I am a lapband patient who got their band in 2004 (self-pay). The band has given me nothing but complications - mostly of the gastric reflux variety and being unable to lie flat in bed at night.

My doctor finally told me it's time to consider the sleeve or another band (gag). He believes I might have a heital hernia that may need to be repaired.

So here I am, looking for a better answer than the Band. I look forward to reading your insight on this procedure.

As someone who self paid for the band, and self paid for the sleeve, I can tell you getting the sleeve was the best money I ever spent. I am so glad my band is sitting on my dresser.

Feel free to ask any of us anything. There is also a band to sleeve revision thread.

Welcome to the Vsg family forum Austin. I am sure you will find that everyone here is very helpful. You will find alot of info on this sight.

Hi and welcome Austin! I too am a revision from band to sleeve. You will never regret the sleeve. I am really happy with mine. Make sure you select a good surgeon to do your revision especially if you have to have a hiatal hernia repair. Those can be tricky for some surgeons without a lot of experience with the sleeve.

Hi

I am in the same boat as you, however I am lucky that when I did the band and now when I will get my sleeve insurance will pay. I am not from the US, why is it that insurance won't cover? I don't get it - the whole world knows that obesity is one of the biggest killer diseases!!!

Anyway, I just joined recently myself and from most of the info that I have been receiving from the people here, the sleeve sounds like an absolute life saver.

I can't wait for it now.

Of course though I checked every single website that I could find regarding the sleeve and especially those sites that had info on revision from band to sleeve.

The best for me though is to actually hearing things from real people that are just telling their personal stories.

Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time. I've read too many times about people's bands giving them trouble. It makes me wonder why it's still a WLS option. :lol0:

Anyway, I had a hietal hernia that I didn't even know about that Dr. Aceves repaired while doing my VSG (free of charge :lol0:). It would be good if you could have yours repaired at the same time of your revision.

Good luck!

Personally, my insurance does not cover any WLS. They don't really explain why.

Hi Austin, I'm a recent band to sleeve revisionist and don't get any acid reflux anymore. Mine was horrendous in that as well as having to sleep propped up, I would wake in the night and have to go and vomit. I still get a little bit of indigestion now but it's nothing like it used to be and I take a PPI which helps.

You will find a lot of helpful advice here. This site is great!

Sounds like a lot of people had the same problem with the band that I did. I never had trouble with anything in the daytime, but in the middle of the night, it was another story. I am so glad not to be throwing up in the middle of the night.

Thanks everyone - I am going to be talking to my doctor about a possible revision tomorrow...so we'll see.

Just reading this board has given me tons of questions to ask.

I stand corrected. I was just told that my insurance will cover lapband, duodenal switch or gastric bypass after all of these years. So now I'm more confused than ever...

Duodenal switch is the first part to the sleeve.

I met with my doctor today and basically discussed another lapband versus VGS. He said insurance will likely not pay even for the band because my highest BMI was 39, and I'm not sure if that was even tracked at any doctor's office.

He's sending me for an endoscopy and barium swallow to see where we are at, and we'll go from there.

Keep us updated!

Insurance makes no sense and they lie. You get three different answers on two phone calls.

Totally understood - now the dr's office has told me that insurance probably won't cover anything, because at my highest weight, I had a BMI of 39 and no comobidities. If I had a BMI of 40, it would have been fine.

How crazy is that?

To help ensure no problems I would have the hiatal hernia taken care of prior to wls. It seems every problem I have read about had a hernia involved. I know it was the core of my issues.