annabeyta

Thank you, Penni. I am not trying to spew horror stories or create more confusion at a time when difficult choices must be made. Personally, I have gone back to work and I am much stronger than I was a year ago. I'm getting better all the time; it's just a slow process (much slower than I would prefer for it to be). Thank you for your support. I send my blessings toward you and yours as well. Sincerely, Ann

I didn't go into detail about my story, but... if you want to hear a bit of it... I had a lap band inserted at noon, by midnight (still in the hospital) I had a fever of 106 degrees. The next day they removed the band. Apparently, there was an esophageal tear (note the passive voice to the verb "was"). No one would admit how or why the tear happened. Apparently, it just "happened." I weighed 240 at 5'8" so I wasn't one of the more high-risk patients, but I did have a hiatal hernia, which the doctor did not repair during the surgery. He told me that the lap band would repair the hernia in time. Anyway, I developed sepsis, jaundice, my lungs collapsed, I had blood transfusions 3 times, I was in the hospital for a total of 4 months. I was in a drug-induced coma twice and in the ICU for a total of 2 months, in a nursing home (at age 50) for 10 days, then sent back to ICU. Anyway, it was a nightmare. It's a much longer story than this, but if I were to go into detail, I'd have to write a book. I'm glad that your surgery went better than mine. I am not trying to scare anyone, I just want to warn everyone, that this surgery is VERY dangerous. BTW, I tried to sue my doctor, but the statute of limitations went by very quickly. Remember 4 months of the two-year period I was still in the hospital... For another 6 months of that two-year period, I was trying to learn how to roll over, stand, take a shower on my own, read again, and think and speak. I was trying to survive. I didn't have the time or the wits to sue at the time. I did talk to an attorney, but the statute of limitations ran by very quickly and we could not find a doctor who would speak out against my doctor... you know how they say it's a very tight brotherhood.

Charleston & Kare, Thank you for your support. It has been a nightmare, both physically and financially. It's hard to tell people not to do it when they are so excited and optimistic about lap band surgery. I was optimistic too, at one time. We never think that the supposedly-low percentage of "complications" will happen to us. However, I don't know that my complications are in any statistic. I've never been interviewed. There was no real follow-up once I was sent home in a wheelchair. I'll check out the website that you sent. Thank you, --Ann

Please just drop the idea. The lap band process is SO dangerous. To make a VERY long story short, I was in a coma for four months and had last rites read to me three times. I am just grateful to be alive after all this lap band business. Please reconsider. Too many people are dying from this procedure, but we don't hear about all the complications.

I had GERD and a hiatal hernia. I was told that the surgery would cure the GERD and the hernia. It didn't. The lapband caused so much stress on my esophagus that I had esphageal perforations and was in the hospital for four months (mainly in ICU). I would believe your doctor. I think that eventually the medical community will find that someone with GERD can have damaged the esophageal wall with all of the acid and that the weak wall will be stressed by the lapband. Remember that this surgery is still fairly new in the U.S. There is still a lot to learn.