SkinnyKathy

My surgeon was Dr. Todd Kellogg. I felt in very good hands! Who is your surgeon?

I am now three days post-op, and I am in almost no pain. I am sipping away at my liquids without difficulty. Other than being a bit tired, I feel great! My surgeon said that I was a challenging case, as I had a major hiatal hernia that he had to repair; my stomach was in my chest cavity! I also had a lot of scar tissue left over from my lap band, that he had to clean up and work around. So my surgery lasted 5 hours instead of the expected 2-3. He said that the actual bypass was the easy part.

Hello all, I had a lap band installed in 2008 at my high weight of 433, and lost 250 pounds in 2.5 years. At the time I was a big fan of the lap band, and my story was considered a lap band success story. But like almost everyone I know who was banded, eventually it started causing severe acid reflux, even with a fully empty band. I had the band removed in 2019, and eventually my weight was up to 330 lbs. I took GLP-1's for a few years and lost almost 90 pounds, but my weight loss stalled out at around 245, where I am now. Long story cut slightly shorter, I am going to the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) for RNY gastric bypass surgery on May 6! I chose Mayo Clinic because my case is complex (prior lap band plus other stuff) and they specialize in complex cases. I'm excited but also wondering if there's anyone else here who had RNY after lap band. How much weight did you lose with the second surgery? How did the two surgeries compare?

Ugh. I see I will have to lobby the head of HR to include more insurance options next year. I don't mind paying more for better health insurance to get bariatric surgery covered. I just wanted to get it done in 2021, not wait until 2022. I wonder if I should start documenting the 6 months of medically supervised weight loss now in anticipation of hopefully a new medical insurance option in 2022 that will cover it. Or would the six months have to start once the policy is valid?

I had a lap band under United Healthcare PPO in 2008, lost 250 pounds, then had to have it removed in 2018 due to terrible acid reflux, Kaiser insurance. Have gained over 100 pounds back. Now I want to have RNY gastric bypass, and was set to get this going through Kaiser but got derailed due to COVID. Now I just started a great new job which I am very excited about, but the downside is that they only offer one insurance option, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. I have to start the whole insurance process all over again, in fact find new doctors again, but today I called the customer service number for BCBS of AL and asked about bariatric surgery and they told me that it is not covered on my policy! Has anyone ever had this experience, and were you able to find a way to get bariatric surgery covered under appeal? I really want this surgery but the out of pocket costs are pretty bad. I can't believe that this isn't covered in any form. Help!

Thanks, everyone. I'm facing a similar situation. Long time bandster, lost 250 pounds, now 100 of that has crept on. Band had to be removed last December due to reflux. I was in process to get RNY when COVID hit and I stopped everything. I was away from the program too long and they dropped me, now I have to get back in and finish the pre-op checklist. I'm looking for success stories to bolster my confidence to do this.

Hello all, I was banded in 2008 at 433 lbs and lost 250 pounds to get my weight down to ~180 in a few years. Kept the band almost 10 years but the acid reflux got too bad and I had to have it removed a little over 6 months ago. My weight had been creeping up to 240 before the lap band removal and up to 280 now. I am strongly considering the RNY but am concerned about the permanent rearrangement of my insides. That's why I went with the band in the first place, because it was reversible. I am concerned about developing malnourishment, although I am good about taking supplements (which I do every day even now with no bariatric surgery in place). I am looking for success stories. Who has had their band removed and then put in a RYN and had a good experience? I need to lose at least 100 pounds now and want to keep it off for life this time.

I had a tummy tuck with anchor incision, breast lift with implants, and arm lift all done at the same time. Interestingly enough, the arm lift was the most uncomfortable part. I planned ahead well and rented a recliner with a lift, borrowed a walker, and had helpers on standby. The first week was a bit tough, but I never regretted it, and it was great that I didn't have to take all that time off work several times. Even though this was a lot of surgery, my plan was to do the back half of the tummy tuck (to make a circumferential lift) and thigh lift in a second surgery, which for various reasons never happened. Since then I have had to take my lap band out and have gained weight. So I need to get that under control before I can finish my surgical transformation. But I still do not regret doing multiple procedures in one operation.

