Alexandra

Are you referring to the fact that homosexuals cannot reproduce naturally with one another? So, tell me, do you think heterosexual couples remaining childless by choice is a sin?

Tnix, I've had my band for 3.75 years, and have just been diagnosed with a slip. I'm having another surgery tomorrow. But even in spite of this, it's been an amazing 3+ years and I've lost a significant amount of weight that I have never and would never have been able to lose on my own. That's what this is all about. Would I do it again? Yes. Thankfully I have insurance to cover the costs, because without that it would have been impossible. But medically speaking the risk of surgery and the complications of banding have all been WELL worth it. I'm as close to normal as I've ever been in my life, and it's just a flat-out miracle.

Bright! I just said hi to you on another thread, it's so great to see your beautiful face! Thanks for the good wishes. I'm trying not to dwell on Monday, just trying to get through the weekend in decent spirits. Hope you have a wonderful Easter, and you know I'll be keeping y'all posted.

396, I'd like to suggest you try a bit harder to rein in your language. There are many ways to discuss your views and thoughts without stooping to name-calling. Thanks.

There is no difference, lap-band IS the gastric band. I'm thinking the poster meant to say "gastric bypass." Anyway, I voted YES even though I'm staring down a second surgery for slippage almost 4 years out. For a person who's been obese all her life, and morbidly obese for most of the last 20 years, the band has been a completely new lease on life. It's the only thing that's ever worked for me, and I hope I don't lose it on Monday.

Thank you so much, everyone, for the kind thoughts and good wishes. I'm really very sanguine about this, for some reason that I don't quite understand. Part of me doesn't even feel like this is a problem at all! It's like, I have a mechanical device inside me that may require a tuneup at some point, and this is the tuneup. Yeah, surgery is scary in itself and yeah, making time for this in my life is a big hassle, but I have family and friends pitching in to help and I really did want a couple of days off from work anyway. Kaybee, I'm glad to hear your surgery went well but sorry it took an ER visit to diagnose the problem. I'm lucky in that the symptoms I had were noticeable but not really disturbing or painful (though esophagitis is no fun). When I couldn't sleep in bed, night after night, I knew there was something more wrong than I'd experienced in the past. Maybe on Tuesday I'll come back with a horror story, or have to say I eroded completely and there's no way I can ever have a band again, but I've explored those possibilities in my mind and know I can face them if they arise. And I really don't think anything like that will happen (especially with everyone here pulling for me!). The important thing is now, as it has always been, my health. So I'll do what has to be done and keep moving forward. I'm just outrageously grateful I have health insurance for this, because otherwise I'd be in DEEP doo doo!!

Yep, I drove home yesterday through a snow flurry. It just ain't right!!

Thanks, Kayford. It's much appreciated! :hug:

Hi Tammy, It's very rare for a slip to be caused by a single event. In my case, symptoms came on slowly. If you're only 6 days postop then any discomfort you feel is related to healing. "Slip" in the context we use it refers to a slow relocation of the band's position on the stomach. But you've hit on the reason to be very gentle with yourself while healing. Stick strictly to liquids as long as your doctor advises. Take it slowly when reintroducing solid foods. You're doing fine!!

Wow, Chickie, you look fantastic! And it's great to hear it was all worth it. Congratulations!!

:biggrin1: :hug:

My thoughts are with you, Carlene. I think stress plays a huge role in this. Back in January and February I was under a lot of stress with my husband's radiation treatments and so forth. Add to that spring allergies and we are dealing with the same monster. Fingers crossed yours doesn't involve a slippage! When I was first banded the VG band wasn't available yet. I'm thinking that if it had been, that's what they would have given me. I've never had more than 2 ccs of fill and even with no fill at all felt plenty of restriction. It feels to me like a bigger band is just, right somehow. That's a good thought about the low profile port! I wouldn't say I'm "so thin" but it is definitely something to ask about. ------------------------ I had another conversation with the doctor this evening, and he set my mind further at ease about all of this. He said the slip is "pretty significant" and he's thinking even now that a staged approach may be called for. But he also agreed with his staffer that insurance coverage for replacement won't be an issue. He said that he'd want to wait at least 4-6 weeks before replacing it--which was a shock, since I thought it'd be more like 6 months! But it's all a wait-and-see, which I know I can do. I'm on liquids until surgery day, Monday or Tuesday depending on schedule. Then, if it's removed, the postop is just a couple of days on liquids and mushies and then see how I feel. I can do this!

This is what I'm afraid of, too. But if they reposition my existing band I have no confidence it won't slip again. I'd rather they give me a new VG band, which I think would provide restriction but in a gentler way. It might also give me more fill options down the road. Of course, I could be totally wrong about all of that, but that's how it feels at the moment.

