I am soo mad and upset and I just got done on Tuesday!

I had a upper GI done almost within the hour of having my band placed to make sure placement and me swallowing liquids at the same time wasn't going to cause problems. I was told it was "normal" to have that done and never though differently.

So do all RNY's have to have shots? I have Dr. Cacucci.

I had Dr Cacucci and I had RNY and I brought home 2 weeks worth of Lovonox shots.. I did get them at my preop class..  My DIL has her box and h er surgery is the 12th.  I was afraid to give my self shots had my hubby do them and found out it was so simple I did it m yself it is the NOT KNOWING that is scarey.. Sometimes they seem to run past it so fast in class if your not listening closely you can miss it that is why this board is SO HELPFUL.. Dont be afraid to ask questions... LOTS of questions while y ou ar e in the hospital.. before surgery and during ck ups.. Knowledge is good and the Drs want you to KNOW what you are doing... any thing you are unsure of.. ask.. Linda Kay

My understanding from my pre op class was that only RNY patients do the lovenox injections.  During the pre op class there was a DVD we had to watch, and we all got our boxes with the sharps containers.  Leanne, definitely call Dr Gupta's office in the morning before giving yourself another injection! I don't think it would hurt anything, but they need to know you were potentially given something you don't need, and weren't given any training on the shots! They are quite painless...I hate needles, and I did mine all by myself...just be sure to alternate the sides of your stomach each day, so you don't bruise. 

To the best of my knowledge, all St V's RNY'ers get the lovenox for 7-10 days post-op, but I never before heard of lap-banders getting them.  Unless it's something that just Dr. Gupta's doing.  But then she should have notified you of that at some point.  I've heard the reason the RNY'ers get the shots is that their surgery is longer and their recovery a little bit slower, so they're at increased risk of clots.

Leanne I don't know how they do the lappers but I wasn't even given Lovanox in the hospital and I had a RNY. They did send me home with some but no sharps box. It is not that big of deal about the box as the syringe is like a container. My nurses were not even a factor as they only were there to bring you stuff and take vitals. The only one that was informitive was the one on Sunday and her name is Lou. SHe offered my the only broth I had the 3 days I was there. I was having problems feeling queezy and that brought me out of it.   You said that you hope you don't scare your husband out of having it done, I told mine he couldn't handle this. I am unable to tolerate anything much to drink and now I am getting to the place what we are able to have to eat is almost intolerable now. I went in on Wednesday for IV fluids because that is what Dr Jones reccomended. I am affraid that I am going to end up really sick from malnutricon. I know that it will be worth it in the end but trying to convience myself of it while drink something that is too sweet is rough! Hope you do ok with the injections and your weight loss! Michelle

Hi, I had my lapband done at Columbus Regional hospital.  We were given the Lovenox information in our class.  They've only been doing LapBands for a little over a year.  Initially they used Lovenox the same for Lapband as they did for RNY.  They are now in the process of switching.  I had 2 lovenox shots in the hospital but did not have to bring it home.  The lady in the room with me did have to take it home (higher risk).  I know they are very big on preventative measures at CRH.   The main reason for the Lovenox is to ensure that we don't develop blood clots......I'd rather have the shots and no blood clots....but was happy that I didn't have to bring them home.

Leanne & Tracey, I had this huge long reply written and poof! it was gone.  I have had many, many complications and Dr. Gupta has been a God-send for me. I can honestly say that she (and Dr. Cacucci) saved my life. If ever I had/have any questions or concerns, I know that all I need to do is give her nurse a call. If Dr. Gupta requires Lovenox then it's probably because of people like me who DID get that rare blood clot (I got one in my lung & one in my leg) and it wasn't from the RNY. It's a precaution that for the sensation of 6 mosquito bites, it is well worth it.                 Most..not all...but most of my experiences with the bariatric unit at St. V's have been wonderful. Of the few that weren't though...I've experienced worse than those in just one ER visit at Community East so as far as I'm concerned, St. V's is top notch in my book. Even if they do have the occational bad apple... And actually...while the day nurse may have been wrong, the night nurse was unprofessional...and not exactly right either. While one med may have been allowed, it does not mean that it could not have been substituted with something different with the surgeon's approval. If you are talking about the 'pump', the day nurse probably thought you'd rest better on the loratab since you wouldn't have had to worry about hitting that button every 10 minutes. That was certainly the reasoning on why I was taken off the pump after my hernia surgery in March...after me spending the night either knocked out from the pump or in excruisiating pain because while I was knocked out, I wasn't  hitting the button. She could not have switched you over unless Dr. Gupta had written orders allowing for you to be switched over to loratab.                             I do hope the rest of your journey goes smoother than the past few days. Tracey..I hope your journey goes terrific. Dr. Gupta is a wonderful surgeon..and a terrific person.                Sherri

