lrhodes46

Here's the cynic in me. Follow the money. Your new surgeon is not a non-partisan participant in this discussion. He may be telling you what you want to hear?

tmf

Oh and my new surgeon took me on as his patient without charging me an assumption fee. So he's not concerned about the money

As far as I know' date=' the most common reason for doing band removal and revision surgery in 2 separate surgeries is to allow the body to heal before subjecting it to more surgery. I don't want to rain on your parade, but it's impossible to predict what your upper GI tract is going to look like when your new surgeon goes in there to remove your band. If there's a lot of scar tissue or inflammation, it might not be safe to proceed with the sleeve at that time.

I had my band removed in April 2012. I went in to the operating room expecting to wake up with a sleeve, and I woke up with nothing - no band, no sleeve. Here's a link to a recent thread about the band versus the sleeve, on which I posted my own story. If you have any questions after reading it, please let me know. If I don't know the answer, I may be able to point you in the right direction.

Just one more thing - I applaud you for getting a 2nd opinion about this. Your health is too important to allow a doctor to pooh-pooh your concerns.[/quote']

Thanks Jean for the advice. I was told that if there was any evidence of problems I wouldn't be sleeved when my band is removed. I've only had my band 6 months so there may or may not be problems. But I trust my new surgeon to make that decision. My old one, not so much.

So sorry that your having problems! It just goes to show us that everyones body is different! I know it probably sucks to feel like the exception! However' date=' it sounds like you are on the right path with a surgeon you trust! Good luck on your surgery and keep us posted![/quote']

Thanks laurigee! I do hate being an exception. If it weren't for my problems I would definitely not have it removed. I really do like my new surgeon.

Here's the cynic in me. Follow the money. Your new surgeon is not a non-partisan participant in this discussion. He may be telling you what you want to hear?

tmf

Actually my new surgeon is great. He is a friend of my PCP and he pulls no punches. He definitely does not tell me what I want to hear actually my lapband surgeon was the one who was so concerned with money. He wanted to do one surgery until he found out I was trying to use insurance. Then he changed. That raised a big red flag. Then when I talked to his scheduler she also told me to get a second opinion.

Wow' date=' I wonder how often it is rejected ? How long did it take them to come to this conclusion, I am having problems never getting to the green zone. Either I'm starving or I can't eat anything. They mentioned a revision and I have had 2 surgeries last year to fix complications; hiatal hernia and gallbladder. I can't do another unless there is a promise of relief. However I don't know if insurance will cover a revision. Did they cover yours?[/quote']

They did a fluroscope xray and everythibg was in place. No slips, no stretched pouch. They came to the conclusion that with my symptoms and no other problems ut was just being rejected. I have insurance but they do not cover WLS or revision. So I am self pay. I did chabge surgeons because my lapband surgeon doesnt care about you once hes done ykur s u rgery and gotten his money. I have never had much restriction but still lost weight. I have so much pain I am ready for it to be out of me. My new surgeon also stated that it was nothing I did or didnt do. Rejection is not common but it does happen. My body is seeing it as foreign and is attacking it. So it has to come out.

is the band the problem or is it the plication?

The surgeon said its the band being rejected by my body.

Do you have pain with soft mushie foods and Protein drinks?

Yes but not as bad as with total solids. I have been avoiding eating anything lately except for those soft foods. My new surgeon told me to just stay hydrated and get the Protein Drinks in. I feel the pain in my stomach every time any food or drink goes into it.

My symptoms are constant stomach pain, nausea and just not feeling well. They did a fluoroscope X-ray and everything was as it should look. My abdomen is swollen and bloated all the time. It is to the point that I can no longer eat anything solid without a horrible pain. So until my revision I am sticking to soft mushy foods and Protein Drinks. My lapband surgeon's aftercare is horrible. He also told me the revision needed to be in 2 surgeries if I was going to try and go through insurance. That was a huge red flag for me. My current surgeon was recommended by my PCP. They use to work together at the same hospital. He is wonderful. So totally different from my lapband surgeon. I feel totally at ease with having my surgery in 2 weeks.

