I have a kidney transplant . . . .

[sister-woman 0]

So far all my docs (including nephrologist and endocrinologist) have said go for it.

I'm also type 1 diabetic.

Anyone know if either of these conditions will cause me not to be allowed the lap band?

[Pix 4]

Darlin, I would have to say that if your specialists are giving you a raving thumbs up then I can't imagine why they would deny you.

Just make sure they are all on the same page and each is up to date with what the other (including a lap band surgeon) is doing and I can't imagine a thing that would stop you. Unless your insurance gets snarky and wants to make you fight for it. If they do I have some steel toed stiletto's you can borrow to put your foot up some insurance butt!

[sister-woman 0]

That's what I'm thinking.

Heck, if I lose the weight, it will extend the life of the transplant.

Well, I'll know July 31st!

[GenaO 0]

Not quite the same but I had had 1/2 my pancreas removed and a bunch of intestines, and transplanted intestines put in and I had my band placed in Feb. I had to have an open surgury instead of laporscopic but all went well and am having great results. good luck

[sister-woman 0]

Thanks. GenaO! That sounds encouraging!

BTW, since you hda half of your pancreas removed, do you need to take insulin?

Just curious!

[bandalouisiana 0]

Hi,

i have had a kidney transplant also..i am 2 years and 4 months out.

well i had thought about lapband but never thought the transplant team would agree so i never asked. at my year appointment in march my nephrologist from the transplant team came right out and suggested it. i was like wow cool. so i went home called the surgeon got approved and banded june 10th.

The kidney docs said that a larger body produces more waste that then goes through tthe one and only kidney. so its best to get that weight off and keep it off. The disease i had before the transplant decided to attack the new kidney...its stable now but i spill lots of Protein so losing the weight will take the stress of my kidney.

I have been so excited to have this band. i have not been filled yet, i have lost 20 lbs since banded.

so i would say go for it.....

[sister-woman 0]

Wow!!!!!!

I am really hopeful now!

I'm almost 4 years post-transplant (my brother donated). I was quite thin at the time of the transplant (after 2 years of dialysis and doing nothing but sleeping and puking), but once I got on that Prednisone and my appetite came back--well, you know what happened.

I've been following Weight Watchers points program since last October. I lost 6 lbs. the first week, then it took until Feb. this year to lose another six, and I've been up and down ever since.

Funny, when I asked my nephrologist about getting banded, he said "I don't think you qualify." That ios, that I wasn't overweight enough. Then he calculated that I've got a BMI of about 41, and he said "You wear it well". I guess maybe because I'm pretty tall (5' 8"). Then he recommended a surgeon.

The thing that's kindof annoying is that they require that I go through a 6 month program. Although I think this is more of a requirement for insurance (I have Medicare bvecause of the end stage renal disease--Medicare will pay for the surgery!)

Thank you SO much!

[bandalouisiana 0]

by the way....my husbands memaw has diabetes and she takes pills and shots...but after being banded 2 weeks before me she has not had to have the shots since being banded

[sister-woman 0]

Wow!

Of course, I have type 1--used to be called juvenile diabetes, now it'seither type 1 or insulin-dependent.

I had a test done a while back, and my pancreas makes no insulin. So I'll always have to take it. I use an insulin pump, which is the way to go.

No shots, you just have to deal with a needle every 3 days to refill the pump.

Edited July 18, 2008 by sister-woman

[GenaO 0]

Hi sister-woman, i don't have to take insulin, my pancreas functions just fine:) your body can actually function normally with half a pancreas.

The lap band surgery will be a walk in the park compared to the kidney transplant. Once you go through a huge surgery and recovery such as yours and my surgery not much phases us.

[sister-woman 0]

You are so right, GenaO! I figure it won't be so bad! My brother's kidney donation surgery was laproscopic--he was out of the hospital in a couple days!

Next Friday I have to take my daughter for her second Gardasil shot, and she's not happy.

i don't feel sorry for her!

[mnn2501 0]

My wife is type 1 diabetic and she's had lap band surgery - has cut down on her insulin usage a lot.

[sister-woman 0]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

This is all so encouraging!

Now I can't wait for my appointment! I am SO excited!

[Kenzi 0]

Hi,

i have had a kidney transplant also..i am 2 years and 4 months out.

well i had thought about lapband but never thought the transplant team would agree so i never asked. at my year appointment in march my nephrologist from the transplant team came right out and suggested it. i was like wow cool. so i went home called the surgeon got approved and banded june 10th.

The kidney docs said that a larger body produces more waste that then goes through tthe one and only kidney. so its best to get that weight off and keep it off. The disease i had before the transplant decided to attack the new kidney...its stable now but i spill lots of Protein so losing the weight will take the stress of my kidney.

I have been so excited to have this band. i have not been filled yet, i have lost 20 lbs since banded.

so i would say go for it.....

I'm also a transplant patient 6 years ago and doing great. I just want to know how have you tolerated acid reflux and your appetite with the band? How old are you and did the weight come off without exercise or diet modification? Tell me more. I'm studying the lap band because of my weight gain with prednisone.

[sister-woman 0]

Thanks! Glad you are doing so well!

I saw the transplant nephrologist on Monday, and he was cool with it. Now I just have to see the band doc early SXept, and if he's willing to do it, then I'll proceed. Have to be in the weight loss program for 6 months first, which will be over in December.