STARLIGHT

ok here is my story......I had lap-band surgery in July 2008 and I lost about 75 pounds, granted I was throwing up most of my food that I ate, so I am sure that’s why I lost the weight. In my mind throwing up and losing weight and having a little bit of port pain and side pain was outweighing not having to take blood pressure meds and having sleep apnea and getting heart disease, (which runs in my family) so I just dealt with it up until March of 2011 when I got to the point where I could not get any food or water down without it coming right back up and I starting having really bad reflux and pain in my stomach and port area. I had to go to the Dr. and he removed all my fluid to see if it would resolve the problem and let my band reposition itself and give my stomach time to heal from all the vomiting and inflammation. Over the next several weeks I was able to eat and not vomit every time I ate, but I would still get nauseated and the pain would still be there, not bad like it was before the unfill but still there. Not to mention I started GAINING MY WEIGHT BACK. In May 2011 I went back and the Dr. started to try to refill my band starting out with a small amount of fluid, at first it seemed to be ok but after a week or so the pain and vomiting came back full force which just happened to be on a weekend and I tried calling my local emergency rooms and get them to take out the fluid and they said that they would not touch me I would have to go and see my Dr. So the first thing that Monday morning I called the Dr.‘s office and they told me to come in and they would remove the fluid. Once again it was like relief. Of course I am still having stomach pain and port pain after eating and nausea, vomiting and reflux. I have talked it over with my Dr. and he decided that my band was malfunctioning and causing all the pain and problems that I am having and that he could go in and reposition it but the likely of it happing again was great, or I could revise to the sleeve or the bypass but it would be my choice so I decided after weighing all the options that my life and health would be better off with the sleeve. So I gave the ok for the Dr.’s office to proceed with the paper work for a revision due to the band malfunctioning and all the complications that I was having. I cannot live with this kind of PAIN and VOMITING ,not being able to eat, health ,and gaining all my weight back that I have lost, and all the co-morbid health related issues reoccurring again. I had read my INS policy and it states that it will approve and cover a revision for compilations related to the first surgery which was the lap-band. I received a denial letter from United Health Care’s Coordination department stating that I did not meet the BMI to have the surgery and that this did not have anything to do with my band. Have they lost their mind or what??? what do I need to do now.....any help would be great.

I have a EDG done and Dr said that everything was fine and looked normal.....I am just so sick of this band. The INS denied me and the appeal cause my BMI was not 35 or above it was only 33 and my band was not the problem....(how crazy is that)....so the next thing I am going to try along with the ins lady at Dr office is now that I have gained some weight back and my BMI is at 38 and sleep apna is back and blood pressure is doing up again we are going to resmit with different reasons from having revision and see what that gets me.....I just dont understand how INS thinks that its healty to go back to the way you were before with all problems before they will do it again...going back to the Dr Thrus or Fri to re-weigh so it will be documented.....and then the waiting process starts again.....I am just so lucky to have such great husband to stand behind me makes it alittle easier.

I have no fluid in my band and have not had any since mid may. I have had a all the gallbladder tests that I could possibley have the dr thought that was what was wrong but nope everything was fine and I also had EGD and Dr. says that everything looks fine from that stand point. He thinks that I have scar tissue grown over my band and under my band around my stomach which is causing all the pain. The only way he would know for sure it to go in and look and remove the band I didnt want to have to have surgery just to take a look I want them to be able to do the sleeve not just take out the band and leave me with nothing.

ok here is my story......I had lap-band surgery in July 2008 and I lost about 75 pounds, granted I was throwing up most of my food that I ate, so I am sure that’s why I lost the weight. In my mind throwing up and losing weight and having a little bit of port pain and side pain was outweighing not having to take blood pressure meds and having sleep apnea and getting heart disease, (which runs in my family) so I just dealt with it up until March of 2011 when I got to the point where I could not get any food or water down without it coming right back up and I starting having really bad reflux and pain in my stomach and port area. I had to go to the Dr. and he removed all my fluid to see if it would resolve the problem and let my band reposition itself and give my stomach time to heal from all the vomiting and inflammation. Over the next several weeks I was able to eat and not vomit every time I ate, but I would still get nauseated and the pain would still be there, not bad like it was before the unfill but still there. Not to mention I started GAINING MY WEIGHT BACK. In May 2011 I went back and the Dr. started to try to refill my band starting out with a small amount of fluid, at first it seemed to be ok but after a week or so the pain and vomiting came back full force which just happened to be on a weekend and I tried calling my local emergency rooms and get them to take out the fluid and they said that they would not touch me I would have to go and see my Dr. So the first thing that Monday morning I called the Dr.‘s office and they told me to come in and they would remove the fluid. Once again it was like relief. Of course I am still having stomach pain and port pain after eating and nausea, vomiting and reflux. I have talked it over with my Dr. and he decided that my band was malfunctioning and causing all the pain and problems that I am having and that he could go in and reposition it but the likely of it happing again was great, or I could revise to the sleeve or the bypass but it would be my choice so I decided after weighing all the options that my life and health would be better off with the sleeve. So I gave the ok for the Dr.’s office to proceed with the paper work for a revision due to the band malfunctioning and all the complications that I was having. I cannot live with this kind of PAIN and VOMITING ,not being able to eat, health ,and gaining all my weight back that I have lost, and all the co-morbid health related issues reoccurring again. I had read my INS policy and it states that it will approve and cover a revision for compilations related to the first surgery which was the lap-band. I received a denial letter from United Health Care’s Coordination department stating that I did not meet the BMI to have the surgery and that this did not have anything to do with my band. Have they lost their mind or what??? what do I need to do now.....any help would be great.

