My Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hey my loves,

I thought I'd share with you what I wrote a few months ago. I wrote it to share with a group I created. The group was for members who had had weight loss surgery (WLS). I decided to leave the group as I felt my WLS had negatively impacted my life and I wasn't the right person to be running a support group for those who were about to have WLS. So I shared the below piece of writing with those who were interested in hearing my journey. I'm hesitant to say its a "warning" not to have WLS as I believe it can positively benefit some people's lives however for me it didn't. So please note my views are my own. If you are looking into WLS please research both sides of the heated WLS argument and feel free to contact me if you want to chat. 



About 8 years ago I had a lap-band placed. The first two years went great and I lost about 30 kilos.

Two years in I started experiencing pain around my band (once taking me to hospital from pain). I also started to suffer bad heartburn and reflux. I began throwing up in my sleep.  I had some fill removed but it didn’t seem to help.

One night in 2012 I must’ve thrown up onto my lungs and didn’t realise it. I thought I just had a chest infection. I saw several doctors who would give me anti-biotics and say I’d be ok. I was sick with it for about 3 or 4 months. It got really bad and I was having night sweats and throwing up. I went to the hospital and was told I have pneumonia. I was given antibiotics and told to rest. Five days later I was getting MUCH worse and struggling to breathe. We went to a different hospital and I was told I have severe double pneumonia with cysts. I was sent home with a canula and had nurse come around each day to give me I.V antibiotics. I saw a specialist who said I was lucky to be alive.

About a month after that I saw my band doctor and he said that the band needed to be removed. His fill doctor had told me the pneumonia was from my band slip and I could sue them if I wanted to. I didn’t think much of it at the time because here in Australia sueing isn’t really a done thing. I had my band removed in the June. Three months later in the Sept I had a revision done to the sleeve. From day one of the sleeve I felt NO restriction. I didn’t lose any weight. And to this day I haven’t. In fact I’ve gained it all back. Doctors believe sleeve revisions on bandsters don’t work because the stomach has already been compromised.

During 2012 I also had a LOT of emotional trauma happen including a cheating boyfriend who left me for my best friend, a stalker ex and my parents separation.

January 2013 I spent two weeks in bed not being able to move. From then I began experience severe severe fatigue and widespread pain throughout my body.

It took me months to realise something was wrong. I met a friend who has Fibromyalgia and realized I had it as well. Doctor diagnosed me 6 months later. I was still pushing through studying a degree and working whilst this was all going on. By the end of 2013 I couldn’t cope anymore.

I found a new doctor who FINALLY put me on pain meds and told me to give up University. In 2014 I applied for the Disability Pension and was granted it. I tried to focus on my health. I had another set back when I was told I had a grade 3 slip in my L5 (lower back) and needed a spinal fusion. I began an experimental treatment called Spineforce to see if it would prolong the need for surgery as I was struggling with simple daily tasks without severe back pain. In November 2014 I began that.

In December I had a fall and completely SMASHED my right foot. 5 metatarsals and a growth plate. I was in a cast for 6 weeks (that in itself was a drama) then a moonboot for 6 weeks. I had to use a wheelchair. I’m now still building my strength up.

In March 2015 I was also diagnosed with M.E. I was told it was from the pneumonia I had from the lapband. It explains my change in cognitive function- the fact I cant remember short term things , slur speech, forget things mid sentence, as well as MANY other symptoms I have.

At the moment I’m mostly bed bound. My severe fatigue and pain now mean simple tasks like cooking and washing up are out of the question. My life has COMPLETELY changed. I am now chronically ill and have given up the dreams I had to travel, be a teacher, possibly have children or be in a relationship. I probably wont work again.

My story is mine. I don’t share this with everyone because it seems all too dramatic to be real. I don’t want to scare anyone with my story. I have come to realise that this was meant to be for me. I was meant to be sick so that I could help others who are sick by spreading awareness, happiness and love.

My 28th Birthday

Well I made it another year! Today is my 28th birthday. 

Birthdays are a little bittersweet for the chronically ill. It's a celebration of our birth but also a reminder of another year passing with the hopes and dreams for our life not always being reached due to our limitations. 

Many spoonies tend to flare on their birthdays- be it the hype of the day, the excitement of the day or even the emotional trigger of what we haven't achieved in our lives that birthdays tend to remind us of. 

If you're reading the this and you can't relate I am sorry. But remember you aren't alone. This is a subject we tend not to talk about but the majority of us feel.  

Whilst I wish being a spoonie didn't change things- it does. It seeps into every aspect of our lives whether we want it to or not. We plan our days differently then others. We have to always think ahead. Now having been sick for a few years I've learnt what triggers flares for me and what I can and can't do without pain.

So what are my hopes and dreams for the next year of my life?

My goal for my 28th year is to try and push myself more. To let go of the fear of the "punishment" my body will give me for socializing, traveling or doing something I want too. 

My deepest wish when I blow my candles out will be for something many take for granted.

I wish to be healthy. 

To not have my body determine almost every daily decision or the decisions of my family and friends as a result of being unwell. 

So as another birthday draws to an end and I'm reminded of the things I don't have- such as the husband and kids society expects me to have at this age or the chance to travel the world. But it also reminds me I may be a year closer to the end goal- a cure.