Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!
$99 Yearly Supply Alert! 🌈 "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins

New to this

austinglobe

Recommended Posts

austinglobe    0

austinglobe
Posted

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.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Oregondaisy    2,021

Oregondaisy
Posted

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.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ky.hen    5

Ky.hen
Posted

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.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ruthi    60

Ruthi
Posted

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.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

xbander    0

xbander
Posted

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.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

TennJenn    9

TennJenn
Posted

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!

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Bornagainbabe    4

Bornagainbabe
Posted

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!

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Oregondaisy    2,021

Oregondaisy
Posted

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.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

austinglobe    0

austinglobe
Posted

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.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

austinglobe    0

austinglobe
Posted

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...

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Oregondaisy    2,021

Oregondaisy
Posted

Duodenal switch is the first part to the sleeve.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

austinglobe    0

austinglobe
Posted

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.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

austinglobe    0

austinglobe
Posted

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?

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Go To Topic Listing Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    Bariatric Forums

    For Patients

    Health Professionals

    Search Surgeons

    Bariatric Surgeons: Want to research a weight loss surgery surgeon? Enter their last name below to start!

    ×