Bigphine73
I was banded in March 2008 and thought my prayers had been answered!
For the first year, everything went well! The weight came off slowly; however, overall I was pleased with the results as I had lost 45 lbs. After the first year, my doctor became an out-of-network doctor and the appointments became too expensive to maintain on the monthly basis. At that point, I figured since I had done well for the first year with limited band-fills and emotional support, I would continue to travel my weight loss journey alone… so I stopped the fills and appointments. Boy was that a BIG mistake!
Needless to say things did not happen as I had planned. After discontinuing my appointments with my surgeon and slowly engaging in my same bad eating habits, I am not too far from where I started. All this makes me sick, just thinking about it! 
I would have never imagined 4 years and 10 months later, I would be back where I started. It is so disappointing and very frustrating; however, I remain determined to beat this weight and NOT allow it to beat me!
Fast forwarding, after experiencing several problems over the last 2 years with my esophagus (vomiting and other associated band issues), I decided to return to the surgeon for an examination of my band. According to him, although my band was just a little too tight, it works perfectly fine. When he said that, I had so many emotions running through me, so many thoughts running through my mind. I thought to myself, if its not the band, then does this mean….I am the issue??? 
After years of contributing my esophageal issues and weight gain to the band, I began to resign myself to the fact that, I may be the issue. This is soooo depressing.
So, after 3 consistent appointments with the surgeon and steady weight gain, my surgeon has recommended "revision surgery" – the VSG. Not sure if I want to go that route…. for multiple reasons. Guess I will continue to research, stay glued to the WLS forums and pray!
