Paralyzed leg with weight gain and Dr freaked me out

[Happyinside45 0]

I have been on a large dose of gabapentin, I'm not sure if that cause any my weight gain or just the fact that I've become less active and my diet has not been as strict as before. 14 years 30 carbs a day diet has kept 150 pound weight lost at bay until my left leg was paralyzed eight months ago. I've gained 45 pounds total in the last year. I have lap band surgery scheduled for Monday and when I went to see the surgeon for the final visit a new surgeon saw me and said I should not get the lap band and I'm wasting my money. He showed me pictures and said everybody is getting it removed and that I should only have a sleeve.

My paralyzation is hopefully temporary and was caused from a back fusion cutting/injuring my nerves. I need a tool until I have my mobility back. I was so devastated I started to cry, I wasn't prepared for the sleeve operation. I was at peace getting lap band and the doctor thoroughly

scared me. At this point I'm thinking about canceling everything.

Edited August 3, 2017 by Happyinside45
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[ProudGrammy 8,322]

24 minutes ago, Happyinside45 said:

showed me pictures and said everybody is getting it removed and that I should have a sleeve.

there are many different types of WLS - including the lap band and sleeve and others.

they are all great. (covering my arsettttts) in the past lap bands were popular and worked terrific (are"founder

@Alex Brecherseems to be happy and continues his success these past !! 10+ years. many other people too.

now - many docs/most don't perform lap band because of future possible problems like erosion, slippage.

the sleeve has become very successful and done many many times. is the most popular WLS for now.

i'm 5+ years PO sleeve -GOAL - down 105 lbs. You sound confused, don't just jump into lap band right

away since that is the initial plan. you could easily postpone monday's' surgery. talk to doctor again,

get info from the board, U-tube, read many boos -be more informed.

"Knowledge is Power"

good luck with this important decision.

kathy

[James Marusek 5,244]

I did not know what side effects gabapentin might have, so I looked it up. http://www.rxlist.com/neurontin-side-effects-drug-center.htm Generally speaking, the drug has a lot of bad side effects but weight gain is generally not one of them. In a controlled trial only 2% of patients identified weight gain as a problem.

As far as type of surgery, I would probably recommend either gastric bypass, sleeve or duodenal switch. If you have severe acid reflux, I would recommend against the sleeve because the sleeve will only make that condition worse. Although some have success with lap band, many have experienced problems with that procedure. One of the individuals in our bariatric surgery support group, had a lap band, but after several years that band started to erode and eat through his stomach, it became life threatening, so he had it removed and replaced with gastric bypass. For that reason and others, many doctors are no longer performing that type of surgery today.

[ssflbelle 829]

I take gabapentin and have been taking it before I had the sleeve surgery and have lost weight not gained.

As for the Dr freaking you out you might want to do as the previous 2 posted suggested. Don't rush into the lapband without additional research. I was going to have that surgery done in 2008 as my insurance at the time would pay to put the band in but would not pay for all the saline fills that are needed until you get to what they call your sweet spot. I couldn't afford the fills so I didn't have that surgery. Fast forward to 2015 when I came onto these boards and researched about the sleeve as my insurance was willing to pay for that surgery. I read lots of posting from people who had the band removed and had the sleeve surgery. Seeing those postings I was so glad I didn't have the band put in. Please take the time between now and your scheduled surgery to do more research.

[jess9395 5,449]

I've been taking gabapentin for neuropathy for about four months now and I haven't gained any weight.

It does seem the lap band has more trouble long term than initially thought, but it can work for some.

I'm thrilled with my sleeve though and no long term maintenance required!

[heycrystal2052 430]

6 hours ago, jess9395 said:

I've been taking gabapentin for neuropathy for about four months now and I haven't gained any weight.

It does seem the lap band has more trouble long term than initially thought, but it can work for some.

I'm thrilled with my sleeve though and no long term maintenance required!

I agree w/ Jess, I've heard many stories about the lap band, and most are not good. My previous supervisor had it done and she would have a lot of issues w/ slipping and w/ the fills. Due to the things I read and those I know who had it done, I made sure the lap band would not be considered in my case. It's a temporary fix to something that should be long-term.

