general_antiope

I understand how you feel. I was denied a sleeve and I have learned a lot about the appeal process. First of all, do not give up. One denial is not the end, not by a long shot. First, the best plan is to have your provider initiate a peer to peer appeal before you get involved. They can speak the language and explain the risks and complications. In my case I have had mechanical failure of the band for the past 13 years, including a revision to a new band in 2015. In your case, did your doctor say if the band contributed to the issue? Even if not, you have been successful with it and removing it because of unrelated issues is not your fault. Talk to your doctor and see what they say. There are plenty of stories of people appealing themselves and getting the approval. Keep us posted!

So glad to hear this!! Congrats girl, you are rocking it!! I just had my band out 2 weeks ago and feel SO much better, but I am currently appealing a denial for the sleeve. If the appeal doesn't work I'm getting my own health insurance through my employer who will cover it, so hopefully by next spring I'll be sleeved. Your posts are so motivational. I am so proud of you!!!!

I'm on my second band and planning to move to sleeve. I had the Swedish 4cc band in 2004 and lost 100 lbs easily. It kept leaking - first the tube, then the port. Only gained 20 lbs back and managed to get monthly fills for years that kept emptying but it kept the weight at bay at least. Finally got the port fixed and then got pregnant and boom - the band totally disconnected. When they replaced the band I never got back to that sweet spot and it slips all the time. It's unfilled right now and I cough constantly if I eat more than a cup of food. Cough until I puke. At work. In meetings. But I'm full on hungry with growling and all the old food lust back. Badly slipped. I'm so disappointed. Anyway it's getting removed next week thank god and then I am appealing the insurance denial for a revision. Worst case is that I will switch insurance in November then start the sleeve process. I'm unable to be consistent with food when I'm alone with it without some kind of tool, I accept it about myself. I'm hanging on by my fingernails waiting for all these events to unfold. I'm up another 40 lbs from my lowest to a total of 60 lb gain. Reading these stories keeps me going!!!

Gorgeous!! You were beautiful before, by the way

well?? how is it?? Are you on solids yet?

You look amazing!! Great job! I'm waiting to hear from my surgeon this week, I'm approved for revision, just want to see the pre cert requirements and then I get my date. At this point I'll take sleeve or bypass!

hey there, I'm in delaware county and a 13 year veteran of the band about to revise to the sleeve due to complications and multiple slips and weight gain. My doctor is at NYU so I'm really interested in connecting with people locally here and there so I'm not going at this alone again. How is everyone doing?

I appreciate these posts so much - how is everyone doing one month later with the sleeve?

Well I had my barium swallow, way slipped, and yesterday had the band unfilled. I feel a million times better already. Cough is gone, slept without being propped up. Also found out my insurance will cover band to sleeve!!! Waiting to hear back about pre-cert and I'm getting in line. I've been reading everything I can about the sleeve.

Thanks for this video, I found it helpful!

How is it going? I'm just starting my journey to get on the path to revision...my GERD is out of control and ruining my life. Meds don't help, my band is unusable; either too tight or too loose and I've gained weight. Meeting a team this week to learn about options, but I'm pretty sure RNY will be the result. How are you feeling?

You're right about mindless eating. Poor choice of words - I just never feel satisfied like I did at the right fill with my first band so I'm constantly fighting with myself against eating. I liked the feeling of fullness after eating small amounts. I got used to listening to my body and now we are in the wrong cycle of listening...lol it's lying to me! I'm interested in whatever helps me. Thank you for your reply.

Hi all. I've been banded since 2005, lost 100 lbs the first year then stopped due to multiple mechanical issues. I had the Port replaced, then the tube replaced, and I never got back to that sweet spot and floated on 20 lbs fluctuations for the next 5 years. I then got pregnant and my band disconnected at month 4. I remember the feeling of my band unfilling completely and thought "oh sh*t." I gained 60 lbs in 6 months, had a new band replaced in feb 2013, then proceded to get myself pregnant again before my first fill in May. Well that that baby is now 3 and I am gaining. I've gotten fills and lost 30 lbs but then suddenly had night time regurgitation, unable to eat, swollen throat. They unfilled me and refilled me due to slippage. This new band is lenient and unpredictable and now I've developed terrible reflux that medications aren't helping. I'm eating mindlessly again and can't get control. I can't get filled until I get the gerd under control. I've gone up 30 lbs and now am at a net overall loss of 40 lbs. I am not happy. Its been 12 years, three revisions. I am considering the sleeve but am concerned my issues with gerd will make me a bypass candidate. Does anyone have a similar experience to share? i found a well respected and credentialed hospital and am starting the process to get a local doc to evaluate me for revision. I am ready to do what it takes but sleeve seems much more desirable for many reasons. I just want the hunger gone or muted. I was free from the mental noise of food for a good while and I made good choices. I can't get back there on my own.

