PuffyOne2014

If you have Federal Blue Cross Blue Sheild, you should be happy! I'm on my dads plan and he has the basic plan but they paid for my surgery 100%. The only thing I had to pay was a $200 copayment to my surgery and $175 for my copayment for the hospital. I orignally was going to do the band, but they don't cover implants and it would have cost me almost 3 grand. I'm so happy it was so cheap for me. I'm so excited for the future. I'm currently 1 week and 4 days post op, I've been on a liquid diet for 2 weeks and 4 days and I've lost 25lbs since I started my liquid diet. I'm so happy. I had such a horrible time trying to lose weight because of my knee and back pain made it almost impossible to exersice very much and I'm hoping once I get down under 200lbs, I hope the pain will fade since I assume it's my weight causing it since I've had test and x rays and all kinds of stuff and doctors can't find anything wrong with my knee or back. So fingers crossed!

Mary,
I had my lapband for 6 years!
I am 4 weeks out from my Revision and down 40 lbs. even if the weight loss ends up being slower ( which is not the case right now) I will be happy because today I ate 1 egg and a piece of bacon without that god awful stuck feeling in my chest and I didn't have to spend 30 min in the bathroom spitting. That alone was worth my revision. I also had sick people all around me till the day of surgery. Luckily I didn't catch it until a week after. You will do great!!! Get that band outta there!!

As someone who a) followed all the "rules" and still suffer with the permanent damage to my stomach, esophagus and heart, hearing people who have had no complications and still have their band responding to this post with statements that blame the patient is frustrating.
Most people don't understand the bio mechanics of how the band can affect our digestive system or even how the band works to quiet appetite. This is true, even among non-bariatric medical professionals...I know, because my own providers have been nearly as frustrated as I in determining if my symptoms were band caused or not. When common sense was applied to the equation, a very qualified doctor asked me if I had any problems swallowing before banding. I answered that I had not...he shrugged his shoulders and said, let's get it out! 90% of my GI symptoms have resolved. I am dealing with cardiac problems that are due to the achalasia I developed while banded.
My cardiologist and electrophysiologist are in agreement that it's pointless to do catheterization/ablation when the arrhythmia is caused by something outside the heart.
The anxiety and stress the band and complications have caused is enormous.
Also, good surgeons will remove as much scar tissue as possible. The only post band "restriction" I have is when food is stuck in my esophagus due to achalasia.

Like wise I have until Sept/Oct also bcbs fed

I agree. This is just one research study on 38 people who had their band removed. I can't find the profile for @@JACKIEO85 so can't ask if her surgeon gave her other examples of research,
When my surgeon took my band out he explained that in his experience EVERY person whose band he'd taken out for serious complications regained a large amount of weight. I asked him if people would regain a bit, then stop, and he said "no" not that he'd seen. I also asked if he saw people regain even more weight than before they started with the band, and he said he'd never seen that happen... but this was because people had converted to sleeve or bypass before they git that far.
When I had the band removed (2nd operation to sort it out, both unwanted!) I tried to be the ONE patient who would beat the odds. For TWO years I tried so hard to follow the exact same lifestyle. I really did not want a third surgery,so was willing to do everything hat I could to prevent this. I exercised 3 times a week at the gym and kept on running at the weekends running. And I watched my diet like a hawk, tracking everything and telling myself that I had to keep to small portions... that it would SAVE me from another surgery (and I would much prefer this).
Given that I had 10years of experience with the band, how hard would it be to just carry on eating the same way? Just carry on doing EXACTLY the same, it should be straightforward, right??? However, I truly struggled with portion sizes, soon they were back up to what I would call a normal adult plateful (meat/veg/rice) which was triple the amount that I used to eat with the band in place. When I had the band I became completely used to having small child-sized portions at home or eating out. I didn't feel deprived and I used to just take far smaller servings than other adults (padding my plate out with some lettuce so it wasn't noticeable and eating of the children's menu in restaurants).
What I found the strangest was that after I had the band removed my taste for CARBS and the devil's food (SUGAR) came back. Gradually at first, and then with a vengeance. What started as a one-off slice of toast and marmalade (which I never ate when I had the band in!), turned into 4 rounds of toast and marmelade most days for Breakfast, or alternatively two pain au chocolats. My lunch with the band in used to be a tuna salad ONLY, but somehow that turned into a tuna baguette, and a packet of crisps (USA: potato chips) too ... . I almost never ate Pasta with the band in, but afterwards I suddenly for the taste for it again. I'm sure you get the picture by now.
So, I end up here. Feeling like a failure because I have failed to follow the same eating habits without the band as I did with the band. I am almost in mourning for my banded-days... the control that I had... the sense of freedom from food.< /p>
So, regardless of if the research says 100% of people regain, or 10%, this is the position I find myself in.
It is definitely worth trying to get on with life without further survey after band removak. But having tried this for TWO years I have come to the decision to have a gastric sleeve.

