I found this thread last night and I just stared in disbelief:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/35169-left-shoulder-pain/

I have had horrible pain in my left shoulder since I woke up from surgery. I went on my doctor's office's forum and asked and asked and people always dismissed me. Some people said it was "gas" and I read that in a few posts on here as well..... my surgery was 2 years ago last month and I deal with this pain at least 5 days a week. I can't even tell you how many times its cut my day short and I've had to leave wherever I was.... most recently a friend's Memorial Day party... to go home and get a heating pad on my shoulder. The pain is unbearable. I've said from day 1 I must've been moved the wrong way on or from the operating table, or something got pinched, a nerve, or whatever.... because this has never been "gas" pain.

My lap band experience has been awful. Finding out about this "common" shoulder pain and that I pretty much did it to myself when I got the band is just the last straw in a very difficult 2 years.

I want to know, what is the process for getting your band out? Is it the same as getting it put in? Do I have to see a million doctors again to get approval?

I may be able to help, a little...

Last month I was diagnosed with a "profound" band slip. Yet oddly enough, did not have many of the typical symptoms (I believe it slipped in 2008, when the symptoms I do have started appearing). I am currently pursuing band removal, and revision to the sleeve.

If you are self-pay, band removal is just another operation. If you are going through insurance, you will need to have documentation verifying that the removal is medically necessary. That is assuming the removal procedure (there is a CPT code for removal of lap-band and associated parts, but I don't have it on hand) is approved. You can find that CPT code and verify with your insurance.

I'm at the "proving it's medically necessary" stage. We have the xrays that show the slip. I have almost 3 years' worth of off and on documentation of the same complaints (because I didn't have "typical" symptoms, I was first treated as an overfill... until we got down to less than .25cc... and then I was treated as someone who just needed to eat differently... it was ridiculous.) My insurance company requires an EGD as part of the proof of medical necessity -- I'm scheduled for that next week. From what I've been told, that's pretty much the last step prior to approval.

They are also submitting for a revision to VSG (vertical sleeve gastroectomy - or "the sleeve") at the same time. Because of the nature of my slip, my surgeon is not considering my a candidate for re-banding. And with the laughable re-banding sucess rates, I would not consider it an option for myself. I'm not jumping with joy at the thought of a sleeve, but I need something... I can't be rebanded... I do not want a malabsorptive procedure... I do want something with some history of good success... well, the sleeve definitely wasn't my first choice but options are few.

NYC_Gal, from what I have read & been told (by sleeved people) the recovery is not that much different. It's the same 2 - 3 weeks as the band, with some people returning within a week. It seems like most people perk up on day 3 - 4. I was OK the day after my band, and fine day 2. If it takes me 4 days instead of 2 days, I won't really think twice about the difference. Also, unless your self pay, there really is no approval from your surgeon - unless you just mean he agreed to do your surgery. Your approval will need to come from insurance (again, moot if you're self pay).

Band - sleeve revisions are quite a bit risker than "virgin" sleeves. Adhesions and scar tissue can cause some complications. The pain afterward can be significant -- our ports were sewn in so as not to come back out, and sometimes have to be dug out a bit. Some surgeons will revise in one procedure - others require a waiting period (usually because of swelling and the way it can "hide" leaks). I haven't yet spoken with my surgeon so I'm not entirely sure which way he goes.

HTH