A little over 2 years ago, in August 2012 I made the decision to get a Lap-Band. The Lap-Band works by helping you stay satisfied with smaller amounts of food than would usually satisfy you. For 2 years, I was a Lap-Band success story. I lost around 110 lbs., I still had 50 lbs. I needed to lose, but I was so busy enjoying life that I never buckled down and lost the last of the weight. I never suffered with food getting "stuck", heartburn, or so many of the other problems that Lap-Band patients complain about. That being said, my Lap-Band never provided me the amount of "amazing" restriction that I expected, I had to watch what I eat and exercise, the Lap-Band was a tool for me, but not a magic solution to my life-long weight struggle.
This fall, I started having some issues, I would have to stick to soft foods like yogurt, soup, etc. for 2-3 days a week because I was having pain and nausea. Those symptoms usually tell me I needed to go get some fluid taken out of my band, a simple fix, but life was so crazy, I didn't have time to get to the doctor. This went on for a few months, I would have spells where everything was normal, then would have periods of time with pain and stomach problems.
With the holidays coming up, I KNEW I wanted to feel good, so the Monday before Thanksgiving I went to get some fluid removed. They removed .5ccs, I did fluids for a couple of days which is protocol anytime you have an adjustment. Everything seemed fine and I was hopeful, but by Thanksgiving evening, I was in pain again.
The following Tuesday I returned to my doctor. This time they took out 1cc, same thing, a couple days later and I was in pain again.
The following Monday I returned and they removed another 1cc. The nurse said that if this didn't work, we would look into getting an Upper GI Barium Swallow done.
The next day was
Tuesday, December 9, 2014. That's when things got real, and everything is a blur.
I woke up, drank my protein shake, and immediately started feeling sick. I called my doctor and told them I wanted the Upper GI done and I went about my day. Tuesdays are a really hectic day for us, Phoenix had therapy from 11-1pm, we did some shopping, went to pick Violet up from school, took her to dance at 5pm, then we headed to Veronika's Choir Concert at Bryant. On the way to Bryant I got sick and had to pull over, I thought about going home, but really wanted to see the concert. Steve was already at the concert and had saved seats for us. As soon as we got out of the van, I felt like something was wrong, but I thought I just needed to get inside and sit down. Phoenix had to go to the bathroom and while he was in there I started seeing black spots so I went and sat on a bench outside the bathroom. I sat down and reached for my phone intending to call Steve. I remember feeling pain all through my body but couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. I thought, "I've got to get to a hospital, but I can't move, and I think I might die before we get there." The next thing I knew I heard someone say, "Are you ok? Are you having a seizure? Do you need an ambulance?" I was lying face-down on the floor in Bryant Middle School. I heard Violet crying, "Mommy! Mommy!" I remember reaching towards her voice just thinking that I had to let her know I was ok, she is such a worrier and I knew she was scared. I said, "Violet, I'm ok. Get my phone and call Daddy." I heard Phoenix's voice, but since Violet was calm, he stayed calm. All of this while I was still lying on the floor. I didn't really want to move. The cold floor felt good, and when I passed out, whatever pain I was feeling had left. Someone asked me if I wanted to sit on the bench, some gentleman helped me up, but I still couldn't sit up, so I just laid over on the bench. It seems like around that time Steve arrived, I'm sure all of that was about 1 or 2 minutes, but it seemed like forever to us! My mom also arrived about this time, so she was able to take Phoenix away from all the commotion, Violet wouldn't leave Steve's side. Someone apparently did call the ambulance, because a Firetruck AND Ambulance arrived about the same time. They checked me out and everything seemed ok. I felt very weak, but I knew that I was going for the Upper GI in the morning so I decided not to go to the hospital. Looking back, I SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE HOSPITAL!!!!
*Sidenote, there are so many kind people in the world. By the time Phoenix came out of the bathroom, I was already passed out on the floor. When we arrived at home later that night, I asked Phoenix if he was scared and what he thought. He said, "I was not scared. Someone sat down with me and told me to just relax." I will never know who was there to comfort my baby in that moment, but I'm so grateful for them. And Violet, NERVOUS NANCY ANXIOUS VIOLET! She called her Daddy and calmly told him to come to the bathrooms. I know inside she was a nervous wreck, but I am so proud of how she handled herself!
So, Tuesday night we got home and I literally walked to our room, fell on the bed and went to sleep.
The next morning,
Wednesday, December 10, 2014, I still felt sick and weak. Thankfully Steve was able to take me to my Upper GI. I was so weak I couldn't even stand in line at the Radiology Clinic. For the Upper GI I had to stand on a platform and drink a yucky Barium liquid while they took x-rays. At this point, I seriously couldn't stand for more than 45seconds to a minute without feeling weak and lightheaded. Thankfully, they laid they platform back into a bed so I was able to complete the series of pictures they needed. I knew that day was my surgeon's last day until January (he was getting a hip replacement), so we immediately took the CD of images to Dr. Wellborn's office and I waited to see the nurse, because regardless, I knew I needed to have the band emptied of any fluid. While we were waiting, I needed to use the restroom and that's when I discovered I was bleeding somewhere in my GI tract. I was already tired and emotional at this point, and this put me over the edge. The nurse came in, everything looked good on my GI Series, meaning that the band appeared to be positioned correctly. From one angle it looked like there COULD be a small slip, but nothing that should be causing my symptoms. I told her everything that had happened including the GI bleeding. She recommended while my band was deflated I should have an EGD done to look at my GI tract. Other than that, she didn't seem concerned. She deflated my band and sent me on my way.