I had the original band in 2005 (lost 140 lbs) and just had the sleeve put in on May, 12th..I had the revision of the lap band in 2010 and gained back 60 lbs... band apparently didn't woke. & constantly vomitting. The insurance company did approve the sleeve but I had to go through the six months process. I must say, the recovery was nothing like the revision of the band.. I though did have allot of scar tissue that had to be cleaned up from the band . I went yesterday for my follow up appointment and down 19 lbs...
Good luck!

So worried about what to do...Should I have band removed and stay at my current weight (which seems to be w/in 15 lbs of the weight I was pre-Band) or recognize that I am a serial dieter and lived in weight distress for 20 years, and hope to get approval to be sleeved.
It's a fascinating dilemma...well the better word is probably " distressing".
Does the risk and fear of getting sleeved outweigh the benefit and freedom of living less obsessed with my weight??

I had my band to sleeve revision last Friday...same scenario as you band helped me keep from gaining but only lost 10-20 at most. At 6 days post op I say go for it! Im down 15 pounds already!

Thank you for your note...seriously. I just need to hear from those who ave been there. Guess I am just feeling discouraged, disappointed in myself and hopeful and hopeful I can change my life.

We are all serial dieters or we wouldnt be eligible for bariatric surgery...truth! We can NOT do it on our own which is why we need our tools to do this...our sleeves! When i cancelled my last fill and changed to a consult apptmnt and sat face to face with Dr Merriman I cried...I said "I failed the lap band" and he said without hesitation..."no! The lap band failed you. Obesity is a disease and we just havent found you the right tool yet to fight it with. Some people do great with a lap band, some with bypass & some with a sleeve. There is NO CURE for obesity but we are here to help you fight. You havent failed, you're still fighting or you wouldnt be here"

hi, i have been facing the same dilema as you. i want the sleeve, but I'm very very afraid to take the risk. i was banded and lost around 65-70 lbs and had a slip. i then had it revised and just maintained that weightloss but then the 2nd band slipped as well as my dr said it might. at that point i had the band removed and today i sit here with all my weight back on. i want the sleeve, i guess i just want a guarantee that I wont ruin my health by having it done, either with some sort of stricture, or leak or reflux, issues like that. thats what im worried about. im been strggling with this for over a year now. im so torn!

My revision is scheduled for Monday, four days from now. I'm still confused and torn. I'm sure I will go in and have the surgery. But I'm upset, frustrated, and even angry that its my future. I was down to 200, a 50+ pound loss with my band, and I was lucky enough to maintain it for several years. I was so happy at that weight.
Fast forward, band problems, band empty, and I'm gaining weight. I know the sleeve is the only way for me to not regain more. But gee wiz, I guess I'm having a pity party. Why do I have to make this decision? And the treads that deal with severe complications scare the day lights out of me. Five years ago when I did the band I was miserable, desperate and so unhappy. I do not want to get there again. I know going in on Monday is what I will do. But boy am I scared.
It's nice to read all your stories and know I'm not alone. Thanks.

