crystal525

I would like to ask if you think your purging was because of the band? I too threw up alot with the band...probably the only reason I lost weight. But I don't think I had an eating disorder. I ate and threw up because of how uncomfortable I was after eating most meals. Yes...sometimes I knew I should stop eating, but never felt full, never felt satisfied and when I did-the food had to come out. I think there is such a thing as band-induced bulimia. Since I had my band out in April I have not once thrown up (unless I was sick). I am hoping to revise to a sleeve...just taking my time making my decision. I meet with the therapist next month for my psych evaluation. I'm just scared of the finality of having half of my stomach removed. But--since my issues started (pouch dilation), I have gained 50 pounds in the last year and that fact is outweighing any fear I have now. So I think you should evaluate the reasons behind your bulimic issues. I'm sharing my insight from life on the other side when you have the band out, as someone who also threw up regularly. Not many people knew how often I did (probably except my hubby and he probably didn't really know). Personally I know from experience that the weight you lose does not stay off and your metabolism is basically **** so once the band is out it is extremely hard to keep the weight off. Since waiting and seeing how you do is really not an option, maybe you can ask for a larger sleeve? Sorry I'm not more help, I just know I gained 10 pounds with my dilated pouch, 10 pounds with my unfill, and 30 since my band was taken out. Ugh... Best wishes with your decision. Crystal

Unfortunately no call yet...but confident. Submission not until my 90 days up!

Congrats all! QDMama--I see we have the same surgeon! I love Dr. M--he did my band placement in 2008, band removal last month, and will now do my sleeve hopefully in late July/early August! He requires 3-4 months before he'll revise. And I too have Aetna...my package will be submitted after my 90 day program is up on Jul 9 (unfortunately I had to do the program again--Aetna covered my band so hopefully there'll be no issues with revision coverage!).

Aetna covers the sleeve--just FYI!

I had my band removed at 4pm on a Monday and was back at work (desk job) on Wednesday. My surgeon refuses to do single surgery revisions due to the leak issues connected with scar tissue. He said since I'm a revision, he cleaned my scar tissue up completely and I have to wait 3 months for my revision so I can be totally healed. The worst part of the removal was that the port site was sore for a week. I had it out April 9 and even my scars are about healed. I'm just trying to not gain anymore weight (I have gained almost 30 pounds over the last year, the most being since my total unfill in December--I honestly think when the band doesn't work for you, it works against you...). I think my metabolism is finally getting back to normal. Good luck to you!

I too had a bad experience with my EGD sedation. They told me i'd be a little out of it so that I could swallow when they put the tube down, then they'd put me totally out. I felt exactly as you described above. I could tell what was going on around me but couldn't talk or react. I could hear my surroundings but in the distance. I could hear the doc tell the nurse she was just supposed to give me Adivan (sp?). Maybe I'm sensitive to that, I don't know, but I felt like I was dreaming very crazy things... I have no clue why??? But--I also had a prior bad experience with anesthesia during a knee procedure like 15 years ago...felt like I woke up during the procedure--not scared at all, just cold and they put me back out. Well--needless to say I am scared to death now whenever I have to be sedated. But--I think I finally got my answer when I had my band out about a month ago. I always make sure I tell the anesthesiologist my issues. I described what I remembered during the two instances. She believes the difference was local v. general anesthesia. The local is what they use when they want u up immediately (like with an EGD or colonoscopy) and apparently they used to use it a lot with lower body surgeries. They don't need to intubate with local. I'm happy to say i did not have ANY anesthesia issues with my band placement (2008) or removal 2 weeks ago and they were both general anesthesia. Hope this helps. Crystal

That always happened when I had United. Call them ... If the hospital was in network it should be covered.

OMG...I love a good blog. I just started reading--HILARIOUS...my type of comedy. LOL. Thanks for looking out...

My band was placed in Nov 2008 and I got it out yesterday. I haven't talked to the surgeon yet, but my husband said he told him that there wasn't much damage/scar tissue which was a huge concern for me as well. I saw the nutritionist last week as my first appointment of the whole process ... again. They said even though it's like a revision, the insurance company still has the same requirements... At least it's only a 90 day process. This time I do have to have the sleep study even though I didn't have to last time for the band (the pulmonologist ruled me out during my clearance...). And I have to see the psych again to be cleared. I'm not happy with the additional expenses, but at least my surgery (if approved) should be covered at 100%. Good luck to you (and me!!!)!

My doc likes to give the stomach 3 or 4 months to rest before doing the sleeve. I was hoping to get it done at one time, but now understand why some surgeons choose not to...higher leakage rates... Every doctor has their differences. Lots of people who don't do well with the band can still do well with the sleeve. My surgeon's personal opinion is that if you lost well with the band you should do well with the sleeve. He prefers to do the bypass for those who did not do well with the band and who still have a lot to lose. I lost nearly 80 pounds and only started to gain weight back when complications set in (reflux, dilation). I think the band will be a plus when it comes to how little you'll be able to eat after either procedure. I don't have a special eating plan...just gotta start doing 5 meals a day...which includes 2 Protein shakes. Keep me posted!

Diurex (I think they still sell this!).

