Question:
Am I over re-acting?

I am just a little over 6mths out from lap band and very disappointed. I have lost about 45 lbs. but it has been extremely hard. I have suddenly gotten sick on Christmas eve and experienced extreme nausea and vomiting I saw my primary Dr on 12-26 and was told by looking at me I had a bacteria infection in my stomach and was given an antibiotic and an anti-nausea medication. When I finally got my surgeon to acknowledge me on Monday I was told to wait a week and come to the hospital on the following Monday for an esphogram to see if there was any damage. Well Monday just past and I was awarded with the disappointing news that my stomach had started to push its way through the top of the band.The was going to either adjust it or leave it alone until another surgeon told him to remove all the fluid because he felt there was way to much stomach above the band. I am very disappointed with my surgeon for a few reasons. One he seems to not take my complaints seriously and if I didn't push for the test i would not have known of the damage. The second that he was ready to fill the band after the damage was discovered until some other Dr told him to remove the fluid. Third he did not remember when I had surgery or how much was in my band when the other dr asked and had to ask me.( I feel he should have had my information since the test was scheduled a week ago)Fourth I had to ask was happens from here he didn't inform me well at all. And fifth he then told me that my band will stay unfilled for four months and then if my stomach has not healed itself he does a one time re-positioning of the band, then full removal, and by then I will have gained back all my weight or more and should be a canidate for full bypass. I feel that he just wants to keep opening me up. Am I overreacting?? I had a huge hiatial hernia going in to this and I feel that he should have maybe steered me toward another surgery or when the repair to 3 hours to fix instead of the 1 hour he said it would he should have used his judgment about placing the band in the first place. He did tell me on numerous occasions that it was the largest hernia he ever repaired. I have made an appointment with another surgeon for next week. Am I jumping the gun?? I am possibly open for a revision. What do you think?? And which surgery?? I am afraid that my insurance will fight for a new surgery but this new surgeon if it is a revision they usually don't. What surgery do you think I should consider? I would still like to lose 50-60 lbs. I have fears of bypass but I think I need to learn more about it. I have been to seminars and support groups. HELP!!    — pamela P. (posted on January 7, 2009)

January 7, 2009
I don't feel like you are over reacting. I had my problems with my surgeon before he did my surgery (I was getting gastric bypass) but my cardiologist talked to the first surgeon and told me my heart condition would not handle the gastric bypass but the lap band. The first surgeon never told me that, but the first surgeon, cancelled my surgery ten minutes before they closed the office and called me and said it was cancelled due to corporate decision and would be rescheduled at a later date, weeks and weeks, so don't call them, they would call me. I found out later that Medicare pulled their COE (Certificate of Excellence)but they had already teed me off, I found another surgeon and I am sure glad I did. I had lap band and down 70 pounds and lots and lots of inches. Go with your gut feeling, there are surgeons out there that shouldn't be, they are just interested in the money and not their patients. Good Luck! Diane
   — dyates2948

January 7, 2009
I think you did the exact right thing. One of my closest friends had the lap band and had a similar experience. Her band slipped and her surgeon ignored her pleas for help even though she is a registered nurse. She and her husband had a difficult time finding someone who would take another surgeons patient. So follow your instinct that is why God gives us instinct. I don't think you overreacted at all. If you don't take responsibility for your health care who will! Try not to be too discouraged and hang in there with this new surgeon. Also be sure to check out the new guy and see if his records are good. Good luck and keep us all informed on how things go.
   — katiecakes

January 7, 2009
Pam, I had LapBand 10 months ago and I am doing fine. There are good doctors and not so good doctors. I think you are doing the right thing to find another doctor and explore your options. I would not let your current doctor cut you open again. He doesn't seem to the best of his kind. Try to keep your faith and stay on track even if you need to have it removed. You have had success up to now and there is no reason to resort back to old ways because of your medical issues. Best of luck to you and I hope you feel better soon. Rita
   — MotherX2CntrvlleVA

