Breaking up (with) the Band

8 months since I've posted... wow.  And this one is a pretty big re-entry into the blogging world, because I am writing to share that I'm having my Lap-Band removed.   In four days (gulp).

Because the back-story could be pages, I'll keep it to the highlights...

• Ever since I had Liam (almost 3 years ago!), I've had trouble getting back to that "sweet spot" with my band.  Lots of fills, unfills, fills, unfills, etc...  but I still managed to continue to lose weight so I didn't think too much about it.
• Things seemed to stabilize about 18 months ago at the 4cc level and I was maintaining right at the 200 mark.
• This spring we went to FL, and when we got home (starting April 21st), things just started to go down hill... Throwing up a LOT, huge amounts of acid reflux, etc...
• I had the endoscopy which looked okay - they emptied out my band completely at that time, but I was still really tight with liquids and foods going down...
• Soon there after, it got to the point that even mush wasn't going down well, so I had an Upper GI...  where the could see that my stomach was basically shut as if my band was at the 7-8cc level (i.e. a tiny pin-prick of an opening for things to get through).

After talking to my doctor (first time I'd actually seen HIM and not one of the NP's in over 4 years), he said that based on the reports back, my body is basically rejecting the band and creating a level of scar tissue in the opening section, which is causing my stomach to close.  YIKES!

He said that to fix it, we need to remove the band & port, cut out the scar capsule, and then move to gastric bypass...  and that he wanted to do it all in one surgery.  The sleeve (vertical gastrectomy) wasn't an option because of the scar tissue, so to full BP we go.

After two weeks of back-and-forth with the scheduling folks and waiting on my insurance, I got the call last week that I am scheduled for this Thursday.  My doc's office was shocked that I didn't get denied (to have to appeal) and that it went right through, so away we go!  

I'm pretty overwhelmed, but glad that we have an answer because honestly I'm tired.  I haven't been eating much over these last 6 weeks, and I am just pooped out.  Basically have been on liquid and mushies for the last 3-4 weeks.  So, even though a liquid diet looms in my future, to know that there WILL be a point soon (July perhaps) that I can get back to eating solid food is a good thing!

Plus, I will share that at one point while waiting for the insurance, there was a conversation with the scheduler about just having the band / port removed and scar capsule out but no other surgery (which didn't seem to be an option from what my doctor said, but I digress)... my reaction to that absolutely shocked me because I was so terrified of going back to the over-300-pound person, and I really hadn't realized how deeply that was in my subconscious.

So... long story short, my 5 years and 3 months with the band has been great, but I'm ready for this new chapter in my weight-loss journey!  Although there is a lot to learn, I feel like I have a good idea from the last 5 years as to how this new tool will affect me and I know how successful I've been and can't wait to move forward!

I WILL begin blogging more again - I want to hold myself accountable, and also help anyone else who might be going through this!

Many thanks to my group of "Bandits" on FB and others that have supported me through this the last few weeks... one of them gently reminded me that I need to help others too by sharing, so I am!

I see the nutritionist Monday and the NP and surgeon Tuesday (plus have my battery of pre-op and lab work done)... will post a bit more then about what else I find out!

And on the personal front, for those of you who are a faithful-folk, I would welcome any and all prayers going into next Thursday.   And if you don't pray, good karma, thoughts, or general good vibes are welcomed too!