southernbanded

This is very interesting and is a current issue that I have been battling for two years to have covered by my insurance company.
I had lab-band done in 2013. Starting weight was 317 and got down to 222 pounds. However, I suffered from extreme acid reflux, causing me to sleep sitting up for three years. I was vomiting acid and sick every meal. When I spoke to my doctor about this, he immediately suggested conversion to VSG. While awaiting the approval for the VSG conversion, they made me do it in two parts. One surgery to remove the band, wait six months for the stomach to reshape itself, and then complete the VSG surgery. I gained 50 pounds back of my lost weight. I had the conversion done in December 2016. Everything went well. Acid was gone. However, I never felt restricted at all. I never really lost weight.
Fast forward one year to 2017, and the acid returned. In 2019, after having severe complications from acid reflux and developing a nightly cough, I called my doctor only to find out that he had passed away. I decided to see an upper GI doctor who did an EGD and found me with Hernia, GERD, and Esophagus damage. He sent me to a surgeon specializing in throat cancer and bariatric issues. Submitted to have surgery was denied.
We have been battling this for almost two years. I went this past week to another bariatric doctor familiar with my deceased doctor's work and also completed an EGD himself on me this past Monday. Same thing, Hernia, GERD, and now they believe I have Barretts Esophagus. They submitted to the insurance to repair and again denied. Insurance says these complications came from bariatric surgery and did not cover even if medically necessary; My new doctor is also a lawyer (go figure); he is completing a peer-to-peer next week to try to have them complete the repair one final time. If approved, I will only need to pay for the bypass conversion. So fingers crossed. I feel as if my insurance company would rather me die of esophagus cancer than keep me from dying from cancer. It is truly sad.

In 2012 I had lab-band surgery. My body hated the band from the start; nothing but problems. I lost about 82 pounds with the band but mainly only due to being unable to eat and vomiting. I developed acid reflux so bad that I slept sitting up for three years. I visited my doctor in 2017 and told him I could not deal with it anymore. He suggested converting to VSG. At the time, the surgery was not known for its acid reflux issues. I was converted in Dec 2017. Acid reflux left, and for one year, I felt normal. However, immediately after the conversion surgery, I never felt restriction. I felt I could eat normally. One year after the conversion, reflux returned. Now with a hernia, gastritis, and GERD. My bariatric doctor had passed away, so I went to a gastro doctor to have an EGD done. He sent me to a surgeon who suggested converting to RNY. I did not want to have a third surgery, so I put it off for another year as I thought the medications they prescribed would help. They didn't work. We just kept increasing the dosage.
Fast-forward to this year, and I visited a new bariatric doctor who just completed another EGD on me this past Monday. All the same, issues are still there but now Barretts Esospogus. Insurance is denying the repairs as they were caused by bariatric surgery, which is ridiculous. I am a vocalist and truly worried about esophagus cancer as my lining has already been severely damaged. I will probably have to self-pay for the three-part surgery, and I am not happy about that.
I am curious has anyone else had to have all three surgeries? If so, I would like to hear your stories and success. As I mentioned, I lost with the band. However, I gained most of the weight back after the band was removed and had to wait for the VSG conversion. I never really lost weight at all the sleeve. If you had all three surgeries, did you improve with acid reflux, gastritis, GERD, and were you losing any weight? Did any of you have Barretts Esophagus? I will know my fate next Friday, Feb. 11th

In 2012 I had lab-band surgery. My body hated the band from the start; nothing but problems. I lost about 82 pounds with the band but mainly only due to being unable to eat and vomiting. I developed acid reflux so bad that I slept sitting up for three years. I visited my doctor in 2017 and told him I could not deal with it anymore. He suggested converting to VSG. At the time, the surgery was not known for its acid reflux issues. I was converted in Dec 2017. Acid reflux left, and for one year, I felt normal. However, immediately after the conversion surgery, I never felt restriction. I felt I could eat normally. One year after the conversion, reflux returned. Now with a hernia, gastritis, and GERD. My bariatric doctor had passed away, so I went to a gastro doctor to have an EGD done. He sent me to a surgeon who suggested converting to RNY. I did not want to have a third surgery, so I put it off for another year as I thought the medications they prescribed would help. They didn't work. We just kept increasing the dosage.
Fast-forward to this year, and I visited a new bariatric doctor who just completed another EGD on me this past Monday. All the same, issues are still there but now Barretts Esospogus. Insurance is denying the repairs as they were caused by bariatric surgery, which is ridiculous. I am a vocalist and truly worried about esophagus cancer as my lining has already been severely damaged. I will probably have to self-pay for the three-part surgery, and I am not happy about that.
I am curious has anyone else had to have all three surgeries? If so, I would like to hear your stories and success. As I mentioned, I lost with the band. However, I gained most of the weight back after the band was removed and had to wait for the VSG conversion. I never really lost weight at all the sleeve. If you had all three surgeries, did you improve with acid reflux, gastritis, GERD, and were you losing any weight? Did any of you have Barretts Esophagus? I will know my fate next Friday, Feb. 11th

HI there,
My doctor just removed my band three weeks ago and will do the second surgery for the sleeve in October. I just completed a 6 month prep program for the sleeve that was required for my sleeve surgery by my insurance company. I had my Fluid removed in March and the band removed on July 29th. Per my doctor the reason for the two surgeries is due to letting the stomach go back to a normal size, this way when they do make the cut for the sleeve, they get a better shaped pouch, which in the long run makes a difference in the success of your weight loss. if they did the surgery all in one, the stomach would be misshaped. When you think about it, it does make sense. They have seen better results with the sleeve revisions when the surgeries are done in two steps. If it causes me to have better success, then I am for it. Since March when the Fluid was removed I have gained almost 45 pounds back. It is very disheartening, as I have tried everything and have been watching my Protein and calorie intake and still gaining, I feel like there is nothing I can do to stop it. I know this weight gain is only temporary and look forward to starting my life with the sleeve. Having patience is hard, but will be worth it.