Search the Community

Things happen when you least expect them, we almost lost our youngest DD during a routine tonsilectomy...it happens sometimes. Thankfully lap band like her tonsilectomy is very rarely a complicated surgery. Glad you are on the mend, be sure to post your new Christmas outfit!! It was a rough trip---but welcome to Bandland!! Kat

I am less freaked out by the incident than by the way it was handled. As soon as the issue occurred, it should have been dealt with, not postponed for so long. I don't care if there was no bariatric surgeon on staff. It was an emergency situation, and they should have either called one in, or had an abdominal.general surgeon remove the band. You don't need as much special training to remove an implanted device as to install it in the first place. I feel terrible for Shirley and her family, but I am comforted that her circumstances were unusual and that my local hospital has 3 bariatric surgeons on staff (it's where I got my band done to begin with) in case a complication or emergency ever arises.

Hi Barbara, thanks for your reply. Sorry about the confusing terminology. In some countries Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is called ME, and in others it is called CFS and in still others it is called ME/CFS. It is complicated even further because many people say they have Chronic Fatigue when in fact they are tired/fatigued but have not been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - that is why here in Australia the condition is often referred to as ME/CFS. While Fibromyalgia is a different condition, quite often (but not always) people with ME/CFS also suffer from Fibromyalgia. I am no doctor but from what you have described it certainly sounds like you had both Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (or ME or CFS or ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia. (I have the "double whammy" too!) Yes, you are right - I did not WANT to hear that the band could be rejeced, but I did NEED to hear it. I also need to hear anything else (both positive and negative) so that I can go to my surgeon's appt with all the questions. I think I will then need to talk with my ME/CFS specialist to discuss this with him before making my final decision. I know I am the only one who can make this decision but I really appreciate the information and hearing about other people's experiences. Regards Bobbie Bayside Melbourne Victoria Australia

Exactly - anyone who was banded 16 years ago has nothing like our band. People often tell us 'Oh I had that same band surgery 20 years ago" - but it's a common mistake on their part. The non-adjustable band isn't new or unique. It's an older surgery, older procedure - and they are many of them around. Nor were they done Laproscopically very often back then. So the current LapBand (which has improved in technology & technique, since I got my LapBand 5 1/2 yrs ago) is light-years away from the non-adjustable one, which has significant complications & regain. Like all technology, things improve - ten years from now maybe there will be something newer and hipper than the LapBand. For now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed....

scale Weight-loss Surgery The first large-scale review of weight-loss surgeries performed on older adults suggests bariatric procedures should generally be limited to people younger than age 65, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found. The study showed that older patients experienced less weight loss and far more complications than younger patients, indicating that the risks often outweigh the benefits of these types of surgeries in older patients. The study, which appears in the Archives of Surgery, reviewed more than 25,000 bariatric procedures from a national database. "Adverse outcomes increased with age, particularly after age 60," said Dr. Edward Livingston, chairman of GI/endocrine surgery at UT Southwestern and the study's lead author. "Beyond 65 years of age, the adverse event rate exceeded 20 percent and mortality was 3.23 percent." In addition to age, the study found that men and those with electrolyte disorders and congestive heart failure were at greater risk of death from bariatric surgery or related complications, said Dr. Livingston. Other conditions that increased risk for adverse events and required longer hospital stays included chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes and depression. Common complications included gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiac problems. Gastrointestinal problems were most common, occurring in about 30 percent of older patients who had complications. Respiratory-tract problems occurred in about 20 percent of patients with post-operative problems. Cardiac complications affected about 15 percent of elderly patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly one-third of adult Americans - more than 60 million people - are obese. Nearly 5 percent of adults are classified as extremely obese. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery Foundation estimates that more than 1,000 people die each day from obesity-related complications. Obese adults are at increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, stroke and even some cancers. Obesity ranges from mild (20 to 50 pounds overweight) to morbidly obese (more than 100 pounds overweight). Bariatric surgeries are usually reserved for those more than 100 pounds overweight. This latest study reviewed 25,428 bariatric procedures involving Medicare beneficiaries using the National Inpatient Survey database, which contains discharge information for 20 percent of all hospitalizations in the United States, a sufficiently large enough population to overcome limitations of previous studies. UT Southwestern is one of the few institutions in the nation that offers all types of bariatric procedures and is a regional referral center and leader in bariatric surgery, having performed the area's first lap band procedures and robotically assisted lap band procedures. UT Southwestern bariatrics programs have garnered national recognition as well, being named bariatric surgery Centers of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery and United Resource Networks' Clinical Sciences Institute. ### About UT Southwestern Medical Center UT Southwestern Medical Center, one of the premier medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. Its more than 1,400 full-time faculty members - including four active Nobel Prize winners, more than any other medical school in the world - are responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and are committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide medical care in 40 specialties to nearly 89,000 hospitalized patients and oversee 2.1 million outpatient visits a year. Dr. Edward Livingston - http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/findfac/professional/0,2356,58399,00.html Contact: Russell Rian UT Southwestern Medical Center

