Laparoscopic Gastric Band

[tigger13039]

I am considering Laparoscopic Gastric Band surgery to lose weight, but I don’t know how that will effect me as a MS’er. I told my PCP that I was worried about getting the straight Gastric Bypass because you couldn’t adjust it. My big worry is my medication doesn’t have a chance to absorb. Or because I take so much in the AM and the late PM, it would ‘fill me up’, and I would loose nutrition in place of medication. Has anyone experienced this? Someone must, many MS drugs are weight inducive ... and MS by nature ‘stops you’. So is this the surgical answer? What do you think?

[balance]

Both my pcp and my neuro are supportive of my having weight loss sugery. I've gone to a seminar, a nutritionalist and have a sugical consult in 2 weeks.

I continually flip-flop about which surgery to have. At the seminar I was told by one of the nurses that the dr may not consider me for a gastric bypass because of my MS. Her reasoning is that I may someday, because of the MS, need a feeding tube. I don't think ppl with MS are the only ones who may need feeding tubes... and I'm sure that everyone with feeding tubes don't have MS!

With the gastric band patients typically lose about 50% of excess weight over two to three years. Banding has fewer initial complications, it has more in the long run, making the complication rate about the same as for bypass. The band could moves out of position, causing an obstruction and necessitating a reoperation. It may erode through the stomach wall, requiring surgical repair. The band or the port used to refill it may break. It also needs frequent visit to the dr for refills and to be tweaked.

The other surgery that I'm considering is middle of the road. With the gastric sleeve the stomach is stapled to convert it into a long, narrow tube with about only 20% to 30% of its normal volume, to restrict food intake. One of the main concerns with this procedure is leakage where the staples are.

If you choose to have surgery please update.. I'm interested in seeing what works for others.
Hugs, Barbara

[notswedish1]

Hello,

I am also interested in the surgery. My BMI is about 40 and I know that my weight is keeping me back from excercise, is making me depressed and affects my general health. Having the MS makes me want to be healthier but I worried the any surgery could make things worse. So far my MS is pretty benign course. I am 46.

Thanks for any comments.

[balance]

After my consult I've decides to have gastric bypass surgery. I've spent the last few weeks getting clearances from specialists: neuerologist; gastronologist; pulmonary; vascular; psychologist. I've had a mammogram; pap; upper GI; chest xray; abdominal ultrasound and lab workup. Next week i have a pulmonary functions test; bone density test; pelvic utltrasound; sleep apnia study. The following week i have an endoscopy and colonoscopy. I've had two appointments with the nutricianist and a third scheduled.

As soon as the bariatric surgeon gets all the test reports back along with the clearances, he will schedule a date for the surgery.. then i go to the cardiologist for my final clearance.

I'm really hoping to have this surgery sometime mid October if possible. Wish me luck!

[tigger13039]

Originally Posted by balance

I'm really hoping to have this surgery sometime mid October if possible. Wish me luck!

Good Luck balance! Keep us posted on your truck thru the rest of the process, huh?

I have had some severe abdominal pain and have been 'red flagged' by my PCP to proceed with the Lap Band until I see the GI and I assume am cleared, or un cleared by an upper and lower scope. Still remain excited and one positive I got the stress test out of the way, so just the pulmonary and sleep apnea... and I think I have one but it may not be in the year guideline.

My wife too is joining my in this endeavor... and has 2/3 done also, however recently broke her ankle, so we are waiting to heal from one before totally jumping into the other.
- strong people, relies on themselves, be your own advocate -
Tigger13039

[balance]

have a surgery date for my gastric bypass.. excited!

[balance]

It's been a week today since my surgery and I'm doing very well. The pain was realatively little, i'm following all my doctors intructions purtaining to fluid intake, and I feel great. I see the doctor on Friday and hopefuuly will advance to stage two of the briatric diet. I think I'm ready. I'll keep you updated.

[Mynamegoeshere1]

Any updates on recovery? How does it affect your medication intake now, or does it at all? I know I have a boatload of pills I take daily and you are only allowed a small amount of food/intake into your stomach, mostly liquid or sublingual. This was one of my concerns. Also the vitamin aspect as I am already vitamin deficient. Did you experience any possibilities of exacerbations due to the surgery? Sorry for asking so many questions. I hope you are doing wonderfullyv

[jmfmwc]

I had gastric bypass surgery a little over a year before I was diagnosed. It definitely limits the medications I can take to treat my MS symptoms. You should not take any NSAIDS after having gastric bypass surgery - this also means that I cannot do the oral taper of steroids after having a five day course of Solumedrol. I've also been told that I am not a candidate for any oral DMD because I do not have a "stomach" and the absorption rate would not be normal. For now I take Rebif 3x a week and 1000mg of Solumedrol via IV monthly!

[Mynamegoeshere1]

Julie,

I know I can take sublingual vitamins after the future so I am not worried about that, but I take a medication for fibromyalgia, PTSD/Depression, anxiety, headache prevention, migraines (when needed) and also take baclofen for my spasms. This is a lot of pills. What do I do for those? Did you have to take any additional pills before your surgery?