Please help!!

[a little worried 0]

My mother in law has a hernia that needs surgery. She went and spoke with a surgeon and he told her that he would also like her to have the lap band procedure. He wants her to get banded before he does the hernia repair which makes no sense to me. I think he should correct the problem at hand before he tries to go extra curricular. Because he wants to do the band first I feel like he really just wants her money. She had a very major bacterial infection in her abdomen last year. Serious enough that the doctors were not sure she would make and they had to bring in specialists to treat her. She had to wear a pump post op to pump out extra infection that they were not able to get rid of during surgery. Because of this I think this is something she really needs to carefully consider before she does it. Can anyone help me out with some pros and cons of having this procedure and let me know of problems you may be having. My sister told me that there have been some disturbing reports about the lap band and that the FDA is investigating the lap band....does anyone know anything about this??:confused::cursing:

[SanDiegoPhotog 0]

The easy answer to all of this, of course, is for your MIL to go get a second opinion. It seems like most people around here with hernias are having them repaired at the same time as the lap-band, so that part doesn't really make sense -- it wouldn't necessarily HAVE to be two separate operations. The thing is, though, the lap-band really only works for people who WANT to make it work. If your MIL's surgeon is suggesting she lose weight, then she either needs to follow her doctor's orders and research ALL of her weight loss options and decide which, if any, weight loss surgery is right for HER.

But, in the meantime, she should get a second opinion on the hernia thing.

As far as disturbing reports . . . you won't find a disturbing report from me or from the overwhelming majority of the people on this board. LOL! I think most of us LOVE our bands!

[KayleighsMommy 16]

My mother in law has a hernia that needs surgery. She went and spoke with a surgeon and he told her that he would also like her to have the lap band procedure. He wants her to get banded before he does the hernia repair which makes no sense to me. I think he should correct the problem at hand before he tries to go extra curricular. Because he wants to do the band first I feel like he really just wants her money. She had a very major bacterial infection in her abdomen last year. Serious enough that the doctors were not sure she would make and they had to bring in specialists to treat her. She had to wear a pump post op to pump out extra infection that they were not able to get rid of during surgery. Because of this I think this is something she really needs to carefully consider before she does it. Can anyone help me out with some pros and cons of having this procedure and let me know of problems you may be having. My sister told me that there have been some disturbing reports about the lap band and that the FDA is investigating the lap band....does anyone know anything about this??:confused::cursing:

I had a hernia I had repaired the same time, and I got an infection just like your MIL had. I had to have a second surgery, as well as wearing the wound vac. Three months (almost) since the surgery and I still have wound drainage. If she had an infection before (was it called a seroma?) from surgery, it could very well happen again with the hernia repair (I had 2 hernia repairs, and a problem each time), If she does need the hernia repaired, then I don't see any medical reason not to do both surgeries at the same time (Thugh, of course, I am not a doctor) JMHO

[a little worried 0]

Thank you for your reply. I recently suggested that she make an appt. with her primary care doctor to get his opinion on this procedure and to find out if he thought it would be safe for her to do it since she had the infection last year. I hope that she follows that advice. I was just trying to do a little research for her so I find out what people think of it and have an educated conversation with her. Congrats on the weight you have lost! Looks like you are having a lot of success with it. When did you get the band?

[a little worried 0]

I honestly do not remember the name they labeled the infection she had. I think she needs to check out another surgeon before having this done. I am very worried at the possibility of her getting another infection! I hope you are feeling better!!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I can tell you I have never heard of the FDA "investigating" the band and I just googled it and there was nothing. I can recommend a good book to read. If your MIL is obese and has struggled all her life with her weight, the lap band may very well save her life. My Primary care physician actually told me "get the band or go on diabetes meds"...my story is not uncommon. I'm 53 and have the band and LOVE it.

The book I'd recommend is "Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band" by Robert Sewell MD. I applaud your research but, frankly, your mother-in-law should be doing it. It's her body and her life. A second opinion is a good start. Best of luck to you guys. The band can be a life saver and a life changer for many of us who struggle with our weight.

[a little worried 0]

I can tell you I have never heard of the FDA "investigating" the band and I just googled it and there was nothing. I can recommend a good book to read. If your MIL is obese and has struggled all her life with her weight, the lap band may very well save her life. My Primary care physician actually told me "get the band or go on diabetes meds"...my story is not uncommon. I'm 53 and have the band and LOVE it.

The book I'd recommend is "Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band" by Robert Sewell MD. I applaud your research but, frankly, your mother-in-law should be doing it. It's her body and her life. A second opinion is a good start. Best of luck to you guys. The band can be a life saver and a life changer for many of us who struggle with our weight.

My mother in law is just a little older than you and she is on meds for diabetes. I know that weight loss would be a big help in controlling her diabetes. I actually just got done visiting the FDA website and did not find any disturbing reports. I am the internet research queen and don't know why I hadn't previously thought of that. I guess some times your emotions just take over and your forget common sense. I may be one of the few people in this world who actually gets along with their mother in law and I am doing this research because I care about her. I am sure she is probably doing a little research of her own, but when we sit down and talk about this in the future I would like to have intelligent responses to the things she says to me.

[a little worried 0]

I can tell you I have never heard of the FDA "investigating" the band and I just googled it and there was nothing. I can recommend a good book to read. If your MIL is obese and has struggled all her life with her weight, the lap band may very well save her life. My Primary care physician actually told me "get the band or go on diabetes meds"...my story is not uncommon. I'm 53 and have the band and LOVE it.

