Laproscopic surgery?

[vanessa]

Has anyone been through any of the laproscopic surgeries? I do qualify and my insurance covers *most* of the surgery so have been contemplating going through it. I am looking more specifically at the laproscopic band as it is reversible.

For those who do not know, laproscopic is the newer form of surgery where they make a few small insicions(sp?) instead of one large "open stomach" surgery. The band wraps a "flea collar" size silicone band around the stomach limiting the amount that the stomach can hold. This is adjustable (by the doctor) and is also reversible.

The most common forms of stomach surgery are the stomach stapling and the gastric bypass surgery. The former does the same as the band but is not reversible while the latter completely bypasses the small intestine where most of the nutrients and vitamins are absorbed from foods.

For me and my body, I felt that the banding procedure is the least invasive and *seems* to have the fewer chances for post-op complications....

Any thoughts? Anyone go through these or contemplating?

[Drea Beth]

My gallbladder surgery was done laproscopically. (Laproscopic describes how the surgery is performed, not the actual proceedure itself.) It was amazing how fast I recovered. I was out of work for a week and a day. And after a year, you can hardly tell where the incisions were made. If I ever need more surgery and laproscopic is an option, I'd take it in a minute.

I know your're talking about some form of gastric bypass surgery, which I haven't had. I'm sure others will be along shortly to talk about that.

[Psyche]

I have had 2 laproscopic surgeries. Other than the fact that I ended up being allergic to the disolvable stitches (and my body rejected them), the recovery was not long at all.

I have not had the Lap-Band done as it would not work for me. My issue is not what I intake so much as my body chemistry and how my body burns things. I have spoken to many who have had it done and they had a good deal of success with it. Some have had the band removed and others had it adjusted for when they had babies. It was quite an adjustment physically and mentally and they did have issues with it, but most were happy with their choices.

I know Yahoo has quite a few groups about it. You may want to do a search there. :)

[moira]

i just wanna say this from the medical field stand point.

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!

i know too many people who have had serious issues with this.

my friend's mother has had so many complications that she has had to have open-heart surgery as a result. (she got an infection and went septic) they don't think she'll ever be the same. she can't walk or talk at the moment.

another friend almost died on the table.

both were band procedures.

in my opinion, it's not worth the risks.

i'm currently trying to talk my mother out of this. she was a size 16 when she got married. and she could be again if she stopped eatting potato chips, yodels and klondike bars. she lost over 90 lbs the last time she tried. she just keeps telling me that it's soooo easy for me. ummm.... no.... but i don't wanna die of a coronary before i'm 60. sorry... mini-rant over.

[Leela]

Mornin' all,

Moira you meant don't do the band, right?

Laproscopic surgery has been wonderfully successful. As Psyche and Drea Beth stated, recovery time is much faster and less painful. My father was originally going to get a stent placed laproscopically, but the doctors discovered when they sent in the cameras three additional bad blockages and he ended up with an open heart quadruple bypass. They might not have found those blockages without the laproscopic cameras!

Now, at almost 70, he's going for his daily walks, has changed his eating habits, and is healthy and active. Laproscopy is fantastic!

Vanessa, all of the various surgical solutions to weight problems have their risks, as does every surgery. Do lots and lots of research of New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA articles and maybe check out some patient sites of people who have had Laproscopic Adjustible Banding done so you can gauge the risk better.

Brigham and Women's Hospital has good descriptive information on the procedure.

http://www.brighamandwomens.org/weightmanagement/WeightLossSurgery.asp

A drawback to gastric bypass surgery is that there may be some serious risk if you decide to have children soon afterwards.

http://www.yourlawyer.com/practice/news.htm?story_id=8467&topic=Gastric%20Bypass%20Malpractice



Good l;uck

[vanessa]

my friend's mother has had so many complications that she has had to have open-heart surgery as a result. (she got an infection and went septic) they don't think she'll ever be the same. she can't walk or talk at the moment.

another friend almost died on the table.

both were band procedures.

in my opinion, it's not worth the risks.

I will certainly take these into consideration but those are just the results of the situation. What were the circumstances? Were the surgeons obesity specialists or were they general surgeons? How many procedures had the doctors done previously? What was the general health condition of the two people before the surgery? In my research, I have found that those factors are extremely important in deciding where to have it done and the outcomes. Like I said, I'll keep those circumstances and events in mind.

i'm currently trying to talk my mother out of this. she was a size 16 when she got married. and she could be again if she stopped eatting potato chips, yodels and klondike bars. she lost over 90 lbs the last time she tried. she just keeps telling me that it's soooo easy for me. ummm.... no.... but i don't wanna die of a coronary before i'm 60. sorry... mini-rant over.

If she's addicted to "munchies" then the stomach surgeries are not her best options most likely. My suggestion (more fuel for your fire maybe?) would be to have her make sure she is honest in her dietary intake to her doctor (keep a brutally honest food diary for a week or two?) and see if her doctor would rather see her on a prescription drug that would help curb those munchies.

Unfortunately, mine is not a problem of the "munchies". I keep my munching to a minimum and try to keep it as healthy as I can (I'm also on a drug for my ADD which is a natural appetite suppressant, so that helps). While I am not exactly the most active wench anywhere, I am far less sedentary than I used to be. I've done the weight watchers' thing and was minimally successful. I've tried everything but the liquid diets and they are as financially expensive as the surgeries but they are not covered by insurance at all whereas the surgeries are (to a point).

Vanessa, all of the various surgical solutions to weight problems have their risks, as does every surgery. Do lots and lots of research of New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA articles and maybe check out some patient sites of people who have had Laproscopic Adjustible Banding done so you can gauge the risk better.

Brigham and Women's Hospital has good descriptive information on the procedure.

http://www.brighamandwomens.org/weightmanagement/WeightLossSurgery.asp

Thanks for the info. I've checked into the procedure as done at the Tufts' hospital. I'll have to check in B&W's as well. They are both within easy enough driving distance for me. :)

A drawback to gastric bypass surgery is that there may be some serious risk if you decide to have children soon afterwards.

http://www.yourlawyer.com/practice/news.htm?story_id=8467&topic=Gastric%20Bypass%20Malpractice

I'm done having children at this time (have two already) then again, Mother Nature is known to play tricks with us... :)

I'll never do the gastric bypass as that surgery creates a "shortcut" to the large intestine completely bypassing the small intestine where the absorbtion of the vitamins and minerals takes place. I'm afraid of the additional health concerns where that surgery is concerned. At least the stomach stapling (which my mother did many years and eons ago) and the band surgeries just reduce the size of how much the stomach will intake at any given time; the rest of the normal digestive process is intact.

I still have lots of research to do and when you sign up for the procedure, they put you through an elaborate selection process both physically and emotionally to try to filter out those who don't really need the surgery and those who have certain conditions that should not have the surgery. Then there are support groups pre- *and* post op as well as frequent checkups for the first 3-6 months.

There is still a lot to look into but I am trying my best to be as informative as I can. Who knows? I may end up losing enough weight that they won't even accept me into the program. I wouldn't mind *not* qualifying for surgery.... :)

[Nevada]

points to consider....you will have to take vitamins and supplements for as long as you have the band in place...you will not be able to eat even "normal" sized portions....it is a complete life change