me. What about the help of a dietician. It sounds like you have the
support of your husband and family. Yes gaining 25 pounds is the absolute
pits and going back to the weight you previously were is depressing. But
you have no guarantees that is whats going to happen. Use the site to post
everyday and get support from all of us. Just get through a day at a time
and use every support you have until an alternative plan becomes available.
Your right "life really is beautiful" and you will see the
beauty again.. Gale....
— mariamahoa
October 13, 2007
Wow! Bonnie...that's quite the story/situation....it would help to know WHY
you had the band removed in the first place, but~now that it's done, you do
have to find a way to continue the fight without it! NOT easy!
Thank God you do have children and a supportive husband! I had the gastric
bypass done, so I can't change my mind...But, you need to realize that even
when the surgery is still in place, appetites return and the battle with
food continues! It's NOT the only solution to the problem...getting online
daily and reading from this sight will help give you support and guidance.
Please try to find a support group in your area and find ways to distract
yourself from your hunger. I know that for me, the protein shakes really
help fill me and so does water. I wish I could help more! DON'T give up!
Trish
— zoeysgrami
October 14, 2007
Bonnie - I would call a counselor ASAP. You need to have somebody
professional help you through this time. I agree that they should change
your depression meds around. Feel free to PM me anytime and I will be here
for you.
Deb
— dthomp
October 14, 2007
Bonnie,
The internet is a great tool. Try to find an attorney, via the web, and
maybe on this site, that can listen to your case and give you advice. It
may be, like you said, the attorneys in your area may not have time, or
maybe even the expertise to deal with an WLS issue. Or it may not be
something you can sue for. But check that out. And while you are doing
that, find a surgeon that you like and are comfortable with that will help
you with your options. I dont know if another procedure can be done or if
you can do it so I dont know if that will help. My prayers are with you.
I too offer myself if you need to talk!
— B. Jones
October 14, 2007
Oh Bonnie! I read your page AFTER I posted. Did you contact that doctor
to see what your options are? Is that the doctor you are thinking about
suing? I see why everything is so difficult! You did what you had to do to
get the surgery, as a self pay. Why dont you reach out to people who had
the surgery, out of this country, and see if anyone had problems and how
they tried or succeeded in solving them. While you do that we will still
be here to support you!
— B. Jones
October 14, 2007
Hi Bonnie, before I comment on anything else I want to address your
statement "...there are days i just feel like checking out
permanantly..." - PLEASE call a counselor or mental health provider
IMMEDIATELY! I understand your thinking that your kids, etc. keep you
going, but sometimes thoughts can turn into actions on a bad day.
Please...
I read your profile and see that your surgery was done in Tijuana - is that
the major part of your difficulties? If it is, I don't honestly see where
filing a lawsuit would help, and it would waste precious money.
The thing about having surgery in the States is that if you go to a Center
of Excellence they have all kinds if support instead of the surgery-only it
seem you had. Besides a nutritionist there is also a psychiatrist or
pschologist that follows you before and after the surgery to clear you
preop and help with those postop feelings.
I'm sure there's a lot more to this story, but I did a little research and
you may be interested in checking out
http://www.lawyers.com/Medical-Malpractice/Utah/St.-George/law-firms.html
to see if there are any other lawyers that may help you.
I had a slip and fall at a major restaurant chain in January that did major
damage to my total knee replacement and cervical stenosis, and I now have a
lawyer who is experienced in this type of injury and has taken my case. So
the lawyers are out there if you can convince them its a valid case.
You still have your sense of humor, and that's good...I know from
experience how money problems (I went from a nurses' salary to permanent
disability - less than 1/2 my previous salary), chronic illness, stress,
and low self-esteem can affect a person, and I believe you really need a
counselor or someone to talk to who can be neutral, supportive, and offer
sound thoughts.
I'm going to invite you to my friends' list; please feel free to contact me
whenever you need to talk with someone whose been there. If you'd like we
can share phone numbers so we can talk; we can do that by private e-mail if
you think that is something you'd like.
Hang in there...my e-mail is [email protected]
— obeseforever
October 14, 2007
Everyone has addressed the emotional side of what is happening to you. I
am assuming that your band slipped and/or eroded? And if so, why would you
want another band? Any chance your insurance will pay for an RNY or more
permanent solution?
My RNY failed at 5 yrs (it was donein the dark ages), and previously, our
insurance wouldn't pay. I understand your feelings, totally. By some
freak chance, my husband's company had been acquired by a mega corp and for
a brief moment, we had excellent insurance and I was revised/fixed. Of
course, then they laid off most of the workers, but that's another story.
— vitalady
October 14, 2007
sorry, I wan't more informative about why the band had to be removed. I had
been having gallbladder attacks for 3 months before I self diagnosed and
went back to the hospital and told them what was wrong. I will post on my
site everything that happened, but basically, the dr here in the US did a
scopee on my stomach and didn't take my fill out like I had told them to
do, and ended up pulling my stomach back through my band. then they
basically kicked me out of the hospital and told me to go back to mexico
and have it fixed. My surgeon in mexico Dr Kuri, was wonderful, but my
stomach was so swollen from everything that had been going on, that even
though he tried for almost an hour to pull my stomach back through the band
and to get it to stay, he felt that medically, it was better to remove the
band so that I didn't end up with permanent and severe damage to my
stomach. The only reason the band had to be removed was becasue for 3
months dr's here in the states wouldn't listen to me when I told them that
I was sick, they blamed everyting on my band and the fact that I had gone
to mexico and they didn't want to admit that they had just plain and simply
neglected me with proper care. Everything else is just a by-product of what
happened or didn't happen for 2 1/2 months. No my band didn't have any
problems, I loved my band and plan on as soon as i can afford it, I will be
back in Tijuana with Dr kuri having the band put back on. I did my homework
and I felt that tis was the best option for me and Dr Kuri was the surgeon
that I felm most comfortable with, even after having checked out several
surgeons here in the states. thanks for the support....
— mccabesmom
October 14, 2007
Call CONSUMER CREDIT CONSELING in your home state, having your financial
problems also contribute to your mental health. There are many free
services to help with your mental issues and $$$ ones. You must work and
seek to get some help. I am presently going through a very rough time
because I have got a transfer addiction to shopping ( and am bi-polar which
is always a BIG mental issue for me) Seek help and you can find it. Don't
give me. Remember the band was a TOOL during all that weight loss you had
to change your way of eating put that back to use.
— gasadi
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