The day of the operation has been the subject of much anticipation. For the majority of patients, today is usually a very exciting day. For a few reasons, you should show up at least an hour before your scheduled surgery, if not earlier. You must take some time to unwind and settle in. Your blood pressure and pulse rate may increase if you are rushed or extremely worried, which could complicate your anesthetic. You should not be hurried through surgery. What else do you have to accomplish that is more important on the day of surgery? With that stated, I'm reminded of a woman from a few years ago who arrived five minutes early for her planned surgery. She said that nothing else was more important than her standing appointment to get her hair done on that specific day when I questioned her about why she was late. I suppose that booking a hair appointment is more difficult than booking an operation. She had excellent hair, I must admit.
Second, it is possible that the time of your procedure could be shifted if another treatment that was scheduled to take place before yours is postponed or goes more quickly than expected. If something occurs, you want to be prepared to move quickly.
As soon as you go to the hospital, a nurse will ask you to change into a hospital gown so that you can start receiving fluids through an IV. Additionally, you'll have some IV antibiotics and a little heparin injection, which is an anticoagulant or blood thinner. While the anticoagulant helps prevent blood clots, the antibiotic helps prevent infection.
Blood will tend to collect in the bigger veins in your legs and pelvis while you are under anesthesia. This is especially true for patients who are seriously obese. Venous thrombosis, a disorder where blood clots, is a result of blood becoming stagnant, even inside your own veins. Blood flow can be blocked by a clot, which can cause pain and swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet. More importantly, if the clot separates from the vein's wall, the blood will return to the heart and be pushed into the lungs right away. An example of it is a pulmonary embolus, which is
Depending on the size and number of clots, the situation can be life-threatening.
The best treatment for pulmonary embolus, one of the most serious consequences that can happen from any bariatric surgery, is prevention. In order to maintain the blood flowing in your legs, you will also be requested to put on a pair of elastic stockings in addition to receiving heparin. Prior to the procedure, your legs will be encased in sequential compression devices, or SCDs, which are inflatable leggings that regularly massage your legs to encourage healthy circulation. Up to the point where you can move around properly, you must wear these stockings and SCDs.
You will be asked many of the same questions that you did at the surgeon's office during your conversation with the anesthesiologist and the nursing staff. Even though it may seem absurd to have to repeat the same information repeatedly, this built-in redundancy is intended to shield you from any medical mistakes. Everyone is well aware of the risks because there have been several well-publicized instances in which a patient underwent the incorrect procedure or was given dangerous drugs.
It is the responsibility of everyone involved in your care to be alert for any potential issues, including drug allergies, medication mistakes, and even having you confused with another patient. Even while it can appear that the staff and doctors are not communicating since you are asked the same questions over and over again, the truth is that the more times you are questioned about these things, the safer you are. In reality, the surgical team members stop what they are doing and take a "time-out" as the last stage in the safety process once you are in the operating room but before the procedure is begun. Before beginning, everyone involved must agree on the patient's identity, the surgery to be carried out, and any drug allergies or other peculiar aspects of the situation.
Story of Cynthia
Cynthia, seven and a half years post-op at 145, is pictured next to a picture of herself at 340 before the operation.
I was among the first band patients in the country. As a participant in the second round of the FDA studies for the LAPBAND®, I received a band on March 29, 1999. I'm located a day's drive from New Orleans, where the trials' band operations were being performed. At 5 feet 2 inches tall, I weighed 340 pounds when I first started. At 5 feet, 1 inch, I'm an inch shorter and now fluctuate between 140 and 145. I believe that because my feet were padded, I lost some height.
Every few months, as per protocol, I returned to New Orleans. And roughly every other time I went back, I got a fill. I was first embarrassed by the fact that I had a band and didn't want anyone to know. But I quickly overcame that. I now reassure them that those who have formed a band are taking charge of their life.
Although I've had wonderful experiences getting bands, my first band did come off. I became engaged to a man who had five children in 2005, which is what led to the slip. It was a trying moment for me because I had always been single. Prior to the wedding, I was having trouble. I had comparable issues following the death of my father. My band seemed to slide over my esophagus rather than beneath it anytime I became anxious or irritated. My doctor would therefore remove the fluid once or twice a year, wait a few weeks, and then replace it.
It got worse when I got engaged. I worked while gagging and burping. Just couldn't get my meals to stay down. Something wasn't right, and I knew it. My band had slipped, and once testing revealed this, my doctor removed all the fluid. My weight increased by 25 pounds all of a sudden. Why don't we replace the band right away rather than waiting until two weeks before the wedding, suggested my doctor. Both times, the bands were covered by my insurance. I recall being one of the few people who did have insurance to cover the band during the FDA testing.
