My DH is Banded!! X-post

Hooray!  He was banded on Thursday.  He has the 'large allergan band', whatever size that is.  He had some trouble getting off of the anesthetic, he stopped breathing (he has sleep apnea), they had to intubate him a second time, put him in ICU on a ventitalor.  He tried pulling the tube out and they tied him down and sedated him.  Not a good experience for him.  I explained to them 'again' that he does not sleep laying down, he can't breath well laying down.

After about 3 hours in ICU, he was breathing better, they allowed him to sit up in a chair, and it was all downhill from there!!  Another 3 hours in ICU, they put him in a regular room, but in where they put RNY patients.  SO ALL of their care was geared to RNY. 

He had stopped liquids at 8 PM on Wednesday.  Not allowed ANYTHING to drink (not even ice****il Friday at 8 AM.  They were waiting until they gave him an x-ray to 'check for leaks'.  HUH!!  We kept asking them to check with the doc, he was banded, not RNY. After Dr came in for rounds Friday we begged for DH to be allowed liquids.  Doc said, sure, he was banded, we don't need an x-ray!!  They were also gonna send him home with some kinda kit to give himself shots for a week to prevent him from getting blood clots.  After checking with doc found this was not needed with band patients.  Discharge papers told him to discontinue ALL diabetic meds and crush everything else.  By then DH is just agreeing with everything.  He will monitor his glucose levels and call his PCP about adjusting his diabetic meds, and about what to do about 2 of his other meds that are time release and can't be crushed.

Also, he wasn't allowed to leave till he could urinate a lot!!  Took LOTS of water to get that to happen after 36 hours of no liquids!

BUT, we are home.  He is a little uncomfortable and sore around the incisions. He has had some liquid pain meds and is sleeping in his chair.  We are so glad that part is over!

Geez... Where did he have his surgery? I'm sorry to hear that he didn't have a good experience, but I'm glad that he came through safe and sound. I know from experience how delighted you must be to have him headed down hill.

Wishing you both all the best,

He had his surgery at Pitt.  Dr. Pender did it.  I think the doc did a great job.  I just think the communication between docs, nurses and patients on the floor needs improvement.

Hi Caroline,

I didn't mean to impune the Dr or his staff. I think every program has it's glitches and room for improvement. I know Duke certainly has had it's share of challenges and yet I still think it's a marvelous program.

Oh my, Barbara, I didn't take offense.  You're right, no program is perfect, no matter how long they have been 'practicing'.

Gramylew

The larger band will hold 14 cc's. They use it on a lot of large men. It also has been known to cause less pressure on the walls of the stomach and there are fewer complaints of ulcers and other complications.

I hope he is drinking more than his little 8 oz of opti source. I sure don't think that is enough calories to sustain a person. Especially a man.


Does he still need to crush his medicines even with lap band. I would think that if the pill was small enought it would be okay to take in applesauce. I think is surgeon has done way too many RNY surgeries and does not know how to adapt to the lap band surgery.


Tamara

Caroline~
What a GOAT ROPE!!!! Poor Hubby!! please send him my best and you will need to start bringing him to our monthly get togethers!! I know how exhausting it is being the *helper* and I hope you get some rest. Tell hubby a big CONGRATS!!!!!

Darcie