When Steve and I got in the van we knew we had to do something, we didn't know if we needed to go to the ER or to our family doctor. My condition had deteriorated throughout the day and I to be honest, I was scared that I was dying. We decided to go to our family doctor to get his opinion. I cannot say enough good about Dr. Motes! We were the first people in the door when they opened from lunch, we told him all that had been going on. We confirmed that I was having GI bleeding, he got me hooked up to some IV fluids and gave me some Zofran. He went to work trying to get me in with a GI doctor and said if we couldn't get into one soon, he would send me to the hospital. Thankfully, he was able to get me in with Dr. Budaraja the following day.
Thursday, December 11 Steve took me to Dr. Budaraja, she suspected an Ulcer but scheduled an EGD for the following Tuesday, her first available opening. I knew that the GI Bleed had stopped on its own, and by letting fluid out of my band I was able to get some nourishment in so I started to feel stronger.We had a busy weekend! The girls had their Christmas Dance Recital and Violet was in our church's Jr. Choir Program.
Tuesday, December 16 we went to the EGD, they started an IV and knocked me out. I was asleep for maybe 10-15 minutes while they scoped my Upper GI Tract. I woke up in recovery and was able to walk with Steve to an exam room where we waited on Dr. Budarajah. As soon as I looked at the pictures, I knew what it meant. I would have to loose my band. Throughout this whole process I had been researching every known Lap-Band complication. As soon as I saw the pictures I knew my Lap-Band was eroded, and that's not good! Dr. Budarajah was very supportive, she said she didn't think I needed to go to the ER, but I did need to have it removed soon.
Steve immediately took me to Dr. Wellborn's office so that they could see the pictures. They knew how I had been doing a few days before and now they knew what was causing it, I expected a phone call soon.
Wednesday, December 17 morning they still had not returned my phone call, so I called right at 9. They said the nurse would be in at 10 and they would show her the pictures as soon as she walked in. By 10:30 I still had not heard, I am not a patient patient, and I wanted the Lap-Band gone yesterday! So I started calling other Bariatric Surgeons associated with Baptist Hospital. I spoke to the receptionist at Dr. Baker's office, I don't know her name, but she is my angel. She said Dr. Baker was in the OR and she was going to leave a message with him, and call Dr. Wellborn's office to get all of my records. About 15 minutes later I received a call from Dr. Wellborn's office checking on me! I won't go into everything right now, but she wanted me to be aware that she had notified Dr. Wellborn of my condition and would let me know what he said. I'm not sure what happened at that point between Dr. Wellborn and Dr. Baker, but around 12noon, I got a call from Dr. Baker's Office. He wanted me to make my way to Baptist ER and I would be having my Lap-Band removed that day! I was so happy to have an answer and that someone was listening to my concerns! I was so scared and unprepared! I called Paula and she said she would come get Phoenix and pick Violet up from school. My mom said she would go get Veronika from school, so I went to pick Steve up from work and we went straight to the ER. It seems like a big blur or crying and praying from the time the doctor's office called until we checked into the ER. From there, it gets REALLY boring on my side for a few hours. We got checked in, hooked up to IV's, and waited and waited and waited until around 11pm that night when an OR finally opened up. Dr. Baker had come to admit me and meet me earlier in the afternoon, and I knew within 10 minutes I was in good hands. It was such an odd experience, the OR was such a quiet place at that time of night. I transferred to the operating table, I had 4 or 5 people in there with anesthesia and nurses, and of course my surgeon. As much as I hated waiting all day, I was so happy to know that I was the night shift's first case! I was definitely able to rest easier knowing they were all well rested. They gave me gas and told me I was going to drift off to sleep, I started praying and the next thing I knew I was waking up. As soon as I woke up I asked for Steve and I heard someone leave to go get him. I talked A LOT to my recovery nurses. I was so happy I survived and felt all warm and fuzzy. I told the nurses how Steve was a wonderful husband and amazing father! One of the nurses told me that I didn't have to talk, just to get some rest...what she meant was "PLEASE SHUT UP!!! IT'S 2:30AM!!!
When I heard Steve's voice I asked if everything had gone smoothly, I was so happy, I kept saying, "I'm so glad it's out, I'm so glad it's out!" By this point it was around 3am, it seemed like there were 10 people escorting us to our room and I felt like a STAR! The next morning I was embarrassed, in much the someway you would be after you had a wild night and drunk dialed everyone on your phone! I specifically remember envisioning Aladdin with Cruella DeVille's hair. I thought it was absolutely hilarious, but because I couldn't laugh without pain, I just told Steve how funny it was over and over and over!
So, that's it, my Lap-Band is gone. I don't know if I can say I totally regret it. It changed my life for the better, it allowed me to do something I had been unable to do without it. I am terrified of gaining all of the weight back, but I am going to try my hardest to maintain my loss and lose another 20-30lbs. As of now, I do not plan on another Weight Loss Surgery. I will NEVER have another Lap-Band, but there are other options out there. Honestly, I can't imagine ever choosing to have to recover from another surgery like this. This recovery has been the hardest physical trial I have ever had to go through, and like so many physical trials, it has turned into an emotion and spiritual trial at times as well. But, I will save all that for another day.
On Wednesday, we went to my eye doctor appointment, went back to Rock Creek to play, took a nap, went to pick-up Veronika for the week, went to Chuck E' Cheese, and then went to Krispy Kreme for our free donut!
On Friday, we did some shopping, ate lunch at Purple Cow, came home for a nap, ate dinner at McAlisters, and went to see "The Lego Movie"
On Saturday, we went to Phoenix's Special Olympics Track Practice.
Then we went to Hot Springs to Garvan Woodland Gardens. After touring the gardens, we ate dinner at Olive Garden.
On Sunday, we were worn out from our fun week, so we rested!
