Hi! I'm new here!

Hi everyone!  I just wanted to introduce myself, I just found and joined this site today. A friend of mine who has a Lap Band recommended that I visit this board to get some information and support. I am seriously considering Lap Band surgery, and am trying to get as much info as possible about it.

Does anyone have info or opinions about Slimband vs Lap Band?

Is anyone able to tell me which surgeons in Toronto are the "best" for this kind of surgery, and which ones I should avoid due to bad track records? I really want someone who has lots of experience and good success rates operating on me. I am not willing to take a chance with a surgeon who is less skilled or less competent.

I currently take a number of medications for chronic pain, fibromyalgia and depression. Some of them are time released pills. Will I still be able to take these medications after getting banded?

Thanks for any info you can share, I appreciate it! 

Stephanie (KapowChicky)

if your meds are bigger pills, you cannot take them with a band.  I was told by my surgeon AFTER he had to go to the ER to do some emergency unfills that NO pills larger than the pencil head are to be taken whole with a LapBand.  You have to crush them or split them.  Time released can't be altered. 

I was taking Metformin for my PCOS at the time and had to stop taking the delayed release because it couldn't be crushed.

Talk to your surgeon about this.  I now have the Sleeve since my LapBand malfunctioned and I can take my pills whole without any problems.

 

 NO pills larger than the pencil head are to be taken whole with a LapBand. 

 

God God, I wish surgeons could agree on stuff! After recovery from surgery, I was never told that pills had to be that tiny! I take stuff all the time (Tylenol, even Advil for my arthritis) that are bigger than that. The only thing I ever have had trouble with a vitamins, which never seem to dissolve, so I take gummies or chewables.

 

My surgeon had a note posted in his lobby that if he had to respond to the ER to do an unfil due to a patient taking a pill larger than a pencil head, he would charge for the unfil and for his time.  He was pretty tired of responding to patients in distress from taking whole pills.  He insisted on crushing all our pills.

Not everyone is the same.

And that's why I go batcrap crazy about band (and other WLS) rules: no two docs can seem to agree on ANYTHING! 

I was told no pills bigger than an m&m with the band.  Never heard of the Slim band.  I've just heard of LapBand and the realize band.  Sorry

 

Time release meds may well not be possible post band. Some people can take tabs, many can't. And you won't know until you try.  I can only take tiny ones, anything larger has to be split.! 

I suggest that you post your question about Toronto surgeons in the Ontario forum:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/on/

 

Once you get some recommendations from the members who post there, you can read the surgeon reviews here:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/find/bariatric-surgeon/ON/more/

 

The Canadians who post on the Ontario forum should also know more about the Slimband. I don't think it's used in the States.

 

Finally, congratulations on your decision to have weight loss surgery!

Welcome, Stephanie!

 

I currently take a number of medications for chronic pain, fibromyalgia and depression. Some of them are time released pills. Will I still be able to take these medications after getting banded?

This could be an issue.  Fibromyalgia can be considered a contraindication to banding, since its an autoimmune condition.  Long term, banded patients are developing motility disorders (per my gastrointerologist) and in my case, some of my medications are sitting in my stomach/intestines for days before being absorbed.  This is very dangerous.   Please look into VSG or gastric sleeve, since it is restrictive, like the band, but you will be able to take your meds including NSAIDs, as needed.  Also, there is very little aftercare with the sleeve.   Check out the revision forum tool...many banded people there, having complications, looking to revise.   Best of luck!