Has anyone who prev had a stroke have the surgery?

leoyne · 10-18-2007, 12:16 PM

I had a stroke 5 years ago and was wondering if that would cause me to not be eligible for the surgeryy. My bmi is 48. I have hypertension,sleep apnea, asthma and diabetes. I am going to seminar on 10/31 and on medicare. what do i expect?
:help:

**FairyFacade** · 10-18-2007, 02:12 PM

I honestly don't know, but have you asked your doctor about it? I would think they could tell you if you'd be a good candidate (before going to the seminars).

labandster · 10-18-2007, 11:23 PM

I suffered a stroke in 2004 and will be on Coumadin the rest of my life unless I have my PFO repaired (heart). At the time I attended the LAP-BAND^® seminar I had a BMI of 62 and was 53. The surgeon did not have a problem with doing the LAP-BAND^® if a cardiologist agreed it was safe to be off the coumadin for 5 days before the surgery. I had the surgery in March 2006 with only one complication. I also have sleep apnea and asthma. I developed pneumonia the following day of the surgery and had to stay an extra two days. I have lost 115 lbs and believe it was the best decision of my life. Good Luck!!

leoyne · 10-18-2007, 11:29 PM

Thank you so much! You have put my mind at ease. At least I know that it is possible to do. My family will feel more at ease about this too!! Keep up the good work!!!!

WASaBubbleButt · 10-19-2007, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leoyne

I had a stroke 5 years ago and was wondering if that would cause me to not be eligible for the surgeryy. My bmi is 48. I have hypertension,sleep apnea, asthma and diabetes. I am going to seminar on 10/31 and on medicare. what do i expect?
:help:

You have a couple of really serious comorbidities. The stroke history and diabetes. It can be possible to band someone with your issues but you'll need to find a mighty good surgeon that has a ton of experience.

Good luck to you!

Susan Charmain · 10-19-2007, 12:32 PM

I had a stroke in April 2006. I started the LAP-BAND^® beginnings on July 2006. The following April I was supposed to get the LAP-BAND^® only to be told by my surgeon he wouldn't take the risk based on the prior NOVEMBER letter my neurosurgeon wrote, but he never saw until the night before the surgery. Imagine my disappointment! Meanwhile, the day of the cancelled surgery, I started exhibiting what I thought was "I'm so pissed off" pain in my back. Turned out, I needed a hysterectomy and that was done in May 2007. I had 7 weeks to reflect on how I could go thru all of that (I have HBP, sleep apnea and was put on Plavix and aspirin April 2006 due to the stroke). I needed to be taken off the blood thinners to have the hysterectomy. With that being said, I asked the surgeon at my postop OB/GYN appointment (I asked for and received an appointment for the same day) to revisit his decision based on my surgical report. His reply was if I could go thru that major surgery with no problems, I could certainly have the LAP-BAND^® done. I had the LAP-BAND^® done on July 26, 2007.

demsvmejm · 10-19-2007, 01:35 PM

Yes, that was one of the co-morbities that determined if I was eligible for the surgery, along with high blood pressure. I had a small stroke almost 3 years ago at the age of 36.
Had a BMI of 41
I had to have the normal tests, EKG, pulmonary breathing test, blood work, psych exam...
I hope this works out for you! Good Luck

leoyne · 10-19-2007, 02:03 PM

Thank you all so much. I had the stroke when I was 36 also. I thought my life was almost over, but I have been going against what everyone expects me to be doing. So when I decided to do the LAP-BAND^®. It has given me a new fight. I did'nt want to have a false hope that flat no the wls couldn't be possible for me w/my history. But your experiences helps me want to fight more just to have it done. To not give up hope and this will be even more helpful to my recovery, not just a matter of a couple of more years to my life w/this weight and these things on my plate. Thanks for your encouragement!!!