bayli1

My mom was 72 years old this past January. She had Lap band surgery about 2 years ago and had lost about 50 pounds. Throughout the time that she had the band, she experienced vomiting and numerous reflux episodes. She was in fairly good health with just minimal high blood pressure and mild COPD. In March of this year, she went shopping one weekend, worked in her yard and all her normal activites. She ate a light dinner and snack before bedtime. She lay down that night and experienced a reflux episode in the wee hours of the morning. She arose and my brother, who lived with her, found her up using a nebulizer because she was having trouble breathing. The next morning she called the ambulance because she couldnt catch her breath. She called me that afternoon from the hospital saying she would be home the next morning, that she had aspiration pneumonia from the reflux and they were giving her IV antibiotics. The next day a nurse called and she was being admitted to the ICU. I quickly sped over and she was on a CPAP machine because she was struggling to breathe. The situation worsened and the very next day she developed ARDS(Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) and was place on a ventilator. Over the next few days she remained heavily sedated and ventilated in order to try to allow her lungs time to heal. Her white blood cell count started to spike and her heart began to become irregular. My beautiful mama died of ARDS caused by the aspiration pneumonia from this lap band. She was my very best friend. Please if you have or choose to have this procedure, be careful of the reflux and the potential complications. I, myself, have lost over 140 pounds through diet and exercise alone and will be glad to help anyone else to achieve this. If you do instead decide on the LAP band, please be educated about the risks. Dont overeat, be aware of overfills. Best of luck to you all. If I can help anyone please let me know. Email me Cindy

Best of luck to a successful and minimally painful surgery! I think that its a great decision to have it removed. Since my mother's death due to her band and its side effects, I have done alot of research. I dont believe enough patient education is done before doing the lap band procedure. If my mother would have survived the ARDS, I would have made her have it removed. That measly bit of weight that she lost wasnt worth paying for it with her life. You will be in my prayers! Best of luck!

Get it out girl!!! My moms lap band cause her to have reflux, aspiration pneumonia, and ARDS. She passed away because of it this year. I told her when she was on that ventilator that if she lived it was coming out!! Take care of yourself and your health. I have lost over 140 pounds through diet and exercise and would be happy to share my diet with you. God bless you!

I am so sorry for what you are going through. There are many side effects from this procedure that noone thinks will ever happen. Unfortunately my mother aspirated one night because of her lap band , developed ARDS and died shortly thereafter. I think more patient education is needed with these procedures. I will keep you in my prayers. Cindy

Please be careful with the reflux. It created aspiration pneumonia in my mother, which turned into ARDS. I then lost her on April 3 of this year. Make them fix the problem or take it out. Protect your health. I would do anything to have her back with me.