I don't know if this group wants to deal with the topic of band loss, but I am one of the lucky 1-2% who lost mine to a severe slip. So why don't I get my quota of "luck" when I play the lottery instead of investing in a self-improvement procedure????
If I promise not to WHINE, will you keep reading?
I got my band 4/5/06. I got one fill, under fluro near my home in Idaho, and seemed to go along okay for about 4 months. Unlike most, however, my band tightened over time until I was having trouble keeping down much of anything. For reasons that are too complicated to go into, I couldn't go back to the fill doctor, so just decided to come back to TJ. At that time, I hadn't slipped, so was completely unfilled to let things settle down. At that point I had lost almost 50# and was anticipating white-knuckle time for the month I had to wait for a refill. To my complete amazement, I could once again eat foods that were just a memory (salad, steak), but nowhere near what I had pre-surgery. In that month I didn't gain any more weight and even lost a few more pounds. I considered putting off refilling, but then decided to do so on schedule. I returned to OCC in November and got a smaller fill, and all seemed to go well for a couple of weeks. Then, the band started getting tighter. I MEANT to get back down to TJ, but other obligations kept me from doing so. Then, within a day or two, my band closed up. By Sunday, I couldn't keep liquids down.
The docs in this area don't work on weekends, and I didn't want to just land in an ER and have to educate someone on this gismo. I called OCC, left a message and hoped that I would get a call back from SOMEONE sometime the next day. Within 15 minutes, DR. MARTINEZ called me back. We talked and he told me that if I could get down to San Diego that afternoon or evening they would see me as soon as I got in. I flew in, got whisked to the clinic, and Dr. Martinez was there. I was immediately unfilled and felt better, and it looked like maybe that would be enough to let the band settle back in place, so I was taken to the Lucerna for the night. At first things looked promising, but by the next morning it was clear that another surgery was needed. I was pre-opped and taken to the ER before any of the other patients. Unfortunately, the slip was bad enough that my band had to be removed.
The REAL story starts now. From the moment I awoke, one by one all of doctors came in to see me and sat down to patiently answer my questions, offer encouragement and reassurance and talk about follow-up. I was in the clinic for three days, where I was checked and rechecked by the nurses and Dr. Martinez several times a day (no pain, got lots of sleep and read a couple of good books). Dr. Miranda came in and spent time talking to me about what food management things I had done while my band was working correctly (as well as what I did when it got cranky) and gave me lots of good info. In addition, Mrs. Ortiz stopped into my room several times a day, chatting and asking if there was anything she could get me, etc. Though I was trying to stay positive, I have to admit that I was really bummed out that I had come this far and feared that I would regain the weight now that the band is gone. Without being in any way intrusive, she gave me multiple opportunities to express those concerns and deal with my new "reality".
In discussing the situation, all of the doctors and Mrs. Ortiz reinforced the idea that many factors contribute to weight loss, but in the end it is the commitment to change that makes for substantial success. The band journey forced me to become aware of my old habits, learn positive ones and make different choices than I had in the past. Because the band limited the amount I could eat, I realized that I had to use my capacity for "good" stuff or my overall health would deteriorate (at 59 I didn't need any MORE deterioration). In the six months I had the band, I had learned what a "real" portion was, pretty much eliminated carbs, took my vitamin and stuck with the bandster rules (most of the time). Each of the staff, in their own way, told me that my weight loss was because of those lifestyle changes--we all know that it is altogether too possible to "eat around" the band if we don't make good choices. Mrs. Ortiz went on to tell me that the key to maintaining the 70+lb loss that I had achieved at that time was to continue to "...pretend you are a bandster...". I appreciated her encouragement, but am thinking "yeah, right...".
When my band was removed in early December, I was within about 12 lbs of my goal weight. I decided at that time that I was grateful to be at that point--something I had given up hope of ever doing again. I came home determined to NOT regain the weight and vowing to return at the first opportunity to reband if I couldn't do that. I have followed Mrs. Ortiz's advice and continue to "pretend" I am a bandster for the most part. Interestingly, while I can now eat more than when the band was tight, I still can't eat anywhere near what I did pre-surgery. I don't know if this is actually physical or psychosomatic, but I am just going to ride that horse. I do eat more variety--lots of salad, watermelon, etc, but still do very little carbs. For some reason, I still can't look at a soda and after looking at some of the new research coming out am wondering what role my multiple Dr Peppers (diet, of course) played in my appetite pre-surgery. I have not suffered or obsessed about food, but I manage it rather than letting it manage me. Most of all, I realize that band or no band I am NOT on a "diet", but rather committed to an entirely different way of dealing with food than before. I am now 3 lbs. BELOW goal weight (107# on my 5' body).
I cannot say enough about the doctors and other support staff at OCC. I have absolutely never had better care and have yet to see or hear of anything comparable in the US. Can you imagine talking to your doctor within 15 minutes of a call on a Sunday anywhere in the US???? The time that each and every one spent with me after the band removal turned a frightening, discouraging situation into a positive experience that left me hopeful and determined. If Mrs. Ortiz didn't sincerely care how I was doing--emotionally as well as physically--then she deserves an Academy Award for faking it...LOL I believe that this team is the best and recommended them to others at every opportunity.
In summary, getting the band was the best thing I ever did and helped me change my life dramatically. At my age the issue is quality, not quantity, of life and losing the weight has given me years of GOOD time that I had almost lost hope of ever having. Ironically, losing the band may prove to also be a blessing in that I realize that I am truely in control of my destiny. I would strongly recommend that bandsters read "YOU, ON A DIET". It goes into detail about the chemical/hormonal aspects of weight management and explains--sometimes in eye-crossing detail--why so many of the bandster "rules" work. The book has some good support strategies and is not WLS-bashing like so many are.
Good luck to all on this journey.
Penny Steward
Idaho