i chose the lapband because of the lower risk of complications, the fact the people don't die from it, that was a plus. The recovery time is amazing. It's cheaper, reversable if there happens to be a complication. If there is a complication I can always be rebanded. The success rates are about the same long term. the weight is slower to come off, but that just means less skin to pay to have removed later.

Hi, I just got my date which is 8/30/06....I am excited but really nervous....I've been reading all the post and am really nervous about any complications. I'm self pay and can't afford much in the way of complications....hoping for a great result!

Thank you all for your comments - she's on her way home to have band removed late this week... My questions is concerning my mom. She was banded by another Dr 1 yr ago and has been having severe problems for about 4 months w/ servere acid reflux and vomiting. She has contacted her Dr several times but is not getting a response. Also, she is in <ST1:p<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comIraq </st1:country-region></ST1:pand can not get home easily to see the doctor. Also, she has only lost about 15 lbs since the surgery. Any help would be greatly appreciated as she is very worried. Thank you in advance for your advice.

Here's an article from Yahoo News Child stomach surgeries more popular <!-- END HEADLINE --> <!-- BEGIN STORY BODY -->By DAVID B. CARUSO, Associated Press Writer 25 minutes ago As the popularity of stomach surgery has skyrocketed among obese adults, a growing number of doctors are asking, "Why not children, too?" For decades, the number of kids trying weight-loss surgery has been tiny. The operations themselves were risky, with a death rate of about 1 in 50. Children rarely got that fat, and when they did, pediatricians hesitated to put the developing bodies under the knife. Only 350 U.S. kids had such an operation in 2004, according to federal statistics. But improvements in surgical technique and huge increases in the number of dangerously obese children have begun fueling a change of heart. A group of four hospitals, led by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, are starting a large-scale study this spring examining how children respond to various types of weight-loss surgery, including the gastric bypass, in which a pouch is stapled off from the rest of the stomach and connected to the small intestine. Three more hospitals have approval from the food and Drug Administration to test how teens fare with a procedure called laparoscopic gastric banding, where an elastic collar installed around the stomach limits how much someone can eat. The FDA has hesitated to approve the gastric band for children, but surgeons at New York University Medical Center reported in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery this month that the device holds promise. The 53 boys and girls, aged 13 to 17, who participated in NYU's study shed nearly half their excess weight over 18 months, while suffering relatively minor complications. Crystal Kasprowicz, of St. James, N.Y., said she lost 100 pounds from her 250-pound frame after having the band installed at age 17. "I'm a totally different person," she said. Before the procedure, Kasprowicz said she took medication for a rapid heartbeat and was showing signs of developing diabetes. Every effort she made to stop getting bigger failed. Dieting didn't work, she said. Her heart problems made it hard to exercise. Even walking up stairs was a challenge. Now, she's off the heart drugs. Her blood-sugar levels are in check. She also feels better about herself. "I'm very outgoing now," said Kasprowicz. "I hike a lot ... I go to the beach in the summer now. I'm not as self-conscious when I go shopping for clothing." Similar studies are under way at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago and at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, which recently opened a weight-loss surgery center for teens. Doctors there expect to conduct about 50 operations this year. Children are only considered candidates for surgery after they have spent six months trying to lose weight through conventional methods under hospital supervision. But so far, not a single one has slimmed down enough to take surgery off the table, said Dr. Jeffrey Zitsman, associate attending surgeon at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. "That battle can only be won in a few instances," he said. The studies have followed a huge surge in the popularity of obesity surgeries among adults. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery estimates that more than 177,000 Americans had weight-loss surgery last year, up from 47,000 in 2001. Not everyone is pleased that kids might be next. "I don't think altering the human digestive tract is a solution to the problem of excess weight," said Joanne Ikeda, a nutritionist emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. "It's one of these quick-fixes that isn't a fix at all." Doctors, she said, still know relatively little about the long-term effects of such operations on the very young. The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released a study in July that said four in 10 weight-loss surgery patients develop complications within six months. Among adults, mortality rates among gastric bypass patients remain at between 1 in 100 and 1 in 200 patients. Laparoscopic gastric banding has been shown to have a much smaller death rate — about 1 in 1000 patients — but complications do occur. Of the patients who participated in the NYU study, two needed a second operation to adjust a slipping band; two developed hernias; five got an infection; five suffered mild hair loss and four had Iron deficiencies related to their new diet. After the study was complete, one patient asked to have her band removed because of discomfort, said Evan Nadler, a pediatric surgeon and co-author of the study. Nadler said those complications were minor compared to the chronic diabetes and cardiovascular disease teens would face if they remained that heavy into adulthood. "These are people who have tried everything they could possibly try," he said, noting that their mean weight at the study's start was 297 pounds. "Once they reach this level of morbid obesity, the vast majority go on to be obese adults," he said. Thomas Wadden, an obesity expert at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, said surgery can be of immense benefit to some teens, especially those already experiencing health problems. But he also advised caution. Egged on by TV shows and commercials expounding the benefits of weight-loss surgery, adult patients have begun showing up at Penn's Center for Weight and Eating Disorders demanding an operation as an easy first step to thinness. "When we ask them, 'What have you done so far to lose weight?' The patients say, 'Nothing,'" Wadden said. "They're going right to a $25,000 operation for which they are ill-prepared." It would be tragic, he said, to see the same phenomenon repeated among children. "They have to be selected with caution to make sure that this aggressive step is absolutely necessary."

