SCARY Lap Band Story

[GSBarbee]

A coworker that I have known for 10 years had the lap band at the end of October 2011 and today she is in the hospital on a ventilator and dialysis.
She got the lap band and I saw her at 6 weeks post op and she had not lost any weight and she had not changed eating habits, ate bad foods, carbs and alcohol. She went through the holidays and still had not lost any weight. She went to the dr a month or two ago and he ordered a swallow test. The test revealed that the band had slipped. She went in last Thursday to have it repositioned and her colon was perforated. She is now in a medically induced coma on a vent and dialysis while they are trying to find a way to help her. She is so young and has two small children.
I know that could have just as easily happened to anyone of us during our surgeries, but it seems with the lap band there are so many more potential complications. Please keep my friend and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

[Msvetrn]

What do you mean, "she got the sleeve"? When? Had the lap band in October and then you said you saw her 6 weeks post op after she "got the sleeve". I don't get it.

[GSBarbee]

It's been corrected to say lap band.

[Cattitude]

Yes I'm a little confused by that too. Anyway, positive thoughts for your friend, that is so sad. I hope she gets better.

ETA: Ok that makes sense. I almost went for a lap band about 6-7 years ago and so glad I didn't!

[itsmytime]

Praying for your friend! That is awful!

[Msvetrn]

I see...yes...I'm glad I didn't get the lap band...I almost did!

[Maria1]

Prayers are being sent for her and you..

[nancy_marie_00]

I too have a band nightmare...I got the band in october 2010...4 weeks later my port had flipped...they went in to fix it and all was well....until i laid in bed not being able to move or even breathe ...i was horrified...it happened over the weekend and when i called the office they said that it didn'tsound like my band...well monday morning i was in so much pain i drove myself to the office and waited for the dr....it turns out i had a horrible infection of the band...my husband was called at work and he came to drive me straight to the hospital....needless to say they removed the band that day....it was a horrible experience...plus i gained all of the weight back and then some....so it took me a whole year to get back to the bariatric dr....i was so scared to even think of another surgery....but i did and i am so glad that i did....I was sleeved on 2/21/12....my weight was 249 today ten weeks later i am 201....I feel so good...i can exercise without getting tired...i have so much more energy...i sleep more comfortably at night...I am loving my new life~!!!!

[Dana]

I was going to do the band at the same time as a friend. We were to do it together, my insurance didn't go thru at the time so I had to wait another year. After 3 months her band had slipped, wrapped around her liver and esophagus and almost killed her. She had to have it removed. She was out of work 6 months and lucky that was all. After that I discovered the sleeve and I'm so glad I went with it. Now I hve another friend that wants to get the band and even though I told her before what happened she has a nephew that did great on it. I'm afraid for her but hate to say anything else for the very reason we hate to hear about everybody's friend who almost died from their WLS when we announce our own decision. its really a small chance but it only takes one to go viral.

[michelleb]

P&PTs for your friend and her family. Please keep us posted on her.

[Ale3399]

The lap band does have many possible complications, I don't understand why doctors keep recommending it if there is the sleeve alternative. I got the lap band and it never worked. My body rejected it. I ended up having 5 surgeries, spent 5 months in so much pain, didn't lose any of the weight and it was like throwing all that money in the trash.
I am now loving my sleeve.

[Grace]

It's essentially off the table at the hosp I went to. I've heard it called the Crapband. I'm thinking eventually there will be some kind of class action suit on it. Anyway I hope your coworker heals and can get home to her family very soon! I will send healing thoughts her way.

[LesaLynn]

How horrible! I came sooooo close to getting the Band. God works in mysterious ways...things just never aligned and then I heard about the Sleeve. Literally within a couple of months of learning about it I was able to get sleeved. I am soooo thankful it was all His timing and not mine! I have been so blessed and have never looked back! It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made! I will keep your friend in my prayers. Praying for her full recovery and comfort.

[Mbenson5]

I also was originally going to have the band done but my husband had the sleeve on 4/10 and there were so many people who were in the hospital getting their bands removed (one was a mother and daughter at the same time!) that I went right to the office and asked them to change my insurance certification for the sleeve. I now feel much better about that decision and hopefully in July... Prayers for your friend! I hope she recovers quickly!

[GSBarbee]

Thanks, everyone! She is still in a medically induced coma as of early evening..So worried about her 2 a baby girls(8&4)..another coworker that lives near her was going to send me an update and I am checking her FB page. She lives in Tulsa and I in Dallas, so not exactly a short drive to see her.