Chronic Pain Patient With Questions About Banding.

[Dawn3063 0]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the forum and desperitly need to loose weight. I have been overweight most of my life and am at my heaviest now. I need to loose at least 125 pounds... I have tried many differant types of weight loss including having my jaw wired shut at one time =(

I deal with a neurological injury and have had multiple surgerys... I take multiple medications including pain meds that can't be crushed.

My question is... Would my medical history and medications prevent me from having the lap band surgery?

I know I need to have a consult with a lap band doctor but I thought I would ask your oppinion first.

Thanks again,

Dawn

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

I'm a chronic pain patient too.

Band surgery is actually a pretty good choice for someone who has to rely on multiple meds, because there is no malabsorption of the medication. The problem is that big tablets and capsules can be hard to swallow after band surgery. When I was banded, I had to cut tablets into smaller pieces with a pill splitter, avoid large capsules, empty large capsules into food (like applesauce), or use liquid meds.

I'm taking tramadol and gabapentin for pain. The tramadol is a small tablet, no problem. The gabapentin is a fairly big capsule that I started taking after my band was removed, so I don't know if I'd be allowed to open the capsule into food. Extended or delayed-release meds need to be taken in their dispensed form, but you'd have to talk with your doctor about whether you can alter your existing meds and get them in a different form.

The vertical sleeve gastrectomy might also be a good choice for you. It's my understanding that stuck episodes from big pills/capsules rarely happen to sleeve patients.

[Sojourner 2,446]

I also have chronic pain issues associated with arthritis...and it has been a difficult road for me with exercise post op having to adjust to life without NASIDS. I have prescriptions for opiate medications, but only use them as a very last resort as they do nothing to address the pain issue which is the inflammation.

Many medications are available in other forms, such as liquids and chewable. Check with your prescribing physician to identify which medications are available in band friendly forms.

Over time I have been able to adjust to taking up to a medium size pill without much difficulty, you just need to have a sufficient amount of liquid to swallow it with. I have been advised by my physician and my son (a licensed pharmacist) that one should not open capsules, and any medication which is time release formulated cannot be crushed as you would risk an overdose of it.

I've basically learned to cope with a higher daily level of pain...and to be honest, it has interfered with my abilities to get in the proper amount and type of exercise. Doctors can be difficult to get information from also; my orthopedist who has managed my recovery from multiple pelvic fractures has advised me to exercise only in the pool with low impact Water aerobics or swimming laps, and my bariatric surgeon wants me to take "brisk walks" daily, oblivious to what I have repeatedly told him about my continuing recovery post accident. He has said that he does not consider exercise in the pool as the type necessary. That's been frustrating to the max for me.

You need to identify what you feel your pain tolerance levels to be. Prior to having my band, NASIDS kept me relatively pain free, and I was able to walk several miles almost daily without difficulty. Now it is a daily challenge for me to get cardio exercise and still be able to walk afterwards.

Best wishes as you consider your options...

[Dawn3063 0]

Thank you both for your quick response... It helps me to make my mental choice easier. I am going to search for a good surgion in my area and make a consultation appointment.

All I can do is pray I can find a surgion that will understand my history and will be able to work with me through it.

Thank you again for your help and I wish you pain free days and luck in your weight loss journey.

Dawn