I originally had a band that held 4ccs of fluid, but I later had a much larger 9cc band installed. One of the few that has both bands is myself. I've noticed that the larger band took longer to reach the sweet spot than the smaller band, which means that I had to make more adjustments to achieve the fill level that was ideal for me. I now have more notice before the big band fills up, which is another distinction between the two. When I'm chewing a bite, I might realize that I only have room for one more bite before I'm full. I received no alert when using the smaller band. After preparing a bite, I'd suddenly find that I was too full to consume it. It's wonderful to get a bit more notice of when I'll be full, in my opinion.
You don't know what you don't know, as I frequently say. There was a lot less knowledge back when I became banded. I made the decision to take action as a result. I've participated in doctor-led seminars and even launched my own banding care company at one point, which I eventually sold to a band doctor. I've been quite involved in the banding world.
One thing I've seen while working with band patients is that occasionally they can act like Veruca Salt from the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie, who insisted on having everything "NOW!" The explanation for the delayed weight reduction is because it is. The best thing about this is that the weight won't ever return and it actually works. I tried every diet, but the weight constantly returned. Along with the band, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it never did. While you're still debating whether or not to do it, I suggest folks to go ahead and start the process with the doctor they like the best. Once you make a decision, you'll want it finished immediately.
I would advise band patients to research their options and be aware of what they are getting into. Patients who believe they will just wake up one day and have shed 100 pounds struggle the most. There is a procedure to follow and guidelines. Patients who undergo banding surgery frequently return, and both patients and surgeons must accept this fact. Is a band patient ever going to see their doctor again after the surgery? is one of the things a band patient would be prudent to inquire about. Exists a nutritionist nearby? Consider hiring a psychologist.
The biggest adjustment occurred after I had shed roughly 60 pounds. I found it odd that despite being so big and taking up so much room, I could still be invisible. However, I found it intimidating once others began to take notice of me. My life had drastically changed, so I requested to speak with my band doctor. He said that my problems were due only to stress. I recall feeling like I was losing my mind. Antidepressants were prescribed to me by him, and I took them until I reached my target weight. My therapist provided me the skills to deal with people starting to notice me after my doctor instructed me to do so. Working with band patients, I discovered that many people begin self-sabotaging if they are not prepared for the changes that take place.
I discovered that many people, like myself, chose to make up for being overweight by having fun and being happy. I was astounded to observe how folks who had lost weight had changed. They were individuals who struggled mightily to be endearing and entertaining. When I consider how much I used to stress about my appearance, go to specialty stores for clothing, and worry about my hygiene and hygiene, I'm amazed. then I had to
I made a concerted effort to avoid feeling depressed about my weight in order to be the best friend and the entertaining person. As I shed the pounds, I realized I didn't need to stand out and go above and beyond. Working with band patients let me to see people blossom into their true selves, which I thought was fascinating.
The band has completely altered my life. Consider me as an example. Now that I'm married, I work somewhere else. I used to work in the travel sector as a human doormat. I made the decision to quit being that person as I lost weight. For instance, I stopped answering customer calls in the wee hours of the morning. Although I didn't lose any business, starting to refuse requests was a change for me and my team. I learned that it's okay to say no. But it was a difficult process that required some adjusting.
I do believe that being in the band and the boost to my self-esteem it provided had a significant role in drawing my spouse to me. He introduced me to a band patient. Some people questioned me about whether or not I told him I was banded, but I made sure he knew. When it comes to dating, some people who lose weight act like children in a candy store. I wasn't like that. I made the judgment that if I could undress with someone, I know them well enough to tell them about my band.
I've had numerous cosmetic procedures. They once referred to me as the face of plastic surgery. My insurance covered the cost of the tummy tuck because my stomach hung down to my knees. In addition, I've had a breast reduction, work done on my arms, thighs, and back area around my bra, as well as a few revisions. Because the other port protruded, I also received a low-profile port.
My band has been together for seven and a half years. I lost 210 pounds at first, but I've since put 10 pounds back on. I'm in a healthy weight range and in good health. But according to the weight charts, I ought to weigh 120. I did, however, drop to 127 at one point and became so emaciated that individuals began to inquire about my well-being. I believe that I tend to be smaller and denser than the usual person—almost like a former weight lifter—because I used to carry around so much weight.
Being reversible is the band's best feature. I can still recall my initial thought, which was, "I'll have the band taken off once I've lost all the weight." I entirely altered my opinion two weeks after my operation, and now I say, "They'll take it off over my dead body."