Lynn B

I think being scared is a normal part of the process. Read everything, ask tons of questions, here and at your doctors. There is a wealth of knowledge to be gained here. Good luck!

Congrats - can't wait until I can say the same!! :thumbup1:

Talked with hubby about all the feelings I've got rolling around - guilt at being a failure and excitement for a new option and guilt at being excited. Anyway, I'm feeling much better today, and very optimistic. I tried the band, gave it my best shot, lost 90 lbs and now its not agreeing with me. Its time to cut my losses and move on - hoping my surgeon can get me approved for a revision - if so I'll be looking to have surgery in September. It would be kinda funny if I ended up with 9/12 as that is also the day I was banded. Later....

Now there is a perk - I had given up on getting to a normal BMI with my band and was struggling just to get down to the over weight category.:biggrin0:

Emailed the surgeon today to let him know that I do want to proceed with the band to sleeve revision :crying: Now, time to wait and second guess myself:huh0: Thanks for all of your help and time answering questions. I really do appreciate it!

Rollermom - I still have my band in but unfilled due to dilation. Let me know how your do as I have just emailed my doc to go ahead with the arrangments for a sleeve - kinda excited and scared at the same time.

Congrats!! Here's to smooth sailing!

Hi all - I'm a 36 yo wife and mom of two older teens. I was banded in Sept 2005 and had a lot of success with my band. At 4+ years I'm down 90 lbs which still leaves me with a BMI in the obese range but its 90 less than I had 4 years ago. At my 4 year check up I had gained about 29 lbs over my year 3 numbers. I received a fill and I believe that may be when the trouble started. Shortly after my fill I developed reflux, not thinking much of it I started taking Prevacid. My doctor required a 6 month check up at which time I talked with him about the reflux so he ordered an upper GI. The results - moderate circumferential dilation - my doctor wanted to go in and take out my band. We compromised and I ended up being unfilled with strict eating instructions and another upper GI in 6 weeks. He doesn't feel that this will give significant results and now I'm afraid that even if it does I will be prone to dilation in the future. My surgeon offered several options - repositioning the band, RNY or Sleeve. Out of these options, the sleeve is the only one I feel semi-comfortable with at this time. I have 6 weeks to find out if this is the right option for me, if I end up needing an option. I look forward to getting to pick the brains of the sleevers here - I need to know it all. The good, bad and ugly!! Thank you in advance.

I've already done the "safer" reversible route - now its time for some cutting. Not to mention - no one does it and its not covered by insurance. But thanks!!

Congrats - your surgery day is the day I go back for my second Upper GI to see if my band has to come out (then I'll revise to a sleeve). Good luck!!

So I've just this past week found VerticalSleeveTalk.com. My story - had the LapBand in September of 2005 - lost about 100lbs in the first two years and maintained between year 2-3. This still left me with an obese BMI but I'm very active and happy. Then I gained 29 lbs between year 3-4, thinking it was because I hadn't had a fill in years I requested a fill. Shortly after I developed heartburn, I had expierenced a few random bouts the year before but nothing like this. I went back to my doctor at 4.5 years and had an upper gi (thinking hernia...ha ha) and was diagosed with pouch dilation. At first I wanted to save my band at all costs. It was unfilled and I am waiting 6 weeks to go back for a second upper GI to see how the dilation is doing (doc doesn't seem optomistic). We did discuss my options if the band needs to come out and I told him that the sleeve would be my first choice as I don't want to dump or have vitamin issues. The office is doing a preapproval right now so we're ready to go at the end of the 6 weeks. I came home and have been researching the sleeve ever since and now I'm thinking that even if the dilation resolves, what are the chances it will happen again? The sleeve is looking better and better all the time. I've read my insurance company's requirement for revision and I qualify so I actually don't think there will be an issue there - Its probably going to cost me about $3000 out of pocket for copays/deductable that I really don't have but I'm gonna find it. I desearve to be healthy, pain free and not afraid to eat.

Hi - is anyone else going from a band to sleeve revision finding that those who were supportive of the band now seem a little less so? I've told most people that my band may have to come out but I've told a select few that when/if they take out my band I'm having a sleeve done. The overwhelming response - "you don't need to do that, you know how to eat now" - what? I gained 29 lbs last year with a band (almost all of it is gone now but still) without a tool I know what my future will bring. Its kind of got me feeling...I don't know, guilty, bad, ashamed. No one has said that the band dilation is my fault but, well really, it didn't dilate by itself. From my research a combination of being to tight, eating to much, to fast and larger bites are what cause/contribute to dilation. So ya, my fault - although I never threw up or felt pain - why would the sleeve be any different? Will I destroy my stomach after most of its gone and really be up the creek? :thumbup: I'm confused now - I don't feel safe with the band, I don't want more problems and I'm not feeling deserving of another procedure....waaa:crying:

Thank you everyone - I've been extremely depressed this past week and your kind words and very wise thoughts are helping a lot!! I'm going to see what the insurance company and my surgeon say but I'm am hoping to be sleeved by the end of the summer - thank you all so very much. :svengo:

