Heart Bypass + Lap Band Surgery question

freeradical · May 26, 2006

Hi all!

I'm new. Went to my first seminar Tuesday night. Dr. Clay Wellborn is my doctor. I'm going to contact my PCP and Cardiologist for their opinion and my medical records for Dr. Wellborn.

I have a question for the Lap Band Support community. Has anyone out there had Lap Band Surgery who has previously had heart bypass surgery?

I have no idea what my doctors are going to say to me when I tell them I am contemplating Lap Band Surgery.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Good luck to you all. This has been a very informative site and I don't feel like I'm going into this blinded anymore.

Thanks for all your help!!!

Freeradical :nervous in Little Rock

Alexandra · May 26, 2006

Freeradical, this has been asked at my doctors' pre-op seminars in the past. The answer is always "are you healthy now?" Prior medical conditions and surgeries are taken into account and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Banding is really a relatively minor surgery and the device has a pretty small impact on the body (assuming apprpriate fill), and the important thing is that you are in the best health you can be in before undertaking it. I haven't heard of any prior surgeries or conditions that would automatically exclude people from banding.

Good luck!!

MelodyJ · May 26, 2006

Losing the weight would actually help your heart!!!! As Alexandra said....if you are healthy now then it seems like it would be ok.....my humble opinion!!!

God Bless,

Melody

Banded 3/20/06 -47lbs

freeradical · May 27, 2006

UPDATE: Well I heard back from my cardiologist yesterday. He said that he had no problems with my making it through the surgery just fine, but he though there wasn't enough data on the long term effect of the procedure. In the US the longest is 5 years I believe. Overseas may be another story, but that wouldn't be more than 14 years at any rate. That would be find with me as it would give me time to save up $ for band removal/replacement, since I'm self pay. He said he wanted to do more research on the subject and talk to Dr. Wellborn before he made a definite decision. I haven't heard back from my PCP yet. Believe it or not he is more informed on the latest medical policy/procedures than my Cardiologist.

Freeradical