dishdiva

My insurance sent a denial letter for my lap band removal, calling it bariatric surgery. But, the letter also said pre-certification wasn't required for outpatient stays, which I was. So we're submitting and hoping fot the best. If they deny, I plan to fight until the bitter end because my health, and life, was being put at risk from my band-related complications.

Thanks for all the great wishes! I'll let you know how it goes!

Hi everyone: After six months + of reflux hell, one endoscopy, two barium swallows and one abdominal x-ray, I finally was diagnosed with a slip. Could have told them that! My second one. I'm having the band removed on 3/10. A year to the day, almost, since I had my re-positioning. I'm as excited as someone waiting to get their band, simply because my degree of misery has been so high. In addition to the reflux, some days I can't keep any food or liquids down. Then I'm weak and tired from not getting enough nutrition. I've slowly learned my triggers, but sometimes I never know. The good news is today was a fairly good day. I take it one day at a time. All that said, I have no regrets. Having 60 less pounds has freed me up in ways I never could imagine. Wish me well and say a prayer. I'm a big baby about surgery...being a single mom, I'm always convinced this is the one that will orphan my child. Silly, I know. You gotta have faith! Thanks for being here...and I'll be back. One of the post-band bandsters you'll never get rid of! Elizabeth 8-28-03 re-positioned 3-05 slipped again band removal scheduled 3-10-06 -60 lbs (for good, PLEASE!)

Kelly -- We were banded the same week -- and will be unbanded the same week!! Mine slipped within a year and I had it re-positioned one year ago. It never functioned effectively for me again...after the first fill my reflux was so terrible... even with a total unfill, my misery the past nine months has been off-the chart. Slip #2 was diagnosed about 10 days ago, although it probably has been that way for awhile. No regrets that I had the surgery. Tomorrow it comes out. Tomorrow can't come soon enough. Three surgeries in 3.5 years. No more. I'm glad you're home and healing... How's the recovery? Elizabeth 08-28-03 repositioned 03-10-05 removal scheduled 03-10-06 -60

Now that you know, do a search of some of the threads we've posted here using the word "reflux." Lots of suggestions on dealing. Best of luck to you. Hate that it's happening so soon after your surgery.

Oh, one more thing....Jonathan, how long did your mother have her band in before removal? She is my role model for recovery! (I read in another thread that she was home in six hours and no post surgery complications)

Kathy, Inamed has to report problems to the FDA. If there are enough, I'm guessing, they could "recall" the band. It happened to a guy in my office who had a knee replacement...whatever they used was recalled so he had to do a second surgery. I'm going WAY out on a limb with that hypothesis, so no one panic, please!! There are too many success stories and percentage wise, us problem bandsters are a very small group.

My hospital refers to the calming drug they use in your IV before they put you under as "a margarita." That is MY kind of drink. I will order a double this time!!!!!!!! I'll be hitting the Xanax in the days ahead of de-banding surgery, I'm sure. Perfectly understandable to be nervous and anxious. Good luck to you -- and your nerves.

Everyone: thanks for your good wishes. They mean so much to me! Jack - to answer your questions: same surgeon doing it or someone different? I switched surgeon's after my revision surgery because my original surgeon was charging $900 for fills. My fills aren't covered by insurance. So, someone different. Are you going to keep your band or will they send it back? I'd like to keep it since I paid for it. I have heard of others keeping it and there's a thread I started awhile back on this topic if you want to search. I'll ask and see what they say. But, the hazardous waste thing makes sense to me. How is the insurance managing this if you don't mind telling? Oy vay. Who knows? Original surgery was denied after I already had it due to incompetence of insurance coordinator at surgeon's office. Revision was covered as diagnostic abdominal laprascopic. Insurance denied this upcoming one as bariatric surgery, but left a loophole in the denial. I've paid the surgeon up-front and hopefully will get reimbursed. Hospital will bill insurance. I will fight tooth and nail if denied. Who made the 'final call'.....and how long would they have let this continue? I kept pushing for it to be removed. My surgeon was just cautious about my options in the event what I was experiencing was unrelated to the band. In other words, if I had it out and symptoms continue. Seems to me, if we, the patient want the thing out for whatever reason, we have that option. Anyone think there's pressure from Inamed to keep these things place so the FDA doesn't catch on? I don't think they (doctors) ever "got" my misery -- partly my fault because one day I'll feel great and the next I'm in band-hell. That's probably because my band moves -- at least it did with the first slip. Sometimes, they'd do a barium swallow and it would be in place. I'd go get a fill -- and whoops, it's slipped. No fill. They didn't "call it" until surgeon saw evidence of a slip in an x-ray. If the delay had continued, I would have gone to Dr. Jamie Ponce in Dalton, GA -- who has probably placed more bands than anyone in the U.S. One look at a barium swallow and I would have been scheduled. (He was a second opinion Dr. on my first slip). Amanda makes a good point (would have been dead by then) which is: TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN HEALTH!!! More updates as they're available! Elizabeth

I think the risk of MSRA is lower because many of us have surgeries done in outpatient centers or ambulatory centers. My surgeon said avoiding these types of infections is one reason he does them outside of hospitals.