Hi Britt - I am just starting to research band to sleeve revision (my band is still in place but unfilled, my pouch is dilated). I wish you well and hope you win this battle soon. I've reviewed my ins policies stance on revision and it does appear that they will also only revise if you don't have "adequate" weight loss - duh, they'll undo you but not do you back up unless your still heavy?? I don't get it. I guess in this scenario I'm lucky, I have lost more than 50% of excess body weight but I'm not within 30% of a normal or goal weight. My doc is doing preapproval now while I research and make up my mind but I'm hoping that it goes through without a hitch (if not I'll be visiting your blog!) ~ Thanks! Reoperation and Repeat Bariatric Surgery: Coverage Policy Number: 0051 CIGNA covers surgical reversal (i.e., takedown) of bariatric surgery as medically necessary when the individual develops complications from the original surgery such as stricture or obstruction. CIGNA covers revision of a previous bariatric surgical procedure or conversion to another medically necessary procedure due to inadequate weight loss as medically necessary when ALL of the following are met: ? Coverage for bariatric surgery is available under the individual?s current health benefit plan. ? There is evidence of full compliance with the previously prescribed postoperative dietary and exercise program. ? Due to a technical failure of the original bariatric surgical procedure (e.g., pouch dilatation) documented on either upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), the individual has failed to achieve adequate weight loss, which is defined as failure to lose at least 50% of excess body weight or failure to achieve body weight to within 30% of ideal body weight at least two years following the original surgery. ? The requested procedure is a regularly covered bariatric surgery (see above for specific procedures). NOTE: Inadequate weight loss due to individual noncompliance with postoperative nutrition and exercise recommendations is not a medically necessary indication for revision or conversion surgery and is not covered by CIGNA.

Thank you Katt - You're right, just because my first option didn't turn out all for the best I shouldn't stop looking for a solution. Thank You!!

Thanks Tiffykins - I really do feel comfortable here and it is a relief to have others that have lived it to talk to.

Being reversible was not one of the reasons I picked the band - I didn't want my stomach cut and I certainly didn't want to dump or end up with vit/mineral deficiencies. Now I know I don't want to be fat again and I also know that left with no tool that is exactly what would happen. I really don't want another surgery but I also don't want to go through this again in 1, 2, or 5 years down the road. If not caught in time dilation can lead to strangulation of part of the stomach and it can die and need to be removed. I would rather control what part of my stomach is removed. So even if my dilation resolves I'm leaning toward going for the revision. I am surprised to find that of the very few people I've told (who were all supportive of my original choice) they seem a bit unsupportive now?? I'm getting comments like "Oh you know how to eat now so you don't need that" WTH, People that I thought understood that without help I will not keep this weight off - or finally get to goal are no longer people that I can talk to. I'm confused again....grrrrrr. I'm glad there are people here that have been where I am now.

I've already found some very good info here (including a copy of Cigna's Bariatric policy which has me very encouraged). Thanks for the welcome!

At my 4 year check up I had gained about 29 lbs - asked for a fill - dumb me - doctor gave me the fill (but I should have evaluated my eating habits first) I assumed because I was hungry and not losing (gaining) weight that a fill was what I needed. Within a couple of weeks the reflux started. So I started taking Prevacid. Lost about 15lbs and then stand still. My doc had scheduled a 6 month check up and I told him about the reflux...in for an Upper GI (Gross) and diagnosis...the radiologist says Prolapse...the doctor says pouch dilation?? Going back to the doctor tomorrow to discuss treatment....is an unfill typical? Scared to death that I've destroyed my band and to boot I'm starving but so afraid to eat. :biggrin:

The progam fee for my hospital and most of the surrounding ones is $500. I to was not happy about it. My total out of pocket cost between co pays, program fee, psych eval and deductable for the band and to have my gallbladder removed put me right at about $1100. It was hard to part with as I dont have a lot in savings but it was well worth it in the long run - I know that I have spent way more than $1100 over the years on pills, drinks, books and exercise gimicks that haven't worked. At least now I have something to show (or not show as the case may be) for my money. Good luck!

Well, I haven't been around in a while so I thought that I would pop in and update. What a great thread idea. I will be 33 in 11 days, I have 1 husband (who could deal with more), one son age 16 (shoot me) and one daughter age 14 (going on 24 - lil' miss attitude). I have been happily married for almost 17 years. We also have 3 cats and more fish than you can count (indoor and outdoor). I was banded 9/12/05 and am down about 88 lbs right now. I love my band! Nice to meet everyone!

Its funny I was talking about this with my husband last week - I have only had the hiccups twice since being banded. The first time was during a very ugly PB - I PB'd and started hiccuping and then PB'd again and they went away. The second time I think I just plain ate to much.

I am also confused - some people do have trouble with cold drinks but if you have no problems with solids then liquids should not be giving you that much trouble. You mention that the quick way to stop a meal is to have some Water but as a bandster you should not be drinking until at least 30 minutes after your meal. Sounds like you need to check back in with your doctor and nutritionist - get checked out to make sure there is no physical problem and then have a refresher on bandster eating? I hope you get the problem figured out - dont give up on your band yet - when used correctly it really does work.

My surgeon has lost one patient from an embolism a few days after surgery. From what I understand the patient has a couple of medical issues and refused to get up and walk after surgery.

Just tried White Chocolate Strawberry - I'm drooling its so good!!