Hello everybody! My name is Candy and I'm looking into the lap-band for the 3rd time. (1st time found out I was pregnant before even taking the class, 2nd time just couldn't afford it). A quick bio: I'm 36, I'm a mom of a 1 yr old and a 3 yr old, I've been overweight my whole life yet was "healthy" until 7 years ago. I have type 2 diabetes, diverticulosis (had surgery to remove part of my colon), IBS, and I'm on my 3rd Invernal hernia. My bmi is just around 40. At this point, WLS is my last chance to be a good mom and live to see my boys grow up.

I have an insurance company (lifewise of Oregon) that up front says absolutely no bariatric procedures, but the insurance agent says with the proper recommendations from doctors they will do the LB. I'm now looking for any angle I can get to get it done. If not, I'm going to look into it in Mexico, so if anybody can recommend a good surgeon there, I'd appreciate it!

I have a few questions for all of you. First off, I've seen posts relating to Hiatal hernias, but not invernal. Does anybody have any experience dealing with these in connection with the Lap-band? Has it helped them from reoccuring? This is my 3rd since December! I'm hoping my surgeon (who does NOT do bariatrics) will give me a letter of support for the LB to my insurance co. Does anybody know if they can do the invernal repair at the same time as the LB?

Also, has anybody seen a benefit of doing the LB in the area of diverticulosis/IBS?

I look forward to getting to know all of you. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Well, diverticulosis and IBS are, of course, two completely different diagnoses. IBS usually fares very well with a low carb diet, which is what is requird after getting the band.

However, diverticulosis usually requires a high Fiber diet, which is difficult to get with the band due to heavily fibered foods tending to get stuck in the stoma. So you will want to talk to your doctor very seriously about this, as you have already had part of your colon removed. You don't want to end up with a colectomy as the ultimate result.

I have never heard of an invernal hernia, so I am afraid I have no answers there.

You have a lot of co-morbidities. All I would recommend is that you talk very frankly about them with your surgeon before you move forward. I would be concerned about the low fiber diet with your diverticulosis.

Oops, it's not "invernal" hernia. (I think that has something to do with that latin word for spring, LOL!) :eek: I meant ventral hernia (known also as an incisional hernia).

Thanks for the info on IBS. I spoke to a gastrointerologist about the lap-band and diverticulosis, and he said it wouldn't bother (or particularly help) my diverticulosis. After my surgery I only have like 1 diverticulae left and it's very high up in my intestine. I was just hoping maybe somebody had experience with it and how the lap-band affected it. :eek:

Thanks for responding!

Candy

OK I know about ventral hernia LOL

I have a big one. Doc told me I needed to lose weight before repairing it or it would just come back. SO I have band...once I'm smaller I'll get it fixed.