I started my WLS journey over 3 years ago when I still lived in Texas. My research began, and as life happens, things obviously changed. I met my now husband in March 2006. He's active duty Air Force and was stationed in Massachusetts at the time. Fast forward , I relocated myself and my son to MA in Aug '07, we married in Feb '08 and then we got orders in April 2008. We pcs'd to Florida and I started my WLS research again once we got settled in.

I met with 2 different surgeons. One was cold, he was new to the area, and I just didn't click with him. The other, a little abrasive, but I had spoken with several of his patients, did my research, had consults, and felt good about my decision. I was approved by Tricare within 7 days of my referral submission. I had decided on LapBand, and was pleased with my choice. My mother had LapBand in '07, and was a great support to me.

Surgery scheduled October 01, 2008. My starting weight was 271lbs. My problems/issues with the band started the day of surgery. I am only 5'2", and couldn't get my hiney in the hospital bed even though it was lowered. A nurse had me lift my arms over my head, and physically pull myself into the bed by pulling on the bedrails while she held my ankles. I felt a shredding, ripping pain across my abdomen. I was told it's just some stretching, don't worry you'll be okay. I woke up the next morning with an enormous bruise across my abdomen under my port. I believe with every ounce of my being that this is where/when my port flipped/twisted or at least this is when my port sutures were weakened. I went home and managed to do quite well with weight loss until it was time to get fills. I had a few other complications with lap site infections, and other port issues from day 1.

I went through 3 fills, and still no restriction. I lost 30lbs the first 2.5 months. But, started gaining when the surgeon refused to give me a fill. He has every lapband patient on the same fill schedule and he isn't willing to waiver. Okay, fine so I let it be known that I was dissatisfied. I never wanted the band to ballooned out with a max fill, but I would like my surgeon to take my individual needs into consideration. To no avail, he wasn't going to budge.

Late February, I went in for a fill. He could not access my port, and after gouging on me for 10+ minutes, he finally gave up and scheduled me for fluoro fill. I went in a couple weeks later, and after 20 minutes of gouging around on me again under fluoro, he couldn't access it again. I was devastated. . . He tried to imply that I probably flipped it having sex. UMMMM NO, the husband is at pre-deployment training, and yeah, I've told you about my port pain since late December.

Least to say, I decided to leave his practice, and am currently going through a revision to VSG with a military surgeon. I have had nothing but issues with my previous surgeon. Trying to get my medical records has been a chore in itself, and now my records are not even complete. He never documented my flipped port, my complaints of port pain, nothing.

I have surgery on Wednesday, June 3rd. I have a clotting disorder that is now being treated. If I would of never decided to get away from the old surgeon, I would of never found out that I have this clotting issue.

I am at a pain level of 6-8 daily, and have been dealing with this since February/March when the port literally moved. Luckily, all of that issue will soon be resolved, and I can move forward in my WL journey. My in-laws are flying down to stay with me since the husband is deployed, and will be staying with me for 12 days. . . I can't wait for Wednesday to get here. I am not really all that nervous, and I am just praying for a smooth surgery and recovery. I know it's going to be tough, but I have survived the band, I'm positive I will survive the revision. There's alot of the story that I left out to try to condense, but I wouldn't let someone put a band back in me if they paid me. My new surgeon wanted to just do a port revision, and I just told him that I was not going to deal with the band anymore. It's more than just a flipped port, every time I bend over, or twist from side to side, it feels like a the tubing is pulling/ripping across my abdomen and actually pulling my band that is attached to my stomach. NOT GOOD, get it out of me. . .

Wow...I hope you reported the Dr. to the board in your area. That is serious business him not keeping good records! I can't believe that he has not been reported before if you had so many problems! Do a favor for anyone else that may be thinking of using him and file a complaint. Best of luck Wednesday!!! Keep us updated!

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VSG on June 10th by Dr. Aceves
Mexicali, MX

Wow- Flab2Fab4Ever you've been through a lot! Just goes to show that even with years of planning the band still fails. I hope that you have a speedy recovery. Thanks for sharing!

Thinking of you today and I hope everything went wonderful!!! I can't wait to here everything! (Take your time though) :-)

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VSG on June 10th by Dr. Aceves
Mexicali, MX

Said a prayer for you this morning Tiff -- been thinking of you and will be anxious to hear how you are doing ... when you are ready ... HUGS.

Hope your doing well! Get back to us A.S.A.P!

It sounds as though the records are incomplete because it would have documented his incompetence.

You are going to be so happy now that it will soon be a bad memory.

Hope you're doing well...you're in my thoughts!