devotion

I would be eternally grateful that the surgeon has you on a diet of real food rather than one of these liquid things (which I still haven't figured out what they really do.) As noted, low carb is the main functional requirement for "shrinking the liver" (to the extent that such can be done in a couple weeks' time - there is still debate on that amongst the docs,) and as you see, even on the liquid diets aren't necessarily all that low carb. Go figure. Many of us never had any diet at all.
It all comes down to the surgeon and what they are comfortable with. I would be more concerned if the surgeon was one of those who threatens to "close you up and send you home..." if you haven't shrunk the liver enough (and occasionally one actually follows through with that) as that is a good indication of some deficient skills on his part.
For some docs, liver condition is not a major imperative for them - they can handle whatever you throw at them - and they devise diets for other purposes, or as noted, none at all.
Go with the flow and enjoy the ride. It seems to me to be an thoroughly sane diet that will likely lead to a more rapid recovery and better outcome than the liquid diets that others impose. Good luck

Thank you Devotion. I'm on the mend. Good luck to you on your revision!

Best of luck to you! I'm sure it was hard staying in the hospital for so long, but glad to hear you are on the mend. I am having a revision surgery (though it is band to bypass). I've also had gallbladder surgery, so wondering just how much scar tissue there will be because of that and the band. I'm sure you will do great. Again, good luck!

What matters is what your policy with the insurance company covers, not the company in general.
For example, for years my insurance company covered weight management services and surgery in many policies. However, policies negotiated between my employer and the insurance company specifically excluded it. Therefore, even if a doctor affiliated with the insurance company recommended surgery, it would not be covered for me.
Seeing how you are already getting conflicting information, I would make sure you get everything in writing going forward.

the people above are correct. Most insurance companies cover it, but the employer can pick and choose which services it wants put in the policies it offers its employees. Some employers don't want to include bariatric surgery included in their policies because of the cost.

I have CIGNA, but they are just the coordinator (my employer self insures).
The requirements they had were ridiculously easy:
Letter from my PCP recommending me for surgery. New Patient Orientation / Post-Op Nutrition Education (combined into one) Surgeon Presentation ("This is what gastric bypass is... this is what sleeve gastrectomy is...") Psychological Clearance Attendance at one bariatric support group meeting About 20 pages of forms, quizzes, etc. I had to send in. That was it.

Wow, you are all amazing. These are SUCH great questions. I feel like I will be very prepared. Thank you.

My program is very organized and upfront with all information. You see the nurse practitioner first after attending a seminar first. I was given a packet with everything I need to know. Vitamins Protein Shakes, post op meds,activity ,diet and meal suggestions. A total rundown on my insurance and what they require. And much more. I feel very fortunate to be in this program. Feel well informed.

I would also ask how much weight do you think I will lose, and what are the determinates of that. How will any of my medications be affected/changed by the surgery? What are restrictions on my activities after the surgery (this will depend on your job, but how long do you have to avoid lifting, etc)?

Is the revision a two step process (remove the band, wait a few months for healing, then do the RNY) or all at one time. Some surgeons do them all one way or the other, or depending upon circumstances.
what kind of pre-op dieting requirements do they have (some want their patients to lose a certain amount of weight before surgery, while some don't care; some impose a stricter to "shrink the liver" for a couple of weeks or so before surgery, while others don't)?
What problems do you frequently encounter with this type of procedure (as the bands often damage the stomach, and that's why many such revisions are done.)

I'm doing the same as you ( band to bypass) and scheduled for surgery 8 Sep. I met with my doc today and asked the following: 1. Will I have a drain? 2. How long will I be admitted? 3. How long is the surgery?
Can I have visitors?
Do I need bandages for wound after are?
What and how many medications will I be on immediately after surgery?
When can I start my Vitamins again? Is there a danger of COVID infection or other infections after surgery? Do I need to limit contact with others? When can I start getting massages after surgery?

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Hello everyone, I'm having a consult with a bariatric surgeon on August 24th for a gastric bypass (and lap band removal). I have already had one consult with another surgeon and did not prepare questions ahead of time. The visit did not go well and I didn't like the surgeon but that's another story. For this new consult, I'd really like to go in with some questions prepared in advance. To those of you who are going through this process or have been through it, what are some questions that you recommend I ask? Anything you can think of that you wish you had asked before surgery? Thank you!

Ask if they recommend a good bariatric therapist in your area. Have a consult, or file the contact away for later if you need it.
Research the surgeon's credentials and reputation. Research the hospital where the surgeon does surgery. Make sure you like what you learn.
Make sure anyone on staff who will be giving you dietary advice is in fact a registered credientialed dietician.
If you're planning a surgery this fall, talk about the potential impacts of Covid19.

Commenting to follow, this is a great question.

Because you’ve already have a staring point of reference because of your band, I’d probably ask about the differences between having a band & the bypass. Are there differences in the foods you can eat or may struggle with? Are there differences in specific nutrients you must include in your diet? Are there differences in how you’ll recover post surgery? Are there differences in how you’ll manage the bypass versus the band. Will you require different or additional supplements? What are the possible issues you may encounter after surgery & in the long term - what to look out for or be aware of. What should you expect the recovery time to be? How will your digestive system work with a band versus a sleeve? What are the dos & don’ts post surgery & the staged return to eating solid foods? Etc.
Sure others will come up with more. Hope it goes well.