ok here is my story.....I was banded in July 2008 and I have lost about 75 lbs. In March 2011 everything I ate and drank came back up even water Dr removed all fluid out thinking it would correct the problem and it seemed to work felt so much better then on May 04, 2011 I had first fill again and it felt ok little pain every now and then but I could eat and drink. Now I have started having really bad nausea and bad pain in my stomach, side, back and it gets worse when I eat or drink anything but I and not getting sick and my port site is very sore and tender. I call the Dr earlier and he said for me to call office in the morning and need the get it unfilled again and do some testing. Getting real upset I have been thinking about having a revision to the sleeve but have not really checked into it but now I guess that I might be sooner than I thought. If anyone has any insight on what they think is going on please let me know Or if there are some question that I should ask the Dr.

OK went to Dr today they took out all fluid only 3cc then they sent me to to have CT scan on gallbladder and just got the test results back that it was normal.....so next step is to wait and see if pain stops by WED and if not then want to do a hyda scan to make sure it is not the gallbladder which I dont think is the problem but of course they dont want it to be this most wonderful band (yea right) ....they said if its not that then they want to go in and take a look internal to see whats the problem......I dont want to do that if they are going to do surgery again I want this band out and change to a sleeve...... What do ya'll think about this??????

ok here is my story.....I was banded in July 2008 and I have lost about 75 lbs. In March 2011 everything I ate and drank came back up even water Dr removed all fluid out thinking it would correct the problem and it seemed to work felt so much better then on May 04, 2011 I had first fill again and it felt ok little pain every now and then but I could eat and drink. Now I have started having really bad nausea and bad pain in my stomach, side, back and it gets worse when I eat or drink anything but I and not getting sick and my port site is very sore and tender. I call the Dr earlier and he said for me to call office in the morning and need the get it unfilled again and do some testing. Getting real upset I have been thinking about having a revision to the sleeve but have not really checked into it but now I guess that I might be sooner than I thought. If anyone has any insight on what they think is going on please let me know Or if there are some question that I should ask the Dr.

I was banded on July 21, 2008 :cool: I have had 2 fills so for and have only lost 31 pounds. I don't really know when I should be full or what the signals are:frown:. I thought that I would only be able to eat about a handful of food but I can still eat alot of course not like before being banded. I the only thing that i have found that I can't eat is white bread it gets stuck. I don't know if I am doing something wrong :confused:or do I just need to give it time and more fills. I sometime feel so discouraged and think did I make the right choice. I just keep telling myself YES YOU DID!!!! Can anyone give me any advice or encouragement of any kind????

HI ALL JUST BANDED MONDAY JULY 21, 2008:lol::smile2::ohmy:. EVERYTHING GOING GOOD SO FAR HOPE IT STAYS THAT WAY:thumbup:. OTHER THAN BEING SORE AND I ALSO STARTED ITCHING WHERE I AM HEALING FROM THE 5 CUTS. :unsure:MY QUESTION IS HOW LONG DOES THE SORENESS & THE ITCHING LAST:unsure:?????

Hi all a little bit of info about me, I am seeing Dr. Merriman in Shreveport, LA. for the lap-band. My first appt. was on June 25, 2008. I really liked him and so did my DH. My INS approved the surgery in 1 1/2 weeks:lol: So I had my GI, blood work, x-rays & Dr. clearance all today 07/11/2008. Everything went great.:cool: I am going to be banded on Monday July 21. If anyone has any recommendations I am all ears.:thumbup:

Hi I had my GI done today nothing to panic about I went in and it was over before I knew what had happened. So very things going to be just fine.

Hi everybody I had my first dr appointment on Wed June 25 with Dr. Merriman from Shreveport LA. It went great and my husband and I just loved him.:sad: They told me that all they were waiting for was the insurance approval on the surgery and that my insurance pays 100% (thank God) they should no something in the next week. :redface: Is there anyone out there that can give me any insight about the way Dr. Merriman does things like all the testing, is there a pre-op diet that has to be done if so how long and whats on it, whats the recovery time usually, how long before I can drive or go back to work. :confused2: I know these are question that I should have ask dr. M but I was just so nervous and excitted all at the same time. Oh by the way my surgery date is set for July 21 or the 22.

Would having a ventral hernia be one of the medical reasons of course along with other reasons to having the lap band or would having this cause you not to be able to have the lap band?:ohmy:

Hello this is my first post. I am 32 just got married to a wonderful man whom I am deeply in love :cursing: with in March 2008. I have 1 child and 2 step-children all boys ages 10, 12 and 15. I am interested in having the lap-band surgery done. I have my first appointment in Shreveport, LA on June 25, 2008 w/ Dr. Merriman. If there is anyone out there who can give my any insight about the Dr. and what his procedures are I would be most great-full. Thanks