Previous Surgeries prior to Lap-Band

jamel8232 · February 5, 2008

I am 5'1" tall and weigh 280lbs. My goal weight is 130. I have gone through all of the weigh ins and even got it added to our insurance and was approved to have the surgery and was scheduled to have the surgery on January 21st. I started having 2nd thoughts and was praying that if this wasn't the right thing to do then show me a sign. My surgeon called me from his cell phone on the Sunday morning before my surgery and told me he was stuck out of town and we would have to reschedule it so of course this really scared me. My concern is the fact that I've had 5 (FIVE) major abdominal surgeries in the last 8 years and I'm concerned about scarring and just the fact of having another surgical procedure. I've had 2 C-Sections (first one emergent), 2 Hernias (1 right inguinal and the other an incisional hernia), and my Gallbladder removed. Has anyone else had several surgeries and still had the procedure?

MissMom24 · February 5, 2008

I have had 2 c-sections, one was emergency as well. I had the surgery and was fine. It was so much easier than a c-section!!

I would think that if previous surgeries were an issue, your doc would have told you.

Good luck to you!

Brandy

Betsyjane · February 5, 2008

I haven't had other surgeries, but I cna tell you what the scars look like. It's done laproscopically, and I have 4 small marks. 3 of them are 1/2' long by 1/8" wide. There is one on each side of my belly about 5 inches below my bra line. The other one is in the center about 4" above my waist. The last one is where my port is....It is a horizontal line an inch long, and thin. Kind of looks like a cat scratch. Where they put them varies, but mine is in the center about 2" below my bra line.

I can only imagine what you are going through thinking about having yet another surgery. My only thought on it is that unlike your other surgeries, this one is about weight loss, and my scars are nothing compared to how good I look and feel....... I'd gladly wear a bathing suit with a few scars than wear a bathing suit at my old weight.

Good luck with your decision making. I can tell you that having the band is hard work, but I've never been successful at weight loss before,a nd now it's different...With ahrd work, I actually succeed! Pretty amazing....

VegasGrace · February 5, 2008

You are not off track for your concern.

The risks increase with EACH surgery you have. Something about being more prone to something...I'd have to do a yahoo search for that....maybe it's latex something?

A nurse who had her stomach stapled in the 90s, then a Tummy Tuck, then RnY this decade..... was terrified of having her last procedure done due to the number of prior surgeries.

Always listen to your gut! If you are hesitant, you shouldn't have the procedure. If it's nothing more than wedding day jitters, go for it!

Good luck and keep us posted on the outcome.

jamel8232 · February 5, 2008

lol. Sorry, I was not more specific but I'm not worried about the scarring on the outside. I look like a jigsaw puzzle. I'm more worried about the scarring on the inside with all of the tissue and and the possibility of my other organs being fused together. I work at a hospital and I know the increased risks of having multiple surgeries. My surgeon said I would be "tough"...I guess with my previous surgeries.

I am just totally on the fence. This is something I've wanted to do since 05. I said if there was something not as complex as the gastric, then I would have it done. That is the lap-band, but I am terrified at the fact of having yet another surgery, but I feel like the thought of losing 150 pounds on my own without the surgery is almost unreachable. Does anyone else feel like this?

Tigger_Shorty · February 6, 2008

I too have had several surgeries and I was told that I would be a "tough" case. However. I followed the pre-op diet to a "T" and my surgery was a breeze. I was banded on 1/23/08... I am 14 days post op and with each day I feel so much better. I think from all the other surgeries this was was just uncomfy not painful. The only thing that I had an issue with was not wanting to eat or drink. That is now gone and I am on mushies.

I will pray for you!

RainyDay · February 6, 2008

I have only had one c-section but the surgeon at my clinic told a woman at our seminar who had had three c-sections that if he encountered any internal scar tissue he would remove it if possible because that can interfere with digestion, etc. So talk to your surgeon - perhaps he or she could remove excess scar tissue too.

jamel8232 · February 7, 2008

I did end up talking to my surgeon yesterday and he did tell me that my previous surgeries were lower abdomen where my band will be upper abdomen. I think I have just been having a lot of "pre-wedding jitters" because, I have worked so hard to get this done, and now that the time is here, I just keep thinking OH NO WHAT IF IT DOESN'T WORK!!! I have a HUGE FEAR of failure...but I am over my jitters and having checked all of the ups/downs everyone is having, I do see that it is the best thing for me and I know that in the end it will all be worth it...Thanks so much for helping everyone and I will definitely keep you all up to date.