I've had this stupid band for almost 5 years. The past 2 years have primarily been mushy and liquids with ZERO Fluid in my band. I'm on my third surgeon, the first had all his patients taken away from him, the second was just an extention of the first and refused to tell anyone how bad the first surgeon had messed up our bodies, covering for him.

I went to a doctor who specializes in band to sleeve conversions recommended by a lady on here. She has the exact same insurance and criteria and apparently she will be getting a huge bill in the mail as I've tried to get in touch with her privatly but her insurance refused to pay her claim based on the codes they used to get the approval. She was approved but the doctor used a less specific code and apparently got "caught". So now the Office Manager type insurance lady at the doctor's office (who I freaking LOVE the doctor) is like oh you;re on this insurance yeah your friend, blah blah blah. Totally NONE of my business but I know.

My insurnace approved removal of this torture device aka The Band but refused the sleeve procedure saying it was experimental. It was my old doctor's office who submitted the Pre-Qual and they used the ---75 code that I don't remember it all. The new insurance lady refuses to even try to file saying they have already denied me what's the point. I sent out my own awesome appeal yesterday and the new doc and insurnace company should get it soon. The new doctor offered to let me pay the difference but that's about $12,500!!!! For the doctor, anesthesia and 2 nights in the hospital, I offered to just show up for tests as needed because I don't live far but he is damanding two nights in the hospital.

I'm really upset. I'm back on full liquids and can barely swallow meds yet I haven't had any fluid in my band for 3 years.

Carrie, I'm so sorry you're having to go through all this. I feel your pain! I know this isn't exactly ethical, but my situation worked out, so I though I would offer this up. Have you had your gall bladder checked out lately? I was having vague pains for a year and it ended up that I had gall stones. My band surgeon (who is in the Dallas area) removed my gall bladder, fixed an undiagnosed hiatal hernia, and did my sleeve revision at a cost to me of $5000. My insurance paid for the hospital and all other costs. I stayed in the hospital 2 nights.

It might be worth it to have a gall bladder ultrasound to see if you have any issues, and if you do then use it to your advantage to get it all taken care of at once. Just a suggestion. I know living with the band is h*ll and I'm sure you'll be so much better off without it. Good luck!