Lapband to Sleeve Revision - BMI 31

[luv2cook 1]

I was banded twice in seven years. The first band slipped and my doctor put in a wider band that was less prone to slippage. It worked great until recently. I couldn't even keep down 2 oz. of Water to take with my daily pills and have had frequent heartburn. Oddly enough, I've been eating a lot at night. I put on 20 lbs. of the 100 lbs. lost. My doctor believes the band has eroded into my stomach due to being so tight. I failed a barium swallow test and he deflated the band. The problem is, I'm eating like crazy now! I feel like a person who just came out of prison! It's so disgusting I can't help myself. To make a long story short, my doctor warned me that all his patients were denied revision surgery UNLESS they had a BMI of at least 35. Mine is 31. On the one hand, he's telling me to stay focused and not gain any weight before doing the surgery, but on the other hand, he's telling me the insurance company won't approve a revision with a BMI under 35. This is a catch 22. What am I supposed to do? The band has been my lifeline for 7 years. I can't live without the "restriction" it provides. It has helped me maintain my weight. Any and all advise is appreciated!

[JOANNE M HOLL 388]

Personally I would call the home office of the insurance Company. Tell them what you wrote here. They will have more medical bills if they let you regain all that weight! I would think they would give you a variance/pass on the old rule for your health's sake! Good Luck! :wub:

[JACKIEO85 308]

I was banded twice in seven years. The first band slipped and my doctor put in a wider band that was less prone to slippage. It worked great until recently. I couldn't even keep down 2 oz. of Water to take with my daily pills and have had frequent heartburn. Oddly enough, I've been eating a lot at night. I put on 20 lbs. of the 100 lbs. lost. My doctor believes the band has eroded into my stomach due to being so tight. I failed a barium swallow test and he deflated the band. The problem is, I'm eating like crazy now! I feel like a person who just came out of prison! It's so disgusting I can't help myself. To make a long story short, my doctor warned me that all his patients were denied revision surgery UNLESS they had a BMI of at least 35. Mine is 31. On the one hand, he's telling me to stay focused and not gain any weight before doing the surgery, but on the other hand, he's telling me the insurance company won't approve a revision with a BMI under 35. This is a catch 22. What am I supposed to do? The band has been my lifeline for 7 years. I can't live without the "restriction" it provides. It has helped me maintain my weight. Any and all advise is appreciated!

If i were you I'd find out First what is going on with the Band, a Revision to sleeve doesn't have be done at the same time a band is removed. Also if your Surgeon is saying he thinks the band has eroded, Then a Sleeve revision MAY NOT be possible? Then your going to have to consider another form of WLS. personally I'd start researching all the options (why wait).

The literature states that a Loss of restriction is a sign of erosion, and epigastric pain, where others experience nothing.

What happened that you Failed the Barium swallow? Did the Surgeon see the flow of Barium going somewhere other than through the esophagus/stomach? OR were you just unable to tolerate drinking the Barium? I ask because this is a Concern for allot of Banded ppl. Any information can be helpful.

In regards again to the Revision, Get on the Phone call the Insurance company, then get them to send you a hard copy of the policy to explain your Bariatric coverage, it varies greatly and you can't always trust the person that answers the phone to explain it correctly. BMI isn't the only factor that the insurance approves a revision, if Co-mobidities are present those are also factored in the decision.

Good Luck!! So Sorry that your having band complications, Please keep us Posted and i hope all works out in your Favor!!

[NaNa 878]

I was banded twice in seven years. The first band slipped and my doctor put in a wider band that was less prone to slippage. It worked great until recently. I couldn't even keep down 2 oz. of Water to take with my daily pills and have had frequent heartburn. Oddly enough, I've been eating a lot at night. I put on 20 lbs. of the 100 lbs. lost. My doctor believes the band has eroded into my stomach due to being so tight. I failed a barium swallow test and he deflated the band. The problem is, I'm eating like crazy now! I feel like a person who just came out of prison! It's so disgusting I can't help myself. To make a long story short, my doctor warned me that all his patients were denied revision surgery UNLESS they had a BMI of at least 35. Mine is 31. On the one hand, he's telling me to stay focused and not gain any weight before doing the surgery, but on the other hand, he's telling me the insurance company won't approve a revision with a BMI under 35. This is a catch 22. What am I supposed to do? The band has been my lifeline for 7 years. I can't live without the "restriction" it provides. It has helped me maintain my weight. Any and all advise is appreciated!

In this case -- if you are willing to go the Sleeve route, it's probably better since the band has not worked out for you. If your band has slipped/eroded then it's medically necessary and you should be able to fight it, even with a low BMI.

Good luck