What's the VG involve?

Jonathan -- You remind me of my surgeon at my last visit when we discussed my band removal... "scenario a, band removed and you still have these digestive problems; scenario b, you have the band removed re-gain weight and switch to RNY; scenario c, you have the band removed, don't gain any weight back..." You get the picture. I totally understand the fear and concerns you have. I'm blessed to have lost 50 percent of my excess body weight, so ditching the band and seeing what happens is good enough for me. I no longer qualify for gastric bypass, so that's that. Best wishes to you...and I know a perfect plan is already in place for you. God bless.

I went to one of the links here...and have many of the symptoms of gastroparesis (but don't have diabetes). But, I've had barium swallows and an endoscopy and nothing was ever noted. I'm still on track for band removal surgery...with a caution from my doctor that it may not fix what's wrong. I think it will.

What exactly is vargus nerve damage and how does the nerve get damaged?

Marcelle -- Many of shared your fears...their normal! Can't wait to hear how things went. God bless.

ms. sweet bippy -- is that you Star Jones? (kidding!)

I had a case of food poisoning eight months after the band was placed. Lots of vomiting. A month later, my slip was diagnosed. I don't think it's a coincidence. Avoid it as much as you can...if you do, try -- if it's possible -- not to "heave" the contents from the lower stomach. Vomiting what's in the pouch shouldn't be a problem because it's more like a PB.

Jonathan: I'm so sorry. I too have had lots of complications (slips) and anticipate band removal surgery soon. As hard as it is, you have to look at the 40 pounds you lost as 40 pounds you wouldn't have lost without the band. Misery or not. I applaud your courage for trying a different type of bariatric surgery. I won't because a. I don't qualify anymore b. My insurance now excludes bariatric surgery and c. I'm too afraid that I'll have problems as I did with the band. Best wishes...keep us posted.

Just curious -- you seem to be focused on what the surgeon "did to you." I know I would be too, after five years. At the same time, I also know that I have issues related to rejection, as do many people who have struggled with weight. So, perhaps this experience is activating some issues for you....that are clouding the main thing you should focus on: yourself! There are so many more great band docs out there now than when you first started your journey -- and you deserve a great one! I've had complications with my band and totally understand the frustration/anger and wide range of emotions experienced with problems. I've gone to not just one band surgeon, but three. And I "fired" my original surgeon -- with a letter, no less -- who I loved, in part because he was price gouging on fills. It was a matter of principal...and my expectations of what I deserved from someone that I am paying. WE are the customers! Honestly, had I been as sick as you were at one point, I would have cut myself open and taken the band out myself! That you pressed on is a testimony to your great strength. So, FORGET the surgeon. He's O-V-E-R. The why's are irrelevant. (I'm with Amy -- send him a nice note or something showing you've risen above his actions!) Good luck and God bless.

That list was created by a woman who lived in Alabama and went to Mexico for her surgery in 2003. I know at least one of the Georgia Docs charges way more than what's listed. And, I think there are now more band docs than there were then. Go to the Inamed site and you can enter your info. and they'll send you certified docs in your area.

I'd let your surgeon know in case he wants to prescribe a stool softener or something to help... What your experiencing is fairly typical. Good luck!

Angie: Best wishes for a successful surgery. We'll look forward to hearing how things went when you're back. Safe travels.

I fibbed and have no regrets.

I had an endoscopy in October because I'm not responding to prescription meds for reflux. The endoscopy showed -- you guessed it -- reflux! I highly recommend having a gastroenterologist who is familiar with the band do it. Or seeing if your band dr. or nurse -- anyone who could see abnormalities with the band -- present. Mine was not. He said there wasn't erosion, so I guess he could detect that. But, he couldn't say if it had slipped or not. He drew me a diagram that looked almost exactly like the slip I had in 2004. I've since had a barium swallow -- same thing -- a radiologist unfamiliar with the band and my Dr. couldn't get a good sense of the band placement from the pics he did. Now I have to go for an abdominal x-ray. All could have been saved if only someone familiar with the band had been involved in my endoscopy. I'm with the eroded-girls who recommend an endoscopy after 18 months (12 months?) or so is probably a good idea since some band problems have no symptoms.

I believe it too! This is, after all, a woman who got sponsors to underwrite the cost of her wedding. Hurl. Maybe Inamed will out her!