katandcharlie

Beth, I was all set to get a lap band but because of my health history (colo-rectal cancer along with several other cancers) my oncologist and my WLS surgeon strongly recommended I go with the sleeve. Mine is probably a unique situation and if it were not for my cancer history I would have done the band. I am now three weeks out from having the sleeve and doing great. I continue to pop in on this board and have a look-see as so many of the members are positive and helpful. Whatever your choice, please investigate and research what is best for you, ask lots and lots of questions and be positive. Good luck in your journey. Katherine in New Mexico

Absolutely touche`, Chickie! I'm a newby here (not banded, starting the process), but good Lord, stuff a twinky in that pie hole of hers and get an unfill, even I know that much!!! :huh2:

Thank you amsderb! Your response is exactly why I have stayed with this sight. I know that the band is not for me because of my health history but just like everyone here, I am battling a weight problem that has plagued me for more years than I can count. There is a true sense of caring I have found with this sight and I continue to look to the postings for encouragement and support. And good luck with your journey as well! You are getting closer and closer to the new you! Kat

By all means, get a second, third, even a fourth opinion! This is something that is not only life changing it is also expensive (sad to admit that money has to factor into what will make us healthy and help get rid of weight). As for me, I am not banded. I started the process and after visiting with more than one surgeon it has been concluded that a band was not the right choice for me BUT it was not because of the amount of weight I need to get rid of (I'm 5'4", 295). The doctors I visited with all advised the gastric sleeve. I have a cancer history and am prone to urinary tract infections (5 to 6 times a year) and normally run a high fever with the infections. The surgeons advised that it would not be wise to place a foriegn object in my body with my health history. I made it a point to ask if their recommendation of the gastric sleeve was based at all on the amount of weight I had to lose OR on the dollar amount for the surgery and subsequent hospital stay. The answer was a stern NO, neither factored into their recommendation. One doctor even went so far as to talk candidly with me about his disdain for doctors who would stoop to such considerations. Good luck on your journey and be informed!! Kat

...what about the deer off the hood? :confused2: I just found this thread and, THANK YOU! I admit, I'm just starting the process so I was air headed enough to go in the chat room (yahoo chat on steroids!:w00t:) What I really wanted to do was to reach through my screen and strangled some of those folks... good Lord, even I know that if the doc says "clear liquids" that does NOT include 10 choc truffles! AGGGHHHH!! That said (and I feel sooo much better) I think I'll check back in on the room and see how high I can get my BP. Katherine.... owner of one road kill rooster!:smile2:

Hey Stepoffaith! I'm back in ABQ after all my dr's appt in Flag. It went well but there is a concern over the lap band and my past health history (grrr!). They have me all set up for the various "visits" (psych, EKG, etc) so when I go back to Flagstaff around the 25th of this month I'll be in and out of the testing and make sure stage. I'll be home in ABQ this weekend so if you need a place to stay or want to drop by, give me a shout. I'm keeping all kinds of good thoughts pointed your direction, you're going to do great in TX! Katherine

Hi Jean, I'm Katherine and I'm in Albuquerque as well. I just returned from Flagstaff where I met with my surgeon about the lapband process. Because of some health issues I have he is not 100% sold on the lapband for me... it is a toss up between the band and the sleeve. He is doing a little more research about what would be best for my particular health issues and should have an answer for me within the next couple of weeks. If I am able to go with the band I would love to be part of a support group and would be more than happy to help someone set that up. Sure sounds like you are doing great with the band and I sure hope your Fibromyalgia doesn't give you too many fits. I have heard that is often times quite painful. Be well and come on over on the west side and have a visit! :drool: Katherine

I am interested in visiting with someone who has an ostomy (ileostomy to be exact) and has had the lap band surgery. Have you had any problems? Set backs? Problems with your ostomy and absorption of nutrients? I have an ileostomy due to colo-rectal cancer and am starting the lap band journey. My surgeon has performed the lap band surgery on several ostomates, however, I would like to chat with an ostomate directly. Thanks in advance and good health to all.

