Lap band removal

[christinex0 5]

I am having the lap band removed this month in hopes of getting the sleeve in November. Has anyone else been through this and what has your experience been?

[Dream4tc 192]

Yep. I just got mine removed 5 days ago and so glad I did. I had so many problems with GERD and initially wanted to revise to sleeve, but based on my history of GERD, my surgeon says that the sleeve would cause me to continue to have the same reflux and heartburn due to the high pressure of the sleeve so He recommended bypass and after thorough research, and I am an RN with several friends who have had both sleeve and bypass..... and numerous conversations with my surgeon, I will be revising to gastric bypass in November. The removal of the port has been the most painful. I stayed the night in the hospital due to pain control because he also removed the scar tissue around the band as well. Adhesion removal can be painful. I was on IV Dilaudid every 4 hours, IV Toradol and Norco in the hospital. They switched me to percocets and I have been fine on those. Take a pillow with you to hold against your tummy to splint the incision so you can cough. Also get a start on taking some over the counter Miralax to help with Constipation because pain med can cause things to slow way down, on top of the anesthesia. I have asthma so I needed breathing treatments and I used my incentive spirometer every hour while awake to exercise my lungs which helped me greatly! They leave the incisions open to air and seal them with Dermabond, a type of glue. I am healing quite fast. Here is a pic of my incisions. He did a total of 3. The biggest was where the port was. Make sure your decision is yours and also listen to your surgeon and what will be best for you. The next few months will be the hardest, however I still feel restriction post op.

[christinex0 5]

Wow thanks so much for all of that info! It was extremely interesting and helpful to read! I go in on Thursday to have the band removed as well as my gallbladder. I was curious if you would still feel restricted after it was removed. Have you gotten sick after removal though? I know it's only a few days and I'm sure the area is swollen but it's funny how that happens even without it. Your incisions look great and are healing nicely!

Edited August 15, 2015 by christinex0

[Dream4tc 192]

Wow thanks so much for all of that info! It was extremely interesting and helpful to read! I go in on Thursday to have the band removed as well as my gallbladder. I was curious if you would still feel restricted after it was removed. Have you gotten sick after removal though? I know it's only a few days and I'm sure the area is swollen but it's funny how that happens even without it. Your incisions look great and are healing nicely!

I never had any gas pain, which is usually felt either in your shoulder or back. I only had incision pain. They will fill your tummy with gas to keep it expanded to see better with the scope. However the only way to get rid of that gas is to expel it by burping, or passing it. In order to speed that up, if you walk....the gas will come off much faster. You might start burping when you get up out of bed for the first time because it takes longer for your bowels to wake up after anesthesia. I got a bit nauseous from the IV dilaudid a few times, but they gave me IV Zofran and then also gave me a prescription for some sublingual zofran to take at home, but honestly I haven't had to use any of the Zofran at home which is great! Yes, I definitely have restriction, and really not much of an appetite. I make myself eat. I have been using sugar free, low carb, low calorie. You will probably gain some weight from all of the IV fluids they pump into you. I gained 8 pounds just from surgery, but I actually lost 2 pounds the other day, and 7 pounds overnight just last night! I was super happy about that. I know that my appetite will start to increase, and the swelling will go down eventually and the restriction that I am currently blessed with will also dissipate, BUT that is where I will work even harder and continue my Zumba and track my calories with fitnesspal and use my Vivosmart activity tracker and that is where the hard part will begin. We can do it for a few months!

[christinex0 5]

Yes we can! Good luck and keep in touch we can do it !! 3 months is nothing compared to the lifetime of happiness we will finally achieve

[Dream4tc 192]

@@christinex0 keep us posted on how your surgery goes tomorrow! Best of luck!

[christinex0 5]

Thank you so much I will!

[iamshazza 41]

I am heading this way as well - band out and getting sleeve. I have to wait until next next year, but I'll be sure to start the process in January at the latest!! I'm over not being able to even keep down liquids one day to being able to eat everything under the sun the next. The port pain. The reflux.

