Dream4tc

@@armywife79 I am excited but a but scared. Initially I wanted the sleeve but due to my reflux, my surgeon recommended bypass, so I have been researching constantly. I have seen and heard negative things, but also have seen and heard positives too. Bases on what I have read, if you follow the rules you are golden, but if you don't you will have problems. Electrolyte and nutritional deficiencies are nothing to mess around with. I am a nurse and see what happens with those issues. I know I will follow the plan because I am too scared not too lol congrats on your bypass! Ugh the dreaded band!!! I am so glad I got rid of that thing!!! I already have relief, I haven't thrown up or had reflux, or heartburn!!! It's been great! Plus I drank a glass of orange juice for the first time in 4 years without any problems!! I am looking forward to this. Thankyou. Have you had any problems?

I am not sure yet if it will be October or November. I have my psych evaluation and NUT appt on Oct 2nd. My insurance requires 5 months of physician supervised diet. I have 4 out of 5 done. This month will be my 5th. My insurance approval process is usually super fast so I should know within a week or 2 of my Oct appt. I also possibly need a repeat EGD and an upper GI before surgery, but I will talk to my surgeon when I see him on Aug 28th. Either way, my deductible is already met this year so nothing out of pocket for me!

Zumba 3 x's a week for 60 minutes. I love it! It has been the only exercise that I have stuck with. I have been doing Zumba for 5 months and always excited to go!! I burn 1015 calories each session at my body weight.

I am surprised this medication hasn't been mentioned yet on here. First I want to mention, I have tried phentermine in the past and couldn't handle the jittery feeling or heart palpitations. I only used this for a short time, and I had to cut the pill in half because it was too strong for me. It is not paid by insurance. It is around $30.00 for a months supply and you need to see your physician every month to have your blood pressure and heart rate monitored. Now to get to the medication Bontril. I also used Bontril. It is usually prescribed 35mg tabs 3 times a day. I really liked this one because it did not give me the jittery feeling or the heart palpitations like the phentermine did. It helped with appetite suppression and I lost weight with it. I initially started out taking it 3 times a day as prescribed but found I only needed it twice a day. I have a history of insomnia so it would keep me wide awake. This medication is a controlled substance and insurance does not pay for it either. The cost is the same $30 a month and you also need to see your physician every month on this medication.

Hello! I am so sorry you are dealing with that, it is tough. I was in the patient exam room when they called the insurance company and it took literally 10 minutes. All you need is a surgeon to document a complication. Imaging confirmation is also helpful. I already had 2 imaging tests confirming the problem and a letter from my previous surgeon and all of my monthly visits to my primary care doctor with my continuing symptoms, plus the recommendation from my new surgeon. I actually had way more than enough for the removal. I seen the surgeon on Friday and had the band and port removed 3 days later as an emergency case. I hear there is no vomiting with the sleeve, but there is more reflux due to the high pressure that it creates. I wanted the sleeve but after speaking with my surgeon, he recommended bypass due to my severe reflux. The sleeve would just make it worse for me. I am a nurse and I want to be healthy and reduce my risks for diabetes which runs in my family. I will do whatever I can to save my health and live as long as I can. If you follow the plan with either sleeve or bypass, you will do well. I would talk with your surgeon and get a second opinion if you need to so that you make your own decision for a revision if that is your choice. I would call your doctor and find out what is the hold up regarding the insurance approval from your insurance company. If it is documentation, your doctor can provide that easy. Explain to your doctor you are having this discomfort and would like for it to be removed asap. I would also call your insurance company to find out what's taking so long. I wish you the best and hope that you will get some relief very soon!!!

I am not sure what is going on with my signature, I was unable to edit it so I had put an email out to the administrator to have them fix it.

No I am not using either of them. I had used the phentermine in the past back in 2000. I had later tried bontril back in 2006 before WLS. I had the band in 2011, band removed just this month 8/10/15 and I will be having bypass in November. My post was just commenting on the medications that I tried. If you had read my original post more carefully you would have seen that I used past tense. I was just trying to offer more information to others geez no need to crucify me lol.