[KateBruin 344]

I honestly didn't even think they were doing lap band anymore because of gnarly side effects ranging from bad acid reflux to erosion into the stomach wall. There's also the new Balloon procedure that I looked into to make my mother happy but the test group weight loss average was only 19 lbs long term.

I take 3200 mg of gabapentin daily and have for probably 10 years. I didn't gain weight except on seroquel.

No matter what, don't get anything until you know you want it. Band can have bad side effects that force a sleeve/bypass and of course a sleeve is permanent.

[vanwest83 69]

This is coming from someone who has a lap band since the end of 2006. I originally tried to have an RNY at the time the insurance denied it. I have never had real success with my band, lost 40 lbs and that's it. I throw up a lot. I'm now about 25 lbs more then when I had surgery. I wasn't the best patient had a lot of traumatic things after the band happen but regardless I always feel hungry. I'm now in the process of trying to get approved for the RNY. If I could go back I wouldn't of gotten the band I wish I would of fought for the other surgery. But I was only 23. I recently went to my group nutrition meeting their were two other prior lap bands and we were all still obese and having revisions done.

[Ldyvenus 317]

If permanence is what scares you... I would consider the fact that the lap band needs periodic maintenance also. The sleeve would be a better option, they both work in the same way.

[Happyinside45 0]

Thank you everybody for your help. I declined surgery ladt minute that was set to happen yesterday, I am working hard on weight loss and will potentialy have the sleeve surgery in October.

I currently weigh 190 pounds, I had been able to maintain 150 pound weight loss for 14 years until right after I started taking gabapentin. My doctor said that gabapentin can infact cause weight gain for some.

Thank you again for saving me from a bad choice!

Edited August 9, 2017 by Happyinside45

[court2180 30]

I honestly didn't even think they were doing lap band anymore because of gnarly side effects ranging from bad acid reflux to erosion into the stomach wall. There's also the new Balloon procedure that I looked into to make my mother happy but the test group weight loss average was only 19 lbs long term.

I take 3200 mg of gabapentin daily and have for probably 10 years. I didn't gain weight except on seroquel.

No matter what, don't get anything until you know you want it. Band can have bad side effects that force a sleeve/bypass and of course a sleeve is permanent.

I thought most stopped as well!

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[court2180 30]

Thank you everybody for your help. I declined surgery ladt minute that was set to happen yesterday, I am working hard on weight loss and will potentialy have the sleeve surgery in October.
I currently weigh 190 pounds, I had been able to maintain 150 pound weight loss for 14 years until right after I started taking gabapentin. My doctor said that gabapentin can infact cause weight gain for some.
Thank you again for saving me from a bad choice!

I've been on Gabapentin, 3-4 a day, and I've gained weight but not from that. Depending on how much you need to lose I'd say the sleeve is the best way, I gained all my weight back but my Dr didn't make it the correct size. Now with a new TERRIFIC Dr I got the DS but my BMI is high and I have a lot to lose.

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[woo woo 872]

I was on gabapentin a couple of years ago and I would find myself eating large amounts of chocolate, like 10 to 20 Hershey kisses several times per day.

As soon as I quit the drug this eating stopped. I also cried a lot on gabapentin (not usual for me at all). I think there are a lot of possible side effects with it. I'm 100% sure weight gain is one!

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[KateBruin 344]

I was on gabapentin a couple of years ago and I would find myself eating large amounts of chocolate, like 10 to 20 Hershey kisses several times per day.
As soon as I quit the drug this eating stopped. I also cried a lot on gabapentin (not usual for me at all). I think there are a lot of possible side effects with it. I'm 100% sure weight gain is one!
Sent from my SM-N910T using BariatricPal mobile app

That's funny (not funny ha ha). I've only had food issues with seroquel and have never heard of it with gaba. I take 3200 mg of gabapentin.

Weight gain is basically a side effect of every medication (except when it's weight loss) but so is nausea, blurry vision, etc.