Well it’s all over now. At least the band part of my life. Band removal surgery was two days ago. I’m healing ok except for a seroma under one of my incisions. I have a call into my doctors office to see what to do about that. Doc said I had a lot of adhesions that he had to remove, and also that the valve between my stomach and esophagus was shot due to the band. So definitely no sleeve in my future, but RNY is still an option. I have to wait 3 months and lose 20 pounds on my own first.

Hello all, I was a lap band success story at one time, surgery in 2008, losing from 433 to 178, keeping most of that off for years. But life and acid reflux have taken their toll. I’ve had my band unfilled and refilled several times over the past years, but it’s no use. I can’t get to a sweet spot again where the band helps me lose weight and the acid reflux is manageable. The band is coming out on Monday. I’m depressed and worried. For me the band was magic, it made it easy (or at least possible) to lose so much weight. Now with an empty band for several months I’m struggling so much. I’ve regained 100 pounds in the past four years. Although I don’t have much restriction now, I’m worried about further weight gain. And also feeling like a failure, although I know that the band failed me. I did lose 250 pounds! I’m thinking of getting a RNY but I still don’t like the idea of cutting myself up like that. I’m trying to lose weight without further bariatric surgery but I’m not feeling confident. I’m mostly feeling depressed that this thing I loved at one point has turned out to be such a disappointment. Like a relationship gone bad. I’m breaking up with my band but still mourn the loss.

I was banded 11 years ago and was very successful with the band for a long time. I lost 250 pounds and kept most of that off for many years. Now, in the last few years, my band has gone from being my friend to at times my enemy. Lots of acid reflux, waking up with stomach bile in my mouth, and also not some days I can eat anything and other days I can barely sip water. It has gotten to the point where I have started thinking "what can I eat" rather than "what should I eat"? I have also gained back 100 pounds of the 250 I lost. Technically, by the numbers, I am still considered a "lap band success story." And if you asked me several years ago I would have highly recommended the band. But now I wouldn't. Needless to say, I am starting the process of having it removed and strongly considering converting to RNY.

Elcee, thank you for your reply. How much did you lose on the band in the first place? How long were you banded? How was the recovery from band to bypass in one surgery?

I was banded in October 2008. It was awesome for the first two years, then still good for a number of years after that. I went from 433 to 178 pounds. But the last few years have been quite difficult and depressing. GERD, vomiting, foam in my mouth, food getting stuck, and poor eating habits developed by thinking "what is my body able to tolerate now?" rather than "what is healthy to eat?". Gained nearly 100 pounds back of the 250 I lost. I'm done with this band. Ready to have it removed and revise to RNY as quickly as my doctor will let me, looks like 3 months. Doctor appointment to kick off the process is tomorrow. I think I may have to go through the usual pre-surgery hoops.

Hello all, I had lap band in 2008 and lost ~250 pounds, from 433 to 178 pounds. I thought the band was a miracle. Then the band went from being my friend to my nemesis. Trying to manage severe GERD has led to almost 100 pound gain. Long story short, I have a doctor appointment tomorrow to see about getting the band out and convert to RNY. (Sleeve is out of the question due to GERD). I have Kaiser and they will only do it in two steps which I am bummed about, but I just want to get the process started. Anyway, the reason for my post is I have been re-emerging on this forum to find others who have transitioned from lap band to RNY. My main question is, for those who have gone from band to RNY, how was the transition for you and did you find that the RNY worked well for you after your band? I read a lot of these stories about people losing a lot of weight quickly on RNY but they are talking about their first bariatric surgery. As a second bariatric surgery I want to know more about what I can expect. Are there forums on here for revision patients? Kathy

I was banded in 2008. Lost 250 pounds from 433 to 183 or so. I thought the band was a miracle. Then problems with acid reflux started. I have had all the problems people gave mentioned on this thread. I’m managing it now by avoiding eating or drinking in the evening, and emptying my throat as much as possible before going to bed and anytime I wake up at night. I keep a plastic cup on my bedtime table to spit up in. Plus my band is not very tight. But I am still having acid reflux pain during the day and occasionally wake up coughing still. At times I’ve had to have my band completely emptied. And I’ve gained weight, now up to 270. I’m strongly considering having the band removed, and getting a RNY instead. I have Kaiser and they won’t do it all at once. I wave to wait 3 months in between, which is a bummer but I have to admit that my band isn’t working for me anymore. I’m scared about malnutrition from the RNY though, and cutting out to much of my insides just seems wrong. I wish I could keep my weight under 200 without such drastic measures but I’m not feeling confident that I can do it anymore.

