JamieNP

Well, I ended up in the ER. The surgeon on call did not want to touch it, and neither did the ER doc. The following day, a surgeon was able to access my tricky port after about 20 sticks. Looks like the port has flipped some and will have to be replaced. Also, it may be that the band has formed a capsule around it, causing it to be tight. Now I have no restriction and have no sense of fullness. Ugh..This thing is coming out! Going to look into converting to the sleeve, as this yo-yo weight gain/loss is killing me!

I am going to have to get my lab band removed or revised. I am going to choose removed, as they are no longer performing the procedures around here and no one wants to mess with it if I have problems, which I have had tons. I have had mine for almost 10 years and was down to 115lbs. I have since gained 50lbs. While my insurance will pay for the removal, they may not pay for a revision to a sleeve. I have IU health plans for an insurance, and I can add my husbands insurance, which is ANthem premium, if needed. Does anyone know what the rough cost is for a revision to sleeve? What about just the sleeve portion? Anyone had any luck with IU health plans on appeal, as I am sure it will have to be appealed. I feel like I have worked so hard and put up with so much in the past ten years.

I have had my band for quite a while and have had issues in the past couple of years with it being too tight or not tight enough. Was even hospitalized with dehydration due to inflammation after taking NSAIDs for an injury. My port is extremely hard to access. So in the past year I have not been in the “sweet spot”. Not a lot of restriction, but not feeling like an empty pit where I am hungry all of the time. I felt it was better to just leave it alone. In the past 5 days I have had a sinus infection and my band is extremely tight. I am hardly able to get any liquids down. I have tried hot coffee and it came back up. I am now drinking soda, which, btw, I have not consumed in almost 10 years. I am thinking that may break up the “clog”, and I may try vinegar. Does anyone else have any other suggestions? I am using carafate to coat the stomach in between. I don’t want another trip to the ER and the office is closed today.

I will after the holiday weekend. We will likely have to do some good documentation. I was just curious if anyone else had success. ( I realize that there are different variants that will impact each person's outcome, i.e., type of insurance, comorbidities, state that they live in, etc)

Did your insurance cover this with a lower BMI?

HI all! Got my Lapband in 2008 and was doing well..was down to 120 lbs. After an injury and some NSAID use, I had started having problems with irritations and the band being too tight, then no restriction when the Fluid was removed. Have gained 60 lbs and now having some of my pre band issues return, such as hypertension and sleep apnea. Have talked to my surgeon about the possibility of getting the band replaced or converted to sleeve, which would be my choice since they are phasing out the Lapband. Has anyone had this done, and if so, did your insurance pay for it? Was your BMI less than 30? Thanks in advance.

Maybe this should be under the "What is the rudest thing someone said" post, but her goes. I got my lapband 8 years ago and was at around 120 lbs (way below my goal weight for my 5'7 height). This was due to a special diet I had to be on. I looked way too thin and just plain sick. So, I had some Fluid taken out of my band and gained some weight, up to 140 lbs, which is probably a healthy weight for me. A physician that I work with came up to me and whispered "have you gained weight?". I explained that I was way to skinny and needed to. He said "you are getting chunky". What the ^&*$ !!! I tried to laugh it off, but it really messed with me. I know I am healthier, but darn if now I am concerned about my weight! Arghhhhhhhhhhh!

I have heard some horrible things, but now that I am BELOW my goal weight, I can just smile at them as they talk about the diets they are on and how much weight THEY need to lose. One of the hardest things is Loving yourself!

Debbie, I, too, did not have the support of my husband. One of the things he told me before I had surgery was "Look at you, why would I take you out in public?". Then when I had lost about 40 lbs post op, he said "you still have a long way to go". Well, I divorced him and now I am below my goal weight. I hope he eats his heart out.

Did you have an EGD before your surgery, and did it show gastritis or anything else?

I have it anytime I eat chocolate before I go to bed.