hollywrites2u

I have been pretty active on this site since March 2021 and this is the first I am hearing of that. Only thing I have heard so far is that gas ex helps a little for some people but the majority say the only thing that helps is walking and time, unfortunately.

Initial appointments today!

Meeting with my Bariatric surgeon at 10:30 am, appointments with the dietician and exercise specialist after!!!!

I’m so anxious, excited, nervous.

Ready to do this, been waiting a long time.

The health issues have piled on as of late and my weight keeps climbing.

Starting weight today of 284.2 pounds, height 5’1” and BMI 53.7.

It looks like I need to have my gall bladder removed. I found out that my gallbladder is full of stones. I've made an appt. with the doctor to make sure that he can remove my gallbladder with the lapband. I'm going to find another surgeon if he won't.


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Oh wow! That's really scary! I have had my band for 20 years! I had similar issues and had a slippage early on that required a second surgery.

I am going to get it taken out next month. I was hoping the down time wouldn't be as bad as when I got it. I don't have a high threshold for pain so I'm concerned with how I'll do. I appreciate hearing about your experience and I'm glad I also made the decision to get it removed.

Do you think the issues with the band could prevent further WLS to be more challenging?

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That's good to know! Thank you. I got it scheduled for June 6. I think I was really put off by "do you want to have surgery in four days?"! Lol

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I know many people who have had surgery without a pre-op diet, especially if they are at a lower BMI. You can get a second opinion, but I wouldn't worry on account of no pre-op diet. Not all surgeons do it.

Hi, thanks for the feedback! I'll contact the office and ask for the insurance specialist. I have had a hard time reaching a live person. I leave a message and don't always get a call back.

My BMI is about 37. I weigh 235 & am 5'6. Overall, I am happy that I got the band. My original weight was 315 lbs when I got the surgery in 2002.

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No, I got the band removed in April 2021, I expect my revision to be June 2022. My surgeon wanted my esophagus to heal some before revising. I wasn't in a rush to revise because removing my band helped eliminate the GERD. But I'm still on a PPI, so I'd like to revise so I can come off of the PPI. Also to lose more weight that I didn't lose with the band.

I guess it depends on your BMI. I had to do the liver shrink diet for two weeks prior to my band removal. I know that my surgeon did an EGD and an UGI with 15 degree head tilt. It was to prove that I had reflux/esophagus issues related to the band, and it would support my case for revision to RNY.
So I'm wondering what the process would be to get your revision covered if the surgeon didn't do the tests to prove you were having issues. Maybe it's something to ask the surgical coordinator. It may not be necessary for every insurance company.

Wow!!! This post really went off the rails! Lol I started shaking my head at the inflammatory responses & stopped reading about 80% of the way through. Some people really like to argue. [emoji38]

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Yikes, anyways to OPs question, I’d recommend against it, if for no other reason than it has a reasonable chance of making you sick. No way to spend a fun event. If you do decide to do it, do a practice run at home first to make sure you know if it makes you sick, and if not how much you can drink now without taking an express train to embarrassingly drunk. ?. Remember you won’t have food to “soak up” the drinks, and you just absorb alcohol different now.

Also think about sugar content in drinks (more likely to make you sick at this stage) and carbonation. If you do decide to drink you might try a dry white wine, or a Bloody Mary, or something similar. Trying to think of low carbonation/lower sugar drinks.

But yes, after a few months I’d say to your question on the regular gatherings there is no reason you wouldn’t be able to join in again. Again, I’d give it a few months, but if you want to start sooner that’s obviously up to you.

Have an edible instead.

I think it really is more a question of whether your stomach is healed enough to tolerate alcohol. My surgeon advised to wait two months before consuming alcohol as their belief is that the stomach should be completely healed first.
That being said, I did start drinking again a few months after my sleeve, which I believe was one of the reasons I never reached my weight loss goal. I was in a similar situation to yours in that alcohol was a part of my social scene at the time. Along with drinking came poor nutrition decisions and between the two I stopped losing weight 30 pounds short of my goal.
I'm two months post revision to bypass and haven't started consuming alcohol again yet. I'm determined to get to my weight loss goal this time (only have about 25 lbs to go) and have now adapted my social scene enough so that alcohol isn't such a big part of it.

