With Shirley's passing - God Bless her and her family, I am really concerned now about emergency lapband care.

After reading Shirley's story and also due to my employer changing insurance companies my current insurance coverage does NOT have a local bariatric program or doctor(s), nor will they accept the only local bariatric program and doctors located in Albuquerque New Mexico and are forcing us to switch over to their bariatric program located in El Paso, Texas. A lapband emergency would require me to get myself down to El Paso for treatment or wait til the El Paso program sends one of their doctors once a month to hold a clinic that is always jammed packed. Basically, until I switch over, which is complicated process, I am without a bariatric doctor.

I was recently admitted to the hospital for a NON-lapband issue, where I had lost alot of blood due to a complication from a surgical procedure. I had lost so much blood that I was passing out and was totally disorientated. A very scary experience! I was almost certain that my emergency was not lapband related, however, I wanted to take every precaution that everything was ok with the band. My band was never checked and the only thing I was asked if I was experiencing stomach pains. A GI doctor came to talk to me and his response to the band was "What do you want us to do?" Yeah right! Are ER's and medical staff well prepared enough to handle emergencies with lapbands is my greatest fear right now. In mine and other people's opinions, Shirley should have never been released from the hospital and WHY was she? Would like to hear your opinions and would very much welcome feedback from people working in the medical field. Jake

From my experience with my slip last year, there were several hospitals in my area and I intentionally went to one that had a bariatrics program...(not mine). And they would not touch me....I think our best bet is to find local band dr.'s contact them when there is not an emergency....to have a plan if there is an emergency. That being said, I have not done it yet.

With my 4 recent trips to the ER from 2/2/12 to 3/29/12, I would have to say it is VERY important that you go to a hospital that has a Bariatric Surgeon that they can consult with and see you if need be. If they don't know what to look for than you could get misdiagnosed and end up with something more serious.

"Shirlies passing?" Did someone die?

My Dr told me pre op which hospital's to go to if it became an emergency. I would have to avoid 2 hospital's minutes away and have 2 others 30 mins away. So yes, even my Dr knows not all ERs are prepared for LBS patients.

"Shirlies passing?" Did someone die?

She did. Shirley was a bandster that frequently posted on these forums. She was great with giving and sharing of her lapband knowledge and experience. She is missed by all.

What I recall she went in to the ER with medical/lapband issues and was released once or several times and she did pass. I also recall that she was experiencing other medical problems, but, we never found out exactly what caused her passing.

A couple of things to keep in mind. Lapband patients are many now and hospitals and especially ER's are connected to a bariatric doctor in some form or another. Secondly and I tell you by experience that your body will tell you when something is wrong or the onset of something not right and we must get checked and never accept a doctor's easy way out!

Shirley's dealth was a very unfortunate, but, lapband dealths are very seldom.

Omg! I'm very scared now! I feel awful for Sirley....I was banded on Monday and now I'm freaking out

Unfortunately the answer is no. n I am very lucky where I live that there are several hospitals with LapBand experience. If traveling far look up centers of excellence in th area

Omg! I'm very scared now! I feel awful for Sirley....I was banded on Monday and now I'm freaking out

Try not to freak out. OP even stated that she doesn't know what she died from. Could have been anything.

You're more likely to die from obesity related diseases than LBS. Think on that, you're saving your life by taking control of it.

Read more success stories!lol