I'm feeling pretty good after my band removal yesterday afternoon at 4pm. My doc told my hubby that the scarring/stomach was "not bad at all." So I'm hoping that moving forward with the sleeve should be seamless! I'm very worried about the higher leak rate with the conversion, but feel pretty good since the scar tissue wasn't bad. Also--my doc is sending my band away for pathology. I had been getting fevers (every six months or so...lasting for about 2 days at about 103) over the last 2 years. No explanation. The hospital referred me to a rheumatologist to check for auto immune diseases since unexplained fevers are an indicator. The rheumatologist couldn't find anything either. My band surgeon thinks it might be my body rejecting/fighting the band also. Who knows???!!! Just one more reason to get it out of me. Although I'm scared to death of life without it (even tho it's not helped me at all over the last year and a half--gained 30 pounds since last March). My 90 day program will be up on Jul 9...hoping to get sleeved over the summer. I work for a couple of very busy law partners and it'll depend on thier vacation schedules etc. I feel like I've been out alot this year (2 week vaction in March!!!) and now all these appointments to prepare for the sleeve. I have the leave and I have short term disability so I shouldn't feel guilty...but I do. Thanks for listening...sorry for rambling. Must be the drugs...

is that the sleeve will be just like the band in 5 years... I had the band 4 years ago and no one was talking about it negatively. Now nearly all the info out there is negative. I can have my band out (and I am next Tuesday), but the sleeve is not reversible. I've decided to do it but I am worried about long-term issues. I don't want another WLS in 5 years. I want this to really work. Any long-termers have any input?

Added you! My band is coming out next Tuesday. My first appointment of my 90 day program is today. Hoping to be sleeved end of July! You look great. I was down to 178 with my band a year ago. Band too tight, dilated pouch, complete unfill in the last year...back up to 210 now. Ugh.

I'm getting my Upper GI in the morning. I'm making my dr. appt as soon as I'm done! I intend to get everything checked. Weighing my options to see if I'm keeping it or sleeving, no matter what.

I have it too...mine just started though (over 4 years since surgery)...I too had a hernia repair at surgery. ???

I had an endoscopy a year ago and my esophagus was a little dilated then so I had a little fill removed. But...I think it just got worse and my pouch dilated too. My surgeon didn't think it was a slip...just the placement was off due to the pouch dilation. Who knows...??? Now, I'm just waiting to see how my upper GI goes on Wednesday (all my fill was taken out the first week of December and he told me to wait 6-8 weeks). I think if it hasn't resolved itself that there'll be some type of revision surgery (a fix or a new procedure). Even if it is fixed, it'll likely happen again and he already told me I'd be very slow refilling because of it. I have been "dieting" all January (first counting calories, now counting carbs) and I seem to be still gaining. It's worse after you've been banded trying to keep control. I am scared to death to be without my band (even though it's not quite working right now). I'm considering revising to a sleeve. My insurance seems to cover revisions due to dilations, slippage, etc. I'll keep you posted after my appointment on Wednesday. Keep me posted on you as well! Crystal

I'm in your shoes...totally unfilled at the beginning of December and up almost 20 pounds from my lowest weight last March. Everytime I get a fill, I have to get some out at my next visit. I'm considering revision to the Sleeve (which brings me over here), but I'm totally torn. I threw up more than I admitted, had massive heartburn and worried over every meal whether I'd tolerate it... lots of potatoes and Soups (which helped lead to my gain even before the unfill). I go Tuesday for a new upper GI to see if my dilated pouch/esophogus has fixed itself... It's very stressful. If I wanted to get cut I would have went with the bypass originally...now even with the sleeve...ugh. So stressful. Sorry I'm no help, but I thought you'd like to know you are not alone! Oh--I don't think you have to worry about the insurance thinking anything about getting a 2nd opinion...alot of them will give you a free initial evaluation anyway. You are just covering your bases. If you qualify for it, seeing a second dr. shouldn't disqualify the coverage. My 2 cents... Take care!

Wow--I could have written this (except for not having it again...I would do it again to get the weight off). I just had all my fill removed since I was too tight and now have dilated esophogus and pouch. My doc said I had to be miserable...I guess I just learned to live with the daily issues (it was my new normal...). I'm just beginning to check out the revision to sleeve ...I'm just not sure I want my stomach cut. I lost 80 pounds and have since put back on about 20...I know I need SOMETHING... I think when I was ABLE to eat my body just absorbed every single calorie because it was like "hey--I'm not starving anymore." I'll go research over at that forum. I'm afraid of not having my band... But I have this feeling that it's not correcting itself. I guess I will know when I have my upper GI in a couple weeks...

My pouch and esophogus are dilated. The doc immediately took out all my fill. Before, no matter how much of a fill, I could not eat any bread, no matter what. Now I can eat ANYTHING. I need to have another barium swallow and then the doc said if it fixed itself (90% do...but 1/2 recur...) we'd be re-filling VERY SLOWLY...I'm up 10 pounds since my unfill in December and am worried it won't correct itself (or hasn't). I get alot of gas in my stomach whenever I eat and severe left shoulder pain--no matter how much I eat. I've decided to start investigating revisions...Anyone else with the same issues?

I'm in Mechanicsville too! Maybe we can all post here and keep each other accountable. I've not lost any substantial weight in a while! I need to get my exercise back on track and eat better.

I'd like to join. I went back to running yesterday for the first time in months! I just cannot seem to get back into this exercise thing. I've been working alot of OT lately, but have to remember to get my ME time in! So....10 pounds is my goal. That's 1 pound per week (that would be fabulous since I've been fluctuating between 173-179 for months now!!!). I've got 35 pounds to go to be at the weight my doc said would be ideal for me so...let's go and good luck!

You said right side in your initial post so I was thinking gallbladder too. I had similar "odd" pains on my left along with nausea when I was hungry or full. My doc told me that sometimes the only symptom of reflux is nausea. A prescription acid reducer helped me. But I had the sonogram of my gallbladder too--mine showed no stones. I go back Friday and will let you know if the doc says anything else.