Single incision lapband, anyone have this procedure?

[mahealanij 0]

Hello... Has anyone else had the single incision (through the navel) procedure? And if so have you had any complications or found that the incision site takes longer to heal? Or suffered any nerve damage? I was banded 2/11 and am still having pain in my abdomen. And yes... Ive been to see my surgeon and no signs of infection have been found.

[dits4golf 0]

Who's your surgeon?

[Acadia 20]

I had the single incision and it took my incision around three weeks to mostly close, one side reopened, then it closed about a week and a half later.

I had general abdominal discomfort but not pain.

What type of pain are you having? If it's dull it's pretty normal. If it's sharp - you need to see your Dr.

That said, you could continue to have pain for up to six weeks after surgery, you're only two weeks out. Just see how things go the next week - but if at any time you get redness, heat, sharp pain, vomiting, or fever, go see your Dr. immediately and ask for an x-ray to make sure everything is still in the right place and nothing looks out of the ordinary.

[mattie7632 24]

I had the single incision also. I wouldn't say I was in pain, but certainly had some soreness at certain times for at least a month, maybe longer.

[mahealanij 0]

Dr Peter Liao, with GBMC bariatric center. Awesome surgeon and i wouldnt have traded him for the world! But the pain used to be severe and sharp.. It started abt 6 days after surgery (when i started feeling better from the whole surgery in general). I ended up in the er due to the pain (pain was abt two inches up and two inches to the left of my navel) so everytime i inhaled my diaphragm hurt as well so i experienced shortness of breath. I had blood tests, x-rays... Cat scan with contrast and everything came back normal. So they ruled it nerve damage. From what i understand it often occurs with any surgery. A couple of days ago i finally started feeling a bit better as the days passed. I just feel kind of down because most of the surgery stories on here are so positive... In about a 4-8 days people are already back to work. Its been over two weeks and i still havent gone outside. Although tomorrow i may try because i can tolerate sitting upright alot better now.

It is a relief to know that some of you had longer healing times... I believe my incision on one side may be healing slower... Most of the skin in my navel is smooth and soft but the left side is a bit harder and still a bit painful... Maybe it will just take more time for that to heal up as well...

Thank you all for the feedback... I appreciate it.

[echazottes 0]

I had the single incision surgery almost a year ago to date and I had more pain then people on here usually report...i went to GBMC too! Dr. Moe did mine....it takes time to recover...so take it easy and relax! I couldn't sit up on my own for almost 3 weeks...and i had the shortness of breath thing too.....it all passed and I am perfectly fine with no pain and no scars a year out

Dr Peter Liao, with GBMC bariatric center. Awesome surgeon and i wouldnt have traded him for the world! But the pain used to be severe and sharp.. It started abt 6 days after surgery (when i started feeling better from the whole surgery in general). I ended up in the er due to the pain (pain was abt two inches up and two inches to the left of my navel) so everytime i inhaled my diaphragm hurt as well so i experienced shortness of breath. I had blood tests, x-rays... Cat scan with contrast and everything came back normal. So they ruled it nerve damage. From what i understand it often occurs with any surgery. A couple of days ago i finally started feeling a bit better as the days passed. I just feel kind of down because most of the surgery stories on here are so positive... In about a 4-8 days people are already back to work. Its been over two weeks and i still havent gone outside. Although tomorrow i may try because i can tolerate sitting upright alot better now.

It is a relief to know that some of you had longer healing times... I believe my incision on one side may be healing slower... Most of the skin in my navel is smooth and soft but the left side is a bit harder and still a bit painful... Maybe it will just take more time for that to heal up as well...

Thank you all for the feedback... I appreciate it.

[Acadia 20]

Everyone is different and all sorts of pain can come about depending on how things are placed, what was moved out of the way during surgery, how you moved after surgery, and so much more. It will get better. It just might take some time.

I honestly thought it would never stop, then one day I was able to sit up without a towel at my abdomen. I was able to sit on the toilet without bracing on the sink with one arm. You'll start to notice little things showing that things are getting better.

[azbtrfly 2]

I'm a little scared now, I'm scheduled for the single incision on March 8th, have 2 weeks off scheduled. I sit at a desk all day but already have problems with my back hurting.

[Pinkygirl 34]

I had it done! And with noooo problems. Took two weeks with no Problems to heal and only little incisions n scars!

[Burd1tt 0]

Hello... Has anyone else had the single incision (through the navel) procedure? And if so have you had any complications or found that the incision site takes longer to heal? Or suffered any nerve damage? I was banded 2/11 and am still having pain in my abdomen. And yes... Ive been to see my surgeon and no signs of infection have been found.

I was banded 2/17/11 by a single incision through the navel. My incision site looks like pure crap 3 weeks later, it hurts, I can't stand for even my clothes to touch it. I still have swelling and it's driving me up the wall. I have lost a total of 10 pounds so far but you can't tell it from the swelling. I go back to my doctor tomorrow. I was even running fever at night the first week I had it done. I went to my primary care doctor and she put me on Bactrim just to be on the safe side. Fever has subsided but pain is still bad. However, the pain is ONLY due to the incision site. Let me know if you find out anything else. You can email me at burd1tt@aol.com.

[mahealanij 0]

I'm sorry to hear that Burd1tt.... that sounds horrible.. I didnt have any problems with my incision site. My doctor put a layer of this blue looking glue in my navel that covered my incision site.. it took like two and a half weeks for that blue stuff to start coming off.. and he said that was like a band aid that kept bacteria from growing because our navels are dark and tend to be the best place. I could shower and everything normally... i actually liked having that blue goo on my belly button.

They put me on Cipro when they weren't sure if i had an infection when they were waiting for all the results of my tests to come back... then they found out i had nerve damage and i took myself off of it. My body does NOT do well with antibiotics and i avoid them as much as i can... but it sounds like your incision site is actually infected... my incision on the left had an air bubble and my surgeon said that the body would reabsorb the air so i would just have to be patient... and it is going down slowly.. but it is bothersome.. i cant wear my jeans yet because when i sit it squeezes the lower half of me into the top half.. and OWE. Even though my pants fit me much better this is still uncomfortable. SO this is just going to have to take time to heal.... if you did have an infection it can take much more time because your body has to clear up the infection before it can begin to heal the incision. I sure hope you feel better sooner than later because i know how miserable it can be....

As for my nerve damage.. I AM FEELING SO MUCH BETTER!!! It has taken a lot longer than all these post-surgery posts i see here but im so happy the damage isnt permanant. I am at about 80 percent now!!! I decided not to rush back to work, my job requires me to be alert and sitting for almost 8 hours straight and is very stressful (police dispatcher here in BALTIMORE)... so i decided to take my time and heal... its still hard for me to sit straight up eight hours without discomfort and pain.. so im not rushing.. i have the sick leave... and I'm taking it...

thank you everybody for helping me get through that rough patch.. whew!