Update: Week 1 Results of Hernia Repair and Revision to New AP Small Band

I was very surprised when I woke up and my husband told me what Dr. Ku had to do, he said honey you now have a new lap band and Dr Ku came out of surgery looking haggard and his hair was wild....I started laughing, I said that must have took all the strength for him to fix my hernia, remove my old band, tubing, port and then put in a new band and port all in one surgery.

But I have to give Dr Ku my blessings and a BIG THANK YOU! My problems begin right after Labor Day and did not STOP even when my previous surgeon removed most of the saline. I consulted with a few lap band surgeons and NONE really could give me a clear answer, one surgeon who suggested have a esophageal motility test and which involves sticking a long tube down my nose into my esphagus....and I looked at him like he was crazy, I did not have problems "eating" or getting food stuck or vomiting....

After complaining about burning, shortness of breath, chest and back pain FOR OVER 2 MONTHS, the surgeon that I was seeing (Dr Trad, and Dr Pinnar's office) two surgical practices merging... DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS MY PAIN or try to do exploratory surgery....they just SAID oh..."Your lap band is causing this problem" once you get your band removed, "all your problems will go away immediately, and I should revise to the Sleeve. Although my endoscopy showed a hernia, but the endoscopy did not show exactly how big the hernia was. But I caught them with their face red, when I told them "what if my reflux and heartburn gets WORSE if I revised to the Sleeve? Then what? They could not answer my question...only said...oh if the burning gets really bad we can then revise you to the bypass...WTF?...

Although most of my symptoms went away after taking protonix, and carafate and drinking vinegar..lol, my back continued to BURN and hurt EVERY SINGLE NIGHT since September.

My husband told me to go see the surgeon in Pennsylvania they are in the center of the state, and kind a small town where they REALLY CARE about patients and not looking at you like a money sign.

I met with Dr. Ku last Tuesday for the first time, and we talked for well over an hour, he got to know me as a person, my eating habits, my past successes and why I gained weight back. He looked at me in the eyes and told me that my OLD BAND HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY, he said the weight that I lost was pretty much based on either very "tight restriction" or me dieting and exercising....and AFTER I THINK ABOUT IT HE WAS RIGHT.

He said, that I've ALWAYS HAD THIS HERNIA even when my first surgeon placed my band, MY FIRST SURGEON DID NOT REPAIR MY HERNIA....Dr KU did also mentioned that my hernia probably GOT BIGGER over the years.

Also....he SAID MY CONCENTRIC POUCH DILATION was STILL THERE, and UNFILLING THE BAND DID NOT FIX IT --it just relieved the symptoms and took pressure off, but my band WOULD NEVER WORK PROPERLY AGAIN....So basically I've lived with a small band slippage for NEARLY 7 YEARS and nothing was done about it. My previous surgeon would just fill and unfill/ I believe I had over 60 fills with my old band, some were merited due to surgery and illness, but I had WAY TO MANY FILLS without getting to the bottom of WHY.....my old surgeon WAS NOT LAP BAND FRIENDLY AND DID NOT LIKE THE BAND....SO HE DID NOT CARE ABOUT GETTING TO THE ROOT OF WHY MY BAND DID NOT WORK....AND YES...I WILL CALL HIM OUT NOW...DR AMIR MOAZZEZ IN NORTHERN...VA......

I suffered from  heartburn, and reflux pretty much my entire journey...I remember waking up from my first band surgery with prescription meds for PPi ...Prevacid....FROM DAY ONE...and had horrible burning and pain, but I was told to STAY ON THE PPi...it was Normal.....after lap band surgery.....

Dr Ku was right, he said that I lost weight on "restriction" rather than "satiety"....yep every time I'd get a fill in the past, I would work my band with exercise, and I would lose weight, but it was HARD, and having the band to STOP ME with tight restriction rather than NOT FEELING HUNGER.....But despite all this I still learned to LOVE MY OLD BAND....

Dr Ku mentioned this time, he placed the band in a way that I should lose weight on not being hungry instead of the band being so tight and restrictive.

So here are the results so far in WEEK 1 AFTER MY AP BAND HAS BEEN PLACED:

1. Despite having my old band removed, hernia repair and a new band installed in one day and from all that trauma to my system, I can drink and eat freely, no painful eating liquids and soups go down gently and get full on about 1 cup of soup, ALL BURNING GONE, BACK PAIN GONE, that I started over 2 months ago.

2. Anesthesia was rough the first 3 days, it took almost an entire day to not feel light headed, now I am feeling a lot better

3. I have that dreaded shoulder pain and my PORT INCISION IS VERY SORE, it still hurts when I get up and walk, but the shoulder pain is wearing down and that is expected due to the surgery itself and the trauma from surgery and stitching the band in place. Dr Ku gave me a script for Lortab which takes the port pain away immediately.

4. I am very pleased with the tiny scars, that look like scratches I have they are very neat, compared to all the work Dr Ku had to do.

5. Dr Ku mentioned that he put about 5ccs of saline in my band during installation and he will give me another fill in about 1 month.

6. Dr Ku did not give me a script for a PPI....because he knew that I would not need it...and he was right...NO MORE BURNING AND REFLUX ISSUES after repairing my hernina...AND I'VE HAD MAJOR SURGERY

My first band experience over 8 years ago post op:

1. I was VERY SWOLLEN and could barely get liquids down even with a empty band, it would hurt to eat, even on a empty band my first few months post op and I did not need a fill until 4 months later, I had very bad burning and heartburn for the first few months after my first band was placed, I had to be on a PPi throughout my banded journey periodically over the 7 years I had the old band.

2. I had the same shoulder pain and port pain that I have now, but I remember the first surgery recovery was much more tougher and I was dehydrated and feeling very sick, due to not being able to get in liquids.

3. Although I had constant burning and heartburn with the old band, it was well controlled and managed by taking either Prevacid or Protonix when I really got irritate. (Glad I don't have to depend on PPI's now)

Right now I do not know how my NEW JOURNEY will be with my new AP band, I've seen MANY COMPLAINTS about it, more than the older bands, but SO FAR...IT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL BE A MUCH EASIER JOURNEY FOR ME, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FIXING THE HERNIA HAS CURED MY REFLUX AND BURNING, and I think this band may be a Good fit for me and if I did not have port pain, I would not think I had a new band, since I feel NOTHING as far a restriction when drinking or eating,...BUT ...I do notice that even though this band don't feel as TIGHT and restrictive than the older band, I still can't eat but a cup of soup and get satisfied and full quick.....

My hubby has been fantastic through my ordeal, he stayed with me, went grocery shopping and bought all the things I needed, made a big pot of yummy homemade soup, filled the refrigerator with pop cycles, jello and has brought every thing I need to my bedside....

So I think this time may be a winner and I may become to love my new band and name her SuzieQ ....

Great news!  I have been thinking and wondering about your progress.  Thanks for updating us!  Sounds like your hubby is like mine- a real sweetie and partner in all things.  Funny about Dr. Ku.  The last time I saw him, he had a buzz cut- but after all that work- I bet he DID look haggard!!  How long were you in surgery, do you know? 

Get rest and drink fluids. 

Susan

Yes, I am surprised at how well I am doing, with all he had to do, I am grateful and I can't thank you enough for recommending him to me. Dr Ku now is now sporting a a thicker cut, very handsome man, I am sure he has a lot of women fans...

Let's hope for smooth sailing from here, shall we?

Thanks Bette, I hope this will be the end of my lap band rants! And smooth sailing from here.

Welcome to  SuzieQ

Thanks!.,,I am welcoming SuzieQ with open arms!

Glad everything went well Naomi!

Thanks Ria!