JJ, perhaps your bowel surgeon and my ostomy surgeon went to the same school of no-bedside-manners! :thumbup: Good for you for making a stink! When my health took a turn for the worse 6 years ago I decided that the only one who could really "save" me was me, myself. I read, asked questions, read more, asked 200 more questions and then read some more so I would know exactly what my options where and how to get my health back. Amazingly I am a healthy person just extremely overweight and I battled cancer. But I'm not blind, I know that I have got to get this weight off or my health will fail me and there will be no recovery. I have been extremely careful with what I lift and how I push or pull things. My big fear was causing one of those nasty peristomal hernias. I know that if I don't do something about my weight that it will just be a matter of time before I have a hernia the size of Rhode Island! Oh my, I am so sorry you don't get better wear with your flange. I count my blessings as I normally can go from 4-6 days with the same flange. I use a two piece system with an Eakin seal to add a little conformaty to the flange. My stoma is very short and approx 1 1/2 diameter. Without the additional seal my stoma is so flush to my tummy that waste runs under the flange (does expel away from my body with "umph") and that causes all kinds of burns to the area around my stoma. The dr's were not able to do my ileo laproscopically because of the cancer so my tummy probably looks a lot like yours (road map city!) I know that there are challenges with having the ostomy and pursuing the lap band but I believe being armed with as much info as possible and maintaining a positive yet realistic attitude is very much in my favor. Thank you again for the info and be well!

Sharon, thank you for the info. Yep, I am having a VERY heart to heart with a very reputable surgeon. I didn't conquer two go arounds of cancer by not knowing information, information, information and more information is a must! I have had numerous lengthy discussions with my radiation oncologist and my chemo oncologist and they both agree that I should pursue the lap band surgery. They were also very quick to point out that they are NOT weight loss surgery experts and that it was a must for me to go with a reputable surgeon who has expereince with ileostomy patients. My thoughts are with your husband.... Chrons is a terrible disease and so hard to control. I suffered from c-diff, UC and then colo-rectal cancer. Seems my colon just didn't want to hang around for the rest of my life, it wanted to spend its time in a glass jar filled with preservatives! Again, thank you so much! It's wonderful that someone in the medical field is on this sight and not afraid to offer a little moral support and common sense advise! Bless you!! Kat

JJ, thank you so much for the information, your are a dear! Like you pre lap band, I am up 2-4 times during the night to empty and release air. I have grown so use to my night time bathroom trips that I don't see the additional air/less output as a problem, it may even be a blessing as my ostomy supplier is now carrying pouches with an air vent specifically used by those with an ileostomy. Yes indeed, include that stoma srinkage in your measurments! A question concerning your stoma if you don't mind... I have the "apron tummy" and my stoma is about 3-4 inches below and right of my belly button. As the weight goes have you found your skin sagging around the stoma? Is it difficult to get a good fit with your flange due to the excess skin around the stoma area? Oh my, doll, you are soooo fortunate that you have been able to tolerate fiber with the ostomy! I would LOVE to sit and have a bowl of popcorn or a big, juicey orange, but noooo, too much fiber for me! With the lap band I will not consume as much food so in my mind I'm thinking that I may then be able to tolerate fiber in small amounts and not have to worry about a blockage. Thank you for the info on your basic daily food intake, that is a great help to me! My very best wishes on getting your ostomy reversed! Because of the cancer and sever UC I had to have my entire colon and rectum removed. About 6 months after my ostomy surgery I checked out the internal pouch surgery and the exact words of my surgeon (real sweetheart, let me tell ya!): "Oh, Katherine, you're too fat for that, get real." :thumbup: I wanted to rip his large intestine out and swing him around the room by it! You are in my prayers and who knows, by this time next year you may have a sucessful reversal!:tt2: Thank you again, JJ, you have been a great help and full of information! p.s.... I had a port when I was going through chemo and I was AWAKE when they put it in and then removed it! It will be nice to be knocked out for the lap band surgery!:tongue: Kat

JJ, thank you so much for the info. I have been reading as much as I can get my hands on concerning the lap band/ileostomy situation. Both my oncologists, my ileo surgeon and my PCP have agreed that the lap band is the route for me and that if I pay attention to what I eat/drink I should not have any problems. They were also quick to inform me (rightfully so) that there is always the chance of complications when surgery comes into the picture. If you compare your output pre-surgery to now I'm guessing that the amount has dropped, is that correct? I wear a smaller bag and empty approximatley 6-8 times daily. Before I have finished my dinner it is already processing through and in the pouch. With the lap-band does the food stay in your system a little longer? I would love to be able to sit and have a bite to eat and not have to jump up and run to the bathroom before the table is even cleared! Pre-surgery (lab band), were you able to tolerate much Fiber? Salads, veggies, fruit? Post-surgery, (lab-band) are you now able to to eat those fiberous foods without a threat of a blockage? If it's not to personal may I ask what your average meal consist of now that you have the lab band with the ileostomy. JJ, thank you so much for your post and I look forward to visiting with you. You clearly had a rough start but looks like you are doing great now! Thank you again and thank you for any more info you can share with me concerning the ileo/lap band. Kat

Thanks, Jack. I had to have my entire colon removed 4 1/2 years ago so I didn't want to staple off or in anyway do something that was permanent in case there were problems with the ostomy.