Doctor visit « Diabetic Round Table

Posted by: adamswife | August 24, 2007

Doctor visit

I saw my diabetes doctor today. He wants me to consider having lap-band surgery. I don’t fit the normal criteria of being at least 100 pounds overweight. I carry all my weight on my body and have skinny arms and legs so don’t weigh as much as you would expect. I qualify for the surgery because of my diabetes and accompanying health problems. My insurance will cover gastric bypass, but not banding. I hope they change their minds – the banding is much less invasive, usually same-day surgery, fewer adverse effects, it’s totally reversible, and it costs less. Anybody out there have any experience with this type of surgery? I want to talk to my gastroenterologist and make sure I wouldn’t leave myself open for worse digestive problems than I already have. I have an appointment with him in a month. I wasn’t expecting anything like this when I went in today. I hate surprises involving surgery. Other than that, I seem to be doing fine. lol

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Responses

I’ve been considering surgery for – well it seems like forever now. It’s a scary prospect and a permanent (more or less) change. There are risks and I’m afraid I’d screw up and keep it from working. But I’m also afraid I’m running out of choices.

I’ve known 6-7 people who’ve had bypass. I don’t know anyone who’s had the lap-band. I think it’s supposed to be less effective for the seriously overweight. But it’s also less invasive and supposedly has fewer potential risks and side effects.
By: Zazzy on August 24, 2007
at 10:46 am

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Eve,maybe by clicking on different things here
http://www.lapband.com/lapband/portal.do
you may find the information you are looking for.
By: schnuckiputz on August 24, 2007
at 3:12 pm

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Eve,maybe by clicking on different things here
http://www.lapband.com/lapband/portal.do
you may find the information you are looking for.
A friend had bypass surgery over 25 years ago.
It changed her life for ever.She just couldn’t eat certain things anymore like cabbage,onions
and a few other favorite foods.Small price to pay,I think.
By: schnuckiputz on August 24, 2007
at 3:33 pm

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjustable_gastric_band has some collected information, it is less effective short term, but with far less risks and special needs for vitamin supplements, and in the long term it is just as effective, sounds a lot less scarier to me than the bypass surgeries mostly because its reversible. But that is just my two öre (100 ören is 1 krona (swedish money))
By: TheDarkWraith on August 26, 2007
at 2:38 am

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Thanks, TDW. That is a very informative article. After reading it I’m thinking my gastroenterologist may discourage me from having the surgery. Sounds like the potential for stirring up my gastro-intestinal problems might be rather high. I see him in 4 1/2 weeks.

I won’t have to make a decision until I see my endo in December, so I’ve got a lot of time to make up my mind. I’m thinking if I really put my mind to it maybe I can lose enough weight by that time to negate the need for the surgery. I haven’t done really well with weight-loss in the past, but I didn’t have the incentive to avoid surgery then. Maybe all it takes is the right motivation. :/
By: adamswife on August 26, 2007
at 7:27 am

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If I decide to have the surgery, I would definitely go with the banding. I already have problems with too many of the things they list as possible side effects of the bypass. One of my greatest concerns with bypass is the malabsorption that results. I already take a bunch of vitamins and B-12 shots, etc. because I don’t absorp nutrients well. I’d die of malnutrition if I had that done. So it’s the banding or nothing for me.
By: adamswife on August 26, 2007
at 7:31 am

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Hey Schnucki! Your missing comments had got divereted as spam. I don’t think that’ll be a problem anymore but I’ll watch out for it.
By: Zazzy on August 29, 2007
at 10:27 pm

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