Dr. Castaneda performed my gastric bypass surgery in December, 2010. Even pre-operatively I was amazed that Dr. Castaneda was always available by email and promplty answered all of my questions. Once I arrived in Mexico Dr. Castaneda continued to be available for any questions before and after surgery. I was nervous about having surgery in another country, but by the time my surgery day arrived, I felt extremely confident with Dr. Castaneda's surgical competence. I had no surgical complications and continued to heal well once arriving back home. As an RN, I was very reassured by the process Dr. Castandea used both during surgery and post-op to ensure there were no surgical complications or leaks in the surgical incisions. The two aspects of my surgery that were necessary, but less pleasant, were the surgical drains required to be in your abdomen for about 4 to 5 days post-op and the contrast dye I needed to drink one day post-op to check for any leaks in my surgical incisions by x-ray. The hospital and staff were very attentive and caring. Some of the nurses and other hospital staff did not speak fluent English but they were always patient while we figured out what it was that I needed. I can not end this story without saying how caring and truly engaged Dr. Castaneda is in ensuring a positive outcome for obese patients. Even though I am more than 4 months post-op I can still email anytime and receive a prompt response and enquires about how I am doing. I would recommend Dr. Castaneda to family, friends or anyone contemplating weight loss surgery.

From reading this forum I get the impression that 90% of the people here had the exact same feelings you are describing. And then after the surgery, if you do it, you'll undoubtedly go through a few days thinking "Oh, no, what have I done to myself?!?" All of that is very normal. But the fact is almost everyone is eventually glad they did it. And as for making a mistake, remember, the band is reversible. If for some reason it does not work for you, you can take it out. The risk of any serious medical complications from the surgery is very small. The decision is yours. At your age especially there is no hurry. If you need more time take it. There is no need to rush into things if you are not ready. But I can tell you this. If you postpone your surgery, you will almost certainly have these exact same feelings again the next time you are 4 days from having your surgery. It just goes with the territory. cj, ask yourself, are you going to lose 137 pounds with diet and exercise?