After being banded with plication in August 2012, I have been having quite a bit of pain for the last three months. I went to my surgeon who acted like he doesn't want to bother with me. Just real rude and acted like my pain was no big deal. So I saw another surgeon who was kind enough to take me on. My body is rejecting the lapband. It seems it doesn't like having a foreign object in it. So my band is going to be removed and I will be revised to the sleeve all in one surgery. I have lost weight with the band but my body doesn't like it.

And I used True Results in Houston.

I used True Results. My surgeon is Dr. Wilkenfeld. I pretty much deal with his office for everything. From what I understand, the other two surgeons Dr. Holli and Dr. Collier turn you loose to TR after surgery for your fills and aftercare. Dr. Wilkenfeld on the other hand takes care of his own patients. The only time I talked to True Results was about my insurance, EGD and when to show up for my surgery. I can't offer you much feedback about them other than they were extremely helpful and nice when I talked to them.

I did not have a locker but I'm sure there is a place they will let you put your suitcase. It only took about 20 minutes for the EGD to be done. Then I was in recovery for about 30 minutes. Good luck to you in the morning. Keep us posted!

You go to True Results on Main. Go to the 8th floor. I also had my EGD done there in July and was banded in August at the same place.

Well I got 2cc's put ion and had no pain whatsoever.

Thanks! And it's the needle that scares me too lol

I am sitting in my doctor's office waiting for my very 1st fill. Kind of nervous about it.

I am doing great since I was banded. I have lost 35 lbs. so far. My decision to be banded was because I have been dieting for 26 years. Whatever I lost I always gained an extra 20 back with it. So my problem was losing it and then keeping it off. I don't regret my decision at all. Good luck!

I went through True Results. My doctor is Dr. Wilkenfeld in Conroe. The surgery was 9900 but I only paid 5500 and my insurance covered the test due to me having a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time.

I am 8 weeks post op and have lost 35 lbs so far. I started exercising last Monday. I have gained 3 lbs since then. What the hell?! It was literally overnight. Anyone have this happen? I had the lapband with plication and no fills yet.

Congrats! That must feel wonderful. I can't see a difference in myself but everyone else can. Keep it up!

Thanks all. I called my PCP and went to see her. Blood work, EKG and everything is fine. She said my body is fighting the MRSA and I will feel bad. As for the chest pain she thinks I might have ate too fast and the dizziness from low blood sugar. I haven't eaten much due to not feeling well from the infection. Thanks for all your replies. I love the caring words y'all give.

I am 5 weeks post op and am feeling really bad this morning. I'm dizzy almost to the point of passing out, lightheaded, and now my chest is starting to hurt. I can drink but am so nauseated I don't want to eat or drink. just feel weird. I am being treated for the MRSA staph at this time also. Should I be worried?

Thanks Kristinsmommy! She has always been that way with the fat comments. The difference now since surgery is that I don't turn to comfort foods to console me when I get my feelings hurt. I just take a walk.

My surgery was August 13th. I have gone from a size 14 to a 10 since then. And have lost 22 lbs. yesterday I had on my jeans for the first time since surgery. They are baggy in the butt and I needed a belt to wear them. I made the comment that I would soon need to get rid of them. My mother turns to me and asks what size are they. When I tell her a size 10, she says that's bullshit because your ass is bigger than mine. My dear sweet husband and grown daughter both spoke up to tell me how good I look and what an amazing job I have done so far. Why can't she just say the same instead of always making fat comments??

It's normal to be nervous. I was the same way as I was being wheeled into surgery I was second guessing myself. But things turned out fine. I have lost 20 lbs. since surgery. You will do just great. The surgery center at True Results has a wonderful staff. Very caring. Keep us posted on your surgery date.