Hi ladies, checking in. Life is pretty busy right now. I am healed and it's as if I never had surgery. Yes, hunger and the ability to eat anything and everything is back. I dropped 17 lbs but have not stepped back on the scale yet, I'm sure I've got a good 5-8 of it back. I'm scheduled for a fill on Wednesday. That is just over 2 weeks post op but I'm going for it since I have no other issues with the band. I'm tired of being hungry, tired of the obsession with food, tired of disliking my body. I spent a lot of money getting banded and plastic surgery, and I just don't want to wait anymore to get back to my green zone. I've been trying to be patient, but I'm at the end of my rope. Wednesday is also the only day I can get babysitting for my 4 month old so I can make the 3 hour trip both ways before I go back to work march 1. After this, I will be doing Saturday fills. I'm taking a break from LBT while I prep for work and get my house in order. I just am overwhelmed at the micromanagement of my weight, my feelings, and food. The band will shush it all once I get my fills going...I just need a mental hiatus. I'll check back in soon Definitely by Wednesday. I hope the nurse doesn't try to give me crap about getting a fill - my doc said since I live far away I can skip the post op visit and come get a fill 4 weeks out, but I'm ready now. I'm no newbie. Crossing my fingers the nurse sees it my way (my doc isn't available the day I can come up). Hope you're all well, and thanks Manda and Onamission for picking up the leadership duties!

Made you an admin as well, Manda. Ladies I'm taking a short break while I get ramped up to return to work in two weeks and get my house whipped into shape. I'll be lurking and contributing, but will not be reliable to lead until after April. Please lead away!!

PS I'm down 17 lbs from the start. YAY! I'm sure that will change now that I'm back on solids, and slow down at least, but I'm targeting 1200-1400/day. Mostly protein and veggies.

As usual I have healed pretty fast. All my energy and longevity is back, with my appetite and ability to eat. I'm on solids, I didn't mean to be, but I'm tracking and staying to 2 -3 meals a day and keeping my portions small. I'm also deflated - DH called me "skinny" lol (not true!). Since I'm so far from my doc, she suggested I come in 4 weeks post op for wound check and fill, instead of 10 day visit plus 6 week fill. I can't get a babysitter before I go back to work in March so I'll plan to get my first fill on or around March 8 (I am working 4 days a week so Fridays are free). My port site's not very tender, my steri-strips are almost all off, and I was able to sleep on my side. I'm also happy to report that without morphine or percocet I had no constipation/impaction issues YAYAYAY and I'm completely normal/regular. I'm taking my Vitamins and Calcium and getting ready for my fill in 3 weeks. I'm not super hungry, I get full on less than I did before surgery, and I'm doing everything I can to stay in this zone. Can't wait to start feeling restriction.

It's so much easier to belittle, mock and put down a person or idea than to understand them or try to think of a solution. I expected better from people who have spent a good portion of their lives being belittled, mocked, and put down by other people. Surprising. I'm pretty offended. If the subject bothers you, kindly keep your negative attitude to yourself and stop following the thread.

Shel, I had anxiety and anger when I lost 100 lbs. I would get unsolicited attention from men and would be so angry I would cry. I felt invaded and powerless - all cause someone whistled at me. It did go away, but it is a process!! I think you are right on with getting the mental/emotional support. Dirich, your feelings are not only normal but valid. You should be anxious, you should worry you might fail! It helps you set the right habits from day 1. This is not a guaranteed success. This isn't a magic wand, you are responsible for your weight loss. But the fun part is, there is no diet that (for me) was as easy or as successful as my band living. You will start to see food differently as time goes on. This isn't like other diets you've done because the food addiction hasn't ever been addressed. The band helps you become uninterested in food which is a whole world away from "eating less calories." Everyone can eat less calories and lose weight, but for us, we need something to help us stop focusing on food. The band does that through crushing hunger and preventing overeating (or slowing it down with pain and throw up). Like a previous poster said, this is a great solution because of the number of people who keep it off long term. None of the other diet options out there (food only) have this kind of success rate! Good luck and keep the faith.

I got dizzy from not hitting at least 1000 calories a day. This wasn't acceptable as I am on maternity leave and often out with my 4 month old! I started on mushies early and feel a million times better. I would ask your docs if you can start in on thick liquids, something that allows you more variety and calories.

Hey Cindy, I read in another forum you have your date postponed because of WBC. I'm so sorry to hear it Any news on that front?

OK onamission I made you an admin. Feel free to start new topics, pin some, etc Thank you so much for the help! You can edit my posts too (specifically thinking of the Surgery Dates thread where I try to keep up with past and pending surgeries) I'm going to be MIA tomorrow (out with family) but if you PM me any questions I can definitely answer you from my phone. Have a great Sunday!

I am also still super bloated in my abdomen! Today I felt worse, actually, in my lower belly (intestines) so I took gas X and stayed on soup all day. Had mild nausea, too, but after a short nap felt better. My baby girl was up a couple times last night and I am just trashed exhausted. My husband is still sleeping a lot from his bout with a virus this week and I've definitely been doing more than I should! Today he gave me a break and I feel better having rested more than be on my feet. I felt hungry for dinner so I roasted a very small chicken thigh and pureed it with 1/2 cup mashed potatoes. Ahhh, totally filling and low calories. I'm still low in the calories area so I'm currently drinking Special K's protein water (pink lemonade). Shockingly good Only 5g protein and 5g fiber, but I'll take it!

Thanks!!

The math will owe you - always! And after a sudden 14 lb loss your body is probably panicking thinking its in danger. I imagine my body's moaning over the lack of cheese and bread and putting up a toddler tantrum by not letting go of the fat stores that its been raiding to keep itself running. i just have to wait it out - toddlers will cry themselves to sleep eventually Don't lose faith, the lack of weight loss, if your intake is what you say, is just temporary. This is all normal and ill say it one more time because it will always be true: the math will owe you.