There are pros and cons to being first and being up there in the numbers. I was roughly patient numbre 50-60 that Joffe and Yau banded. I know patient numbr 2-3 and they never had problems and that is 2-3 in the country not just with that surgeon. They say you should wait until after patient 50 because by patient 50 most docs have seen all different types of stomachs, and insides etc and they have placed enough bands to eliminate the possibility of most complications. But someone has to be the first 50 patients.. My advice as someone who has had complications is ask questions, like your doctor, seriously like your doctor you are going to have a lifetime relationship with them and make sure you are comfy with their staff. I would ask him if you are a complication who fixes it, who pays, etc. I would also ask what post op support he is offering, it is so important to have a good post op experience because that will help make or break some people. Good luck and argon is right for peace of mind 4 hours is nothing to drive for fills and support. Most of all make sure you are comfy with what you decide.

Hi Gaintheworld! Sounds like your doing really well. Even tho you feel your loss is slow. Did you have bypass or sleeve? You lost quite a bit prior to surgery. Good for you. I wish you luck! We're all here to cheer you and each other on! I'm always around if you need to talk. How are you feeling? Thanks for the encouragement, I had the sleeve and am happy with the progress so far. I've gone from a size 22 to a 16 and am feeling so much better mentally and physically. The first 6 weeks, I was really tired but other than that no pain or complications. Good luck on you're journey!

I would be careful if I were you. Gall Bladder attacks are nasty, and make you very sick. You can only tolerate a few of them before you cry uncle! If you doctor recomends you to have it taken out, I would listen to him. Gall stones getting stuck in the duct is terrible and can lead to some serious complications.

Hi Susie, I was diagnosed with diabetes over 25 years ago when I was 22 and was also put on insulin immediately. That is to protect your health ans the insulin will work immediately to bring your blood sugars into normal range. I then started to lose weight and went to oral meds, but not ever got off them. I lost 95 lbs. I of course put back the weight over the years. I continued on the orals but 10 years ago when I wanted to get pregnant I had to go on insulin because you can not take those meds when trying to conceive or pregnant. Well, I nevef went off insulin after that. I have not yet been banded, but I am hoping that this time when I reach my goal I will be able to go back on the orals. If not - no big deal. I am very used to taking insulin and monitoring my blood sugars. You may be able to go off meds, but it is likely that at some point in your life (when you are older) you will have to go back on or take insulin. I know this not what you want to hear but diabetes just does not go away like that. You will always be insulin resistant and will always have to be vigilant. You are doing the BEST THING for your health by getting banded and losing weight. People don't die of diabetes, they die of complications from diabetes which can be avoided with good blood sugar control. Don't panic, get as much information as you can. Feel free to PM me anytime. I will be glad to help as I have walked in your shoes. Susan

Globe and Mail - Tues March 13th, 2007 There's a downside to obesity surgery SHERYL UBELACKER Canadian Press TORONTO — When people with obesity have surgery to help them lose weight, they can also lose something else — the ability to properly absorb certain nutrients, in particular Vitamin B1. And that deficiency can potentially lead to permanent brain damage if left untreated, researchers say. In a review of the medical literature, researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine found 32 cases of bariatric surgery patients who developed symptoms of Wernicke encephalopathy, a condition marked by memory loss and confusion, an inability to co-ordinate movements and rapid eye movement. Wernicke's is caused by a deficiency in vitamin B1, also called thiamine, and these classic symptoms are usually seen in alcoholics, said lead author Dr. Sonal Singh, an internal medicine specialist at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. “But interesting to our study, we found that these people also had other symptoms, like hearing loss, convulsions and tingling and numbness of the arms and legs — symptoms that have not been previously described with Wernicke's,” Dr. Singh said in an interview. That made the researchers wonder if these bariatric surgery patients were suffering from more than just a B1 deficiency and may have been experiencing a deficit of other critical nutrients or had developed immunological problems. Strangely, almost half of the patients with the neurological symptoms showed no brain lesions when given an MRI scan, said Dr. Singh, whose study is published Tuesday in the journal Neurology. Of the 32 patients — who had one of four weight-loss surgeries, including gastric bypass and gastric banding — 13 made a full recovery. Eighteen others were left with various levels of dysfunction and one patient, a 33-year-old woman, died. Most had experienced vomiting prior to onset of the neurological symptoms, said Dr. Singh, noting that patients ranged in age from 23 to 55, and 27 of the 32 were women. (In the United States, 75 per cent of bariatric surgery patients are women, he said.) The vomiting could have been caused by any of several factors, including the anatomical changes created by the surgery; blockages caused by swelling around the surgical area; and ulcerations or other erosions of the stomach developed following the operation. “When people who have had weight-loss surgery start experiencing any of these symptoms, they need to see a doctor right away,” stressed Dr. Singh. “Doctors should consider vitamin B1 deficiency and Wernicke encephalopathy when they see patients with these types of neurological complications after weight-loss surgery. If treated promptly, the outlook is usually good.” The average point at which patients began exhibiting Wernicke's symptoms was four to 12 weeks after surgery, although one patient developed problems two weeks after the operation and another 18 months later. Dr. Singh said his study could not determine how common Wernicke's encephalopathy is among people who have surgery to help them lose weight, and he said studies that follow patients are needed to establish how often it occurs. While some doctors prescribe thiamine supplementation after bariatric surgery as a matter of course, Dr. Singh believes national standards should be set for physicians to follow. “This is an emerging risk which is going to become more important in the future as more people get surgery,” he said.