I have to pay about $350 up front to go through the program before insurance will cover revision...this is why I can't do it this year - too much going on that requires my money and is important/necessary.

[christinex0 5]

I am heading this way as well - band out and getting sleeve. I have to wait until next next year, but I'll be sure to start the process in January at the latest!! I'm over not being able to even keep down liquids one day to being able to eat everything under the sun the next. The port pain. The reflux.

I have to pay about $350 up front to go through the program before insurance will cover revision...this is why I can't do it this year - too much going on that requires my money and is important/necessary.

Good luck to you! I had the band removed yesterday 8/20

[christinex0 5]

@@christinex0 keep us posted on how your surgery goes tomorrow! Best of luck!

So I am home but it a decent amount of pain. Not sure if it's because of the mix of the gallbladder or what but the hospital was rough for me. But as far as surgery everything went well And I'm home recovering. How are you feeling?

[Dream4tc 192]

@@christinex0 so glad you are home and things went well for you!!! Did they prescribe pain meds that are helping? Do you have help at home for a few days? I am good, still taking a pain pill every so often for that stupid port incision discomfort but otherwise, I am on the mend. Don't do too much too soon! I did that and now it set me back a few days. Get plenty of rest and drink drink drink so you can get those bowels softened enough to go in a few days. Thanks for r he update, I was surprised they let you go home so soon with the amount of pain you were in. Take it easy and get plenty of rest!!!! Update when you feel up to it. You will start feeling better, I promise!!! I am 11 days post op and the appetite has come back and I don't like it. I feel hungry now yikes!!!!

[clover 0]

Take it easy had my band removed in June about 9 weeks a go because of erosion. Had post op completions was in hospital 10 days and second op because internal bleeding. But feeling so much better now.

Pain medication really helps take your time to heel.

[VSGmary 418]

Hi all, i was banded in 2010 and in aug 2014 it was removed as the band failed.. In oct 2014 i was revised to sleeve and its the best decision I've made in my life. I have GERD since being sleeved however, i haven't had a bout of reflux for about a month now. So i believe its well and truly under control ????. I started off at 383lbs, I'm currently at 235 lbs and still losing. I can eat almost anything i want just really small amounts . I do have a problem with eating anything with corn and any leafy greens.. Thats about it! Wishing you every success with your Journey.

[christinex0 5]

@@christinex0 so glad you are home and things went well for you!!! Did they prescribe pain meds that are helping? Do you have help at home for a few days? I am good, still taking a pain pill every so often for that stupid port incision discomfort but otherwise, I am on the mend. Don't do too much too soon! I did that and now it set me back a few days. Get plenty of rest and drink drink drink so you can get those bowels softened enough to go in a few days. Thanks for r he update, I was surprised they let you go home so soon with the amount of pain you were in. Take it easy and get plenty of rest!!!! Update when you feel up to it. You will start feeling better, I promise!!! I am 11 days post op and the appetite has come back and I don't like it. I feel hungry now yikes!!!!

They did prescribe me pain meds but I only took it right before I left the hospital and then again at night before bed. During the day I have been taking Advil. I have been resting. Yes someone has been home with me. I think it was extra painful for me because the gallbladder and stone needed to be removed. It was infected. I had a huge appetite leaving the hospital but yesterday not so much. I have been mostly drinking Gatorade (Low calorie) and eating small things every few hours just to put something In my system. It did feel amazing to eat and not worry about getting sick. I think they were close to keeping me but when they gave me the pain meds I was able to get in and out of the bed. That was my biggest issue. I've mostly been on my couch because it's easier but I get up every so often to just move around. But I'm glad your feeling better! The only pain/discomfort I have is the belly button. Besides that I feel nothing.

[christinex0 5]

Take it easy had my band removed in June about 9 weeks a go because of erosion. Had post op completions was in hospital 10 days and second op because internal bleeding. But feeling so much better now.

Pain medication really helps take your time to heel.

Yikes! I am so glad you are feeling better now! I am trying to only take the pain meds if completely necessary. Otherwise I have been doing extra strength Tylenol etc.