Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

BariatricPal

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
  • Appearance

Join BariatricPal free

  • Ask your own questions
  • Reply and follow topics
  • Message other members
  • No cost, no spam

Unfinished Lap Band Surgery?

I was scheduled for my band on March 6th. I went in, was put under and woke up with five incisions and no band. Does this happen often? My surgeon told me that one of the instruments couldn't make it through my fat; it kept bending.

I was okay with this at first, but as the days go by and I am on a super strict liquid diet to drop 30 pounds in about 2 weeks I've become kind of depressed. I feel like a failure.

I know I have lost 60 pounds since September. I know that I have lost a total of 72 pounds since I started all of this early last year. I have done what I was told to do, albeit perhaps more slowly, but I got there. I got to my required maximum pre-op wieght. 330-340. I was 330 before surgery.

I am now tired, frustrated and feeling like this is much harder than it should be. And I'm wondering how many people go under the knife only to come out unbanded? I hope this is my only complication.

I can at least say my surgeon chose my saftey over my disappointment. I will survive this. I just wish it was a smoother ride...:thumbup:

  • Replies 45
  • Views 3.6k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Featured Replies

That had to be a terrible disappointment after all the hard work you've done.

What does the Dr. say is the next step?

Wow, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I'm actually surprised, though, because they do LB surgeries on people much larger than 330 lbs. Maybe it was an equipment failure rather than your body; that seems like a really unlikely situation.

hi,pandagirl

this just shows how, patient and understanding you are, things will go wrong and we need all the patients in the world to deal , with so many problems, but, in the long run , you are the winner, in health and emotions. for what is to come ahead. just give us an update as to how you are doing, and how you feel , it helps , to keep you going an other week or month.

----------------------------------------------------------------

margie

band 4/5/04

emergency removal 1/23/2008

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WERE ARE MADE OF, UNTIL WERE'RE PUT TO THE TEST.

  • Author

What does the Dr. say is the next step?

Essentially, I've been placed on a very strict liquid diet. If I stick to it 100% I should be able to drop the wieght by the end of the month. (30 pounds)My other liquid diet was 2 shakes and a salad with lean meat. I lived for those salads...It's kind of hard doing nothing but the liquid. Assuming I lose the wieght I will have the surgery next month or at the end of this one. Hopefully, they can finish it next time around. I'm not sure how I'd handle it if they told me they couldnt do it for a second time. *crosses fingers*

  • Author
Wow, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I'm actually surprised, though, because they do LB surgeries on people much larger than 330 lbs. Maybe it was an equipment failure rather than your body; that seems like a really unlikely situation.

The Dr. said the upper portion of my body was just fine. It was the area around my belly button that was said to "carry the fat towards the core of the body". As I understood it, there is more fat agaisnt the abdominal wall than can't be seen from the outside. The fat there is harder somehow as well, while the rest of me is kind of fluffy. I dont know...I am apple shaped, thin legged, thin armed, thin upper body, fat center. I guess I have a pot belly or something.

  • Author
hi,pandagirl

this just shows how, patient and understanding you are, things will go wrong and we need all the patients in the world to deal , with so many problems, but, in the long run , you are the winner, in health and emotions. for what is to come ahead. just give us an update as to how you are doing, and how you feel , it helps , to keep you going an other week or month.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the support. I was doing fine over the weekend, but sitting at my desk yesterday and today has given me lots to think about. The one thing I am certain of though is that barring any complications, my recovery will be easy. I have very little pain from the incisions. I think once it actually happens it will be the food intake and the soreness of the band that causes more trouble.

If you could lose 72 pounds, you can lose the thirty. Just keep focusing on the prize at the end. There is always someone on the forum going through the pre-op liquid stage, so always someone to commiserate with around here!

I just started the liquid phase today! I already have a headache. I will make it through. =)

Chubby

Best wishes and lots of love to you today. We are all with you on this journey. You have done so much already, 30 ponds is no match for you, you will do it.

  • Author
I just started the liquid phase today! I already have a headache. I will make it through. =)

Chubby

When I started if I got headaches I would have a cheesestick or a bite of a chicken breast, an ounce or something like that. (Kept it low cal and only one time per day.) It seems to help at first and after a couple of days of that, just straight liquid Protein wasn't so bad for me.

  • Author
If you could lose 72 pounds, you can lose the thirty. Just keep focusing on the prize at the end. There is always someone on the forum going through the pre-op liquid stage, so always someone to commiserate with around here!

So true! Though....egad chewing is a great thing. :thumbup:

  • Author
Best wishes and lots of love to you today. We are all with you on this journey. You have done so much already, 30 ponds is no match for you, you will do it.

Thanks bunches, every pat on the back helps. :thumbup:

I don't buy that for one minute!!!!

Laprascopic would be choice...but he should have went in and made an incision thru that fat he claims his instrument wouldn't go through.

Something else happened! I can promise you that.

  • Author
I don't buy that for one minute!!!!

Laprascopic would be choice...but he should have went in and made an incision thru that fat he claims his instrument wouldn't go through.

Something else happened! I can promise you that.

You're not the first one to wonder why it couldn't be done and not believe it was the fat issue. The Doc said they thought about making a larger incision, but thought it wouldn't make a difference. I don't know. I feel fine. I didn't have any issues post-op ( other than not having the band) I was on my period during surgery??? Gosh, I don't know and if it was something else they aren't going to tell me.

This is my worry for me too. I have to lose 40 more pounds before they will give me a surgery date. I am VERY apple shaped. I am affraid the tools won't be long enough to get through my fat. My BMI is currently 56. They won't do surgery until it is 50. I would like to know what brands of liquid shakes people are using that they like. I had an Atkins today and I thought I would throw it up. It was terrible. There is no way I could drink 5 of them a day for 2 weeks. Good luck to you. One day at a time.

Join the conversation

You can post as a guest; create a free account to track replies, follow topics, and be part of the largest weight loss surgery community.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.