Lap band surgery update...

After nearly three years of going back and forth to have WLS done, the day finally arrived last Thursday, March 22, when I had my lap banding surgery done. I was discharged from the hospital Friday night, and I did a lot better with this than I did when my appendix was taken out 18 months ago.

I'm a little sore around the incisions where the banding was put in (nothing a heating pad or a Tylenol won't handle), but other than that, I feel great. Of course, I can't bend from the waist or carry anything heavy for awhile, but that's only temporary.

"Meals" for the next few weeks will consist of clear liquids; I need 64 oz of liquid daily..but here is the good news--I got taken off FOUR of my meds! Yippeeeeeeeeeeee! The rest I have to crush up or take out of the capsules; totally GROSS tasting!

Next week, I should be going from clear to full liquids, then on to pureed goodies after that. So far, I've dropped 12 pounds already. Heh.

Good job. As they say over at obesityhelp.com Welcome to the losing side. Lap band is the best way for wls.

JOhn

Please keep us updated on your progress I am new here so didn't know of this before now but I have considered surgery myself before. I can't wait to hear how things go for you. Do you work out of the house and if so how long will you be off work??

congratulations, I wish you much luck!!!!! pat

Congrats on the successful surgery, and that is great news about the meds!

Keep us informed on your progress.

4 more visits to my PCP(must document 6 straight monthly visits). Hoping to have my lap bypass done by August or September. I am very determined and motivated. Was being worked up last year and then missed my 4th appt with MD. I think something was going on with 1 of boys so of course mom's life got put on hold temporarily. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and believe that at this time I am more motivated and focused to get my weight down and surgery is the choice for me. Lori-keep us updated on your progress. Interested to know if your CPAP pressure will be able to be decreased with mucho weight loss.

My CPAP pressure right now is set at 10, and the only way to go from here is down. The nice thing about that as far as the hospital was concerned was I only had to take my head gear and mask; they had a machine ready for me in the recovery room post-op and of course in my room once I got upstairs.

Who knows, I may be off this bad boy completely one of these days....

My daughter had a lap band put in last July. She really had to fight the insurance company but they finally gave in. She's already off all of her meds and has lost 72 pounds so far. She went back to work two days after her surgery.

There are some tough spots though. It's really hard to get enough fluids down and if you don't, you get terrible constipation. Getting enough protein down is tough too. If you don't get enough protein, your hair will start falling out. The lap band will prevent you from eating too much but it doesn't immediately take away your cravings or desire to overeat. She had to go to counseling for a while to help her through that. But overall, it's been great. She can shop in the regular misses sizes and she hasn't been able to do that since she was 16 years old.

I hope yours works out as well.

thats great to hear.

im in a similar boat. i cant keep myself on a diet for more than a month [work 60-80 hours a week sometimes] because it doesnt fit my schedule to do so [who actually eats 5 times a day?] so my chances of ever getting the surgery are slim to none.

my doctor feels my pain and has stayed away from the surgery conversation for a while but the last time i went in and i got on their scale and they couldnt weigh me, he basically told me if i *told* them i was dieting for a year that he would ok it.. since you have to be on a medically assisted diet for 12 months to even be looked at by blue cross, this is my only option.

i know thats why i have apnea, and i know its why i feel dead all day long. i'll be dead in a few years at the rate im going if i dont change.

long story short, i understand what you went through and im very happy to see others getting the help they deserve. now onto your choice of surgeries.. you picked the lap band.. any particular reasons why? i was always leaning more towards Roux-En-Y for some reason...

anyways.. congrats. the most important thing you can do is not dump and make sure if you feel ANY pain that doesnt feel normal at all, get the doctors immediately. hear horror storries about certain patients at my local doc's office who had it done and developed a ton of problems because they ignored the early signs.

MeHoo wrote: now onto your choice of surgeries.. you picked the lap band.. any particular reasons why? i was always leaning more towards Roux-En-Y for some reason...

I had initially been considered for the RNY and had gone for an attempt on 9/28/2005, but when I was opened up, they had found a rare condition that my intestines had been backwards--and even my appendix was on the wrong side--and therefore, couldn't complete the operation. It turned out to be an appendectomy instead. From there, the lap band was suggested for me and of course, I had to do most of the pre-op tests again, (including a sleep study, which I am totally grateful for), before I was approved for surgery.

Presently four days past surgery day, I continue to feel fantastic. The bandages fell off last night while I was getting ready for bed, and outside of some bruising around the incision sites, they look good. I'm not even sore today at all.

Got some good news from the doctor's office this morning; I am going on FOOD beginning a week from this coming Thursday (when I see the doctor), since I am tolerating liquids so well. Granted it is only the mushy stuff, but it will only be for two weeks. I had some protein drink today and some cream of chicken soup and no problems so far (I had to strain the soup to get out the chicken chunks, though; hey, the cats liked them LOL).

I don't have to worry about things like "dumping;" the only things that are of concern would be vomiting, food getting stuck in the "pouch" and band slippage (which can be avoided if guidelines are followed carefully), chewing food completely, and of course, once I feel full, to stop eating. Losses are slower than with RNY, but the risks are lower and recovery a lot quicker.

Plus, though not recommended, the band can also be removed eventually.

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good point. since the surgery is minimally invasive, dumping is not an option, so much as overeating and vomiting is. my mistake.

gotta admit you healed/are healing faster than anyone i know who had any of the surgeries done.

my bariatric surgery knowledge is fading, i had heard there were different band surgeries, one can stretch back out, the other cannot. do you know which of the two you had?