New to the boards - Questions

[Dlynn 0]

Hello Every1,

I am in the process of getting a band.

I had a letter from my primary stating that I have been obese for the last 10 years.

I had my first meeting with the Dr, I have my pysco next week, nutrition & second group session this Thursday.

I have an upper GI & a second test this Thursday.

My Dr. told me that it should be easy getting approved, being that I have all things in order.

If all goes well then I will be getting banded either the last Monday in March or first in April.

What else should I expect?

[HarleyNana 10]

Wow, where do I start, "what should I expect", what particular questions do you have? There is a wealth of info on this site. Use the search engine for starters, then if you can be more specific, you'll have more answers/opinions than you know what to do with, LOL.

Welcome!

[Dlynn 0]

HarleyNaNa,

I was wondering do most people do the lapband in the hospital or in the Dr office? My Dr gives you the choice, as I was just wondering.

I have been reading around the boards and there is a wealth of good info here, as I have also done some research as well.

[Dlynn 0]

Hello All,

I am a newbie just started the approval process, and want to thank every1 for all the wealth of info that is here WOW.

[New Hope 37]

Most people get their band placed in the hospital operating room or in a surgi-center. I'm not familiar w/anyone getting one in the dr's office.

[Banded14yr 2]

Good luck to you! Let us know if you have any specific questions. Lot's of knowledge and experience on this forum.

[Iluvharleys 15]

Welcome! If you browse through all the old and new threads, you will find a lot of valuable information. Good Luck and keep us posted!

[Alexandra 55]

Hi Dlynn! Sounds like you're well on your way and have things in good order.

But I'd definitely ask again about having major surgery done in the doctor's office. That's HIGHLY unusual. General anaesthesia is nothing to fool around with, and that's what this involves. I had mine done as an outpatient procedure but it was in the hospital. The surgery started at about 8:00 a.m. and I was home by 2:00 p.m.

Your surgeon may have been talking about having adjustments done in the office, which is a whole different thing. The initial surgery really must be done in a hospital setting.

[New Hope 37]

Dlynn, I merged both your threads since they're on the same topic and you'll be able to get more responses easier.

[Scotty 0]

Hi there,

Make no mistake - the lap band is major surgery with everything that entails. One of the first things my surgeon warned me about is the risk that he may need to convert from laproscopic to open surgery. This could be for all kinds of reasons. My surgeon has done over 200 lap-bands and so far has never had to convert, but still, it is a risk. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be wanting to have my abdomen opened up in a Doctor's office.

Also, as someone who is overweight there is a higher risk that you may develop complications from the anaesthetic and as Alexandra says, again, you want the full service that a hospital can provide in terms of crash equipment.

I am full of admiration that Alexandra went home so quickly. There's no way I could have done that. I was glad of the two nights in hospital. I was worried about blood clots (another high risk of being overweight) and was given Flotron massage treatment for 36 hours, as well as anti-clot injections and help getting the TED socks on and off. I live alone and there is no way I could have come home sooner.

I don't mean to alarm you. The mortality rate for this surgery is very low. So far I don't regret having the op for a moment. But I thought long and hard about it before I went ahead. 4 months of yes one minute, no the next until I finally decided. I am now 3 and half weeks post-op and haven't had any complications. I feel great, down 12lbs (although most of that was in the week post op). Am REALLY looking forward to getting onto solid food on Friday!!! I've also been cycling for the last three days to and from work and a lovely day on Sunday all the way to church on the other side of Hyde Park (London) and back again.

Don't rush into a decision. Keep reading this board and all the other literature you'll get from your doctor.

Good luck and happy thinking !!!!!

[DeLarla 22]

Scotty said all the things I wanted to say. I admire people that go home the same day, but I felt safer in the hospital for 2 nights. Is your hospital close to home? Maybe I felt safer since I had it done in Mexico. If I was in a local hospital, I might have gone home earlier knowing the hospital was nearby. Also, they kept pain medicine in my IV till an hour before I was released, so I never felt any pain. But many people experienced bad pain afterwards. We all react differently.

[Alexandra 55]

Let me add that while I was home the same day, I wasn't exactly up and hopping. I live 15 minutes from the hospital and I just wanted to be home more than anything. Personally I feel the worst place to recuperate from anything is in a hospital.

[HarleyNana 10]

I had 1 overnite stay, but they just told my mom who's scheduled for April 7 she'd be released later the same day. I'm not real happy about that cause she's 73 and I know she'd feel better knowing she was in the right place if there were problems. Looks like me and the doc are gonna have to talk! Yes, Alex, me personally, I think I would have preferred being at home too, but she needs that motivation to walk those blood clots out and the gas as well.

[Tarafeena 1]

Read, Read, Read!!! Good luck to you..