I had a panni after losing only 80 pounds, only about 1/3 of the way to my goal. But I am probably the exception. I started out at 433 pounds with a very pronounced pannus. As I lost weight my pannus only got worse, hanging lower, rashes impossible to manage. It made exercising quite difficult. My insurance coved the panni. It made it much easier to exercise, dramatically improved my appearance and eliminated the rash problem. But I knew all along that I would still need major cosmetic surgery as I get close to goal weight. Now I'm about 40 pounds from my revised-revised goal, and I am planning for a lower body lift with lipo. That will be out of pocket. I would say wait until you are at or nearly at your goal weight unless your pannus is causing you health problems or interfering with exercise.

Wow! Does that price of $4000 include the 15 days in the recovery boutique? Can't wait to hear how your surgery goes! Kathy

Thanks for the reply, danielle b! Can you tell me, did you investigate a lot of other plastic surgeons before selecting Dr. Quiroz? Kathy

Hi all, I've lost 213 pounds so far on the lap band. Started at 433 in Sept of 2008, lost most of this weight in the first 2 years. After a long plateau and a port replacement due to a leak, I'm back on track and losing again. I'm determined to get from my current weight of 220 to my goal of 180 (I'm 5' 9"). My reward to myself will be a lower body left with anchor incision. I had a panniculectomy after losing 80 pounds because my pannus was so bad. That was great but I definitely need the lower body lift. All my loose skin has pooled around my hips and I have folds vertically as well as horizontally (hence the anchor incision). I'm two sizes larger on bottom than on top! I'm looking for any advice and encouragement I can get as I push the last mile on my weight loss and decide where to get the surgery done. My insurance covered the panni but definitely won't cover this. I've consulted with the surgeon who did my panni but it would cost me approx $16k here in the San Francisco bay area. I'm considering going out of the country to get this done but wary because I know it is a complex surgery. Not your average tummy tuck. Any insight or advice would be appreciated! Kathy

Hello folks, I can hardly believe that I am on the home stretch here. I started out at 433 pounds nearly three years ago and have lost 220, make that 215 as my weight has been creeping up a few pounds lately due to stress. Most of that I lost in the first two years, as I have been on a plateau for most of 2011. On the one hand, I am really, really pleased for the weight I have lost. I am literally HALF the woman I used to be! I have gone from being defined by my limitations (energy, size, fitting in chairs - everything) to having essentially no limitations in life. I used to have to buy all my clothes mail order because even Avenue didn't carry big enough clothes (size 36). Now I am right in between shopping in the Misses and Women's departments (size 14-16 on top, size 18 on bottom). Although one of my goals is to be out of Women's sizes completely. My family and I went on a vacation to Mexico and I sunned myself on the beach and slid down the water slides with my kids. When we went to Washington DC I walked all around the Capitol Mall visiting the various Smithsonian museums without getting tired and without my feet or legs getting sore. I even got our friends to babysit so my husband and I could make a special trip out at night, walking from our hotel to the Washington monument, just to see it at night. That's a lot of walking and it was no big deal for me, whereas before I would have never considered walking so far just for the sake of seeing a monument at night. We were travelling with some friends who are quite a bit heavier than I am currently, although not as heavy as I was before my lapband surgery, and they were not able to do the things I was able to do. It reminded me of how far I've come, and I'm really grateful for the progress I've made. (And I was able to be compassionate for their state of energy, since I have been there and worse) On the other hand, I have been stuck at more or less this weight for most of 2011. It's like my body does not want to drop those last 25 pounds to my goal weight. Now I know that by most measures of "success" for bariatric surgery (losing 50-70% of your excess weight) I am already successful. But I want to get down to the one hundreds! Actually, 170 would be an even healthier weight for me, but I'll settle for 199 (I'm tall). So I am frustrated by this long plateau and my seeming inability to get all the way down to my goal weight. Now I know that I have developed some bad habits (liquid calories sneaking back into my diet) and also that I have to get more serious about exercise in order to get to the next step. I am thinking of trying to hire a personal trainer to keep me on track and motivated. Just going out walking as exercise - which worked great when I was first getting going - is not going to be enough anymore. So anyway that's my story. I'm really glad I did the lap band. I honestly never thought I would get my weight this far down ever again. So I am really grateful for that.

