Hi All,

Has anyone out there with Chrons Disease gotten the lap band??

I don't think it will really interfere with the Chrons but I'm also concerned about the large piece of mesh I had to have put in because of the incisional hernia the Chrons surgery gave me. Do they go through your belly button at all, because mine is gone :-( Also I'm wondering how they would get through the mesh...Anyone have any ideas.

I did make my consultation appt for October 9th but I'm just curious if anyone else out there had to deal with any of these issues.

Thanks,

Judy

I'm not sure but I thought chron's is a contraindication for the lap band. I suggest you call your favorite bariatric center and ask....

I have Crohn's (diagnosed 1991) and got my band in May 2008. I will admit I've only one fill, and haven't exercised as much as I should have due to craziness at work, so my results aren't the best so far.

I've had no problems with the CD since being banded. I went to a Center of Excellence, and my surgeon didn't think there would be problems with having CD in remission and getting the band. My gastroenterologist approved the surgery before I had it, of course. He's been my gastro for almost 18 years, and he would have nixed the surgery if he had any concerns. I'm sure if I had active disease he would have said no, but I'm in surgical/medication remission.

I had a resection in 2006 where they removed a small bowel obstruction, and my gastro surgeon examined the entire length of the bowel and found no active disease. The obstruction was from scarring from earlier inflammation. I've also had resections in 1991 and 1994. I'm on Remicade every 6-7 weeks, and 75 mg Purinethol (6-mp).

I also have a huge incisional hernia, but mine hasn't been fixed yet. Dr. Clark wants me to lose 25 more pounds, then he'll fix the hernia and tighten the abdomen at the same time. My hernia is about 4 inches wide and 9 inches long. I'd probably be two sizes smaller in pant sizes if I didn't have it.

I have two incisions that are a couple inches higher than my belly button. One is 1 inch to the right of the navel, and one is 2 inches left of the midline, or the navel. The left incision is my port.

The other low incision about an inch below my navel, and is further from the midline. It's located in a line that could be drawn straight down from the right edge of my right breast.

The other incisions are on the upper abdomen.

I've already told Dr. Clark I need to have my belly button when he fixes the hernia/tightens the abdomen. I can not be a Mabel! That's a weird family story.

My mom worked with a woman called "Mabel". One day a couple of the other employees asked my mom why she called the woman "Mabel", and my mom said that's what everyone else called the woman. My mom misunderstood! They were calling the woman "No navel" because she had had surgery, and they closed her up without leaving the belly button.

After I had my first crohn's surgery, the surgeon came out to tell my husband that I went through surgery fine, but was repeating, "I don't want to be Mabel, I don't want to be Mabel." My husband laughed so hard he almost feel down. I guess I woke up to feel that huge bandage going down my abdomen, and freaked because of the anesthesia.

I really don't think it would bother me to not have a belly button, I just know my loving (snort) husband and kids would call me Mabel for the rest of my life.

i have crohns, which has been in remission since '94'ish and was banded a yr ago. i had to have and endo & clearance from my gastro prior to banding...lapband surgeon & gastro both determined i was a good candidate and haven't experienced any flair ups.

good luck to you.

I found this post very helpful!! Thanks, I also have Crohns disease and I am considering the lap band. I go to my PCP tomorrow and then the info meeting tomorrow night... I will keep you posted with what my docs say about it.