nurseforlapband

Glad you are doing OK!

Rex hospital

Please let me know how it goes. Let me know the date u get ????

Congratulations !!

. I called Aetna today they said that my application was still pending but it was on the commissioners desk and I guess he's the very last one that signs off on it so they said I should have an answer within 24 hours I'm just praying for a approval tomorrow because only God knows how I feel in this body for many years! I never thought it would get to this point but life happens and sometimes you just get to a point where you need help! Feeling overwhelmed and depressed but I know better days are to come!!!

Finally approved yesterday! 4 surgeon visits, 1 nutrition eval 1 psych eval, other tests and labs required by surgeon

Approved today!

Approved today!

I'm also hoping to get an answer from Aetna tomorrow after going back and forth with them last week. Good luck to you @@Joymarie333 and @@LaLaLucy! Wishing you the best with your upcoming surgery @@xrayyoung22!

Approved today! 4 visits with surgeon, 1 psych eval, 1 nutrition eval and labs and tests ordered by surgeon

I was banded in 2005 and lost 100+ lbs when in 2011 the band slipped and was opened up. By the time it was replaced with another band, I had regained 50 lbs. On July 7, I had the band Converted to a sleeve. I would not have been prepared for some of the things that have happened to this date without my readings on Barriatricpal. The gaining a few lbs the first couple of days, the painful incisions, the ache in my shoulder fronm the gas. This is to say thank you to everyone that shares on this website. I look forward to my continuing journey and the support offered by the website.

I was banded in mar 2001
Removed Sept 2011 - 11 years of unpleasantness
Sleeved Dec 2011
Lost 150# and hit goal Feb 2013
July 2015...still doing good!

I had bypass May 29th. I have had no issues. I picked bypass because I had metabolic issues. Sleeve most likely would not have been as successful for me because of that. Also, it is the gold standard. From reading around the forums it seems to me that sleeve people heal slower and their diet progression is slower this is my opinion from what I have read. Also I see a lot of sleeve people that eventually convert to bypass because of things like GERD. Pick what you feel is right for you

I also chose the sleeve over RNY because I don't do daily medication well. I forget, I'm not that routinized. I was afraid that if I didn't take Vitamins every day there could be worse health effects. And all the rerouting scared me. The sleeve seemed less invasive.
I had my band removed and the sleeve done in one surgery. I didn't want to expose myself to anesthesia that much. It was worth a slightly longer procedure than facing two of them.

I chose to revise to the sleeve instead of the bypass because the malabsorption issue was one I didn't want to deal with. My surgeon told me yesterday he took off about 70% of my stomach instead of the normal 80% - he left more so that where my band was and where my esophagus met the stomach I wouldn't be prone to getting a leak. The weight loss may be slower but for me, slow and steady wins the race and I just didn't feel right about the bypass for me personally.

I just wanted to update that I was approved even though I had a small gain during 4 mos. supervised diet during which I had band removed.

My saving grace:
Protein Popsicles/icecubes
1 box sugar free Jello mix, 1 packet kool-aid, 1/2 sugar free sweetener (your choice) with 1 cup boiling Water --mix and cool to room temperature
1 cup cold Water mixed with 1 scoop fruit flavored Protein (ie strawberry or fuzzy navel)
Combine both and freeze in ice cubes or Popsicle
I use the ice cubes in my food processor to make a protein slush. 6-8 cubes, 8 oz water, 1 scoop fruit flavored protein.
Both really good on a hot day

What was your approval process like? So confused because I had to have band out last month and nobody told me that I can't gain weight!!! Reading these posts I am worried because I gained a couple since my band was removed. Surgeon always does 2 step process but never mentioned weight gain. Nervous! Final appointment Monday! I have Aetna also and am in nyc.

I had the same thing happen to me. I got the band May, 2011. It slipped at the end of 2012. Had surgery to release it. Six weeks later had another surgery to put it back together. Band slipped again fall 2014 and it was removed December, 2014. Since then I've gained 25-30 pounds. When the band was removed, I would not consider another surgery. I thought I could do it on my own. It took me a while, lots of thinking and research. I also talked to two acquaintances who have been sleeved. I wanted to hear from them that they weren't experiencing the problems that bypass can cause. I'm a nurse and took care of many bypass patients and saw the problems they had after bypass...malabsorption and dumping syndrome being the most common. Finally decided I want to pursue the sleeve and my surgeon is in agreement. Now to determine if the insurance will cover it. I hate the waiting. I would assume since they approved me for the band and I did lose a significant amount of weight that I should be ok to get the sleeve.

Hello!! I'm pre-op in Raleigh.

Band removal and sleeve revision approved by insurance! Surgery date is 5/4. Unless there is far too much scar tissue or band erosion the sleeve will be done at the same time. Doctor tells me that he has not had one person that he was not able to revise in one shot yet, but, I could be his first. He has to prepare me, just in case. I must remain positive and keep thoughts on the prize.
I liked the band. It worked very well for me, however, my esophagus didn't take much liking to the band. I'm going to ask the doctor if I can keep it as a souvenir, but, I'm sure hospital policies won't allow it. Am I weird or what?
This doctor is not the same bariatric doctor as my band doctor due to insurance changes. I also like this doctor. It's really something how all doctor's order on pre-op diet are so different. Band doc had me on 2 week, 2 a day Bariatric Protein shakes with 1 light meal. This doc requires only 1 week pre-op diet using sugar free carnation instant Breakfast, 2 a day with 1 light meal.
Brand new journey starting soon and kind of freaked out! jake

Ooch does that hurt! Other than pain I am battling went very smoothly and surgeon said my stomach wasn't in such bad shape for having band in for 8 years! Waiting a few months before sleeve surgery!

I was banded in 2008 and am having revision on Monday. I am so excited. I never had trouble with the band apart from my own inability to work with it. I lost 40 pounds but only when I was eating nothing and working out twice a day. When I couldn't keep that up the weight came back.
I feel a lot better prepared thi s time. Head's in a better place, older and wiser, researched more, and with a better tool I feel very optimistic.
This forum has been great, incredibly helpful.

I had my sleeve done almost 2 months ago by Dr. Bruce at Bariatric Specialist s of Nn..He was great!!

I asked my doctor about band to sleeve patients losing less and he had a very good reply. Most people when they get the band, were larger then when they get to sleeve. The bigger you are, the faster you will initially lose the weight. Also, most people who start a totally new diet are initially really good at it and stick with it. Once you've been on it for awhile you have a tendency to be more lax, meaning when you initially get the band, you were more strict with yourself then when you get sleeve you may not be as strict.
I hope I'm explaining as good as it was explained to me, because it really made sense. I'm still going ahead with the sleeve and will try very hard to be as strict with it as I was initially with the band.