I have been/am in your exact shoes. My band was taken out 7 months ago and I decided to start jumping through all the hoops to have revision to the sleeve. 4 dietician appts, 2 psych appts, upper GI, endoscopy etc. After an initial ins denial I got the approval letter a week ago. Now here I sit 5lbs over my starting lap band weight and fully realize I can't go it alone, but yet so fearful of the "unknown" with the sleeve and what issues may arise from that. I found out yesterday that we've met our out of pocket max with our insurance therefore the sleeve will be covered at not a penny out of pocket and that's what finally tipped me over to be on the sleeves side. Waiting for surgery date, but all fears are still there. I think we all know in the back of our mind what the answer is. Good Luck

Just had my band removed 7/25 got to wait nine weeks before surgeon will do sleeve. I am ready. Feeling excited.....

I was banded for almost 4 yrs and got my revision on July 16th with a bmi of 29. While I only need to lose 45 lbs, in the 2 wks since my sleeve, Im down 13 lbs! My family (not local, in another state) all wanted me to get my band out and continue losing weight on my own. I know myself. I know I can't do this myself.
Good luck to u

I can relate. My husband is wonderful, and we have been together since high school ( in our 40s now). It was April when I decided enough was enough, I'm so sick of living with the daily struggles/pain of the band. For months he was resistant, he thought if it needed to come out, fine, but then I should go without. He loves me and wants me around. He has good points. When I got the band 5 years ago, they said it stayed in forever. Now years later its a different story. If I get sleeved, what are they going to say about that 5 years from now?
We have talked about it many times since April. I told him everything about my appointments with the psychologist, nutritionist, and then the surgeon last week. He has slowly come around to where he is ok with it. I think it goes against his ( and many other men's) nature to watch the women they love put themselves in harms way. And that is how he sees surgury.
I remember when I got the band, he was supportive, but restrained and quiet. Post-op, when we got home, he was so happy and smiling. I was whining, "what have I done"! And he was cheering me on saying how great it was going to be. I was so confused, he hadn't shown any excitement before the operation. But now that it was over, and I was safe and well, he was so happy for me.
My advice, small relaxed talks, but change the subject if he gets nervous. Give it time and he will come around.

SUPER EXCITED!!! I was called Thursday by my insurance company advising they have approved removal of my band! I will be calling the Dr office Monday to set an appointment to talk things through & hopefully schedule a date for evicting my band! I will have to appeal the conversion because they have already said it will be denied, I've talked with our patient advocate at work & she is on my side & we will petition the board to cover the procedure. (My employer is self insured so even when Humana denies the sleeve, the board can over-ride them & tell them to pay). I'm hoping by the end of this year I will be sleeved, & on a new road to health. I hope everyone is doing well on their journeys.

Well to update my Dr is all for eviction & he is going for the reflux/GERD as the necessity part first. I have an EGD next week then we battle with the insurance company. My biggest fear is that I am not going to show symptoms of ulcers because my band was emptied at the end of Jan & I'm not yet to my point of constant daily vomiting. Short of it, if insurance denies the medical necessity for removal we will go with an intolerance route. The next battle will be to get the conversion approved. My BMI is around 35 so I'm no longer in the morbid obesity category. And thankfully I have no other issues. I'll pray for the best outcome & if I have to go self pay ill cross that bridge when I get to it. I do not want to get back to my pre-band weight just to get approval :-(
Good luck to all of you on your journey! We all have to stay as positive as we can....we will make it through!

First of all, a big hug from me. That must be a really difficult thing to deal with. I think I understand that you have 2 separate issues here--one, you get sick whenever you eat, even if it's just a few bites, and two, you deliberately overeat to make yourself sick. If that's not correct, I apologize. If it is correct, I think the first problem might be similar to one I had.
When I was first sleeved, I could never eat comfortably and was sick every single day for 8 weeks--didn't matter what I ate, how little, how well-chewed, how slowly. I threw up every stupid day. THEN people on this forum advised me to start taking Prilosec, and I did. WOW what a difference. A couple of days after starting it, I actually could tolerate eating without throwing up. Immediately, my mood and energy improved and I was able to start living more or less "normally."
I can't help with the bulimic aspect of your issue (and I'm really glad you have a counselor with whom you're addressing these problems), but it's entirely possible that you need to get on a particular type of antacid so that you can eat small amounts without needing to throw up from a physical standpoint. Sending wishes for healing and peace--