EXXQUZME
Many years ago I got up to a weight of 289 pounds. I did something about it and went to a vegetarian diet for about a year. I lost down to about 240. I remained at that weight for quite a while but didn't go much lower. In October of 2004 I got a LapBand in Mexico. I did really well and lost down to about 179. i started having complications and would end up not being able to swallow ANYTHING, not even my own saliva. Four times I had to have emergency un-fills. The last one was it. I had had enough with the band! I kept it unfilled for a very long time, but it was still there and there was still a little restriction. I did gain some weight, about up to 220 again. I had a lot of extra skin though and since I was getting married in June of 2011, I decided to get a body lift and a breast lift. I did the surgery in December of 2010.
On Christmas Eve I noticed I had a fever and the surgery area felt warm and hurt around my naval area. I went to the hospital where they admitted me. I was there for a few days on IV antibiotics and I stood up to go to the bathroom when a gush of lavender fluid came pouring out from around my drain site. The doctor was called and I was in surgery again the next day. When I awoke I was told I had a MAJOR infection and they left me open from hip to hip to let it heal for a few days. A few days later I had surgery again to hopefully close me up, but there was still infection so he just cleaned it out more and the wound remained open. I had what was called a "Wound Vac" being used to aid in the healing of the wound. I spent 11 days in the hospital and 4 months with an open wound and a wound vac. I had a hospital bed set up in my bedroom and IV antibiotics for a month. I had a nurse come visit me at home every other day to change my dressings. I went to the wound care center at the hospital twice a week too.
Finally in April I had another surgery to close the remaining wound. I had a few areas on my abdomen that had spots larger than a quarter that were still oozing stuff. I went to the doctor several times and they could not figure out what was wrong. I got married on June 4th and went to a local bariatric surgeon at the end of June to see if he could figure anything out. He immediately admitted me to the hospital AGAIN for yet another surgery. He said that my LapBand needed to come out. NOW. Come to find out, the doctor that did my body lift had cut off my port (I actually wanted the whole LapBand taken out at this time, but he would not) and did not cap it off. Therefore, there was just an open tube hanging out in my abdomen for 7 months. The infection I had was inside of it and kept re-infecting me....for 7 months!!! Sigh.
After it was removed, I felt a lot better physically, but now I had what looked like 3 belly buttons and since I could not do any physical activity for the last 8 months or so, I had gained weight. I gave up and started eating like I didn't care. I got back up to 289 again. That always seems to be my threshold.
I kicked it in gear again and in September of 2012 I went back to the local bariatric surgeon that removed my band and had a consult for another WLS - the VSG. After a short ordeal of insurance and doctor requirements, I got the VSG on November 9th 2012. I love it! I know this is going to be a life changer for me. I can't wait to see what this new life will bring!
