Daisalana

Well if everything is approved, nothing I read or hear will talk me out of it... I'm just trying to prepare myself! So I don't mind the bad with the good. I did just look at a 30pg long of a girl who regretted doing it. Sounds like it can be hard to get liquid in, so I'm already putting it in my head that I need to make sure to be drinking a lot!

Today they said they are writing a letter to insurance to cover lap band removal now with sleeve procedure 90 days later. Asked if I needed to do anything and they said nope. Woohoo. Slightly bummed it is two surgeries but long term it doesn't matter, just my impatience...and 20% cash. I am hoping that means easier recoveries for both surgeries and less risk of leak.

LOL I am so glad I found the follow up answer. Your title and then deleted posts had me worrying. I'm working on band to sleeve conversion, my port position (3rd placement) is right in between my boobs and I'm so over that. Rubs my bra, hurts when I'm active, that's one thing I'm really excited about, I was afraid there's a reason they may leave it!!

Howdy howdy howdy. I have a few questions, and I fell from moderator at LBT to a newbie over here =) 5 years post-op of original Lap Band Surgery, when the band worked, it worked perfect for me, Lost and gained 120lbs a couple of times.. but my band broke every year that I had it. Self-Pay ALL THE WAY. I was busy having kids (and trying to pay medical bills, ahem), so I knew eventually I wanted to convert to the sleeve. Joined this forum, but the sleeve seemed like a distant reality due to $$$ and not really knowing where to go. Well right on track, my band has broken again as of February this year. My goal was always 180lb, I was down to 212 before pregnancies, and back to 219 after 2 pregnancies (as of Feb this year)... and today I am 262 with my broken junk of a band. In the past year my insurance changed to a policy that doesn't hate obese people. So on a whim, I found a new lap band doc to fill locally (I was having to drive quite a ways), and find out if in fact my band was broken or if I just needed a fill. Found out my new insurance covers the fills, which is good because we tried several till he realized it's leaking again. He mentioned me converting to sleeve, which is what I wanted, instead of fixing; but still didn't want to get my hopes up, not use to insurance covering anything. Yesterday the office called, and said my insurance has 'no limit on bariatric surgery' and all I need is 'preauthorization' from the doc. She said the nurse will talk with the doctor and call me back. This is all new information to me, does 'no limit' mean they would cover the removal & conversion? The lady got defensive thinking I was asking permission from her to get it done, and said I'd have to talk to the doc, the insurance told her (repeated what she said). I'm afraid I'm only hearing what I want to hear: No hoops to jump through, Doc just has to say OK; and insurance will cover both. Anyone have experience with being told this? I patiently waited for the nurse to call me back yesterday, she didn't, so on Monday I'm going to start being a squeaky wheel. I hope everyone moves fast so they can get $$$ in their pocket, and I can get back to losing before I gain all this back. Next question--I am about to go peruse the forums again, I remember there's several LBT'ers that have moved over, and last I checked (though it was when the forum was new) everyone was happy; how is the recovery from a conversion? How long should I expect to be out of work realistically? (Note: I went back to work 1 week post c-sections, twice, on my own decision) I'm a pretty tough cookie. Everyone who converted from lap band happy/still happy with the decision and if so, how far out? I hate to say I absolutely loved my band..... if it didn't keep breaking. I was a great success story, when it wasn't broken I was losing 3-5lb a week on average without trying. Took a lot for me to open this forum, I had to wait until I felt it would really happen... now I feel like it really will...

That's a tongue twister!

PS time tomorrow, we will be on a shuttle to casino I imagine?

Man time is flying!!!! I'm not ready to leave my bubba for that long :thumbup:

Are we there yet?!

I don't know how this affects your countdown, but the doc said she's going to schedule the C-section for Feb. 8th (week early), and that's the date unless I go into labor early.

Mulch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michelle, you crack me up, I still never look at who looks at what LOL!! My non-refundable flight is BOOKED. Let's dooo eeettt!! Disney Land is a must. :biggrin:

Of course it's normal to be scared, it's a HUGE decision, and not one to be entered into lightly! The lap band is not for everyone... psychologically is a whole other issue (which can be detected before banding), but the band does not work for all. It's a risk you have to take. But I suggest weighing the pros & cons. For me, I was crippled at 22 and I could try this and if it failed I'd try something else, but if I sat and did nothing, my quality of life was deteriorating rapidly. 3 years out, I'm not completely happy with my band (great weight loss, 2 surgeries to fix broken band--all out of pocket, weight regain, some weight reloss).. but it got me to a happier quality of life even though I'm not where I "hoped" to be.

Thanks! I gained way too much during pregnancy, but my band did break halfway through the pregnancy, and I had no self-control. I was up to 285lb when I left the hospital with baby in my arms.. I'm down to 256lb and have stayed there for a couple months now. I was hoping to lose some more before baby #2, but I am DETERMINED not to gain... 73lb?! again. I'm not doing the unfill thing, and just fingers crossed the band doesn't break. My doc said it wasn't related, but I know Carson kicked in the area that broke a lot. Doc still said not possible unless he was actually in my chest or something. I dunno. I'm just hoping he is right so I don't have to go through it again!

Haydee, there's this little metal piece that connects the port-side tube to the band-side tube (not sure if this is universal). Mine broke in half. They said it was unrelated to the pregnancy, just happened to happen during the pregnancy. Going to try to lock this thread.