Thanks, leatha! Would you have asked for the gastrectomy the first time you had your band replaced, if you'd known about it? I'm still very wary of any more invasive procedures than banding, even with all I know about them. I'm happy enough at my current weight and don't feel any particular need to get to "goal;" my biggest fear is regaining. For this go-round, I haven't considered any other options and doubt I will. What was your thinking the first time you had repair surgery?

That's one of the questions I have to ask the doctor when we speak later. The original post-op diet wasn't that hard--just a couple of days on full liquids and mushies at the end of the first week. I think now they've altered that somewhat, so I'll just have to see. And yeah, losing a few more pounds would be great! I'm off to Trader Joe's today to stock back up on Protein drinks. Yum?

I had been totally unfilled last year from September through December, and in December had a fluoroscopy test and a small fill. At that time, everything was in place and fine. The amount of fill added back then was only about .5 ccs. And that's how things were until about a month ago when I started having symptoms of esophagitis, which resolved with Prevacid, and reflux, which didn't resolve. So this morning I had another fluoroscopy test and that's when they found the slip and removed what little fill I did have. Already I can tell the difference with that fluid removed; I'm drinking more readily and have been able to take in more nourishment. Really, over the past month I think I was flirting with malnutrition because liquid and very soft stuff was all I could handle, and not much of either. I don't think removal of the tiny amount of fluid I had in the band will be enough to make any difference, so there wouldn't be any point in having another fluoro before surgery. I'm going to talk with the doctor, of course, and let him know my ideal situation (replace it on the spot with a VG band) and how I feel about other options. I'm reconciled to the idea that surgery is necessary--part of me even feels that it's a good thing that my doctor will go back in to put things right. So even though this has been on my "worst fears" list for a long time, it turns out that it's not anywhere near as frightening as I thought it would be. It feels fine, I trust my doctor, I'm reassured that my insurance will cover things, and my health can be my first priority.

Whew! I just spoke to the doc's office and they told me that even if I can't have the band replaced until months later, it's likely that the carrier would pay for it. Yay! The reason would have to be "mechanical defect" as opposed to something I did, but she said that's actually usually the reason for a slip this far out without obvious behavioral causes. So that's a load off my mind. Whatever happens Monday, I'm going to be glad to be feeling better. :biggrin1:

The weird thing is that I last had a fluoroscopy in December and things were just fine then. This slip happened in the last three months, and I can't point to any specific incident. Starting about a month ago, though, I had esophagitis and reflux, and subsequently was unable to eat much of anything. I've been living on Protein shakes, Protein Bars, Soup, and yogurt for the last several weeks. As for whether they can repair/replace it right there, I sure hope so. The doctor said it depends on what they find when they get in. Fingers crossed!! I'd be thrilled with an empty band for the rest of my life.

Under the fluoroscope this morning, there it was, clear as day. My band has slipped down and nothing was going through. Surgery is indicated, since I had so little Fluid in the band that an unfill is unlikely to make any difference. Monday I'll be on the table, and I gather that's when the doctor will determine whether it can be repaired, replaced then, or must be removed altogether for healing. If the last happens, my band days are probably over, since I doubt my insurance will pay for replacement on someone with a BMI of 30. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks for any good thoughts you want to send my way. :nervous

You may have a type of plan known as "indemnity," or a PPO. WIth these plans--which are generally considered to be the best type of plan to have--nothing requires pre-approval or precertification. All claims are based on the standard of whether the treatment is medically necessary. That may sound scary, but the essential truth of these plans is that they generally take the doctors' word for what treatment is necessary. That's why they're considered good--they don't try to second-guess the decisions of medical professionals. If you really want reassurance, ask your doctor if he's had experience with your type of plan. I'll bet he'll tell you that you have nothing to worry about. I know the docs at my practice love the BCBS plans for precisely this reason.

As others have said, you'd probably not be able to get band surgery here in the States with such a low BMI. There are other options. As for financing, if your credit is decent you should be able to get a personal loan for whatever purpose you want. You don't have to tell the lender what a personal loan is for if you don't want to.

She's showin' the love, peoples! Showin' the love!! Man, you'd think you were all internet newbies!

Good decision! Now, on to what's really important: where are you being banded? Who's your doctor?

The information I quoted above is from the enrollment form instructions for that plan. I think you would be wise to reexamine your situation. The last thing you want is to get stuck holding the bag for all your medical expenses.

Oh, sweetie, I know how hard this is. But you may not want to get the official approval too soon--sometimes those pre-approvals are only good for 30 days or something, so even when you do get approved they may withhold the notification based on the fact that surgery may not be done for three more months yet. Jack's right--when it does come together you'll be all "where did the time go?" Try to stay sane in the meantime.