Had mine done outpatient. Insurance covered it as part of WLS revision. Pain was minimal but my stomach felt heavy when walking for about 3 weeks.

I knew my band was slipping, but I had no insurance coverage to remove it, so I had to wait until I had a major slip and was admitted to the emergency room (I was vomiting small amounts of blood).
I had kind of alerted my doctor to this money problem in the first place, and they said if I did go to an emergency room, they told me which hospital they practiced at so they could be the ones to remove it.
My surgery was quick, I think less than an hour. I actually drove myself to the hospital on a Thursday after school, had the surgery on Friday, and was back at work on Monday. I stayed overnight one night and actually drove my self home the next day.
I did not have any insurance coverage for gastric weight loss procedures at that time, but because it was an emergency situation, there were parts of my bill that were paid by insurance. I think I ended up still paying about $6,000 out of pocket, but it would have been considerably more if I had scheduled the surgery through my original surgeons. Also I would have had to pay an advance, which I was unable to do at the time. Obviously when it was an emergency surgery, I was able to do a payment plan and pay it off over a few years.
I felt immediately better after surgery, and I didn't have any pain. It took a few months before my stomach seemed to have less swelling. It was such a relief.

Wow I got my lap band in 2008 also. Just starting the revision process. Am prepared to self pay but hoping my insurance will cover surgery. My weight loss center staff is very good with working with insurance companies. Keeping my fingers crossed and doing a lot of praying.

It really just depends on the surgeons schedule. I know someone who was self pay at my clinic and they were sleeved within 2.5 weeks of Their initial consult. I think that was just so they could do the preop diet.

I had my lap band out as a separate procedure and without any intention of having another weight loss surgery.
The removal was a much easier procedure than the installation. To answer your questions:
It was done outpatient. No hospital stay required. It was brief. I can't say for sure, but less than an hour because I was recovered and we were on our way home by noon (surgery at 7am). Of all the surgeries I've ever had, I would say that it was probably one of the easiest. The port site was the sorest, but even that wasn't bad. I had to take very few pain medications. I recovered very quickly and I was back to work within a couple of days. Even the progression to eating was smoother and faster. On liquids for a day or 2, then right to soft foods. The removal was covered by insurance as a failed implant. Mine had slipped. However, my insurance also covered the original surgery. Word to the wise: make sure you have insurance approval PRIOR to undergoing the procedure. My doctor didn't and I had to fight with the insurance company in a drawn-out appeals process to get it covered. Meanwhile, the surgery center was trying to take me to collections!

Female: 42 at the time 2009 (insurance covered), HW 232lbs. Best weight 143lbs. No problems with band till the slip due to a bad stomach virus in 2017 (diff, insur, and not covered) had to pay apx 5k OOP, still 143lbs. No doctor would do a revision as they all said.... I "didn't weigh enough". Fast forward..... 2017-2019 I put back 30lbs. Came to the conclusion that I would have to go to MEX to get a revision. May 2019, I finally got my divorce property settlement. Headed to Mex. But then as luck would have it, I found a dr. 10 min from me. I still had to pay OOP, and it would be more, but I would not have to fly and all the other humbug. So I paid OOP 14k for a revision to the sleeve 8/28/19. I was 173lbs, today i'm at 123lbs.
Was your removal done in an outpatient facility or in a hospital? Surgery center. Was a hospital stay required? One night How long did the surgery take? 30 min. No scaring, no erosion, no GERD, pretty open and shut. SX said if band had not slipped, I would still have her. What was your experience after the surgery? Lots of pain? How long did it take you to recover? After SX I had a little gas. I had no pain at all. SX was on Thursday and I was back at work on Monday. Was your removal covered by insurance even if WLS is not? It was not. Sleeve SX was just as easy, less the one week liq diet. Sleeved on Wednesday and back to work on Monday.

I had the lapband conversion to gastric bypass in one surgery and was very thankful to have it done that way. To do this, I had to choose a specific surgeon who is capable/specializes in the conversion. However there is always a chance it might turn into two surgeries anyway if is a complicated removal. My lapband was also in for 15 years and unfilled due to issues w it. It turned out it added an hour and a half to surgery as was very embedded. The con of this was recovery was a bear! Because of all the manipulation on the left side to remove lapband I was in very bad pain for weeks and in hospital for 4 days. I am still very thankful it was one surgery and over! I hope this helps.

My BFF had her band removed and then needed to wait 6+ months to heal before doing a sleeve.

You can always get a second opinion, but it seems not uncommon to break out the procedures.

yes - I've heard of them separating the two surgeries. I think it depends on both the surgeon and the patient (i.e., what's going on in there). I've also heard of cases where the surgeon says he/she can do it in one surgery, but once they get in there, they realize they can't so they abort the second half of the surgery and schedule it for later. It never hurts to get a second opinion...

Self pay.. consultation 2nd Feb 2021.. surgery date was 27th Feb 2021. In hindsight I think that turn around was too fast.

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