After all I had to do to GET the surgery and all that I have to do to make sure that it works for a lifetime, you couldn't pay me to have a drink. I am following my surgeon's instructions to the letter and that means no alcohol. Besides, I'd rather chew the very few calories that I consume.

Wow, so many reasons that you shouldn't. I haven't, 12 weeks post op. First, you don't know how your new tummy will react. Do you really want to have a dumping "event," or be sick as a dog? I have heard that liquor has a greater effect after, so you could end up face first in the punch bowl-God forbid all three. I wouldn't. If they know about your surgery, and they are your friends, they will be supportive. Also, social pressure should not figure into this. Just saying.

I'm in the process of revision. My band was removed one year ago. I'm about to have bypass surgery very soon.
I can tell you that medicare covers revision and it's based upon medical necessity, and they review each case individually. I had GERD. So before removing my band, my surgeon did a couple of tests. An EGD and also a special fluoroscopy test that looks for dysmotility of the esophagus and also reflux/GERD. You basically eat a marshmallow and then a piece of bagel (if neccessary) on fluoroscopy while they tilt the table that you're secured on to certain degrees. It's almost like swallowing food at an angle. It's really strange. I didn't even get to the bagel before the marshmallow refluxed upwards and outward. The test reports are sent to the insurance company to establish medical necessity for removal. So because Lap Band failed me, I can get revision. So if you're having issues with your band, I would say you will be approved very easily. When you have issues with the band, those issues override BMI. Because you're not asking for revision so much for weight loss, but primarily due to the intolerance or issues the band has created.
I wish you well on your journey to revision!

Gold Peak Tea makes a Zero Calorie sweet tea that is great. I find it at the grocery store.

Hi, as others have said, you're not broken. I'm not even approved for surgery and I've noticed that I've been eating more with that idea of, "I better enjoy it now". I'm hoping to get a revision but my insurance is unlikely to even agree to pay for WLS & I'm eating for two. :-o

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Great first step and brave of you to face it and share it with others.

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I don't regret getting the lap band twenty years ago. I weighed 315 lbs. & wanted to get down to about 150 lbs. I got down to around 190 & I felt great! I've had issues with the band & had to have all the saline removed & regained some of the weight so I'm back up to 240.

In some ways, I wish I had gotten a gastric bypass but I wasn't ready. I had kids & wasn't comfortable with getting such a radical surgery when they were so young. I made the best decision at the time. Most doctors don't do the band anymore but it has helped me a lot even if I'm having some trouble with it now.

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I've never heard of TAP blocks. Thanks for the tip. I'm going to ask my surgeon if he uses that. I'm a wimp when it comes to pain. [emoji44]

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Thanks for the reply, Liz. I can't do self pay with my current financials. I didn't even think about it but it's a lapband removal so BMI likely doesn't matter. I want to get a gastric bypass but that's down the road. My approval isn't 100% locked down. The insurance coordinator is contacting my insurance companies. She said they've received approval for my insurance even though the HR dept. at work said they don't cover bariatrics.

The surgeon said if my insurance tries to wiggle out from paying then I may well end up in the emergency room and he would do the surgery there & it will cost them even more. [emoji44] [emoji848]

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I don't regret getting the lap band twenty years ago. I weighed 315 lbs. & wanted to get down to about 150 lbs. I got down to around 190 & I felt great! I've had issues with the band & had to have all the saline removed & regained some of the weight so I'm back up to 240.

In some ways, I wish I had gotten a gastric bypass but I wasn't ready. I had kids & wasn't comfortable with getting such a radical surgery when they were so young. I made the best decision at the time. Most doctors don't do the band anymore but it has helped me a lot even if I'm having some trouble with it now.

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Congratulations! Enjoy reaching your well deserved goal! I remember that well! I was also so excited that I was able to start wearing an XL rather than plus size clothes when I got down to 195.

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Hi Holly, Unfortunaely, I have no idea what the cost was because I have not seen a bill yet, nor any statement from my insurance company (Blue Cross Federal Employee Plan). I have no doubt that one longer surgery would cost less than two separate ones. In my case they discovered that there were adhesions between the band and liver and there was some scarring of the esophagus. If they weren't doing the bypass right after I'd have had to live with reflux, pain, etc. due to that not being fixed. I suggest you find a better doctor who will take care of everything at one go (NOT medical advice!!). I can post the costs once I know them.