Band Question

Hey everyone.

My mother is 57 years young and is considering a Lap Band because she needs to lose 65 pounds. She is a very sick lady who is wheelchair bound, oxygen dependent, has pulmonary hypertension and end stage COPD. She is currently trying to get approved for a double lung transplant, but in order to operate they say she has to lose some weight. This is an impossible feat in her condition. She goes to pulmonary rehabilitation 3 times per week in which therapist  work with her in doing exercises. She also see's a dietician and psychologist every week. Yet with all this help, she has not lost a single pound. Therefore, she asked why can't I get a lap band?  My question to all of you is... have you ever heard of anyone getting a LapBand as sick as my mother is? Is it even possible, or is it just a pipe dream? 

Secondly, if she could safely have the LapBand, our choices of surgeons are limited. She can't travel out of town for it. Just traveling to LA for her transplant appointments takes several people to assist her and lots of moolah.

Thanks for reading. Have a great evening.

In my opinion, getting a lap band is a recipe for disaster, especially if your mother already has problems breathing. The band's presence so near the diaphragm is very concerning. When I had a band, I could not take a deep breath without having horrible, stabbing pain. A lot of people have referred left shoulder pain from the band irritating the Vagus nerve system.

I wouldn't recommend it at all. Your poor mother... I feel for her, but I truly think that adding a lap band to her already serious health problems would be disastrous.

Take care. Good luck.

NO, NO, a thousand time NO!!!! I too have COPD, not even as severe as your mother and I can tell you the band alone will not help unless she csn exercise especially at her age. The band causes severe problems in even healthy people much less someone as disabled as she is. Like Nic said it is particularly dangerous for lung issues as it can make them worse or even cause them when there wasn't an issue before. My heart goes out to her because I know how difficult it is but the band would not help and would in all honesty probably hurt her more. Has she even discussed this with her pulmonary staff? I'm sure she knows that any surgery is going to be dangerous with her conditions and should be avoided especially since the band has such a poor success rate. If she wants to lose I would strongly suggest getting rid of any white carbs she is eating and to go with a high protein, low carb type diet like the South Beach diet. I think Atkins type would be too difficult for her. I wish her the best but I seriously wouldn't advise the band for anyone. Possibly the VSG sleeve surgery might work but again it's a surgery risk. She really needs t discuss this with her other medical docs. If I can help answer any questions feel free to PM me I'm happy to help if I can.

Nic..thank you. I  never even considered that the band would be so close to the diaphragm and she definitely doesn't need anymore problems with her breathing.

Hislady thank you as well for your reply. My mom has talked to both of her doctors about LapBand surgery and neither one has objected to it. The pulmonologist even called the bariatric surgeon himself to expedite a consultation appointment. Like I mentioned though, she does exercise with the help of therapist 3 times every week. As far as low carb/high protein she is doing this too. My mom can't prepare her own meals and relies on someone else to cook for her, so I know she is eating per the dieticians instructions because I cook for her or my dad does.

It's just sad that she can't get the surgery to save her life because of 65 pounds. Without the lung transplant, she has 6 months at best. And I'm not trying to get anyone's sympathy, but IF I knew my life was going to be cut short (mine was at 407 pounds) I would do anything I could to change that (so I had a VSG).

It's most definitely a really tough situation. I don't know how to advise you and I can imagine the sense of desperation that must accompany this decision.

All I can say is that the band caused SO much damage in my body and I was in more pain than I've ever felt in my entire life. And it was constant, unbearable, and life altering. 

I can't say what I'd do, though, if I needed a lung transplant. Knowing the pain I went through makes it VERY difficult for me to recommend someone else get the band, especially when they're already suffering.  I wish you and your mom the very best and I hope that she'll get her lung transplant.

Take care,

Nic

it's a tough situation, but I agree with the others.  I think if you're cooking for her, you can just really make sure she is eating very low carb, 50 gms or less and high protein - very lean meats and low carb veggies.  I am sure you are making her very nutritious meals.  She should be able to lose the weight she needs to lose if you are extremely careful with her food prep.  With the Lapband, she will need to eat exactly the same.  High protein and lower carbs - or she won't lose.  and with the LapBand the chance of getting restriction quickly is very slim.  It could take her 5 or 6 months before she reaches restriction.  Unfortunately, the LapBand holds no guarantees.

are you recording all of your Mom's intake?  I use www.fitday.com and it helps me know exactly how many carbs and fats I am getting.  I have lost over 300 lbs. 

I just had a thought this morning, I don't know what meds your mom is on but my pulm doc put me on a new med called daliresp and I lost 40 lbs without even trying, plus it helped me breath better. Now it did give me the jitters for a few weeks while my body adjusted to it but maybe that would get her low enough to get the transplant. It was almost like the old fashioned diet pills with amphetamine in them. Worth asking about anyway. I know for me it was win, win. Never give up! Sounds like you and your dad are doing everything you can, and rightly so. I just wish I could make it all better for all of us lung patients, maybe one day we will all breath better. God bless you and your family!

I agree with what the others have said ---- I also wanted to add that you mention the inconvenience of her medical appointments -- with a Lapband, she will likely have to see the surgeon or PA for fills and follow up every few weeks for several months for the band to be effective.

I had appointments every 3 weeks for the first 4 months, then every 6 weeks for the next few months -- seeing my surgeon about 9 times in the first year to get the benefit of a well-adjusted band.

It sounds like a terrible situation --- and I am so sorry that she is struggling so much, but a very low-carb/high protein, well-balanced diet could have the same impact (1-2 pound loss per week) as a Lapband.

Sending my best thoughts --

Kath

I agree that Lapband isn't the answer for your mom.  If she needs to lose to have the lung transplant, diet is the answer.  Since you're cooking for her, just focus on low glycemic carbs and lean protein options.  Hislady mentioned a medication that caused weight loss as a side effect, definitely follow up on that.

hugs to you and your mom ((()))

Sounds like a bad idea.  Can she go on a medically supervised diet?  It's just too much fussing for someone in as delicate condition as your mom.  If she has a transplant, she'll be on a ton of meds post-op - yes they do decrease them depending on how things are going yet it is a lot of meds and she will need to swallow them on schedule.  The band is not like the sleeve in that sense - things could back up especially since she seems not to be mobile

Can she get to weigh****chers?  She will lose on WW and the sense of Community

Would be really good for her.  We had a couple of wheelchair bound ppl at my meeting who came  And we really embraced & encouraged them.

Richard Simmons is also great.  I've Had success with both.

Hun the Band and I believe any WLS in her stated condition is a poor idea.

And . . . if you are following your post VSG Diet can't you get her to follow you & cut the carbs.  I am sure she is somewhat reliant on others doing her food shopping & cooking. So you can force better choices by what's available.

May God bless your mom.

All best,

Layla