When it rains, it pours, eh?!

[devon]

I just got a call from the bariatric center that I contacted about doing a lapband procedure. I told them about the upcoming fistula surgery and they are trying to work it so I can do the lapband the following week. The big question is whether or not I can undergo 2 general anesthesia events so close together. Frankly, I hope it all works out.

My thought is that if I can get rid of some of the excess weight, it may improve my creatinine levels and let me postpone dialysis for a few months or years more. It's worth it anyway as the weight reduction could eliminate my type 2 diabetes and hypertension. I've tried every way to Sunday to reduce my weight over the last several years but it's not been very successful. At one point I got to 170 pounds but now I'm back to 270! Anyway, it can't hurt.

I'm going to have to pay for this myself and petition the healthcare provider about reimbursement but I can't wait for them to make a decsion. This is matter of life and death and quality of life, I believe. I'll probably have to sue them in the end but it'll be worth all the fuss.

Anyway... wish me luck!

-Devon

[Ohio Buckeye]

Good luck Devon.  Hope it all works out for you.
I heard on the news hear how the lapband surgery often elliminated the diabetic type 2.
That would be a great thing.
Best wishes!

[livecam]

Best of luck to you Devon.

[angellady07]

Good luck, Devon.

[paris]

Hope it all works out great for you. 

[Sluff]

Good Luck Devon I hope this works for you.

[Lori1851]

Devon,
My sister in law had this almost a year ago and has lost like 140lbs! She was almost 300lbs. She looks amazing. Goodluck and hope everything works out great!!!
Lori/Indiana

[petey]

Good luck, Devon !  We're pulling for you and hope all goes well!

[okarol]

  I hope it all works out - good luck!

[Romona]

Best Wishes Devon!

[Joe Paul]

Good luck Devon 

[kidney4traci]

Good idea about trying to get your weight down, but I hate to see someone go through surgery for it.  None of my business, but surgery has so many side effects too. I have what we call a healing diet if you are interested.  I can email it to you.  It works wonders.  PM me if you want.    In any case, be careful.

[kitkatz]

Good luck. 

[cris]

I had an officemate who used to be 320lbs. She had a lapband in the Phils.St. Lukes Hospital and it really works, over a year she was 170 and maintaining it. Your right, all the excess weight has a lot to do with health problems, so it's possible that the lapband may improve your chances of having back a good kidney. Don't forget, it comes with a very good determination and hardwork.
I will be praying for you on this one.

[Gramapat]

My sister had the lapband surgery last August 6th.  She had to go through psychological evaluation, nutrition classes and lose a certain amount of weight (I forget how much) first.  Counting the weight she lost before the surgery up until now, she has lost 60 lbs. and looks great.  She has been able to come off both her diabetes meds and HBP meds.

I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide!

[rose1999]

Wishing you luck Devon.  Just a thought but can the fistula be done under local rather than general to save you 2 generals in a week or so?  I don't know much about fistulas, I'm carer for Dad and he is unable to have one as his veins and arteries are too blocked, so sorry f it's a daft suggestion.  Take care of yourself 

[KICKSTART]

Hoping it all goes well for you 

[sandgroper]

Best wishes for the op

[devon]

Thanks all for the support and comments.

To answer some questions...

The question of 2 general anesthesias in two weeks came up and the doc said it should be okay. I don't think the vascular surgeon wants to do a local. He wants me knocked out and I concur. I don't want to be awake for that one either!   



The offer of a diet is one I probably can't accept. I have to drink my meals once the lapband is in place... as I understand the method... to assure I'm getting a balance of vitamins and such.  oops.... how did that get in there? Oh well, it's liquid isn't it!?



The surgery for the lapband is through laproscopy so it's as minimally invasive as possible. Just three holes as I understand. I will have the surgery on a Friday and back to work on Tuesday! 

I'll keep you posted as I find out more. I'm really hoping this will enable me to continue to postpone dialysis another couple years. I need to get my kid through high school and into college first! Maybe married and with grandkids before I hook up to the machine, eh?! 

[ODAT]

good luck Devon! My niece had gasteric bypass and has lost over 100 lbs. One thing she did wrong is she started eating solids sooner than she was told to and boy did she pay for it. She thought she was feeling fine enough to eat something solid and ended up vomitting. You won't always have to drink meals do you?

[vandie]

I wish you nothing but the best.   I have 4 friends who had the procedure done.  If you follow the post op diet to the letter, you will do fabulously.

[devon]

Geeze! I really dont know the answer to that? I suspect that I should be able to eat solids after a while. The nutritional drinks are to assure I'm getting the right nutrients. After that I should be able to drink and eat "normally".

Here's what I found as an answer at LapBand.com

Can I eat anything in moderation? 
After your stomach has healed, you may eat most foods that don't cause you discomfort. However, because you can only eat a little, it is important to include foods full of important vitamins and nutrients as advised by your surgeon and/or dietitian. If you eat foods that contain lots of sugar and fat or drink liquids full of "empty" calories, such as milkshakes, the effect of the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System may be greatly reduced or even cancelled. 

and...

What if I go out to eat? 
Order only a small amount of food, such as an appetizer. Eat slowly. Finish at the same time as your table companions. You might want to let your host or hostess know in advance that you cannot eat very much. 

 
Fascinating, isn't it?!

-Devon
 

[kidney4traci]

Well it sounds like they really do a good pre-surgery work up to make sure that the lapband is successful.  We have a patient who recently had one and I talked to her about it.  She is 309 right now and is just now able to eat solids, but very little.  She tried to eat something the other day, and she said it just comes back up!  EEww.  Sounds rough.  But she is excited as it gets tweaked every week or so to open it up to allow more to pass through.  So now she is on solids.  It still isn't just right yet, but she's happy.  I do hope it works out for you too.  I agree it would be great to avoid dialysis as long as possible!!!  Here's to your health!  (Pretend that it's your protein shake or what ever you'll be drinking... )

[Psim]

Best of luck, hope all goes v smoothly with both your surgeries.

[stauffenberg]

One thing to be careful of is that weight reducing diets can cause loss of muscle mass in the body, and the by-product of muscle breakdown is creatinine, so losing weight can elevate one of the main values used to determine declining renal function.