The book I'd recommend is "Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band" by Robert Sewell MD. I applaud your research but, frankly, your mother-in-law should be doing it. It's her body and her life. A second opinion is a good start. Best of luck to you guys. The band can be a life saver and a life changer for many of us who struggle with our weight.

By the way...thanks for the advice on the book. I will pass that information on to her!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I checked your age and figured she wasn't that old, which is one reason I said she needs to research. However I do think, since you care for her and want to help her, it's a good idea for you to inform yourself too. That book I recommended may answer a bunch of your questions about the lap band but won't address her previous infection. If it was nosocomial (ie she got it in the hospital) then you don't want to go back there for her surgery, and if proper precautions are taken she won't get another. Nothing is a guarantee of course and discussing with another surgeon and her primary doc are both great ideas! The band, or gastric bypass, both have good results for diabetes etc. The numbers are quite encouraging. You do have to work harder with the band but bypass is more invasive. Both surgeries have their pros and cons and no surgery is also an option!

Most bariatric surgeons have free seminars and those can also be a good source of information.

Good luck to your MIL and she's lucky to have you watching her back!

[IM_LORI 0]

Nearly everyone I've talked to who had a hiatal hernia, had theirs repaired at the same time they had their band put in. The nissen fundoplication (hernia surgery) literally takes 10 minutes. It's nearly nothing. There should be no reason he can't do them both at the same time.

[a little worried 0]

Nearly everyone I've talked to who had a hiatal hernia, had theirs repaired at the same time they had their band put in. The nissen fundoplication (hernia surgery) literally takes 10 minutes. It's nearly nothing. There should be no reason he can't do them both at the same time.

I never thought of the possibility of having both done at the same time before visiting this site, but it does make sense. Why should she have to deal with two recoveries if she can do it all at the same time? I think she really just needs to consult another surgeon and get his opinion.

[Jodi_620 37]

First off, most surgeons would not want to place the band if there is a hernia present because the hernia can cause issues with the band. A hiatal hernia is when there is a tear in the diaphragm where the esophagus passes through it. The diaphragm is a muscle that holds our stomach and intestines down below the chest. If a hiatal hernia gets bad enough, the stomach and intestines can pass through the tear and migrate into the chest. So obviously you would want that repaired before a Lap Band is inserted.

Secondly, I can't believe this doctor would want her to go through two separate surgeries when it can be done all at once. A hiatal hernia is literally in the same area where the band would be placed. I was given photos of my surgery and one photo shows both my lap band and the stitches of my hernia repair in one shot. My surgeon (most surgeons) will do hernia repair if necessary, remove gallbladder if necessary and place the band all in one surgery.

I definitely would have her find a different surgeon!

[a little worried 0]

First off, most surgeons would not want to place the band if there is a hernia present because the hernia can cause issues with the band. A hiatal hernia is when there is a tear in the diaphragm where the esophagus passes through it. The diaphragm is a muscle that holds our stomach and intestines down below the chest. If a hiatal hernia gets bad enough, the stomach and intestines can pass through the tear and migrate into the chest. So obviously you would want that repaired before a Lap Band is inserted.

Secondly, I can't believe this doctor would want her to go through two separate surgeries when it can be done all at once. A hiatal hernia is literally in the same area where the band would be placed. I was given photos of my surgery and one photo shows both my lap band and the stitches of my hernia repair in one shot. My surgeon (most surgeons) will do hernia repair if necessary, remove gallbladder if necessary and place the band all in one surgery.

I definitely would have her find a different surgeon!

Thanks for the great information! I will certainly pass this on to my mother in law.

[Tess415 1]

There are several different kinds of hernias, which one does she have that needs repaired?? Yes, hey do hiatal hernia repair with the lap band at the same time.

Is this something your MIL is asking for and she wants to do the work to lose the weight, or did the surgeon just mention it?

Is the infection she had a drug resistant type where she was in isolation when she was in the hospital? The reason I am asking, if she were to have had an infection with a "super-bug" MRSA for example... it can live on your skin and not be active, but given the opportunity it will infect. So if this is one of the kinds she had before, she probably is a carrier and it is very likely she would have problems again.

I think she needs to give this some serious thought and get a second opinion before jumping into this.

[lovegrapes 0]

I do not mean this to be insulting, but it doesn't seem like you truly understand your MIL's condition fully and secondly some of the answers you've recieved will not add any clarity to the issue. You really haven't given enough information for anyone to give you a good solid opinon.

How much does your MIL weigh? What is her BMI? Is she diabetic? What kind of hernia does she have? I think you may be mistaking the repair of hiatal hernia's with that of an abdominal wall hernia, which are two totally different animals. It may be that your MIL is so obese that the surgeon is under the impression that operating on it will do no good because she is obese and it will probably just open up agan. Add in the comorbidities of age, possibly diabetes, and from what you said probably a VRE or MRSA infection, she would be setting herself up for event laden hospital course.

What I suspect is that the surgeon would like her to take off a decent amount of weight before repairing the hernia. Also, there may be many other comorbid conditions that you have failed to mention that need dire attention and ulitmately will need resoloution or improvement through weightloss. I sincerely doubt that the surgeon is trying to make money. If you question his treatment course for your MIL do seek another opinion, but seek it with an open mind. Doctors are there to help people, not to screw them out of money.