ppqjones

The band is gone!!! Had the removal Wed & feeling pretty groovy today. Now Ono the battle with the insurance company to approve the next step. They have already told me the next step would be denied because I get one lifetime treatment & removing the band they consider a bariatric treatment. Good thing my work is self insured then my patient advocate can take it to the board & fight for them to over ride the insurance carrier who does all our payments. One step at a time. I'm still a bit afraid to eat because its been the norm to not be able to eat until a certain time etc... I hope everyone is doing well

The band is gone!!! Had the removal Wed & feeling pretty groovy today. Now Ono the battle with the insurance company to approve the next step. They have already told me the next step would be denied because I get one lifetime treatment & removing the band they consider a bariatric treatment. Good thing my work is self insured then my patient advocate can take it to the board & fight for them to over ride the insurance carrier who does all our payments. One step at a time. I'm still a bit afraid to eat because its been the norm to not be able to eat until a certain time etc... I hope everyone is doing well

SUPER EXCITED!!! I was called Thursday by my insurance company advising they have approved removal of my band! I will be calling the Dr office Monday to set an appointment to talk things through & hopefully schedule a date for evicting my band! I will have to appeal the conversion because they have already said it will be denied, I've talked with our patient advocate at work & she is on my side & we will petition the board to cover the procedure. (My employer is self insured so even when Humana denies the sleeve, the board can over-ride them & tell them to pay). I'm hoping by the end of this year I will be sleeved, & on a new road to health. I hope everyone is doing well on their journeys.

Well to update my Dr is all for eviction & he is going for the reflux/GERD as the necessity part first. I have an EGD next week then we battle with the insurance company. My biggest fear is that I am not going to show symptoms of ulcers because my band was emptied at the end of Jan & I'm not yet to my point of constant daily vomiting. Short of it, if insurance denies the medical necessity for removal we will go with an intolerance route. The next battle will be to get the conversion approved. My BMI is around 35 so I'm no longer in the morbid obesity category. And thankfully I have no other issues. I'll pray for the best outcome & if I have to go self pay ill cross that bridge when I get to it. I do not want to get back to my pre-band weight just to get approval :-(
Good luck to all of you on your journey! We all have to stay as positive as we can....we will make it through!

Hi, I have been lurking & reading for a few days thought i would say hello. I am just now starting my journey into hopefully having a band to sleeve conversion. I have my appointment Fri afternoon. I am anxious, nervous & scared of being rejected by Dr & insurance. I never realized that the daily constant vomiting wasn't supposed to happen. The fact I couldn't eat until well after 2pm daily was just now that a fact of life. & many more stories that have already been shared. It's refreshing to know it wasn't necessarily me that failed with the Band, but the band that failed to hold up its end of the bargain. Long story short I have since Dec had bad ulcers, have had Iron levels drop & now B12 levels drop & was so irritated trying to take iron supplements I couldn't keep Water down & had to have my band drained completely. I've had 2 fills since then & am only 1/2 cc away from my pre empty spot I do not want to live like I was, that wasn't living.
So thank you to all who have shared their stories, you have given me the courage to talk with my Dr about a conversion. (Something he suggested about a month ago & I was too terrified to even consider it). I have already called our patient advocate & asked about what will be required, as long as the Dr will state a necessity it shouldn't be an issue! Fingers crossed I'm ready to evict this annoying room mate I've allowed to control my life since 2007! :-) thanks for taking the time to read

I have so much ENERGY! I have started walking 30 minute everday around the walking trail at the park behind my house. So far I have walked 6 days in a row. Talking about a change in habit. I can't believe how I don't think twice about walking. It seems as if it is a part of my daily routine. I am not over doing it, I am just walking at a moderate pace while enjoying the fresh air. I guess you have to know where I have come from to really understand my thoughts on exercise. I am not a workout person nor did I like to walk outside. But I love it now and it seems like my days are not complete if I don't walk. For those stuggling with exercising, try walking it is the best form of exercise ever. It doesn't cost a thing, get you a good pair of tennis, your ipod or mp3 player and just head out.

Yes I can relate. I too was successful with the lapband. I was successful at getting skinny.. AND NOTHING ELSE! My health was so bad I was starving to death. My eating habits was ice cream and shakes. I vomited black blood several times a day and at times vomited just from swallowing too much saliva, my esphogus was chronically inflamed, and I had mass bleeding ulcers.. But dammit.. I was skinny!
I had weekly infusions and a permanent chest port (still have) because my veins are no longer accessible. I had monthly blood transfusions.. But you know what? I never hated my band. I was so frantic when the doc said they had to remove it they had to sedate me. But I was successful at getting skinny. I had a psychological attachment with my band.
This time is different. My first goal is health and getting thinner is just a bonus

Well to update my Dr is all for eviction & he is going for the reflux/GERD as the necessity part first. I have an EGD next week then we battle with the insurance company. My biggest fear is that I am not going to show symptoms of ulcers because my band was emptied at the end of Jan & I'm not yet to my point of constant daily vomiting. Short of it, if insurance denies the medical necessity for removal we will go with an intolerance route. The next battle will be to get the conversion approved. My BMI is around 35 so I'm no longer in the morbid obesity category. And thankfully I have no other issues. I'll pray for the best outcome & if I have to go self pay ill cross that bridge when I get to it. I do not want to get back to my pre-band weight just to get approval :-(
Good luck to all of you on your journey! We all have to stay as positive as we can....we will make it through!

I am new myself. I had the lap band done in 2007 and removed in 2008. Had complications for the entire year I had it even though I lost 100+ pounds. Had to get it removed due to it slipping out of place and causing internal bleeding. 3 months later I got pregnant and gained all of my weight back. Now my son is almost 4 and I have been ready to get another weight loss surgery. Had my first appointment with my surgeon on May 21st. I will have my EGD scope on June 3rd and my surgery on June 10th. Can't wait for the journey and to get my healthy small self back.

I am so sorry you have suffered for so long. God bless you. Good luck on your journey. I am 6 months out and no complications. My first blood draw I was low on Iron. I am using cast iron skillet when I cook and hopefully it will be better next time. I also just noticed that Product 19 Protein Cereal has a lot of iron added. I have been eating a serving for Breakfast. Maybe that will help also.

Welcome. So happy you've decided to go with the sleeve. I think you will be pleased. I'm not a real active member but like you I like to lurk. I have a good friend who is afraid to have the sleeve so opted for the band. Wish I could have persuaded her. Her fear was being put to sleep. Hello!
Haven't regretted having the sleeve for one second. Best of luck to you and looking forward to hearing about your progress.

Thank you both! I am so comfortable here already it has been refreshing! Thanks for the Iron info I will def look into it!