I just want to reply to of the replies on here…

I get the feeling by some of the posts on here that I am complaining about Dr. Gupta and St. Vincents. and that is NOT the case.  I did not say anything negative about Dr. Gupta.  I am upset at the lack of information.  Which does NOT mean that I did not listen. YES the shots are NOT a big deal.  It is the fact of no one telling me.  I am a lap band patient, we did NO****ch whatever DVD some of you are talking about.  YES the sharps box may not be a big deal to some of you, it is to me, I have 2 children with special needs that can get into anything.  So I will say it again, it is NOT the fact I have to give myself the shot.  But the fact THEY forgot to send them home, making US waste gas to drive 30 minutes to pick them up, THEY didn’t even send the right stuff, THEY did not train me how to do it, THEY did not send home the PROPER way to dispose the needles, or alcohol which I do not have.  Please understand I would have still gotten the surgery done if I would have known this ahead of time, but I would have been trained and prepared.  BIG DIFFERENCE.  I feel like I am being attacked on this stupid shot from some of you!  Even the charge nurse I spoke AGREED that when they sent home my bag of shots they must not have looked at my chart considering they sent home the tubing.  I told her from the time I got admitted on the floor the nurse kept confusing me with a RNY patient.  From the amount of incisions, her having to come and count them 3 times to make sure, to my diet, which she didn’t know, and other comments here and there.  It was very obvious that she was not reading my chart like she should have been.  About the pain meds.. I had LAP BAND, I DID NOT have a pain pump.  When I wanted/needed more, I had to ask.  I could have had the dilute she just took it upon herself to bring me the loratab which isn’t as strong, hours after surgery.  I have had 4 other surgeries including 2 c-sections so I am NOT a baby when it comes to pain.  But I am also used to it being managed the correct way.  When I would ask again in a hour and tell her my pain hadn’t gotten better, she would just bring another shot of loratab.  Thank God for that night nurse.

 

Once again, the Upper GI was no big deal, but it would have been nice to know.  Considering the book they sent home with us had every little detail down to what door we use and family and when family can come up and what EXACTLY is going to happen, I would have thought that information would have been in there as well.

 

I do NOT consider myself not prepared.  I didn’t even decide on lap band until Feb. after researching options for months, please don’t judge me.  It only took me 2 months to go through the entire process.  I feel like I have a good understanding of everything.  But as I have read on this board and the lap band board, not very many lap band patients gets sent him on the lovonex.  And I am nothing special as some people might think as in… I am healthy besides being over weight.  I weigh 257 with a BMI of 42, no co-morbities, not even taking 1 other prescription drug.  So it has nothing to do with any of that.

 

I did not say St. V’s is horrible and hated them, I said ONE nurse, ONE nurse could have done a better job!  In my opinion Nurses are there to do more then check vitals and bring you stuff.  They are there to care for you.  Not everyone has some one that could stay with them 24 hours a day.  There are there to care for you, make sure you have what you need, are feeling good, answer questions, etc.  NOT to JUST take vitals.  My husband is wanting the band too, so our malnutrician isn’t nearly as high.

 

I guarantee I was listening in my class.  Our class was only 3 hours because there were only 5 of us in there and unlike RNY it is only a 4 hour class.  So YES I was listening.  And not it was not mentioned.  And again, it was not in my book.  I get the feeling some of you are thinking I wasn’t listening or wasn’t fully aware of everything that is involved which is an insult.  Please don’t judge me.

 

I really feel like I am having to defend myself.  I don’t get it.  Thanks! 

Awww sweetie, I don't think anyone was personally attacking you. Just sometimes when we go through these steps get to surgery everything has a tendency to seem overwhelming and some things are just missed in the info transfer part. I think mostly everyone was posting their personal experience with her and the hospital and their after care.
Now, it's my understanding that Dr Gupta is relatively new to doing the bands. And you are right that in after surgical care the band is A LOT different then the RNY. I too had the same problem with nurses at my hopsital. Didn't matter how many times they were reminded that I was a bander didn't differ to them from constantly treating me like a RNY. Heck, even almost 3 years later I STILL have that problem from many medical professionals.
Just take a big deep breath, relax,.... place a call for Dr Gupta(her and no one else) to give you a call back... ask her about all your concerns.

HUGS
Jodi