Comments on: Lapband Surgery in Mexico

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:14:54 +0000

Hi Georgeann,
I remember you since for first contact you did after so many years.
I will suggest you to have a port replacement and also the new port to be placed in a new location since they have found there are no problems at the level of the lapband.
The ports of the lapband have changed since you had your lapband surgery and the old ports used to have small breaks very close to the port and hose connection.
An alternative to the lapband I like the gastric sleeve rather the gastric bypass since do not have the protein and vitamin deficiencies and takes the hunger away but also some patients do not reach the goal weight they expect.
You can contact Tricia at tricia@thebariatric.com she is very helpful in cases like yours.
You can contact me anytime you want.

By: Georgeann Holland

Georgeann Holland — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:51:18 +0000

It may be my case although it has been sensitive, since I first had my surgery. The tenderness has not changed. I can feel the port but it is firmly in place and does not feel loose. I did not have a large stomach when I began this process. I have always carried my weight more in my hips and lower body. I am also a small framed person. Would my CT with contrast this week have shown an irregular placement or tissue irregularity?. When I have told the Doctor and the nurses in these past years that it is tender, I have always been told this is normal. My doctor is David Voellinger of Southeast Bariatrics in Charlotte NC. He did perform an emergency gallbladder removal for Jayme in Nov of 2004 after you did her band the previous July. You told us that you found a diseased gallblader and she did end up with pancreatitus and surgery. You may remember her as I sent you her medical history regarding possible histoplasmosis and you introduced us to a pulmonary doctor? I know you see many patients so you may not remember her but you were very helpful and were the only doctor who actually helped us. So now Momma needs so good direction and then when we decide what direction to go, I need to speak with your gals for financial planning . Thank you Dr. Rodriguez.

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:15:36 +0000

Some patients, when the fat tissue is almost gone, the port tend to be very close to the skin and can have irritative symptoms. Is this your case?

By: Georgeann Holland

Georgeann Holland — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:13:43 +0000

I just had a abdomen and pelvic ct with contrast this week and it was normal. I have also had 2 fluroscopies in the past month. My last endoscopy was Nov 2010 and was normal. Would any of these procedures show an erosio?. I am talking about the tenderness that has remained since the first day of my surgery.With my weight loss and gain again the port is intact but my stomach muscle has obviously stretched and moved.In the beginning, it felt like it was more upper left and now it feels more close to the waist area. I do not eat spicy foods nor consume alot of alcohol nor have I experienced vomitting or much reflux. I just have always had tenderness and it is uncomfortable to sleep on that left side for long.

By: Dr. Arturo Rodriguez

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:39:03 +0000

Hello Georgeann,
I have several thoughts from what you have told me.
When I see inflammatory reaction at the port area I always look for lapband erosion since about 30% of them are shown in there.
Also, after a patient have several fills and the port area is painful I also look for infection there caused by contamination.
Some times leaking at the port area are difficult to detect specially if they are very small and replacement of the port or re-locating the port with shortening of the tube will do the job.
In some patients that the upper pouch is big and have lapband problems I suggest to do the gastric sleeve which is safer than the gastric bypass and does not have the vitamins and proteins deficiency seen in the bypass.
There are other patients that want the lapband to be re-located or changed, and the choice is made by the way they handle the lapband and how they have adjusted to the changes in the old bad habits they had.
So, first step is to rule out erosion and if that comes OK then is up to you the way you want to handle.

By: Georgeann Holland

Georgeann Holland — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:58:19 +0000

Hello Dr. Rodriguez! I have been there for surgeries, done by you, with 3 other patients. I have referred 10 people to you and they all had various weight loss surgeries that you performed for their ONLY surgery and none of them have had problems. I had medical insurance that covered my lap band here in Nov. of 2007. If you took my insurance I would have wanted you to do mine as well. I was seen by three surgeons before the decision about which surgery I had was chosen. My primary Doctor and one Surgeon wanted the Lapband and the second surgeons wanted the gastric band. I had/have Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis,and my Rheumatoid factors have been positive at times, I have bad knees and I had a history of gastroesophogeal reflux with a then large hiatal hernia. Because I had numerous health issues, and also previous surgeries which showed evidence of internal scar tissue in my pelvic area. My primary doctor thought that I could possibly have scar tissue problems with a bypass so he decided that I should have the lapband. After having the band surgery, I read literature from the makers of the allergan bands that people with autoimmune disease could have problems and people on the verge of a possible autoimmune disease could develop one, if a gastric band was placed. It said the gastric band was not a good choice with these issues. I have been a model patient and I have lost 87% of my excess weight. I started with a bmi of 39 with comorbities as a reason for surgery approval. I weighed 247 and got to 159. Last year, with no change in my eating habits, I began having a sudden weight gain. I have spent this past year having numerous tests by various doctors to rule out that I was not having other medical issues. My lapband surgeon is a bariactric center providing post surgery and ongoing care. he originally told me that I had no leaks. I went to a second bariatric doctor who did 4 fills, but each time I lost cc amounts. He said I had no leaks but could not explain continual loss of fluid. two of these fills were done with fluroscopy. I went back to my first surgeon and he did a fluroscopy but could see no leak with the contrast. he left the contrast in my band and one month later did another fluroscopy and could see no leak but I had lost contrast fluid cc from the previous month. So now I too need to have, what he guesses, is a port and tube replacement. I no longer am insured for any bariatric procedure. BUT HERE IS MY BIG QUESTION FOR YOU… I have had continual sore achy pain where my port is located on the left side since day one. I have always suspected that this could be an inflammatory response because of my autoimmune diseases. IF I am going to do something to my body again should I go with a replacement of these components given the obvious problems with possible band /tube/ port punctures? I have had most of them done with fluroscopy but I do know that the second surgeon did cause severe punture bleeding at my port site during one fill and then found debris in my band when I went back to him for a second fill. I know that a puncture may have happened but can do nothing about it. I have complete trust with your opinion as to what direction I should go. my original surgeon says that because I was so good and lost great weight with the band, I should do it again. The continual pain at my port and the possibility of another puncture concern me. I am now 62 and I am 5’5 and I weigh 200. I now feel like my previous health concerns have come back with a vengence. I cant afford to have my new surgery here. Also in 2010 with endoscopy, my Gastro Doctor noticed another Hiatal hernia. We are a bariatric family. Jayme, my daughter you did a band on In July 2004 and my husband had bypass in Nov 2004 have had no problems. What do you suggest and then what would the cost be for that surgery? Thank you for reading my book. I am so confused at so many opinions and I know you have so much experience. Georgeann