I'm going to provide a partial answer to my own question. I found this link Post Weight Loss Surgery in Sacramento: Fees, financing & Insurance which says: "Some insurance companies will cover breast reduction surgery for women if the nipple sags at or below the bend in the elbow" Ding ding ding! We have a possible winner here! It doesn't say whether the criteria is the inner bend or the outer bend in the elbow, but in my case, my nipples hang at least a full inch below the bottom of my elbow when I bend my arms up. If I put on my pants before my bra I sometimes get my nipples caught inside my waistband, no kidding! Anyway, I have a consultation with my plastic surgeon scheduled for next week, but I wanted to see if any of you ladies had any information. Kathy

I had a panniculectomy when I had lost about 80 pounds out of the 210 I have lost so far. My pannus was so bad, even before I lost weight, and then as I was losing weight it got worse and worse. At 80 pounds lost my pannus was halfway down my thighs! It was making it extremely difficult to exercise and I was constantly battling rashes. So I had the panniculectomy at about 350 lb, fully knowing that I would need more plastic surgery when I get down to my goal weight. In my case, because I had not gotten down to anything approaching a goal weight, I did get pushback from my insurance company. My primary doctor had to intervene and wrote a letter and called the insurance company and I wrote an appeal and -poof- denial overturned and I was approved. But I think for most people, if you are at goal weight and have a large overhanging pannus (it doesn't have to be halfway down your thighs to qualify!) it is just a matter of getting a plastic surgeon to apply to your insurance company. I also submitted photos of my pannus and the rashes underneath (not pretty), also records from my regular doctor showing that he had been treating me with prescription-strength anti-fungals to no avail. By the way, on the subject of pain, for me, learning to pronounce panniculectomy was much more painful than recovery from the surgery itself, LOL! Seriously, it wasn't that bad, even with a scar from hip to hip. My problem was swelling. I developed a pretty severe seroma and had to be drained manually (syringe stuck in my belly 18 times), the doctor was taking out a quart of Fluid every few days! Finally I had to have a drain re-inserted. I actually gained 10 pounds after my surgery, even though he cut 14 pounds of skin and fat off me, so you can get an idea of how severe my swelling was. But eventually with anti-biotics and a new drain and rest the swelling went back down and I have since enjoyed a much more normal-shaped body, relatively speaking. Now at 210 pounds lost I am quite a mess under my clothes. I have developed another pannus of sorts. Unfortunately it is probably not low enough to qualify for another surgery pain for by insurance. I am looking into getting a lower body lift and a breast lift. Oh, and one more thing. In my case at least, having the panniculectomy early was not a lost opportunity, because my doctor told me that even if I lost all my weight and then went in for surgery he couldn't do a lower body lift all at once because my pannus would have been so bad, he would have had to stage the surgeries anyway. So in my case I'm very glad I had the panni early. But I wouldn't advise that for everyone, only more severe cases. Kathy

Plateaus come and go, but just keep on keeping on and you'll get past it. My experience throughout the entire 210 pounds I have lost so far is that I plateau for a few weeks and then all of a sudden drop 5 pounds at once, LOL. I have learned to take it all in stride. I know this is why lots of people advise you not to weigh yourself more than once a week, but I like the discipline of weighing myself daily. However, I don't get frustrated or upset with the daily ups and downs and weeks-long plateaus, because I know that sometime soon I will drop another 5 pounds, LOL. It's funny to me. More weirdness in my body, but as long as the trend continues downward, I don't care! I'm down to a size 18 jeans now, 16 in tops! And those fit welll or are somewhat loose! I can hardly believe it! When I had my surgery, my size 36 jeans were tight!

I have an entry in the success stories section with pictures. Here's the link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f286/kathys-first-goal-reached-low-200s-184-pounds-lost-23-months-119596/ Kathy