Now What?

whatnow? · September 19, 2005

Hello everyone! I used to come here and post messages and read everyones posts as well. It was very helpful to me. However, my surgery did not go as planned. I had been researching my surgeon and procedure for over one year!

I had my surgery date in July and everything went as planned up until I woke up from surgery.

When I woke up from surgery I was told that the doctor perforated my stomach and he was unable to complete the surgery. Not to mention I would never be able to have the band in the future or at least he said he wouldn't because chances of further complication were very high. I was in the OR for 3 1/2 hours long as oppposed to the usual 45-60 minutes. I had the surgery here in the states.

As we all know the chances of this happening are very very low but it does happen. I am here to tell everyone that. To be honest if I read this post before my surgery I don't believe it would have stopped me.

The actual reason I am posting this though is I am devastated. I had been so excited about this for so long and now I don't know what to do. Does anyone know where there is a forum for these types of problems? I just don't know what to do. The worst part is I was a cash patient and lost a lot of money! I am however greatful that the perforation was detected and repaired in time.

Any suggestions? Thank you!

Road Queen · September 19, 2005

Sorry to hear about your problems. I would be thoroughly bummed out also. I think I would start with contacting another band surgeon and/or the band company. I would ask them if they concur with the surgeon's assessment that another band will never work. And if the procedures that were performed will keep you well and okay in the future.

Maybe they have suggestions for other things you could try. I know there is a balloon type thing that is placed in the stomach for a limited time. Could you try that? Is there something else that we don't know about that they are researching?

I would also send off emails to drs in other countries that have been performing the surgery for a longer time. They may have run into similar circumstances or know of new things available in their country that will be approved in the US in the future.

You may or may not get answers but at least you can try. Good luck. Celeste

La_madam · September 19, 2005

LBT, I'm so sorry to hear this, how devastating for you. The only thing I wouldreccomendis maybe geting some legal advice, were you able to get any of your money back? Even in the US things can hppen like you said, it's not just Mexico where problems arise. Do you not feel comfortable posting who your Dr. was? I ask becasue for any future bandsters who wish to use this Dr. should be made aware of these things happening with a Dr. they are going to use. I would also get a 2nd opinion on if you can ever have the band, you never know he could be wrong. There are alot of great ,experienced lap band surgeons out here who may be able to help you or to atleast get another opinion. This is what I would do, get another opinion before I gave up hope of having the band. Just a thought.

Again, so sorry , best of luck to you

DeLarla · September 19, 2005

I'm not good at this kind of thing because I'm afraid I'll say something to make it worse. I had lots of complications and some of my friends have had their bands removed due to erosion. You are the 2nd stomach perforation I've heard of, but you got luckier than she did at least. Her doc put the band around her perforation after sewing it without telling her, so she ended up in another hospital having the band removed.

It's a gamble going in, and it was unfortunate that you had to represent one of the numbers on the unhappy side.