Mountain Home area

Hmm...I don't remember where it was. I am on a prescription meds for reflux now. Things have been ok with that. What makes you read up so much on ulcers? I am a nurse, can't help it. haha! I research everything especially if it is something that I can prevent. I am very proactive instead of reactive. I have been on Zantac twice daily and also Prilosec twice daily for quite a long time. I am hoping with being on those medications, I won't develop any after bypass.

That's normal. Give it time, it will improve

The port is what is placed under the skin, which is sutured to your abdominal wall. This port is attached to a tube inside the body that goes to the band that is around the stomach. The port gives the surgeon access to adjust the band by making it tighter or looser by using a Huber needle (a non coring needle). The middle of the port has a rubber type stopper that the doctor puts the needle in which is attached to a syringe filled with saline. The saline goes into the tube which goes into the band. The more saline that is in the band, the tighter the band is.

Where was the ulcer at specifically? I have read alot about that possibility and the info that I read was on ulcers developing at the reanastamosed sites. Are you on any prescription antacid now?

I never had any gas pain, which is usually felt either in your shoulder or back. I only had incision pain. They will fill your tummy with gas to keep it expanded to see better with the scope. However the only way to get rid of that gas is to expel it by burping, or passing it. In order to speed that up, if you walk....the gas will come off much faster. You might start burping when you get up out of bed for the first time because it takes longer for your bowels to wake up after anesthesia. I got a bit nauseous from the IV dilaudid a few times, but they gave me IV Zofran and then also gave me a prescription for some sublingual zofran to take at home, but honestly I haven't had to use any of the Zofran at home which is great! Yes, I definitely have restriction, and really not much of an appetite. I make myself eat. I have been using sugar free, low carb, low calorie. You will probably gain some weight from all of the IV fluids they pump into you. I gained 8 pounds just from surgery, but I actually lost 2 pounds the other day, and 7 pounds overnight just last night! I was super happy about that. I know that my appetite will start to increase, and the swelling will go down eventually and the restriction that I am currently blessed with will also dissipate, BUT that is where I will work even harder and continue my Zumba and track my calories with fitnesspal and use my Vivosmart activity tracker and that is where the hard part will begin. We can do it for a few months!

Overall, RNY has been positive! With anything there can be setbacks. I developed a ulcer early out but that resolved. I had some issues with fatigue which hopefully is gone for good. The usual issues you probably see on the forums such as constipation, taking Vitamins daily and watching nutrition intake is ongoing at this point. I am 10 months out so I am still learning my body. I am not in maintenance phase yet. As far as weight loss, it's been good. I'm about 20 pounds from my goal weight. I don't know what your food vices are but I cannot tolerate any high sugary foods which is a big deal for me. I did have the revision & removal at once but I think it's great that your surgery date is coming up. At least you will be healed like you said and ready for the bypass. BTW my joint pain, high blood pressure and pre-diabetes is gone so it's been good. You will have to experience it to totally understand what I mean but I feel if people need RNY it's a great option. That's awesome! How did you develop an ulcer? What were your symptoms? Were you on any antacids prior to revision? My biggest weakness is sugar, especially ice cream. Which Calcium supplement do you take? I have been taking sublingual B12 and Vitamin D as a liquid drop. My current Multivitamin is a one a day gummy but I know that I will most likely have to switch to a chewable with the RNY. Which ones do you take? Do you have problems with constipation with RNY? I definitely don't want that to occur. I have a history of diverticulosis, with my first attack about 1.5 years ago and that was horrible! I take a Fiber gummy daily for that too. What do you do to prevent that? That is great that you are feeling better! 20 pounds to goal is awesome!!! I bet you are so excited!

@@Trayjay33 I completely agree with you about the insurance thing. How have things been going with your RNY? It sounds like you were able to get your band removed and RNY in the same surgery which is great! My insurance company is making me do this in 2 surgeries. They still consider the revision as a whole new surgery and I have to go through the 5 month supervised physician diet, which I have been doing since April of this year. I knew their requirement, so now I really don't need to wait. I am just waiting to give my body time to heal from this removal. How has your recovery been and any problems along the way? How has your weight loss been?