January 7, 2009
The lap band has the worst track record when it comes to Weight loss surgery. About 50 percent of the patients fail to get the results that they hope for and about 1 percent have results to yours. Many patients like yourself have a revision to another surgery, most to the Gastric Bypass. Some patients have so much damage to their stomachs that the only possible revisions that they can have is the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy or the Duodenal Switch. I would HIGHLY recommend the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I have had one, and have lost 110 pounds since March. It is one of the SAFEST weight loss surgeries available, and it has the FEWEST side effects. The biggest problem with it is that it is still considered an experimental weight loss surgery, and many insurance companies will not pay for it unless it is deemed "medically necessary" by the doctors involved in your treatment. The VSG is almost exactly as effective as the Gastric Bypass, but has many less side effects than either the Gastric Bypass or the Duodenal Switch. I hope this helps. Hugh
   — hubarlow

January 7, 2009
Heck no! You are NOT jumping the gun! You are being your own health care advocate! I know a lot of people trust their docs and surgeons completely...but ONLY YOU truly know your own body and when something is wrong you owe it to yourself to push the issue and not trust!...Docs make mistakes and are not all informed and up to date or care as much as we want to believe they do...Don't let that guy cut you open again...I wouldn't! See if you can get the revision to RNY or another GB surgery...It's quite a different surgery and comes with complications too...but it does have an overall better track record...MOST people do just fine...Most of the complications are easily fixed...some with small procedures and sometimes more surgery...but as you've experienced...things can go wrong...I had a hiatal hernia too...and after RNY....I have NO IDEA what happened to it...Gone...Never had GERD again...GOOD riddance! You will have to watch your vitamins and the diet is much more easy to maintain...You can still eat like a regular person after a year without sacrificing everything...The first year, you eat mainly protein...Then you graduate to eat like a regular small person! Only healthier and in moderation. You have to take specific vitamins forever! Even when you might think you don't need them! You don't feel hungry like with all the lap band complaints...We do have head hunger though and some hunger does return after about year 2...and that can be tough to ignore but restriction is great!!My eyes and head are always much hungrier than my pouch! So I trust my pouch to rule!...No more fills though...You go in once or twice a year for labs to check your vits and blood and thyroid...Easy as pie...minus the sugar and the crust...hehe Do a little research on the other surgeries...I am not up to date on them lately...and made a little mistake last time I tried to explain them...I got two different ones confused! OOPS! So just do a little reading...Remember that docs MUST tell you all the risks, even though they are relatively rare. Good luck~!
   — .Anita R.

January 7, 2009
Pamela, Calm down. No you are not overreacting. You sound like you have followed through on all the procedures that have been done to you. I say to you and not for you for a reason. I have been a nurse for 30 years and I can tell you for a fact; don't let that first surgeon touch you ever again. As for the new surgeon; check him/her out thoroughly. Meet with the doc several times and make sure all your questions are answered. If you are still uncomfortable keep looking until you find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I am 10 years plus post op and having no problems. I am 54. These surgeries can be done but they need to be done by skilled doctors who know what they're doing. Let us know how you are doing and keep up the good work being a healthcare advocate for yourself! Good Luck and God Bless, vinnigirl, retired RN
   — vinnigirl

January 7, 2009
Sounds like you do need to find another surgeon. Do your reasearch on the new doctor and the different procedures before you make a choice. Good luck.
   — maria09elena

January 8, 2009
Pamela, it sounds like you have had a horrible experience. What a shame that something we work so hard to get and look forward to so much can cause so much distress. Personally, I feel you should look into having a revision. I keep hearing about more and more people who have problems with their bands and many of them end up doing just that. I had the veretical sleeve gastrectomy on March 31 and have lost 114 lbs. I have never once regretted my decision. No maintenance, no long term ill effects, just weight loss with very little effort on my part. Research your options and choose what is right for you, but the sleeve is definitely gaining in poularity as more and more people learn about it. Good luck!
   — corky1057

January 8, 2009
OMG! No U R not over reacting! U did the right thing by getting a new doctor. As for the lap band..it works for a lot of folks...I did choose the Gastric sleeve because I did not want the malabsorbtion (SP?) issues of the other surgeries, I am also a "light weight" who had ALL the co-morbidity's including the hiatial hernia. Original I wanted only the lap band but after I read a lot of post so folks who had issues like yours, I decided the Gastric Sleeve was the softest. Yes it is considered new and experimental still but I also point out I have Horizon NJ Health which is just a HMO version of Medicaid and I got approved for it on FIRST LETTER..almost did not but in the end they did approve it. Y have to do what is best FOR YOU. Revision is a good plan. I wish U luck and feel free anytime to stop by my page.
   — chell1957

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