I had cold feet before my surgery, but I'm here a year later to say that I had NO PAIN, NO COMPLICATIONS, and the surgery worked. Good luck with your surgery (my birthday is 1/23)

Okay, I am hoping that there is someone out there that can give me advice, words of wisdom, or just plain old Ive been there and it is possible to get back on track. I got my band three years ago. Lost 100 pounds. Had complications, band slipped and severe acid reflux. Surgery to put band back, then way off the good trail on eating, followed by divorce. Now 80 pounds are back and I want to get back on track. I just cannot seem to stop eating and kick the habit. Any advise? I know it is up to me. I just don't know how to get started again.

Vicki - yes the complications scare me. I don't want to be gagging and vomiting. I do that with Byetta. I can't go anywhere once I've taken that.

I am 25, and was recently diagnosed with PCOS. In 2012, I had a miscarriage which at the time I was not TTC at all. After this I was kind of heartbroken and me and my boyfriend (at the time) now husband decided to really try. We tried for two years to no avail that's when I was diagnosed with PCOS. Now looking back I really shouldn't have even tried do to me being so big and all the complications that could have come along with it. I would definitely have been a high risk pregnancy I was nearly 400lbs. I got sleeved September 11th, 2014 SW 395 CW 349 so I've lost 46 lbs. so far. I do plan to TTC within the next year provided I am close to where I want to be goal wise which is 190lbs. I decided I would start trying around 230lbs.

Can someone clarity for me complications that might arise out of pbing too often. Thanks in advance.

Hey Scarlet121! I to am having the same problem sort of. I had my surgery in may this year and ive had 3 fills already up to 1.8 cc in my band. I still am able to eat everything, bread pasta rice dont make me sick like they say! There were complications with my docotor leaving to another company so i have to wait for my 4th fill, and im going to ask for a whole cc or somthing more. But i have lost already 33 pounds! Yea me! i wish it was more qucikly but i think im on a good track! I still get the sweet cravings but not like before i still eat a burger from micky d's with no problem. But i do feel the pain when i eat too quickly, so i know the band it there. haha.. Well Good Luck with it.. I just want to be a size 12 already! HAHAH...

I am scared and afraid I'm going to have complications! My band was removed in February and six months later here I am getting my sleeve. I'm at Kaiser Harbor City.....I just had my lorazapam and getting ready to go to bed for early check in Please pray for me!!

Some people are just insensitive a$&es. This surgery is no joke. Some people have no or little pain. Others have major pain. And still others suffer major complications. I feel like I'm the crazy one when I hear someone say, "oh I was fine. Didnt need pain meds. Etc, etc." I'm 3 weeks and 3 days out. My back kills me. I still get the tearing/burning pain in my lt upper abdomen if I move the wrong way. I deal. I'm up, out and about with a chauffeur cause driving makes me cry in pain. He's being a jerk. There is no saying your sis in law would fair any better. Each person has a different experience. And if he has nothing constructive to say he should shut his yap!!

I love Orange Roughy fish. Does anyone know how to make it? Something REALLY easy (I'm a horrible cook), nothing complicated, not too many spices because I won't know what they are, and low carb. No breading, etc. Suggestions? Thx!