BandSpouse

My wife had lap band surgery in June. She has lost 70+ pounds as of Sep 8. For the last 2 weeks she has not been able to keep anything down except liquids. She had a esophagram last week. The barium was not able to pass through the band except for a few drops. The doctor conducting the test said he thought the band was too tight. She told them she has not had a fill done yet. This is true. She hasn't had even one fill. The band has not slipped. Her surgeon said that perhaps the band is too small for her stomach, however he wants her to wait a month to see if the band will loosen as she loses more weight. I don't think she can't wait that long. If band was going to loosen as she lost weight wouldn't her situation be improving? She has lost 70 pounds already. I am concerned that her surgeon is looking out for his best interest over my wife's. Of course she doesn't want to do the surgery again to replace the smaller band with a larger band, but that is the only option her dr has proposed if her situation doesn't improve. Please share your advice if any have had similar experience.

She is doing much better. She had the drain removed on Monday. The drain was put in during the surgery to drain in the infection in stomach. She just finished the last dose of IV antibiotics last night. Her biggest concern now is keeping the weight off. Thanks for everyone advice and concern.

Here is the latest update. Her surgeon scheduled surgery today to replace the smaller band with a larger band. I just spoke to the surgeon and he said when they got in they notice some puss caused by infection. The band had eroded causing a hole slightly smaller than a quarter. They removed the band and port. My wife doesn't know this yet. She is still waking up from the surgery. I know she is going to be disappointed, but I am relieved to have some answers. Now time for the healing to begin.

Thanks for your concern. She is doing slightly better, but still having challenges keeping again but liquids down. She has been able to drink small amounts of Protein shakes. But any attempt to eat anything more solid has failed. I spoke to the advocacy service offered by my employer. They are going to try to help but I got the feeling that they would try what we have already done ourselves. My wife is pursuing the option to have the same surgeon put in a larger band, but our insurance requires pre-authorization to replace the band. That could take 48 hours if the insurance expedites the request. I don't know what we will do if the insurance denies the claim. I would love to have a second opinion but no one is willing or able to see her soon enough. That has been frustrating. It seems like there is a Band (Pun intended) of Doctors that don't want to review a fellow surgeons opinion, prognosis, work. I haven't shared this before but my wife's dad had the Lap-band surgery with this same surgeon. Her dad has not had any complications or problems. His surgery was 2 years ago. I think that is part of the reason she is comfortable with the idea of him doing the surgery again. I have not found any complaints about this surgeon anywhere. Does anyone know a better way to research a surgeons history? I have just been searching the Internet.

My wife has tried 3 lap band surgeons. Only 1 is willing to see her to give a second opinion, however the earliest he is willing or able to see her is on Oct 10. Ugh! She can't wait a month. My wife asked her surgeon if he has ever had to replace a smaller band for a larger band. He said that not for size alone. He replace a smaller band that slipped with a larger band. He seems confident that her band has not slipped, but perhaps you are right and it is just hard to see from the espohagram. My employer offers an Advocacy Service through a 3rd party that is suppose to help us work with insurance and doctors. I have contacted them. Hopefully, they can help us get a quick solution.

My wife called another lap band surgeon's office today. The nurse said she has never heard of a patient needing a band removed and replaced for a larger band. The surgeon is going to call my wife later. Has anyone heard of a patient needing a larger band because the smaller band was too tight?

I appreciate everyone's advice. My wife really likes her surgeon. I am not sure I can persuade her to go to another surgeon. She called another lap band surgeon's office, but they transferred her to speak to a nurse, which went to voicemail. No one has called back yet. My wife doesn't tolerate anesthesia very well and the doctor knows that. However, she is leaning to have the surgery ASAP which tells me how miserable she is. I am worried that might have similar complications with a larger band. We have good health insurance, but we have to pay a portion of the cost of the surgery. I don't know that a lawyer would really win a malpractice suit at this point. Maybe the surgeon is not providing the best advice, but short of surgery again it doesn't seem there are a whole lot of viable options. I think if my Wife told the surgeon she wanted surgery, he would schedule it ASAP. Admittedly, I know very little about the lap band. I searched this site for anyone that had a similar issue, but I couldn't find anything. Are there really only 2 sizes of the bands? If anyone has seen a thread with someone who had a smaller band replaced with a larger band please let me know.

I just spoke to the Lap Band Surgeon. He is now suggesting to put her on an IV and wait for at least a week or two. He thinks her stomach is inflamed from all the regurgitating. That seems logical. He told me he once was on an IV for 6 months. That seems strange that a surgeon would be on an IV for that long. Just saying! I didn't question him on that point. He is offering to redo the surgery and either remove the band or put a larger size band around her stomach. My wife encouraging my wife to make an appointment with a different surgeon to get a second opinion. He claims there are on 2 sizes of bands and my wife currently has the smaller band. Thanks to everyone for your advice. I read her your comments which has her and I both taking this situation very seriously.