were any of you told that after having the lap band, having an NG Tube done can be dangerous, if the dr inserting the tube is not aware of your band?

i have a friend who had hte band and later had bypass...yesterday she brought this up to me...i called my surgeon and sure enough, they said that if the doctor that is inserting the tube isnt aware of your band, they may force it and you can asparate...now if you know u will be having a NG tube used then no problem, u can tell doc and they will know to be cautious wiht it...

but what if you get an an accident, are knocked out cold, and while in the E.R, they need to use one for some reason, and noone is there from family to tell them and you obviously cant.

I asked if it would be a good idea to have a medical bracelet stating that I have the lap-band, and they said yes. It may be a situation that may never happen, but it scares me at the thought that it could.

was just wondering if it was ever mentioned to any of you or if it has, do you were a medical bracelet or necklace stating you have the band. I have the card in my wallet, but the jewelry would be noticed right away.

I'm trying to think of circumstances that they would need to do that in the ER, generally it is to empty your stomach....so yes, to "pump" your stomach from a overdose let's say, it would be dangerous. Those tubes are as big as a garden hose.

I guess gastro bleeding would be another?

Lol B52. The tubing is large but not quite as bad as a garden hose.

The are used to empty stomach contents whether OD or a bleed or bowel content from a twisted intestine.

A bracelet might be a good idea but usually there is time to inform a er dr or an emt

Generally if they are doing something like that I would have thought they would have used tests such as x rays or ct scans first to determine if it was necessary. The band shows up on these quite clearly.

I have a medical alert necklace. Better safe than sorry.

I have a medical alert necklace. Better safe than sorry.

my thoughts exactly lol...

I'm a ER nurse and if a person has a band or a bypass we generally don't pass ng tubes unless it's a matter of life or death. As far as a medical bracelet - it couldnt hurt. NG tubes are generally used in the ER for gastric distension, gastric bleeds or bowel obstructions, they are however very small - could be compared to a straw. The garden hoses are for gastric lavage and well unless the over dose was witnessed and within in minutes of arrival we don't really practice that anymore. Hope this helps.