Yep. I just got mine removed 5 days ago and so glad I did. I had so many problems with GERD and initially wanted to revise to sleeve, but based on my history of GERD, my surgeon says that the sleeve would cause me to continue to have the same reflux and heartburn due to the high pressure of the sleeve so He recommended bypass and after thorough research, and I am an RN with several friends who have had both sleeve and bypass..... and numerous conversations with my surgeon, I will be revising to gastric bypass in November. The removal of the port has been the most painful. I stayed the night in the hospital due to pain control because he also removed the scar tissue around the band as well. Adhesion removal can be painful. I was on IV Dilaudid every 4 hours, IV Toradol and Norco in the hospital. They switched me to percocets and I have been fine on those. Take a pillow with you to hold against your tummy to splint the incision so you can cough. Also get a start on taking some over the counter miralax to help with constipation because pain med can cause things to slow way down, on top of the anesthesia. I have asthma so I needed breathing treatments and I used my incentive spirometer every hour while awake to exercise my lungs which helped me greatly! They leave the incisions open to air and seal them with Dermabond, a type of glue. I am healing quite fast. Here is a pic of my incisions. He did a total of 3. The biggest was where the port was. Make sure your decision is yours and also listen to your surgeon and what will be best for you. The next few months will be the hardest, however I still feel restriction post op.

It was helpful the first 2 years.

I just had my band removed 5 days ago. It was painful, but so glad I did it. I have not had any reflux, heartburn or vomiting which has been just amazing considering, I had endured that for 9 consecutive months due to complications from a prolapse and then slip where my band was sitting sideways and was up nearly on my esophagus. My insurance paid for my removal after there was imaging confirmation from an Upper GI and esophageal manometry. There was quite a bit of scar tissue removed and that in itself is painful. I am on percocets currently but pain has improved and so thankful that it's gone. I actually have relief and no more vomiting. I drank a glass of orange juice today for the first time after 4 years. I had not been able to drink any juices or eat any acidic fruits since the band due to too much acid. I will be revising to gastric bypass in a few months after I heal from this

Great to hear! I initially was seeking revision to sleeve, but with my history of GERD problems and with the scarring from my band, my new surgeon told me that I would most likely would have the same problems with the sleeve. He also said the surgery with the bypass would be easier versus the sleeve. Looking forward to bypass and I have a great support system. Looks like you have done well with your bypass, Congrats!!! What are your challenges or struggles?

If there is a documented problem with the band, then it is considered a complication and insurance will cover, but it has to be documented. Most of the time insurance will cover removal and revision to sleeve if you still qualify for bariatric surgery with BMI >35 and comorbidities. Best of luck to you

Thanks! No, I am currently not having any issues. I have a Allergan 10cc band and currently my level is 4.85cc and I am totally in the green zone and loving it! It has taken quite a few tweaking to get to the right spot. The temps and elevation has been just noticeable. I was just curious as to if other banders have noticed or experienced this. Thanks for the feedback!

This year will be 2 years for me. YAY! Something I have noticed in the 2 years of having my band, is that when the weather changes to extreme temps such as very cold or extreme heat, my band will tighten ALOT. Also, when I travel and there are elevation changes, there is also a very big change in tightness. Just something I have noticed. I have mentioned this to my surgeon and also a fellow lap band friend and she noticed the same thing. I usually have be more aware to avoid stuck episodes during these times. Does anyone else notice this as well? Just curious and would love to hear from others.

Dr. Darin Minkin recently paired up with SSM HealthCare in St. Louis and is performing surgeries at St. Clare and DePaul hospitals for Exclusive Choice Insurance. He works for Des Peres Hospital mainly and does the majority of his surgeries at that hospital. He has a wonderful bedside manner and is very experienced with lap band. He also performs the other surgeries too. He has 2 other surgeons in his office. Office staff is very informative and helpful. For new patients he charges $75.00 to join the practice. For people who have been previously banded from another surgeon the charge is $300.00 both only a one time fee. I can tell you that I grilled him pretty good with 2 pages of questions during the seminar and he was extremely patient and answered every question. He does do fills under fluoroscopy but is based on the patient and what is going on at the time. Even during my office consult visit, he was patient and answered all of my questions that I had prepared to ask. I am so glad that he accepts Exclusive Choice. St. Clare is also now starting to do the Bariatric surgeries there, which is a brand new hospital. Here is a link to his website. http://www.stllapband.com/